#The first guy to be fair has a valid point to be so sad he has a chronic illness

[nopeleavemealoone]

I wrote out the plot to an entire novel a few months ago but the problem is its a romance and I didnt want to start writing a novel about two guys falling in love when i am finnicky about the romance media I consume but the motivation hit and I just wrote twelve pages feeling great

#Its about a guy whos miserable because hes just sure hes about to die at any given moment so hes a depressed prick to everyone #X the guy who calls him out and helped him stop feeling so depressed #The first guy to be fair has a valid point to be so sad he has a chronic illness #And everyone does actually think he is dead for a second there #But they have a sort of enemies to lovers arc #So far i wrote the beginning of the book which includes their meet cute and then i wrote a scene from the middle of the book a while ago #where the healthy one uses a wheelchair to sneak out the sick one and they have a midnight date in the park #Lets hope the motivation carries on and I wont live with this twelve pages of content for the next six months #I think if I finish it I’ll go ahead and get it published #But if I finished it is a huge “if” #Anyways im just having a lovely time over here #Edit I have a first draft now five months later fuck yeah #Mine

[hauntedhotel]

Finally got around to a re-listen of TMA and with the benefit of hindsight Jon’s initial hostility towards Martin is so ridiculous! In the very first episode he says he doesn’t even count Martin as an assistant as he's "unlikely to contribute anything but delays" but based on what? They barely know each other at this point so is his entire vendetta against Martin - to the point where Jon idly wishes for him to get chopped up by Angela the jigsaw witch - just because of The Dog Incident?

There's no way Martin is so terrible at his job that Jon could have valid criticism of his work that early on, and Martin came down to the Archives from the library, he’s probably the only person down there with the vaguest idea of what archivists are supposed to be doing! He's been working at the institute for 10 years or so and no one other than their mind-reading, eldritch horror boss ever twigged that he wasn't qualified, so there's no way he wasn't at least capable.

And if Jon does already think he's useless, it's probably because he's acting as though he's still in research and Martin is actually doing something adjacent to archiving.

Martin gets the transfer and he's kind of nervous cause a new boss means someone else to potentially be scrutinising his CV but he figures - it's archiving, it's cataloguing and filing and documenting, it's not so different from what he’s been doing in the library for a decade, he can handle this. It's only when he meets Jonathan "wtf is an archivist?" Sims and hears "okay so Tim is sleeping with the lead police officer on this murder case and Sasha has already hacked the guys home and office computers, I need you to harass this witness to make sure they don't want to refute their statement" that he thinks he might be in over his head.

It really only gives you three possible options:

1. He really is determined to never get over The Dog Incident.

2. He actually recognises that Martin seems to know a fair bit about archiving and is so afraid that at least two, possibly three of his assistants might actually be better qualified for the job than him that he’s lashing out.

3. He took one look at Martin and thought, "I've got a jam-packed schedule of stapling priceless documents, bitching about statement-givers on tape and running away from the spiders in my office, I cannot afford to get distracted by that guy's cute face and big sad eyes" and immediately did everything possible to push him away.

#tma #the magnus archives #martin blackwood #jonathan sims #jmart #jonmartin #magpod #hotel talks about tma #its confusing me as to how long they have known each other tbh #cause the live show would suggest that they meet for the first time #immediately after Jon has recorded the angler fish statement #but in the first episode he's already bitching about martin in his opening comments on that statement #dunno 🤷‍♀️ #anyway secret 4th option it's all 3 #and the assistant who knows his job better than he does #AND embarrassed him on his first day #is also super duper cute

[luvring]

Niaaaa //wailing, heaving, rolling around on the floor

I cannot stress enough how much I adore your works and love rereading all of them from time to time

Am here to ask if you have any more touchstarved hcs,, or thoughts,, im dying over here

Literally starved for content

gn!reader | REG!!! //waving both hands, jumping up and down giggling. Thank U. this is an honour and incredible compliment. scary bc my old works are...old... but Thank u. U mean the world 2 Me. i didn't thoroughly check what hcs i've already said so sorry there's repeats orz

i'm not saying the LIs would all go to the barbie movie but if someone does make art of that please let me know and tag me especially if it has the i am kenough shirt

they ruined my life saying kuras doesn't eat how is he going to join my girl dinners now. /j but i'll continue to believe he can appreciate how good a meal looks! & he can still sit with you and try to get his hands on your favourite meals for you to enjoy :-)

that thing where they do push-ups and kiss you when they come down with...leander was the first one i thought of tbh. but if you aren't able to lie underneath him he'd just ask for the same amount once he's done!

leander doing the thing he did in the prologue where he took his glove off with his teeth every so often just to see your reaction. like if you react in an amusing flustered staring at him kind of way. i couldn't relate personally (lying) (liar) (huge lie)

i'm sorry for my leander bias but if one of his favourite things is MASQUERADES and we don't see him at a MASQUERADE well it's so joever like him in a suit and mask and showing off how he knows how to fit in because of his past and also he can waltz now or something I'm dizzy i can't breathe

ais using 0.5 camera on people while they're caught off guard. him asking you to take a video of the fight For him because he's going to be part of it. vere selfie folder. mhin 5 followers no icon no posts gc lurker.

mhin would stick to enough of a routine that they'd have a specific spot to sit at different places,,, like a cafe or the library or bus... corner. it's one of the corners. and when someone's taken the spot they're thrown off then have to walk around for a new one (not happy about this) but take it back once they leave. you spend enough time together and they start keeping the spot next to them open for you

^ also they'd always order the exact same thing at restaurants. wouldn't like going to a new place because now they have to find a new default order. just like me fr

is no one going to talk about the idea that vere doesn't like snow because he's chained outside and it's cold . to be fair it could Totally be for a less sad reason like how it gets his Fur Wet (valid) but i've been thinking about that possible angst

also his gloves are just. like. ? odd. inverse drawing gloves. claws... but why only the 3 fingers.... btw his outfit means a constant thigh holding opportunity

kuras and mhin having long conversations about alchemy and sharing their findings with each other ;; mhin at some point getting just a Little excited about something and kuras choosing not to comment on it but being happy to see them let their walls down a little ;; o(-(

ais coming into your room and wordlessly lying next to you in bed and when asked if he needs something he says no? with a smile. he was just feeling lonely and wanted to find you

saying "you look like you can't swim" or "you are an odd individual" to any and all of them . something about it is amusing to me

if you celebrate christmas or like the idea of kissing underneath some mistletoe,, i think it's a good thought that you hold one over your head and wait for a kiss Or that Some of the LIs would Definitely do that themselves.

who do you guys think has the saddest birthday celebration (/no celebration at all.) who's relating to girls who spend their birthday alone and crying and be honest with me

rambling but i just want to say kuras's monster form looks sick as FUCK and i'm so excited for it. it looks like whatever left the scar on his hand seems to be there.. in his monster form...? i thought it was a claw but the positioning is under/through the hand so like??. do i have to bring up the significance of that if true

also is his outfit (minus his jacket)...like a jumpsuit... or can i just not tell because of his three (?) belts. that's not how you wear belts btw /lh. and is the sheer part Part of the top or is he wearing something sheer underneath the white. his sleeves are also sheer but the neckline means his shoulders are out . take off ur jacket

also mhin !! i want to know how big they get and if the transformation is sickening to watch and if they're still aware of everything around them and !!! THERE IS A SPINE(?) COMING OUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SILHOUETTE THAT I NEED TO SEE NOW! & i'm assuming the senobium is Shit so even if we do get in there and get 'help' there would be another shitty price to pay. possible bad ending...??

scenes with all their monster forms where you're asked if you're scared and you say no / yes but you care about them and they falter because they didn't expect that

true good ending is everyone meeting at the wet wick and making a toast and laughing and saying this truly was our touchstarved before the credits roll

#touchstarved #touchstarved ais #touchstarved leander #touchstarved kuras #touchstarved mhin #touchstarved vere #redspring pls continue to drop lore. gimme. GImemeeme... #not a single one of these birthdays sound good to me btw. closest to happy is how leander would say all drinks on him for the night #but it doesnt change the fact he has no close friends 💀💀 #Im serious about the masquerade scene bc i need to see him in a formal setting. how hes different but still charming/the same in a way etc

[jmalegni]

Sensoron

Who doesn't love a classic revisionist history manga that pretty much is just super conservative propaganda. But seriously this was a very interesting read in the aspect that I haven't ever seen what revisionist history looks like for any country other than the U.S.

The author of Sensoron seems to be a person who is fed up with "Japanese apologists" and the "brainwashing" of new generations into believing that Imperial Japan was evil. Now I will admit, I am not very familiar with the history of Imperial Japan during the Sino-Japanese wars and the Russo-Japanese war, so I cannot directly disprove some of the authors claims of certain event not happening or downplaying Japan's role in the suffering of many Asians in the period. What I can do is point out some very clear fallacious generalizations that are made. The first of these being the few photos that he "proves" are false or misattributed to make Japan look bad. He at least provides some references for his claims on the falsity of the photos (I am not going to go fact check them) but he generalizes those few examples to all of media trying to brainwash the Japanese into becoming mindless western puppets. There is obvious unfair generalization, hyperbole, and bias here. The author also depicts this as a specific attack on the Japanese, when in reality every country is targeted by not so fair media portrayal. I am sure that in Russia the U.S. is painted in a very negative light using all kinds of doctored documents. But that is just reality, Japan isn't necessarily unique in this sense.

Taken out of the Japanese victimization context, there is a rare piece of good advice from the author. Always validate your sources, especially as technology develops and new methods evolve for propaganda purposes.

Anyway, this guy is totally off his rocker though. Saying the Rape of Nanking was some Chinese soldiers dressed as Japanese. And including Korea and Manchuria along the with Japanese Islands when referencing Japan is just blatant revisionist history. I do not think he necessarily has malicious intentions though. He legitimately believes that the Japanese are becoming western puppets and is scared that Japan will become a doormat for other nations. I find it pretty sad but it puts this manga into perspective.

What a great first manga.

[missvifdor]

Tsfgae : Tome 2

I recently bought and finished volume 2 of the school of Good and Evil.  And loved it and can't wait to get book 3!  Like last time, I'm going to give my general opinion and on the characters, trying not to spoil the plot!  I'm going to start with our heroines, ending with the new character that we were given to discover.  So:

SOPHIE : At the beginning of my reading, I was able to find the Sophie that I had discovered in volume 1. Egocentric, Her funny and annoying personality, her contempt for her father and her love of the spotlight. But we also feel that her experience at school has also changed her and we feel her fear of becoming the horrible witch she once was, which is why she clings so much to Agatha that she now considers no only as her saviour, her anchor, but also now really her friend in a much less superficial way. We FEEL that she needs Agatha by her side to convince herself that she will never again become the horrible thing she turned into. Of course she remains quite despicable towards the other villagers of Galvadon but now she is trying on a deeper level to be better. She wants to convince herself that she is capable of doing good and I feel her struggle with it throughout the book. And then when things start to heat up, I think she really matures and is a much better friend here than she was in book 1. The ending broke my heart and because of the fears and from the suspicions of those she called the people who matter to her, she actually ended up becoming what they feared she would become again. And it's all their fault. From my point of view, Sophie really tried and, I think, swapped roles with Agatha in this volume 2. She has so much faith in Agatha and their friendship, it was overwhelming. Also, her search for true love (now that I know the deeper meaning) makes her an even more interesting character to me, I really enjoyed Sophie in this read and she goes back to the top of my list of my favorite characters by Tsfgae.

AGATHA : I loved Agatha in volume 1. In this one, I think she goes down to second place of my favorite characters in the series at the moment. Her fears and suspicions are valid, after what she endured at school before returning to Galvadon I think she has a right to feel the way she does. However, now it is she who refuses to see the truth about her deepest desires, as was the case with Sophie in volume 1, which is what led them into the disastrous situation in which everyone is at school (although of course, Sophie has her fair share of responsibility). What breaks my heart is that the Agatha in volume 1 would never have doubted Sophie despite his actions, but it's very different in volume 2. She also wants her "True Happy Ending" so badly. Agatha forces herself so much to believe that she trusts her friend (trust that she doesn't feel at all) that it's almost sad. And also breaking my heart, she broke Sophie's with mine in the process. I think if Agatha hadn't been so scared of the witch's return, they might have had a chance.

TEDROS: First of all... TEDROS WHAT DID YOU MAKE SO FUCKS?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR SPIRIT?! Tedros was already on a thin layer of ice in Book 1 but boy...I get he's from a place where he's instilled that to get to his happy ending you obviously have to kill the "bad guy" but man... think with your brain! Didn't his meeting with Agatha teach him anything?! And then he goes from bad to worse (and okay, it was a misunderstanding) but what happened with the Grand Master should have taught him a lesson! But noooo, sir prefers to think with his ego! In the end, he is almost better and then... he becomes a fool again! Someone give this boy a working brain and rid him of his Mommy Issues, please! I feel like taking my sandal, throwing it in his face and insulting him with the worst French insults I know! Anyway welcome to the BI family, Tedros, even if irritating and stupid you are on some level, I'm glad you discovered yourself on a deeper level.

HESTER: She is in my top 3 characters that I will defend body and soul! This girl is awesome and even though she sucks at being Dot's friend, she's still one of my favorites!

ANADIL: Same thing for Anadil as for Hester.

DOT: I was so happy and sad for Dot, she finally felt accepted and loved school. Anadil and Hester are not tender with her, despite everything she remains their friend. I just think she deserves better.

