#because I'm also a romantic

[avelera]

I know that the Gaiman "word of God" on Dream of the Endless's romantic history is, "He has had many more lovers than the ones we see" with regards to Killalla, Alianora, Nada, Calliope, and Thessaly (ugh) and as someone who will absolutely incorporate word-of-god canon , it's the height of hypocrisy to just dismiss this.

And I will accept that probably Dream has had some sexual encounters outside those five canonical relationships, like the implied Lucifer and Titania flings.

But I just can't escape the sense that the whole, "Oh yeah, he's had tons of other lovers like, just loads of them, believe me, the dude is definitely not billions of years old and only had a half dozen romantic encounters all of which ended in tears, that would be crazy, right??" is just more... something a dude would say about their super cool dude character?

Because I personally like to, in this one instance, rigidly stick to canon as we see it on the page. And that canon is: Dream was deeply lonely and never even officially hit a half-dozen long-term lovers in his life and he only married once. He is a divorcee and he is sad and he is lonely and he would love to find someone to be with and be in a relationship and just continuously eluded him. And our evidence for this? The Wake.

We have some of Dream's past lovers show up at the Wake. Bastet specifically notes that they could have been lovers, probably should have been, but it never happened. Titania implies a relationship but won't say anything more and obviously it was not long-lasting romantically speaking, whatever it was.

But basically, if we take the Wake as an on-the-page canonical account of the living beings who were Dream's lovers and who had enough of a connection to actually show up, it's still a depressingly small number for so long a life, for a character who is defined by his romanticism and loneliness. Even if we say, give or take, there might have been a few more, none of those after Nada could be mortal, so we can't just say they're all dead. That means the other immortal lovers either didn't show up or didn't bother to speak. And sure, if there's other immortals in the mix, sure, we could "Doylist" say the comic just doesn't have room for them all but really, to me, the more compelling take is... there just weren't that many for Dream, and that it's deeply sad. Some of it was, yes, his own fault, probably a lot of it. But it's still sad.

And more importantly, it's a more interesting character. Anyone can say their stupidly powerful godlike character who is beautiful and magical and can craft dreams and stories and is this Byronic hero of poetry and darkness is also someone who had a bunch of romantic partners and can definitely hook up with anyone he wants, psshh, obviously but... a character who is all those things and can't get this one major part of their life together to the extent that he's demonstrated to want a loving partner which he is repeatedly shown to want, is just... it's a certain kind of unique for that character and I'm here for it.

#the sandman #sandman meta #dream of the endless #and this is why i ship him with Hob as a soulmate lol #because I'm also a romantic #and I like to believe there is someone out there for him in the most unlikely of places #and by unlikely I mean MOST LIKELY OF PLACES Dream he's YOUR BEST FRIEND #WHAT DO YOU THINK A RELATIONSHIP IS?? EXCEPT A PERSON YOU LIKE TO SPEND TIME WITH THE MOST?? #anyway Dream upsets me lol look at his life look at his choices I want to hit him with a baguette

[originalartblog]

@bsdfanweek's skk Valentine's week day 2: Camellias and Floral Troubles

Dazai's love life is so hard. This is in reference to my recent skk post!

#weep for dazai he's trying really hard #they're still settling in their new relationship #enjoy my monstrosity of cursive and capital letters for maximum drama and lisibility #my cursive is rusty and i'm not convinced all of you can even read cursive in the first place #bsd #bungo stray dogs #bungou stray dogs #bsd fanart #skk #soukoku #i'm playing the romantic skk up because it's valentine's day week #when ironically it is very much almost aro week. but most of my stuff falls in the ambiguous category the rest of the year jshdgfsjhfg #also without remi i could not have come up with a corny one-liner so thank you very much

[pumpkinrootbeer]

last two episodes like

Charlie made a deal with Alastor VINEBOOM Alastor verbally confirmed asexual in the show VINEBOOM Vaggie has wings VINEBOOM Alastor could see himself getting attached to all of them VINEBOOM Vox is hard for Alastor??? Vineboom??? Pentious kissed then died VINEBOOM Lucifer is here VINEBOOM Alastor is missing VINEBOOM Adam is dead VINEBOOM Vox is still abnormal about Alastor VINEBOOM Alastor is back and desperate to get out of his deal VINEBOOM PENTIOUS GOT REDEEMED AND LILITH IS IN HEAVEN VINEBOOM VINEBOOM VINEBOOM

