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#greg manes
burntotears · 1 year
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Just your reminder that Gregory Manes deserves good things and deserved way better than what he got in season 4. And Alex deserved to have his brother in his life and certainly at his wedding.
Greg is a fucking star.
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garr9988 · 2 years
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Steven developed a more positive and well-rounded opinion of Rose through his therapy post-Future and I won't accept anything else.
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lovecolibri · 2 years
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Hang on. The writing explicitly states that M*ria wanted to break up with Greg for SIX months??? Which is... basically the entirety of their relationship? Lmaooooooo. And what is with this show's obsession with having Alex constantly manage M*ria's love life? Having him do pretty much all the work in his own relationship was already a choice but he had to do the same for M*luca, then prop M*ria with Greg, and now ENCOURAGE his own brother getting dumped???
Okay, so I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty tipsy at that point and very angry so I exaggerated a bit, however the season starts with m*ria and Dallas already flirting and mention that they have been playing virtual games with each other for awhile. m*ria mentions Greg once to let the audience know he's not in town and that things are good with them but IDK why they wouldn't just have them break up over the break and have someone ask m*ria how she's doing since he moved away and they decided to end things! It would have made more sense and people wouldn't be wondering where TF he was when her mom died and no one even thought to mention him. But it's been a few months at least that she was ambivalent about him and actively flirting with someone else.
The writers constantly had Alex managing m*ria's relationships because they need to have her in scenes but never actually had anything for her to do once she was done giving Liz hints about Rosa's life and getting between Malex as an obstacle to keep them from getting together "too soon", and also because they don't care about Alex outside of how he can help others or his existence affects others 🤷🏻‍♀️ And naturally nothing about the wedding could be about him and they needed something for m*ria to do so they again had her make everything about herself and had Alex never once show any hint of anger/disappointment/hurt at her actions but happily tell her to just keep doing whatever she feels is right, because following her "heart" never backfired in any way at all ever, not even when she followed her lady bits heart to go after Michael who she knew Alex was actively in love with and feeling hopeful about a future with, and she knew Michael still had feelings for him too. Good riddance forever.
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stillcosmic · 2 years
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the only good part of kyle’s coma last season was liz and alex’s convo and then alex’s convo at kyle’s bedside
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meneatyoghurt · 2 years
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hyenalover2630 · 10 months
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Twins!
Steven x twin sister reader (platonic)
Requested by Shobi-enzo
-This was certainly….Exciting news for Greg and the gems. They weren’t expecting two babies from rose, nonetheless for both to inherit her gem.
-Pearl was probably the most confused. When both of you were little, she would call you both rose.
-Same for Amethyst and Garnet, but with a little less confusion. Don’t get me wrong, they were confused.
-Greg loved you both. Sure, it was very hard to take care of two babies of the same age while being a single parent, but he had Vidalia to help him.
-The gems soon got use to you and Steven once realizing that Rose was not coming back.
-Over the course of years, you learn music. Steven loves the ukulele, and you play the guitar! All thanks to your dad.
-You both create songs together for your family.
-When you both get older, you discover your gem ability. A shield!
-You both were very excited. You’ve never used your gem powers before, so this was new. Plus, you’ve seen the other gems weapons and you always wanted to have one.
-You, Steven, and Amethyst play video games together ALL. THE. TIME. You all make bets on who would win. Honestly, Pearl gets rather annoyed with your guys little wavers and calls it “childish “
-You guys all love hanging down by the beach. Sometimes, you’ll even manage to get Garnet in the water with you.
-Speaking of Garnet, she teaches you a lot about fusion. She tells you guys about how gems “combine” together to make another person.
-“This got you and Steven thinking. What if you guys can fuse together?
-And that’s what you guys did. You fused for the very first time. And it was great! You’ve never experienced something like this before.
-The gems were surprised and amazed at the same time. Garnet gave you both a thumbs up with a smile.
-Fusing became sort of a normal thing for you guys. It helped you get into PG-14 movies without a parent.
-You both are best friends with Connie. You like to see what she studies since Steven and you don’t go to school.
-One day, Steven, you, and Connie were hanging by the beach. When suddenly Steven and connie started to dance. Then they fused.
-You were so happy for them! They unfused and you asked if Connie would like to fuse with you. She said yes.
-When it came to missions, you’d both get yourselves into trouble. You both are sort of new to the whole gem power thing so some things are bound to go wrong.
-You do try to protect each other and anyone else who may get hurt, sometimes this happens for the worst.
-You guys LOVE lion. He did scare you at first, but it turned out he acted like a normal house cat. You were both surprised when you could go into lions mane and such. But he is a great pet.
-When you both found out you can Bubble other gems and things, you were happy. You guys finally fit in more with the Crystal gems.
-Now, it does get a harder after the attack with Jasper and Peridot. Now that they know that Steven is “Rose quartz “ , they will be trying to get you all.
-The reason why they thought that Steven was only rose quartz was because he showed his shield in front of them while attempting to protect you.
-He took the fall for you and told you not to say anything about your gem half. Which you agreed.
-You both would comfort each other a lot do to past trauma experiences and experiences that your going through now.
-Now you guys all had to worry about what might happen with the whole homeworld problem. Also the Jasper, Peridot, and Lapis problem.
-Speaking of Peridot, you guys freed her and the gems were not so happy. She did soon warm up to you both, even helping you guys defeat the cluster!
-Peridot and you watch a lot of Camp Pining Hearts. Sometimes Steven has to get Pearl to drag you out of the barn.
-When meeting Lapis again, she was thrilled to see you. Though, when you guys told her about how you both had half of Roses gem, she was confused.
-She didn’t think of you any differently though. She still knew your the same person no matter what.
-When finding out that your mom was Pink diamond, you didn’t know what to believe. You didn’t know if she was good or bad. You honestly felt betrayed in a way.
-More into the future, when you guys confronted white diamond and took your “gems” out of your body, you met your pink self.
-It was a confusing feeling, but comfortable once you two reunited with one another again. It felt like another part was finally coming back together.
-After that day, you had to explain to the diamonds that your both rose, or should I say Pink diamond’s children and you both inherited her gem.
-They we’re confused, like almost everyone you explain it to, but they found a way to move pass it and except it.
-Once you both declare piece around the world, you had to both escape the diamonds affection. Being smothered with affection isn’t the best experience.
-Upon that day, you meet a gem that was there for revenge. Spinel. And she was not happy.
-That day was a pretty painful one. Not having your friends remember who you were, not to mention having to deal with the same gem who tried to kill you.
-You were to tired to deal with all of this. And so was Steven. Once you both restore Pearl and Amethyst’s memory, you deal with spinel.
-When you find out that your mom abandoned her, you were more than furious with her. You knew that your mom was already pretty horrible, but this was terrible.
-At the end of the day after all the fighting, you guys forgave her. The diamonds did try to convince you to stay, but they took spinel instead.
- After you guys built little homeworld, you guys felt more lonely. You felt like no one needed or wanted your help.
-This made your gem respond badly. Turning you guys into corrupted monsters, attacking everything in sight.
-The gems and diamonds did eventually calm you guys down. But you guys felt horrible after your outbursts.
-Steven and you decided you guys needed to leave. To get to know yourselves better and find a place to belong.
-This made everyone so sad. But it was your guys decision.
-You guys all said your goodbyes and hugs walking to your cars.
-Before you left, you and Steven gave each other one last final hug and goodbye, then headed off on different roads, leaving the place where you grew up in.
Sorry it took so long to post. Ive been sort of busy. Hope you enjoy it and request more!
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beevean · 1 year
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While I like Steven Universe and all of it's misgivings (even though I feel some parts of it could be written a bit more realistically, like Kevin and Steven's weird animosity angle), I always felt that the Movie adding Spinel was kind of a lazy and thoughtless decision just to make Pink Diamond more cruddy than she really is. I get that as part of the regime that considered castes wouldn't treat their lower halves with such kindess as they would the parts they belonged to, but it just seemed rather out of character for Pink to discard Spinel and make her stay in her garden for so damn long, if we were to assume Pink actually did shatter her Pearl accidentally. If there was more instances of Pink Diamond being that volatile in the show and not a lot of heresay (The Crystal Gems talking about Pink like she's an spoilt brat, for example), I'd probably would buy it more. As it stands, there's too little information thanks to the nature of the show, and it really just feels like after the revelation of Pink and Rose Quartz being one and the same, they forgot to give more humanizing qualities to Rose, especially sinc she's such a trigger for Steven in Future.
