#and so part of me feels I predicted the episode title

[chickenstrangers]

ONLY FRIENDS | EPISODE 4

YOUR EMERGENCY CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED AN EMERGENCY by CHEN CHEN (2022)

#made this purely because i started reading Your Emergency Contact yesterday morning while waiting for only friends #and so part of me feels I predicted the episode title #book review so far really enjoying this very honest personal poetry collection about his experience as a queer asian american #and tackling themes of grief and immigration and decolonizing poetry as a field #it is stuck in my head like a song so needed to gif #but anyway really loved this episode and how firmly mew was setting up boundaries #i continue to be fascinated by mew #ofts #onlyfriendsedit #*mine #*mygifs

[weirdkpopgirl]

Adoration | Mark Imagine #7

Title: Adoration

Genre: Tooth-rotting fluff

Warnings: none really :)

Word Count: 612

Author's Note: Lol this idea came to me after seeing a clip of Mark on a video call fansign, where he was telling the fan that he's currently watching Queen of Tears. This made me so happy because I've also been watching the drama and feel so passionately about it. Anyway my mind started to wander and this little scenario came out of it. I tried my best not to include spoilers of the show in the story though. Thank you for reading and hope you like it ^ ^

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Frustration brewed in your eyes, as heat rose to your cheeks, while your heart was pounding. Your fingers curled further into your palms, as unkind words traveled to the tip of your tongue. Yet, before they could be vocalized, the dark-haired man on your left said them instead.

“No, but why did he do that though?!” Mark yelled, throwing his arm out in a gesture to the screen.

A part of you wanted to laugh at your boyfriend’s reaction to the final scene playing out on the television before you. Since the premiere of Queen of Tears, you and Mark have been avidly following the series together. However, you were a few episodes behind due to Mark’s busy schedule and your commitment to watching it together. It took considerable restraint to avoid looking at spoilers on Instagram or YouTube.

On the other hand, the equal measure of anger within you overpowered any sense of amusement. A louder-than-intended sigh slipped past your lips.

“Ugh, I hate Yoon Eunsung so much for trying to ruin Haein’s family,” you fumed, gripping the remote. “I swear, I just knew he was going to use that tactic to sabotage them too!”

Mark leaned back on the couch, echoing your dissatisfaction. “I know right? You were so on point though with predicting that it was gonna happen.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean I’m happy that I was right!” you exclaimed, sounding as if you were almost about to cry from annoyance. 

Any hint of exasperation Mark was feeling simmered down, as you continued to vent about the episode. Now that he observed you passionately recounting every prediction you made about the characters’ actions that had had occurred in the episode. Your hair was slightly tousled, and your hands gestured animatedly, emphasizing your frustrations. This was a rare sight from someone who was usually so composed and reserved.

Your shoulders slumped when you caught the distraction in his eyes, prompting a look of confusion from you. “Mark, are you even listening to what I’m saying?”

“No, I am babe,” he reassured with a chuckle. “I’ve just never seen you this fired up before.”

Your expression softened, and the flush on your cheeks transitioned to one of embarrassment. His comment brought to mind your tendency to get overly passionate about certain things that provoked you.

“Sorry, I just got so worked up,” you mumbled, sheepishly brushing a loose lock of hair out of your face.

However, Mark was quick to pull you into his arms. “Don’t apologize, I think it’s endearing.”

His embrace was so warm and loving, it felt like he was wrapping you in all the adoration he had for you. Yet, it made you just want to hide your face in his hoodie because you were still flustered.

“Well I’m grateful you’re more reassuring than Baek Hyunwoo is,” you said, resting your chin on his shoulder. “Seriously, I’ve never seen so much miscommunication in a relationship before.”

You felt your boyfriend smile, pulling back slightly to stroke your hair. “And I’m glad you’re not as closed off like Hong Haein.”

“Hey, she has every right to be—” you started to protest, before catching yourself.

Mark nearly convulsed with laughter as he crashed you into another hug. “Ah, cute!”

Feeling embarrassed once more, you lightly smacked his shoulder, though it did nothing to stop the boy from gushing over you. But you couldn’t help but smile too, finding warmth in the moment. Both of you knew that the upcoming episodes of this drama would only bring more stress. However, at least you could share your frustrations openly, while all Mark could think about was how infatuated he was with you.

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previous masterlist -> current masterlist

#nct dream #nctzen #kpop #czennie #nct 127 #nct dream imagines #nct 127 imagines #nct dream scenarios #nct 127 scenarios #mark lee #mark fluff #mark x reader #mark imagines #mark scenarios #nct dream x reader #nct dream fluff #nct 127 x reader #nct 127 fluff #superm mark #nct #queen of tears

[jaemmphilia]

★ 𝘮𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘦: 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴 ★ || han j.s

★ summary: it's your first SKZ CODE episode with the boys as their newest member. jyp decided to add you to stray kids after he saw your audition. he felt that you were the thing that stray kids was missing, and he pushed you to debut immediately. things start out awkwardly, and you feel so left out. but as you eat fried clams with the boys,, they start to very slowly warm up to you. maybe it would have been a good idea to mention you are deathly afraid of pools and various bodies of water.

★ characters: bang chan, lee know, changbin, y/n (he/him pronouns and a masculine frame), hyunjin, han, felix, seungmin, i.n

★ warnings: based off of the most recent skz code episodes where they visit the mud flaps, it's gonna be a little awkward at first, skz ignore y/n (not on purpose, it's just a little new for them), reader is afraid of water and nearly drowns, changbin pushes reader into the water (pls don't hate me for that), he apologizes tho, han and felix being best boys, let me know if i forgot anything

★ word count: 3.8K (3,867)

★ binnie's thoughts: my ride or die gave me the genius idea to write a fic based off the most recent skz episodes, and i just had to deliver

★ disclaimer: this fic in absolutely NO way represents the stray kids members as people. this is just for fun, so don't take it to heart. just enjoy!

You feel the need to throw up your breakfast– and you would be totally okay with it. It would give you an excuse to not show up for filming. This wasn’t really how you expected your idol life to be. You thought you would be put into a group that was on its way to debuting. Not joining a group that already debuted and is at the top of its career. 

Stray Kids proved themselves that they are still as successful with eight members rather than the original nine. After the situation with Woojin, Stray Kids went off like a rocket, pushing their way up the charts and blowing the competition out of the park. You admire that about them, and you wish to be part of a successful group just like that. 

It seems that you really do get what you wish for.

JYP made sure you were ready to become a member of Stray Kids. You have your own SKZOO character, a cow mixed with a koala named Mookie– and he released some photos of you from a photoshoot. You already have a set position in the group, based on your audition video. You’re the ace, the all-rounder, the one to do it all. You can’t help but feel under pressure with that title. You’re expected to sing, rap, dance, and look exceptionally stunning all at the same time, and the thought of that alone gives you the shakes. 

The eight males were really confused when Chan was called into a meeting with JYP himself. They thought their precious leader was in trouble for something. The remaining seven of them paced around their dorm, some of them biting their nails as they waited for Chan to get back. Felix started to tear up thinking they were going to disband. With a little consolation from his favorite hyung, Changbin, he was able to calm down enough to stop his tears. 

When Chan returned to them, his expression was unclear to them. Sometimes they can predict what’s wrong just by the way Chan’s face is twisted up, but for the first time in a while, they were stumped. 

Chan sat down with his hands propped up under his chin. His eyebrows were furrowed, his lips drawn in a straight line. Then he spoke up. 

“JYP is adding someone to the group.” 

You could hear a pin drop in the room. No one knew what to say. What could they say? Their entire world was just flipped upside down. They had spent years getting used to being a group of eight, now they have to let a complete stranger into their close-knit family? 

Felix was the first to speak up, and everyone turned their attention to him. He gulped before speaking, “Do we know who it is? When are they joining?” the blonde haired male couldn’t stop the shakiness of his voice as he looked at Chan. 

“Well, JYP told me that he’s been a trainee for a few years now. JYP said he doesn’t fit into any of his other groups, and he truly believes the guy fits our group the most.” Chan said with a deep sigh falling from his lips as he took a moment to let the news sink in. 

“I don’t think this is a good idea. What if he turns out to be like…” A pause. “You-know-who?” Everyone could feel the air being sucked out of the room after Jeongin spoke. 

It was something to consider. The entire situation with Woojin was nearly career-ending for them. The alleged actions of just one person nearly ruined everything for them. 

“No. JYP wouldn’t do that to us. I won’t allow anyone to hurt us like he did. Not again.” Chan says, looking at each and every one of his brothers. They could tell he was serious, his brows were furrowed and there wasn’t a single hint of amusement on his face. 

The boys all shared a group hug, and for a second, the impending anxiety of adding someone to their family was gone. 

Of course, it would only last for a short time. 

Which brings us to the present. You are riding in a van separate from the other members, on your way to the first filming location. You had filmed a little introduction video before you got onto the bus, and you were told it would play before the actual SKZ CODE video started. You had tried to not appear nervous, your hand gripping your jeans tightly out of the camera's view. You put on a gentle smile as you introduced yourself, hoping to make a good enough impression. 

You settle down in the van, holding Mookie in your arms as you buckle in. You hope they’ll accept you, because you have worked your ass off to debut. You may not be debuting how you had hoped to, but at this point you shall settle with whatever is given to you. 

You place your headphones on your head, leaning your head on the window as you play songs from the playlist you use when you sleep. You look out the window at the foggy sky and you realize the weather describes your mental state perfectly at this very moment. Dark. Quiet. Foggy and hard to see through. You sigh once again as the van starts moving. Hopefully this goes smoothly.

The Stray Kids boys are talking to each other while the cameras are off, and your name finds its way into the conversation once again. The air shifts awkwardly, the eight of them still in disbelief that a total stranger is being added to their group. 

They are looking at your headshots on Hyunjin’s phone, each and every one of them are impressed by your good looks. The expression on your face is intimidating, the lights casting shadows that dance along your smooth skin. They take in every single feature–your soft freckles that litter your cheeks and forehead, the little beauty mark on the tip of your nose, and the other beauty mark on your bottom lip. They can’t deny the fact that you are really attractive, you don’t look like the typical idol. 

Felix wonders if you two will bond over the fact that you both have freckles, or the fact that you’re both from different countries. Do you struggle with Korean like he does, or are you fluent like Chan? Do you have a preference for English or Korean? He wonders where you’re from, what was it like growing up for you? He feels a little bit of excitement bubbling in his chest at the idea of meeting someone who is similar to him. JYP told them a bit about you, and they were surprised to find out that you were from The United States. 