HORT: My poor darling! Not only is he heartbroken but they don't even treat him well in his school when he does everything to make himself useful 😭 I was hoping he would be better in Volume 2 but obviously he continues to be everyone's punching bag, he doesn't deserve that! Volume 3 better give him the happiness he deserves!

BEATRIX : Our number 1 bootlicker didn't change much in the end, trying to be the favorite of the new character from book 2! Besides, I will add that many of the Ever girls were still as much of a hypocrite as possible. Maybe Kiko was the least hypocritical of them all.

TRISTAN : MY HEART IS BROKEN ! THIS ENTIRE BOOK WAS INTENDED TO BREAK MY HEART AND CRUSH IT INTO A THOUSAND PIECES!

LADY LESSO: In Volume 2 we got a lot more insight into our favorite Dean for Evil and I'm so glad! His secret didn't really surprise me because I was spoiled before reading this volume, however, I think it adds a little depth to his character and I'm waiting to know more about his background.

PROFESSOR DOVEY: Much less present but still nice to see anyway. And I always hear about his interactions with Lady Lesso 🤭

EVELYN SADER: Here she is, the new face of faculty and characters. Suffice to say that from the start of its appearance in the book, I was intrigued. Her physique, her personality, her intriguing insects following her everywhere (her outfit is pretty cool, it made me want to draw her for later). His powers are as intriguing as they are cool and dangerous, in my opinion. I loved and hated her in a common measure, especially when she had this "discussion" with Lady Lesso and what she did to Sophie. Very happy with her fate at the end, hoping that she will not make an appearance again in the next volumes. There's some new stuff she brought to school for girls that I can appreciate, however the rest is really stereotypical (even if it's less than what Evergirls was asking for in Volume 1, the rest seems incredibly ridiculous and dangerous).

#school for good and evil #sge #sge agatha #Sge Agatha #sge movie #sge netflix #sge spoilers #professor dovey #lady lesso #Tsfgae #tsfgae sophie #Tsfgae Agatha #sophie of woods beyond #sophie of gavaldon #agatha of gavaldon #agatha of woods beyond #Tsfgae Book

[hahanoiwont]

Pretty sure we've had this conversation before but re 'THATS THEIR DAD' Red was there right? That had to in some way hurt. Because to Red Black is the Sans in the exact same no win situation he was but he *won*. He has the close (the *functional*) relationship with his brother, he has happy life on surface, he has his kid. He has *The* Kid, *Red's* kid the kid Red threw everything away for, the kid that hates him because its was the only way to keep them from loving him so goddamn much. That he hurt so he wouldn't hurt them.

And fuck give it a few months and Black will probably have *Red's* brother too. And its *good* that the two of them have someone who can love them *right* instead of just hurting them in the name of it but it's gotta *hurt* to see what your life could've been if you were just a little bit *better*

if ONLY Red were there. That would be hilarious I mean uh. Very sad. Very sad for him. poor guy...

Luckily for Red, he is not there for this conversation. He and Just Sans are having a different conversation on their own, since Frisk asked for Red to not be there at first. Though the first time Red hears Frisk call Black "dad" he's going to go through a lot all at once. He just didn't think it was possible, or that the word held any real meaning for Frisk. Which, to be fair, it didn't. It came to mean something to them, because it's how Black described their relationship, and he's cultivated a bond with them that has the tenderness and support that they need. Red wasn't able to provide that. What he was able to provide he labeled as a sibling relationship, because it was what he provided/wanted to provide for Fell, so he figured he might as well call it the same thing. (and also because he's aware somewhere in his heart that being forced into a parenting role with fell fucked him up really badly, so while he ended up being as much a parent as a brother to frisk, he has complicated feelings about that.)

Black's desire to yoink Fell and dote on/adopt him forever is also going to be a point of contention between Red and Black, though it may not go exactly how you'd think. Fell doesn't particularly want to be yoinked. While he still has a deep hunger for the affection and validation he never got from Red, he's less prepared than Frisk was to accept it from a relative stranger, so that instant bond with Black doesn't develop. He's used to pushing through his own unmet needs and insisting on his loyalty to Red even when Red himself tells Fell to give up on him and live a better life with people who can be better for him. Black seems to Fell like an incarnation of Red's self-hate: he's stringent about his moral code, he fears the capacity for violence that has kept his family alive, and most importantly he's a judge to the core. Fell also sees Slim's normally well-hidden tendency towards brutal efficiency above all else, and correctly identifies it as a lingering insecurity that if his brother is forced to do too much of the dirty work, he'll be lost forever. So, despite Black's best efforts to save them both, Fell can identify him as being vulnerable to moral self-destruction.

He also correctly identifies part of Black's resentment for Red as being a judgement of the choices Red has made, and Fell is sick to death of Red's self-recrimination. As far as he's concerned, he took the burden of the judge from his brother to save him from this belief that, since he's done such an awful job as a brother, he can never be better. He's chosen to forgive Red. He's chosen to give him a second chance, and in his own way, Red has treated that choice as sacred. He's done absolutely nothing without Fell's consult since then, except in dreams where Fell wasn't available to ask, and made intense efforts to at least try to offer Fell comfort and support where it's needed. He still lacks the skills, but he and Fell are trying so hard to repair their relationship that Black's resentment feels presumptive at best. Black knows of one thing that Red did, one terrible mistake that he made, and refuses to see how he's learned and grown from it. He's seeing the absolute nutjob Sans who hurt his siblingchild, and not Red who's trying to make things right, even if he'll never be forgiven. Not even the person who tried to be what Frisk needed, and tried to send them somewhere better when he realized that he couldn't.

So, when it comes to Black and Red having conflict, Fell will normally refuse to engage while passively sticking to Red like glue. The harder Black tries to pry him away, the more firm he'll be that he wants nothing to do with Black's one-sided drama with Red. He would love to get to know Black as a person, and he's intensely afraid that Black and Slim have replaced him and Red for Frisk, but he's not going to achieve his dreams by sacrificing his family. He still wants to have Frisk and Red both in his life, and he won't compromise.

He's petrified that this conviction will cause him to lose Frisk even after all this, but Frisk gets it. They did live with Red and Fell first, so it's natural to them that Fell can't leave Red. They try to convince Black to cool it about Red so that Fell can at least come to family events without feeling defensive and unwelcome, and they also have mixed emotions about Black's Red-hate campaign. They're glad to have someone so firmly in their corner, but there's still a large part of them that needs to know Red is okay to feel safe. They talk to Slim about their feelings about Red a lot more than anybody else, because Slim is always willing to listen and won't hold it against anyone if Frisk has conflicting feelings that they need to talk out.

All this to say: Red may have already accepted that Black is just better than him in every way and everyone is just going to love him and abandon Red for being broken at the first opportunity, but he's surrounded by a lot more love and loyalty than he realizes. And if he ever needs somebody in his corner, Blue fucking hates Black for unrelated reasons (they are too similar), and the feeling is mutual.

#whither then fic #lol this got long but. everyone's favorite terrible meow meow is goin thru it #red's relationships are so interesting to me #he more than anyone begs the question of second chances #does he deserve to be forgiven? at some point the question is incomprehensible #forgiveness isn't earned and it doesn't make someone a better person #it's a choice by the wounded party to move on #can red as someone who has wounded himself move on? #even if he can't; does that mean he has to mope about it eternally? #what can he do while not forgiving or forgetting what he's done? #the answer is functionally anything. he doesn't have to be forgiven to go grocery shopping. he doesn't have to have a grand redemption #to celebrate his birthday #to love his family #he can go the rest of his life without frisk's forgiveness and that doesn't mean he won't show up at their graduation from college #and even if he doesn't forgive himself he can still find peace and self improvement #what a guy. what a hard to describe guy

[alligaytorswamp]

i was pretty excited for alhthms & kvh's dynamic bc yaknow. roommates? And enemies/rivals to lovers? but then they actually released and just. hm. usually with rivals to lovers there's. soft moments there. mean words with subtle undertones of oh i actually care about you. but. alhtm is just. rude. all the time. there is no hidden subtext of care (at least not to me)....... i feel like the writers could've done such interesting things with their dynamic if only they didn't make alhtm an asshole 😭 i haven't played in a while but based on your posts it doesn't look like he had even a smidge of character development..... it's. disappointing

askjdhasjkd this is a fair expectation ngl!

i am actually completely fine with alth being a bad person and him having bad relationships with kaveh. it's valid and it's realistic, there are other negative relationships in this game after all but just like with them this specific one is being so blatantly misinterpreted by fandom it's kind of embarrassing... one thing is to have expectations, or an au, or whatever... another claim a ship is canon and these 2 people are 100% in love while (i'm assuming) not reading a single word in canon? it's clear from the very first interaction that these 2 characters not just ~dislike each other~ or have a few differences that they can work through, they are just completely incompatible in every way. and it's fine!! it's good to have different dynamics, i just wish people in this fandom could appreciate them or at least care about canon lol.. and it's coming from me!!! a man that got 2 of his otps out of pure delusion!!! like it's ok to make shit up but perhaps acknowledge the fact that it's Not Real???

going back to your points, yea you are right ... there is literally not a single genuinely positive moment between kaveh and althm, the most we have is kaveh being a decent person and alth just idk? taking it for granted with no appreciation or acknowledgment that he didin't even deserve such nice treatment in the first place? (aka chores being done for him, taking kaveh's drinks, expecting that kaveh will save food for him after going out)

alth is for real such a mean guy, and seeing all the thirst and hype for him confuses me so much, like does he have like a single redeeming quality at all? i am yet to see it.

also ajkdhasjkhdas i actually don't know if genshin ever really blesses us with "character development"? maybe i'm blanking but it feels like usually they like keeping characters in a weird ~stuck in time~ state.. which i suppose makes sense for a big game like that but also like.. man... ajksdlhjasdhk it's just very sad hhhh

also i am def not an althm expert, i skip everything about him bc he angers me this much, and i only tune in when it's about characters i like (aka the rest of sumeru lmao). so maybe i am in fact missing smth about him, maybe he has a soul somewhere deep inside, i, unfortunately, could not care less ajkldhsahdkashdj

#EXCUSE MY RANT IM JUST VERY EMO AND ANGRY ABOUT ALL OF THAT #alth is my trigger topic i guess akjsdhkasld #ask adry #anonymous #ye honestly be careful one mention of a thing i dont like and you are guaranteed to receive a big post aljhdqwuhdasjlhfjkwdsafc

[lilacofficial]

JRWI Apotheosis episode 1 commentary Part 4 (End)

Last part of episode 1 let's go!

Lol Hey Bizly.

Good luck Bizly.

Loones and tuneies?

Wait those are real?! I thought it was some sort of Looney Tunes joke

My bad. *Loonies and toonies*.

"I could defeat the bear."...."I could fight the bear.".

That's my favorite soda! No Name brand

G O D S L A Y E R S?!

Strict training. I understand Bizly's no laughing thing now.

Oh wait. His he one of the sons?

Champion's helmet.

His voice. 😮

Is that how that line goes?

Lol fair enough dude.

He just wants to read his magazines. Poor dude.

Oh dang. That's intense.

Oh. I've got some bad news about your guys' Dad in the very very near future.

Big words. ("I could take you right now actually.")

You'll see it soon my dude. Give it like a few hours.

Spicing?

"Spicing?" Lol that's what I said!

Forbidden room.

A natural 1 against a natural 20. Oof.

He's like, "Dang. I didn't think he would be so dumb and easy to trick 😂.".

So this isn't that family then?

Well.... that's unfortunate. I have a sneaking suspicion that things will go wrong today

Aw poor dude. 1

Oh. Adopted?

Canopy bed?

CANOPY BED!!

Their Dad is a cartoon character. Same clothes everyday.

Look? Look for what?

Oh. Is that the first time we've heard his name?

Contour. 💄

DIRTY ON THE DOWN LOW. 🤣

Secret passage?

Secret passage!

Like a Mom lol

Oh music.

Oh. Oh no. Medical table?

BRUH. WHAT?!

That's creepy.

Loudly.

Oh my gosh.

A little shocked?! I'm speechless. I know I'm typing but my mouth is shut and my eyes are wide.

Dad?

Project. Thanatos.

Oh. Oh no.

Oh no no no no no no no no no no NO!

😰

Evil Gods?

G O D S L A Y E R!

Aw. Poor Thanatos. 😢

Insert Vine here. 😏 (That Vine is so funny and for what)

Very valid Thanatos.

Does he stab his Dad?!

Soccer mom-ing it. ⚽️

Podium?

Bowling time. 👦 🎳

Oh no. He's like, "Time to try again." 🗡.

Oh dang.

I.AM.SHAKING.

Oh my gosh.

Oh my gosh. 😟

⚔

This is so sad.

Durian? Is it because he stinks? 😂

360 no scope.

His wires. 😦

Oh dang. ("I was never your son.".)

Mechanics whirring. 🥺

Lol. Got him.

Oooo stained glass.

Oooooooo. Symbolism. I hope someone has drawn that scene.

Oh two attacks!

Third imposter! 😂

"I'm used to Chip. Chip just kind of do shit."

Lol that's okay Bizly. I would probably do the same thing.

Oh dang Thantos. That's quite a line.

Yeah. He was unprepared for this.

Aw. Not his brothers. 😟

What was that Bizly? 😂

An opening to open him.

Dang.