Spinel, to me, only exists to make Pink Diamond more cruel than she actually is, and I don't actually like Spinel because of that.
I agree with you in part. I don't think Spinel exists only to make Pink look more cruel, but I think the show started villainizing her a little too much in general, culminating in Future.
The idea is sound on paper. Present a character as a paragon of unreachable goodness, to the point that Steven feels like everyone expects him to measure up to his dead mom, and then start showing the cracks in her shining armor: she looked down on the same humans she swore to protect, she bubbled Bismuth, she shattered Pink Diamond and is the reason Homeworld hates everything to do with Earth, she was Pink Diamond and lied to all of the CGs and forced Pearl to keep her secret. We see her at her best, and slowly we go backwards to see at her worst. The idea is that we're supposed to put together the events in reverse order and appreciate her character development... but in practice, it means that Steven just starts to resent Rose and have an attitude of "yes mom sucks, must be a day ending in Y"
Future is what irked me the most. The last time Rose is plot relevant, we discover that she literally traumatized Pink Pearl through a temper tantrum. The last time we see Rose, it's her painting stuffed inside Lion's mane, out of sight and out of mind. The last time we hear her name, Steven is angrily comparing Greg to her. Everyone has moved on from her, but not in a healthy way, but in an almost... cancelled way? The narrative put too much focus on her bad actions, and seemingly forgot that Pink did a massive work on herself to do the closest thing a Gem can to grow up.
Spinel is just one of those examples. As an antagonist, she works, she's out of her mind with emotional pain, Pink and not Rose hurt her (so Steven can't just tell her the truth, like she did with Jasper and the Diamonds), and her inner conflict is abandonment issues, which how in the hell is Steven supposed to solve? He doesn't, the Diamonds do. But... yeah. Since Rose isn't around to defend herself, a recurring theme in SU, we never learn why she never came back for Spinel. Maybe because the portals were broken! But the narrative just leaves us with "Pink was a jerk and abandoned her friend because she was annoying" (or because she was meant to replace Pink Pearl in a shallow, insulting way, but still).
This is a big flaw of trying to paint the complexities of a dead character. We have to rely on hearsay, different opinions, and so does the titular character. Steven decided that Rose was a liar, and that's where the show stopped. It sucks, because Rose is my favorite character in the show and back in the day I swear that she was more hated than the Diamonds :<
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pastelwitchling · 2 months
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Can we maybe get Michael with all 3 overprotective brothers?
@brittz-2123
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              Being who he was, Michael had fully expected to come face-to-face with the Manes family at some point. He was an alien, an outsider, and the Manes Men were notorious for stomping out whatever they didn’t approve of. Of course, there were certain exceptions, but even then, Michael knew a confrontation was imminent.
              Still, he hadn’t expected it to be at dinner. He hadn’t expected the Manes on the other side of the table to be Alex’s older brothers. And he definitely hadn’t expected Clay, Greg, and Flint Manes to be watching him with different ranges of stern assessment, as though trying to find fault in the man their little brother married and finding far too many for their liking.
              Greg had called them about hosting the dinner, and there was a wide variety in front of them of delicious homemade meals – from roasted chicken to mashed potatoes, meatballs and stew, and three different types of salad – but while Alex had piled Michael’s plate and was encouraging him to eat, Michael had trouble enjoying much with the three sets of eyes on him.
              Finally, huffing, Alex snapped his fingers at the center of the table. “Would you guys stop freaking him out? Michael, eat. Clay, have some potato, I know it’s your favorite, and Flint, stop glaring before your eyes pop out of your head. Greg” – he turned to his brother with pleading eyes – “help?”
              Greg ducked his head, huffing a chuckle. “Alex, we’re just teasing him.”
              “I’m not,” Flint said.
              “Do the buttons on that not work?” Clay asked mildly, eyes narrowed at Michael’s half-buttoned flannel. Michael sat slumped in his seat, wondering if he should pull his shirt together, but before he could, Alex put a hand on his naked chest.
              “I like his shirt like that,” he said, his tone brooking no room for argument, and Michael suddenly didn’t think Clay’s opinion mattered, not with Alex’s warm palm against his skin. Protective and loving.
              Any warm feelings dissipated, however, when Clay tilted his head and said, “So you’re a . . . mechanic?”
              Michael’s face drained of color. He wasn’t the least bit ashamed of his simple job. He worked with a good man, he had all the time in the world to study the stars and work on his little inventions – the more recent ones all his own private plans on a better prosthetic for Alex – and being a mechanic was what had kept him in Roswell, and close enough for Alex to come visit whenever they could find an excuse to be close.
              Still, at the three stares from Alex’s brothers, Michael suddenly felt two inches tall. It was probably because of the way Alex’s brothers sat so straight. Michael knew they were military, but did they never slouch?
              “I –”
              “No one’s better at physics than Michael,” Alex said, chin raised proudly, “it’d make sense that he’s a mechanic. Besides, he helps at Deep Sky all the time.”
              “Deep Sky,” Flint scoffed, chin on his palm. “You mean that death-trap you joined to keep him” – he gestured with his chin at Michael – “safe?”
              “Flint,” Greg warned.
              Alex sighed, gathering food onto his fork. “I didn’t join just to keep Michael safe, but even if I did, that’s my decision, isn’t it?”
              Flint made a disagreeing noise in the back of his throat. “It’s more like his decision.”
              “You promised,” Greg said, and Flint rolled his eyes.
              “I’m sorry I can’t pretend Alex is safe with the guy that put him on a ledge.”
              Michael’s eye twitched. He was willing to sit there and be interrogated by Gregory and Clay without much complaint, but Flint? No, he had to say something now.
              “You held him up at gunpoint and kidnapped him,” Michael said, smiling humorlessly. “And you’re gonna talk to me about keeping him safe?”
              “Guerin –” Alex tried, but Flint was already leaning in, eyes on Michael like he’d been waiting for him to bring that up.
              “I know what I did was wrong,” he said roughly, “but I was never going to hurt him. Taking him meant keeping him out of dad’s sight, and I made sure to keep him out of danger. You know, near you.”
              “Flint,” Greg snapped.
              “Don’t you get it?” Flint demanded of Michael. “It was never going to be about your clothes or your job, or any of the normal stuff that comes with dating a human. You’re here because we wanted to make sure that the next time Alex went on a work trip, he wasn’t sent to another universe with radioactive air just because he knows you.”
              Michael stuck his tongue in his cheek, trying and failing to find an argument against this, even as reality sunk into his chest like a rock on his heart. He’d always known that he was in a way responsible for Alex’s danger when it came to aliens and genetic bombs and other worlds, but he’d always pushed that fact to the back of his mind, more preoccupied with saving his love than daring to wonder about why he’d needed saving in the first place.
              Alex set his knife and fork down in a final, resigned sort of way. He was going to have them leave, Michael knew it. He wasn’t going to tolerate a single word against his husband, and he was going to end the dinner early, and he was going to keep a distance from his brothers when he was finally getting to have a relationship with them again, away from their father’s influence. He was going to cut all of that short, all because of his love Michael.
              Michael was having a tough time feeling relieved and happy when he knew how much Alex was always giving up for him.
              “Thanks for dinner, Greg,” Alex started, “but –”
              “Yes, okay? You’re right. Being who I am has put Alex in danger,” Michael cut him off, eyes fierce and voice strong despite feeling Clay and Greg’s steady eyes on him. “But you get this. No one will ever be able to love Alex more than me, no one will take care of him like me, and if there is anything worth dealing with all the bad stuff for, it’s what me and Alex have. So you can take your stupid safety and shove it up your ass, Flint Manes, because if we can survive a decade apart, your psycho dad, and aliens trying to kill us every other week, we sure as hell can handle your complaints.”
              Huffing, Michael grabbed the roasted drumstick off his plate and tore a large chunk off with his teeth, glaring at Flint as he chewed.