“He’s really attractive, I can’t deny it,” Lee Know speaks up from his spot, and he earns a series of agreements from everyone else. “And he looks like a sweet guy, I think we’re overthinking this entire situation.”

Chan hums, his expression still unreadable. He’s still on the fence about this, and he knows that he doesn’t really have a say in the situation. He wishes he did, because he would reject you immediately. He truly believes that Stray Kids are just fine as eight, not nine. And your position is the ace? Last time he checked, Han was their ace. They don’t need another one, Han does an amazing job as the ace of Stray Kids. Chan just hopes that Stay will be accepting.

The boys arrive before you do. They excitedly make their way to the mud flaps, each of them joking around with each other as the cameras roll. They laugh as Changbin chases Hyunjin, spouting something about romance. A few of them get closer to the mud flaps, while the others stick behind, watching fondly. They hear the door of a vehicle shut and they all whip their heads to look behind them. 

You start walking towards the eight males, Mookie is your clutches as you feel yourself start to sweat. You’re so nervous that you’re sweating while it’s cold outside. Your red-dyed hair is sticking up on one side–from laying your head on the van window–and your gray cardigan is slipping off your wide shoulders. You feel the cameras on you as you walk closer to your new bandmates. 

Once you deem yourself close enough for them all to hear you, you bow towards them. “Hello. My name is Lim Y/N, it’s nice to properly meet you all,” you say as you try to keep your voice from sounding so shaky. Your hands are clammy and wet with sweat. “I hope we can all get along, thank you again.” You stand up straight and take in their expressions.

Chan motions for everyone to get in line to do their group introduction. They all bow to you and introduce themselves one by one. You smile softly at them despite the awkwardness that sits heavily in the air. 

“So, uhm, should we go eat fried clams, now?” Changbin says, breaking the silence and awkward eye shifting. Chan agrees and they all retreat to their van, leaving you behind. 

You try to not let it get to you as you walk to your van. You squeeze Mookie’s plushy body as you take a few deep breaths. 

Once you all arrive at the restaurant, you sit at the table with Chan, Felix, Lee Know, and Han. You wait for them to get whatever food they want before you start grabbing some for yourself. When you take that first bite, you light up at how tasty it is. 

You’re no stranger to Korean cuisine, you did end up living with your grandma from the age of fourteen to your current age of twenty-three. When you were younger, you had no knowledge of your Korean heritage. Of course you knew your father was Korean and was born in South Korea, but ultimately you knew little to nothing about what it meant to be half-Korean. So, after some long conversations with your mother and father, they convinced you to move in with your grandma in Daejoon, South Korea. You were super excited, bright-eyed and itching for a change. At first it was a little difficult to adjust. You barely knew the language– you only knew a few phrases that helped you get around, but that was it. You are grateful that you have the ability to retain information quickly, and it’s all thanks to your mother. She’s a successful professor at a high-end college where she teaches psychology in Georgia.

“Wah, I’ve never had fried clams before. At least not any like this,” You say a little quietly, not wanting to draw any attention to yourself. Too bad everyone heard you. 

Felix pipes up after he finishes chewing his food. “You haven’t? Did you just move to Korea or have you been here for a while?” He asks and you notice how genuine he sounds. Like he’s interested in knowing more about you. It makes your heart beat fast in a good way.

“I was born in Georgia, in the US. But I moved to Daejoon when I turned fourteen, and I’ve been here ever since.” You told him, noticing that the others were also tuning in to what you’re saying. You earn a few hums of acknowledgement as everyone continues eating. 

“That’s pretty cool, looks like we have something in common.” Felix says, flashing you his sweet smile that makes you want to smile back. “You probably already know this, but I was born in another country. So was Chan hyung.”

You hum and nod as you chew your food, covering your mouth before you speak. “Yeah, I know quite a bit about you guys. You’re pretty famous all over.” You say with a soft laugh as you shake your head to move your fringe out of your eyes. 

Han finds himself staring at you while you talk. He likes the way your voice sounds when you speak, you have this smooth voice that feels like the softest silk on freshly lotioned skin. To Han, you look way better in person than in the pictures. Your skin is littered in light freckles, and the beauty marks on your face are so much more noticeable. He wonders what you sound like when you speak English. Is your voice more high pitched, low pitched, or is it the same? He feels an elbow jab his side and he fights the urge to screech like a crow. Damn Chan and his super parent senses.

The nine of you all finish eating and you’re cracking up at Felix and Jeongin when they go to feed the seagulls. You take videos of Seungmin trying to fight the birds, protecting Felix and Jeongin. You also take a few pictures of yourself near the mud flaps, and Felix ends up taking a few with you. You can tell he will become close to you pretty fast.

You all arrive at the house you’ll be staying at for two days and you’re all amazed by it. You all walk around and then you discover the basement. It’s unlike anything you’ve seen before– a karaoke machine, a nice pool table, and some arcade games. You watch as everyone rushes to play and sing. You don’t really see where you fit in, so you sit down and watch. You watch as they joke around and laugh. You listen to the inside jokes they have between each other. It makes your heart feel heavy knowing that you’ll possibly never be on the same level as them. They’ve been through so many ups and downs as a group, you will never understand what that’s like. 

You try to distract yourself with your phone, hoping that will prevent you from spiraling and crying in front of them. That would be pretty embarrassing on your part. You would hate to seem like someone who gets upset when he isn’t included, so you feel that a distraction is the best option. 

Felix is playing ping pong with Seungmin, and Seungmin notices that Felix keeps looking back at you. He’s starting to get a little annoyed that Felix isn’t paying attention to their very important game, so he huffs. 

“Hyung, pay attention! I’m so close to winning!” Seungmin whines, catching Felix’s attention. Felix apologizes and their game continues. One again, Felix misses the small white ball heading towards his side of the table. Seungmin knows it’s a point for him, but Felix didn’t even try to hit it. 

Seungmin lets out an annoyed groan and he looks to see where Felix is so focused on. It’s you. Seungmin takes a good look at you and he notices the look on your face. Longing. 

Hyung, invite him to play with you. We can continue our game later, I wanna go check out the rooms.” Seungmin says and Felix whips his head towards him. 

“Are you sure, Min? You don’t mind?” Felix asks, feeling bad for getting so distracted that he’s ruining the good time Seungmin is having. 

Seungmin nods and sets his paddle down. “Yeah. Just be prepared for me to kick your ass later.” Seungmin makes sure the cameras don’t pick up his vulgar language before he walks upstairs to check out the rooms.

Felix walks over to you, narrowly dodging Lee Know’s elbow that was so close to knocking him upside his head. Lee Know tends to get a little intense when he gets in the groove.

“Hey, Y/N hyung, do you wanna play some ping pong with me? Seungmin ditched me because he was losing so badly.” Felix says with a laugh. 

You look up when you hear someone talking to you in English. It honestly caught you off guard. It’s been a while since you’ve spoken English, you hope you still remember how to speak it (you’re a little dramatic, you get it from your dad–). 

“You– you want me to play with you?” You try not to sound too shocked, but you deem it to be a little too late for that. 

“Yeah, are you a sore loser like Seungmin, or are you a good sport when you lose?” Felix asks and you tut at him with a smirk. 

“Who said I was going to lose?” You retort back with your eyebrow cocked at him. Felix just laughs at you. 

“I’ll have you know I’m the best ping pong player out of all the guys.” Felix says, his hands on his hips in a victory pose. 

You stand up and start walking towards the ping pong table. “We’ll see about that, now won’t we?” you respond and pick up the paddle that Seungmin was once holding. You hunker down a bit, your eyes not leaving Felix’s form for a second. Poor Mookie sits abandoned on the seat near the karaoke machine. 

After everyone plays around for a bit, Seungmin comes downstairs whining about how he wants to swim. You freeze at the mentions of swimming, and your eyes shift around nervously. Everyone starts going to change, and you hesitate. Lee Know notices your hesitance, and he tilts his head at you. 

“Are you not coming? We’re gonna play some pool games. It’ll be fun.” He says, and you nod before you could stop yourself. 

“Yeah! I’m coming, don’t worry, hyung.” You smile at him as you follow behind him upstairs. You bite your fingernails anxiously at the idea of getting in the water. It sucks that one bad experience can completely ruin something for you. 

You get changed and you meet the others outside where the pool is. You stare at the deep blue water, your heart racing. You know you shouldn’t be standing so close to the edge, you could easily slip and fall in. You don’t want to drown on camera, much less in front of your groupmates. You feel a pair of hands on your back as they shove you forward, your arms and legs flailing as you fall into the water. 

The water isn’t deep, but that doesn’t matter to you. You thrash in the water, trying to get your head above the water. You panic, inhaling a large amount of water. You can’t breathe, your arms and legs are starting to hurt, and you just want out of the damn water. As you keep thrashing, you feel your body being pulled up and out of the water. 

Chan heaves you into a pool chair, his hands patting your back to help you spit out the water you inhaled. You cough as water spills from your mouth. Your chest and throat burns. You can feel your entire body shaking with fear. You start wheezing as you hug your knees, wanting the ground to open up and swallow you. You feel so embarrassed, you can’t do anything but cry. You hear someone telling the staff to turn off the cameras, and you feel a warm towel being placed on your tense shoulders. 

“Let me take him upstairs to get changed. I think it’s best if he doesn’t play volleyball with us.” Han says, his hand placed on your shoulder as he rubs comforting circles. Chan simply nods and tells the staff to resume filming when Han gets back from helping you get calmed down and dried off. 

Felix rushes over with something in his hand. Mookie. You look up at the blonde male, thanking him with your eyes. You take Mookie from him, following Han into the house. He guides you upstairs and sits you on the bed. 

“Can I look through your suitcase to get you some clean clothes?” He asks and you simply nod at him, sniffling. You watch as he opens your suitcase, rummaging through it. He pulls some clothes out and he guides you to the bathroom to change. 

You get changed and you shuffle out of the bathroom, a sad pout on your face. Han can’t help but think about how adorable you look. You might be older and taller than him, but you just look so soft. He feels his heart pick up pace as he stares. He should probably get back to the others to resume filming, but his feet won’t move. 

“Han, you should probably go back..” You say, your voice trailing off as you catch him staring at you. You feel shy under his gaze, no one’s ever looked at you like he’s looking at you right now. His eyes hold all emotions of attraction, the pools of deep brown staring into your own E/C eyes. You feel your ears get warm as you fight the goofy smile trying to make its way onto your face. 