BaAg. I love the way Canadians say bag. It makes the word sound cooler.

"If we're past that at this point." Ouch.

L

Aw. Ow. 💔 ("It was an honour to serve under who I thought you were.")

Aw. My heart.

"I'm gonna smite this Motherfucker! I'm pissed off! At the dice! In real life!"

10 robot damage.

"How do you wanna do this?" 😟

My jaw just dropped.

Aw dang.

The mechanics!!

Oof.

Oh my gosh.

Only 20 minutes ago.

My mouth is agape. I bet I look so dumb right now.

Religous deconstruction lol

Oh yeah. I forgot....again.

"I've said my piece." BIZLY!

I do feel bad for the brothers and sisters. At this point. Who knows lol

"That was metal as fuck man! And not just cause I'M metal! But holy shit that was cool!" I AGREE!!

That was a lot.

I am worried bit also super intrested and looking forward to this campaign.

I can't wait for them all to meet and see what kind of dynamics they have with each other!

Obviously Charlie, Grizzly and Bizly were great but I just want to give a round of applause to Condi real quick.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

That was amazing.

#jrwi apotheosis episode 1 #jrwi apotheosis #jrwi #spoilers

[miraculouscontent]

It’s heeeeere! Another summasalt, this time with nearly twice the length of the first one!

(Turns out that not having caffeine doesn’t help me talk any slower.)

Script below:

Anonymous asked:

Thoughts on Rocketear?

Can you Rocketear the newest episode apart with your salt, my beloved Salt Queen?

Penny for your thoughts on Rocketear?

Aw, anon! You can have that for free! I'm a generous goddess.

"Rocketear" begins with Chat Noir and Carapace - just Carapace, really - holding back a pack of what I presume to be the physical manifestation of the writing staff's age, or at least a representation of how behind the times the writing seems.

Just as the dinosaurs break through Shellter. Ladybug shows up with the scientist who revived the dinosaurs in the first place and said scientist uses a whistle to calm the dinosaurs down. There's also a line from Bob Roth about putting the dinosaurs in a theme park to make money and I know what it's referencing but it's so incredibly random that it doesn't really come off as a proper joke.

Carapace was notably sad right after battle, but insisted that he was fine when Ladybug asked. Rena, sporting a... - I would like to say "new design" but it's a recolor in every sense of the word - is hiding behind part of a building and smiles after the heroes before walking off. Ladybug takes Nino's miraculous back but sees that he's still upset and asks him again what's wrong. Nino asks where Alya was and Ladybug claims that she only needed Carapace for the job, which cheers him up but only until Ladybug is already gone.

Mm, I guess Nino and Adrien relate in heroism not being enough for them unless they have their respective love interest to flirt with.

Also, I know this is an obvious set-up, but the show can't tell me that Ladybug just always brought Nino and Alya whenever she needed one of them. Season 3 required her to go to Master Fu to get the miraculouses, and unless she already knew that Nino and Alya would be in the same location - which, okay, the show does basically shove the two of them together whenever Nino is onscreen, fair, if two characters are in a relationship in this show then it's weird for them to NOT be with that person - but it just seems like a gamble, not to mention proof to Shadow Moth that the two are close if Ladybug constantly brings both of them.

Anyway, Ladybug goes into the sewer and asks Rena if she's seen any sign of Shadow Moth or his traps. Rena didn't see anything and they de-transform. Marinette is about to leave when she thinks of something, but Alya assumes it's about her new look, which was apparently not voluntary on her part and the suit automatically adapted to Alya's new role as Rena Furtive, which she has now named it as.

Marinette reminds her that this is supposed to be a secret and that they agreed that the fox has no owner. When Alya is evasive about whether she told Nino that she won't be Rena anymore, Marinette stresses that everyone needs to believe that Alya won't be using a miraculous anymore so that she can remain an undercover spy.

What's the point in changing the look if you're not going to show yourself anyway? I mean, insurance, I guess, but still.

Alya, exasperated, parrots what Marinette has apparently told her before: that she helps Ladybug with Mirage in case Shadow Moth tries to follow her so Rena can follow him instead. Marinette stresses the situation again and Alya tries to get Marinette to agree on her telling Nino that she's Rena Furtive, but Marinette refuses.

At Marinette's house, Alya talks further and explains that she doesn't know if she can lie to Nino since they don't keep any secrets--Alya, babe, you kept Rena Rouge from him and didn't tell him that you knew he was Carapace until Ladybug was forced to give you your miraculouses at the same time. I don't wanna hear it.

Marinette states that it's too late for that and also not technically a lie, but Alya gets upset and says that Nino will never trust her again if he finds out that she kept something from him. Marinette brings up how she had to keep secrets from Alya too, but they're interrupted by Tom appearing and wanting to play games with them. Marinette makes an excuse about homework that she's repeated many times, as Tom comments that the teachers give her too much. After Tom is kicked out - hang on, lemme just... - Marinette uses the moment to show Alya that she's lied to her family a lot and hasn't played games with her father in months. She states that there's no other option as they have to protect their identities, and Alya agrees to talk to Nino.

In Alya's room - I just presume at this point that Nino's house doesn't exist and Chris is an illusion - Alya tells Nino that they need to talk, but stammers and states that it's hard to talk about. Nino thinks that she wants to break up with him, but Alya assures that she loves him. She finally gets to the cover story that Rena herself made up in "Sentibubbler" and Nino understands, sad that she won't be around anymore but agreeing if it's what Ladybug thinks is best.

Is it weird that Nino respects Ladybug's wishes more than Alya does?

Nino hugs her and is confused by why Alya was nervous to tell him, as she can tell him anything and nothing will change their relationship. Alya feels guilty and hugs back, murmuring about how they don't have any secrets; that's not what Nino said, but sure, push this plot to its already predictable conclusion. I mean, I thought it was vaguely sweet that Nino switched to seriousness immediately when Alya said that she wanted to talk, but how am I supposed to be invested in this couple when their dynamic boils down to "STRONG, INDEPENDANT WOMAN who wears the pants in the relationship because her boyfriend is portrayed as a wimpy coward"? Like, the show constantly dragged Nino down to make Alya look "powerful" by comparison, and then when it comes to characters like Marinette, we get a girl who works very well outside of her relationship with her endgame love interest.

It's the fakest form of "girl power," dragging guys down to raise girls up or actually making a strong girl character but having her love interest be a weakness that creates flaws in her that weren't there originally and having that love interest be who she's "destined for."

I'm rambling, sorry.

In class, Marinette assures Alya that she did the right thing and Alya agrees. As they're leaving school, Marinette talks about how their "night walks" start soon, and Alya non-subtly talks about how Rena Furtive will be on the lookout while Ladybug and Chat Noir patrol. She stops, however, as gets excited about some pictures she took of herself as Rena Furtive, which has a lot of details that Marinette hasn't seen. I don't know whether to groan at what I just heard or remind everyone that Rena Furtive is literally just a recolor and therefore this is the writers patting themselves on the back for this design, so let's just move on.

Alya then shows Marinette her phone--AUGH, MY EYES--and suggests making a poll on her Ladyblog so people can vote for their favorite Rena design. Marinette has to stress again that Rena Furtive is supposed to be a spy and thus invisible, which Alya admits that she forgot about.

Okay, I've been holding off on talking about this, but now seems like the best time to bring it up. Alya has been a trash friend as well as a trash confidant, and her role as Rena Rouge boiled down to, "it was convenient for her to be the fox at the time it was needed." She's not particularly stealthy like one would expect of a fox, and she was easily one of the worst candidates to be told Marinette's big secret. I'll get more into this later, but I have to stress that Alya has treated Marinette no differently since learning of Marinette's identity and has already gone against Marinette's orders once before at the time of this episode airing. Episodes are constantly torn between validating their decision to have Marinette tell Alya, having Marinette be worried about the decision while the show considers her to be ridiculous for it, and then having Alya either consider or make choices that clearly don't gel well with what's good for her role. Much like Marinette, she lacks a sense of self-control and--wow, a female character who's impulsive, never seen that stereotype before.

Point being, "Sentibubbler" stressed over and over that Alya was the right choice and deserved to be both the permanent fox and the understudy for guardian, but then we have "Rocketear" here where Alya is making basic emotionally-driven errors that I'm not even remotely sympathetic to when Marinette has gone through so much worse over the course of three+ seasons.

*sigh*

Alya laments that it's hard to find new content for the Ladyblog - ah, yes, tell me more about your struggles, Alya - but figures that at least she can post stuff about Chat Noir instead of--I don't know--making fake Ladybug theories to lead people off Marinette's trail. Marinette says that it's a great idea, though Alya still doesn't look too happy. The scene then rewinds to a little bit to show a different point of view, this time with Adrien and Nino. Wait, this feels familiar, wasn't there another episode that did something like--ohhhh no, this is going to hurt.

After saying good-bye to Adrien - something I wish I could do every time he's mentioned or on-screen - Nino catches the bit of conversation where Alya talks about the Ladyblog. Nino talks as if Marinette isn't there and asks Alya out to the movies because Marinette is chopped liver and this is about Alya and how sad she is, guys.

Wow, she's turning into Adrien faster and faster.

Alya hesitates, but Marinette assures her that there's still time. Alya excitedly runs off with Nino and they watch what I presume are previews given the narrator, featuring recycled footage from the Ladybug PV. Nino is upset because Rena is mentioned but not Carapace, and the preview features Rena telling Chat Noir to forget Ladybug because it's Chat and Rena herself who are trulu made for each other.

I don't know what's funnier; the complete lack of self-awareness or the suggestion that a biracial couple would exist in this show outside of a special that gives them maybe a minute of screentime and acts more like suggestive canon anyway. I think I might've been too generous with that line about dinosaurs.

Nino is offended by the preview and Alya brushes off his comments, stating that it's just a cartoon and it's made to entertain people, though Nino himself is certainly not entertained. Can't say I entirely blame him considering that Alya doesn't really try to say anything substantial or even agree with him. No cuddling or reassuring kisses, she just gets slightly sad and turns to her phone for a bit.

After the movie, Nino is cheered back up again until he catches Alya on her phone once more. He offers to take her home, but she's distracted, and he comments that what she showed to Marinette looked pretty nice; I don't know because they didn't show it. Nino asks what it was and Alya evades the question, stating that her battery is running out. Nino is suspicious, but spots Andre's ice cream cart and the two head over there. Andre calls them his favorite couple and asks what they want, but Alya sees Ladybug gesturing for her and has to run off, giving Nino a cheek kiss as she goes which feels like too little too late at this point.

Nino catches some conveniently-placed kids arguing over who Chat Noir loves, but they settle on the fact that girls in general love Chat Noir. Nino is then seen at the Seine watching the Ladyblog's latest video, where Alya is talking up how amazing Chat Noir is. I hate to stop every five seconds to complain - okay, actually I don't - but I presume this video must've been made after the movie since Nino seems like the type who would actively follow his girlfriend's blog, yet not only is this video perfectly set up to echo the kids and the movie preview, but Alya - despite apparently caring about her boyfriend soooo much that she kept trying to convince Marinette to bend the rules - didn't even try to warn Nino or text him so he doesn't take it too seriously. It's like "Sentibubbler" with the conflicting messages about identity rules; Alya cares about her boyfriend but both isn't thinking about how he'll take the things she says and apparently doesn't know him well enough to realize that he wouldn't be mad over her keeping a secret that she was told to keep. I already talked about how they play up Nino to be the emotionally weaker one of the relationship, but then they don't have Alya try to cover or make up for that. She's been acting very much not like Alya - you know, the one who in "Sapotis" practically bragged about how great she'd be at covering for Ladybug - with her stutters and weak excuses, so I can't completely blame Nino for being upset after everything that's happened when he sees the writers projecting onto Alya as she talks about how Chat Noir is brave and funny and cute and showing all these images of him as well. I don't agree with all of his actions, but--oh yeah, speaking of which--

Nino calls Adrien and is talking to him about how Alya must be in love with someone else. Adrien dismisses the idea, as Alya and Nino are together basically all the time, and asks who she could possibly be in love with. When Nino suggests that it's Chat Noir, Adrien laughs and jokes about it being Fang instead. Nino points out the video but Adrien did see it but is overall unphased and convinced that it means nothing. Nino says that he'll find proof and hangs up, but Adrien is certain he'll find nothing. Plagg comments that Nino will find someone because Plagg's charisma has definitely contaminated Adrien.

Ugh.

Adrien expresses concern that he put on the cat's charm too much and accidentally made Alya fall for him, and decides to visit Alya as Chat Noir to be sure.

Meanwhile, we get a reference to film noirs as Nino narrates. That's the second blatant reference this episode and now I feel like they wrote this script while doing a movie marathon.

Chat Noir arrives at Alya's house and Trixx hides before Alya opens the curtains to reveal her surprise guest. Nino is nearby watching the scene with his phone as Alya wonders aloud if something's wrong. Chat assures that everything's fine, but brings up the video she posted. He insists that it made him happy, but points out that she's been following him and Ladybug since the beginning and that they know each other much better due to everything that's happened. He has some conveniently-worded dialog as he starts to say that he hopes something's just an illusion and Alya gets worried that he's about to bring up Rena. Chat continues and clarifies that he wonders if she started to feel something for him, though adds that he understands because just look at him.

UGGGGH.