              Clay uncrossed his arms, his eyes on Michael as he took a deep, deep breath. Michael tried not to falter at the panic rising in his chest. Had he overdone it? He’d wanted to keep Alex’s relationship with his brothers, show them that their brother was his to protect, that maybe life wouldn’t be the safest with Michael there, but that life was always going to have tough spots and that no one was going to love Alex through it all like he would. That as long as they stayed together, none of the bad could ever really touch them.
              Had he just made things worse?
              “Well, that’s good enough for me,” Clay said on a sigh, then, “Flint, pass the corn.”
              Flint glared and glared and glared at Michael, then shrugged, “Yeah, okay,” and he did, indeed, pass Clay the corn before digging into his own plate.
              Smiling to himself, Greg nudged the plate of rolls at Alex who put one on Michael’s plate, kissed his husband’s cheek, and took another one for himself. For a moment, there was nothing but the sounds of clinking utensils against plates, until Gregory suddenly asked –
              “You guys see that football game last night?”
              “Yeah,” Flint said through a mouthful of food, “the LA team sucked.”
              “I thought their defense was injured last season?” Greg noted.
              Clay frowned. “I thought it was last week.”
              “No, no,” Alex said, “it was last month. The sportscaster was talking about it during the third play, wasn’t he, baby?”
              Michael huffed a chuckle, gripping Alex’s knee under the table for some anchor to steady his thoughts. “Uh, yeah, dude took a hit to the knee ‘bout two games ago.”
              “Yeah,” Greg said slowly. “Yeah, I remember they said they weren’t expecting him to come back so soon.”
              “I’m surprised he lasted as long as he did, to be honest,” Clay shook his head.
              And on and on the conversation went. Michael felt Alex’s hand on top of his, steadying him, bringing him back to harbor. Together, he told himself as dinner turned to varied discussions of sports, military days, and days on the reservation. As long as he and Alex were together, nothing bad could ever really touch them.
              As long as they stayed together, they could handle anything.
***
Happy malex Monday ❤️
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𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
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𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: When Y/N is invited to a polo tournament on Deville manor, she never expects for the Holmes boys to fall for her during the weekend getaway. Though Sherlock is keen to make sparks fly, his love for Y/N seems more and more like a competition with his older brother.
Y/N soon learns that she has more on the line than simply getting her heart broken. She might also be at the centre of a dark conspiracy. 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐦𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐭
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"Do you see John, anywhere?" Mary peered through her binoculars, searching for her husband on the open field. “I promised him we’d pop by before the match.”
Y/N huffed in amusement. Earlier that week, Mycroft had invited John, Greg, Sherlock, and by extension, Mary and Y/N to join him for a weekend's polo tournament. The four men would play against a team of Mycroft's colleagues over the course of three days. It was a prestigious event and several higher up's in the British government would be in attendance. 
The renowned Deville manor served as lodging and camp, with the lord of the house acting as master of ceremonies. Lord Deville's property extended throughout the English countryside, its picturesque landscape making the ideal spot for a tournament.  
Y/N had been quick to accept Mycroft's invitation, only waiting for Sherlock's agreement before blurting out a sharp "yes," herself. She'd been doing that a lot lately - observing Sherlock's interactions from a distance. She ached for his approval but couldn't discern why. 
Y/N ambled past a team of rival polo players with Mary still linked to her arm. Socialites mingled in groups around her. They chatted softly, their fingers wrapped around champagne glasses. Y/N instinctively smoothed down the front of her blouse. She scanned the manor's busy plot and noticed a row of security personall in the backstands working to blend into the background. It didn't come as a surprise that Mycroft had invited them to such a shrouded event. The man dealt in secrets, even during his leisure time. 
"Have you spoken to Mycroft lately?" Y/N asked absently. 
Mary dropped her binoculars. "He's not exactly my confidant. Why do you ask?" 
Secretly, Y/N was intrigued by Mycroft's low profile, but she shrugged it off under Mary's stare. "I was just wondering. Isn't it strange that he invited us all for a weekend getaway? Social niceties aren't really his speed." 
Mary pursed her lips. "You know, I was wondering that myself. I’d say he has something hidden up his sleeve." 
“There’s certainly more to him than meets the eye,” Y/N murmured. She ignored Mary’s raised brow and changed the subject. "Anyway, I can't wait to see Sherlock in his riding gear. Do you think he's ever played polo before?" She bit back a smile trying to imagine Sherlock in sport's attire. 
"Somebody is awfully curious about the Holmes boys today." Mary's eyes gleamed with mischief. "In love with them, are you? Oh, the scandal!” 
Y/N clicked her tongue in annoyance, off put by the unwitting truth in Mary’s quip.  
"I'm only teasing, love." Mary leaned her head against Y/N's shoulder and tried to suppress a giggle. "Come on, I think I see our boys just up ahead!" 
The pair stumbled along a gravel path until they came to the main stables behind the playing field. Inside, John and Greg stood next to their ponies, both dressed in their polo whites and helmets. 
Greg was the first to see them. "Oi, ladies!" he called. "What do you think?" He gave them a twirl, showing off his garb. 
They clapped, both delighted by the outfits. "Your turn, John!" Mary called to her husband. "Give us a spin!" 
John rubbed his pony's mane. "Absolutely not." 
"Come on, mate," Greg urged. "Just a small one." John glanced at his friends and sighed. He spun in a circle begrudgingly and ended with a bow. "Are you satisfied?" 
"Don't play coy," Mary chided. She slid over to her husband's side and kissed his cheek. "You really do look quite sexy." 
"You think so?" John pressed his forehead against hers, pleased with the attention. 
Greg and Y/N shared a meaningful glance, neither a stranger to the Watsons' marital bliss. "Almost make you want a love of your own, don't they, these two?" Greg whispered dreamily. Y/N hummed in agreement. The Holmes brothers flashed in her mind. There and gone again in an instant. Though she smiled, the inspector's words brought an ache to the pit of her stomach. 
She ignored it. 
The sound of footsteps sounded from the other end of the stable. "Fashionably late, are we?" Sherlock stepped in with Mycroft in tow. His posture was relaxed and he radiated a confidence that could be perceived as hubris by those that didn’t know him. The polo whites clung to his lithe frame, perfectly creased and tailored. A red stripe ran up his rider's boots, a striking contrast against the bright ensemble. Though Sherlock had never worn athlete's wear before, if Y/N hadn't known him, she'd swear that he'd been riding since his youth. 
"Terribly sorry about the holdup," Mycroft called out. He glared at his brother with controlled irritation. He also wore the team colours, though his uniform was stitched with a gold crest on the breast pocket, marking him as Captain. He stepped forwards until he reached Y/N's side. He caught her eyes, his gaze inquisitive. "A gentleman never leaves a lady waiting,” he said. Mycroft's words were deliberate and relayed an intimacy that Y/N had never expected from him before. She studied him, surprised by the soft smile peaking from the corners of his lips. He seemed pleased to see her. 
The spell was broken when Sherlock squeezed himself between the pair. "Yes, quite right. Thank you for that rather mediaeval anecdote, Mycroft. Now, why don't you check on the ladies near the playing field instead? I'm sure they're keen to see you. Wives of your colleagues and all." Though his tone was light, a darker mood hid beneath Sherlock's words. He held his brother's gaze with steady defiance, daring him to stay. 
Mycroft spared a last nod at Y/N before stepping out from the stables. Y/N stared after him, puzzled albeit intrigued by his energy. In her bewilderment, she nearly missed the gentle touch of Sherlock's hand upon the small of her back. She looked at him, flustered by the doting gleam in his eye. 
He moved his hand lower until it wrapped around her waist. With the other, he fetched the reins of his mare, guiding it out from the stall. “John, Lestrade, I’ll meet you on the pitch. Five minutes, no more.” Sherlock dipped down until his lips were level to Y/N’s ear. "Walk with me," he breathed. 
Y/N felt a pleasant warmth at the contact. She followed him and though time didn't still, it slowed enough for her to question her affections. 
Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes. 
Two brothers with distinct sovereignty. Both intent on surpassing the other on every intellectual front. Beyond that, a rivalry existed between them, one that transcended their skills of deduction. Contention came naturally between the brothers. One need only imagine what might happen if passion were introduced to the equation. 
“Are you alright?” 