#:v #hazbin hotel #the finale was really good #genuinely won be over with this show #alastor #hazbin hotel spoilers #charlie morningstar #sir pentious #Also I would argue he got confirmed aroace because Rosie wasn't talking about sex she was talking about romantic relationships in that scen #either way I'm thrilled this is a win for the asexuals I love my unhinged aroace crazy crazy deer man #his bit in the finale song gave him so much depth 😭 love him 🫶🫶 #if anyone wants to talk abt hazbin... My dms and asks are opennnnn 🫶🫶🫶 peace and love

[fanvoidkeith]

sometimes being aroacespec is confusing. what do you mean, most people can tell the difference between platonic and romantic and sexual attraction? what do you mean people don't "choose" crushes? what do you mean that people can imagine themselves in a physical situation with someone else?? isn't dating just Friendship Plus??? hell, isn't marriage just Friendship Plus?????????

what do they mean??????????? what are feelings???? why am i so confused????????

*edit: changed "aroace" to "aroacespec", since several aromantic people felt that this was not an Aromantic Feeling. i see you, i hear you, and so i changed it to be more accurate to me personally, since i am Confused About Feelings Always

#void keith talks #aroace #aromantic #asexual #aro #ace #aromantic asexual #i'm so confused as an autistic aroace person #about every emotion i have about another person ever #and i also read a lot of romance so like. i know what romance is *supposed* to look like #i know the ideal and the not ideal #but i have no idea about any sort of romantic social cues irl #because i'm bad with social cues. i miss them a lot or i misinterpret them #i'm good with body language because i was taught a lot of it early #but social cues are different and some change over time which is INCREDIBLY confusing #and also like? i don't feel stable enough or mentally healthy enough to be in a relationship #i feel like it would be unfair for a potential partner(s) for them to be in a relationship with me #because i just Don't Have My Shit Together. like at all #i Only Like Fictional People That Way #fictoromantic #lgbt #lgbtq #lgbt+ #lgbtq+ #lgbtqia #lgbtqia+ #arospec #aromantic spectrum #aroacespec

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

So, I started watching Link Click...

#poorly drawn link click #Link Click #cheng xiaoshi #lu guang #I am only at episode 4 - waiting to watch the rest with my buddy (It's been few weeks and I'm vibrating! I really enjoy it!) #btw I am 100% blind for this show! All I know is that it's Good and Tragic. So NO SPOILERS PLEASE!!!! #Once again I am in Clintbeefwood's debt for the recommendation. #I am so intrigued and hooked by this show. I have also nearly cried at every episode so far. #I already feel so many comic ideas buzzing at the back of my brain! #This one is inspired by the end of episode two. Because what the hell was that energy at the end of the episode? #Also the fondness of which they played basketball together. #I am 80% sure they will not kiss nor have romantic inclinations but I enjoy their dynamic immensely #The 20% doubt comes from the very queer coded old lady yuri episode + the inherent homoerotism of doomed timeline stories. #If they do kiss you I'm drawing them making out sloppy style because I *know* one of them is going to die very shortly afterwards.

[upsidedog]

i am so charmed by a lumax wedding because it’s not even something max thought would happen. like she assumed weddings were something the girl makes happen and the guy puts up with. and because she had no desire for one, so there’s no reason it would happen.

among other things weddings are an exorbitant and performative show of love, max loves lucas and she doesn’t care whether or not other people know or believe this. at it’s best marriage to her has been a representation of failed dreams and at it’s worst it’s been a tool to manipulate people who need to get away to stay. maybe they will get married for the tax benefits, she thinks.

this is until max and lucas are older and living together, they’re chilling on the couch and lucas mentions his family has been asking when he’s planning to propose and if that’s something max even wants? max doesn’t care, she doesn’t plan on going anywhere, a certificate won’t change anything and she's not crazy about parties. she doesn’t ask how he feels, he brings it up, that “actually i want a wedding.”

that is saying the least, lucas wants a wedding more than anything. he loves max and he doesn’t need to prove that to anyone, but he’s happy and he wants to share that with others! he wants to work with max to make marriage a positive thing to them, he wants to celebrate their love, everything they’ve been through. also, hell, he’s only human, he wants to show off! he wants to dress really cool and go to a really cool place and show the world know how awesome he and his girlfriend are. HIS WIFE!!!

most of all, lucas wants the moment near the end of the night, where the party’s getting loud and everybody wants his attention, but max asks if he wants to get out of there and he says yes. not out out, just outside the venue. it’s dark and the once booming music is now faint, they sit and catch up, complain about their families, laugh about their friends. max holds lucas’s hand and plays with his wedding ring, she whispers something sweet before asking him to dance. it’s the best part of the night and nobody will know about it but them.

suddenly max decides she wants a wedding.