Chat clarifies by making a heart with his hands, which Nino sees. Alya laughs at this gesture and states that she has a boyfriend, doing the same heart gesture and suggesting that her love for Nino is even more than that. Chat Noir apologizes - hm, I didn't know he had the capacity to do that - and hugs Alya, saying that he was just confused.

An absolutely unnecessary hug for two people who, at least in terms of their current selves, have had very little screentime together, but this is also the show where making eye contact basically means your friends and it's all just to push the plot along so Nino inteprets that Alya is in love with Chat Noir, so whatever I guess.

Alya states that Nino is far more irresistable than Chat, then adds that she doesn't even know his secret identity, and she'd never fall in love with someone she doesn't know. Nino then runs away upset and the scene cuts away to the next day where--

Wait, wait, wait, hang on a second. Two things right off the bat there.

First off, we're just gonna sidle past that "wouldn't fall in love with someone you don't know the identity of" while ignoring the existence of the love square? Not even Chat thinking about how he doesn't know Ladybug's identity and trying to excuse that he doesn't have to? This guy is that certain of their relationship?

Secondly, Nino is practically sobbing and Shadow Moth doesn't take this as his opportunity? Same guy who akumatized Mr. Pigeon 72 times and has akumatized Gigantitan more than once? What is this pacing???

But--alright, so Adrien comes into school and sees Nino, still dressed up in his detective gear, which gets ignored completely as Adrien goes to tell him about Chat Noir and Alya. Because the show doesn't know how Adrien would convey this within reason, Nino interrupts him, taking him down into the lower part of the school where he has a desk and chairs set up. Adrien goes to ask when Nino had time to do this, but Nino slams his hand on the desk to cut him off. Nino presents the evidence he took and they go back and forth, likewise with Adrien turning off the background music while Nino turns it back on. Adrien insists that it's a misunderstanding, but pleads innocent when Nino asks how he knows. Adrien states that Alya is just a superhero fan and that she and Chat Noir have nothing in common.

Again, the complete lack of self-awareness is astonishing.

Adrien repeats what Alya said about secret identities and how she wouldn't fall for someone she doesn't know - they're really ignoring this, aren't they? - and continues hitting Nino's soft spots about how unlikely it is until Nino decides to tell Adrien something he's not supposed to.

He tells Adrien, not only that Alya is Rena Rouge, but that he's Carapace. Adrien goes through a range of emotions beyond sAD for once, shocked at the fact that they know each other's identities. Nino states that they don't keep secrets from each other, except now Alya is with Chat Noir. Adrien still doesn't understand and brings up how secret identities have to be protected, or else Nino wouldn't have told him because Ladybug wouldn't agree to it.

Oh, here we go. So that's why they waited.

Nino states that it was Ladybug herself who gave them their miraculouses at the same time; not giving the reason why, of course, nor pointing out that they're temporary heroes so there's understandably some leeway. Adrien is having a moment, but manages to bring the subject back to Alya and Chat Noir, who he still doesn't think are a thing. Nino argues that it's because Adrien doesn't know Chat Noir, but he does because he's Carapace and knows how Chat Noir acts. He says that it's all flowers and confessions when Ladybug appears, but he gets rejected because Ladybug thinks that he's annoying, and she's right. He adds that Chat flirts with Rena Rouge and that's all that needs to happen, with Chat stepping in on the first mission Carapace lost in. Nino laments the loss of the love of his life and wishes to shut Chat Noir up forever; we all do, Nino, we all do. Shadow Moth finally steps in with - oh, less than eight minutes left in the episode, yikes - and Nino is akumatized into Rocketear.

Rocketear rejects Adrien's pleas to stop, insisting that Chat Noir is who he's after, not Adrien, and Adrien transforms in sad fashion despite Plagg's reminder of who Rocketear is after. Alya, meanwhile, is in the art club with Marinette - wait, since when was Alya in the art club - telling Marinette about how Chat Noir thought she was into him due to the video, which Marinette groans at. There's an earthquake and they peek outside to see Rocketear firing his tears at Chat Noir, shouting that he stole Alya from him. Chat Noir tries to tell him otherwise, but Rocketear won't listen.

Alya groans at Nino doing this, then she and Marinette set off to find a place to transform. They conveniently go to the same place Adrien and Nino were, so they see the desk that Nino had set up.

Genuine question, how seriously does this episode want me to take itself, because now when I recount all the unnecessary love square drama in my head - because you know that's where this is going - I'm going to have to think, "Nino, dressed in a detective outfit, ripped off his fake mustache and told Adrien both his and Rena's identities, and also that Ladybug was totally cool with it and thinks that Chat Noir is annoying."

Gettin' two completely different vibes here. The episode clearly wants to be important but it doesn't take itself seriously either, which it totally could while including enough jokes to keep things light. Instead, I'm just left scratching my head and wondering what tone they're going for.

Marinette finds Nino's phone on the desk - I'm calling continuity error on that one because he at no point put it on the desk, at least not on-screen - and she questions Alya on the video she sees. Alya insists that nothing happened, apparently completely unphased by her boyfriend having spied on her, and says that he wouldn't have misunderstood if he'd heard the actual conversation.

The two transform and Ladybug immediately uses Lucky Charm, receiving a projector. Ladybug is clueless and Rena Furtive suggests creating an imaginary movie like Nino. Ladybug gets an idea, remembering Alya's earlier comments, and Rena confirms that she remembers every word of it.

Aaaaand, just like that, all of the tension has been completely sucked away. You know, "Backwarder" was a trash episode, but at least when Ladybug was showing every step of her plan, she didn't tell us what it was.

Meanwhile, Rocketear and Chat Noir are still arguing--I started zoning out at hearing the same thing over and over again at this point, so I just presume they were fighting over who does stuff behind their love interest's backs better; I don't think they came to an agreement but they're both losers anyway.

Chat Noir says that he'll prove his innocence, tossing his baton aside to show him giving up, but Rocketear points out that it proves nothing and strikes Chat Noir with his tears.

Our endgame love interest, everyone. Straight As yet about as smart as a sack of bricks, and that at least won't flirt with anyone non-consensually.

Chat Noir makes a point that he doesn't want to hurt Rocketear, and Shadow Moth tells Rocketear to take his miraculous before finishing him. Chat Noir can only weakly tell him not to before Ladybug snags Rocketear's wrist and diverts the shot. Ladybug explains to Rocketear about the projector and how it'll let him hear the audio of the recording he took. She adds that she doesn't know what Chat said, but she trusts him.

Marinette, I'm sorry, I feel so bad for you.

Ladybug turns on the projector and Rocketear relaxes at actually hearing what was going on. Rena then de-transforms and hurries out to meet with Rocketear, hugging him as Rocketear apologizes for doubting her. Alya also kinda sorta apologizes in a way I don't understand and Rocketear then breaks his akumatization, very casually, all on his own.

Yeah, just--casually, in a matter of seconds in fact. You know, it's really sad when people resisting akumatizations are more tense and emotionally compelling than them breaking them. This is twice in one season now and has zero impact considering that Nino's reason for being akumatized was already taken care of so he had no reason to stay akumatized anyway. Him breaking his own object to release the akuma would've at least been different, but instead it's just a repeat of what Alya went through with even less tension considering that Alya's wasn't even that good in the first place, relying on her relationship to Ladybug rather than who she knew to be her best friend.

Moving on, Ladybug captures the akuma and uses Miraculous Ladybug to bring everything back to normal. Shadow Moth monologues about how love and secrets don't go well together and he's sure that she has a lot and I'll talk about this later.

Ladybug hands over the magical charm, which Nino takes but insists that he won't need it, as he'll never let Shadow Moth use his love to manipulate him again. Plenty of other things to get akumatized over, but they gave the supposedly ace character a robot to help him stick out and also gave the supposedly aro character a miraculous back in season one to give her more importance. If characters aren't in love then they need something to ceompensate for it.

Nino apologizes to Chat Noir for being wrong and Chat Noir assures him that everyone has doubts, even him. He gets sad and Ladybug asks him what's wrong, but he insists that he's fine - officially throwing away his right to be upset at her later as far as I'm concerned - and they do their usual fist buuuuu--

...Really?

Everyone then splits up and Chat Noir sulks by himself instead of--you know, talking to Ladybug, or asking her anything, or making any sort of excuse for her because that would mean he actually has faith in her and understands that their partnership is different from temporary heroes, even if the excuse was as basic as her wanting to protect him more than the others because he would be that egotistical if they didn't want to stretch out this unnecessary drama.

Later on, Adrien is staring at a picture on the Ladyblog that might be a metaphor for the show considering how "in the foreground" Chat Noir and Rena are.

Adrien vents about Ladybug giving miraculouses to Alya and Nino, but Plagg states that she's the guardian. Adrien clarifies that he's referring to Alya and Nino knowing each other's identities, but Plagg doesn't see the issue. Adrien gets huffy and asks why the rule exists for LadyNoir but not Ninya, but Plagg again points out that she's the guardian, so she makes the rules, though obviously he uses cheese metaphors to convey it.

Okay, Plagg is only, like--half-right because he doesn't have all the information. If you don't mind me rambling for a bit, I'm on the fence here because, on one hand--yes, I agree that Marinette should be allowed to make her own rules, and I often do that in my writing because I think she should be permitted leeway in order to let herself be happy, but on the other hand, it's not technically her rule, as she had to let Alya and Nino in on their identities back in the Season 2 finale, so Fu was still around for a season. She wasn't even guardian yet!

Now, presumably so the fandom could blame Marinette if anything happened, Marinette never discussed this with Fu on-screen, so I can't say whether or not Fu knew, but I feel like he must've since Marinette had to have told him the heroes' identities off-screen, given "Party Crasher," and thus I imagine that Marinette would tell Fu everything that happened, which is consistent with what she does on-screen even if she'd keep things from him for a little while.

"Furious Fu" had also established that not even Master Fu followed rules completely, meaning that Marinette is in this awkward spot of mostly following what Fu taught her, which aren't all guardian rules anyway, and having to break the rules on occasion for various purposes. I can't say what Fu approved of and what he didn't, because episodes spend so much time on the love square that they forget about Marinette as a person and how she interacts with everyone else. From an emotional standpoint, I can't blame Marinette for not revoking the miraculouses of people whose identities get discovered because of her, as I imagine she feels guilty and it probably doesn't seem fair to force them into another miraculous or have them be entirely without one because of a mistake that she made, meaning that someone needs to be throwing a lot of red flags for Marinette to be through with them.

Though obviously, from the show's standpoint, it's just an excuse to not make new models, but I complained about that enough in "Sentibubbler" and this episode even went out of its way to design a detective model for Nino while spraypainting Alya's bodysuit in the same breath, so this is the world we live in.

Anyway, Marinette is essentially in this position where she still has Fu's rules hovering over her, but she's also trying to step out on her own and make her own decisions to varying degrees of success or failure depending on your point of view. Tikki--wait, no, bad idea--Su-Han then, could easily give input on these things, perhaps with Marinette discussing a modern day set of rules for someone her age and going back and forth with Su-Han on what the right choices to make are, finding something that's comfortable but within a realm of predictable control. Su-Han was okay with some rules being broken after seeing how Ladybug handled them and they could've easily made this episode about that instead, but instead, we get rules being set and then being broken on a writer's whim.

Which now brings us to the end of the episode, where Marinette is on the phone with Alya and apologizes for causing trouble between her and Nino. Alya tells her not to worry and she'll fix things - you know, those things that, to Marinette's knowledge, have already been fixed - and asks if Marinette trusts her. Marinette does, and Alya hangs up in order to face Nino.

Yeah, that feeling of dread in your stomach? That means you know how predictable the writing is and what's about to happen, good for you.

Alya explains that she has to tell Nino something and he's worried, this time trying to sheepishly break the tension. She explains that she's still Rena Rouge, much to Nino's shock, and adds that she's in hiding, which is why Ladybug didn't want her to tell anyone. Nino asks why she's telling him if she's not supposed to tell anyone - proving my point from a while back that he wouldn't have been upset had she kept it a secret - then asks if Ladybug agreed with it.

I want to give him a pat on the back for considering Ladybug, but he didn't even tell her when he had the chance that Adrien knows his identity now, so I'm just beaten down at this point.

Instead of answering the question directly, Alya says that she can't hide her identity from him because she loves him and they don't have secrets.

You know, like Nino telling Adrien about Rena's identity, or Alya saying specifically that she's a permanent holder, which I'm sure both of them will confess to since they said that they don't have--aaaaand the episode ends on happy triumphant music, okay.

I mean, I guess Alya at least didn't tell him that Marinette was Ladybug, but that is such a low bar and not even remotely worthy of congratulations when Alya told Nino the specific thing that Marinette told Alya not to tell; the thing that they had agreed on.

Nino wasn't upset anymore. He won't be getting akumatized either. Alya endured the supposed hardship of being a permanent fox holder for four episodes before breaking down and telling her boyfriend. Even her excuse doesn't hold any water because, again, they're both still technically keeping a secret, particularly Alya who knows Marinette's identity as Ladybug. The episode also apparently forgets that Alya and Marinette's friendship must not be as strong by her logic of telling Nino specifically everything, as Alya kept Rena Rouge a secret from Marinette for all of Season 3, but tells Nino about continuing to be Rena Rouge in Season 4. Boyfriends before BFFs without explicitly saying it, or to be more specific, whatever screws Marinette over the most, because that's what this comes down to, made worse by "Optigami" where Marinette told Alya that she'd tell her everything and I guess that doesn't go both ways.

