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#i see them having like a short fling in s4
icegoddessrukia · 2 years
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I know you don't ship Brittany with anyone else other than Santana and for obvious reasons because those two are perfect together. However, if you had to pair Britt with anyone else either before she dated Santana or in s2 or s4, who would you choose? It can be OCs or existing characters or Santana 😉 or no one 😁
Naya Rivera? 😄
Britt would definitely flirt with her openly lol. Probably has a shrine in her closet for her. Santana would be very jealous and hate her.
In all seriousness I’m such a hardcore Brittana shipper that I really honestly can’t pair her with anyone else, especially anyone in canon. Everytime I come up with the idea to ship Brittany with someone as a midgame ship they just end up being like a watered down version of Santana. I can’t ship Britt with any of the existing characters because there’s just no one she really meshes with. So short answer is: no one. It’s like how AniDala is for you.
Brittany is actually a very shippable character because she genuinely likes people and she likes experimental sex and she opens herself up to them much more easily than Santana does with other people who aren’t Britt. She’s also very adaptable and accepting. It’s easier for Brittany to date people who she isn’t passionate about and just kind of pretend and find good in the situation, whereas Santana just can’t fake it and she’s really super obvious about her annoyance/disinterest with whoever she’s with. So if Santana didn’t exist I could see Brittany settling with a good person even it was mediocre with them (not the intense passion she gets with Santana) but she still loved them in a lesser way.
It would be hilarious to see Pezberry’s reactions if Britt and Finn had ever pretended to date in season 2 or something. I mean Brinn would never be into each other like that ever but I think they’d both find it funny because San and Rachel would be like 🤬🤬😡. Brinn would be like two golden retrievers. So Brinn for a fake dating AU. Bike would also be hilarious as a fake dating AU because Santana/Tina would flip the fuck out and Mike would definitely play it up to troll Santana. I’m sure Bike have been mistaken for bf/gf before and they’re both so attractive/popular but they’re just friends.
I think as annoying as B*rtie was at the time, it served its purpose in season 2. It showed Brittany that she can have a proper relationship with someone who claims her openly and gives her the emotional fulfillment she deserves. So even if B*rtie isn’t my ship and Brittany wasn’t truly *in love* with him I probably wouldn’t change B*rtie other than write their storyline in season 2 better because the whole love triangle could have been handled much better but it was alright.
Artie and Brittany was such an important character growth point for Santana because prior to that Santana was just kind of… expecting Brittany would always be there to have sex with her/comfort her regardless of how Santana acted. She didn’t realize how much she loved Brittany until she was taken by someone else. She didn’t realize that she wanted a *relationship* with Brittany and not just a fling. On top of that Artie wasn’t cool or rich or popular or physically strong so it made Santana realize that those things aren’t always what are important in life. She never in a million years thought Brittany would want someone like Artie and boy did that open Santana’s eyes.
In season 4, I firmly believe Brittana should have never broken up in the first place. It should have been them going back to one of their houses and having a good cry/discussing what was wrong and then some good makeup sex because they just needed to communicate. The love was there and they would only have been separated physically for a few more months. I also firmly believe Br*m was a terrible idea and should never have existed. There’s no way either of them would have been into each other. Sam was just a friend to her and he was much more invested in Mercedes (and Quinn before that). IF they absolutely had to break up Brittana, then I’m not sure why Brittany even needs to date, she could have been single and explored her independence for a while. Maybe had a hookup with Jake if he wasn’t with Marley because he was cute and definitely her type (Santana would have killed him).
If she absolutely had to be with someone in season 4, why not an OC from outside of the Glee club? It would make more sense. They definitely would be similar to Santana - dark haired, serious, sassy and maybe with some lowkey anger issues. They’d probably be a jock too like San because I headcanon Britt is really into jocks (with a slight nerd side to them). I’m not sure if I could torture Santana like that though because she would have come back in season 4 and be devastated to see Britt with someone else. These two only really fit with each other.
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helbertinelli · 2 years
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You asked me this a while back regarding Brittana so I wanted to ask you a similar thing about Finchel - if Finn and Rachel had to date other people in seasons 1, 2 , and 4 for a while before getting together is there anyone in canon or an idea for an OC you could see them being with? In a universe where Fuinn/F*nntana never happened and Rachel didn’t have a fling with Jesse Brody or Puck I mean. I know Finchel are your OTP for Glee and it’s hard to imagine them with anyone else but just curious (especially in Finn’s case).
Rachel:
In S1B, I could see Rachel with Mike. He's the kinda guy who would treat Rachel right. Whenever Rachel didn't date Finn, she always went for this theater kid asshole-types... and that's just not who Rachel would go for. Rachel would date a nice, tall jock. That's her type. So if she can't be with Finn, Mike Chang is the next obvious choice. Plus I wouldn't have minded if Cherry was a thing in S6 and onward since Glee decided to kill off Finn after Cory's death (just to avoid anyone asking: they could have just written him out of the show and just say Finn is alive somewhere and just say him and Rachel got married. Fast and Furious did this with Brian after Paul Walker died.). Rachel needed to end up with someone who respects her, not with the guy who always bullied her and talked her down (the audacity of Jesse to tell Rachel her performance of DROMP wasn't that great when his performances were the most under par boring things in the world. Like sure his performances were great if he was performing at Snooze Fest 2009).
I think in S2, Rachel should have been single and focused on her singing/career/whatever like she kept saying she would in Silly Love Songs. She really didn't need to date, nor was she ready to get over Finn. So the whole plot with her dating during Prom and for another episode after that was really dumb and unnecessary.
I'd pair her with Mike Chang in S4 too. If Tike isn't a thing, then Cherry should be a thing. However, I think it would have been a million times better if Rachel was single this season too. Or if she were with Mike, I would have kept them kinda shallowly together. I honestly can't believe the Glee writers were like "We need a dancer with good abs to date Rachel" and their first thought wasn't Mike Chang.
Finn:
For Finn, I like that he was single in S1B. That was really good. He didn't need to date then. He got out of a horrible relationship and he needed to be single.
In S2, I would have probably paired him with another cheerleader or popular girl. Definitely not with Quinn. There was no way that Finn would have forgiven her after what she did to him in S1. But I could see him trying to go for a popular conventionally hot girl and this could have been a good plot to explore in S2. Silly Love Songs made Finn be super popular with the ladies at McKinley, so he could have picked any of them. It didn't even need to be a bad relationship, it could have been just an okay relationship. However, Finn would have been too in love with Rachel to be able to commit to the relationship and he would have ended breaking up with that girl and went back to Rachel. The plot of S2 with Finn dating another girl wasn't bad, it just needed to be another girl, not Quinn. It was out of character for him to date Quinn. So I would have given him just a random popular girlfriend. That way, Finn could have live his "I'm the popular dude, dating a popular girl" dream and realize, like he did in S2, that he doesn't want that, he just wants Rachel.
To be fair, if Tike wasn't a thing in S2 (or if they broke up for a while), I could have seen Tina and Finn as a couple. Tina is really his type: short, fiery, dark-haired diva with a great voice and a good heart.
I don't think Finn would have been able to date anyone else in S4. He realized in S2 that he only wants to be with Rachel and he was actually committed to that 100%. I liked to see him work towards Finchel in S4 (even if it led nowhere). It would have been OOC for him to date anyone in S4.
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fromcenotaphy · 3 years
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Can I ask about Henrickson in/for/as hbo!spn?
yeah hbo henriksen is absolutely [shadowboxing in his empty apartment in the middle of the night after waking up from another dream about an ex-wife] [shitty cold coffee at 2 am in the morning in the office, poring through security cam footage] [obsessing over Sam and Dean because the chase is all he has] [photographic memory] [absolute stunner of a right hook] [survives Jus in Bello because he drops six salt rounds into the demon that was about to escape the exorcism] [takes every obsessive hungry heroic caring lonely cell of his brain and pours it into becoming a hunter] [gets hold of a pair of enochian brass knuckles and makes them his favored weapon] [flirts aggressively with Dean every time they cross paths after that] [partners with Nancy to trap and exorcise demons all over the American West] [hooks up with Dean once in season 4] [they share a cigarette on the balcony after and watch streetlights twinkle in the distance] [Dean tells him he remembers Hell and Victor touches his bare shoulder once, gently] [keeps getting inked with more anti-possession tattoos because he can’t scrub out the nausea of what it was like to hold a demon inside him] [by season 8 he has a rep as the hunter you call up when you can’t fucking find the monster] [when it evades you time and again and you’ve chased it across state lines and all you have are scattered clues and nothing to link them together] [victor henriksen is the guy you call] [victor henriksen is the guy with the sharp grin and steel-trap gaze and the brain that connects dots with the speed of a supercomputer] [victor henriksen, they say, has never lost his quarry—he caught the Winchesters once, they say—]
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raayllum · 2 years
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(I'm asking a question again, sorry) We know there's is a few years time skip between TTM and S4, meaning Rayllum's separate is longer than they together right? Aaron said that people don't need to read TTM to watch S4. For me, seems like a lot of people in this fandom didn't truly understand Rayla's decision at the end of TTM. So how dose Wonderstorm handle this? I mean they have to tell people Rayla's lie and leaving, solve her self-worth issues and have to make sure audience understand it.
The timeskip period hasn’t been confirmed. It could be anywhere from 3 months to 6 years. We don’t know. I’m personally betting on 6 months to a year. But Rayllum being separated for longer than they were ‘together’ (2.5 months in terms of knowing each other, 1.5 months of dating) doesn’t really matter. It’s sad, yes, but it would have no bearing on the strength of their connection; that shit is Forever. He jumped off a mountain for her and she considers him family. End of story.
The only people I saw who didn't understand her decision at the end of TTM were people not understanding the way grief works in TDP thematically as a whole, which at this point just means they're missing a key part of the show and it is too late. They can be left by the wayside. It's not the show or the crew's responsibility to change itself to address fandom misunderstandings or discourse, so I honestly wouldn't even take that into account. But, in terms of how to communicate what happened in TTM to the audience, let me take you on an extremely self indulgent walk through of how Wonderstorm could achieve all these things pretty easily
The short form:
4x01: lots of political stuff with ezran, establishes that rayla left and callum is presumably looking for her. we don’t see rayla at all
4x02: rayla alone style episode, maybe interspersed with like, vague xadian politics (including some janaya?)
4x03: callum searching, and some claudia / aaravos / viren stuff on the rise
4x04: ends with rayllum seeing each other for the first time
4x05: fallout / hashing a lot of things out. something keeps them side by side (shared goal concerning the dark mage trio, maybe?)
4x08: rayla dips again at a last ditch effort to protect him, but callum’s completely burned through his anger at this point
4x09: full reunion / reconciliation, aaravos gets out of the mirror?
The long (self indulgent) form:
4x01 / 4x02 — Could open with narration of Callum explaining what's happened a bit since s3 in order to parallel s2, and that Rayla is gone / he misses her and is likely but not necessarily looking for her. Another easy (indulgent) way to demonstrate this would be to have a cute and brief happy Rayllum scene in Katolis, only for Callum to wake up and for it to be a memory / dream.
4x02 - 4x06 — plenty of time for the searching to take place, can have Callum or Rayla explaining to others along their journey why they're separated / that they miss each other. If Rayla has continued to isolate herself, her deteriorating mental state will be pretty clear from that alone.
4x04 - 4x07 — ample time for a reunion. I’m personally putting my money on 4x04 ending on a cliffhanger where they see each other again for the first time, as the 4th episode of every season has always been really important for their relationship, with 4x05 being the actual reunion / initial fallout. A lot of what happened can also come out in their argument, pretty naturally through dialogue: “You left me!” “I had to, I couldn’t risk you—” “Oh but you can risk yourself?” as well as the root of where Rayla’s decisions are coming from.
Additionally, Rayla’s decision isn’t surprising to anyone who knows her; it’s the same stunt she’s pulled over and over again throughout s1-s3 with flinging herself first and foremost into danger. More precisely, it was what she did in 2x07, 3x08, and 3x09, all in ways that heavily involved Callum and his devotion/concern for her. Understanding what a character does doesn’t mean it’s right, or that the audience has to agree with it, but simply knowing and engaging with why they’re doing it. 
(Aka yes, I’m at the point where I believe that the only people who can’t understand her decision in TTM are acting in bad faith / likely haven’t been through a lot of grief in their lives. Which again, grief is arguably one of the main themes of the show. You don’t have to know / have experienced grief to understand that. But if they don’t understand that, they probably don’t understand the show and its characters very well.)
Season four is not going to be enough time to wrap up, at that point, four seasons of self worth issues. I’m not expecting it to. What I am expecting / hoping from season four is to see the turning point in Rayla’s journey with self worth. The moment when she realizes she has to choose to stay, and choose life / a life with Callum (possibly in order to also save him, as well), and that she’s worthy of those things. That it’s not always her responsibility and that it’s certainly not her responsibility to do things alone, and that she hasn’t / won’t lose all the people she loves purely because they love her and she loves them. 
4x07 - 4x09 but likely 4x09 for that turning point.
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kaypeace21 · 3 years
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So you're saying that the Duffers did a "bad season" on purpose? I'm all for theories, but why on earth would they do that??
No ,  that’s not what I’m saying! I’m saying just like how they made fun of mileven in s2 (they did so even more in s3). They showed all the romantic relationships that aren’t going to be endgame as dysfunctional . And they gave the fans “everything they wanted” (by showing how bad their ideas are- ie ships , evil russians, el is the ‘chosen one’ who is over reliant on Mike) while still forwarding the narrative . Aka mileven is bad and inhibits the growth of Mike and el .So  let’s show how it’s bad for el by reversing all her character development from s2 .Aka El saying “friends don’t lie”-to lying to her friends to suck face with Mike (and have Lucas even call her out saying “they’re lying”). And have El who tried to escape the cabin all of s2 to see her friends - willing stay isolated in the cabin to be with mike (and ignore all her friends for 6 months). Let’s also have mike go from team leader to inhibiting their plans and fighting with the team - except when Mileven was fighting and mike made the sauna plan. And have Mike pretend not to like d&d until the end when talking with Will and when mileven is broken up. Let’s have Mike also never apologize for lying , and compare him to controlling Hopper who says people are “corrupting her” , while the gals (max and Joyce) say both don’t respect El’s ability to make “decisions”. And just compare mileven to Hopper/El like we did in s2.And compare mileven to stancy in multiple ways- like calling both relationships “bullshit”.   And have El spy on Mike when they’re broken up and never apologize for it (like how the song they danced to in s2 “every breath you take’ is about a stalking ex gf). Etc.
Let’s reference “never ending story” as a reference of El being an alter and the “false chosen one” like the child hero atreyu in the movie. “Atreyu (who was deemed the ‘chosen one) is knocked  into the sea of possibilities. There he wakes on the shore of abandoned ruins. There Gmork (The Mindflayer) reveals himself, having been lying in wait. And then latches his jaws onto Atreyu’s leg.” Aka just like El- who by the way didn’t save any of the 30 + people cause they all relied on her to be the chosen one. Instead of actually relying on team work- like prior seasons. She lost her powers and the team had to save her in the end.