“Right– sorry, uh.” He stutters, his neck turning a nice shade of deep red. He shakes his head, his ashy gray hair moving with his head. “Just– just let me know if you need anything, yeah? That must’ve been scary for you.” 

You nod, your voice raspy from coughing so much. “Yeah.. I don’t really like pools or large bodies of water, something happened when I was younger.” you explain softly, avoiding his concerned gaze. 

“I get it. I’m not the best swimmer, so I kind of see where you’re coming from.” Han says, trying to give some comfort, his hand coming up to rest on your shoulder. 

You simply give him a little smile, letting him know that you appreciate his comfort. You place your hand on top of his and you get an idea. 

“How about I play referee and scorekeeper for the volleyball game? I’ll keep my distance from the water and I won’t be missing out,”  you offer, and Han nods with a smile. 

“I think that’s a pretty smart idea, hyung,” he says, but he gives you a stern look. “Are you completely sure, though? Because you don’t have to if you don’t want to.” 

You hum and nod at him. He nods in response and the two of you walk back to the pool. 

Once you get outside, you’re being crushed by a pair of muscular arms. A string of apologies fall from Changbin’s mouth as he squeezes the life out of you. You can’t help but laugh at the shorter male.

“Hyung, I’m okay. You didn’t know that I’m afraid of water. I should apologize to you because I didn’t tell you beforehand.” You say, hoping to make the rapper feel better and less guilty. 

Changbin looks up at you, pouting. He lets you go and apologizes one more time. You wave him off and you pull up a pool chair near the middle of the edge of the pool. 

“Are you guys ready to play some volleyball?” You ask, earning a round of cheers from the males. You watch as they all hop into the water on their respective sides. You toss the ball into the water and whistle sharply, indicating the beginning of the game. You watch as they play, the cameras filming every second. 

You had your doubts about joining this group, but you think this could work out nicely. Let’s just hope it remains that way. 

#binnies req #kpop x male reader #stray kids x male reader #kpop x reader #male reader #stray kids x reader #han jisung x reader #han jisung x y/n

[buckets-and-trees]

First Night

I promised two anniversary fics this weekend, and it's still "this weekend" in a couple of time zones...

Fandom: MCU Series: The Brooklyn Boys Title: First Night Characters/Pairings: Stucky x female!Reader Word Count: 2.3k Summary: Takes place immediately after the events of the final part 10 Steve and the Best Friend. Dinner and a movie and...

Content Warnings: fluff, feelings, soft semi-retired superheroes

Additional Notes: Filling my ninth square for Bucky Barnes Bingo @buckybarnesbingo - U1 "Galaxy" and is the much spoken of (by me) PROMISED ANNIVERSARY EPISODE TO CELEBRATE POSTING PART ONE FOR THIS SERIES A YEAR AGO! These boys meant a lot to me back then and writing for them again to celebrate this with all of you has been a dream.

↠ Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

Bucky kisses the back of your hand, then stands from the couch, checking his watch. “Dinner’s about ready. I’ll go finish it off.”

As he leaves the living room, Steve scoots a little closer. He pulls you into a short kiss, then rests his forehead against yours, eyes closed, and you breathe in the moment.

“I know it’s so predictable to ask you about your day,” he says, “but I’ve been waiting for weeks to just have these everyday conversations with you.”

You smile, though you know he can’t see it. You’re sure he can feel it because you can feel it coming from him, too.

“When we went to dinner that night, I thought that was going to be the beginning of so many days like that, seeing you, texting with you, just sharing everything with you.

Your heart stutters and leaps, “I wanted that, too. I’m sorry it wasn’t–”

He stops you with another gentle press of his lips to yours and cups your cheek. “No, I didn’t mean to bring it up to make you feel guilty. Tony would say if you want to make an omelet, you have to break some eggs. I think we’re coming through for the better.”

In the time that you’ve spent with Steve, you’ve become aware of how influential and powerful his mood is in any situation, and right now he’s feeling a contentment that really does envelop you.

So you sit back a little in the armchair, but take his hand, and start talking. He holds your hand in both of his, idle stroking of the back of your hand with his thumb as he listens. You talk about the bookshop. Bucky has become a regular, but Steve hasn’t been in yet. You’re eager to share that with him soon, too. You tell him about an upcoming book launch event you solidified today with a local author – it’s their debut novel, but they’ve been a frequent friend of your shop for a few years. “Oh,” you suddenly remember to ask, “you mentioned before that you were getting a lot of chatter about some things happening in Turkey. Is that where you and Bucky went?”

“Yeah.” He grins, probably pleased that you remembered. “Turkey was… interesting.”

“I’ve wanted to go to Turkey! Mission stuff aside because I know that’s probably classified, did you get to experience anything?”

“Not too much, but we did get to see a little of Istanbul. It was beautiful.” He tilts his head a little. “I… would like to go back and see more.”

You plant your elbow on the armrest of your chair and prop your chin on the hand Steve’s not holding. “Steve, have you even been on a vacation?”

He shakes his head. “Only day trips or weekends once or twice upstate when I was a kid. We kept on the move and covered a lot of territory when we didn’t agree to the Sokovia Accords, but that was survival and trying to be of use while keeping a low profile, not traveling. And during The Blip, it never even crossed my mind.”

You squeeze his hand.

“We should go.”

“I’ve never done as much traveling as I wanted either. Couldn’t afford it when I was starting out, then… yeah, The Blip, and since the Second Snap, it’s been busy, but now…”

“Now maybe we have even more reason to make it something to prioritize.”

Butterflies flare in your stomach when he smiles at you like that. Your chest gets that happy tightness. This was why you said yes to them.

“So, Turkey,” you say, a little breathlessly.

“I’ll put it on the list.”

You’re melting.

“Dinner is almost ready!” Bucky’s voice calls from the kitchen. “Steve, come set the table!”

“France should probably go near the top of the list.”

Steve nods in agreement and pulls you up as he stands. He keeps your hand in his as he walks both of you into the kitchen.

“Bucky won’t let us eat in the kitchen, not even at the stools at the counter,”

“Damn right I won’t!” he says, already catching your conversation. “The French wouldn’t hear of it, and I worked hard enough for us to eat at the altar of a proper table.”

“Everything smells incredible,” you gush when you enter their beautiful kitchen. Every part of the brownstone you’ve seen so far is beautiful.

Bucky turns and flashes a devastating grin before turning back to his prep. “Glad you think so.”

Steve brings you to a stop right next to Bucky, who is fully occupied whisking egg yolks one at a time into a custard on the stove, a separate pan with melted chocolate set off to the side. You lean your hip against the counter so you can watch.

Standing behind him, Steve puts a hand on Bucky’s shoulder on the other side and leans over the stove to stick his finger in the chocolate, getting his taste before Bucky can stop him.

“Rogers!” Bucky growls.

You laugh, and Steve grins wickedly.

“It’s good.”

“Get to setting the table. Food’s already set, just going to finish this off and put it in the oven.”

“And pour the wine?”

“We’ve got a Syrah, right? Or any Bordeaux blend.”

“I’ll look and see.”

“Can I help?” you ask.

They both immediately frown at you. “You’re not lifting a finger the first dinner you’re eating here with us,” Bucky says adamantly.

You hold your hands up quickly in surrender. “Understood,” you laugh.

“Good girl,” Steve says, his smile immediately returning. “I’ll go sort out the wine.”

He squeezes Bucky’s shoulder before he leaves the kitchen.

It hits you out of nowhere. There’s a short constriction in your chest at seeing how easy that casual intimate gesture was between them. They’ve known each other for years and years longer than they’ve known you. You’re nowhere near close to that ease and familiarity with them yet. Will this work?

“Come here,” Bucky invites you in closer, and as you step forward, he tucks an arm around you and pulls you securely into his side while he continues whisking with his other hand. Did your insecurity show on your face? Did he merely suspect it? Or maybe he just wanted to hold you for no other reason than wanting to. Whatever the reason, it does soothe away that doubt that had tried to creep in. He presses a kiss to your temple. “I missed you. I don’t know if I would’ve been patient enough to wait much longer. Steve was adamant we had to wait for you to set the timing though.”

Your chest blooms with warmth. You’re glad they did wait – you had needed the time to think and sort out your heart so you could feel secure jumping all in – but it also made you feel good to know he’d been eager. You circle your arms around his waist and look up at him. “Thank you.” You could say more, but you think he knows. His eyes and a squeeze of his arm around you say that he does.  “Kiss me?”

“Always,” and he does. It’s a swift kiss because he is in the middle of the complexities of whatever he’s cooking, but he makes sure even the short kiss takes your breath away.

You only just manage not to whimper when he draws his lips away. Instead, you content yourself with resting your head against his chest. “Now what is it you’re making?”

“The boeuf bourguignon was easy to finish off, and I had decided something decadent for dessert was in order. Chocolate soufflé.”

“Damn, Barnes, you know how to impress a girl.”

He laughs. “Honey, get ready for a lot more of this.”

Your stomach flips, but he doesn't leave you flustered for long, diving into normal conversation while he continued working, Steve coming in and out of the kitchen to set the table. Bucky allows you to assist him as sous chef for only a moment, letting you to open the oven door when he was ready to carefully put the chocolate delicacy in to bake.

Then the three of you sit down to dinner, and it wasn’t an oversell to say it is one of the best meals of your life. The food is incredible, and simply being there with the two of them with the conversation, the laughter, the way they look at you, the way they look at each other, all of it is bliss. That bliss bleeds into Bucky taking the chocolate soufflé out of the oven and the three of you devouring the rich masterpiece. Then you settle in to watch a movie together, you tucked between them.

When you wake up, you are no longer tucked between your super soldiers, but instead tucked beneath a set of soft sheets and blanket that are unfamiliar to you, your head rests on a comfortable but foreign pillow, and your body feels the awkwardness of having slept in your jeans and button-down blouse. The latter wasn’t awful, but never ideal. Why were you asleep in your day clothes? You shift and yawn and sink a little more into the pillows and mattress, appreciating how cozy they are but wondering where exactly you were. You rewind your memory and start to recall a few of the last details in your mind – leaning up against Bucky’s side, Steve pulling your legs up across his lap and giving you a foot massage while the opening scenes of a movie played out.

They had let you choose the movie, and you’d gone with The Count of Monte Cristo, one of your favorites, but now you weren’t certain you’d even made it to the Chateau D’If with poor Edmond Dantes before falling asleep. Actually, you were pretty sure it was that soothing foot massage that had you lost to the land of the waking. You do have a vague half recollection of being scooped up from the couch into someone’s arms, but that was it.