#lumax #max mayfield #lucas sinclair #stranger things #to be clear i think it isn't really that max becomes excited for a wedding - i think it's more that she is incredibly touched by what it #means to lucas and wants to give that to him #i don't think she would ever be crazy about all that attention on her but she loves that it makes lucas happy and loves how much he cares #about her #and i also think lucas is aware of this. he loves weddings and the idea of being married is romantic and beautiful to him and he loves that #max understands where he's coming from and feels loved by his explination but also he knows it's something he will enjoy more and that's ok #lucas would be a very good wedding planner #also they would have this discussion then formulate oppisite plans catering to the other's love language #lucas would be like 'i'm gonna do something so private and sweet for max to propose' and max would be like 'i am going to go all out in #public to propose' and luckily max gets to hers first because it was way harder to do #nonetheless i am being cheesy ignore me

[microclown]

I've been stuck on viewing Maggie as Crowley's mirror, and for most of the show I like that interpretation. But once I started thinking of Nina as Crowley's Mirror in the ball scene specifically, I made a connection....

Aziraphale is playing God here. He has a vision- a happy romantic evening where people speak Victorian English, dress nicely, dance, and fall in love -and he wills everyone present to conform to his plan. But Nina doesn't conform. Nina feels like something isn't right. She asks questions.

She asks Aziraphale what's going on, why she doesn't feel sad when she knows she's sad, and Aziraphale doesn't give her a satisfactory answer. He tells her that the important thing is that she's here. She's here to play a role in his great plan. To dance in his ball.

So she expresses her concerns to Maggie. Maggie hadn't seen the issues at first, but she listens to Nina, and Nina gets her to acknowledge the absurdity of the situation just a little bit. Listen to their conversation at the dance again. It sounds SO MUCH like the conversations we've heard Crowley and Aziraphale have a thousand times during their 6000 year dance. Crowley calling out heaven, asking questions, trying to get Aziraphale to consider the absurdity of it all. Aziraphale mostly defending heaven, but listening, and sometimes acquiescing.

And this all falls in line with a point I've made before - In season 2, Crowley's relationship with Aziraphale begins to mirror his relationship with heaven. Aziraphale shows a pattern of not listening to Crowley the whole season, but especially in this scene. Crowley tries to ask him what is going on, and alert him to very real danger, but Aziraphale is dismissive. He is blinded by his desire to see his plan to fruition.

And just so we're clear, this is not an Aziraphale hate post. Rather, I think it might give us some insight into where God is coming from. Because Aziraphale's actions may be dismissive and controlling, but they are motivated by love. Misguided, certainly, but with all the best intentions. I have a feeling, when we finally meet God, it will be a similar story. And maybe both She and Aziraphale will learn that sometimes to love means to let go.

#keeping this post short because if I think about it too much I'm going to make myself sick #like how Maggie and Nina's conversation happens while dancing #and aziraphale and crowley have been having that same conversation and doing the same dance for 6000 years #it's so romantic and heartbreaking and poetic I think I might actually die #Also... think about how Lindsey broke up with Nina right before this scene #kind of like how heaven broke up with Crowley before the earth began fuck fuck fuk #and then Crowley yells at Nina to trust someone for once in her life like... #he knows nothing about her he's projecting SO HARD #good omens #good omens 2 #good omens season 2 #gos2 #good omens meta #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #aziraphale x crowley #crowley #crowley x arizaphale #aziracrow #neil gaiman #go2 #maggie and nina #reposting slightly edited because I made a mistake the first time #thank you @tip-top-tickety-boo for pointing it out!