The Empress in the story later tells Atreyu, that despite being told he was the chosen one (he never was). And that it was always Bastian (Will) who was the chosen one -that could save them, all along! “Bastian (Will) is a shy-outcast (with a bowel cut) raised by a single parent, and teased by bullies from school. The book Bastian starts to read, describes the fantasy world of Fantasia which is slowly being devoured by a malevolent force called “The Nothing (the upside down- the Duffers originally called it ‘the nether’).And the empress says Atreyu’s (El’s) story, and “others” (the rest of the st cast) are following Bastian’s (Will’s) story all along, making them all part of his neverending story. Aka like how Will’s d&d campaign foreshadows all of s3. The Empress tells Bastian that he has the power to save them using his imagination since he created everything in the first place .*Bastian even temporarily goes evil after he loses his memories (just like Will).
And like I mentioned in my DID theory post- the cartoonish Russians are one of many  constructs of Will’s mind that came to life. Why they’re so over the top. And while discussing the mf they alluded to the darker story of trauma that connects back  to Will & Lonnie - like Jon checking Lonnie’s trunk for Will/ the mf throwing people in trunks, “bad screams vs good screams”,“stay still it’ll all be over soon”, the tub parallels. Having the d&d story Will wrote connect to the whole plot of s3 . And also connecting the Russians , hopper, and kali/el, to the mf. And I also explained why the mf pretended to ignore Will in s3.
The st production workers ,  in a netflix podcast criticized Erica’s pro capitalism comments saying they were  (”like a sociopathic veep character”). At the s4 video store they have a poster of  “the coco cola boy’ ( an anti corporate/ anti coke film). Specifically about coke affecting small town businesses - and the film also being an allegory of American imperialism .  And we see how (on the 4th of July) the mall affected small business in s3- and the mall (aka big business)  which was controlled by the ‘villains’/corrupt mayor were burned to the ground at the end of the season.
In s2 , Max criticized the s1 story while talking to Lucas- in a very meta way (saying about s1/lucas’ story. “ I really liked it. I mean, I had a few issues. I just felt it was a little derivative in parts. I just wish it had a little more originality, that’s all.” So lucas has a similar scene but for s3.Lucas says “new coke” (which was hated by pretty much everyone at the time of its release) is better than the original coke and the whole cast disagrees with him . In April 1985, Coca-Cola decided to change its recipe, abandoning what we now know as Coca-Cola Classic for a new flavor that was not well-received. Known as “new coke”(shown all over s3). Aka- the new upbeat setting of s3 which also takes place in 1985 (who’s plot , ships, and characterization appeared shallow on the surface). It’s a meta commentary of what they were expecting people would say about s3 , which also takes place in 1985 . (Aka s1-2 are better than s3, on the surface).  If you take everything at face value and don’t look behind the surface you will not like s3 as much (examples being)- the pro corporatism/ pro America stuff when the US gov used to be villains,or if you don’t realize how/why the chemical plots of the Russians/mf connect , or if you actually know what a healthy relationship looks like and saw the dysfunction of all the couples, or simply noticed the ‘plot holes’ of El being the ‘chosen one ‘ -the mf being was supposedly after since s1 , creates. Aka mf chased and posessed Will at school, when El was also at the school at the same time as Will/mf. But the mf ignored her at school, and instead the whole year he stalked Will . And he even said he wanted to kill everyone but Will last season -to supposedly wanting to kill everyone including Will. So when Lucas disagrees (saying the NEW coke/the NEW season is better than the original ) the whole cast glares at him in disbelief , saying “What?!”And Mike argues with Lucas saying  he’s “insane” .  And El (the ‘chosen one’ of that season) angrily cuts their argument short. They even say coke vs new-coke is “the same concept” as comparing the original ‘The thing’ movie (s1-2) with it’s remake ( s3/NEW season).Right before El says to stop fighting about it.
Duffers gave the fans what they wanted on the surface all under the guise of pro America corporatism on the 4th of July  (and hid the real stuff behind the surface) all while getting money from coke while dissing it. And criticizing pro-americana capitalism. Even s3 being advertised as the “summer of love” is a diss cause ‘summer loves’ are flings that don’t last after the summer (aka after s3) . I talked about all the evidence of why certain pairings (jopper, jancy, mileven, and lumax) are probably not endgame here. But, just looking at coke. Karen drinks newcoke while looking at billy. Mike drinks newcoke when complaining about el. max/el spun a newcoke bottle while spying on their then exes . Jopper drank new coke together. El being experimented on has been associated with coke since s1. Steve in s1 even puts coke on his black eye when talking about Nancy. And we know s3 compared mileven to stancy constantly. Lucas drank new coke and said it was awesome even when historically almost everyone in the 80s hated the new formula. The pairings advertised in the official “romantic” new-coke commercial were lumax, mileven, Karen/billy, and Steve/ some random girl named Tracy. And prior to season 3, Coke was always given a negative context, mostly being associated with the inhuman experimenting on El . (El in s1 has a ptsd flashback after seeing a coke beach -summer esque-commercial and then thinking of the time Brenner forced her to crush the coke can.) And they showed that s1 flashback in s3 , when El tries crushing a new-coke-can she found in the “trash” , and realizes unlike s1 she can’t anymore).
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so i’ve read your entire fanfic recs lists and thank you so much for making it!! it introduced me to some of my fave fics like I Think It’s A Real Waste by Jaded Angel and That’s My Baby by kezztip (not including your works of course because i love them all). but now i’m at a lost of what to read. do you have any current fics or fics you would add to your lists?
p.s. so excited RYLH is gonna be updated soon!!! i am seriously in love with that story that it’s my pick me up fic
I'm glad my fanfic recs post was useful to you!! I spent a lot of time making that and I love ALL the stories I recommended.
[do you have any current fics or fics you would add to your lists?] -- Oh hell yeah, a lot of new fics came out after I made that post, and I've found a few more old ones. I'll list them all below (this is going to be LONG):
Multichapters:
all that glitters by SparklingSoul (canon divergence s3):
After getting into some hot water, Jackie and Hyde find themselves thrust into an unlikely partnership-- a partnership where in the lines of morality quickly become blurred as they lead each other down a questionable path to cope with their less than ideal home lives.
This story is a WIP.
Y'ALL, please trust me and read this one, it's amazing. The first chapter was posted yesterday and I'm already addicted.
Rated T.
6k words, one chapter so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Fez/Kelso, and Eric/Donna.
Baby Blue by crimsinsky (s7 fix-it):
Zenmasters being Godparents.
This story is complete.
Rated T.
4k words, 5 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Kelso/Brooke
Friend of the Devil by glittermila (AU):
An AU where Hyde's a girl, and falls for Jackie anyway.
Btw, everyone's gay in this story and I love it, lol.
This story is a WIP.
Rated T.
65k words, 26 chapters so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Buddy, Eric/Donna, Fez/Kelso.
He Let Her Go by kezztip (canon divergence s7):
Jackie runs away to her wealthy grandmother in New York after the midseason 7 breakup. Will absence make Hyde's heart grow fonder? What happens when Jackie returns for a secret visit?
This story is complete.
Rated T.
17k words, 17 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
I Think I Was Blind Before I Met You by TeaTimeAllOverTown (AU):
He’s 14 and she’s 13 and he finds her crying outside the prison doors and, not that he would ever admit it, hearing her cry makes his skin itch.
This story is complete.
Rated T.
15k words, 2 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Just Ask Santa by heatherlea75 (post s8, Christmas fic):
This is a two part Christmas story featuring JH from Cliches and Things They Say. Sometimes, adults should believe in Santa Claus, too.
This story is complete.
Rated T.
10k words, 3 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Miracle by B_August (AU):
To Pam Burkhart, Jackie is the abnormal child that her husband dragged in during their vacation in Hawaii. To her peers, she's the smart and stuck-up princess that graces the school halls. To the Basement Gang, she's the annoying brat that infiltrated their ranks. To Jackie herself, she is a super powered freak who just wants to do her best. But to Jack Burkhart, Buddy Morgan, a pair of higher life forms, and those who she would later help, she is nothing short of a miracle.
This story is a WIP.
Rated T.
47k words, 33 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna, Fez/Buddy
My Best Friend's Girl by the bohemian flow (AU):
What if Hyde had a crush on Jackie instead of Donna?
This story is a WIP.
Rated T.
2k words, one chapter so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, temporary Jackie/Kelso
perfect matches burn (and baby, so do we) by deartangerine (AU):
One year after their break-up, Jackie and Hyde have finally pieced themselves back together, on their own. Jackie's in school. Hyde's sober. But one fateful weekend stuck together at their best friends' wedding might be all it takes to tear them down again.
Or maybe, just maybe, to build something new.
Another fic where Hyde's genderbent, and it's great! I highly recommend reading the prequel, our fingers intertwined (just like our hearts).
This story is a WIP.
Rated M.
24k words, 9 chapters so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna
Play With Fire by ShinyBo0ts0fLeather (s8 canon divergence):
After Hyde comes back from Las Vegas, Sam comes into everyone's life and thus ruining the very last chance he had with Jackie. Instead of the moping around, Jackie is now fueled with fire and a sense of determination to move on and make a life for herself as a strong, independent woman. Instead of turning their back on Jackie and siding with Hyde, Eric, Donna, Kelso, Fez and even Laurie remain loyal friends to Jackie. Hyde is completely broken, but isn't a complete asshole to Jackie. The gang doesn't turn their back on Hyde, but instead support him yet hold him responsible for his actions instead of sweeping it all under the rug. While Jackie is set on moving on, Hyde is set on getting Jackie back and changing his ways for both her and his sake. Whatever it takes.
Eric never left to Africa, and Kelso is in Chicago with Brooke, but is still around. Donna sticks to her feminist values like in the early seasons and is a better friend to Jackie. Jackie is close to the Forman's as well, and her relationship with her father will be prominent and better here as well. Overall positive with some angst.
This story is a WIP.
Rated M.
30k words, 15 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna
Something Unexpected by crimsinsky (s1 canon divergence):
What if Jackie wasn’t quite so heartbroken over Kelso kissing Pam Macy?
This story is a WIP.
Rated T.
15k words, 11 chapters so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Red/Kitty
Spirit In The Night by springsteenicious (s4/s5 canon divergence):
Jackie and Hyde are in the midst of a passionate- and secret- fling. When Kelso's sister lends the six of them her cabin by a lake for a few days, they have to be even more secretive. But secrecy proves to be a difficult thing to maintain, especially when they can't seem to get enough of each other's presence. (Inspired by the Bruce Springsteen song).
This story is funny as hell, and it's a WIP.
Rated T.
4k words, 2 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Eric/Donna
Take The Money and Run! by MinaSeraphina (post s7):
This here's a story about Steven Hyde and Jackie Blue. Two young lovers with nothin' better to do...
Complete.
Rated M.
29k words, 12 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
The One That Wasn't Canon by samcaponi (AU):
Basically, this is an AU where Jackie never dated Kelso. It's not set in a specific season but will take different aspects from each season.
This has to be one of the cutest stories I've ever read in my life.
This story is a WIP.
It doesn't have a rating.
11k words, 9 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna
Things Fall Apart by leoasc (s8 canon divergence):
On one night in a motel room in Chicago, Jackie and Hyde learn a valuable lesson about love and life: Things fall apart. People get hurt. Hearts get broken. Over the course of nine months and a series of events no one saw coming, they learn how true that really is.
Prepare yourself because your heart's going to be crushed, but the author guaranteed that they'll fix it so I'm trusting them.
This story is a WIP.
60k words, 9 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Too Late by brokenrussiancrawl (s8 canon divergence):
Hyde was not stalking her. It was just, after months of not seeing or hearing from her, finally spotting her in a bar made him realize how much he truly missed her. The only problem is, the tiny brunette wants nothing to do with the gang...even more so him. But he couldn't stay away.
This is angsty. Very, very angsty. But it's great!
This story is a WIP.
Rated T, but the author said that might change later.
23k words, 5 chapters so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Jackie/OC, background Eric/Donna
We're Not Broken, Just Bent by SparklingSoul (post s8):
When tragedy strikes and Jackie and Hyde are forced to live up to their godparent duties, they need to overcome their differences and work together. Along the way, they realize that maybe their relationship isn’t broken beyond repair after all...
This story is one of my favorites, I love it so much!! Please read it.
This story is complete.
Rated T.
67k words, 24 chapters.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, background Eric/Donna
When Did This Happen? by QueenBookBuff (post s8):
Hyde is stunned when he finds out Jackie and Eric no longer hate each other, and he finds he hates the idea of her having a soft place to land that is not him. What he hates even more is the idea that Eric is protecting Jackie from him.
Angsty and beautiful story, I'm loving it.
This story is a WIP.
Rated M.
46k words, 13 chapters so far.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
One-shots:
Anything For You, Doll by icanseeformiles (missing moment):
One-shot, takes place during season 5. Jackie is sick while staying overnight with Hyde in the basement, and Hyde has to take care of her. All fluff.
Rated T.
2k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Five Years by johnnycakewasgolden (idk, it wasn't specified):
It's been five years. Fluffy fic. Sappiness. H/J.
Rated T.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
He Cared by johnnycakewasgolden (missing moment):
After Hyde tells Kelso that he's a tool for trying to get out of Brooke's pregnancy. Hyde's thoughts drift to Jackie and everything between them.
Rated T.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Here I Go Again by Tandy (I think it's post s8 but I'm not sure):
Life had not turned out like Jackie had planned. She wasn't rich, she had no maid, no mansion, and no husband. (don't worry this is fluffy).
Rated T.
5k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song by springsteenicious (s5 canon divergence):
"Every time the time was right all the words just came out wrong, so I'll have to say I love you in a song..."
Hyde isn't sure how to tell Jackie he loves her. Then he finds the perfect way, and it's a song sung by Jim Croce.
Rated G.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
I LOVE YOU by PrettyinPink33 (I think it's s5 canon divergence but I'm not sure):
"Why can't you say it? It's three words. Eight letters! Why can't you say it?" Hyde doesn't want to use the L-word. A sweet little fluffy J/H oneshot
Rated T.
839 words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
is this the place that i've been dreaming of? by SparklingSoul (missing moment):
“I’m mostly over it now,” she continues, “but sometimes I can’t help but worry about that same thing with any guy. So tell me, would you break up with me, too?”
Jackie has some leftover relationship insecurities from when she dated Kelso and Hyde is there to remind her that she doesn't have to worry anymore.
Rated T.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
It's a Hyde Thing by not.so.tragically (AU canon divergence):
It became a Hyde thing. She had part in one of his Hyde things, and for some reason, he was okay with it.
Rated T.