It's clearly what landed you here.

You roll onto your back and smile. The ceiling is littered with carefully mapped out constellations, a glow in the dark replication of the galaxy. Adorable nerd, you think, and with a look around the room, the shelf full of books that covers an entire wall of the room and a neatly stacked pile of three books on the bedside table let you know you must be in Bucky’s bed. There is a low level of moonlight casting a glow across the room from the windows, and you remember the distinct thought you’d had about wanting to see how this man kept his books and what else was in his collection, but that would need to wait for daylight. You never would have dreamed this was how things would have played out all those weeks ago.

A little more alert, your throat feels a little dry, and knowing once the thought has crossed your mind you wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep without a drink of water, and it was clearly too late to go home (or late enough to absolutely justify staying in this very cozy place for the rest of the night and seeing your boys in the morning), you pull back the covers and shift out of bed. Sitting at the foot of the mattress you see a pair of gym shorts and a t-shirt that are clearly meant for you, and a huge sleepy smile splits across your face. You discard your clothes, feeling immediately comfortable in the alternative – which smell like Steve.

Bucky’s bed but Steve’s clothes.

Your head spins happily as you pad quietly into the hallway and make your way to the kitchen.

Once properly watered, you make your way back to the bedrooms, carefully bringing the partially-refilled glass with you just in case you get thirsty again. It is so quiet in their home, but comfortably so. You will get to see more in the daylight, but you love how it feels already. You pause at the doorway to Bucky’s room, bite your lip, and turn to look across the hallway at another bedroom door.

You don't want to sleep alone in Bucky’s room when they are together in Steve’s.

Heart pounding just a little, you step across the hallway and slowly turn the doorknob, trying to open the door as quietly as you can. You step inside, but then stop and look around. This was an unoccupied bedroom – it had a bed, but that bed was empty, and this room didn’t seem to have much to it. It was a guest bedroom. A little bloom shoots through your heart at the thought that while they had wanted to give you every bit of privacy – leaving you clothed, giving you a bed to yourself – it felt intimate in its own way to know that they’d tucked you in in Bucky’s room, not the guest bedroom.

Not at all nervous now, you step back into the hallway, close that door, and make your way further down the hall, eager to find where these two impossibly wonderful men were slumbering and join them. The next door on the left was a bathroom, but the door on the right is Steve’s. Bucky is asleep, but Steve is sitting up against the headboard and had been engrossed in scrolling in something on his phone, earbuds in, but looks up when your movement pulls his attention. He grins and pulls the buds out, “Hi, Sweetheart.”

“Hi,” you breath, padding toward his side of the bed.

He nudges Bucky as you make your way over. Bucky groans.

“Told you our girl would make her way to us before sunrise,” Steve says to him, and that seems to bring Bucky around slightly.

Steve sets his phone on his bedside table, takes the glass from your hand to set it there as well, and pulls back the covers so you can hop up and crawl in and join them. Bucky immediately pulls you in to his chest, kissing the top of your head. You sigh as Steve closes in behind you, and between your two super soldiers, you quickly drift back to sleep, held safely in their arms.

↠ Masterlist | Aspen's Ask Box | Field Guide to the Forest

#the brooklyn boys #aspen wrote something #stucky x reader #aspen's extended anniversary sleepover #buckybarnesbingo2023 #bbb2023 #female reader

[skye-huntress]

I’m in Love with the Villainess Reaction

Episode 12 / Finale

I feel like they could have skipped the OP and just showed the title like so many other shows.

Guess they don’t plan on leaving us in limbo, they skipped straight to Manaria’s confrontation.

Seriously, Manaria, you’re the one who was trying to drive Rae away and now you’re mad at her because you succeeded. Like I get what you were doing, but maybe opening this test of yours up with a magic duel of all things wasn’t your best approach. You beat her so badly and completely you crushed her spirit.

Her methods aside, at least we’re getting to the heart of the issue now. Rae’s love for Claire is not as selfless as she claims, how could it be? She wants Claire to love her back, to be in a relationship with her but she was afraid of being rejected.

In many ways, Manaria and Rae are similar, which is part of why Manaria knows she can’t leave Rae alone, lest she make the same mistake she did.

I hate to say it, but after everything that happened, this had to be the last card Manaria could play. Claire’s safety and wellbeing is still Rae’s priority. The only reason she could even imagine leaving Claire’s side is because she knows Manaria could protect her from any threat, even if that threat is Claire herself. But if Manaria is the one who becomes the threat…

“Again, I wasn’t consulted.” Look, Claire, you were free to step in at any time but you let this play out. You allowed your affection for Manaria to blind you, but everyone else from your minions to the Princes knew what was going on.

Sorry, Claire, you’re too late to stop this and Rae doesn’t have the time to idle about, not with what she’s looking for.

Ah, the tediousness of farming for that ultra rare drop.

Claire kept that necklace Rae gave her the entire time. In fact, she’s been wearing it everyday since. It’s proof that she wants to believe in Rae’s love, if only she wasn’t given so many reasons to doubt.

Woah, woah, woah, that vision of the future! They didn’t just include the two together, and their house, they also showed the twins! Don’t tease me like that, I want to see it all in anime form! If only the odds for a second season weren’t so low, this wouldn’t hurt so much!

Damn, Rae is going all in and all out. That line made more sense in my head.

Yes, Claire, tell us how you really feel! None of this will matter if you’re not even honest with yourself or with Rae.

All those damn expectations of being a noble lady. Let’s be frank, nobles don’t marry for love, marriage is a formal contract between families.

Predictable. This is yet another contest that is practically rigged in Manaria’s favour. There is no offering known to be heavier than the Flower of Flora, so the best you could hope for is a tie, and even that is a difficult feat, given how rare that flower is and how difficult it is to obtain.

Ugh, more poems. And it’s so obviously fake, too. You’re just reciting someone else’s words that don’t carry the same meaning or feeling as the original.

Cutting it a little close there, Rae.

Wow, Manaria actually looks happy to see Rae, meanwhile Claire is immediately concerned by the state she is in.

Manaria has a flower of legend, and Rae has what looks like a random stick. Not hard to imagine the reaction she’d get.

They have no faith in her. As if Rae hasn’t proven that she tends to know more than she could possibly know.

Well, Misha, you got your miracle.

Rod, don’t act like you didn’t have your own doubts not two seconds ago.

YES! THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT! THAT’S A REAL CONFESSION OF LOVE!

That 180 is just as jarring in anime form. It’s like this girl just forgot she’s been playing the role of the villainess for the past few weeks.

Look at Claire’s hand, like it’s still searching for Rae’s.

The most shocking part about this is Manaria is actually serious. In fact, at this point in the novel Rae suddenly remembers a little bit of trivia about Manaria from the game. It was possible that Manaria might confess feelings for the protagonist, not that it actually led to anything if she did.

This is even better than the novels and manga, Claire didn’t just yell her true feelings (and Rae’s name, finally), she actually grabbed Rae and put herself between them.

Oh, how we missed this banter. It’ll take a bit longer for Claire to get over that knee-jerk reaction but now we know she doesn’t actually mean it.

That crowd’s getting a full show today. The following year’s festival is going to be a snore fest in comparison.

Early credit again, I see.

Someone actually made an accurate prediction that the story of Poesie Amour was foreshadowing Rae and Manaria’s fates. Like the two suitors in the story, Rae would go on to marry Claire, while Manaria would go on to be a great queen. I can’t believe it never occurred to me before, not even on rereads when I knew the outcome.

No, no, Rae has a right to feel the way she does. Manaria spent most of the time being a menace to Rae, stomped all over her feelings and even threatened Claire. Even if it was all ultimately for her benefit, that doesn’t erase all the emotional damage or the scars.

Wow, Rae, you just figured it out. And yeah, there very likely was a better way to go about it, but Manaria has already admitted she’s kind of a shitty person.

After those confessions, everyone’s pretty much accepted that they’ll be getting together.

I’m surprised more people haven’t confronted Rae about the things she seems to know. I suppose everyone else is taking the wait and see approach, but since she’s leaving, Manaria had to ask now.

As has been hinted many times, a revolution is coming, and those don’t tend to end well for the people in power. Even if Claire doesn’t turn full Villainess, she’ll still likely be executed for no other reason than that she is a noble. That is the future Rae has been working to prevent.

Look at their classmates, they clearly have no idea how to react, yet all their friends have accepted that this is just the way they are, even as a couple.

And that’s a wrap. While I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a Season 2, I will recommend that novels and manga. The next few arcs are particularly interesting. Personally, I’m a big fan of Chapter 6: Yu’s Secret (FYI, this episode ended Chapter 4: The Scales of Love). That chapter is packed with all sorts of good and interesting stuff.

#i’m in love with the villainess #i'm in love with the villainess

[clarebear-0925]

Flowers, Fight Scenes and Isolation: My Prediction for the Future (And Possible Ending) of Jujutsu Kaisen

Hi. So seeing this extra for volume 26 finally spurred me to articulate all of my thoughts on this subject in one place. Sorry for the length, but let me cook.

Here's the big idea: I believe that Gojo is in fact going to come back— but with a major catch.

Lets review the (mostly theme-based) evidence, shall we?

Firstly, throughout the entire series, we know that Gojo has been incredibly lonely, isolated at the top by Jujutsu society,

As summed up by this iconic panel, with just him, vast empty white space, and his title, the only thing that most people know him for/define him by, aka “the strongest.”

We also know that isolation played a big role in his mental state and thinking until his death, and is something that Gege made sure to reemphasize during his last moments in chapter 236.

In this conversation, Gojo expresses the gap he felt and also sets up the connected imagery of him and flowers.

(In addition, I feel as though it is also significant that the person he finally opens up to about his feelings on this isolation is Geto- more on that later).

Next, JJK is commonly nicknamed “jumpkaisen” as a joke by fans due to how often the characters team up against the villains. However, I think this pattern actually has more significance in the overall narrative than being a funny quirk.

Over the course of the series, we have seen all sorts of teamups between a wide variety of characters- like the widespread jumpkaisen nickname suggests, they are an iconic part of JJK's combat.

However, one character in particular is exempt from this trend- Gojo. (and also Sukuna but we’ll get into that later too.)

He is always fighting alone- as an adult, we never see him fight alongside anyone else the way that other characters do. Even the villains note this when planning their battle strategy:

This is is made especially clear in the final battle (especially with the contrast between the mostly solo Gojo v Sukuna fight and the absolute dogpile that is going on in the manga right now).

