#i want to write something like this for all teh boys or at least down leaders | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

me4ml · 3 years

Note

Why don't you like Maribat? Why do you think it's a spite or salt ship?

This is presumably because of my Adrigaminette post or the whole Maribat being on the ship list thing.

Quick disclaimer: if you read/ship/write/like Maribat, cool! This is not an attack. This is me answering why I, personally, do not like it. It’s tagged anti, and salt, so it should be filtered. Please don’t harass me over it.

Another note before we start: a lot of what I’m about to write is based on what I’ve read, fic wise or meta, and I blocked off the Maribat tag and fandom a long time ago. It may have changed over there-I doubt it, and I have zero desire to go and look-but this is based on what I’ve seen and read about.

There are, principally, three reasons I can’t stand Maribat, why I think it’s a spite/salt ship.

1). I don’t like Damian Wayne.

2). I don’t like how Damian and the DCU are written in Maribat.

3). Maribat is a mutated salt fic.

If you want to see my reasons why, the rest is under the read more.

1). I don’t like Damian Wayne.

Damian’s not just my least favorite Robin, ranking behind any of the others who have born the name. He’s my least favorite Batfam sidekick overall.

Part of this is his introduction, where he’s a violent, murderous, arrogant, entitled, snotty little brat of a thug. Lest we forget, one of his first acts is to go out, kill a guy, cut off his head, stuff a grenade into the decapitated head’s mouth, and try to blow up Tim. This is his introduction! There are a number of other occasions, including how he treats Jon, his best friend, and the rest of his siblings.

Another part is that he believes that he deserves to be Robin simply because he’s Bruce’s son, and therefore has the blood right to be Robin, to become Batman, and damn anyone else, who are all pretenders. Doesn’t matter that those characters might have a right to become Robin, or the future Batman, he’s the bio son, he deserves it!

Additionally, Damian feels.....not unnecessary, but repetitive, in his actions/characterization. There are other characters who can perform pretty much the same way for whatever storyline is necessary, without including Damian.

Trained by an abusive family to be the best, as an assassin and warrior? Cassandra.

A killer who breaks the main rule of his mentor, which causes tension and strain in the family? Jason.

Incredibly intelligent and talented? Tim.

Damian isn’t unique in what he does, and while that can make him an interesting character, it can also make the focus on him unnecessary.

As well, so much of Damian’s actions and motivations feels like he gets away with stuff, in-universe, because he’s Bruce’s biological son, and so Bruce gives him too much slack, and out-universe, because the writers let him/the fans will defend him. He gets woobified, or leather pantsed. Which leads to:

2). I don’t like how Damian and the DCU are written for Maribat.

For all his (numerous) faults, when written well, Damian can be an interesting character. For example: How does he deal with being deeply insecure? By putting on a mask of arrogance and overconfidence.

Some more examples: How does Damian act like an actual child, when he’s never had a childhood? How can he be a hero, if he’s been trained to be a killer? Can he ever catch up to his siblings, or will he feel like they’re always better than him?

Damian’s sense of being Batman’s son, of being the heir to the Cowl, slams right up against the idea of the Batfam: that there are people who have just as much of a right to call Batman their father/father figure, people who are just as talented and skilled and capable as Damian himself is, if not more. Watching Damian develop, when he’s written right, is actually enjoyable; mainly because when it’s done right, it shows Damian actually progressing and growing, becoming more of a person, with friends and interests. Most times, seeing Damian with his pets can be adorable, same with when he hangs out with Jon.

Is he still a brat? Still sometimes a bit too much of a Demon, an al-Ghul? Yes, but that’s always going to be part of him, and as long as he’s shown to try and grow, or gets called out on that, it’s less of an issue (There’s a completely different rant to be written about how DC likes to chuck character development or backstory into the trash when it suits them for a new run. Damian gets hit with this, as does Tim, or they get handed the idiot/conflict ball, but not the space for it).

Maribat hurls this all out the window. Damian’s bad traits are all “fixed” offscreen-he’s developed, matured, gotten better, whatever you want to call it. It’s basically a writer’s hand wave to make Damian into the character who will be the lead of the story, perfectly suited for his main role of being Marinette’s boyfriend and utterly devoted to her every whim and will. He’s enchanted by her at first glimpse, and defends her against everyone who hates her, because no one can understand her like he can!