2k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Magic Man by ShanghaiLily (missing moment):
Just a sexy little 'missing scene' one-shot that takes place after Donna returns from California and she and Eric catch Jackie & Hyde together on the couch but before Kelso finds out about the affair. After a naughty afternoon together, they admit to themselves & each other they don't want to break up.
Rated M. Very M.
2k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Nice To Meet You by crimsinsky (AU):
What If Jackie and Hyde met without Jackie and Kelso ever dating?
A loudmouth girl meets a troublemaking knight in shining armor.
Rated T.
2k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Now you're looking pretty in a hotel bar by MissRaichyl (post s8):
Hyde and Jackie meet after a long time apart and find comfort in each other that they thought was long gone.
Rated M.
2k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Old and Grey by zpplnchick (post s8):
After a busy day of shopping, Jackie and Hyde make one last purchase: new boots. Post-finale. Told from a 3rd-party perspective.
Rated T.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
One Special Morning by marirable (missing moment):
If anyone caught him at this hour and in this situation, they would be inevitably buried in the Formans' backyard to maintain his burnout image and not lead it towards the worst. Towards the gang thinking that Hyde got himself a heart.
Rated K.
643 words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
She's a Rainbow by trobedisons (AU? idk):
"she comes in colors everywhere, she combs her hair, she's like a rainbow."
as with everything, jackie is the opposite. they're polar opposites. the rich girl; the bad boy. archetypes that should clash, but they attract. it was as if his calloused hands were crafted to mold into the curve of her hips.
hyde notices jackie’s affinity for rainbow sweaters. hyde also notices he likes jackie. so what happens when she needs a date?
Rated T.
1k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
The Big Toy by JoyfulHeartEO (missing moment?):
When Jackie and Hyde get bored at the Drive in with their friends...where will they go? And what will they do? ;D Read and find out what happens.
Rated M because this has a lot of sex, but it's well written and funny.
3k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
Where Did You Sleep Last Night by QueenBookBuff (s8 canon divergence):
Would a married Jackie ever break her vow to be faithful?
I love ALL of QBB's stories, but this one has a special place in my heart, I don't know why.
Rated T.
This work is part of a series, so there's a sequel.
4k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde, Jackie/Kelso
Why Didn't You Tell Anyone? by zpplnchick (missing moment):
The gang talks about their first kiss, and a surprising revelation is revealed… Set shortly after 4x20.
Rated K+.
6k words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
You Give Me Fever by crimsinsky (missing moment):
Jackie is sick, or is she? She claims she is, but Kelso says he saw her not too long ago. Who is Hyde supposed to believe, and what does he do about it?
Rated G.
5k worrds.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
1983 by antrazi (post s8? idk):
Somebody comes back and watches Hyde's life from the outside.
Rated T.
731 words.
Pairings: Jackie/Hyde
*
I think this is it! I probably forgot some fics because my brain is weird, but yeah. I've read all of these, and they're all amazing. I think you'll love them!
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peakyxtommy · 4 years
Text
The Midnight Hour
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Warnings: Swearing, Violence, Angst, Fluff, & Death (Minor) Word count: 3.5K Summary: There’s a hit on the Shelby Mansion, while Tommy is away. Reader heads off with Rival Gang Leader.                                                  
A/N: Felt inspired by S4 Ep.1. Gang leader is made up. Enjoy!
It was another late and quiet night in the Shelby household. You were rocking an upset Charles back to sleep in your arms (due to teething), but enjoying the comfort he brought you while your husband was away in London expanding the business.
You haven’t seen him in almost a week and were used to going longer than this but on nights like these it made you miss and long for him more than usual. Feeling the weight of not knowing if you were going to see him again. The dangers of being a part of this world, but you chose this life. It was like a switch you had to flip on and off in your head sometimes.
You trusted Tommy with yours and Charlie’s life. He would try to call at some point in the evening just to say goodnight to you and Charlie, say I love you, to you both. You couldn’t stop thinking of your phone call with Tommy earlier in the evening, - after 3 days of not hearing from him -, of him checking in with you and the fondness in his voice as you made him laugh about Charlie trying peach jello for the first time. His voice comforted you that he was going to be coming back home in two days to spend time with you both.
The rocking chair squeaks against the floor as you make your way to the crib to place Charles down for the night giving him a small peck on the forehead. The door shuts behind you as you trail down the stairs to make a quick tea before bed.
It was pretty dark on the way down except for on the way to the kitchen you hear voices and notice the light on, wondering who was awake, thinking one of the maids was up. As you get closer to the kitchen you hear a loud crash, followed by a small scream and yelling going on in the kitchen. It was about to be your worst nightmare made true.
“Where is Mrs. Shelby?” You heard the gruff voice shout. You pace lightly across the floor just to where you can have a sneak peek into the kitchen being kept unseen.
“I don’t know.” The voice cries out and you realize it to be Margaret, one of the maids you have hired on since you have lived here. You assess the situation, of three men, all in the kitchen, all with loaded guns. One of the men you recognize to be one of the cooks, you hired recently named Matteo. Margaret has a bloody lip and is silently crying.
“Really? You don’t know.” Matteo lets out a chuckle, before turning to his other two friends, “Lads, you hear this. She says she doesn’t know. Which is funny because she works for them day and night. She knows this woman's whole routine.” He mocks, before he turns around slapping her hard in the face, the force bringing her down to her knees.
They all just laugh as she groans in pain. As she turns her head toward the door she catches a glimpse of you. Her eyes plead with fear and worry; you just put a finger to your mouth to tell her to keep quiet. Finding a way to tell her to trust you silently by looking in her eyes. She slowly lifts her face back up to look at the men and spits at their feet. Gaining back their attention quickly.
“You think that’s funny eh?” He slowly takes out his gun pointing it right in her face, forcing a loud scream to leave her mouth.
“If you don’t tell me where she is right now, we’re going to kidnap the little boy and kill you instead of her.” Matteo grips her chin forcing her to look him in the eyes.
“No, no, please don’t do this. Please don’t kill me.” You hear her pleads but it’s too late. The shot fires as you see your maid bleeding out on your kitchen floor. Your hand comes to your mouth as you swallow the lump in your throat and hold back the tears as you feel sick to your stomach.
That’s when you knew you had to form a plan, quick on the fly. Your mind raced a mile a minute because as much as Tommy prepared you and how prepared you knew you should be for a day like this you never imagined it would take place this late in the evening and with your infant son sleeping upstairs.
You start on foot to your husband’s office where you know he keeps the guns. Locked up on this side of the house only. You wished you would have turned more lights on the way down because halfway there you bump into a table knocking down a glass vase.
You stop dead in your tracks for what felt like a long minute but really a mere few seconds, hearing a shuffle and more loud sounds going on in the kitchen. You began sprinting to the office shutting the door behind you, pretty loudly. You flipped on the switch and as you approached the desk your hands began shaking as you tried to remember where the key was kept to unlock the cabinet you needed to open to save the day.
Throwing papers everywhere and moving a small lamp you finally found the key. You heard footsteps approaching down the hall. You open the big cabinet first taking down one of the submachine guns and put the clip in place. As soon as you shut the cabinet you heard a loud teasing knock on the door, followed by shaking on the knobs.
As you make your way to hide on the long side of the desk, you place the key on the desk. You had to flip the switch of your brain on to survival mode because you knew after this moment; it was going to be life or death. The struggle was going to happen.
You had to stay alive and you kept reminding yourself you were strong. That you needed to be strong for Charlie, you needed to see your little boy again and you weren’t going to let anything happen to him. Your thoughts were cut short at the first rounds of gunshots going through the door. You held your position cramped under the desk, as you heard the footsteps enter the room. Trying to distinguish how many men were in the room.
“Mrs. Shelby, we know you’re in here. We don’t want to hurt you, we just want to talk.” You remained silent deciding to see what the next move would be.
“We have your maid, she’s unharmed. She’s still alive, but if you don’t listen we will have her killed.” You hear the second voice and decide to remain silent, not falling for the lie.
The next round of gunshots flew around in the office flinging above the desk and ricocheting off the glass windows until the first clips were empty. That’s when you knew it was time to strike.
“We have all night darling, we know your husband isn’t home.” You watch as he snaps in his clip making his way closer to the side of the desk you were on. That’s when you take the first shot into his kneecap and then the torso, letting a few clips go off watching as he falls to the ground. As the partner begins shooting rounds and you go back to hide behind the end table, knowing you had to get out of there.
It’s silent for a moment as you decide to get yourself back to the center of the desk trying to avoid the glass as much as possible, knowing your blood was going to be all over this floor, as the small shards were making their way into your soft skin. You slightly peek over the desk and begin to start shooting in his direction, noticing him hiding behind a chair on the right side of the room.
You stop firing to bring yourself closer to the right side of the desk, hearing him coming in your direction as you stand swiftly clicking him in the throat with a bullet. His gun drops to the ground and you stand over as he grasps for his final breath of air.
Two men down, one more to go. You could do this. You are fucking Shelby.
As you exit the office you are still on high alert. You notice the living room light to be on and check the hall before deciding it was clear to go. Before you enter the living room you feel a warm hand wrap around your nose and mouth, a body pulling yours into theirs. The shock causes you to drop your gun as you begin struggling, trying to fight the person off to no avail.
You enter the living room seeing Marco Lucchese, rival gang leader sitting on the couch, legs cross with his hands folded together on his knee. You only knew his name and what he looked like, due to a family meeting you sat in a few months ago.
“Looks like we get to finally meet Mrs. Shelby.” He smirks at you as you find yourself forced to sit down on the couch across from him, by the third man you saw in the kitchen.
“Yes, we do. I wouldn’t say your men were so lucky.”
“Those two were collateral damage. I guess I can say the same about your maid.” His shoulders shrug as you feel the barrel of his partner’s against the side of your head.
“What do you want?” You question as he hadn’t killed you yet and you didn’t understand why.  
“For you to get me a drink and then we can talk.” He points toward the drink set on the lounge table across the room.
“I have nothing to say to you. Drinks are for guests and I didn’t invite you into my home, so get your own fucking drink!” Your voice raises, feeling the heat radiate throughout your body.
“I see your husband likes them feisty. He’s trained you well, but not well enough.” He chuckles as you feel his partner, grab your arm forcibly, signaling you to stand to your feet.
“I am not moving. Get your own drink!” You hiss, remaining still.
“I thought your husband would teach you to have manners. I don’t think your son would appreciate his mother mouthing off.” You remain silent because you knew he was trying to get under your skin.
“So I suggest you get my drink.” His accomplice squeezes your arm as you stand to your feet. The gun staying pointed at you as you get the drink. You can feel his eyes piercing through your body, as you were only in your nightgown. When you hand it to him, he forces you down on your knees in front of him.
“Thank you Mrs. Shelby.” He sips his scotch as his right hand caresses your face.
“How would Thomas Shelby feel about his wife sleeping with another man?” His breath breezes across your face.
“You wouldn’t make it to see daylight if that happened.” You spit, as you feel the harsh sting upon your cheek.
“I think I would.” He gulps the rest of his drink down, placing it on the table behind you before standing to his feet. You watch as he makes eye contact with the guy still holding the gun pointed toward you.
“What about the message?” You shout as he leaves the room chuckling, your heart stuck in your throat.
“You are the message, love.” The third guy whispers in your ear. It’s moments later when the gun goes off. - Thomas Shelby, OBE, the man with a plan. It was a long week in London as he figured out his new strategy and expanded his booming business. He spent the evening crunching numbers and having meetings with men in high places, trying to seal the next deal.
When he threw himself into work, it was a way to put a block in his mind, to distance himself. He knew his family was his weakness but you and his child made him vulnerable, made this business vulnerable.
He missed you and Charlie. He enjoyed the call he spent with you earlier in the evening, of your musings over your son. From eating jello to growing his first couple of teeth. He could hear the happiness in your voice. He could tell you were worried too, but didn’t press it, because you usually were when he was gone this long.  
He returned back to the hotel around 12am and went straight to sleep knowing he was going to have a long day ahead of him. It wasn’t until a quarter after 4am when he got the phone call that knocked all the air out his lungs.
“Thomas, you need to come home right now. There’s been a hit on your home.” Polly speaks rushed.
“By who?” 
“Marco Lucchese.”
“Is (Y/N) and Charlie okay?” He shouts, slamming his fist on the dresser.
“Yes, they’re at my house. She’s been hurt but will be fine. They’re sleeping now. There’s a bullet with your name on it waiting for you.”  
“Alright, I’m on my way. Tell me the rest when I get in.” He hangs up the phone.
“Fuck!” He screams out loud throwing the phone against the floor. He hurriedly grabs his things, gets in his car, and floors his foot on the pedal to get home. - Everything felt like a blur. The night kept playing back in your mind like a fragmented movie. It was on a loop over and over. It wasn’t making sense as to why you were alive when you should have been dead.
The sound of the gun still ringing in your ears. It took you a moment before you realized what had happened. He fired a blank pistol. He was gone before you could even think of getting yourself off the ground due to sobbing uncontrollably and the ache in your temple.
When your eyes open, you see the sunlight streaming through the blinds and the sight of your husband smoking by the window with a grim expression as he stares outside.
“Back so soon? Guess, I know how to get your attention.” You speak watching his trance break, eyes focused on you, as your elbows sink into the mattress to lift your body up against the headboard, trying to ignore the ache in your head.
“Always have my attention, love. How’re you feeling?” He sighs, stubbing out the rest of his smoke, coming toward you. You can notice the bags under his eyes, showing how hard he’s been working himself, but also the slight redness in them.
“Head hurts, legs are achy. Feel like a bloody rag doll.” He passes you the glass of water on the nightstand and some aspirin.
“Should be dead.” He growls, cold blue eyes meeting yours as he towers over you.
“How bad do I look, for someone who should be dead?” You scoot over, making room for him to sit on the bed, which he accepts.
“Not good, not good at all.” His hand holds your chin, turning to look at the bruise on your cheek and his brows furrowing when he sees the wound on your temple.
“Well, you should have seen the other guys. I removed half the problem.” You removed his hand from your chin, taking it to hold into your hand into his to squeeze. His face is unamused at your teasing comment, knowing he’s had enough of your unnecessary banter. You knew him well, knew the guilt was eating him up, but he wouldn’t say it.
“Shouldn’t have had this problem to begin with in the first place. You shouldn’t have gotten hurt.” He removes your hand from yours, as he stands back up, turning his back against you.
“I know and I did get hurt, but will be okay. It was handled well.”
“At the expense of almost dying, killing two people, and watching our maid die!”  His voice raises as his hands shake, balling into white-knuckling fists. You remain silent letting him get it all out as he paces shoulders raising and breath becoming labored.
“What if he killed you? What if that bullet wasn’t a blank? What if something fucking happened to Charlie?” He lashes out fist colliding with the wall making you wince.
“I should’ve been home, should’ve checked those hiring papers more thoroughly. Should’ve had people watching the house.” He tilts his head back, pinching the bridge of his nose, as the tears threaten to leave his eyes.  