"Sentibubbler" had Alya stress that no one would ever know. She promised Marinette and told Marinette to trust her, and the episode spent its entire running time talking her up and assuring Marinette that she was the right choice, even considering Marinette ridiculous for worrying when Alya had done something without Marinette's permission the episode right before it. Then, three episodes after "Sentibubbler," when Marinette is finally comfortable and trusts Alya completely, Alya betrays that trust. Nino betrayed that trust, knowing he wasn't supposed to do so but telling Adrien his and Rena's identity anyway, because he was losing an argument and needed to PROVE something.

Marinette gives them an inch and they take a mile. Marinette bent the rules so that they could continue to have the miraculous they'd started with and they disrespected her because it was hard for like a day.

And if this bites them back, it won't reflect poorly on them, it'll reflect poorly on Marinette.

It's not like Alya just overrode Marinette. She didn't go, "Hey, I'm telling Nino, I'm sorry," or tried her hardest to go back and forth with Marinette until they both agreed. No, she did what she told Marinette she wouldn't do without saying a word to her, because LOVE and SEEEECRETS.

And this only applies to her, of course, because don't think I didn't notice the parallels between this episode and "Truth," because WOW.

Episode begins with Marinette hoping for something and it blows up in her face? A date at the cinema that ends on a sour note? Plot-centric couple trying to get Andre's ice cream and the female with a secret needing to leave in a hurry? Boyfriend character getting akumatized over their girlfriend's secret? Boyfriend assumes/suggests that the girlfriend's secret involves Aaaaaadrien - or his alter-ego in "Rocketear"'s case - and the episode hints as much to him even though he's completely wrong? Akuma's colors are blue and black? THE BRIDGE?

But, ahhh, little difference, here and there, y'know, like how Marinette was forced to break up with her boyfriend while Alya got to keep hers, and Nino got to have long talks with Alya while Luka got little to nothing with Marinette.

Because do note that Alya, while trying to convince Marinette and talk to Nino about not keeping secrets, at no point suggests that Marinette deserves to be happy and deserves to have a boyfriend and that Marinette should be allowed to tell Luka her secret so they can get back together, so you have Alya here selfishly prioritizing her relationship with Nino while making no comment about Marinette's relationship, essentially asking Marinette to allow her what Marinette herself didn't have the luxury of, and Alya knows this because Marinette told her. It is both incredibly insensitive of Alya and incredibly insulting of the show to make so many parallels between this episode and "Truth" just to have everything crash down for Marinette because she's Marinette while everything goes well for Alya and Nino because they're not Marinette.

We've talked before about the formulas that are literally baked into the show, and one of those is how Marinette makes a mistake in every episode and has to learn from it. What that mistake is in this episode, I don't know, but considering that she apologizes for Alya and Nino's problems, I guess the show blames her for what they themselves had taught her.

Point being, there's a clear karma system in place, but it only applies to Marinette, and forcing her to mess up in every episode means that she is literally not allowed to be with Luka because had she been able to clear things up between them, he would've eagerly accepted her and they could've been happy. It'd be too difficult for her to mess up when Luka doesn't put mountains of pressure and expectations on her like everyone else. Factor that in with how she can be herself around him and it leads to situation that are too difficult for her to screw up in because her mistakes - more often than not - center around Adrien or her role as guardian.

And because another rule in the show is to bring up Adrien so they don't "lose him for too long," she can't avoid bringing him up either. If he's not in the plot, he has to be mentioned, leaving Marinette in a lose-lose situation that she'll never be free from.

So, let me just get this straight then:

The guy who spied on his girlfriend instead of talking to her about his assumptions gets to keep his girlfriend, not because he realized it was wrong regardless of whether he was correct or not, but because the situation had been cleared up for him, yet the guy who actively resisted his akumatization, saddened by his girlfriend's secrets but wanting her to share them when she was ready, gets broken up with and tossed to the wayside because he's not a rich blond boy who got a miraculous because he happened to be within the twenty meters of space where Fu was searching for new holders?

Meanwhile, the girlfriend who has gone against the wishes and insistence of her best friend - guardian of the miraculouses, by the way, so she calls the shots, something that Alya herself said in "Optigami" BEFORE GOING ON TO DO HER OWN THING IN THE SAME EPISODE AND BEING REWARDED FOR IT - is allowed to go against the wishes and insistence of her best friend again for the sake of "all love, no secrets" with her boyfriend and so she can have the happy ending she wants, yet the girl who was chosen for a miraculous without her consent, forced to screw up and talk about a random boy who doesn't even go out of his way to spend time with her, treated like absolute trash by writers who find humor in her misery, and is the only one to receive overly harsh and long-lasting consequences for her actions while also covering up and forgiving the actions of others within the episode where they do it...

doesn't get her happy ending, and won't ever get her happy ending. That thing Shadow Moth said about love and secrets not going well together? Yeah, only goes as far as the writers want it to, because both Nino and Alya still have secrets, and some of the ones they did tell each other were forced by someone else and kept until that very moment. This idea that people in love have to tell each other everything and that it makes a relationship stronger makes me immensely uncomfortable, and that lesson is also in "Guiltrip."

People should be allowed their secrets, and obviously there are exceptions for things that are being hidden with malicious intent, but being essentially forced to share everything or risk not having a "full and complete" relationship is stifling and sounds like it'd only cause stress.

This episode sucks. It furthers and confirms everything I've already thought about the show, Nino's screentime continues to be dependent on Adrien, Alya, or both, there are pointless references that completely take me out of the experience, and the utter betrayal from Alya and supposed message of the episode just reminds me that Marinette is inevitably going to be stuck with a guy who didn't even DO anything in this episode and is going to let himself stew instead of asking for any sort of clarifications from someone he apparently trusts so much.

So the takeaway is that Marinette's life is awful, she'll be forced to apologize for rules that she didn't even come up with herself, her best friend will walk all over her for the sake of her relationship with a guy - not even for the sake, really, they were going to be fine, it was more for HER personal comfort if anything - and the guy who actually makes Marinette happy and could've known her identity instead BECAUSE HE AT LEAST DIDN'T HAVE A TRACK RECORD OF SPILLING HER SECRETS gets treated in the exact same way that she does; like nothing, just something to abuse unfairly.

What a waste of an episode.

#MC's Videos #category: episode summaries #category: salt #salt: adrien agreste #salt: chat noir #salt: alya cesaire #salt: nino lahiffe #video: critique #MC's Renders #render: persona #episode: Rocketear #((I would usually apologize for rambling but you guys seem to like it lol.)) #((I could still afford to trim down the summary probably and repeat myself/ramble a BIT less but yeah.)) #((I'm also feeling a little more comfortable this time around)) #((which might come off in my inflections.))

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Nili’s Benchmark Geraskier Fic Rec List

hey yall! I officially hit 750 followers (a few days ago, I blew past the benchmark without even realizing!), which is... insane. I truly can’t believe that so many people over the last year have enjoyed my presence in this fandom enough to continue to follow my work. you guys are so great and I love you all so much, so I decided to put together a gift for you!

this is a list of my favorite geraskier fics from the fandom, which I have been putting together over the last year or so. a few of these are big in the fandom, but a lot of them are smaller pieces that I feel deserve more attention! I have provided ao3 and tumblr links where I could find them, as well as ratings and summaries. Most of these are canon!verse because I’m not personally a big fan of modern au’s, but there will be a few of those scattered throughout as well. I’ve divided the fics into two sections: oneshots and multichapter. See the list below the cut!

Being in this fandom truly has gotten me through the pandemic in a big way and I have made so many good friends while here. thank you all for validating my weird obsession with these characters and enabling me in these trying times <3

Oneshots

all that was good, all that was fair (all that was me is gone) | M | 7517 | WARNING: Graphic Depictions Of Violence | @xdandelionxbloomx

Somewhere, deep in a forest, a man drags himself from his grave by sheer power of will. He lies gasping on the forest floor and does not know who or what he is. The world is wide and wonderful, though, and there is so much to see.

Or, Jaskier is so stubborn that he literally comes back from the dead.

Another fascinating addition to the mythology of the Witcher. Jaskier’s slow rediscovery of himself is so well done here. One I’ve come back to again and again. 

As Fast As Love Can Go | T | 9628 | @bygodstillam

There are Faeries in the Wood.

That's what everyone said, at least, not that there was any solid proof. Jaskier had tried, more than once, to find some. Just a hint somewhere, of a real story, of real magic. But all anyone seemed to have was stories.

Jaskier was determined to find proof. He wasn't expecting to find a witcher in the process.

Fascinating fic with some really interesting worldbuilding, and a fresh new take on True Love’s Kiss. Also with some great art by @hehearse!

beautiful, he stirs up still things | T | 2575 | @alittlebitmaybe

“You’re not asking me to dance,” says Geralt.

Jaskier turns his palm up on his knee, offering it. “I think you’ll find I am.”

Just them dancing. This is a lovely sort of pre-relationship dynamic. So soft.

Dialogue Prompt | NR | 2932 | @reinvent-and-believe

Dialogue Prompt 48: “You make me want things I can’t have.” Wordless I-love-you 50: buying them a special treat when you go out shopping

Geralt gets Jaskier a gift, which prompts some confessions.

Even a small love | E | 22,272 | WARNING: Rape/Non-Con 

“Well,” Jaskier replies distractedly. “Lots of things want to strangle you.”

“You don’t.”

It isn’t a particularly troublesome accusation, or even necessarily an accusation at all.

This is one I read early on in the fandom, and it really stuck with me. The dynamic between Jaskier and Geralt is perfect, and the misunderstandings between them feel so realistic. The non-con is not extreme, but do mind the warnings. 

For the Space of a Heartbeat | T | 2021 | @drowningbydegrees

As it turns out, falling into bed with your very best friend who you are privately very much in love with isn't nearly so nerve wracking as waking up with them the morning after.

Just sweet, morning after discussions. I love to see them talking for once.

Greensleeves | T | 10,414 | @rebrandedbard

When Geralt crosses paths with Jaskier in the spring, the world is dressed in green. Quite literally. Everyone everywhere is wearing green, and it all comes down to a song Jaskier has written that, to his mortification, has become popular throughout the Continent. It's torment, being forced to preform the song over and over again and have his heart broken anew. But who is this Lady Greensleeves the people say Jaskier is so maddeningly, heartbrokenly in love with? At the baron's wedding party, Geralt is determined to find out.

This is one of my personal faves - there’s just something about Jaskier’s feelings being put on blast while Geralt remains totally oblivious that I think is so very them. And the resolution at the end is delightful.

I Don’t Wanna Fall (If It’s Not In Love) | E | 13,902 | @writinglizards

The first time it's out of desperation. Things get rapidly out of hand from there.

OR the building of a relationship through mutual wank sessions.

I love everything Ashley writes, but this one was the first fic I read by her and it still has a warm place in my heart. I also highly recommend It’s Been A While (makes me cry every time) and Tell Me Honestly

Like a Storm, Like a Flood | T | 1065 | @valdomarx

Jaskier is leaving for the winter, and Geralt can't bear the thought of not seeing him for months.

It was soooo hard to pick only one fic by George, but this one is so soft and sweet and yearning I just had to go with it. This is really just about Geralt finally hitting a breaking point and saying enough is enough.

one flesh | E | 10,763 | WARNING: MCD 

“Well, then. I’m a ghost.” Jaskier spread his arms grandly. Geralt held his gaze for a moment, then dropped his head and laughed. Jaskier put his hands on his hips. “Do fill me in on what’s so funny.” It wasn’t funny. It was just so - ridiculous, the things Geralt’s fucked up brain would invent. This had to be the last nail in the sanity coffin, it just had to be.

Or: Jaskier is a ghost, and Geralt is a mess.

Jaskier dies and comes back as a ghost to haunt Geralt into taking care of himself. Geralt does not handle this gracefully. This fic is so sad and heartbreaking, but the ending is so sweet.

to render it transparent | E | 23,901

Geralt wakes up warm, peaceful, and utterly content, which is how he knows that something is severely wrong.

Sigh. This fic. This is a time travel fic - Geralt ends up in the future living with Jaskier on the coast, just after the mountain. It’s slow and beautiful and extremely bittersweet, all about how we choose to love people despite how much it can hurt us.

With All the Continent A Stage | M | 4745 | @greyduckgreygoose

Later, Geralt learned that the play was four hours long. Four hours long. It didn’t feel like it. Most of it passed by in a fever dream of ominous music, dance-fighting and dryads in gossamer leaves, swinging from hoops attached to the ceiling. Yennefer made an appearance, played by Priscilla in a glittering negligee. She sang a song to Geralt about putting him “Under Her Spell”, and they had a sensual dance number which was made a little strange by a sickened Jaskier (played by Jaskier) coughing loudly in the background.

(Jaskier invites Geralt to a musical production inspired by his own life.)

Jaskier basically writes Geralt a love letter in the form of a four hour long play. Geralt is an idiot about it.

Multi-Chapter Fics

A Lover’s Lament | M | 25,364 | @somedrunkpirate

So,” Jaskier begins, as casually as he can, “you are telling me, that in theory, if I were to be in love with someone — anyone — that person could well be in terrible danger?”

Of all terrible and ridiculous things that have threatened Geralt’s safety, Jaskier’d never thought that loving him might be what will get him killed.