The only times we ever saw Gojo fighting alongside another person is with Geto in his youth. Geto is also the only person who didn’t him as “the strongest.” Instead, they were the strongest together, and that is reflected in how they fought together.

But then after everything in Hidden Inventory, Geto too starts to see that gap between him and Gojo.

This results in him leaving Gojo, thus permanently isolating him as “the strongest.” (See also the change from "we're the strongest" in the Hidden Inventory Arc to "I'm the Strongest" in JJK episode 2).

We never see him fight with another person after that.

Ok, so now let’s put these two points (Gojo's isolation and its connection to the fight scenes) to serve up a prediction.

I believe that Gojo is going to come back severely weakened to the point that he will finally have to (or be able to) fight WITH others- in particular, the students who he has made it his express mission to protect and nurture so they can go on to improve Jujutsu society.

This would be in sharp contrast to Sukuna, who has continually refused any chance or notion of love and connection, likely due to his belief that it is unattainable due to his strength.

(Serena on TikTok has an amazing and concise video on this topic- go watch it if you're interested in a better understanding)

I also think that this development would be a great way to show that Gojo HAS been successful in his goal to nurture a better future of Jujutsu- rather than the society isolating and systematically breaking students like it did Geto, the students are now all working together to defeat this insurmountable evil.

So, in conclusion, yes, Sukuna will in fact be defeated by the power of love and friendship (and a couple dozen or so black flashes), and it is NOT Gojover.

Also, here is some vital supplemental information (again from the amazing Serena) regarding the flower depicted on Gojo’s cover and the volume 26 extra.

I think the fact that Gojo compared himself to a flower in Chapter 236 as he died, and the fact that the flower in the supplemental (who he is clearly connected to via the cover art) hasn’t hit the ground yet is a very good (and more concrete) sign for his chances of returning.

Thank you for reading and sorry for the length! I would love to know your guys' thoughts on this theory and what you think will happen in the future of JJK! :)

#hi i know i already posted this but i cleaned it up to post on reddit so take the cleaner version here too!! #jjk manga spoilers #jjk #jjk theory #gojo satoru #my ramblings #clare’s tedtalks

[toastedwrittenthoughts]

OKAY! I have been stressing about these titles all day and I need to say a few things about them.

Spoilers for the titles the rest is pure speculations and predictions!

Episode 9!

Okay... So to start my predictions, I have to mention where we were left at the end of Episode 8...

BOTH Buddy and Richie were arrested and are in Jail.

Jane was scolded for being indecisive about what she wants.

Olivia walked into Mr. Daniels house without her PL Jacket (cue aggressive vomiting noises).

Nancy was left to clean up the mess and looking broken. (Like the window. Symbolism!)

Cynthia probably feeling multiple conflicting internal feelings. (As she should.)

So here we go...

I would want the episode to start with a dark screen... the sound of a cell door closing and amongst several cells they pan over and inside one of them is Buddy and Richie. Not together, but separated...? Its like the saying "put them in a room alone together and let things sort itself out." I'd hope that its been a little while and Buddy has sobered up some but regardless, the two of them just sending scathing looks between eachother after maybe getting in a few actual hits against eachother. (Poor Dot)

Both of them showing signs of discomfort because they're still kids, IN JAIL. But out of the two of them, Richie is a little better at keeping his cool. After all, he's used to detention, fights and breaking rules. I know its not the same, but if anything... Id be willing to bet that in this situation, the other potential 'jail occupants' kinda look like him.. People from the 'wrong parts of town'. Kind recognizes kind. The other occupants hear Buddy's last name and start digging at him and his dad and Richie tells them to back off. Again, kind recognizes kind and they leave them alone. Buddy gives a halfhearted 'thanks' and Richie just shrugs.

Buddy would be pacing, no doubt muttering about how his dad was going to react about all this when he comes to get him. Richie is probably terrified at how his parents will react and coming from a European household.. Phew.. It ain't gonna be pretty. Richie would scoff, telling him to be quiet, that 'they wouldn't be here if Buddy hadn't been drunk and acting like an ass. Or if he had just come clean from the start."

"I didn't mean too. It just happened and.." Buddy's head would hang down, looking ashamed. Richie feels bad for him for just a second before Buddy finish with "I never wanted to hurt her, you know. I loved her. I still do."

That I could see would send Richie over an edge. He stands up and even with their height difference would level Buddy with a dead stare.

"That's. Not. Love. You don't let someone spread damning gossip around about someone you "love" and not clear it up because your worried about your own reputation. You don't take advantage of them and say you love them. Its not to be used as an excuse or reason why you think its okay to be an asshole." (Personal thoughts mixed in here.)

"What do you know about about it, Richie? You've never had your parents pressure you to be the best. And then to find out that what you are, what you thought you were, is only a fake image that wasn't even made by yourself. Jane was the only thing that was.. real to me. I mean.. really real."

"And instead of treating her like she deserves, even after you found out about the election and shit, you thought of just yourself and let her get buried." Richie scoffs and shakes his head. "Look Buddy, I may not have been born and raised on your side of town, I may not have been pushed to be the best because no one expects me to be; but we can both agree that Jane makes us want to be better. But if your dad is the one that's trying to mold your life in a way you don't want it to be, then maybe you need to take the wheel and go where his reputation hasn't reached and make your own."

Or something like that. Either way, I would want them to verbally have it out. And IF Buddy's dad comes to bail him out, because reputation and shit... Id want Buddy to look back at Richie in the cell and tell his dad that 'Richie wouldn't be here if it wasn't for me. Either we both go, or I don't at all." Buddy's dad sees that he doesn't budge and agrees. I like to hope that between Buddy and Richie, they aren't even, but it would be a damn good start.

Jane is going to do some repair work and I get the feeling that she will be one of a few people who will ask the question "You're dropping out of Rydell?" And potentially for a few people.

Nancy could get the urge to leave because of her fashion calling and the fact that the Pink Ladies are up in the air but is worried that because of her crush, she will lose sight of what she really wants to do and is tempted to just go. But instead of pulling a Frenchy, she stays.. I don't know how, but that's the feeling I get. (Like have your cake and eat it too.)

Olivia could think about leaving/dropping out to another school so she moves forward with Mr. Daniels (at his mentioning's or insistence) and to not 'jeopardize' his career, marry him but like in secret. Gil could hear word about this and HAULS ASS to find her and convinces her that she is worth more than that, that she is worth loving out loud and proud. Like He does. Something about the way Mr. Daniels acts around her now could make her feel uncomfortable and together, they go to McGee and get his predator ass fired. Done.

Cynthia would be torn about where she fits and after some agonizing, thinks she should leave and changes her mind when she gets her TBird jacket. And starts making things better by apologizing to Shy Guy because HE IS SWEET AND DESERVES AN APOLOGY!

Mrs. McGee could ask that to the Principle who is leaving because he got a different job opportunity and puts her in charge. Or Mr. Daniels because he also needs to go. (Im hopeful)

Over All...

I think Buddy will be the one to leave. Personally to me, it would make sense. Not because it would take him out of the whole Buddy/Jane/Richie triangle, though I would not be upset about that at all. (Richie is my boy and doesn't need to go, I will die on that hill). But from a realistic point of view... If I wanted to get out from my meddling fathers shadow, and I would after hearing everything he has done, I would say that leaving Rydell to go to another school to restart would be the way to go. Somewhere his father would have little to no influence over and he could start anew. It would also kinda go with Buddy's character since when the opportunity to fix things come up, he kinda detours and takes a road to avoid them and only comes clean when they fall all but at his feet and he's in a corner. (Frosty Palace.)

Episode 10.

Since I am unclear about the school timeline right now (like is it nearly thanksgiving for them as students? Is the year halfway done?) I would like to think that they have a fall fair or something. If my predictions are correct, Buddy will leave Rydell at the end of their first semester. But before they go, they gotta race.

Susan I think will race one of the Ladies, most likely Olivia because she looked MAD in both the trailer and pictures and Olivia would be the focal point of that anger.. Dot will be their flag girl because she supports Susan and the gangs will cheer for them as they race. Susan could lose because they need to bury their hatchet somehow. And with the Win, Olivia gets a car, and therefore the Pink Ladies get their own ride. Susan admits defeat, apologizes and like Buddy with Richie, isn't making them even, but it could be a place to start.

I still think Gil's gonna race, I almost say he needs to just for the classic victory (first) kiss between him and Olivia. (Fingers tightly crossed.)

But one thing I was saying when a friend of mine and I were in a debate was that there was talk about the title having two meanings. 'Racing For Pinks.'

Pinks is the Pink Ownership slip but it could also mean the Pink Ladies. Buddy/ Richie, Gil and Mr. Daniels (though I doubt it) and such. They could win the girl. And I gotta say both yes and no to this thought. One thing that I would want to be said, whether it be the TBirds, the Pink Ladies themselves or hell, why not both is that they can't be 'won'.

To be with a Pink Lady isn't part of some... game. You cant race and get a girl, I'm sorry but that to me just wouldn't be right. These girls are breaking norms and fighting the system, breaking stereotypical boundaries. Cynthia says that to have two people race for you is AMUSING. At the risk of sounding two faced, they aren't trophies to be won but.. they kinda are. But they cant be bought or traded.

No, the Pink Ladies are EARNED. Period.

The TBird and Pink Ladies alike EARN their jackets and reputation, so why shouldn't their affection (love, devotion, romance, relationship take your pick) be any different? You put in work, you get the girl. And so far, I think that some have. While others are still working things out.

We also haven't met the Scorpions, the rival gangs of the TBirds in OG Grease. Or Zuko and Kenickie for that matter. And if anyone reads my long posts, that's where the 'scenes' I think up could go here with Richie and Gil meeting them..

But if I follow my gut, I think that if Buddy leaves, he could go to a different school, start up the Scorpions because he's acting out against his dad and the beef between the Birds and Scorpions is pre-established for the future.

Regardless of how things go... JOIN ME IN HOPING FOR A SEASON TWO!

Again, this is a mixture of spoilers, speculations and predictions! Id love to hear yours! Comment or message me directly the door is always open!