“Tom stop! Look at me!” You yell, as he takes a moment to compose himself.
“Come sit please.” You plead as he takes his previous spot on the bed. You take his hands in yours holding them. You sit in silence for a few minutes, staring at your hands in his as your mind feels like it’s on overdrive. When you’re finally ready to speak, you bring your eyes to his red stained ones, taking in his straight face.
“I know you always have our best interest in mind. I know that you will do everything in your power to keep us safe. I trust this everyday and trusted it in my gut last night. He just wanted to get under your skin, used us to do it. If I had to go through this ordeal again, even to take a bullet for you, I would. I love you, we’re in this together.
I know what I signed up for when I agreed to marry you and you taught me how to defend myself. You’re a great husband and father. Don’t you doubt that. We’re both okay, everything is going to be okay.” You thumbs pad softly against his cheeks as his eyes are closed soaking in your gentle touch and words of assurance.  
“Get off your soapbox.” You see the small smile grace his lips as he pulls you in gently to his chest. Your head resting in the crook of his neck, listening to his heartbeat, as his finger card through his hair. Finding comfort in his scent and warmness of his body holding yours, after not being in them for almost a week.
“You shouldn’t be taking bullets for me. I won’t allow it. This won’t be happening again. Going to put a bullet straight through his head and anyone else who comes two feet near either of you. I’m glad you’re both safe, couldn’t stomach the thought of losing either one of you. I’d lose my fucking mind.” His breath is hot on your ear as he speaks in a deep hushed tone. Lips coming to press into the crown of your head.
“I love you so much. Such a good mum to our boy and put up with me. You’re my darling girl, the only one I need by me side.” His finger tilts your chin up as he gazes into your eyes with devotion. His lips come down to connect with yours slow and delicately enjoying this little moment to yourselves. When you both break apart for air, both your lips are swollen, and cheeks tinted.
“Do me a favor?” You whisper, fingers carding through his hair.
“Anything, what is it that you want.”
“For you to get our Charlie, I would like to see him please.” You grin as you untangle yourself from his embrace to lean yourself back against the headboard.
“That I can do. I’ll be back with our Charlie.” He disappears out the door and you’re left in the still quietness. You close your eyes glad you were able to have another day and more time with your husband and son. It was going to take some time for you to heal and get back to normal. For your mind to process the night and death of your maid. For you to not be even more worried than you were before about Tom’s and Charlie’s safety. How much more overprotective and stubborn your husband was going to be and on edge.
“Charlie, look who I found.” Your eyes open, pushing your thoughts to the back of your mind. Tommy grins his signature smile, pointing his finger at you, as he makes his way toward the bed. Your heart swoons at the sight of your son in his father’s arms, with his little stuffed black horse, cooing away to himself.  
“Look at my sweet boy.” You can feel the tears threatening to leave your eyes as you scoop him into your arms, pressing him into the warmth of your chest, lips pressing against the top of his head.
“Missed my sweet boy.” Your voice is thick with emotion as the wet tears roll down your cheeks. You hold him, rocking him gently for a few minutes, as Tom watched you both. Your eyes would dry a few minutes later, your husband’s hand fitting yours in his palm, holding tight. You both would spend the remainder of the morning playing with your son and laughing, just the three of you. In your own little safe haven, safe and sound for now.
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asterekmess · 4 years
Note
Laura gets sent a funky letter and goes back to Beacon Hills. Now, we have a lil more confusion (i’ve got a whole buttload of issues with the timeline, but let’s not get into that now) // *puppy eyes* Please talk more about the timeline? *puppy eyes intensify* Pretty please?
oohhhmygod. oohhhhmygod. What issues don’t I have with the timeline?
Listen, I know I mention this is every post I make, but I’m doing a full series rewrite of this show. Which means I need to know when things happen. And TW? Nothing makes SENSE.
I’ve said it before, it’s complete bullshit that a show about werewolves refuses to give two fucks about the moon cycle. It’s so fucking simple. The first full moon is on a Friday. The second full moon Must Be on a Sunday. Is it? NO. It’s on a MONDAY. They’re at SCHOOL all day! I had so many issues trying to get the timeline to play nice here, you’ve no idea. In the end, I just ended up sticking with the stupid concept that a moon cycle is 31 days instead of 30.
But no, let’s go even further back, huh? To the Pre-show timeline. Laura Hale, everybody. She shows up (How long is she even in Beacon Hills? If the deer was what warned the Argents and made them head back, they should’ve arrived before she died. How did she do all that investigating in so short a time?) and gets ganked by Peter. He claws/bites her to death. Then, the story goes that the Argents cut her in half and used her as bait to catch Derek. BUT. We know Kate wasn’t the one to do it, cus’ she wasn’t in town. And Chris, Victoria, and Allison hadn’t even arrived yet. We find out in S3A that Allison was IN the car that nearly hit Scott when he walked out of the woods after getting bit and finding the top half of Laura’s body. So who the fuck cut Laura’s body in half? (I Have other issues with this, actually, and the entirety of the Peter stuff, so XP fuck you davis.)
Then there’s the thing with the bus driver. Scott makes this claim that he knows the guy, bc he drove the bus Scott rode “when I lived with my dad” but Scott never lived with his DAD. His dad is in fucking NY or whatever. And the guy’s only been a bus driver in the last five years, so it’s not like it’s from when he was little or something.
I’m not even gonna mention the whole “The fire was ten years ago” “Wait, the fire was six years ago” thing cus...wtf? ALSO. If they wrote the show and intended for Derek to be NINETEEN at the start, but then said the fire was TEN YEARS AGO??? DEREK WAS NINE???? They wrote that storyline intending for Derek to have Been NINE? WTF? And if they didn’t intend for him to have been nine, then what the hell is wrong with them and not thinking these things through? That’s so fucking basic.
How about the part where Derek gets shot with a bullet that’ll kill him in 48 hours, but he shows up the next day and nearly dies after less than 24? Did he spend a whole day alone? Scott knew Derek was shot for an entire day and that he’d been poisoned, and didn’t think to check on him??
This show is so allergic to having actual dates for their shit bc they don’t wanna get caught out for their pathetic timeline, they don’t even have a Valentine’s Day episode with Allison and Scott. According to the timeline I’ve worked out, Valentine’s day? Yeah, it happens on Scott’s second full moon. The day he and Lydia make out. Love it.
That whole thing with Allison in the car and the crying and the flashbacks to her seeing Derek getting tortured? Yeah, Noah’s part in that makes no fucking sense (yeah, I know no one calls him noah, I joined the fandom too late to care about calling him john). We see Stiles getting his dad drunk that night. Royally drunk. Then, suddenly, he’s on duty and pulling Allison over? What? Or did Allison wait a night to start freaking out about it?
Allison’s mother gets bitten at the rave, which is like a week away from the full moon bc it’s at the start of spring break and Lydia’s birthday happens at the end of Spring break (actually, since Lydia goes to the fucking School to see Jackson, HOLDING A BACKPACK, I’m pretty sure it happens after they get back to school). Scott’s bite healed the day after he was bitten. You’re telling me Victoria didn’t heal that whole week? Even if she had the whole ‘guilt trip=no healing’ thing going on, she would’ve been shifting throughout the week and Derek said they can’t keep themselves from healing while they’re unconscious (or are we just completely disregarding that? Oh, we are? Okay, sure, fine.) so why don’t her eyes change color/why doesn’t she show any wolf signs until the moment she dies?
Lydia’s birthday is supposed to be on the Worm Moon. Which is the full moon that happens in March. But we’ve already had three full moons. January, February, and March. We’re halfway through fucking April right now, TW. What are you on?
Then throughout S3A & B we have a blatant disregard for how long the nighttime lasts. Erica and Boyd are out running around BH early enough that children are playing in the woods and Chris is getting groceries. But then Derek holds them in the boiler room for like two minutes and suddenly it’s dawn? Dawn shouldn’t be coming until around 6:30 in the morning. That’s hours of being down there with them.
Plus all the Oni stuff where nighttime happens about twenty minutes after they get out of classes and then lasts the entire episode, while still somehow not taking long enough because the episode runs in current time, so only like an hour has passed, but now the sun is up! Woo!
Y’all know my expertise doesn’t go v far into the later seasons. But come on. It’s not that fucking hard to pick a timeline and then stick to it! Stop putting things that should be happening on the weekend in the middle of the week! Stop jamming a week’s worth of scenes one after the other and then pretending it all happened in one night! They got all fucking worried about running out of material around Season 5B or whatever, but if they’d just taken their time in the beginning then they could’ve gotten like two more seasons out of this show. Two good seasons. Hell, every other season would improve too, just from not being so bunched up and getting the chance to actually explore the entire plotline they set up.
Plus, just overall, there’s the part where they fucking skipped four months between S2 & S3A? Four months, not three. They still had like two weeks or so of school left after the warehouse scene that we never got to see. PLUS THE FOUR MONTHS before S3A.
I get that they wanted to go for a seasonal thing, where the show happens when they’re in school. But you can’t just skip four months of character development and then give us nothing about anyone except Scott! Derek getting an apartment is not enough! What the fuck were they doing for four months? Why did it take them so long to find Erica and Boyd??? What happened with Jackson? What did Stiles do all summer? (I’d normally make a joke about ‘other than derek’ here, but like, I don’t actually ship them at that point in the timeline? The whole ‘summer fling’ thing never worked for me. Bonding, yes, fucking, no.)
AND they skipped the entirety of winter break between S3B and S4. What HAPPENED at Christmas time? Did Malia get to make snow angels? Did Stiles go to THERAPY?
AND FOLLOW A MOON CYCLE YOU ASSHOLES.
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eyrieofsynapses · 4 years
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First Thoughts on YJ S4 Panel
WARNING: SPOILERS for the DC Fandome YJ S4 panel!
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Okay, before I start chattering away, can I just saw how much I love this title poster? Because I love it. LOOK AT IT. LOOK AT HOW BADASS IT IS. 
Warning: this first bit is a teeny bit ranty, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t genuinely love the panel. It was really fun, but I have a few gripes with the amount of information we got. If you wanna cut straight to the cheery bits, check under the cut.
So... uh. I’m not gonna say I’m disappointed? Because I’m not, this was good, we got info, it was nice to see the voice actors. But I’m... underwhelmed. I definitely wasn’t expecting a lot but this was still, mm, not as much as I thought we’d get. No poster, no previews of character designs, not a peep as to when we’re getting the new season, nothing on where it’ll be streaming, nothing as to new characters, nothing as to who’s going to be the villain, and the Q&A session was maaaayyybe 3 minutes long. Oof, guys. Thought you said you’d leave us with something that’d leave us “more than just ‘whelmed.’” 
Essentially all we got was the title, and a few snippets of information regarding what the current status of the Team and its characters is. They didn’t really get the chance to talk to us at all about the actual season, either- I think Brandon spoke maaaybe three or four times? He got the title reveal, but, well, we knew that already, not that it’s their fault, but still. I love hearing the voice actors chat about their experiences and we got none of that, so that was disappointing. I’m wondering if there wasn’t some material cut, actually, because I distinctly recall seeing a clip on Twitter with Phil Lamarr talking about what it was like returning to the show, and it wasn’t in this. So what’s the deal, DC? Short-changing us on YJ again? When are we gonna get some actual news? 
There is the little problem that their big reveal of the title was spoiled, oh, maybe three or four months ago, and that isn’t their fault, but it does make that revelation more of an “okay, well, glad that’s confirmed” rather than an “OH MY GODS IT’S PHANTOMS WHAAAAAAAT” like I think they were hoping. Still, that’s definitely exciting to hear, and the new title poster looks cool. 
I got a “WHAT!!!” moment maaayybe three times, which is significantly less than I thought I would. There just wasn’t that much new info. But I think that’s less of a Grandon/production team problem and more of a world state and DC problem. I’m not annoyed at them, I’m annoyed at DC and at the pandemic, because I’m willing to bet their snippet was cut short by DC and what information they could’ve revealed just isn’t ready yet because of current events. Probably we would’ve gotten character designs if it weren’t for that.
As for the audio play, it was pretty good. They were definitely struggling what with having a distinct lack of people to pull from for a voice cast, but made some tongue-in-cheek references to it to take off the edge. I don’t think I realized just how many people voice for YJ until now... or how many characters each actor does. It’s a bit janky, and weird what with the arguing over who’s narrating the story (why, are they telling us the story, or are they telling it to someone else? Are you breaking the fourth wall, are you not? Make yourselves clear) but I’m blaming that on the fact that they’re more used to scripts than they are audio plays. These are different mediums, so there’s an inherent gap there; this probably would’ve gone better as an actual episode. 
So, FIRST watch-through, here’s my HAPPY cheery thoughts and reactions, in no particular order! I might do a second one later, we’ll see. (Under the cut, because it’s long.)
Return of Bowhunter Security! 
Clipboard makes a comeback!
The Supermartian marriage has taken place and they’re making reference to taking a long journey with Conner, M’gann, Bioship, Gar and J’onn. So... Mars? Do we finally get to see Mars?  
Forager gets to be sassy! And a hilarious narrator! Which, c’mon, it’s Jason Spisak, honestly, I don’t know what I expected.
Ahahah, Jason makes the most delightful faces when he’s voicing Forager. (And a few flubs, but he’s good at covering them.) We all miss Wally, but man, he does a good job with this character. Also, hey, that’s how he does the clicks!
Rocket! Even though she had a relatively minimal presence, sigh. I’m hoping they build her character more this time, she always get short-changed. 
ARTEMIS IS LEADING THE TEAM, repeat, ARTEMIS IS LEADING THE TEAM!!! YES!!! 
And she also makes a reference at some point to being in this fight for ten years, which, HMM, do I hear a reference point for our time jump? They started back in 2010, so this implies that the season’s caught up to 2020. So... season one was 2010, season two was 2016, season three was... 2018, I think? So does this make the next time jump two years too, or am I off? It also takes place on February 23rd. Eh, either way, it’s absolutely not as long as a lot of people were fearing- heck, I’m thinking this might be the shortest jump yet. Yay!
I’m not sure if the Snapper Carr dialogue is cringy or hilarious. I’m going with hilarious because I’m betting this would’ve been great if it were animated. It definitely loses something without the animation. 
Is... is Crispin Freeman playing four characters? Five? Will, Roy, Jim, Captain Boomerang... I think I’m missing someone, I’m gonna have to go back and rewatch this later, but wow. He switches between them so fluidly, too, that’s impressive.
Forget Freeman for a hot second, Nolan North, what are you doing, dude? Conner, Clayface, Mallah, at least one or two others, with a LOT of animal noises included... wow, okay. I definitely didn’t realize how many of these guys do two or three characters. 
Phil Lamarr doing Brick, Black Manta and Kaldur all at once is definitely impressive. I’m gonna take a guess and say he likes doing Brick best. He seems to get a little grin sometimes when he’s playing the character.
Ahhh, Danica McKellar definitely likes playing Terrence Terror. Don’t ask me why, I’m just getting that feeling watching her. Villains are fun to play.