Y/N blinked. Her thoughts had raced off and now Sherlock was studying her carefully, concern creasing his brow. He had led her to a garden labyrinth, the scent of English yew unfurling around them. 
Y/N braved a smile. He was beautiful in the sunlight. She reached out and caressed the mare that had cantered alongside them. It nuzzled into her palm. “I’m fine,” she said. “I was just thinking about the match.” 
Sherlock nodded absently. He placed his hand over Y/N’s so that they both caressed the horse. She could feel his pulse, controlled but forceful against her skin. She met his eyes. She nearly shied away from his focus but he tipped her chin forwards with the shadow of a touch. 
“You’re lying,” he said. “You were thinking of me.” 
Y/N tensed and the mare whinnied. 
Sherlock took both her hands in his own and held them to his chest. “Do you think of me often, I wonder? Do you think of my touch? I know I dream of yours.” Y/N dropped her arms to her sides, numb with anticipation. Though anticipation of what, she couldn’t discern. 
Sherlock Holmes was her friend and nothing more. She couldn’t let her silly fantasies seep into their exchanges.
The overshadow from the noon sun cast darkened contours on Sherlock’s face but it didn’t harden the softness of his eyes. Y/N could no longer deny the implication of his words when she felt the push of his leg press her against the labyrinth’s hedged wall. The prick of branches pierced her back but she held her breath. 
“Is this alright?” Sherlock breathed. He had already drawn nearer, his body flush against hers. His breaths were laboured, the faint touch of his lips on her cheek electric.
Y/N nodded. 
Sherlock pulled back. “I need to hear you say it,” he said. “Otherwise…” he let the sentence linger, giving weight to his words. 
“Yes.”
He exhaled as though he were expecting a rebuff. “Thank you.”
Sherlock licked his lips before dipping forwards and catching Y/N’s kiss. He held the back of her neck, the softness of his touch suggesting a fear of fragility. Y/N tensed despite the thrill of their tryst. Her blouse dropped from a shoulder and she gasped at the sudden coolness punctuating her warmth.
Sherlock grinned as he pressed another kiss to her neck. He caught the exposed skin from the fallen sleeve and breathed in the fading scent of her perfume and the labyrinth’s flora. He pushed deeper into the crook of her neck, landing tender kisses along the delicate line towards her jaw. 
Y/N stood rigid at first, her chin resting against Sherlock’s shoulder. All she could do was grip at the back of his polo shirt, still disconcerted by his sudden show of passion. “I love you,” she heard him murmur into her neck. Her breath caught before she heard it again. “I love you.”  
Y/N let her head fall back on the hedged wall. She felt as though seeing through a veil, unsure of this new development. Just yesterday, Sherlock had treated her as a friend. Though she always wished for it to be true, she hadn’t expected to become his lover only hours later. Mycroft flashed through her mind, but she waved him away.
Why was she thinking of the elder Holmes brother when Sherlock stood there having just confessed to loving her? Mycroft had shown her a rare kindness today, but she couldn’t pretend that it meant anything. 
What had changed? 
“Sherlock, I —”
“Five minutes, nothing more, was it?” a voice called out suddenly. 
Y/N flinched and quickly straightened herself out from behind Sherlock. She peeked behind his shoulder and saw Mycroft standing across from them. He seemed bemused yet his eyes relayed vexation and hurt. 
Sherlock turned and faced his brother. “Has it been longer than that already?” he asked jokingly. “Time seems to have gotten away from me.” 
“Indeed. You’re already six minutes past the mark.” Mycroft geared forwards, his steps deliberate, his mood icy. “Hello Miss Y/N,” he said. “I didn’t expect you to be the keeper of my brother’s protraction.” 
Sherlock looked back at Y/N and grinned. “Our meeting was imperative,” he assured his brother, arrogance dripping into his tone. 
“Recreational,” Mycroft corrected. 
The tension was heavy between both brothers and Y/N shuddered at their subtle resentment. “Sherlock, lead the mare to the pitch,” Mycroft ordered. 
Sherlock stood firmly. “Can’t you?” he said innocently.
“I can’t always be the one to clean up after you. Take responsibility, brother mine. Or else you’ll lead her astray.” 
Mycroft’s words were cryptic and Y/N got the sense that the conversation had veered away from the mare. 
Sherlock tensed but did as his brother commanded. Just before he left though, he turned to smile at Y/N. “We’ll pick up on this, I swear to it,” he said, pressing one last kiss to her cheek. She smiled back but felt nervous at the unspoken truths writhing between both brothers’ obscured words.
They were hiding something and she was somehow involved. 
Mycroft watched his brother leave before approaching Y/N. “This is already a strenuous event for me,” he said to her. “Do not prolong my agony.” 
Y/N shuddered. “What do you mean?” 
He smiled, but there was a sadness to it. “You look lovely in that dress,” he said, ignoring her question. 
“Mycroft?”
“Tread lightly. There are secrets to this tournament that I fear will destroy you.” He sighed. “Take care of your heart, for it will prove your undoing.” Mycroft unclipped the stitched crest from his breast pocket and handed it to Y/N. “Maybe this will help in time.” 
Y/N watched as he stepped away after his brother. Her heart was beating fast and the labyrinth’s glamour was slowly losing its appeal.
What had just happened?
Y/N felt as though caught in a web. She couldn’t distinguish sibling rivalry from the threat of something more sinister happening on the Deville manor. She tucked the crest into her pocket, too off put to inspect the strange gift just yet. 
She thought of Sherlock. Did he truly love her? It had all seemed so perfect until those last few moments. 
Y/N tried to steady the frantic beating of her heart. She would search for answers soon enough. She would unveil the Holmes brothers’ secrets. She would decipher the ragings of her emotions. Until then, there was a polo match to attend. She hoped it would run smoothly but in the deepest parts of her, she knew:
Madness would ensue.
────────⊳⋆⊲────────
*grabs you by the coat collar* wanna read Feels Like Christmas?
Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this!!! I'm thinking of making "Game of Kings" a three part series, but I'm really not sure. It's a maybe possibly at the moment. So, if you're wondering about the sudden click where Sherlock randomly professed his love to Y/N without any context to the nature of their relationship... I'm leading up to that (hopefully). Is it genuine??? Is he playing with her heart??? Protecting her, maybe??? I don't know. And the sitch with Mycroft will come into play too. I hope this fic wasn't too messy.
tagging: @twisted-monster ​ @starryeddie ​ @the-chaotic-cow ​ @turkisherlockian ​ @aephereal ​ ​ @andthevillainshallrises ​ ​ @baby-bloos ​ ​ @cookiemumster1 ​ ​​ @eternal-silvertongued-prince ​ ​ @bogginsreadings ​ ​ @lumosouls ​ @spencerrxids​ @serenity-lattes ​ @msseijii @classickook ​ @starstruck-loner ​    @i-beg-your-pardon-laufeyson ​ @lucywrites02 ​ @danzalladaggers @mrs-holmes ​ @pytharuw @antsn​ @kabubsmagga @newtsniffles ​ @cemak​ @sleepilysworld ​ @bakerstreethound ​
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jule1122 · 9 months
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Malex Fic - I can’t get the language right
This is a late response to the May prompt of ‘Missing Mom’ on @alexguerinappreciation. 
I can’t get the language right on AO3
Title from “Part of the Band” by The 1975
Summary: It’s a generic card - drawing of a wedding cake on the front, one line message inside - “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”  But it’s the signature that leaves both of them speechless.  Loopy handwriting in blue pen spells out “Love, Mom.” 
When Alex and Michael get back from their honeymoon, Isobel has their mail separated into three piles labeled - “might be important,” “probably junk,” and “cards: do NOT throw these away.  Rosa wants to make you something and she will kill me if you throw these away.”
“Nice to know there’s someone your sister is afraid of,” Alex laughs when he reads the note.
“Do you want to be the one to tell Rosa we forgot about the personalized gift she wants to make us?”  Michael asks.
“Nope,” Alex says quickly.  Rosa had been very clear about what she wanted, and Alex couldn’t wait to see what she created for them.
They don’t bother with the mail until after they’ve showered and had dinner.  The junk and maybe important piles are dealt with quickly since most of the mail marked as important is also junk.  They open the cards together, Alex recording them in a notebook Maria gave him for keeping track of wedding details.