#grease: rise of the pink ladies #jane facciano #richie valdovinos #richie x jane #olivia valdovinos #gil rizzo #olivia x gil #shy guy #potato #potato x nancy #nancy nakagawa #cynthia x lydia #cynthia zdunowski #greasers #pink ladies #the tbirds #personal thoughts #predictions #I hope they make a second season

[inksandpensblog]

An announcement

I have work today, so discussion and analysis of the episode is still on hold. I have something to say in advance, though for when I do get started:

For my own sanity, I will not be discussing the cliffhanger.

tl:dr Until more episodes are released that can give us more context for the last few seconds of "Wanted," I'm not going to be crafting any theories or making any predictions or doing any analysis about them. Because trying is just going to frustrate me and I want to actually enjoy this show.

spoilers below

The idea of Victim returning to the series was always something that I've always had mixed feelings about.

I wanted to see the character again in some capacity; have one of the other sticks discover his former, brief existence, or have some sort of mental connection between Victim and one of his Becker-born fellows be established, or have the animator consider Victim's involvement in his own past, or at least have Victim's one-time presence be acknowledged by the series in some way, even if it doesn't expand into an actual plot point.

That was my best-case scenario: that Victim's short life be consciously addressed or referenced in-universe by the current cast. I'd be content with whatever effects rippled from that.

What we've gotten is more than that. More than Victim's role in the overall narrative being understood and acknowledged by the other characters.

Victim himself has returned, to take up a new role in the narrative.

And what I'm feeling is...mostly apprehension tbh.

The fandom has done so much with Victim. As far as a canon basis for personality, he had by far the least for us to work with out of any AvA stickfigure, so we all poured our own ideas and thoughts and nuances and pursuits into him. No two fans' Victims are alike, but there are still patterns of popular interpretation to be found. Victim being gray. Victim being in the void. Victim being a ghost. Victim having a funky relationship with code due to partial-deletion/recovery. Victim reincarnating into Chosen or Second.

Over the course of this new season, a lot of that is going to be permanently branded as alternate characterization, because Victim will be getting canon established for himself.

I can live with that.

But just because I know it's coming doesn't mean I'm ready to pack away what we've made on our own just yet.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm eager to see what Alan does with putting Victim in what seems to be a villainous role. Alan has already done such intriguing things with the stickfigures who are identified by archetypes, and how these characters alternately embrace and defy different aspects of the in-universe titles they've been named with is something I look forward to seeing more of with Victim.

At the same time, though...a petty part of me still isn't over the kerfuffle a bunch of us had two years ago when some people in the official discord server decided that Victim as he appeared in AvA1 was canonically evil.

AvA1. The episode where he gets disparaged and unmade. Where he had to fistfight a cruel god two minutes after being brought to life, and when he had the audacity to almost win he was punished with cessation of existence.

And...apparently that made him evil, in some people's eyes? I didn't get it then, and I still don't get it now. But perhaps you can see why the hints toward a villainous role for Victim in upcoming episodes have me a little on edge.

I've seen "evil Victim" done well, I know it's possible. SammyXD's incredible Ghost in the Machine comic is foremost in my mind, but I can name at least two other examples. I know it can be done.

I just hope it's worth it.

#animator vs animation #ava shorts #my thoughts

[disasterbijamietartt]

I’ll need a few days to really process the last episode, so don’t expect any meta until the weekend.

But I wanted to write a post about why I believe in the writers and why I think that … this sounds so arrogant and delusional, but that my predictions here* are roughly what will happen and queer folks can stay hopeful.

(*tl;dr: Essentially that Colin will be the inspiration for main characters to address their queerness, Ted Lasso spent two seasons straightbaiting its entire audience and this season will end queer as fuck)

When I started watching Ted Lasso I thought it would be a fun, but silly little sports comedy, but very soon it got obvious how the show featured heavier themes and that they didn’t follow the expected script. Like, when Rebecca tells Ted the truth, you’d normally get some drama and rising conflict – but we got instant forgiveness.

And it got soon obvious we’d get a love triangle with Jamie, Keeley and Roy and – as someone who knows how the script goes – my first assumption was, that Roy x Keeley will be endgame (which was sad, since I adored Jamie x Keeley from the beginning, but I digress).

But some of the things that usually put me off love triangles were missing: there was no prolonged unnecessary drama after Roy learned that Keeley hooked up with Jamie the night before, Jamie and Roy didn’t fight over who would “get” Keeley (even though Roy’s jealousy sure was one reason for the tension between him and Jamie, but it wasn’t the only one), Jamie didn’t try to actively win Keeley back throughout the second season, he didn’t try to sabotage their relationship, even though he still loved her. The rocky parts in Roy’s and Keeley’s relationship weren’t related to Jamie at all, on the contrary, Jamie kind of unintentionally fixed their problems.

So, when they diverge so much from the expected, should I really still assume they’ll end the show with the thing everyone expects to happen? (like, in classic romance structure, Roy and Keeley now had their third act break-up, that always happens before the happily ever after … but as Phil said in an interview, they’re situation is a lot more complex than you’ll usually get.)

So, anyway, Ted Lasso was playing with expectations from the beginning. You’d expect Ted x Rebecca and Roy x Keeley endgame cause that is how the classic narrative works but the show subverted classic structure in the first season. So why should we assume that they just stick to the classic script now?

Also the theme song:

“Yeah, might be all that you get,

Yeah, I guess this might well be it“

I always thought, for an optimistic show like Ted Lasso this was a kinda sober beginning. But if you look at this with a queer eye … Cishet people are so used to seeing their happy endings playing out, so that is what they’ll expect to get. Until the last couple years, queer people barely got any stories with happy endings, so you didn’t exactly grow up with the expectation you’ll get a happy ending.

So you just had to take what you got.

But on the other hand the song has this hopeful bit about trying and not giving up. And … okay, I’m not sure where I’m going with this, but, idk, it just feels like it would fit as the theme song for an ultimately hella queer show?

And there are a lot of allusions to “The Wizard of Oz”, starting with the title of the first episode, Ted being the “Man from Kansas” aka Dorothy – googling I found this post pointing out a lot parallels in the second season, so it is not just me being delusional again.

For context: The movie was released 1939. Between 1934 and 1968 due to the Hays Code people couldn’t be shown as being explicitly queer in movies in the US, so writers started to queercode characters to still indicate queerness. And there is of course queercoding in “The Wizard of Oz” just like Ted Lasso and the movie as a whole resonated a lot with queer audiences, making Judy Garland a Gay Icon (see here). 

Both the movie and L. Frank Baumans novels have a lot of queer subtext (like, there is even kind of a trans character in the novels?). "Friend of Dorothy” was a way gay men referred to each other at a time, where they couldn’t just openly ask about someone’s orientation.

Fun Fact: The movies title song “Over the Rainbow” soon became a queer anthem and people wondered whether it inspired the rainbow flag. But the creator, Gilbert Baker, said he was inspired by,

wait for it,

“She’s a Rainbow” by the Rolling Stones (see here).

Rings a bell?

The episode “Rainbow”?

Roy returning as a coach to Richmond?

Also: Jamie comparing the team to the Rolling Stones? Himself to Mick Jagger and Roy to Keith Richards, who both wrote the song?

And, looking at episode titles some more: The color "Lavender" is so queer it has it's own LGTBQ-section on Wikipedia. Also the bisexual pride flag, where the colours overlap to form lavender? There was probably some other reason I forgot that the episode where Jamie returned was called like the queerest color ever, but still …

WHAT A BUNCH OF CURIOUS COINCIDENCES!

Oh God, the more I look, the queerer everything gets! I think I could go on some more, but I need to get breakfast and then some work done.

#my meta #ted lasso speculations #jamie x roy #roy x jamie #ted x trent #tedtrent #tedependent #colin hughes #jamie x keeley x roy #this doesn't reference any ship but might be relevant soo #if I'm wrong I delete my tumblr #and burn something down #kidding I'll just never trust a tv show ever again #ted lasso meta #queer coding #ted lasso

[themonotonysyndrome]

hey mono !! i just listened to desmond’s newest video and..WHEW.

the trauma that both castin and the baroness have are so high to the point that i’m CONVINCED that their child or children will inherent their trauma and might even distance themselves from their parents. the generational trauma that i sense coming from their family unit is crazy high..like couldn’t yall just go to therapy FIRST and THEN have a kid?

furthermore, i still sense hostility and, dare i say, racism coming from castin, which is surprising to hear bc iirc, in the previous episodes, he wasn’t THIS disgusted and horrified by the imperials. then again, his pregnant wife WAS just almost killed by who i assume to be lord carter, so i can’t blame him too much for reacting like that.

after listening to the whole first episode of the audio, i realized that one marriage with two big shot people coming from intacia and the empire won’t and can’t solve any of this. the hostility and hatred that the intacians and the imperials have is so deeply rooted in their individual cultures. this war is so much bigger than the marriage, and i believe that neither rhett nor the queen had actually thought of this before pairing them up together.

as much as i love the water ascendant listener, they essentially gave up their friend to a total stranger coming from the other warring nation, at first thinking that this singular marriage will just..fix everything. rhett and the queen have overworked the baroness to the bone while her husband is hundreds of kilometers away from her, just gathering trauma after trauma that will be passed onto their child/children.

tldr : the war between intacia and the empire is so much bigger than the baroness’ marriage and rhett + the queen are kind of dicks for just thinking that a marriage will fix everything

Neptune! I was thinking about you the moment the new video dropped! I have so many things that I wanted to discuss with you!

So I already explained my thoughts and feelings on Castin's Part 1 of Chapter 5 audio here: Ask, Ask, and here Ask.

after listening to the whole first episode of the audio, i realized that one marriage with two big shot people coming from intacia and the empire won’t and can’t solve any of this. the hostility and hatred that the intacians and the imperials have is so deeply rooted in their individual cultures. this war is so much bigger than the marriage, and i believe that neither rhett nor the queen had actually thought of this before pairing them up together.

This makes me wonder if Rhett and his Queen Ascendant have ever sat down and discussed the fallout that might come from marrying their besties to each other. I admit; something like this is hard to predict. Especially since Castin and the Baroness are key figures in the political world and every action that they take is heavily scrutinised and reflected back on their respective countries. It's one of the reasons why I was upset on the Baroness' behalf when Castin suggested she give her title to someone else. If she does that, she'll be a laughingstock forever! We've heard, read, and seen so many stories where a woman's identity is erased the moment she marries. She becomes a wife first rather than her own being. Then, she becomes a mother and not the woman that she was. It's all very disheartening and the fact that Castin doesn't realise that he's trying to do the same thing to the Baroness? It disappoints me.

Hang on, I'm gonna play that new Labour remix on full-blast and loudspeaker now dnjfkndskf

as much as i love the water ascendant listener, they essentially gave up their friend to a total stranger coming from the other warring nation, at first thinking that this singular marriage will just..fix everything. rhett and the queen have overworked the baroness to the bone while her husband is hundreds of kilometers away from her, just gathering trauma after trauma that will be passed onto their child/children.