...Wolf? Where’s Wolf? Uhh, guys? Where’s our fluffy doggo? Don’t tell anyone but I’m scared. 
Oooookay, that was unexpectedly gruesome. Dehydrating a man into sand? I mean, okay, it’s Clayface, but we didn’t know that till later. Eeeewww. Y’all, ik you’re going more dark, but that wasn’t an image anyone needed.
Jokes about Dadbod!Will are... hhh, cringy or funny, cringy or funny... I’m going sorta funny for now. Not enough to make me laugh, but enough to make me smile. 
Okay, Will’s definitely still hilarious. Literally that entire scenario with Captain Boomerang was amazing, and only made better by the fact that it was entirely Crispin Freeman. The “are you the Green Arrow fanclub president or something?” “...you have no idea” moment, the “boomerangs are better and Batman said so!” “...okay, FINE,” FLINGING CLIPBOARD, Boomerang teasing Will for his dadbod and Will answering with a wicked uppercut... ah, man. This is 100% Roy/Will Harper and I am here for it. 
I can see some people disliking this humor, but personally, I’m gonna just sit back and enjoy it. YJ has some quirky humor, but honestly, if you’re part of the fandom and you don’t like it, why are you even here?
Huh, Raquel’s a vegan and nobody’s making jokes about vegan burgers? Nice!
Oh, my gods, Forager deciding that Lian and Amistad playing with the food is an educational activity is AMAZING, 100% in character, and something I really, really want to see. 
(Fanartists? Fanartists, pleeeeaaasse?)
Will and Artemis ribbing each other will never get old.
...wait. Hang on. Is Will the comedic relief character now along with Forager? Is this a thing? I guess it is. If you’d asked me who out of the original Team would replace Wally as the comedic relief back when I had finished the second season, I would not have thought of him first, but I think I’m good with this. It’s definitely in character to his comic version. 
Ahh, Conner and M’gann’s relationship is still... interesting. Still not sure how to feel on this one. But hey, they’re married (?) now? Uh... nice? 
Nightwing’s off on some mysterious mission, hmm? I’m assuming that’s because of Jesse McCartney not being there, but I think I’m gonna headcanon that there are Other reasons for this. 
Yay, Clayface getting redemption! I love this in the Rebirth Batman: Detective Comics, so I’m 100% down for seeing it here. 
Tim did that for Clayface! Sweet! Not a plot thread I expected to go anywhere from that one season three episode, but one I am very happy to see used. 
...more secrets. Uhh, M’gann keeping secrets from Conner is... icky... again... but granted, keeping them because of confidentiality agreements is, well, a better excuse than she’s had in the past. Still, this is getting old.
Huh, so Waller will let out the Team’s secrets if they tell anyone about Belle Reve. I think this was already covered in the third season, but maybe not so explicitly. The reactions... hmm. Of course Conner’s okay with letting out all their secrets (and M’gann’s willing to... go along with that? ...okay...?), but the others, maybe not so much? Hmm. I wonder what Dick would have to say about that one. He definitely has something to lose. Not sure about Kaldur or Artemis, though. 
Jason did NOT get to make any Wally references. That makes me even sadder than if he did make one that made all of us cry. C’mon, guys. Let him have his references. 
I’m always a little meh on M’gann, but hey, M’gann gets to be a 100% certified badass! Saving Clayface AND taking down a ton of baddies with telekinesis, yay!
Oh, my gods. LOOPHOLES. WHAT IS WITH THIS TEAM AND LOOPHOLES. I love them so much.
The Team signing on as Bowhunter Security- oh my gods, all of the Team in fucking Bowhunter Security uniforms- oh my gods, so very in-character, so very true to YJ, so absolutely goddamn hilarious, I wanna hug whoever came up with that. That is the BEST mental image and it is a CRIME that they didn’t animate that. 
And, of course, Kaldur just immediately goes along with it. The Team’s corrupted him fully now. I mean, we knew that, but he’s done now. 
Black Manta attempting to roast Kaldur for his security uniform and Kaldur roasting him back 100 times worse is wonderful. “I wear my dignity on the inside, Father. Where do you wear yours?” KALLIE I LOVE YOU 
Ooooo, Artemis is inviting Roy to the Team? This should be interesting. He’s definitely not totally stable, but it seems to me that Artemis should be able to more or less keep him in check. Hopefully. She had to deal with Wally for five years, surely she can keep Roy in check?
...hmm. We’re all thinking there’s gonna be a Red Hood arc... Roy’s joining the team... Roy and Jason did have that run as the Outlaws in the comics with Kory... and this version of Roy has the sort of temper and attitude that I can just see Jason possibly getting along well with... hmmmmmmmm... 
Hah, villain shenanigans. Having Task Force X argue all the time is in character and admittedly sort of funny, especially as Black Manta’s sort of pulling a Kaldur and playing the absolutely exasperated denmother. I dislike BM thanks to him being a Baddie and all, but watching (listening to?) him struggle to contain them is enjoyable if only because I like watching him suffer. 
Ahh, watching the VAs is fun. It’s definitely nice to see that little view behind the camera. There’s the little smiles, the tiny grimaces at the icky bits, the responses to various bits, the way their demeanor changes with each character, everyone egging Nolan on when he’s yelling for Clayface being disintegrated... I’m sad we didn’t get to see them chat, but watching them interact while they work is fun. Pity Jason and Stephanie didn’t really have any interactions, though, I bet watching them work together would’ve been fun. Ah well. Still fun overall.
There’s a lot of variation in where they are/what setups they have. Some of them seem to have proper studios, some of them don’t but they have mics, Danica’s on the lower bunk of her son’s room with what I’m betting are several sheets hung behind her, and then... well, then there’s poor Stephanie with earbuds and what I’m betting is her phone at her friend’s house XD Also, Greg’s library is really awesome, can I steal it please?
Green title card... I know people have been positing this for a while, but Lazarus Pit? Also, the thing people haven’t talked about: Mars?! Is this a nod to the Martians, since M’gann, Conner, Gar and J’onn seem to be going there? 
Lots of speculation regarding Phantoms, but that’s been going around for a while, so *shrug* I’m not gonna spend any time on that for now.
Someone’s gonna have to write this out, methinks, for further examination. We’ll see if I get around to doing that or not before Fandome ends. I’m betting someone will record it and post it on YouTube, but a written-out version of the script would be useful. If I do, I’ll probably post it, so keep an eye out. 
So... season 3.9, episode 1? Hmm. Does this come directly prior to the fourth season? I kinda wanna say it does.
I have more thoughts, but I think I need to do a rewatch first, maybe in a little bit. Anyway... not what I was expecting, I sincerely miss Dick and Wally, but lots of funny jokes all the same, and lots of interesting information on the fourth season even if it’s nowhere near the amount we wanted. I might be underwhelmed but I’m certainly not disappointed. 
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My Opinions on Varchie, Bughead, and Barchie’s Chemistry
I know a lot of my fellow Varchie/Bughead shippers strongly dislike Barchie. One of their biggest arguments against the pairing is that they lack development over the past four seasons and that seemingly, this cheating scandal has come out of nowhere with very little warning or sense attached, which I agree with. It does feel like Betty and Archie’s (especially romantic) relationship has been very minimally developed over the last few years, making this seem sudden, unexpected, and in my personal opinion, not logical. Especially considering how good, strong, and healthy Betty and Jughead’s, and Veronica and Archie’s relationships appeared in S4. I didn’t really think that we were headed for infidelity or dishonesty, secrecy or betrayal. Not at all. I understand and respect why, from a drama and entertainment standpoint, it was done, but within the story, to me, it just doesn’t really make much sense. I hope most Varchies/Bugheads/ maybe even some Barchies or “on the fence” Barchies at least, could agree with that.
Another major argument for the anti-Barchies is the lack of chemistry shared between the characters and even more so, the actors, KJ and Lili. Now I don’t totally disagree with this, however, I believe there are different forms of chemistry that actors can display.
(Before I begin, this is entirely my opinion, with my terminology and categorizations, my ideas of where each fits, etc. All me, no actual research done other than looking at scenes of Riverdale to find examples. It is 1000% okay to disagree with me or to think about this differently. This is just my interpretation as a long-time teen drama tv watcher and someone that spends way too much time analyzing fictional characters, actors, and relationships of all kinds. I have no expertise or credibility in this. I’m just doing it for fun. Also, I believe this can be true in all industries and all relationships, not only in entertainment or on a fictional tv show/movie.)
First, there is Working chemistry. As in two people or a group that just make sense when they are together. There is a natural ease and comfortability between actors that makes those scenes flow well and makes the actors’ portrayal of the friendships/relationships their characters have a lot more believable and enjoyable to watch. KJ, Lili, Cami, Cole, Mads, Vanessa, Casey, etc, all possess this chemistry with each other. It’s obvious that they enjoy working with each other. They enjoy each other as people and that comes out on screen very well I think. Their irl close friendships and trust between each other definitely make this a lot easier and more authentic in the show as well as in interviews and promos for sure, which is one of the reasons I’m really drawn to this show. (Examples: Core 4 scenes at Pop’s, group scenes in musical episodes, the family groupings, the romantic pairings, one on one friendships like Betty and Veronica, Archie and Jughead, Kevin and Betty, Cheryl and Veronica, the list goes on.)
Emotional/Relational chemistry is similar to working chemistry, but I think it’s a level deeper. This can occur between short-lived romantic relationships, such as a character’s rebound or fling, along with family members, friends, neighbors, etc. I most commonly associate this kind of chemistry with primarily words and sometimes actions or deeds. Childhood best friends are a really good example of this to me, such as Betty and Archie in my mind. This chemistry means that actors/characters deeply trust each other and this trust has usually been built up and developed over the course of many years. The people involved are usually very comfortable with each other, again, trust one another in scenes, and depend on each other. A huge characteristic of relationships that include emotional chemistry is the ability of these characters to be vulnerable with one another, to have deep, meaningful conversation, know how to comfort one another, and the desire to protect, be there for, support, and look after each other. I like to call these brother-sister relationships sometimes.
Though most serious romances possess a large amount of emotional chemistry, a relationship that contains solely an emotional bond cannot progress further, such as a lasting, healthy romance. In my opinion, this is where Barchie’s relationship can be categorized.
Consequently, I greatly disagree with anyone who says KJ and Lili don’t have any chemistry with each other whatsoever. In nearly all of their scenes since S1, we can see that Betty and Archie care deeply for each other. They really trust each other. They feel safe and comfortable with one another and feel the need to protect the other from any kind of harm or danger. They have been there for each other through some very painful and difficult circumstances and have been constant sources of comfort and safety for each other since they were children. They grew up together. They know so much about one another and have been through so much together. KJ and Lili do a fantastic job with this kind of chemistry. Very emotionally driven scenes, scenes of saying what the other needs to hear, being a shoulder for the other to lean or cry on, giving advice to help each other through the trouble they face in their lives, having a good time together, being emotionally vulnerable and honest, showing up when the other needs them, and occasionally letting their emotions get the better of them and, in Archie and Betty’s case, believing that chemistry is a different kind than it really is. (Ex. Archie helping Betty calm down after the Black Hood and breaking up with Jughead for her in S2, 3x5 Archie’s escape when Betty gets him out of the pipe and hugs him, Betty working with Mary and Sierra on Archie’s case to prove him innocent, the glances out their windows. Look, they have good emotional/relational chemistry is what I’m trying to say.)
However, Betty and Archie have only ever kissed while broken up with or in a fight with the character they are most associated with romantically. (And the plan to help Jughead in S4, but that doesn’t count since it didn’t really have any romantic intention and was purely (at least initially) a ploy to distract everyone from the truth of Jughead being alive.) KJ Apa and Lili Reinhart have amazing emotional chemistry. It’s obvious that they care about and trust each other as real life people as well as their characters. They are clearly close in real life and have a pretty similar relationship to Betty and Archie from my observation. KJ and Cami also have phenomenal emotional chemistry with clearly a very deep trust or at the very least, the front of one, between each other as people and scene partners. Cole and Lili obviously do as well, and I could argue that the majority of actors on Riverdale share this emotional chemistry with many of their costars.
What I believe KJ and Lili, not particularly to fault of either of them, lack, is Physical, Sexual, and/or Romantic chemistry. I believe this is the only kind of chemistry that can’t be forced or faked. Physical chemistry is most often displayed in serious, long-term dating relationships and marriages, but can also show up in various other relationships in some circumstances. This usually comes in handy when actors/characters are kissing, hugging, holding hands, innocently touching like rubbing hands, holding faces or playing with hair. This can also be in the forms of heart eyes, certain smiles or flirty glances, etc. I see this as very intentional and almost second nature to most actors portraying couples. Actors with a lot of physical chemistry have to be incredibly comfortable with and trusting of each other. As has been said on countless occasions, lots of romantic scenes in films and tv are very very staged so making them look authentic, unplanned, attractive, and believable is a whole nother level of talent and trust in my opinion.
Most pairs of physically compatible actors tend to come up with their own ideas and improv some “coupley” gestures or ways of showing affection towards each other’s characters in ways that make sense for the story, those characters’ individual personalities, and the relationships between them. The first couple on Riverdale that I think of with strong romantic/physical chemistry is Archie and Veronica. KJ and Cami being the actors that portray them, of course. They have incredible physical chemistry and Varchie are also often seen as an overall very physical couple, constantly wanting to be near and touch each other. Yes, they also kiss, make out, and even have sex often on the show, but their physical chemistry really shows in the little things if you ask me. The overall show of physical affection displayed towards each other is truly so beautiful and looks so real and believable on screen. It’s especially obvious when actors are so comfortable and so invested in their characters that they come up with their own little moments for their couple that they know fans will enjoy. For KJ and Cami, they seem to find 100 different little ways to hold hands or to be very affectionate by touching each other’s hair and having specific movements or gestures they do every time they kiss that real life couples would definitely have, and overall using pretty simple facial expressions and body language to portray the love and the very believable (to me) relationship between Archie and Veronica.
Cole and Lili’s portrayal of Betty and Jughead is also very physically authentic, such as when Cole kisses Lili’s forehead or how she was laying on him in the season 4 Halloween episode. Vanessa and Mads and Choni have great physical chemistry too, due to how much they trust each other and how comfortable and close they are with each other in real life as best friends. Some of those little moments could be suggested by the director, but I know many of the small things are not scripted or directed. I do believe that genuine, physical chemistry is natural and cannot be fabricated. It sure can be exaggerated or diminished by good actors, but it really can’t be entirely faked without being very obvious in my mind.. All this to say, I believe that Betty and Archie lack that physical/romantic connection and I personally think KJ and Lili just don’t naturally have the same level of that chemistry as they do with Cami and Cole. Again, that is not remotely a diss to either actor. Some pairings just don’t work like others do and that’s not because the actors are incapable or “not talented enough” to portray it.