I honestly can’t count the number of times I’ve read this fic. The monster is so interesting, and the mythos of it fits seamlessly into the world of the Witcher in my mind. Jaskier being so afraid that his feelings are going to put Geralt at risk, clearly unable to see that Geralt is going through the exact same thing. I think about the scene with them looking at each other almost daily. 

A Pair of Gloves, the Scent of Roses | M | 24,134 | WARNING: Graphic Depictions of Violence

In the bustling days before the Midsummer festival, Geralt is sent into the countryside to deal with a monster - with Jaskier once again by his side. But the bard has not forgiven him, and while he's not hiding his contempt for the Witcher, he is recalcitrant about revealing his true motives for joining him. As the hunt turns into a desperate mission to save an innocent man and the monster is not what is seems to be, Geralt learns a few new things about his old friend and decides to finally attempt to mend the rift between them...

This is one of my favorite’s in the fandom - it feels so believable, the world is so rich and the oc’s are convincing and charming. Geralt and Jaskier feel so honest here, stumbling around each other but still drawn together. Beautiful beautiful beautiful

Bearing the will of the flower | NR | 11,449 

The way Jaskier sees it, his hobby of following a witcher around was always pretty likely to get him killed.

The fact that it's happening now because the witcher in question doesn't love him, he thinks as he coughs up crumpled flowers, hardly makes a difference.

My favorite hanahaki fic in the fandom. I’m such a sucker for these, and these two idiots being so incapable of talking about their feelings really makes them prime candidates. 

Food of Love | T | 22,488 | @wallatile-qvibbler

I brought a dead princess back to life through the power of song is the kind of thing that would have got an eyebrow raise even from the stone-faced Geralt of Rivia, so it's a good thing he and Geralt will probably never see each other again.

(or: the one where Jaskier channels magic through his songs, and it almost never goes as expected.)

This is a Jaskier and Renfri centric fic, which wasn’t something I knew I wanted until I read this. Jaskier is a bard which in this AU comes with magical powers, but it feels so well integrated into the universe that I wish it was just... how the Witcher is. Renfri is so good here, and even though Jaskier and Geralt barely even interact you can feel the tension and love between them. Cannot recommend highly enough.

friends and allies of the witcher | T | 10,312 | @theamazingbard

Yennefer crawls over to her newest cellmate. They’re curled up on their side. Breathing, but only just. She’s not sure what she’s hoping for when she turns them over. Still isn’t when she sees that it is indeed Jaskier.

“Shit."

Yennefer and Jaskier each suffer in more ways than one at the hands of Nilfgaard.

Yennefer and Jaskier get capture by Nilfgaard and tossed into a cell together. Exactly what I want out of season 2 honestly. Their interactions are gold.

I’d Be the Choiceless Hope | E | 45,188 | WARNING: Rape/Non-Con | @lesdemonium

As a baby, Jaskier was visited by a fae, who gifted Jaskier's mother with Jaskier's obedience. As Jaskier grew older, the "gift" became more of a curse.

You know I’m not gonna make a rec list without listing Zoe’s Ella Enchanted au. Need I say more?

Silver and Copper | M | 56,139 | WARNING: Graphic Depictions of Violence | @kaer-cuan

Geralt is just supposed to pass through the quiet Lettenhove area. He's not anticipating being begged by its people to help save their viscount from a curse that keeps him from daylight. Lord Jaskier, they call him, and he's likely dying.

As Geralt struggles to untangle the ugly web of history that has lead to the increasingly complicated curse, he finds himself spending more and more time with the strange young viscount and wondering just what he might have been before the curse, and who he might be after. But things are not always as they seem, and as the curse tightens its grip on Jaskier, Geralt is forced to face the fear of failing yet another person whose choices were stolen from them.

Or-

Jaskier is kept from becoming a bard. Geralt finds him anyway.

This is a fic that haunts me. It’s very scary in parts, and mind the tags - there are some very heavy themes here. But it’s beautiful and touching, and Jaskier feels very true to himself even though his origin is so different.

we could be married (and then we'd be happy) | E | 50,222 | @a-kind-of-merry-war

Jaskier reached into his pocket, fingers grasping around the little box. He pulled it out with what he hoped was a romantic flourish, flipping it open to reveal the simple gold band inside. “Geralt,” he said, confidently, cooly, like this wasn’t terrifying, “Will you marry me?”

Geralt and Jaskier fake marriage proposals to get free deserts and shit but it goes tits up when Vesemir catches them in the act. Not knowing how to fess up, they go along with it for a while, which is hell because they’re both pining like mad. As I said, I don’t love modern au’s, but it’s merry so of course this one had to end up on my list.

~

And that’s it! 20 fics for you, and hopefully you can all find one or two you haven’t read before. There are a lot of people and fics that I didn’t include in this list only because I was trying to not put a million down (which I could). I highly recommend anything by @wherethewordsare, @julek, @contemplativepancakes, @witcher-and-his-bard, and @inber, as well as those linked to fics above, and I’m sure there are others I forgot to mention. Yall have truly made being in this fandom worthwhile <3

#geraskier #geraskier fic recs #geralt of rivia #geralt #jaskier #witcher #fic recs #fic rec #I'm certain i missed a lot of good ones I've read over the years but I didn't want to risk making this super fucking long anyways #if you didn't see your name listed it isn't bc I don't adore you and your fics it's because i'm stupid <333

[serpenteve]

I'm having the horrible realization that Aleksander never actually did any serious wooing of Alina in the books. It's all just Alina her self being horny attracted to him. But this is supposedly???? His grand scheme???? Of manipulation???? Implications! It seems like the girls in these books wasn't the only one slut shamed. I'm- ☠

Leigh wrote a man sexy and captivating and said "it's his fault, actually, that Alina got a crush on him. He shouldn't of.... uh.." Flips through papers. "Ah, had such pretty eyes."

Okay! 👀Yes, we are finally doing this!

I'm flipping through my copy of Shadow & Bone and noting down all the interactions between the Darkling and Alina which I've put in chronological order beneath the cut.

First of all, the Darkling and Alina are only alone together in about a handful of scenes. Most of the time, the are surrounded by other Grisha or Baghra or are in a public place. A lot of the Darkling's actions and words are clouded by Alina's own insecurities. She constantly voices how she feels like she's not good enough, not pretty enough, not strong enough and he takes it in stride and gently encourages and placates her. There are a few lies he does tell her (that the Black Heretic was his ancestor, that he wants to destroy the Fold, and he doesn't know what Baghra's power is, etc) but if we extrapolate the trajectory of her ill-fated romance arc, I think even book!Darkling would have told Alina about his real plans if she seemed like she'd accept them.

A lot of speculation has been made about the Darkling's seduction of Alina and honestly???? Aleksander literally just exists and Alina is thirsting for him because she's desperately looking for validation and re-assurance. I initially head-canoned his first kiss by the lake as being pure calculation and the kiss at the Winter Fete being 100% accidental (because Dark Lord Sasha played himself lmao) but on this re-read, I don't even know anymore. He already came close to almost kissing her after they have a tender moment, catches himself and then immediately leaves before he can catch feelings. Then when they share another tender moment at the lake, he kisses her and then is surprised by it and before he can really process it, Ivan comes by to cockblock.

Like, even Leigh (as much as she has shit on this ship) said at one point that the Darkling has strong feelings for Alina, even if he may not necessarily quantify them as love. So looking back, I don't read anything the Darkling did as manipulative seduction. He obviously lied about some stuff and wasn't transparent about his real plans for the Fold, but as a military commander who sees Alina as an opportunity for a coup, it makes sense that he'd play that a little close to the chest---especially when Alina has proved to be wary of his powers and has a very black-and-white sense of morality. If anything, this is less "the Darkling seduced Alina to manipulate her into being used!!11" and more "local dark lord tried to encourage his protege and accidentally caught feelings and it was a mASSIVE FUCKING INCONVENIENCE TO HIS EVIL PLANS"

But you know who does slut-shame Alina a lot? Baghra. Seriously, Baghra makes Alina feel like shit for her crush on the Darkling numerous times. She has all these lines:

"You want to be [his pet]...Don’t bother lying to me. You’re like all the rest. I saw the way you looked at him."

"Dreaming of dancing with your dark prince?"

"Foolish girl." (After Alina shamefully admits the Darkling might come to her that night)

At one point Baghra creeps on Alina and the Darkling's interactions and even though literally nothing happens between them and when the Darkling leaves, Alina catches Baghra giving her a snooty look. ("For no reason at all, I blushed")

She is determined to shame Alina for her feelings and make her feel like a lovesick idiot for daring to crush on him and this is in addition to all the slut-shaming Mal does. The narrative revealing the Darkling is the bad guy all along while leaving Alina no compelling arc to discover this on her own feels very much like Leigh hitting us all with Baghra's stick, like "Foolish girls! You thought he cared about Alina just because he has a sexy jawline??? HAHA HE LIED YOU SLUTS"

Scenes with Alina and the Darkling in Book 1

Their first scene together is in the Grisha tent. Based on Alina's description of him, she already thinks he's hot as barely any other character in this godforsaken series gets so many descriptions of their grey/smoke/slate/quartz eyes as Aleksander does 😏

The next time they're together he saves her life. Alina is traumatized from seeing a man sliced in half and the Darkling instructs her to keep her eyes on him instead. She is disturbed that he killed the person about to murder her and this aversion seems incredibly contrived and arbitrary on behalf of the author. It's almost like she wants Alina to be vindicated and shamed for not trusting her initial bigotry against him or something 🤔The Darkling admits even he can make mistakes and then he touches the back of Alina's neck (with some secret Heartrender/Healer abilities?) and she falls asleep riding on his horse.

They spend the next few days traveling. Alina notes that the Darkling hasn't spoken to her (probably because he's focused on getting her to the Little Palace without any more assassination attempts) but Alina is a paranoid she's offended him somehow. Again, this is just Alina's insecurity painting a narrative that simply doesn't exist based on what actually happened so far.

They exchange a few words by the stream and Alina fishes for pity points by saying she's ugly and can't possibly be Grisha. Aleksander appears 100% done with her stupidity and says she doesn't understand but he's not in the mood to explain at the moment and walks off ☠️

Alina joins the Darkling and his men for a meal. She notes that the grouse they've killed is meager shared meal but that the Darkling doesn't want to put his men in danger by sending them out to hunt in the forest at night 😌He also sits on the floor to eat like they do and he doesn't take more than the regular portion than they do 😌. Sorry, how is this man the most ~evil~ wizard on the planet? He is obviously a good and fair commander and beloved by the Grisha.

Alina has been checking Aleksander out the entire time so when he catches her, he walks over to talk. He fishes around for information on what Alina has heard about him. He seems sad when Alina mentions she has heard that Darklings are born without souls, though not surprised. He then spins the story about the Black Heretic being his ancestor and how the Fold was a mistake and how every Darkling since then has tried to undo it and how Alina is "the first glimmer of hope" he's had in a long time.

Because Alina is still on that "Grisha are unnatural monsters" agenda, she asks him about the Cut and he explains it but she's still distrubed. He asks her if it would have been better if he used a sword and she replies: "I don't know". The Darkling gets offended and leaves. Alina tries to convince herself she can't have possibly hurt his feelings (because Darklings don't have souls or feelings?) and then feels paranoid that she's failed some secret test. Yeah, the test you failed is called "empathy", Alina 🙄

Two days later, they arrive at Os Alta. Aleksander roasts the Grand Palace as the ugliest effing building he's ever seen. He leaves immediately after dumping Alina at the Little Palace and Alina actually seethes that he isn't paying more attention to her? I understand that it's overwhelming to go to a brand new place, but Alina expecting him to constantly hold her hand and explain everything to her after she basically insulted him is a bit strange.

The next time Alina sees the Darkling, they are scheduled to appear before the King and Queen. The demonstration is a surprise for Alina and Aleksander's lack of transparency of what's expected of her means she's forced to rely on him and trust his instincts. This might be his underhanded way of getting Alina to see that she can trust him; that he will not make her look like a failure or humiliate her; that they are in this together and it will only work if she trusts him.

After the demonstration, Genya and the Darkling trash the monarchy for a bit (Alina is horrified) and then the Darkling orders Genya to get a black kefta for Alina, to which Alina infamously wants a blue one. The Darkling doesn't really put up much of a fight, merely wanting to know why. Alina decides he doesn't approve of her choosing blue and wonders to Genya if he's angry.

After Alina's first day, the Darkling calls her to his quarters to ask her how her day was. Alina is surprised that this is all he wanted to know because she was paranoid he was going to torture her??? She says: "Why shouldn't I be afraid of you?...You can cut people in half. I think it's fair to be a little intimidated." If the Darkling is offended or angry about this, he doesn't show it and merely indulges her. He notes that she has a habit of running her hand across a scar on her palm and asks her about it, tracing the scar himself. Alina gets distracted by his touch but manages to answer his questions: she got the scar at Keramzin, Mal is also an orphan, he is good at tracking. He shows her a secret passage back to her rooms to avoid the main hall.

Alina starts her training and at one point laments that the Darkling is rarely at the Little Palace and when he is, he never speaks to her or barely looks her way and she is convinced it's because she's a failure and can't summon light on her own. It could also be because, you know, he's the commander of the Second Army and is usually seen in talks with other military advisors and the fact that Alina kinda lowkey insulted him with her wariness about his powers???

The next time they are together, Alina interrupts him and Baghra arguing. He politely asks her how she is. Baghra antagonizes her. The Darkling defends her. They talk about amplifiers and because Baghra is being a snarky little shit about it, they take their conversation outside.