Michael teases him when he brings it out.  “Please tell me we don’t have to send thank you cards to people for cards.”
“No,” Alex reassures him.  “It’s just nice to remember.”
Michael’s expression softens, and he squeezes Alex’s hand before opening the first card.  It’s not a big pile, most everyone who mattered was at the wedding.  Some are from people Alex works with at Deep Sky, there are a few from people he served with although he’s not sure how they even know he’s married, there are names Michael recognizes from odd jobs he’s done over the years, and one signed from Linsday with a heart over the “i,” who Michael once had a month long friends with benefits relationship with.
The card after Lindsay’s is addressed to “Alex Manes and Spouse.”  Michael laughs when he reads it, “Maybe this is from one of you exes.”
“Not likely,” Alex snorts, watching while Michael flips the card over and carefully opens it.
It’s a generic card - drawing of a wedding cake on the front, one line message inside - “Wishing you a lifetime of happiness.”  But it’s the signature that leaves both of them speechless.  Loopy handwriting in blue pen spells out “Love, Mom.”
“Guess it’s yours after all,”  Michael tries to joke.  When Alex doesn’t react, he clears his throat and starts again.  “Did you?”
“No,” Alex jumps in, “I didn’t.”  He doesn’t finish, but Michael nods, understanding what he doesn’t say.  Maybe if the wedding hadn’t been a rush, if they had really planned any of it, he would have thought about his mother.  But he never would have done anything without talking to Michael.
Michael turns the envelope back over and studies it.  “Surprised she kept your dad’s name,” he says, tapping at the return address.
“M. Manes” is written in the same blue pen above an address Alex knows is about an hour from Greg’s.  He’s not surprised she’s so close since Greg told him he’d met her for dinner a few times.  The name is a surprise though.  “I didn’t know.  She never,” Alex trails off and sighs.  
“It’s ok,” Michael says softly, reaching over and taking Alex’s hand.  “Let’s see what else we got.”
Alex sets the card from his mother aside, separate from the pile they are saving for Rosa.  But when Michael reaches for the next card, Alex stops him.  It feels wrong to continue.  Going through cards was supposed to be fun, another chance to remember their wedding, but now there is a weight over them, the specter of his mother and things left unsaid.
“I’ll be right back,” Alex tells Michael then walks back to his office.  Once there, he takes a manila envelope out of the bottom drawer.  He hates that this is all he has to show Michael, not even enough to put in a box.  But it’s all he has, and he knows Michael will understand.
Michael is waiting at the table when Alex gets back, but he’s cleared away the mail and all the cards, but the one from his mother. He gives Alex an encouraging smile when he sits back down.
“She never included an address before,” he explains as he takes four cards out of the envelope and places them on the table.  “I never knew where she was.”
Michael nods, but doesn’t pick up the cards.  “You talked to her, though right?  About Project Shepherd?”
“Yes, but I didn’t call her directly.  I left a message with one of her cousins, and she called me back from a private number.  It wasn’t,” Alex hesitates, not sure how to explain.  Michael knows he could have traced the number if he wanted to, but he hadn’t.  “It wasn’t a personal conversation.”
When Michael doesn’t reach for the cards, just waits to see what Alex wants to do, Alex hands them to him one by one.  He keeps them in chronological order and lets Michael know when each was sent.  “When I started high school,” he says when he hands Michael the first card in the pile.
Michael turns the envelope over in his hand, looks to see as Alex has said there was no return address.  He’s careful with the card, gently pulling it from the envelope and returning it with just as much care once he’s read it.  It only takes a few seconds to see what is there, or more glaringly what isn’t there.
“My sixteenth birthday, graduation, this one came when I was in rehab,” he hands the last card over to Michael, aware how small the pile of four cards must seem.  There are all simple, basic messages - “Good Luck,” “Happy Birthday,” "Congratulations” and “Get Well Soon.”  The insides are bare save whatever generic message the card came with and the same signature each time, “Love, Mom.”  There are no personal messages, not even his name written inside.
When Michael hands them back to him, hands gentle as if they are somehow precious, he adds, “She sent me a sympathy card after Dad died.  I threw it away.”
That gets a laugh and smile from Michael before he turns serious again.  “Do you think there were more Jesse never gave you?”
“No.”  The answer’s easy because Alex thought about this a lot when he was younger.  “Dad was really weird about Mom.  Once she was gone, he never spoke about her, not once.  I remember one morning we woke up and she wasn’t there, Dad got us ready and took us to school, and when we got home, everything of hers was gone.  He told us she had left and wasn’t coming back, and that was that.”
“You must have had questions,” Michael prompts him.
“Yeah, but by then we knew not to ask.  He never talked about her, but he never criticized her either, just pretended she never existed.  But when the cards came - Clay was the first one - he just handed them to us and walked away.  It was hard to figure out the pattern, we all got the same ones, and every time Dad just gave them to us.”
“That is weird for Jesse,” Michael agrees.
“I think he loved her, as much as he could love.  They were together before Tripp died, before Harlan fed him his poisoned theories and brought him into Project Shepherd.  Maybe that’s why she stayed as long as she did, she remembered who he was before.”  Alex shrugs.  He’s not sure any of that matters.  His mother left and his father was abusive.  How their story started doesn’t change any of that.  
Alex picks up the card and stares at the return address before setting it down with a sigh.
“Why do you think she included her address this time?”
“She’s been talking to Greg, maybe he convinced her to let me know where she is.”  The uncharitable part of Alex wondered if she knew Greg would tell him if he asked so there was no point in hiding, but he doesn’t say that out loud.
“What do you want to do?”
“What can I do?” Alex asks.  “It’s been over twenty years.  Am I just supposed to show up at her house and what, talk?”
“Maybe, if that’s what you want,” Michael shrugs.  “Maybe this is her way of reaching out, of letting you know she’s ready.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready.” It comes out sharper than he intended - brittle and defensive.  Alex sighs, hating how emotional he still gets when he thinks about his mother.
“Then you’re not ready,” Michael shrugs like it’s that easy.  “You don’t have to be ready just because she might be.”
“I don’t want to be angry,” Alex admits.  Michael drops a hand to his thigh and squeezes gently, silently encouraging him to continue.  “Leaving was the right decision.  I understand why she did it, and I’m glad she got out, that she didn’t have to suffer.”
“That she didn’t have to suffer like you did,”  Michael finishes for him quietly.
“Yeah,” Alex agrees, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.  “It was the right decision for her, I know that.  Hell, if anyone should understand, it should be me.  I did the same thing to you - left you behind when I couldn’t stand to stay.”
“It’s not the same thing,” Michael cuts him off quickly.  He doesn’t sound angry, just frustrated.  “I had my own ways out, I made my own decision to stay.  You didn’t leave me in his house, at his mercy.  You were my boyfriend, Alex, not,” Michael stops, runs a hand through his hair and takes a breath.  “You were my boyfriend, not my mother.  You weren’t responsible for my safety.  You can understand why she left and still be hurt and angry that she left you behind.”
“She didn’t have a choice,” Alex shakes his head.  “Dad never would have let us go.  His wife leaving was bad enough, but he would have fought her, brought us back one way or another.  She did the right thing.”
“Alex,” Michael says, then he waits, infinitely patient.
“I don’t want to be angry,”  Alex finally repeats because it’s the only thing he knows.  When he thinks about seeing his mother, all he can imagine is all the pain and hurt he’s been hiding coming out in accusations and recriminations.  It scares him,and he doesn’t want to be that person.
“She might have done the best thing for her, but it doesn’t mean it was the right thing for you.  It’s alright to be angry,” Michael says gently.  “It’s alright to not want to see her or talk to her.  She might be ready to reach out, but it doesn’t mean you are.  It’s up to you, not her, how you respond or if you just want to ignore it.”
“Up to me?” Alex laughs. Something about that brings some of his anger to the surface, but he’s not afraid because he knows it’s safe with Michael.  “None of this has ever been up to me.  She left - no goodbye, no note.  She was just gone.  And by the time I got used to that, she sent Clay the first card.  I thought she was coming back, but she didn’t.  And every time, even after I knew better, I’d start looking for her.  At the grocery store, in the school parking lot, in the stands at Greg’s basketball games, at my graduation.  But she was never there.  This is all I have of her,”  Alex picks the cards up and shoves them back in the envelope.  “I don’t know what they mean.  I never have.”