The casting team struck gold with KJ and Cami’s and Lili and Cole’s chemistry and that is very rare to find, especially for an entire cast to be so authentically compatible with each other. In conclusion, I am not completely against the idea of Betty and Archie as a couple, but I’m just not a huge fan of it because I don’t think it would be as realistic or believable as Varchie and Bughead are, solely based on the natural, romantic chemistry the actors have with each other. Not to mention the story and what makes the most sense in that regard.
TL; DR: I don’t blame you. This is my mind at 2am. Basically, I believe there are three major levels of chemistry between people, especially actors and the characters they portray.
1) Working Chemistry: pretty much people (actors) that genuinely like one another, get along, and make the relationships of their characters believable and enjoyable on screen. (aka the entire cast of Riverdale)
2) Emotional/Relational Chemistry: Kind of similar to working, but a level deeper. I refer to these as “sibling/family-esque” relationships. Usually expressed through words and sometimes actions or deeds. This is where I personally believe Betty/Archie’s relationship is.
3) Physical/Sexual/Romantic Chemistry: Everything from flirty glances to making staged romance scenes look authentic, to coming up with sweet little gestures to show affection. I believe this cannot be faked/forced entirely. Physical chemistry is something I believe Veronica/Archie and Betty/Jughead display incredibly well. In my opinion, this is what Barchie lacks. Both the characters and the actors that play them. Not dissing either of them, they’re obviously phenomenal actors and KJ/Lili have amazing emotional chemistry, I just personally think the romantic chemistry between them isn’t as strong as KJ/Cami, Cole/Lili, Madelaine/Vanessa, etc.
*If you made it this far, you’re also in too deep with this show. I’m kidding, I love you. Thank you for reading all of this. I would absolutely love to hear what you think.*
Also, thank you Freya @loverofthor-2 for proofreading and encouraging me to post my brain dump yet again. ❤️
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mittensmorgul · 6 years
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Wow... remember the s12 Hellatus Meta Wank-A-Thon? Remember how toxic and awful it was? If you’re not in the mood to relive it, you probably don’t want to click the read more.
Or: the one where Mittens picked on an innocent crack post because I was sick of reading Dean Character Assassination.
AKA: That one where Mittens goes spare defending actual meta from wanky crack that completely misrepresented Dean Winchester.
i.e. That one where Mittens explains the difference between Dean’s instincts and the quality of information those instincts supply him with, and the fact that Dean’s instincts really are never wrong per se but also don’t imbue him with the power of Omniscience.
also, read at your own risk... there’s a reason this is under a cut. However if you’re an unapologetic Dean girl you’ll probably enjoy it.
From this post (which I do understand as crack, due to the fact it pulls random scenarios entirely out of context to support a headcanon that contradicts pretty much every bit of meta I’ve ever read... including this post and the attendant photo/gif set that also went around recently, which I can’t seem to find on my blog but essentially proves the opposite of this-- and honestly y’all can’t have it both ways just because the opposite interpretation is convenient):
Dean: Cas would never say 'no' to me, it's not Cas. Trust me, I'm the Cas expert Sam: Hold on Dean: What? Get the Holy Fire! Sam: *Pulls out list, puts on reading glasses, begins reading from list* Won't acknowledge Castiel gone dark side, when he was working with Crowley. Although all the signs were there. Made up false memories from purgatory because you couldn't accept Cas choosing to leave you Dean: Shut uppp Sam: Didn't realise Cas was possessed by Lucifer
Because yes, Dean IS the Cas expert, even when he doesn’t understand the fact.
Let’s go point by point:
1. in 6.20 Dean refused to accept that Cas had gone “dark side” until he had evidence to prove that Cas could do something so horrifying. Just the same as Dean has spent basically the entire series giving SAM the benefit of the doubt. Dean is not quite so eager to condemn his loved ones without undeniable proof that they’ve betrayed him, you know? Let’s look at 2.05 for evidence of this, because that example also conveniently includes a form of mind control:
Andy: Tell the truth! Sam: That's what I'm - Dean: We hunt demons. Andy: What? Sam: Dean! Dean: Demons and spirits. Things your worst nightmares wouldn't even touch. Sam here, he's my brother... Sam: Dean, shut up! Dean: I'm trying. He's psychic. Kind of like you. Well, not really like you, but see, he thinks you're a murderer, and he's afraid that he's going to become one himself, 'cause you're all part of something that's terrible. And, I hope to hell that he's wrong, but I'm starting to get a little scared that he might be right.
Or perhaps we should look at Dean’s low-level suspicions of Sam’s “demon powers” in s4, carefully noting that he refused to prematurely make accusations against Sam until he had evidence to base his ~gut instinct feelings~ on.
Despite months of suspicions, despite NUMEROUS attempts at practically BEGGING Cas to let him help, to at least listen to what Cas was involved with, Sam and Dean spent most of s6 entirely in the dark. It’s not that they didn’t CARE about Cas, it’s that Cas REFUSED TO INVOLVE THEM. From 6.03:
CASTIEL: I can explain later. Right now we have to -- DEAN: No, not later. Now. Stop, all right? Too many angels, Cas! I don't know who's on first, what's on second. CASTIEL: What is "second"?! DEAN: Don't start that. CASTIEL: It is simple: Raphael and his followers, they want him to rule Heaven. I -- and many others -- the last thing we want is to let him take over. It would be catastrophic.
and 
DEAN: Why does Raphael want to bring back all this crap? CASTIEL: He's a traditionalist. DEAN: Cas, why didn't you tell us this? CASTIEL: I was ashamed. I expected more from my brothers. I'm sorry. Now I need your blood.
At this point Dean has been out of the loop on EVERYTHING for near on a year, and Sam is currently soulless (but we don’t know that yet, aside from the fact that Dean is side-eyeing Sam and having uneasy and wary ~feelings~ that something is not quite right with Sam). Dean’s playing a game of Cosmic Catch-Up set to the highest difficulty level. He’s not about to go flinging around accusations that he can’t back up with evidence. His ~gut feeling~ isn’t enough to condemn his loved ones. They’ve earned better from him than that.
Even Death warning Dean in 6.11 about Cas, and the dangerous road he was traveling down regarding “the souls” (despite it being so vague as to be entirely unhelpful to Dean, other than to give some credit to that gut feeling of ~wrongness~ about Cas’s behavior, without giving him any direct evidence to bring to Cas and confront him in a way that Cas can’t wriggle out of yet again).
Like the end of 6.15:
SAM Cas, what the hell? Wait, wait, you were in on this, using us a diversion? CASTIEL It was Balthazar's plan. I would have done the same thing. DEAN That's not comforting, Cas. CASTIEL When will I be able to make you understand? If I lose against Raphael, we all lose. Everything. DEAN Yeah, Cas. We know the stakes. That's about all you've told us! CASTIEL I'm sorry about all this. I'll explain when I can.
As we learn in 6.20, we understand that even in 6.15, or in 6.17, or 6.18, or 6.19-- all episodes where Cas had an opportunity to come clean to Dean and Sam and yet CONTINUED to hide the truth from them, not because he was short on time but because he knew what he was doing was morally wrong and that he would lose their support, yet he was far too deep in his web of lies (can you see why this “reimagining” of canon is infuriating yet? And how horrifyingly painful s6 is when you look at it honestly as the narrative presents these cold facts?)--
CASTIEL I had no choice. I did it to protect the boys. Or to protect myself. I-I don't know anymore.
or
SAM Castiel...This is really important, okay? Um...We really need to talk to you. DEAN Castiel...Come on in. CASTIEL But I didn't go to them...Because I knew they would have questions I couldn't answer...Because I was afraid.
or
CASTIEL Wonders never cease. They trusted me again. But it was just another lie.
Or the fact that Cas asked God for a sign, to let him know he was doing the right thing... and despite it really being too little too late, God sent him the sign. Dean literally told him to stop. That was the sign. Cas plowed right over it anyway.
And it is clear REPEATEDLY throughout s6 that Dean KNOWS there’s really important stuff that Cas has not told him, but again... he still TRUSTS Cas to be honest with him. That trust doesn’t break until 6.20, and it breaks so horribly that he doesn’t even know who or what to trust in again. That’s essentially his entire s7 arc, after all. Cas’s betrayal practically destroys him.
But sure, he refused to accept Cas’s betrayal without actual evidence in 6.20 because he’s an idiot with bad instincts.
On to point the second: Dean creating a false memory of his escape from Purgatory because he couldn’t bear the thought that Cas wouldn’t want to leave with him.
When he first arrived back, one of the first things Dean tells Sam in 8.01 is this:
SAM: What about Cas? Was he there? DEAN walks a few steps away and speaks with his back to SAM. DEAN: Yeah, Cas didn't make it. SAM: What exactly does that mean? DEAN: Something happened to him down there. Things got pretty hairy towards the end, and he... just let go. SAM: So Cas is dead? You saw him die? DEAN: I saw enough. SAM: So, then what, you're not sure? DEAN: [turning back to SAM] I said I saw enough, Sam. SAM: Right. Dean, I'm sorry.
This is the first and last time he admits out loud in words that Cas LET GO. That it wasn’t HIS fault that Cas didn’t make it out. He does honestly admit it here, when the wound is so painfully raw. And when Sam presses him for details, for clarification, he shuts that conversation down, but the wound’s been poked at now.
Yet life goes on, and Dean’s back in it but Cas isn’t. The reality of that takes a bit to settle in for him, the fact that Cas DID let go, and the only explanation he can think of for WHY he’d do that was because Dean himself wasn’t worth holding on to. And dear me, without being able to ASK Cas about it, all the while spiraling into a horrible guilt and depression, grieving the loss of the best friend he ever had yet again, Dean began to turn that memory into something that wouldn’t drive him straight to the bottom of a bottle. He knew the truth of it, just as well as he was suspicious of Cas from the MOMENT he arrived back from Purgatory, but for Dean Whiskey-And-Denial Winchester the only way to keep going is to shove all that down.
Nobody said that was a healthy response to horrifying loss, tragedy, and grief, but it was all Dean had back then.
So no, that’s not a valid point either.
On to point the third: “Didn’t notice Cas was possessed by Lucifer”
Except what basis did he have to believe that was even a remote possibility? As far as EVERYONE knew at first, Rowena’s spell sending Lucifer back to the cage had been a success. Sure, Cas didn’t return to the bunker like he told Dean he would at the end of 11.10, but Dean knows how this goes. In his mind, Cas has better things to do than hang out with him and Sam (because Dean’s self-deprecation is one of the longest running themes in the whole series), and at the beginning of 11.11, only a day or two post 11.10, we have this as proof:
SAM: And what about the Darkness? What about Cas? We haven't heard from them. DEAN: Okay, first of all, we've got zero on Amara. And Cas -- Cas will be fine. He always is.
What was he about to say there? In that stuttering blank? “Cas does what he wants, why would he suddenly think I’m more important than whatever he wants to do?”
But right from the start, he’s wary of Cas and his sudden appearance at the bunker. Go rewatch all of his exchanges with Cas(ifer) in 11.11. He has no reason to suspect that Cas had said yes to Lucifer and currently WAS NOT CAS, but he’s confused by Cas’s unusual behavior. I think we spent that entire week between episodes screaming about Dean’s discomfort and confusion and WRONG SHOULDER OMG, Everything about that scene is jarring and uncomfortable and awkward... But again, Dean doesn’t lob unfounded gut-instinct accusations at his loved ones. He gives them the benefit of the doubt until his suspicions are confirmed.
Not to mention the fact that Dean is only just then beginning to come to grips with the fact that Amara is exerting some sort of control over HIM, and he doesn’t really know how to deal with HIS OWN MANIPULATED FEELINGS.
(seriously, do ALL of these references actually mirror directly to possession and mind control? Hmmm, I’m sure that’s entirely coincidental...)
That doesn’t mean he’s NOT suspicious when his SOMETHING’S WRONG alarm bells are going off... from the end of 11.11:
SAM: Is Cas gone? DEAN: Yeah, I guess so. SAM: What was he doing here anyway? DEAN: He was looking for lore on the Darkness. Something a little off about him, too. SAM: Something always seems a little bit off about Cas. [Scoffs] Yeah, you know, being so close to Lucifer probably wasn't easy for him, either. DEAN: We'll just keep an eye on him.
The VERY NEXT TIME they interact with Cas(ifer) in 11.14 the entire truth comes out. And they are shocked and horrified by it.
The exact same way they’re ALL shocked and horrified to learn that Lucifer is still at liberty in 12.22, and Cas is equally shocked and horrified to learn that fact in 12.23. Dean had no reason to even believe it was a possibility in s11 until his uneasy feelings about Cas’s odd behavior were revealed to be Lucifer possessing Cas.
Doesn’t mean he didn’t see the odd behavior and react accordingly.
Okay. THIS is meta. The other is crack. That’s the difference.
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themostrandomfandom · 6 years
Note
To bounce off that other ask - Do you think Santana ever thought Dani and herself would be “endgame”? Did Brittany ever think Dani and Santana were endgame? Was she worried the way Santana was about not ending up together?
Hey, @like-rain-and-phones!
So the short answers to your questions are:
Nope.
Nope.
Nope.
Much longer answers are under the cut.
_____
Here’s the deal:
Santana never loves Dani, and she knows as much.
For one thing, within the universe of the show, Santana and Dani are only together for about one month in total, from late April to late May 2013, so they barely have time to even start to really get to know each other, let alone develop the kind of deep, connective bond that might lead Santana to believe they could eventually be endgame.
Thank you, Glee’s fucked up later seasons timeline.
Santana has a “slow to warm up” temperament, which means that even with a girl she likes, it takes her a long time to get to know them and feel comfortable enough to fully be herself in their presence. 
I mean, look at how she is around the glee kids. Not until midway through S1 will she even admit that she enjoys spending time with them. Then it takes her until S3 before she gets to the point where she starts showing them who she really is, allowing her carefully crafted public persona to slip away. Only in S4 does she begin to actively try to befriend them. Even then, she still has a hard time opening up and disclosing intimate details of her life and personal feelings to them. Her coming around to them is incredibly gradual, an incremental process.
She fears rejection so much that she is really, really slow to trust. People have to show her that they’re going to be careful with her “special things” in order for her to feel comfortable enough with them to disclose and form an intimate bond.
She and Dani just never get to that point. They don’t have enough time. They’re still testing the waters, with Santana trying to decide whether or not Dani is trustworthy.
Ultimately, Dani proves that she isn’t, at least as far as Santana is concerned, but more on that matter in a minute.
One of the biggest things Santana looks for in a partner is trustworthiness and support. She needs someone who makes her feel secure and who she knows has her back. It’s not that said partner has to agree with her all the time, but they do have to understand what is important to her. Unless she has that secure bond, she’s not going to consider being with a girl in the long run.
So even though Santana does very much like Dani to start out with, Santana never really reaches a place with Dani where she’s saying, “I feel like I could spend the rest of my life with this woman.” Their relationship doesn’t run that deep yet. 