[fleshadept]

the love story being so central to our flag means death really is mindblowing. i haven’t stopped thinking about it for months. it is, to its core, a romance. that was the point. the queer romance wasn’t written in in the second or third season because the fandom picked up on the homoeroticism and made a ship popular. it wasn’t added in because the fans demanded it or because the actors pushed for it later on it wasn’t forced into slowburn by a network it was there the whole time.

when stede showed ed his secret closet that was on purpose an allegory, when they shared the marmalade bread that was romantic intentionally, when they rowed away from the burning party boat and ed was looking at stede that was him FALLING IN LOVE . that's how it was WRITTEN. ed really actually leaned in and almost kissed stede in the moonlight scene. and then. they actually kissed! like i know this is months old news now but i can’t get over how fucking different this feels to other queer romances i’ve seen. it is the core and central plot of the show and it’s beautiful. it’s funny it’s cute it’s heartwarming it’s GOOD. they did it.

#i cannot emphasize how good it feels to have a queer story #at all first of all #but also a queer romance that didn't require the writers/network to be held at gunpoint for several seasons before allowing it to happen #comparing it to hannibal is interesting because hannibal was very much trying to be an openly queer story it was just airing on NBC #from 2013-2015 #so they couldn't #but even that wasn't planned until later on like it wasn't MEANT to be queer from the beginning #i have said before this show healed a part of my soul #sorry guys i'm emo today! #cricket chirps #just like. i knew they kissed when i STARTED the show and even then i refused to look at the obviously romantic scenes as romantic!!! #because so many fucking shows play it off as a joke or use it as queerbait or WHATEVER #ofmd #our flag means death #5k

[madootles]

there’s just something about a good superior-subordinate professional relationship built upon mutual hate...

#they are both children #edward elric #alphonse elric #roy mustang #fullmetal alchemist #also don't tag this romantically that shit is weird...... #this is a mutually despised relationship between superior and subordinate and it's hilarious #yeaaaa I'm still on this... sorry unwilling followers ily #my art has to be funny because the source material is fucking dark it doesn't need more angst #genuinely I subscribe to the idea that roy and ed care about eachother but I also subscribe to the idea that they'd rather die than say so #mutual respect is the closest they will get #alphonse is really becoming my fave ... like ed is my fave bc idk he has nice fashion and he's very sad but alphonse is just so !!!!!!! #fma 03 #fma 2003 #fmab #even tho that's not what I watch #you are still welcome here I guesssssss :-) #k bye #tw blood

[margridarnauds]

[image description: devnotes for Korrilla's line of dialogue: "As things stand, she [Hope]'s his favorite toy. We're all mad here, but Hope in hell! Why, that's the definition of insanity." The devnote says "Complicated feelings. Both jealous of Raphael's attention and sad because she knows her sister doesn't want it."]

[Korrilla saying, in a conversation where you can ask about the diabolist, "I hope things turn out well for you, I really do. Cheers." The note says "sadly - she knows (but we don't) that things won't turn out well at all."]

[Korrilla saying, "This current crisis has him so busy he's barely been home since he met you." The note says "proud of her boss." ]

[Korrilla saying "I'm not for sale. My time's not for sale. My affection's not for sale. I'm here on other business." The note says, "hasn't look up from her mug yet - is muttering darkly, she's clearly said this to a lot of people who've assumed she's a prostitute. (She's standing at the bar of a brothel.)]

[Korrilla saying, in response to Tav saying they'll stop the brain without Raphael's help, "I doubt it, but even if you do, you won't survive the fight." The note says "with a hint of sadness."]

[Korrilla saying "The boss might be a devil, but he'll treat you more honestly than anyone else in the city." The note says "she genuinely believes this."]

[In response to the player character asking whether she likes working for Raphael, Korrilla responds "More than anything. My old dwarven master used to beat me and feed me scraps -- Raphael treats me right and feeds me well. Better to feast in the Hells than go begging in the Heavens."]

Korrilla's devnotes casually murdering me.