“Hey,” Michael takes the envelope from Alex’s hands and sets it back on the table.  “Let’s leave this for tonight.  You don’t need to do anything right now.  Just come to bed, let me take care of you.”
Alex follows Michael back to their bedroom.  He lets Michael hover as they get ready for bed, lets Michael hold him and whisper how much he loves him into his skin.  It feels selfish, but Alex would do the same for Michael, has done the same for Michael so he stays in Michael’s arms until the hurt and anger fade away.  Until he remembers that he’s loved now and that’s what matters.
Alex thinks of his mother often over the next few weeks.  Time doesn’t bring clarity, he’s as conflicted about how to respond to her card as he was when he first saw it.  He thinks about calling Greg, but he doesn’t want to interfere with whatever relationship Greg is trying to build with her.  It’s not fair to ask Greg to interpret her motives,and he doesn’t want Greg to feel like he needs to pick sides.
He ends up in the card aisle at the grocery store trying to find a card that doesn’t say too much, isn’t a confession he’s not ready to make, before his ice cream melts.  He settles on a card with a watercolor bouquet of wildflowers on the outside and the simple message, “Thinking of you” on the inside.
Michael finds the card when he’s helping Alex unload the groceries.  He wrinkles his nose at the muted bouquet on the cover, “I hope this isn’t for me.”
“No,” Alex comes up behind Michael, wraps his arms around him and kisses his neck. “You know I’m always thinking about you.”
“You’d better be,” Michael teases.  He turns in Alex’s arms and kisses him sweetly, then nips at his lip before going back to the groceries.
Alex takes the card and sets it on the coffee table.  He goes back to the kitchen and doesn’t think about it.  He doesn’t think about it while they debate about dinner before finally making pasta.  Or after dinner, when they meet Isobel and Kyle at the Wild Pony.  
Maria started experimenting with a trivia night while they were on their honeymoon, and Isobel convinced them to play together.  She hands them T-shirts that say “Team Alien Lovers” in rainbow glitter as soon as they sit down.  Michael threatens to leave until Isobel promises to pay for all their drinks.  They crush the other teams and come home laughing and buzzed and Alex doesn’t think about the card at all.
He’s still not thinking about the card the next morning when Michael joins him in the shower, and he’s almost late for work.  When he gets home, he can’t help but notice the bright yellow envelope on the table, but Michael comes in right behind him with take out from the Crashdown.  They eat dinner outside and spend the night by the fire pit Alex had put in as a surprise for Michael.  He thinks of nothing but how happy he is and how much he loves his husband.
Friday is an early day for Alex, and he’s home a few hours before Michael.  He normally fills the time with chores or working on his personal research projects, but he’s too restless to settle on one thing.  He moves from room to room, half heartedly starting something only to end up back in the living room staring at the blank envelope.  Alex finally gives in and picks up the card, sitting at the table and intending to fill it out quickly.
He’s still there when Michael gets home.  Michael must have said something when he comes in, but Alex doesn’t hear him.  Instead, Michael’s hands on his shoulders are his first indication that he’s not alone.  He relaxes into the touch, smiling when Michael kisses the back of his head.  When Michael starts to move away, Ales grabs his hand and tugs him into the chair next to him.
Michael sits with him, one hand between his shoulder blades in support, while he flips the pen between his fingers and tries to figure out what to say.
“It’s Alex Guerin now.  I took Michael’s name when we got married.  He’s the best part of my life, and I want him and everyone else to know it.  He’s brilliant and kind and loyal and beautiful.  I want to say I know you would love him, but I don’t know.  I don’t know enough about you to know how you will feel about him.  I don’t know if you will care that he’s a man or that he’s not Native.  I don’t know if you can love me let alone Michael.”
He thinks it, but he doesn’t write any of that.
“I feel like I should say I miss you, but I don’t know if that’s true.  It’s been so long I don’t know if I miss you or if I miss the idea of you.  I told Michael I don’t want to be angry, and I’m trying not to be.  But sometimes anger is easier than hurt or fear.  And I know I’m afraid to see you again, afraid of what I might say or feel.  Afraid of what you will think of me, if you’ll be disappointed.”
He doesn’t write that or this either:
“I always wondered what happened to you.  If I ran away to the Reservation, would I find you there?  Or were across the country or even on another continent.  Did you get married again, did you have other children?  I used to imagine you married a millionaire or a prince and you would come rescue us, but you never did. I held on to that dream for a long time, longer than I should have until Dad finally beat all hope out of me.  I always imagined you were happy, happier than I was.  If you were then you made the right decision.  You choose your safety and happiness over mine, and I always wanted to believe it was worth it even though it hurt. I don’t know if it will hurt more to find out that it’s true or to learn that you haven’t been happy, and we both suffered alone.  I don’t know if I’m brave enough to find out.”
When Alex finally figures out what he does want to say, he writes it quickly before he can change his mind.  Once the card is ready to go, he turns to Michael, “What now?”
Michael smiles and kisses him softly.  “How about we go for a ride?”
He drives them to the post office, and waits patiently for Alex to get the courage to mail it. 
“Thanks,” he says to Michael once he’s done.
Michael looks at him carefully, “Are you ok?”
“Yeah, I am,” Alex tells him honestly.  “Let’s get out of here.”
He threads his fingers through Michael, squeezing his hand as they head back home.  Alex realizes he’s looking forward to the weekend.  They have no plans, but he’s sure they’ll come up with something.  For tonight, they’ll cook together, spend the evening relaxing and making love.  Then they’ll sleep in and wake up together and fill the hours together.
Sometime next week, his mother will get the card he sent.  But now that it’s mailed, he feels nothing but relief.  Maybe it will be a beginning or maybe nothing will change.  Either way, Alex has said all he can for now, writing simply, “Love, Alex.”
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burntotears · 1 year
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roswell, new mexico + hogwarts houses 
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mdhwrites · 6 months
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Don't you think it's short selling Sasha and Marcy by saying they aren't major players?
Like it's kinda weird you'd sooner consider the Wartwood citizens to be more major than those two. I mean those guys (like Ivy, Maddie, Croaker, Wally, Toadie, and Felicia) only get like one or two focus episodes per season individually at best and it's not as though they have much of a story arc with them or have as much involvement in the overarching story the same way as Sasha and Marcy do.
Like if you count all the episodes that put Sasha or Marcy in a major role, I'd argue they may actually have more focus episodes than Polly (who appears more than them).
For crying out loud, Matt Braly has outright lumped Sasha and Marcy in as main cast in Tweets with one for season 3B even having him outright state Sasha and Grime are main cast in season 3. Voice director Eden Riegel also lumps Sasha and Marcy's voices as part of the main cast with Anne and the Plantars so they're clearly intended as major players, or at least higher on the prominence scale than the Wartwood citizens.
And it makes me wonder how you would classify characters in other shows that are too prominent to be lumped as simply supporting and nothing more, but also aren't 24/7 main cast.
Owl House has Amity, Willow, Gus, and Hunter (who are kinda similar in prominence with Sasha and Marcy) as not being 24/7 main players like Luz, Eda, King, and Hooty, but also too prominent to be lumped as just supporting and nothing more like the Hexside characters such as Boscha, Skara, Bump, and the Blight Twins.
My Little Pony Friendship is Magic has Starlight, Celestia, Discord, Luna, Trixie, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders as not being 24/7 main players like the Mane 6 + Spike, but too prominent to be lumped as just supporting and nothing more as well.
Star vs the Forces of Evil has Eclipsa, Tom, Moon, Ludo, River, Janna, and Pony Head in that same territory as not being 24/7 main players like Star and Marco, but too prominent to be lumped as just supporting and nothing more.
Steven Universe has Connie, Greg, Peridot, and Lapis in that same territory as not being 24/7 main players like the main 4 Crystal Gems (Steven, Pearl, Garnet, and Amethyst), but too prominent to be lumped as just supporting and nothing more.
Sasha and Marcy certainly have way more prominence than the Wartwood citizens and I feel you're kinda underestimating them into being minor supporting and nothing more, ignoring their importance to the show's story.