Uh, what? This is not Damian Wayne. Even at his best, he’s no broody boy, pulled from his “dark path” by the love of a gentle girl. He’s a Jerk with a Heart of Gold-emphasis on the Jerk. There’s a reason his nickname usually involves “Demon.” Is Damian trying to get better? Yes. But even then, he’s not the type to immediately fall in love. He takes a while to warm up to people, for them to earn his trust, and Marinette would not be like that?

Let’s say that Robin is in Paris for a case, he runs into Ladybug and Chat, and after they explains what’s going on, Robin gives them a stare over his mask, and goes “TT! What a worthless hero, I would have caught him already.” LB and Chat would probably want to deck him, and that’s before he keeps talking.

Same with if Damian transfers to the class, or they meet on a field trip to Gotham. Damian’s not gonna care about some random French teenagers on a tour, or if he was transferred he’s gonna be trying to figure out why his father sent him to Paris, and be focused on the mission, not making friends.

Of all of the Robins, the ones that would be the most likely to capture Marinette’s interest would be Dick or Tim, not Damian. He would remind her too much of Chloe, as Damian, and as Robin, he would be dismissive of Ladybug’s abilities, which would absolutely piss her, and Chat Noir, off.

In characters that aren’t Damian, no one seems to be written properly over in Maribatland. One huge example is that Marinette is so beloved, so pure, that she can make any character fall in love with her, and reform by her pure goodness, including a fic where the Joker-THE JOKER!-becomes her “Uncle J,” and pranks Lila on her behalf.

Uh-huh. Sure. Completely and totally something that one of the biggest, most sadistic twisted, notorious villains in pop culture would do. Maribat winds up worshipping the ground that Marinette walks on, cause she’s “Teh best evar!”

Which then leads to my third and final point:

3). The whole Maribat concept is a mutated salt fic.

Most of the themes you’ll find in Maribat? You will find in nearly every salt fic.

Maybe my biggest issue with the whole Maribat idea is that it doesn’t feel like a proper crossover, which, at their best, explore how characters from one universe and their rules would interact with characters from another universe, and the rules of that one. Putting ML and DC together is a rich opportunity to play with concepts in both worlds!

And yet, it’s mainly used to bash ML characters who the writers despise, predominantly Adrien, Alya, and Lila, with members of the class thrown in depending on feeling, and potentially even Marinette’s parents! The only “good” ML characters are the ones who are on Marinette’s side, usually Luka, Kagami, a Chloe who for some reason has been redeemed and is now Marinette’s best friend, and whatever members of the class the writer decides to throw in there.

You’ll notice it’s not called “MiracuBat”, or LadyBat and Bat Noir-it’s MariBat. It’s meant as a focus on Marinette, making her-the hero of the Miraculous Ladybug franchise, someone in-story in story who is incredibly smart and talented and the leader of her team, future Guardian-even more awesome.....by beating down everyone else around her.

Marinette is simultaneously treated as an beaten-up, beaten-down walked-on carpet, and the best person to ever exist ever, go who only needs a group of new, different, better people to recognize that and save her from the clutches of those greedy and ungrateful assholes! That doesn’t include the fics where she’s the unknown child of a superhero or supervillain, making her even more special.

It’s Chameleon salt, class salt, with pointy ears and a cape on.

Some specific examples.

Adrien: Adrien is a spineless doormat who prioritizes Lila over Marinette, or an entitled bastard sexual harasser, only fixated on Ladybug, or even both. Sometimes it’ll get worse, as Adrien will threaten or abandon Marinette if she steps off of his “high road,” and Chat will be a budding rapist, stalking or capturing Marinette after he’s learned she’s Ladybug, while ignoring her prior to that. He will, of course, have his ring stripped and handed off to Damian, who is the “true” soul of Destruction and so therefore a “perfect match” to Marinette’s Creation soul. Occasionally it will be Jason, or Tim, or Dick, but the key thing is that it’s not Adrien!