#korrilla hearthflame #korrilla #bg3 spoilers #raphael bg3 #my headcanon is that the 'jealousy' isn't necessarily over Raphael's romantic/sexual attention #it's more that he pays attention to Hope. Even if it's. That. #there's nothing ROMANTIC ever hinted in the way she talks about raphael besides that line. she respects him. she likes working for him #(also because I'm motivated to avoid the Evil Sibling - Good Sibling Love Triangle cliche) #(but personally I lean towards Korrilla being ace)

[greyhands]

#the wayhaven chronicles #n sewell #nate sewell #nate x detective #twc book 3 spoilers #I personally prefered the combat training scene #because of the dialogues #even if the setting in the research scene was more romantic #I have mixed feelings about this book though #I'm glad to learn new things about N's past and his insecurities #but gods I wish we had the opportunity to comfort him and to talk about the fight issue #I really enjoyed the first half of the book then to me the second kind of feels like... rushed ? idk #on the other hand I like how the romance isn't going to be a smooth and easy road #I've also read M's route and oh boi the feelings... !! #Next is A then F because I will probably need some fluff after A ^^;; #But nope no LT's route I'm a coward #my art #no full colors sorry no time ><

[nicsian]

Gempearl posting..

There is something so intimate about the idea of life series Pearl having this urge to want to believe in Gem despite knowing how the outcome will be, despite knowing what will happen when they face their swords against each other on burning wood.

The way the grass singes to ash on their feet, the way their eyes flash that dangerous color..but they both understand what's at stake here, Gem knows now what her life has become. Pearl has seen this outcome too many times to want to wish for a miracle. She's not unhinged this time, she's not alone, but for some reason, this may be the loneliest she has ever felt.

But still, Pearl protects Gem. She holds her close at night, rough, scarred hands meet soft petal fingers, fingers that soon will look like Pearl's. She leaves a kiss on their intertwined hands and feels the soft breath of Gem's lungs rising up and down while she sleeps blissfully.

Their time is at its end, but their rosy cheeks and twinkling laughter is something they keep locked safe, in a butterfly box.

#I'm crazy #gempearl #pearlgem #can be seen as platonic or romantic #It's up to you #hermitshipping #also adding that tag because the initial intent was a little romantic #Again up to you to read between the lines and burn me at the stake #life series #secret life smp #trafficshipping #nics.txt

[stop-breaking-my-heart-telltale]

What can I say? They're my favorite.

#twdg #twdg clouis #clouis #twdg clementine #twdg louis #sometimes they creep back into my mind and i'm like 'ah yes' like a crow admiring a pretty stone they found years ago and kept #also thank you pi for the screenshots. i used to have a whole folder full of them but that was when i was doing themed nights #the source for these is me i just have a random document full of dynamics and ship things i enjoy because.....i dunno i like keeping track #and so many of them apply to clouis but there's also an overlap of with clouis and rose/alistair [my warden from origins and alistair] like #alistair's romance route is like an evolved matured and extended version of clouis sksksks gee i wonder if i have a type #look you present me with a character who deflects with humor and isn't taken seriously by the rest of the group and the longer you know the #the more you realize how high they've built a wall around themselves and how *unwell* they really are and how they're not as sunshine #as they present themselves and also they avoid leadership and responsibility until they grow closer with someone who pushes them #and they end stronger and more balanced as a person while finding the affection they've craved #and also there's the daddy issues #present me with that character as a romantic option and i'm in no questions asked okay i don't want the mean broody one that's meh to me #i want the one that has every reason to be broody but chooses not to be because they have a completely different defense mechanism #and a warped sense of themselves and self-esteem issues they leave unaddressed until forced to face them #i'm just saying i'm aware that i have a type i'm always going to gravitate toward clouis nearly checks all the boxes #also the lack of clouis these days? my crops are thirsty and i have too many ongoing projects to do anything about it other than this sksks #so until i make time to finish my long ass louis/clouis analysis this is the best i can provide for now

[izartn]

So, about how I see Link Click's Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi relationship:

As it stands in canon? Queerplatonic partners. And it's convenient for the plot that they're like this.

Because of Chinese censorship it can't be explicitly romantic, yes I know it. Let me tell why it's queerplatonic for me. The way these two have intertwined their lives and futures together?!

Owning a business and living together, that hint in ep2 (comparing them to the subtextually older lesbian couple who also came across as queerplatonic bc censure) where Xiaoshi wonders/fears if years down the line he and Lu Guang will separate/break up implying their partnership is for life as far as he's concerned (the parallel can be taken as a subtext romance too but follow me we're talking text), the way they were already going also on vacancies together three years prev in canon, etc...

Without entering on their complimentary powers and the way the dives need both of them if they want security in not screwing the past, and the inmense trust and vulnerability the dives themselves require?

They're not simply best friends either.