For another thing, Santana is still in love with Brittany the whole time she’s dating Dani, and the fact is that Baby Girl is just about as emotionally monogamous as they come. 
Despite her reputation for getting around and even given how many sexual partners she has over the course of the series, Santana never truly moves on from Brittany no matter where they are in terms of their relationship status. As Santana says herself in her proposal to Brittany in S6, no matter how many times she tries to set their bond aside or walk away from it, she ultimately never once in six years wants “to live [her] life without [her] one true love.” Her heart is set no matter what.
Her quickness to get back together with Brittany in S5 proves her continued devotion to Brittany even after their breakup (see episodes 5x12 and 5x13).
If Dani had ever really been a serious contender for Santana’s heart in the long-term, then it probably would have taken more than a speech and a kiss from Brittany to win Santana away from her.
The fact is that Dani is always just kind of a placeholder for Brittany—someone that Santana is biding her time with while she waits for the universe to place her and Brittany back into each other’s lives.
Now, that’s not to say that Santana ever makes a conscious decision to use Dani or anything along those lines.
It’s just that, as discussed in the original ask, after Brittana break up, Santana can’t be 100% sure that she and Brittany will ever get back together, even though she wants them to more than anything in the world. Brittany has given her some reassurances that when the time is right, they’ll find each other again (see episodes 4x13 and 4x22), but it’s been months since they’ve even seen each other and even longer since they were last dating, and Brittany is currently at MIT and Santana is still in NYC, and there are no clear and direct paths that Santana can see that will lead them back to each other. It’s all just a matter of chance, and a really big chance at that.
Ever since the events of episode 4x13, Brittany has been telling Santana that it is okay for her to just live life as it comes and try to find happiness where she can in the moment rather than holding her breath, waiting for her ship to come in.
That’s what Brittany herself does in dating Sam. 
It’s just that Santana has never been as easygoing as Brittany. Trusting that everything will end up the way it’s supposed to in the end requires more faith in the universe than she possesses. If she were to give in and date someone else, even knowing that it were just for the time being, she would feel like it was the equivalent of giving up on her and Brittany’s future.
So, honestly, if left to her own devices, I don’t know that Santana would have ever pursued another committed relationship for the whole time she was single and living in NYC. Go on casual dates here and there? Sure. But actively seek out a new girlfriend who isn’t Brittany? No way.
The only reason Santana gets together with Dani is because Dani comes onto her.
Again, that’s not to say that Santana isn’t actually interested in Dani or that she doesn’t legitimately like her. She is and she does. It’s just that if Rachel hadn’t pushed Santana to go for it and Dani hadn’t then made a move intimating to Santana that she wanted them to be together, Santana probably never would have mustered the courage to take action. She would have indefinitely hung back.
Going into her relationship with Dani, she is genuinely very excited to have found a girl who likes her, and she is happy to have some companionship after being alone for so long. It especially thrills her to have someone who’s “hers” after months and months of third-wheeling Hummelberry. Now she isn’t always the odd one out, and, moreover, she has someone who should automatically be on her side whenever there is a debate or tiff at the Loft. Honestly, ever since her breakup with Brittany, she’s been lacking an advocate, and it’s very comforting to her to think that she may have found one again in Dani. 
However, because it is her nature, Santana also has some trepidations even from the onset of her and Dani’s relationship. Aside from her brief and purely sexual fling with Quinn at the Wemma wedding, her only real relationship with a girl prior to this point has been with Brittany, so part of her worries that she won’t know what to do with Dani. What if her inexperience shows? What if she doesn’t really know how to date anyone but Brittany?
This last question is especially pressing, given that, deep down, Santana knows she’s still in love with Brittany. Can she even be a good girlfriend to someone else when her heart still belongs to Britt?
That insecurity manifests in some of the shitty biphobic things Santana says about Brittany to Dani. Essentially, Santana tries to make herself seem cooler, more aloof, and more “over Brittany” than she really is in order to convince both herself and Dani that she is ready for and experienced enough to handle this new relationship (see here).
However, it also manifests in a subtler way—in what Santana withholds from her and Dani’s relationship.
Santana’s anxieties all compound one another.
She worries that she doesn’t have what it takes to maintain her relationship with Dani both due to her own inexperience and her lingering feelings for Brittany. 
She then worries that she is going to lose Dani and that if she does, she’ll be back to where she started from, completely alone and not knowing how to go either forward or back. 
She worries that if she dumped the only girl she ever loved and then got dumped by the only girl aside from that who’s ever even liked her, she is a hopeless case. 
She worries that for as long as her heart still belongs to Brittany, she’ll never be able to successfully date anyone else, which might be okay if she had a guarantee that Brittany would someday come back to her, but she doesn’t, because there is always the possibility that eventually Brittany will realize how full of shit she is and drop her forever, never to return. 
Underlying everything is her same, old basal fear that she is maybe unlovable and that all her relationships are doomed to failure because somehow she doesn’t deserve them. 
The same terrible question remains in her mind: For as much as she loves Brittany, are they going to end up together? Or will she inevitably end up alone?
These fears are almost completely subconscious on her part, but they still greatly influence her behavior, and one of the primary ways in which they do is to make her emotionally guard herself from Dani and the rejection she anticipates will come.
Watch Dantana’s S5 arc and you can see: The relationship is almost completely superficial. Santana and Dani hang out together and show each other physical affection, but Santana doesn’t disclose to Dani, not about important things like her hopes or feelings or fears.
The whole time Santana is dating Dani, she is going through an existential crisis about her future. She doesn’t know what she is doing with her life, and watching Hummelberry achieve success while she has no clue how to even take a first step forward is causing her all sorts of anxiety. 
But does Santana ever talk to Dani about these issues? Does she ever confide how scared she is or that she feels like she’s stuck in a rut? No.
To me, that’s a sign that, deep down, for as much as Santana may like Dani, she doesn’t fully trust her and she isn’t in the relationship for the long haul.
Of course, it is worth noting that the person Santana finally does discuss these issues with is none other than Brittany (see episodes 5x12 and 5x13).
—and particularly not because, near the end of the Dantana relationship, Dani actually validates Santana’s fears, “rejecting Santana” when she colludes with Kurt to kick Santana out of their band.
While Dani views this action as a business move and nothing Santana should take personally, Santana considers it a betrayal and doesn’t ever really get over it.
Dani is supposed to be her advocate and side with her when Hummelberry gang up on her. But Dani doesn’t seem to understand Santana’s need for support. That she would agree that the easiest way to deal with Santana and Rachel’s ongoing feud is to kick both of them out of Pamela Lansbury “proves” to Santana that she has been right along to not fully invest in Dani or completely trust her with her special things.
Frankly, that’s why it’s so easy for Santana to run back to Brittany in episode 5x12—because Brittany is the only person who has always consistently had Santana’s back and been her partner in everything. To Santana, being with someone is all about supporting them and helping them to achieve their dreams, and she has only ever experienced that with Brittany.
So while Dani was pretty and cool and nice to hang out with for a while, she was never Santana’s endgame—and part of Santana always knew as much.
That foundation of love and trust just wasn’t there. 
Now, as for Brittany’s side of things, the matter is pretty straightforward.
Unlike Santana, Brittany does trust that she and Santana will eventually come back together again. While some people may mistake this trust in her for a belief in real magic or a childish naïveté, what it really is is what she talks about during her Heart Locker speech in episode 2x22: namely, a belief that because she and Santana love each other more than anything else in the world, anything is possible for them. 
While she is less certain of her and Santana’s relationship status during S4 (see here), by S5 she has regained her faith that they’ll eventually make it through. She knows they’re broken up for the time being, sure, and she realizes that they are currently separated by distance, definitely. It isn’t at all beyond her that they have the odds stacked against them. It’s just that in the end she knows that what they both want is just to be together, and since they are two strong, smart, determined, stubborn women, they will eventually find some way to make that happen. 
Maybe it will take her graduating MIT and moving to New York to be by Santana’s side. Maybe it will take Santana flying out to Cambridge to be with her. Maybe it will be something that happens in the next couple of months. Maybe in the next couple of years.
But one way or another, no matter the timeframe, as long as they still love each other, they will find their ways back.
—and unlike Santana, Brittany does trust that their bond is unwavering.
Brittany knows her own feelings and knows that Santana has always been her first and last choice, the one person she has always wanted to be with. She also is the world’s foremost expert in Santana, so she knows that Santana feels the same way about her. She was able to read that unfailing devotion throughout their S4 interactions. She knows that every time they’ve parted ways, it has been with their feelings for each other still intact.
I mean, that’s exactly what she tells Santana in her speech at the end of episode 5x12 and later further elaborates on during the bedroom scene in episode 6x03: that she knows that what she and Santana have is special, a kind of once-in-a-lifetime, infinite love (“I’ve seen the world and I’m sure now more than ever that I belong with you.And I’m sure your girlfriend’s great but you can’t re-create what you and I have” and “And I’m never going to stop doing just that.As a math genius, I am one of the few people who understands the concept of infinity, and I will love you until infinity, Santana Lopez”).
While she is highly aware that the world can be a cruel place and that good isn’t always rewarded with good and oftentimes things aren’t fair, she views her and Santana’s love as a constant.
Now we don’t know under what circumstances or from whom Brittany learns that Santana is dating Dani. Maybe Santana herself tells Brittany via email or over the phone. Maybe Brittany sees Santana’s updated Facebook status. Maybe one of the other glee kids lets it slip somehow.
But whatever the case, Brittany doesn’t seem fussed about Dani.
Honestly, while fanfiction loves to imagine Brittany as a jealous person, the truth is that Brittany has never really been jealous when Santana has dated other people, regardless of said people’s genders. 
When Santana used to date boys, Brittany would feel sad because she knew that Santana was miserable and that lying to herself and everyone about who she was wasn’t good for her. But Brittany never faulted the boys themselves, hated them, or even considered them her real rivals. They were just objects, and she understood as much. 
With Dani, Brittany doesn’t even feel sad because at least she knows that Santana really does have a genuine interest in the girl and that being with her isn’t something Santana is doing to hide herself. The attraction there is authentic, and, honestly, that’s a good thing. Santana is being true to herself even though she is out on her own and undoubtedly scared. Frankly, Brittany probably feels proud of her more than anything.
Anyone else might feel jealous or at least uncomfortable knowing that an ex whom they were themselves still madly in love with was in a happy, healthy relationship with someone else—and not just any someone else, but a cool, attractive person with whom they seemed to get along well. 
But not Brittany.
Brittany knows from personal experience that there is a world of difference between “like” and “love.” Brittany also knows that sometimes it’s okay to be happy with the one you’re with while you’re waiting on your happily-ever-after. She knows that you can’t subtract from infinity, meaning that nothing Santana ever has with Dani will take away from what she and Santana have together. She respects Santana’s feelings enough to say, “I think that we belong together, but it’s your choice.”
Brittany lives by the old maxim: “If you love someone, let them go, and if you’re meant to be together, someday they’ll come back you.”
She has that trust that she and Santana are inevitable.
So, no, I don’t think Brittany ever believes that Santana and Dani will be endgame.
She understands how Santana works and knows that the depth of trust and feeling just isn’t there. She knows that while Santana may like Dani a lot, Santana still loves her more than anything. That’s why she feels comfortable kissing Santana and essentially saying, “Okay, it’s time for us to be together again now.” There’s just such an unshakable confidence there, and it comes from the security Brittany has at her core.
Santana is always the nervous one, the one who questions and doubts and hopes against hope but has the hardest time fully believing. Brittany is the certain one, the one who trusts and knows and just has a feeling that things will sort themselves out.
That’s not to say that Brittany knows from the very beginning that she and Santana are going to end up married one day. It’s not that she’s clairvoyant or even fully certain all the time. It’s just that when she has the choice between fear and trust, when it comes to Santana, she learns to trust—and especially after S2.
In the early days, Brittany was just as scared and hopeless as Santana was. But eventually Santana starts coming through for her. Sometimes it takes Santana a long time to come around, but she always comes around eventually. Brittany learns to rely on Santana in that way.
So for as insurmountable as the obstacles between Brittana seemed during S4 and S5, I think Brittany made the conscious decision to say, “Things have looked bleak before, but Santana has always come through for me. She’ll do it again someday. We’ll make it.”
—and, ultimately, she was right.
Anyway, rambling now. Thanks for the questions!      
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igothxmewcrk-blog · 7 years
Text
Matt pitches H*omecoming Sequel Post 1
so today and most of this week I’ve had Crackle on my P*S4 just to watch a sorta nostalgic cartoon based around my muse’s adventures in high school (not the one prefaced with U/ltima*ate). that series is titled Spectacular, much like a run of his comics between the 70′s and 80′s.
and there are some issues, things better left unsaid or never explored in it that just ended up happening, but it took itself as seriously as it had to. just, no more serious than the movie franchise that had just ended a year prior to the show’s premiere.
in this show, every episode is only a half hour long, and it ran for two seasons (it had a buildup for things to come in a possible third season and onward, but then D*sn/ey bought M/arv*el and S/ony still owned most of everything S/pider-M*an, other medium adaptations included, and i guess somehow the writers and studio just decided to can the series on some major cliffhangers). Roughly about 26-30 episodes. again, every episode gave its little precursors to the next one, or one to follow later on, usually in an ending scene, or midway thru every few episodes. this gave the show depth that superhero dramas like Smallville and its CW successors of today express in their stories, but to hell with that, S/pectac*ular S*pid/ey did it best!
this show grounded Peter in realism, showed you his high school. Midtown was a magnet high school, and was addressed on letterman wear as M^3 (Midtown Manhattan Magnet, or for a science pun, M to the third power, or cubed, tee-hee). that’s right, MCU was not the first to show you Peter’s class of supporting civilian characters at his school, this animated series was. 
some things to note:
L/iz Al*len was Latina
G/wen S*tacy was, for better or worse, represented as P/eter’s equal, a nerdy girl in glasses, but by S2′s finale (spoilers from this point on) she ditched the eyewear, and I think either grew out her hair in an impressively short time, or otherwise it had been in ponytails or partially in a bun Idk the show just ran with it to give the unexpected ending some images to relate it even more so to comics
M/ary J*ane existed but only ever was P*ete/r’s fall fling date, and a close friend, nothing more
Fe/licia H*ardy was simply B/la*ck C/at in this, but she’s connected to P/ete as her father was B*en’s killer, and when that’s revealed, she’s never seen again
Ed/di*e B/ro*ck was around for most of the show both as a college student who assists P/ete, G*wen, and the C*onn/ors family in an ESU biochem/engineering lab; he gives off a sorta play cousin vibe, like he and P/ete go back a long way, and it’s nice to not see him as the jerk who eats Pe/ter’s dust in the Bugle
with that being said, he does bond with V*en/om in a unique way different than he has from past adaptations, or the original comic origin. in fact, he was obsessed with knowing how it ticks the moment he’s given Dr. C/onn*ors’ approval to help observe and give reports on the alien life form’s behavior(s). when S/pidey returns the symbiote to containment, and thinks chilling it to a frozen state will stop it from tacking onto anyone else, Ed/war*d heats it back up to its normal temp, unlocks containment, and WHAM! time to exact revenge on the enemies he just found out are one and the same.
anyways, B/rock and P/arker parents were lab partners, but what they did exactly wasn’t given much explanation. they just hint at this so as to make people aware that M*ay and B/en are not to be confused as P/ete’s parents (y’know, in case anyone would be S*pidey inept)
H/arry Os*born was Goblin first, but N*orm reveals it was part of his plan, so you get a gripping O/bo*rn family soap opera in a tv-y7 rated program. hellz to da yesss!
while L*iz in MCU has a father who’s a villain, that isn’t canon anywhere else; however, her brother becomes Molten Man, a self-destructive decoy to keep S/pid*ey off of G/oblin’s trail as he tries to create a criminal empire in Manhattan
everything else isn’t too noteworthy, id say watch or buy it if you’re interested
also, this show was simply, during its short run, kept within the world of S/pider-M*an, so there were no S/H/I/E/L/D, F*4, or other M/arv*el crossovers.
now, why do I say this mumbo jumbo about a show when i title this my personal pitch for a H*omecoming sequel? bc the existence of Br*ock and the Os*borns is still a very crucial thing to be hopefully adapted by MCU somewhere down the line along with the real MJ and maybe even JJ J*ameson and an Un*cle B/en flashback scene.
my pitch is as follows:
perhaps introduce Br/ock in a similar manner as the aforementioned show, but def adapt a believable Os/born family for H*ome/coming 2.