While Damian’s issues are magically fixed, Adrien gets no such courtesy. Adrien has been abused, just like Damian, and while Damian’s abuse is more extensive and extreme, abuse is abuse. If anything, if Damian met Adrien, he would probably see another abused kid, and want to be his friend/have his “adopt stray person!” Instincts go off. I can much more imagine Damian dragging a bewildered Adrien into the Batcave and yelling “Father I’ve found another one for you to adopt!” than I can Damian immediately hating Adrien, or Chat, simply for breathing.

We never see Clark taking Adrien under his wing, or Bruce, or any of the other Batfam; nor any of the other Justice Leaguers. We never see Selina try to fight Bruce over the kid, because he’s cat-themed, and Selina can train him, this one’s hers Bat, get off!

Adrien’s never treated as a kid, or given actual development. A major complaint among salters is that Adrien is treated as perfect and never develops, and in fic, rather than developing him, Adrien either remains static, with his flaws narratively exploded, or is developed negatively. He’s there to be beaten up on and punished by the writers, if not actually physically beaten up by characters in the fic.

Alya: the not-so-good friend, the cheap excuse for a journalist, the awful person who abandons Marinette for Lila and her “connections.” Never mind that Alya was Marinette’s friend from the beginning, or that Marinette’s chosen her multiple times for a Miraculous. One instance of questioning Marinette about Lila, and Alya’s a backstabbing bitch.

Maribat treats Alya as neglectful, bossy, domineering and submissive at the same time to Marinette and Lila respectively, and as a journalist, the worst of the worst. She’s played as a two-bit paparazzo, and once again, the DCU is used to punish her. We don’t see Alya get mentored by Lois or Clark-indeed, if they notice her, it’s with disdain or disappointment. Often, they’re crushing her under their heel, calling her not only a bad journalist, but a bad friend/person. This forgetting, of course, that Alya runs her blog as a hobby so far, she’s only a teenager, and that she’s had Marinette’s back against Chloe and Lila.

The Class: the dupes or allies as needed. Class salt levels depend on what the writer needs. If they’re pro-class, they’re all on Marinette’s side, aside from Alya Adrien and Lila. Chloe, for some ungodly reason, is “redeemed” nigh instantaneously, and often will become Marinette’s best friend, if that isn’t Kagami already. Kagami will drop Adrien like a wet tissue, never trying to reconcile him with the clas, or encourage him to stand up for himself, or if she does, Adrien, of course, will not listen.

If the writer is anti-class, whoo boy. Openly mentally, emotionally, physically abusive to Marinette, the worst gang of people you would ever have the displeasure of meeting, they all need to be in Arkham.

We never see any of the class make friends with the Batfam, the Titans, Young Justice-unless they’re on Marinette’s side, of course. There’s no Alix stopping Selina at the Louvre, for instance, or Max hanging out with Babs. It’s all based on how Marinette is treated as to whether or not the class is portrayed as being worse than the worst of the Rogues Gallery.

Wrapping it all up, Maribat has made me dislike the entire concept of a DC/ML crossover.

Even if someone had written an non-salt, in-character crossover, I don’t know if I would read it, simply because the well has been that poisoned.

#anti maribat #anti maridami #anti daminette #maribat salt #daminette salt #maridami salt #anti damian wayne #Damian Wayne salt #ml fandom salt #anonymous #ask answered #long post

216 notes · View notes

shinjaeha · 3 years

Text

ipytm ep 3 (thoughts + spoilers)

this is going to be a tough post for me to do bc honestly...this ep just left me feeling so run down. i know that the cast and crew have always strived for realism and authenticity with this series, but this one was just a lot to take in :/ my thoughts are gonna be even more all over the place than usual but idec at this point. having to rewatch this ep again is really fucking hard (even harder than itsay ep 4 bc even though that makes my heart ache, i still feel some sense of satisfaction from the development we get...this just leaves me feeling defeated in every way).

you know the drill: not an analysis, just me ranting as usual bc free therapy (and boy do i need it after this one)!! i had so many feelings watching this ep (esp towards teh but what’s new), so here goes.