Aleksander complains about how annoying his mom is and then asks Alina what stories she's heard about Morozova's herd. At one point he laughs for the first time and Alina practically creams her pants at the sound. Alina expresses her concerns that she can't summon any light and the Darkling says he's not worried and it will happen when it happens and worse case scenario, it will happen once she has the stag. They have a quiet intimate moment, gazing softly into each other's eyes and then suddenly Aleksander realizes he's catching feelings and steps back suddenly like "GoodLuckWithYourLessonsOKayBYE". Baghra watches this interaction from her hut and gives Alina a slut-shaming look.

Alina eventually does learn to summon light on her own. Baghra gives her grief about how it's not enough. The Darkling shows up during one of these lessons and says as much. Alina says she's useless. The Darkling corrects her (“I don't think you're useless, Alina....No Grisha is powerful enough to face the Fold. Not even me”) and then he apologizes for letting her down ("I've asked you to trust me and I haven't delivered"). He wonders if his mother is right and he's crazy to hunt the stag. They have a nice bonding moment, Aleksander lies about Baghra's power, and then he asks if Alina would think him crazy for still wanting to find the stag. She asks why he cares what she thinks, he seems genuinely surprised himself that he cares. Then he kisses her. He seems not to have meant to kiss her because then Ivan shows up for his 5 o'clock shift of cockblocking and the Darkling immediately pretends like nothing happened and walks away with him. Like dude is acting like a fucking dork who's allergic to feelings at this point. I should note here that Alina practically has an orgasm from how giddy she is about this moment. She can barely think of anything else.

The next time they're together, it's at the Winter Fete. They do their demonstration and Alina accidentally reveals her insecurities about how he had kissed her and then disappeared. He responds, "Did you really think I was done with you?" and then they enjoy some steamy kisses and thigh grabbing in an empty room before a random round of Grisha show up for their 6 o'clock shift of cockblocking. Aleksander is annoyed at his own attraction to Alina. He asks if he can come to her that night but Alina doesn't get a chance to respond.

and then the Darklina romance arc falls off a giant cliff and dies a terrible death 😭😭😭

#viv answers #god this ended up being so long WOW #i had a lot of feelings i guess #cw: purity culture #sab meta #grisha discourse #darklina #viv metas

[motherflecker]

an ep entirely about being proven right tbh so let's goooo

imagine getting your picture taken and the photographer just stops to stare daggers at the guy standing next to you. feeling it for those randos at the zine fair who had to stand next to phupha trying to talk to theo during the photoshoot.

saifa immediately showing that he is still the ONLY MAN YOU CAN TRUST after akk. telling phupha to chill and get his shit together. incredible. saifa, please do not disappoint me, my man.

this is the first time they've shown the actual intro credits in like weeks LMAO.......

another scene of akk getting his ass kicked by theo while trying to be the best boy. their argument hurt my heart bc it was an actual real fight this time. akk's defeatist attitude was painful to watch. i mean, it's understandable, he's been plagued by "i'm not good enough" thoughts for weeks now, of course they were going to bubble to surface and he was going to be tired of it. but theo is just as valid in not wanting to expect the worst of people but also knowing akk has a point. ugh, boys.

sad showering and sad window pining. incredible. iconic. 10/10. theo, how can you sleep with a stuffed version of akk every night for the past 10+ years and still think you're not in love with your best friend?? that fox pillow will forever haunt me.

akk chasing down theo's car and then passive aggressively like "you're dragging your bag strap" was painful to ME. THEY WERE HURTING ME, PERSONALLY. this whole sequence was just great, the like passive aggressive attitude towards each other undercut with the humor that burst the tension as it built. that kind of sums up akk and theo. they're terrible at being mad at each other. they can't sustain it!!!!! you know that's why they avoided each other too bc the moment they were around each other again it's like nothing happened. god, these fools.

phupha once again needs to stop. natee as well. natee getting his friend in on his schemes, smh. meanwhile the biggest thing happening for theo is watching akk play with a dog. one day the ambassadors will realize how little they rank on theo's hierarchy of needs. and akk will realize he's pretty essential to it. one day!

natee showing up with like, actual useful information, but then immediately doing the same thing phupha did to theo. come on, man. i wonder if the next few eps are just going to be slowly knocking the ambassadors down one by one. this ep was phupha, next ep will be natee. i'm seeing a pattern. everyone on earth called it with phupha copying the handwriting but i didn't expect to be shown the actual paper and a video of it.

phupha's tragic backstory being revealed and i'm just thinking about how last week i had the thought that if phupha just told theo why he needed his help, theo would've just helped him. and right away, theo was sympathetic but phupha clearly ruined all his chances by being a lying liar who lies. this guy! come on!

not enough akk and his sisters lately, but this scene was great. akk being surly and sulky and im having none of it. queen. akk (usually) has a high emotional intelligence and it all comes from im, lbr.

the boys reuniting! akk being a pain in the ass and swinging the food in front of theo's face. and then tying theo up?? fellas is it gay to tie up and feed your best friend in a way to apologize for the fight you had and get back to your usual dynamic??

also akk going "i'm here to take care of you" and theo looking like that's all he wanted in the world. the contrast between phupha earlier asking theo if he could take care of him and theo looking terrified. god, i'm a wreck.

btw natee just asking theo for stuff and theo just being struck with another person who is using him?? you know he was relieved to have akk back, who never asks him for anything ever.

i'm trying to have coherent commentary about the entirety of Enchante | Ep. 5 [4/4] but every single thing about this date just turned my brain into goo. it was incredibly aesthetic with heavy handed meaning. this is definitely the most their feelings have bubbled to the surface so far and it's incredible. theo talking about how in love his parents were and akk looking at him so lovelorn. akk describing the movie's plot and it just very clearly being similar to their own friendship and pining. the kiss dares. the way they still both chickened out at the end.

and then!! fucking akk going for it!! after the movie!! when they're so close and theo is against his shoulder!! THE WAY THEO WAS CLEARLY KISSING BACK AS IT FADED TO BLACK. then the preview for next week of theo pretending he didn't fucking kiss back, i'm going to strangle this kid.

next week seems like a lot of "we're going to focus on enchante so we don't talk about this kiss we had" and i'm ready for it. they're so close. they're going to date. we're going to have dates soon. maybe not next week but the week after? i'm so ready.

god i feel like i missed stuff but my feelings are just one large sobbing emoji bc akk and theo are in love

#enchante #enchante the series #akk x theo #akk itsara #theo asawa ekanan #squee chats #my god y'all this ep

[butterflydm]

wot reread: the fires of heaven (chap 22-chap 23)

spoilers for the fires of heaven

1. Mat never introduces himself as ‘Matrim’ that I can recall, yet so many people call him that. Let people have nicknames. I feel the same way about people calling Min ‘Elmindreda’. Just let people have the nicknames that they’ve chosen for themselves. idk maybe I’m forgetting him using it as an introduction somewhere, but it just feels like it always comes from other people. And we know he thinks of himself as 'Mat' in his internal narration.

2. The memories really have settled very firmly into Mat’s head at this point. And some clarification: “nothing after Artur Paendrag Tanreall and nothing before Maecine of Eharon”. So it’s a fairly specific (if large) time period.

3. Yeah, he is somewhat uncomfortable about Melindhra placing an exclusive claim on him but that seems... fair? He didn’t actually agree to anything. She’s just making a lot of assumptions. A relationship is (or should be) an agreement between people, not one person picking someone out and saying, “That one is mine,” without consulting them about the matter. I mean, Melindhra does have... other reasons for her behavior, but it’s treated as standard and acceptable in general in the series. Once you are Claimed, you don’t get much of a choice, except in extreme extenuating circumstances.

4. For all that Jordan was trying to flip standard gender norms/stereotypes (by making men responsible for the ‘original sin’ event, etc) he definitely falls into using them uncritically at various points. I’m guessing those are the norms that he doesn’t even realize are norms. That he believed they were literally baked into biology rather than being influenced and created by society (the gender essentialism of the series that draws some pretty reasonable complaints). He couldn’t imagine a society without it any more than he could imagine a society where not every other man is constantly smoking a pipe, it seems.

5. “He was not about to be owned by any woman, no matter how pretty she was.” I am sad, y’all. Anyway, Melindhra is absolutely giving the Aiel version of the ‘for glory’ pitch. I’m not sure whether or not I noticed that the first time around. She’s trying to stir up some jealousy of Rand in Mat. Which is... not one of the issues at play in Rand and Mat’s relationship, so it is a swing and a miss.

And Mat is distracted by trying to figure out how giving a woman a gift (having done the same for many other women) has somehow landed him into an involuntary exclusive relationship. And it’s a valid question and concern! I’m just really noticing this time around how little choice Mat is actually given in his love life in general.

6. He just sounds so depressed at the idea of marriage in the future. And like... it sucks that so much narrative and story stuff tells us that marriage is a requirement for life? Let the guy not be married if he doesn’t want to be married! Not everyone needs to get married!

7. Mat has figured out what his medallion does. Because he is clever, even when people don’t give him credit for it. And Rand has warned Mat about the Black Ajah. Apparently, no one else thought to warn Mat about that.

I’m thinking here of Elayne and Nynaeve specifically avoiding mentioning the Black Ajah to Thom and Juilin because they thought it would spook them. Communication! These books would be so much shorter if people just communicated.

8. And the Darkfriends who attack specifically use the warcry of “Sammael and the Golden Bees”. So Sammeal either is trying to lure Rand into a trap or someone else is trying to get Rand to attack Sammael. And Mat notes that the attack was doomed to failure -- didn’t even make it past the first line of defense.

9. Ah, while the distraction attack was happening down below, Draghkars were sent to the part of the camp that Rand is staying in.

10. “He could make her tell, catch her between her oath to him and her inability to lie straight out. No, he could not. Or would not. He would not do that to someone who was trying to help him.” Ugh, Rand has such a good heart. And there’s another note here that holding saidin makes Rand look/sound colder.

11. Another LTT memory comes out while he’s talking to Asmodean. “He tried to bait me into attacking him once in the same way, at Serendahar”. And he freaks out internally when he realizes that he said ‘me’. He also remembers Sammael’s face and how he resented that the One Power couldn’t make him taller. Whenever he’s exposed to any Age of Legends stuff or people, LLT memories tend to seep out.

12. It occurs to me that gai’shain also function as the supply chain in battles. Noncombatants that everyone respects as noncombatants.

13. It took four days for the group to get through the pass in the Spine of the World.

14. Ah, the ‘don’t act like a child, if Rand says you don’t owe him anything and didn’t betray him, it’s silly of you to be so certain that you do still owe him a debt’ punishment from the Wise Ones for the Maidens who failed to guard Rand the night of the attack.

15. Rand with Mat, ‘Nateal’, the six clan chiefs, and thirty-ish Wise Ones, as they approach another town that was destroyed by Couladin and his Shaido Aiel.

16. And Egwene is so certain that Rand’s coldness when laying down the rules for the clan chiefs comes from arrogance. Again, she’s able to recognize that he needs to have that cold command but still attributes it to arrogance rather than necessity.

17. Egwene does not understand Rand’s heart at all. She knows the sword was a gift from Aviendha, but is baffled that Rand continues to carry it. She has missed a hilarious number of super-obvious clues that not only is Something There between Rand and Aviendha, but literally all the Maidens are aware of it and keep teasing her over it. Maybe it’s because she, uh, ‘gifted’ him to Elayne that she doesn’t see it? Though she was also hilariously unaware of his true feelings in that scene as well.

18. “As I am still alive, it is still my day.” Sorilea does amuse me, a lot of the time. And she supports Rand in laying down the law with the clan chiefs. But stop matchmaking poor Aviendha!