I at first liked the inclusion of H*arry in the TASM franchise, but I quickly got pissed that he was made the villain so soon.
so simply make him the rich kid he is in the above mentioned series, but like, give him the common role Fl/ash Th*ompson has had in the past. jock with a heart of gold, and maybe stretching himself a bit thin in multiple extracurricular programs to give him this lovable sense of ‘i can do anything.’ also, to further his rich boy stats, give him a car that puts Fl/ash’s dad’s wrecked sports car to shame. and maybe not let H*arry carry the goblin mantle, but have him disagree with F/lash on S/pider-M*an???? idk...
write in Ed/ward Br*ock as childhood friend of Pe/ter, but have him be riddled with mental instability, a ruined childhood, abandonment issues, and a similar passion for science like his friend, or at least give him some harmless hobby or subject he excels in prior to his likely ascension into villainy.
with Pet/er likely going to space for In*finity W/ar, establish that he’ll unknowingly bring home the symbiotic substance on his person.
perhaps make this a subtle suspenseful thriller with both Symb*iote S/pidey and V*enom, give it PG-13 teen horror vibes and a fall 2019 release????
explore the existence of the c-list rogues, non-powered thug villains, perhaps give them motivations to steal from OS/CORP, which can be represented as a new rival to S/tark Ind*ustries. this could provide buildup for Nor*man to want to become Goblin in a possible third installment.
most importantly tho, give us Mary Goddamn Jane Watson
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chronicallycal · 7 years
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Hi Callie! I’m glad to be back in your inbox too! I totally need to catch up on the Harry Potter series once I have the time. Admittedly, I have only watched the movies so far. I’ve heard that while the French translation is fine, there’s something to be said about the wordplay in the original version, so I’m actually tempted to read it in English. Recently, I chose instead to watch some cult movies for the first time, namely the Indiana Jones and Star Wars series oops (NSA)
Your messages are under the cut again, too, because of length lol.
(and I’ve only watched the initial trilogy of both series). Now I finally know what those “Jedi mind tricks” are all about ^^ I can see why you’re comparing the beginning of S8 to what happened in 2x01 and 3x01. Their emotions were indeed less concealed this time, probably because unlike the previous times, in S8 they knew what it was like to be in an actual relationship with one another. Well, I didn’t appreciate the fact that they didn’t work together in the final season, but the thing is,
it would have made no sense if they had, at least during the separation. Because then what would even be the point in breaking up? It was already bad that Castle kept coming to the precinct occasionally (necessary because of how the show is structured), and that Kate also returned several times to the loft, giving her the opportunity to leave a message there if she had wanted to. In fact, I wonder if Castle would have been spared, had Loksat actually come after Beckett in the first half (NSA)
of the season, as Caskett were still married and regularly seeing each other. Besides, after a few eps, Castle started investigating on his own anyway. So while your idea is interesting, imo the writers would have had to find another reason for them to be separated in order to be able to implement that idea. Plus, I think removing the PI office from the picture wouldn’t necessarily equal to Castle visiting the precinct more often (Wouldn’t it hurt him too much to do that?
Would Beckett tolerate his presence after a while? etc.). But yeah, 2x01 and 3x01 were certainly easier to watch because of the way the COTW was handled. You have perfectly described the way I feel about the transition in S8. While it made total sense for them to reconnect sexually with other, and while Castle didn’t completely drop the talk about Loksat, they were almost too happy after what had JUST happened. In other words, things were back to normal really quickly, if that makes sense. (NSA)
I agree that this transition phase would have been a good time for them to discuss their future. Of course I liked the shift between S4 and S5 too, it was about time that they become an item, and I actually loved many Caskett moments in S5 (especially at the beginning of the season with their newly found intimacy, and around episodes 18-21, if “Still” is 5x21). In regards to the end of 5x10, it would have been interesting indeed to see Beckett having that conversation with Castle later on (NSA)
in the show. I guess it happened off screen, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that topic was only addressed after they got engaged. Aside from that scene, there were other mentions of insecurity in 5x08 (on Beckett’s side), and in 5x18 (on Castle’s side) for example, so for me it was a pretty recurrent theme in S5. Like many people, I didn’t like “The Squab and The Squail”, and I still have trouble with the fact that this episode was supposed to air after “Still”, so I’m leaving it aside (NSA)
for the moment. Some people wrote that in their opinion, at the end of S5, Castle had this tendency to deflect Beckett’s questions about the more serious topics, which led her to think that he wasn’t looking for real commitment, when Castle was actually afraid that showing how serious he was about them would spook her. I really liked this explanation, even if in big part, the insecurities resurfaced in those last episodes because it was the end of the season and the writers couldn’t think (NSA)
of another way to stir drama. I would certainly have preferred a proposal in other circumstances, because the part in S5 looked really serious (see Castle’s face), and there was this terrible misunderstanding between them for a minute. And yes, in the second half of S6 C&B were essentially giddy in regards to the wedding, and you’ve just made me realize that seeing a wider range in emotions would probably have made those episodes better. While I didn’t like the first wedding dress, (NSA)
the scene with Beckett in front of the mirror was a great moment in that regard. In 6x23, this thing with Rogan certainly came out of the blue, and you already know what I think of this episode.I really liked 7x23, but I have to admit that there weren’t any hints to Hollander’s Woods in previous eps either. More generally, there were many themed episodes in S7 I believe, so that didn’t really contribute to a sense of cohesiveness between the eps. About 2x24, until now, (NSA)
I was mainly sad because Castle was leaving the precinct with Gina at his arm, in front of everyone, may I add; and as Gina is his ex-wife, it felt more serious to me than a fling atm. But you’re absolutely right that there’s actually more to it than that, and geez that makes this ending even more heartbreaking. On the other hand, I really love 2x12 because of how Kyra is portrayed, so I’ve got to admit that Kate’s jealousy was fun for me too in that particular ep. (NSA)
Wow, I didn’t expect you to write a whole paragraph in French, especially now that you’re telling me you don’t practice the language as often anymore
, nor used to writing such long messages in one go in English (it’s probably easier for me to chat or to talk). But I’m up to the challenge because I love getting the opportunity to discuss the show with you, plus it doesn’t hurt that you always give really awesome answers in return. Thank you for that, by the way! I’m going to finish by sharing with you what I thought of your newest one shot. I actually wrote down the following “sentences” as I was reading the fic, (NSA)
so you’re getting here my unbridled scene-by-scene reactions. Warning: there’s gonna be some serious rambling involved (but you know that about me now :p) The beginning: ouch, painful, but it wouldn’t totally be a fic of yours if there wasn’t at least some angst involved (except for some rare occurrences), right? / That was a twist, even if I was intrigued right away by the supernatural aspect of your fic; the best part is, you copied the beginning of the scene in the summary and I didn’t (NSA)
The scene with the popcorn is so sweet, so them, so in character. / Castle is alive! And babyyyy. / Oh okay, we’re back to the theater now; is the baby real or is just a way to motivate them? (I think it’s real, let’s hope it’s real) / Aww a glimpse into the future, I think I see where we’re headed now; and mmh still a mention of a hospital bed even in that scene, nice (I pictured a nursery at first) / Oh okay, it will actually be a constant back and forth before the final scene encased (NSA)
in reality. OMG I’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE, she so saw what happened in “Always” the first time she was here :p And that’s why she knows things he doesn’t. / Beginning of next scene: I can imagine Castle coming back to reality by wanting to join Lily when she laughs, maybe symbolically open a door or something. Okay that didn’t happen but it’s so cute! Ooh and the twins are on the way! / Ooh we don’t wake up straight to reality, but Kate’s still got her hand in his. Interesting! (NSA)
/ What the hell with Caleb Brown??? And here it comes. A taxi, good! / Didn’t we have those lines before? I’m checking…yess we did! Everything is definitely accurate then :) / And okay, I should watch Criminal Minds (I guess that’s what CM means?) more often because I didn’t get the reference ^^ All I can now say is wow, I have no words (well, I sure had them before), it was so fantastic. One of your best works, if not the best. (NSA)
The succession of short scenes made it really pleasant to read as well. I’m sure Rickcastlefromthailand has loved her birthday gift! ;) Until next time, Callie! NSA 19/19 PS: The length of these messages is getting out of hand LOL.
Hi!
In my opinion, you should definitely read the Harry Potter series. While I haven’t read the French version, so I can’t comment on its quality compared to the English version, but I will say there’s a certain beauty and wittiness to J.K. Rowling’s writing that may or may not have been reflected in the translation. However you choose to read them, though, I would definitely recommend it. That being said, I actually haven’t seen the movies. Or any of the other “cult” movies you mentioned. My movie watching is so minimal, I have a long list of movies I have to see, per my friends. lol. (oops?)
Upon further reflection, I have to agree that the idea of them working together through the separation would have most certainly been more flawed than the story line we were presented. I also agree that there is a certain degree of doubt that, despite their separation, Castle would have been spared in the event that LokSat went after Beckett in the early portion of the season. Personally, I doubt such a criminal would have spared the person who has so often presented himself as Beckett’s partner in crime, especially since both of them have shown great dedication to finding the truth. If nothing else, I imagine LokSat would have been aware of the fact that Castle would likely would have gone to great lengths to find out what happened to Beckett, whether they were separated or not. And LokSat, who doesn’t seem to be someone who cares about bloodshed, likely would have gone after Castle if only to avoid that hassle and inevitably doing it later.
Your description of the transition phase is also very accurate, in my opinion. Idk if you saw, but Raina (bravevulnerability) recently wrote about why Castle forgives Beckett so easily in her fics, and explained that forgiving someone doesn’t necessarily mean everything is okay/back to normal. In a way, I feel that this is what the reunion in season 8 lacked. Spare for Fidelis Ad Mortem (8x15), and the struggles in that episode, and the entire concept of hiding their reunion, there was a distinct lack of lingering emotions. Of course, to an extent, these could have passed during the winter hiatus, but I do think a certain degree of lingering doubts, even if communicated through subtle questioning and strange glances would have added a layer of authenticity of their reunion.
As for season 5, I think there’s a distinct difference in the insecurity expressed in episodes such as 5x08 and 5x18 compared to 5x10 and especially the end of the season. By which I mean, the prior instances seem to be more of a personal insecurity, a “will this work out” and “am I good enough for this person”, whereas the end of the season portrays the insecurity of “does this person want a serious relationship like I do”. The prior, to me, makes sense. Both characters have shown underlying insecurity throughout the series, so their doubts about being good enough for each other and/or compatible after all the effort put into their relationship are justified. What the end of the season does, however, is seem to make Beckett forget this commitment and effort that Castle has put in, as though he didn’t spend a year waiting to be with her, as though they hadn’t been together for a year, as though he hadn’t risked his life for her multiple times, one of which had just happened, in Still.
While I do agree that it’s highly possible that Castle would have evaded questions about their future out of fear of spooking Beckett, my problem with that is that it wasn’t shown at all prior to her doubts coming to surface. Which, in my opinion, is a failure of the writers, who knew where the season was going, as this is pre-planned, and didn’t take it upon themselves to present any semblance of build up to their end of season drama, in a way that made it seem implausible and almost juvenile. (Honestly, Beckett’s fears reminded me of something one would see with a couple who’s been hooking up for a few months, or playfully together with far less history, rather than a couple like Caskett). So for me, while this concept of the why being totally plausible and even a pleasant thought, in a way, my problem is that the writers didn’t execute that concept, and rather presented these doubts as something caused by Castle not wanting to sleep with Beckett in that one moment.
And for season 6, yes, I loved the moment in front of the mirror in 6x14. It’s a perfect example of how their past, personal struggles as individuals and as a couple could have been entwined. While I wouldn’t have liked a fulls season of merely rehashing the same doubts, I definitely think emotions such as those in that scene could have greatly improved the season for people such as myself who didn’t find great enjoyment in the giddy checklist style we did get.
Gah the reactions of the rest of the characters in 2x24 is truly heartbreaking, too. And I certainly agree that there’s a greater severity to that scene given that Gina is his ex-wife and not just a fling. I also think that 2x12 was a truly enjoyable episode. I actually really enjoyed Kyra, and the jealousy in that episode.
And aw! I hope my speaking French could bring you joy. I honestly need to use it more often, since I don’t want to lose it or my status as bilingual. And I’ve also used Duolingo, albeit to learn Spanish, and while it’s fun and teaches the basics, for sure, I find that eventually I get bored of doing the same lessons over and over again and just quit. Oops.
I’m also so glad my comments on your English could make you happy. I honestly had no idea you weren’t a native English speaker, so you certainly use the language well, even if it’s outside your comfort zone. I have to admit, I’m glad you feel okay with stepping outside your comfort zone for these messages, because I truly enjoy these exchanges we have.
And gaaaah I love your thoughts on my fic so much. Rambles are my favorite and it made me so happy to read your thoughts as you read, knowing where you were in the story and what was coming. I am so, so glad you enjoyed my odd little one-shot. And thank you so, so much for your compliments. I must admit, I’m fairly proud of that story as it went outside my comfort zone and into a genre I don’t usually explore, in a style not truly like my usual one, so to know it was well executed means the world to me.
(Also yes you should watch more Criminal Minds. Besides Castle, it is probably my favorite show lol).
Thank you, again, for this lovely message. I hope you have a good day, week, etc. Until next time!
Callie xx
(And yes these messages really are getting really long lol).
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