I REALLY wanna know how the Queen Ascendant managed to get the Baroness to go along with her and Rhett's plans. I really, really do. Because I love my friends, but there are boundaries I still won't let them cross, and if they do? Instant ghosting. So it'll be nice if we can hear about that scene.

Also, 'the queen have overworked the baroness to the bone' - can we just talk more about this?

Being a leader of a noble household is already exhausting. Why does no one actually throw shades at the King and Queen for overworking the Baroness? Even if she's someone who likes keeping busy, her workload after her marriage is INSANE. It really is! Even strangers from Steelgate commented how the Baroness is THE busiest woman in the world!

Do Rhett and the Queen Ascendant have no shame? Now I really, REALLY, wanna know what they do in the daily. What do they do to push the peace they so wanted and preached.

Rhett's storyline needs to continue or not I'll probably write a confrontation fic about Celica and Queen Isolde, lol.

But despite all these... I REALLY ENJOYED THE TENSION AND DILEMMA THAT DESMOND HAS WRITTEN FOR THIS NEW CHAPTER. I WANNA KNOW HOW OUR FAV COUPLE WILL RESOLVE THIS NEW ISSUE. I WANNA KNOW IF CASTIN WILL GROW AS A PERSON OR CONTINUE TO KEEP HIS PREJUDICE AGAINST EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING COASTAL EMPIRE (with the unfair exception to his wife) TO THE BITTER END.

#monotony's rambling #desmond asmr

[ygsunflower]

Yes! Your last post *chefs kiss* from the start of this show I was wondering how this propaganda of the military would play out through the show because when you’re portraying people in the military of coarse it will be full of pro-American and pro-military sense. But I love how Cruz really does break down through the episodes and as sad as the finale was I am obsessed with the fact that she’s finally seen right through this Mission of the military and how she’s against it at the end of the day

If the show’s not literally named Special Ops: Lioness, it’ll be so interesting to follow Cruz and explore what’s next for her… Will she stay in the military? Will she go back to the Marines? Will she try to find Aaliyah on her own? Will she stay in the Lioness ops so she might get a chance to work on ops that could lead her to Aaliyah? Just how and what will happen to this poor woman now that her whole world is shattered and she’s lost in the darkness?

I do think Cruz is someone with a morale, and this whole experience also made her realized that for her, the ends don’t always justify the means: using Aaliyah to kill the dirty oil guy/terrorist; joining the military to get her life a second chance. There needs to be a line drawn to when the ends can justify the means. And maybe she’s just discovering that.

A side note: In my imagination for their future story, Aaliyah is now left with her dad’s business as her brothers are useless and her fiancé who her dad deemed as a heir is dead. She’s overwhelmed by everything but at the same time there’re also threats that required her to run and hide: her dad’s old partners and his enemies are now hunting her for the business. Cruz, on the other hand, may or may not left the military completely, but she’s definitely out of Joe’s lioness ops. She still keeps contacts with the team though, and this is how she heard about Aaliyah being chased by the “bad” and “good” parties. [Good and bad are really no difference in this case because they both are after the access to Aaliyah’s dad’s middle-eastern oil connections… The so called “bad” ones refer to her dad’s friends/enemies and the “good” ones are the CIA and other western governments. ] Once Cruz learns about this, she goes rogue trying to make connections with Aaliyah. And during this journey, she gets to explore where the lines between the means and the ends are drawn for her. While Cruz and Aaliyah still have feelings for each other, so much have happened since, and their relationship now is more complex than ever. Will they work together to stay alive? Can they trust each other? Who else or which side can they trust more?

I wish they could explore more on this storyline, but again, the show’s called Special Ops: Lioness, so if Cruz’s no longer a lioness, she’s not gonna be in s2. Also, let’s be honest, even with this show title, they still focused so much on Neil and the daughter’s drama this season. Sometimes it feels like that this part of the plot is more well-written than the supposedly main Lioness plot. So, I doubt going forward this show will ever give the sapphics the type of main plot I want to see. But you never know, we might get a surprise once in a blue moon, and no matter what, I still have my wild imaginations 😂 Tbh, as much as Aaliyah x Cruz and their characters are so interesting to me, the overall plot of the show is a bit weak. Things are too predictable and almost too one-dimensional for my liking. Whatever happens in s2, I hope they have better writing/plotting of the story. Show the audience the complexity and nuances more!

#sorry i went off again #aaliyah x cruz #cruz manuelos #special ops: lioness #they have so much potential #aaliyah amrohi #laysla de oliveira #stephanie nur

[timetravelermoonchild]

Sometimes I just want to talk about how Azula gave Zuko an out with Ozai when she told him Zuko had been the one "killing" Aang. I know the show portraits it as Azula protecting herself when inevitably Aang would revive. But the thing is I don't think that was her motivation at all. There's no possibly way Azula knew Aang would survive and I feel like the only reason she starts to thinking he might have is when Zuko starts to act all shady demanding answers. Granted she did get some kind of immunity but Ozai finds out Aang is alive at the same time he finds out Azula was the one who shot him so it would be in trouble either way (and possibly worse because she lied to her father?!), also I don't think she could've predict Zuko was gonna switch sides again...so why did Azula actually vouch for him?

Here's what I'm thinking (and it's probably been said before by someone else) Azula loves Zuko, she didn't need to save him, she could've very much capture him (like she actually did) in ba sing se when everything was over, I mean Mai and Ty Lee were right there(albeit she leaves them behind) and also the Dai Lee, did she actually needed Zuko for the battle? I don't think so.

She missed him, maybe for selfish reasons, maybe so Ozai's anger was directed to someone else instead of to Azula for a change, but also because she loves him, I can only imagine how lonely Azula was at the palace, and as much as Ty Lee and Mai could be there I don't think they ever actually understood what being royalty meant for Zuko and Azula and the burdens that came with their titles. The whole beach episode man. Like I'm rambling but part of me has always believe that Azula thought her brother could come back and they could be together like the old times, yes it seems like they didn't like each other very much when kids but that's just siblings being siblings, and despite it all they love each other.

Then of course Zuko had a change of heart and everything went to shit for Azula but hey at least she tried.

#i dont know #what i would give for a spin off with just azula zuko tylee and mai #i miss them #zuko #azula #this is me wishing for a redemption arc #this is me wishing for a book 4 with the og writers #atla #avatar the last airbender #the last airbender

[kmilipede]

~ the devil judge fics that rewired my dna ~

so uhm here’s my small silly little list of some tdj fic that has altered my soul because let me tell you. when a tdj fic hits it HITS. so maybe there’ll be a fic here that you haven’t read that you’ll enjoy here

these are all gahan because yes and also all completed because i’ve been hurt too many times before. also i love all of these fics very dearly so they’re not in any order

➤ it’s here i’ll be with you by mcreary

➣ Mature, ~27k words, Post-canon, Angst with a happy ending

➣ Gaon keeps attempting to fix things, but somehow, one part always seems to be missing.

➣ for me, this is THE post-canon gahan fic. what stands out for me is while gaon may be awfully lovesick, he doesn’t completely isolate himself - still maintains and forms friendships with people. watching the development of this and the way he heals is EXQUISITE and it’s written EXQUISITELY. the yearning has a wonderful payoff too. it’s just really fucking amazing guys plz read it

➤ Gravitational Pull by Amethystina

➣ Teen, ~22k words, Ep 13 canon divergence

➣ As grateful as Ga On is that Soo Hyun rescued him from Bamboo Spear's violent mob, he can tell she's lying when she claims to have heard about it on the police radio. That explanation just doesn't add up. So Ga On pressures her to tell the truth and, to his surprise, she reveals that Kang Yo Han was the one who sent her.

That one simple admission sets off a series of events that Ga On could never have predicted — events that bring out feelings he's done his best to ignore.

And desires he realizes he might not be strong enough to resist.

➣ i like how this fic doesn’t ignore how strongly gaon obviously feels for soohyun - i mean she’s been the only person for him to rely on for years. yet despite that, gaon works through what he actually wants and feels and chooses yohan. i cannot get over how well gaon’s inner thoughts are written. in fact, i can not get over how well the characters are written, full stop.

➤ Once you say it out loud, it can’t be undone by Ivrigasked

➣ Mature, ~9k words, 5+1, Domestic

➣ Alternative title: Five times Gaon catches Yohan off guard, and the one time he sees it coming.

➣ sometime domestic-style fics can be overly sickly but this is not one!! love the follow of gahan’s relationship and it’s written so well and smoothly. the yohan pov is nice too :)

➤ Destroy Me More by saturate

➣ Explicit, 6.5k words, Ep 12 canon divergence, Sexual Content

➣ “What kind of monster am I becoming?” Gaon asks, then, and wishes he could regret it, this becoming. He knows that Yohan is a monster, in some ways. Knows that only another monster could stand on his level, be his equal, and Gaon yearns to stand beside Yohan with an intensity that hollows him out.

Yohan’s hand on his shoulder, his neck, his cheek. Gaon shudders. Wants more. Wants everything. “It may be hard,” Yohan says, and his ears are flushed red, like something in this is getting to him, too, “but it can’t be helped.”

➣ i love episode rewrites! really wish this is what happened in episode 12 ngl. absolute nailed the characters and their mannerisms and their incredibly hot dynamic. there’s some lines in this that making me go fucking feral - an absolute masterpiece when it comes to that and the writing overall is just great. i come back to this a lot just to scream

➤ Bedroom Hymns [series] by godotismissing

➣ Explicit, ~31k words, Sexual content, ….various kinks

➣ Kinky Gahan fics

➣ i mean it’s porn. but if you want some excellent tasteful well written porn for gahan these are all the PERFECT fics. some of these have pretty different …… premises but they’re all EXTREMELY hot and will unleash all the pent up tension you have after watching the amount of sexual tension they have in the show jesus christ

➤ underneath the waterfall by vi (imvi)

➣ Mature, ~21k words, Post-canon, Hurt/Comfort, Angst with a happy ending

➣ They’ve always been different kinds of wounded animals.

➣ for me, this is THE other post-canon gahan fic. it hurts sososo much then carefully puts you back together. like gaon is very sad but yohan comes back to mend him and it’s just so. everything

➤ path of the fossils by noctevicos

➣ General Audiences, ~1.5k, Fluff, Intimacy

➣ “You can touch me, you know. You won’t hurt me.”