#wot #wheel of time #wot reread #the fires of heaven #wot book spoilers #wot spoilers

[buckysdimples]

hello my loves! i think it's about time i drop in my two cents on the anthony mackie situation. fair warning, this is a long post and i don't make an effort to keep my language clean in it.

also important for me to note: i use "you" a lot in this post. it is a general you, directed at the group of people who have caused this problem. i am not directing this at all of the fandom. just the racists who caused it to get this bad in the first place. here we go!

i know people have pointed this out, but i want to make it very clear. yes, anthony mackie did word things strangely. you know what that means of him? that he's human. those of you who actively partake in fandom racism will take any white man doing the bare fucking minimum and elevate him to a pedestal that's unattainable by any people of colour in the same fandom, and as soon as a person of colour makes one (evidently dissonant with past actions) slip-up, they're the latest in the "which poc can we get out of the narrative today" game.

what makes the situation worse? a person of colour, in this case a black man who has consistently been activating and publicly lending support to many different and important causes as well as speaking up about his stance on the very issues that are so near and dear to people of colour in fandom, when they make a misstep, are absolutely torn to shreds.

meanwhile, you as a fandom whole will continue to apologise for white actors who continuously display problematic behavior, sometimes deliberately, and you either ignore it completely or make up some bullshit excuse to defend it. i'm not going to name names in this post, it detracts from the whole idea that i'm trying to get across, but these people are some of the biggest names in fandom. it is sometimes repulsive how you will use willful ignorance to apologise for them.

additionally, the full context of the interview with variety lends itself to many flaws, which you can read about in this phenomenal post by @thetransguard. the part of the fandom that attempted to eat mackie alive (which is most of the fandom) completely fucking missed this. it almost seems like you who went after him were searching for yet another reason to "fuck [poc name here], stan [white man 30495834] instead!" which honestly, is absolutely the case.

and that makes me fucking livid. you who are ripping him apart right now, your only concern for mackie and his character, sam wilson, has been sebastian stan and bucky barnes. mackie attends any interview, including interviews that are supposed to celebrate his achievements? he's only asked about sebastian stan. white fans discuss and love on "sambucky"? sam is just whatever trope he needs to be to make bucky cry, or smile, or feel better, or feel safe, and that is the extent of his character. that's disgusting. do you understand that?

stupid question. evidently not. mackie brings up valid points that yall stucky fans and now stucky turned sambucky fans continue to miss, he makes these points in admittedly a convolutedly worded fashion, but he makes them regardless. and you know what the other problem with white fans' reaction to it is? this is exactly what fans of colour in your very own beloved fandom have been trying to tell you. we attempted to make these points during the show. you know, when you lot were throwing steve in every damn chance you got and centering the show around bucky and steve and steve and bucky and who's sam? we don't know sam. all we know is a black guy who got steve's shield, and he won't pick it up, and that makes bucky sad, and bucky's doing his best, okay, he's not ignorant, sam's just mean to him, and--

it's fucking draining. from the beginning, this has been about sebastian stan and bucky barnes. you who are ripping anthony mackie to shreds were never here for him in the first place. you never listened to him. you never saw his character for who sam wilson was. and that's coming to a head in how you are receiving his words. and are you truly missing the point of his words? or is there another reason why you took apart that evidently hate-bait headline and used that specific word choice, when it was fucking clear mackie had a point that was an overtone to the words he chose, to turn mackie into a paragon of homophobia and problematic behavior?

yes, i believe there is. because it's the same fucking reason you will drown out the voices of fans of colour when we call you out for the utter bullshit you spout in regards to the media you are incapable of consuming beyond a shipping lens. it is the reason you take it upon yourselves to slam fans of colour for being selfish, or inserting into the narrative something that to your shallow interpretation wasn't intended, or reminding you that sam wilson, anthony mackie's character, is more than a racist trope prop for your favourite white character(s).

you will bemoan the lack of bisexual bucky in canon. you will throw bucky with any white man he looks once at. you will lament how "rude" poc fans are being when they ask you to focus on sam and his story. you take poc fans, black fans especially, talking and clearing up the commentary on racial and class themes that the show attempts to address, and you will tell all of us that "it's not that deep." you will turn around and shit all over bucky and sarah. sam and bucky to you is a prop to make your newly minted m/m ship canon, because stucky never became canon the way you insist it should have. that's the core of the problem, we say, that wanting the m/m ship to be canon has shifted from wanting representation to wanting two men, generally two white men, to kiss on screen so you can go crazy about it. bucky and zemo will never be canon. bucky and john walker will never be canon. you saw sam and bucky and you said, this is stucky 2.0, and you centered it around bucky and steve as an invisible third party. that is what you are advocating for. that is what mackie fucking addressed.

so the reason? the reason is that you know we're right and we have been right all along, but you're too fucking thickheaded to acknowledge that as a respectful human being. so instead, you turn to whatever the hell you can twist mackie's words into, and attempt to get him out of the fandom picture altogether. that's it, isn't it?

how fucking detestable.

just read the goddamn interview, read mackie's other interviews if you need to, and stop ignoring the truth of the messages he is trying to convey. maybe it'll do you some good to watch and read mackie solo interviews as opposed to sebastian and mackie interviews where all you focus on is the relationship between those two actors, completely ignoring what they, especially and generally mackie, are trying to convey. that's another problem, isn't it?

full circle. stop being fucking tone deaf and listen to poc fans and actors for once in your privileged, entitled lives.

thank you for reading all the way through.

#anthony mackie #sam wilson #sebastian stan #bucky barnes #marvel #racism #racism in fandom #tfatws #i'm tired

[heir-less]

Having to explain to stans that defend the Cambridges doing photo oops with black and brown people from the remnants of their empire and being carried on thrones that "alien to Europe" is an extremely racist thing to say no matter how many words they take out is not surprising. How many times have rrs and tabloids have protected him now after claiming what they did to Meghan was fair?

I think these people are just playing stupid and are blinded by their bias. Because these are the same people who can fully understand why all the problematic things Harry has done in the past are wrong, in fact, they will bring them up and discuss them in-depth to deflect from Prince William's own past and present racism. And yet Harry, at least has tried to learn and better himself. Harry has confronted his own problematic elements and hasn't fucked up like this in years.

William, on the other hand, remains stubborn to the point of farce. He keeps swearing up at down that he and his dumb family aren't racist, he surrounds himself with people of colour for PR, and yet he can't stop himself from saying things like this. He makes remarks varying from tone-deaf to racist almost every time he has to deal with a social issue. I honestly think he just doesn't know any better. He is so arrogant that he thinks that there isn't anything he can possibly learn.

Ask yourself, do you guys really think that William had any remorse for his "Alien to Europe" comment? Or his "Bored of racism" comment. Or his "We are spreading COVID" joke. Or his "Vary much Not Racist" comment. Or, or, or, or . . . ? Because I don't think he did? I don't think he saw the reports about him and said "Oh, I should try not to do that again". I think his first reaction is to blame the media for making a little joke/comment a big deal and absolve himself of any wrong doing. And the sad part his that he has surrounded himself with people who are validating that mindset. They're willing to coddle him and change the narrative to suit him even if he comes off looking like a worse person in the end. The ROTAs constantly defending him and twisting the narrative to make all fair critiques seem unreasonable legit just grantees that he will make another, worse comment in a few months. It's very sad to see.

#prince william #rota #answered #anonymous

[wizard-hubris]

Hi! You seem like someone who really likes Orym and also gets a lot of different perspectives. I have been wanting to get a bit of input to my "problems" with him and why I can't enjoy his character, from someone who has a different opinion.

The thing that bothers me is that I have to say, I do find him boring but not in the 'he's basic and not interesting' way at all. It's more that all three of Liam's main characters so far have been gloomy and had tragic backstories. Obviously Liam has a lot of fun with the last part mainly and it always makes for amazing storylines but as Orym his behavior just doesn't feel all that different to Caleb/Vax. You can do only so much different kinds of acting sad/moody and it just honestly got boring to me.

In short, I know Liam likes tragic backstories and he does it very well, they just all seem to react to their trauma in the same way and behave similarly and this time around nothing about it feels different or special about his behavior which just makes me like him less than the rest.

Hey anon! Looks like I poked some kind of nest with that first answer, haha ^-^" (so many asks! I've never had three anons in my mail at the same day before! Exciting! :D) Thanks for reaching out, let's see what I can do to offer a new perspective for you.

First off, I get that sad and moody isn't for everybody, especially not all the time. That's completely fair and valid. There are tropes and things I get tired of, too, and don't want to focus on in media. If you find it difficult to care for Orym because of that, that is okay. Please don't think it isn't.

That said, I'm really curious how you see Caleb and Vax's personalities because those two seem very different to me, which makes "Orym doesn't feel all that different to those two" already a strange point to me.

First off, I have to admit, I'm not done watching Vox Machina yet by a long shot, so I haven't gotten to Vax's "real doom & gloom phase" yet. He's a laid-back guy who loves playing pranks on his friends. He's fallen in love with a girl and tells the guy he's on-and-off been flirting with about it, so there is no dishonesty between them. He'd do anything for his sister and bickers with her constantly. He's outgoing, a bit (excuse the pun) rogueish and a hopeless bisexual disaster pretty gung-ho about his own safety at times. Yes, he and his sister have a gloomy, dramatic backstory. One that's brought the two of them incredibly close together - you could talk about unhealthy co-dependence there if you wanted, maybe. I know things about that change in some capacity, I've heard about the problems Liam had in that time, but I haven't seen it myself yet, so I'm reserving judgement. But an interesting point maybe: the "main" trauma that most critters seem to have in mind when talking about Vax happens during the game.

Caleb, on the other hand, has his trauma baked into his tragic backstory so wholeheartedly and all-consumingly, that he cannot exist without it. Caleb is all about recovery, growth and forgiving yourself. He is a broken man in the beginning and we see him heal - messily at times and with setbacks inbetween - throughout the game. Caleb is also very different from the person he was before. I feel like I should compare Vax with Bren because, as I said, I'm basically still looking at a Vax "pre-trauma" from what I understand about the VM campaign. But the thing is, we never really get to know Bren. We only know Caleb, although I think we see some aspects of Bren shining through the more Caleb heals. Yes, Caleb gets often painted as the sadboi(tm) but he has a fun streak. It's far less pronounced than Vax's, though, for example. Caleb is a reserved person, a paranoid, desperate man who - for the longest time - thinks of himself first and is hard to trust. He is, in some points a harder, more jagged person than Vax (again, as far as I can tell). There is nobody who hates Caleb more than Caleb. But he's also sort of proud, he carries a lot of hubris despite his self-doubts. I could write an entire essay dissecting Caleb's personality and especially his character arc, but I think I am sort of bringing my point across that Caleb and Vax are vastly different and - at least to me - feel vastly different, too, when I watch the game?

And compare that to Orym - what do we know about Orym so far?

-He's on the quieter side - which is, granted, a bit like Caleb (especially how Caleb started out), but in a much more understated and chill way, whereas Caleb was desperate to get noticed as little as possible.

-He has a bit of a melancholic air to himself, I suppose, but that's just very Liam O'Brien, I'd say. Again, it comes across in a far less raw and hurting way as Caleb, for example, did. It's also not always terribly pronounced, I'd say, it feels more present than it is because he tends to be quiet overall, so we also don't get much of any joy, mirth or other fun.

-He does not want responsibility, he does not want leadership to fall in his hands. That is probably less of an issue with Vax since the group was already established when we met them, but Vax has no problem speaking his mind when he doesn't like something. From what I know of Vax and Orym so far, I'd say it's far more likely for Vax to go do something different from the group than Orym.

-Orym was conceptualised as a support character. First of all, that is a fascinating choice for a Battle Master Fighter, but I think it works with him. Orym isn't afraid to put himself between his friends and something dangerous. He doesn't even really think about it, it seems to be more instinct. He protecc.

-Of course, we don't actually know anything about Orym's backstory yet, but I believe in the "dead husband theory" pretty firmly. Recovery from grief (and maybe growing/stepping out of the shadow a beloved person is/was casting on you? who knows??? I certainly don't, only Liam knows at the moment lol) is still about trauma and drama, but it focuses on very different aspects of tragedy than, say, Caleb's story does.

-Orym is a loyal supporter. He's created for that purpose. It's okay if you like others better or think they're more interesting. Liam wanted Orym so he can help the others shine. Personally, I love that idea very much. And you can also see that in some aspects. Orym is (or tries to be) very conscious about the people around him. He often asks for their opinions to help the group come to a decision. You could call him somewhat of a mediator, bringing people together.

-He has Tired/Exasperated Dad Energy. That's probably partially because the ExU gang is chaotique af. But as the designated person to hold the braincell, he has that right. Orym is the one with the common sense. Only, it's not so common with the people around him. He's a bit of an everyday man, and that might seem boring to some, but it also makes him actually pretty relatable. Something that Caleb (and probably also Vax) are far less so to a certain extent (saying this as somebody who immediately imprinted on Caleb because of his social anxiety).

-Something Liam does really well is putting these "straight-played" characters (not as in sexuality but regarding their function) in absolutely whacky situations. Did you watch ExU? If not, you don't have to, but if you did - please remember not only Nancy, but Orym's pie tasting and how Liam put Orym in Cinna Brightbow's performance as "the victim" (I hope you know what I mean when I choose that word ^-^") for example. Some of the most hilarious scene only work comedy-wise because Orym is involved. And Liam knows that. Liam plays to that.

-We've only had one fight so far, so for anyone who hasn't seen ExU, there's no idea yet what Liam can do when describing fighting moves. I know it might seem very reminiscent of his describing of Caleb using spell components in a certain way, but - idk, there's something about his descriptions that make me excited to play a fighter. And I'm not someone who would usually consider playing a fighter.

I just can't agree with your opinion that Liam's characters feel similar. Quite the contrary. They may deal with similar themes, but the characters feel very varied and nuanced to me. Then again, there is so much we don't know about Orym yet. So much of his personality we haven't discovered yet. We've seen him in one main campaign episode and eight for a mini-campaign with very different circumstances. Do you remember how Fjord was ten episodes into C2? How Caleb was? Yasha?

Give Orym a bit time. I'd say, especially because he is so unterstated, he can pale next to the more colourful cast around him, but that is the same thing that makes him a grounding presence. We don't all vibe immediately with all the characters, but he's someone where I suspect he'll worm his way into many hearts over time. Because that's who Orym is. Steadfast and dependable. A rock. A foundation. Not something you might take note of as special immediately, but something you'd miss as soon as it's gone. He sticks maybe out because he seems a bit "too" normal. But honestly, in a game that's as zany as D&D can be, that can also be a very interesting thing.

#i got mail #hey nonny nonny #cr3 #cr spoilers #cr exu #orym of the air ashari #cr meta #character study #now *this* got long lol #sorry nonny #i hope you get something out of my mad rambling #liam o'brien #vax'ildan #caleb widogast #since they're both mentioned for a bit #also really sorry that i can't give a fully formed opinion about vax in this regard #i love him to pieces but i just know only about a third of his character development atm #if you want to talk/discuss things more feel free to write to me again!