Well, I deleted this after not wanting to deliberate on the definition before but if this is going to come back each time I say what is my opinion:
I have never called Sasha or Marcy minor supporting characters. I even admitted in my last blog to Sasha being the primary antagonist for 2 seasons, just that her presence isn't really felt. Honestly, I've been trying to be NICE to Marcy but she has seven episodes dedicated to her... If you REALLY stretch the definition because I'd argue half of those are actually about Anne while we're simply told things about Marcy for Anne to wallow about or Marcy is just there for moralizing at Maddie in what is actually a Maddie episode so that's closer 3-4 which puts her on par with TOADSTOOL. If not straight up behind him.
I'm not saying they're unimportant. I'm not saying they're bad. Just that the focus of the story is on change and on community. Singular characters struggle to fit those themes. Sasha exists for two entire seasons just to challenge them as she opposes Anne's willingness to change, is stubborn in her refusal to change and loses her community because she's not willing to show care to them. It's really good... But it's SEVEN episode segments out of almost EIGHTY. And in s3, she gets two more dedicated to her and then is more an ensemble member for the Oum stuff, especially mother Oum, and then helps in the final fights of the finale, with a bit of her being commander sprinkled in like any random Wartwood citizen before.
And why is that? Because she joins the main cast the same way ALL of Wartwood is a part of the main cast. In finding community, she finds a place amongst the main players but I do not consider HER, INDIVIDUALLY, to be a main character, just like I don't argue Hop Pop or Polly are INDIVIDUALLY main characters. Honestly, questionably even Sprig.
It's the idea that a supporting group of characters can come together enough to build a main pillar of the show better than any one of them. If you claim NONE of the Wartwood characters are main characters, you trivialize the ENTIRE SETTING. But those characters are interconnected enough, tied together so tightly as a joint unit of characters, even if only one or two may get focus per episode, that you can see their change happen gradually in their own, collective arc.
And that arc is more important and arguably even more powerful. After all, if Wartwood hadn't changed, Sasha would never have gotten her second chance. She'd have died in Turning Point. Or they wouldn't have ever gone back to them in the first place. Marcy might have been told to piss off simply because she was from Newtopia because they didn't want to be looked down on. The armies might not have come together if Wartwood and others weren't moved to start thinking of the bigger picture rather than petty squables.
These are all critical to payoffs in the show and the themes, just as much, if not more, than anything with Sasha. It's why I think Thai Temple is one of the most important S3A episodes because it reassures that you don't have to go to a fantasy realm for community. There are lots of them who wish to share who they are, welcome in people with open minds, etc. like that and who will support each other in dark times.
There's a reason why Anne's final words to the Core, her refusal of it absolutely, isn't about Marcy and Sasha. It's about the world. And of course she's the one standing there because she has had the biggest impact on, and impacted by, the various communities of Earth, Amphibia and Wartwood especially. She is fighting for them, for they are her greatest treasures.
SO. With my having hopefully made myself clear: Let's talk about some of the claims you make with other shows so I can dig myself a hole. If you just want the Amphibia stuff, you can leave now.
TOH is a fucking nightmare to classify. Main characters often are meant to be storytelling engines, help establish what is most important to the show and set the status quote for antagonists and side characters to disrupt. Again, it's why Sasha actually makes a great primary antagonist early on for the capstone episodes because she does challenge Anne on much of this, just isn't around 99% of the time.
TOH has the problem that a story can be poorly written enough to make you wonder "WHO THE FUCK IS THE MAIN CAST!?" There's ALL sorts of arguments I could make, not helped that just time wise, Amity takes up a literal third of the show and doesn't help themes, doesn't push the plot forward and mostly doesn't fit the show's GENRE even. But time wise, she actually gets close to as much, time especially Luz, as Eda does. Eda spends literally NO time with Luz in the second S1 after all because she's too busy spending time with her sister.
Gus and Willow are LAUGHABLE to be called main supporting characters because every single one of Willow's episodes is actually someone else's and Gus gets one every half season and they also had to break their magic for one of them with a retcon. Hell, Willow gets maybe a dozen lines in the entirety of S2A and then I'm not sure if she actually says more than two lines to Luz in the entirety of S2B.
The only other one I can comment on is MLP which I watched... A bit over five seasons if I'm remembering right (I despised Starlight's redemption as one of the worst redemptions I've ever seen, let alone how it felt like they were performing character assassination on others to make Starlight look good afterwards) so this is from that perspective.
And like... No. Just no. Not even the entirety of the Mane 6 are always there and Spike certainly isn't around 24/7 but the only characters you listed, besides Starlight because yes, she was made into a main character, who got more than MAYBE two episodes a season are the Cutie Mark Crusaders. A lot of the fandom WISHES Luna and Celestia did more instead of feeling like a stiff breeze can incapacitate them and getting mentioned does not make you a main character. Trixie was a reoccurring villain but not very often. Even with the CMC, Apple Bloom is a main supporting character of Applejack... But they themselves are more side characters. They're along the same vein as most of the Wartwood citizens honestly.
None of them are bad mind you, I have been inspired by all the characters you've listed (Michael Hudson on fimfiction and no, I do not condone everything there but I don't like denying my past and so I don't nuke the entire account) before and I like a lot of stories with them. It doesn't make them main characters. At best, I'd put them in a middle tier where they're just supporting characters and part of that's simply because SIX MAIN CHARACTERS IS A LOT OF MAIN CHARACTERS. It's kind of hard to get in a word edgewise when that's the case, something TOH also suffers from.
I keep main character status TIGHT because those are the characters the story genuinely revolves around. If your existence only revolves around a different character, you're probably not a main character. As an example of my own work: In Rich Witch, I'd argue Pythia, despite being a part of the main 5 girls, is not a main character. Arguably, neither is Blair as she takes on more of an antagonist role. The main characters of that series are Azu, Igni and Daina. If a plotline doesn't have any effect on those three, I'm not going to include it.
And I think that's just straight up better for storytelling, at least if you're going for a tighter, more focused narrative. After all, the six protagonist for MLP work BECAUSE that show isn't about having a tight narrative so having a wide breadth of perspectives to potentially invoke stories is useful for it.
Amphibia is not the same way which is why I argue if anyone is the main character than Anne... It's in units because the whole of those people being affected matters more than any singular one. And that isn't me calling them bad, or unimportant or disinteresting. It's just me classifying it as I believe and that will paint how I analyze the show.
Sorry if you don't like it.
======+++++======= Side note: Don't expect more blogs on this topic. I have now addressed it but I don't think it's actually that useful of a point to deliberate, not when I'd rather talk about how effective the characters are regardless of their specific titles. After all, for as much as I want to teach with this stuff, it's still MY opinion and this is how I view the show.
I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!
I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.
And finally a Twitter you can follow too!
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angelxd-3303 · 1 year
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As you can imagine, Harry meeting with Roy in the prison didn't go well...
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"C'mon, hun, pick up!" He pleaded into the phone. Finally, finally, Harry picked up the phone.
"H-hello-"
"Harry Manfred Redd, I swear I'm gonna wring your neck! Where are you? I've been calling you for hours!" There was silence on the other end, and Harry finally answered.
"I'm sorry, love, I just…I…" A broken sob came from him, and Robin's heart dropped into his stomach.
"Harry? Where are you?"
"I'm…I'm at the park. I…I couldn't let the kids see me like this…" 
"Like what? Harry, what happened?" Another sniffle, then:
"Can you…I really need you… I'm by the lake." Robin blinked back tears.
"Yeah, just-just stay there, ok? I'm coming. Stay on the line with me, alright?" There was a small hum of acknowledgement, and Greg gestured for the duck to follow him. Robin rushed out the door, and the two got into Greg's truck. He talked with Harry the whole time, assuring him that they were almost there. There wasn't much of a response, but as long as Harry was answering it didn't matter to Robin. 
When they finally reached the park, Greg quickly spotted his son's car, and parked beside it. Robin jumped out, panting as he scanned the park. Over on a park bench, Harry's scarlet mane stood out against the snow. Robin didn't wait for Greg, sprinting over to Harry. He whipped around the bench, immediately sitting down beside him. 
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Continued on A03...