“I’m trying not to,” Yohan says, and then his eyes widen and he freezes, as if he hadn’t meant to say it out loud.

Too late, thinks Gaon. I see you.

➣ i come back to this one a lot because there’s something so tender and delicate about it that i love. it paints such a beautiful picture. it’s written so wonderfully and it’s so just ugh everything i really just melt when i think about it

i may add to this in the future but for now. go show these fics some love 🔫

#the devil judge #tdj #kang yohan #kim gaon #gahan #the devil judge fanfic #fic rec #the devil judge fanfiction

[gore1er]

What will the last bsd episode be like (prediction)

This episode may be separated from the manga but I don't think it's a novel.

The episode is called "goodbye in twilight" twilight is maybe referring to the ada and "goodbye" is maybe referring to 'goodbye ada' or 'goodbye strength' because according to Wikipedia Twilight may symbolize "losing strength and approaching it's end" all the ada members right now seem to be dying or losing strength in their fights for example ranpo, atsushi, fukuzawa, and dazai. Plus other members that will be killed because of the 'nuke'? I think

The part where it says "the end is approaching" may mean the end of the bsd world because of fukuchi and everything going on. The title may symbolize 'goodbye hope'. Covers lore we don't know about like beast?The next episode will probably focus on the ada members but maybe not even the present time...maybe we're getting an episode similar to beast. Some people said that an animator at bones said that the next episode is a must watch for bsd fans so what if the next episode I'm unsure tbh there isn't enough chapters for bones to cover maybe they'll cover incoming chapters but I feel that would be weird? Anyway I'm probably gonna add more to this thread if I think of anything please take note this is just assumptions by me.

#bsd #bungo stray dogs #bsd analysis #thoughts #bsd s5

[midnightrings]

Okay, I decided to write down my predictions for the last episode. They might change throughout the week – especially as I’m planning to rewatch all the other episodes before the finale. But this is what I feel might happen as of now.

(under the cut due to spoilers, obviously – also: TW for mention of suicide)

First things first, the synopsis states that Tim will make a wrenching decision and combined with the title of the episode, I immediately got the feeling that the decision might be (assisted) suicide. From what I’ve seen in the tags, I’m definitely not the only one thinking that. Of course, this could also be a red herring – a synopsis is not supposed to spoil anything but meant to make you want to watch that episode. So this decision could be anything. However, Tim had 2 seizures by now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides to end his suffering by himself.

Another possibility is that Tim will decide to refuse medical help of some sort. My guess is that he might decide to leave the hospital against the doctors’ recommendations, which might lead to his death. We’ve seen how passionate he was within his work and activism, so maybe he’ll decide to fight instead of resting, knowing that it’ll barely make a difference either way.

This is also where Hawk’s storyline comes in. I think that Hawk will decide to stand by Tim’s side for once, possibly even come out – to some extent, at least – in the process. Lucy will probably set him another ultimatum, but he might refuse to choose this time. He won’t abandon his family, because he does love them, but neither do I see him abandoning Tim either. So he might try and find a way for himself to combine his two lives.

Speaking of Lucy’s possible ultimatum, I can definitely see her try and convince Tim to send Hawk away. However, she’s been shown to be quite compassionate, so I’m not sure whether she’ll be able to confront Tim face-to-face while he is dying. Perhaps, her words will still convince him in one way or another to tell Hawk to let him go, but I can’t imagine it to be malicious in any way. And I believe that her ultimatum will probably be that she decides to leave Hawk. She, too, deserves to be free from him. I can see their marriage coming to an end here – be it through divorce or just deciding to live separate lives.

What I’m most curious about is what will happen in ’57. I feel like the final episode will mostly focus on the 80s – there’s still a lot left to unpack here. And with each episode, I’m less convinced that they kept Hawk’s betrayal from the book. Maybe I’m wrong, but at this point, Hawk has done more than enough to explain their relationship in the 80s. If I didn’t know that their 50s storyline isn’t finished yet, I wouldn’t expect anything more to happen. Maybe the ’57 scenes are only there because this is when their relationship ended in the book, and instead of focusing solely on the 80s and Tim’s inevitable death, they decided to add some happy moments too. Of course, it didn’t work out between them back then, so something must have happened, but it might not be that dramatic. Or maybe I’m just trying to convince myself that the final episode won’t wreck me completely and that there’s something to look forward to lmao

Overall, I have the feeling that maybe Hawk and Tim will make the mutual decision to say goodbye before Tim dies. So instead of Hawk running away or Tim pushing him away, they will part ways on their own terms this time. What I hope most for is that Hawk will tell Tim that he loves him. I’m prepared for everything else but I need Hawk to finally be open and honest with Tim before the whole thing is over.

#fellow travelers #ft spoilers #open for discussions btw #not sure if i want friday to come sooner or prolong this as much as possible #meta

[demonslayedher]

Things that ran through my head while watching this episode:

--Here are at Gurenge's last use, and I am lip-syncing with passion as the credits roll.

--If this episode comes in three parts, it's setup for their big movie announcement, Muzan's slaughter of the Lower Moons, and Tanjiro Tanjiro-ing all over the place. The only one immune to getting Tanjiro'ed is Genya... for now. Your time shall come, child. Soon.

--The Infinity Fortress gets its first appearance and hearing those twangs of the biwa is sending my brain back to those sounds playing at the Infinity Fortress display at the Gotouge art gallery. It really is a cool setting, though... I am... I am so not ready to see animated everything else which happens there.

--Hate to say it, but the CG is kind of rough on Muzan's flesh and I hope that'll get improved on before the big showdown with Muzan.

--These scene should be used in corporate training courses about power harassment, complete with discussion afterward about how how each Lower Moon was harassed in a different way.

--Very interesting that the Lower Moons, at least according to Kamanue, have never been gathered. Maybe not that group of them since Kamanue has joined, anyway, since they keep getting plucked off. That said, in the Spider Sister filler, they made mention of being able to escape Mt. Natagumo when Rui is called away by "that person" and I had assumed this was a meeting, but I guess not. Muzan just liked Rui's company??? Or maybe he was conducting meetings but felt like bullying Kamanue and didn't invite him.

--Enmu really does make such an entrance as a character, we learn all we need to know about his personality through this scene. He also makes a great display of how Muzan's blood has such a pronounced effect on those who are already demons, too.

--I wonder if Rokuro was alive just long enough, like Wakuraba, to see Enmu receive Muzan's blood, seeing as he had just begged for that blood.

--Nakime really just lets Enmu go "plop"

--And Muzan's arm really did belch after eating up a Lower Moon.

--Back to Tanjiro & Friends, at some point they moved out of the hospital and got to stay in a regular Japanese style room together with futon! They really do just live here now.

--Something I liked but forgot to note in the previous episode is that the title card being Kanao's name had a chrysalis design, implying that she's not yet ready to spring forth as a butterfly. Awwww. <3 But here Kanae's prediction totally comes true and Ufotable left no question of the exact moment Kanao fell in love. To do that, though, they had her standing instead of sitting, and therefore had to sacrifice the part when Kiyo startles her and she falls off the engawa. Tee hee, oh well.

--I feel like I've already done extensive analysis of these scenes with Tanjiro and what they mean to Aoi & Kanao, so I'll move on and say "HAHAHAHA Tanjiro moved out of Genya's way and Genya STILL bumped him." Genya, with Himejima's influence, is probably mentally reciting sutras and doing his darndest not to turn around and break Tanjiro's arm as payback. Growth, in more ways than one.

--No, no, back to Kanao a second. You know something that hit me really hard the other day? All that stuff she says to Douma about how he doesn't actually feel a thing? KANAO WOULD BE THE ONE TO KNOW, WOULDN'T SHE.

--So, Shinobu recommending Tanjiro (& Friends) to accompany Rengoku on his mission is an anime filler moment, and it's really sweet that she is so supportive of Tanjiro's growth as a Corp member (unlike a certain Water Pillar we all know). However, then we get her flat-out telling Oyakata-sama about how Tanjiro's father used a Breath of "Hi" of some sort, and Oyakata-sama's "Oh?" is so very obviously meant as "ohhhhhh???? As in the original Breath, Sun Breathing? That must be while Muzan targeted him, ohohohohooooo, ooohhhhhh~"

--Oh hey, speaking of filler giving us more character interactions, who could that be out at the Butterfly Mansion?

--Giyuu, what business brought you out here? My newfound inner GiyuShino shipper wants to poke and tease, but I suppose I could also poke and tease him for just being curious about the future Water Pillar's progress. Sure, maybe he was out there on Pillar business or something and leaving because Shinobu wasn't there, but Ufotable really just made this whoel interaction as a way to provide a nice bookend to the beginning of the series--

--and then they just up and make Giyuu disappear

--WHOOSH

--he's gone

--Giyuu... why

--It's daytime. There's no demons. Why can't you just walk like a normal person.

--Speaking of having to deal with someone who can't act like a normal person, Inosuke. Inosuke and Tanjiro. Poor Zenitsu, it is his turn to hold the brain cell but it's hard to do that when you already have your hands full keeping your country bumpkin friends from getting arrested.

--Inosuke really flat up quiets Zenitsu by planting his hand across his face.

--The image of Inosuke posing with the swords down his pants will forever be burned in my mind, but the SOUNDS. I forgot about these sounds he makes.

--I've always loved how Zenitsu takes a moment to ask Tanjiro a serious question about Nezuko's welfare, which not only makes me happy because I love Tanjiro & Zenitsu friendship, but it's a clever device for Ufotable to wrap this "determination" themed season up by giving us a well-deserved flashback to some of the greatest Kamado sibling moments to remind us of their bond.

--We also really needed because we've hardly seen Nezuko lately and perhaps have forgotten what she looks like.

--On my first watch, I was so hooked by this point, and very saddened about having to wait for more Kamaboko trio interactions especially--that train platform scene left me pining for so much more of them. I wanted more so bad, but didn't want to read the manga because it didn't look appealing to me. But I... I wanted more... and I peeked at the Wiki... and ran into spoilers... and sooner or later got back into Tumblr... AND FOUND MORE SPOILERS.......... and I sure didn't last long before the binge-read began.

#kny rewatch #my art #kamado tanjiro #kamado tanjirou #agatsuma zenitsu #hashibira inosuke #and if you squints there's Muzan and Nakime and what's left of the Lower Moons #and technically Nezuko is here too #I feel bad that among my sketches I haven't drawn her face since the Swamp Demon fight #I'm sorry Nezuko