Those aren't the actions of normal, totally not queer friends. Cheng Xiaoshi checks out women on the dives, sure, (and men too when the host is feeling it which I love bc they can't address it directly bc censorship and then it comes across as Xiaoshi being super confident in his own relationship to sexuality/gender) but I don't think he would ever date bc Lu Guang is already there, filling that place in his life minus sex and romance but all that same companionship and intensity of feeling.

These two meet in what, the last year/s of High School and then proceeded to latch onto each other with a commitment reserved for romantic partners.

And I know you want to say, "it's the censorship! they'd be romantic and canon if not for the censorship!"

Are you sure? Are you sure the story would work if there were explicit romance in it? (I mean, if they could I'm pretty sure they would have nailed it anyways but allow me my a-spec delusions) Cheng Xiaoshi and Lu Guang feel so much like an already established pair, they work like one, and Link Click is not about them coming together like many other stories. Are you sure this would work as BL?

There's a distinct difference on the way they start the show already like six years at least since they're best friends and three or two since they live together. That's not usually how it goes. I'm talking not just romances but every buddy or nakama anime/show, where the protag has to learn to work with who will be his best friend or rival. These stories usually have the same kind of plot progression as a romance which is why they work so well when you make the subtext text.

But a story where the main romance is already established and we're following a plot that has nothing to do with it? Much more rare, even stranger to find them well done although there are some very good ones and with the friendships instead of romo they're more common. For example, Soul Eater, which is all about the trials of it and how they hace to truly come to understand each other. That's Link Click a bit, but not even then.

Link Click juggling a budding romance between Lu Guang and Cheng Xiaoshi with all the other stuff is going on?? Messier for sure. I don't know if people would have liked it as much or if the donghua would have been as well done.

As it is, Link Click has the exact level of emotional connection between our protags it needs to have incredibly high stakes emotionally and at the same time not need a detour by romantic scenes/fanservice that would derail the plot or the other charas importance. That it happens to be pretty queer anyways in a platonic way?

Nice for the aroace-spec folks watching the show xD

Btw, I'm pretty sure in season 3 we're going to get more of Lu Guang's PoV, the origins of their powers and the past between him and Xiaoshi. It'll probably dig more into the aspect of "testing their bond and coming stronger bc of it" which is were the romantic subtext usually comes through...

—unless you're very very good at writing like Arakawa in FMA, who nailed the brotherly relationship without tipping into incest subtext which I've seen more than a few writers fumble. or the latest D&D film for the platonic childrearing and partnership for a no familial example between a man and a woman also very very difficult to get right for writers dunno why—

... but until then, for now I'm incredibly satisfied by the canon.

The other read of course it that they're already a couple since well before the start of season 1, and to mentally edit what we saw in canon with that lens (it wouldn't be very difficult honestly) but reading only the text? Queerplatonic partners!

There also how Xiaoshi and Lu Guang don't have that anxiety/insecurity of their bond that makes it so easy to read the want for something, like a romance for shipping purposes. Despite the disagreements on the Dives or the trials of season 2 or Lu Guang keeping secret Cheng Xiaoshi future/past death they read very steady which is fun. I love some good established relationship, you can go to deeper places when the base is already secure and the risk is higher for the characters. Plus I love domesticity! Yes, I do my angsty/Gothic leanings notwithstanding. Don't you know you need a home for the Gothic to be effective?

#link click #meta #link click meta #lu guang #cheng xiaoshi #shiguang #my thoughts #all of this to say that I don't exactly ship them #Although I've been tagging fanart and meta with their shipname #bc I dont not ship them #honestly? #it's because despite it all I'm very much a canon girl so I can't help but see shiguang on that same romo-not romo limbo #canon present us with #loving the fics though #and Lu Guang is so tragic timetraveler for love coded is not funny #which is the reason I'm sure season 3 will give me that shift towards a more romantic lense to their relationship #also the way they made sure to sibling-fy qiao ling and cheng xiaoshi was fun XD #in conclusion: I think Link Click being a danmei wouldn't have worked #precisely bc it wasnt created as danmei the story as it is works almost perfectly #and right now Im not sure if I would want the romance at the expense of everything else the plot is doing #....qiang jin jiu did it well on the second half though #but it had the first part to go from a enemies-to-lovers and establishing the romance #I don't think I've seen a danmei start with a established romantic relationship bc the genre being a romance tells you that's #what's going to be centered #link click would had to be a just a time travel thriller with queer elements (which it is) #and I don't know #I'd love it but I bet we'll have lots of people annoyed/annoying bc they're here for the romance #Instead of taking the story for what it is #but then romance (queer romance) doesn't devalue the storytelling #ah the conflict of wanting a-spec queer stories VS censorship