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polycule-playoff · 9 months
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Last Edited: 2 February 2024
So far polycules from the following media have been submitted:
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy
Stephen King's It
Richie Tozier, Eddie Kaspbrak, Beverly Marsh, Bill Denbrough, Ben Hanscom, Stan Uris, Mike Hanlon, Kay McCall, Audra Phillips and Patty Blum
Sherlock Holmes
Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mary Morstan
Doki Doki Precure
Cure Heart, Cure Diamond, Cure Rosetta, Cure Sword and Regina
A3!
Tsumugi Tsukioka, Tasuku Takato, Hisoka Mikage, Homare Arisugawa, Azuma Yukishiro and Guy
Persona 5
Akira Kurusu/Ren Amamiya, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Niijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura, Goro Akechi, Sumire Yoshizawa, Morgana and Yuuki Mishima
Akira Kurusu/Ren Amamiya, Hifumi Togo, Chihaya Mifune, and Lavenza
Witch's Heart
Claire Elford, Noel Levine, Ashe Bradley, Wilardo Adler and Sirius Gibson
Ensemble Stars!!
Leo Tsukinaga, Tsukasa Suou, Arashi Narukami, Izumi Sena, Ritsu Sakuma, Mao Isara, Hokuto Hidaka, Subaru Akehoshi and Makoto Yuuki
Stranger Things
Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Jonathan Byers, Nancy Wheeler, Robin Buckley, Argyle, Chrissy Cunningham, Eden Bingham, and Vickie.
Star Trek DS9
Elim Garak, Julian Bashir, Miles O'Brien, Keiko O'Brien, Kira Nerys, Jadzia Dax, Odo Ital, Quark, Worf, Ezri, Sisko, Lwaxana Troi, Kasidy Yates-Sisko, and Lenara Kahn
The Owl House
Luz Noceda, Amity Blight, Willow Park, Hunter, and Gus Porter
Dracula
Jonathan Harker, Mina Harker, Lucy Westenra, Quincey Morris, Jack Seward, Arthur Holmwood, and Abraham Van Helsing
The Breakfast Club
Brian Johnson, Andrew Clark, Allison Reynolds, Claire Standish, and John Bender
Winx Club
Bloom, Stella, Tecna, Musa, Flora, Aisha, Sky, Brandon, Timmy, Riven, Helia, Nex and Nabu
Resident Evil
Leon S Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Ada Wong and Helena Harper
The Case Study of Vanitas
Vanitas, Noe Archiviste, Dominique de Sade and Jeanne
Scooby Doo
Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Shaggy Rogers, Velma Dinkley, Hot Dog Water, and Crystal.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Darla, Angel(us), Drusilla, and Spike/William
The Legend of Zelda
Revali, Zelda, Link, Mipha, Sidon, Yona, Paya and Tauro
The Magicians
Fen, Eliot Waugh, Margo Hanson, Josh Hoberman, and Quentin Coldwater
To be added: Arielle
Haikyū!!
Kiyoko Shimizu, Yachi Hitoka, Yamaguchi Tadashi, Tsukishima Kei, Bokuto Kōtarō, Akaashi Keiji, Kuroo Tetsurō, Kozume Kenma, Hinata Shōyō, Daichi Sawamura, Kageyama Tobio, Oikawa Tooru, Iwaizumi Hajime, Terushima Yuuji, and Ushijima Wakatoshi
Genshin Impact
Cyno, Alhaitham, Kaveh, and Tighnari
To be added: Dehya, Nilou, Faruzan, Dunyarzad, and Candace.
Kaeya, Rosaria, Albedo, and Sucrose
Neuvillette, Wriothesley, Navia, Clorinde, Zhongli, and Childe
Arataki Itto, Kujou Sara, Kamisato Ayato, Gorou, Thoma, and Sangonomiya Kokomi
Heaven Official's Blessing
Xie Lan, Hua Cheng, Mu Qing, and Feng Xin
The Magnus Archives
Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood, Sasha James, and Tim Stoker
Torchwood
Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Rhys Williams, Owen Harper, Ianto Jones, and Toshiko Sato
Spiderman
Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, Mary-Jane Watson, Gwen Stacy, Liz Allan, Felicia Hardy, and Johnny Storm
Beastars
Legosi, Louis, Haru, and Juno
Lupin III
Lupin III, Goemon Ishikawa XIII, Daisuke Jigen, and Fujiko Mine
Omori
Sunny, Kel, Basil, Aubrey
Cookie Run
Herb Cookie, Vampire Cookie, Sparkling Cookie, Mint Choco Cookie, and Cocoa Cookie
The Grail Quest
Percival, Galahad, Bors, Dinadrane, and Blanchfleur
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair/Super Danganronpa 2
Hajime Hinata, Kazuichi Soda, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu, Sonia Nevermind, and Akane Owari
Zero Escape
Akane Kurashiki, Junpei, Sigma Klim, Carlos, and Diana Snake
Roswell New Mexico
Nora Truman, Louise Truman, Theo, Tripp Manes and Roy Bronson
Max Evans, Isobel Evans, Michael Guerin, Liz Ortecho, Kyle Valenti, Maria DeLuca, Alex Manes, Jenna "Cam" Cameron, Heath, Dallas Haines, Greg Manes and Anatsa
The Raven Cycle
Blue Sargent, Richard Gansey, Ronan Lynch, Adam Parrish, Noah Czerny, and Henry Cheng
Warcraft
Khadgar, Kalecgos, Illidan, Kael'thas, and Vashj
Lor'themar Theron, Thalyssra, Halduron Brightwing, and Rommath
The Book of Firsts
Mika, Rin, Bran, and Kyou
Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun
Suzuki Iruma, Asmodeus Alice (Azz), Valac Clara, Azazel Ameri, and Purson Soi
My School President
Gun, Tinn, Sound, Win, Tiw, Por, Yo, Nook, Pat, and Kajorn
Bad Buddy
Pat, Pran, Korn, and Wai
Guardian Tales
Knight, Elvira, Arabelle, Beth, Priscilla, Yuze, Bianca, Loraine, Eva, and Camilla
Word of Honor/Faraway Wanders
Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu, Han Ying, Jing Beiyuan, and Wuxi
The New Teen Titans
Dick Grayson, Starfire, Victor Stone, Raven, Joseph Wilson, Donna Troy, Garfield
The Locked Tomb
Ianthe, Tridentarius, Gideon Nav, Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Alecto the First, John Gaius, Mercymorn the First, and Augustine the First
Baldur's Gate 3
Astarion, Gale, Lae'zel, Karlach, Shadowheart, Wyll, and Durge
Kagerou Project
Ayano Tateyama, Shintaro Kisaragi, Takane Enomoto, and Haruka Kokonose
NU Carnival
Eiden, Aster, Morvay, Yakumo, Edmond, Olivine, Quincy, Kuya, Garu, Blade, Dante, Rei, and Karu
Only Friends
Top, Mew, Ray, Sand, Boston, Nick, and Boeing
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ausdauer · 4 months
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@theackerwitch from x
Isabel, oblivious to the significance of the task, inquired out of pure curiosity. Her attention span didn't last too long before she moved on but she had been watching Kuchel for some time now, captivated by the act. In private moments, Isabel had tried her hand at it, only to meet with repeated failures.
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A warm smile played across her face as she settled into a comfortable position, legs casually crossed beneath her, eyes fixated on the vibrant yellows and whites that appeared before her. "No ma'am, just puttin' flowers in Greg's mane and tail" she confessed with a polite demeanor, choosing courtesy when she saw fit.
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fromkenari · 4 months
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I'm still mad that I was the only person on my dash who was mad that they had Alex fuckin' Manes, Captain of the United States Air Force, who got wounded in IRAQ and had part of his leg amputated, scream in Michael fuckin' Guerin's face that he was shot "BY THE TALIBAN" like that is in any way shape or form possible while stationed in Iraq where the United States claims it's waging war on ISIS completely separate from the conflict with Taliban in AFGHANISTAN. How the fuck did that make it into the fucking show and wasn't fact-checked in a single goddamn draft of the script? Why did none of you give a shit about this glaring inaccuracy that made me fall off the damn couch in secondhand embarrassment?
But yeah, Maria dating Greg was obviously the worst and most illogical thing about Season 3.
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