[nicercymybeloved]

Very attached to the idea that if Percy had been a woman she would have been named Ariadne. Like, I know that Persephone is a popular fanon name for female Percy because it's a nice way to keep her nickname. I've also seen Andromeda used by some because she lives a long life with Perseus in the myths. But Sally would have at least considered it right? Because Ariadne's a popular female figure in mythology, linked to both Theseus and Dionysus, two other famous figures in mythology. She was a clever mortal princess who was dealt a bad hand because her father's arrogance allowed him to think that he could get away with defying a god, just like how Poseidon's arrogance allowed him to think that he could get away with breaking the pact he made with Zeus and Hades. And in the end, Ariadne survived both her family's legacy and Theseus's abandonment, becoming Dionysus's immortal wife in both the PJO universe and in many retellings of the myth of the Minotaur and Theseus in real life. Ariadne got to live out her happy ending just like how Perseus did in mythology, which is the main reason why Sally even gave Percy the name Perseus to begin with. Am I delusional to think that Sally would have given a female Percy the name Ariadne? Who the fuck knows. But I'm so attached to the idea that it literally just supersedes any other name I could have come up with

#if i am just let me believe. i'm just very attached to the idea of little 12 year old ariadne “ari” jackson meeting mr. d and being like #'wow. this is the husband of the woman i'm named after. why couldn't the gods at least let me think he was attractive' #'because dear god the way he's presenting himself is such a let down. ariadne girl i am questioning your taste' #oh my god percy would so drag this man and mentally just question everything when he finally brings homegirl up in titan's curse #also this may or may not be related to the lesbian nicercy canon divergent fic i'm constantly just writing in my mind #already re-imagined their interactions at percy's birthday so many times and god its so romantic in my head #pjo #female percy jackson #percy jackson #lesbian nicercy canon divergent au #yuri's ideas

[lloydfrontera]

tfw when you write an entire novel with two protagonists that spent the entire plot getting closer to each other, becoming best friends and eventually both of them deciding they would rather die than allow the other to not live a long, fulfilling life, their friendship carrying most of the emotional weight of the entire plot and the emotional climax being one of them sacrificing his life so the other can live and then the other crossing literal universes to find him, a tearful smile in his face as he confesses how much he missed him. which is the scene you wanted to write and show the most because, again, this is the pay off to the slowburn you've been writing in the entire novel and what everything has been building up to since the very first chapter. and then you end the novel by having them share a smile, finally confident they'll be able to have a happy future.

but you also just gotta have one of them marry offscreen because everyone knows you can't be happy if you're not in a het marriage with kids lmao it's whatever it's okay i'm fiNE-

#i talk a lot <3 #the greatest estate developer #lloyd frontera #this post was going to be so much more bitter this is me being nice akjshdkahdk #i just....... i'm sad alsjdsjkal #and i don't think i'm wrong to be. like i'm not disapointed bc i don't actually expected lloyd and javier to be together #i'm not that optimistic lmao #but i did have the hope tged would have no romance #because lloyd and javier were already doing so much in the emotional and relationship development front of the plot #that adding romance just feels. awkward. like an aside. an add-on that affects none of the plot and is just there to make sure #no one accidentally gets confused and think those two are in love #and guess what! most of the romance does happen in literal side stories! literally an add-on that does nothing for the plot! i hate it! #it's the heteronormativity and amatonormativity of it all :/ #do i think it would've been cool for llojavi to be canon? absolutely! do i think it was necessary for the plot? nope! #they were already perfect the way they are! their friendship is the core of the entire plot and their relationship to each other #is what ultimately moves much of the plot in the latter half! #which is the way relationships should work in fiction! not just have them for the sake of having them! #lloyd didn't need a romantic subplot because the plot was already working perfectly without it! #also what's the point of having a character constantly think about what their idea of 'happy life' is if you're not going to challenge it #it's about the hero's journey of it all!!! #i have things to say dang it! #javier asrahan #tged