we begin with the drama students rehearsing for jai’s new play, and the introduction of the plum wine which will be the recurring motif in this whole ep. the use of the plum wine in this also kind of reminds me of how teh initially disliked coconuts until he started falling in love with oh-aew and started to like them instead...i’m guessing that’s the parallel they’re trying to draw with the plum wine comparison in this.

teh’s having a hard time getting into character (which we already know from last ep was always going to be one of the toughest challenges for him as an actor). his character in the play is supposed to have a sex scene, but he’s struggling with this bc he can’t put himself in his character (akin’s) shoes, so jai ends rehearsals early.

jai gives them all logbooks which he basically wants them to treat as diaries where they’ll write everything they feel/learn and hand it back to him (he’ll be the only one reading them). ngl this already had me feeling kind of yikes (esp now as i rewatch this knowing how everything went down) since jai already has inside knowledge about teh’s feelings on his relationship with oh-aew which he can take advantage of :/ more on that later though...

it’s sad to me that so much time has passed since teh’s argument with khim and he's STILL avoiding her. khim was someone that he respected immensely (and was such a great mentor for him) so it just sucks to see that their relationship has deteriorated so much since the first two eps. teh might have had his reconciliation moment with oh-aew last ep, but there’s still a lot that he’s not ready or willing to address yet.

i understand that teh’s just encouraging jai about his work when he tells him to stop having others comment on it, but at the same time, i disagree with him bc i think it IS important to get other peoples’ opinion about your work. how else will you ever be able to see things from other perspectives if you don’t?

anyway, teh tells jai he’s seeing a play, and jai asks teh if he’s bringing oh-aew...the look on teh’s face is telling enough that things aren’t going great between them (at least on his end). this brings us to the logbook scene, where teh’s homework for the day is to write about the similarities and differences between himself and his character in the play. this gets teh to reflect on how he feels his relationship with oh-aew is changing, or specifically, how oh-aew seems to be changing so much that teh feels like he’s becoming someone else entirely...and does that mean that he still loves him the same?

i feel like this is a fairly common issue with people that have been in a relationship for a while (and this is their third year together now), so i understand how teh might start having doubts. it’s nothing that oh-aew’s done, it’s just that sometimes all these small changes can keep mounting up to the point that they feel much bigger than they actually are. oh-aew’s really just doing what everyone else does, which is grow and change as they get older, but teh’s still stuck in the past trying to hold onto what they used to have instead of evolving with oh-aew. the way teh picks at all these little changes of oh-aew does make me think that he’s self-sabotaging himself. he’s just so afraid and insecure that oh-aew will change so much he leaves him, that he has to nitpick at reasons why oh-aew’s the one that’s growing away from him (though when we watch the whole ep we know that that’s not the case at all). it’s like a ‘if i push him away first, then he won’t push me away’ sort of self-defence mechanism. either way, teh’s a constant overthinker...and he’s always been his own biggest enemy since the start, so it makes perfect sense to me that he would do this to himself here too.

i know that they’ve been together for years at this point, so things are not quite as exciting as they used to be, but it hurts to see oh-aew be so happy about getting an A for his class, and teh be so unenthused about it. oh-aew has to basically beg teh to give him attention and praise. remember when teh used to get so worried when oh-aew did badly in chinese class...and now it’s like whatever to him just bc he’s not tutoring him/they’re not in the same major anymore :((( i know it’s prob both bc teh’s still hurting that oh-aew transferred majors, and from seeing oh-aew succeed while he feels like he’s failing, but still...

also, not inviting him to see the play with him bc he thought oh-aew wouldn’t be interested/oh-aew kept falling asleep whenever they saw plays together ;;; i get the reasoning from both povs, but it still is nice to be asked :(

so one thing i have to say about the progression of their relationship here is that i just feel this huge disconnect from last ep and this ep?? i know it’s bc of the time skip (since it’s a year later basically), but to go from the end of ep 2, where they’re promising to love each other forever, and then to teh feeling disillusioned/as though he’s falling out of love with oh-aew basically right after that?? it’s so jarring. i feel like we lose so much with these time skips bc the transition from ep 2 to ep 3 is never really shown, so there’s this lack of flow there. like we’ve skipped a step entirely and something’s missing. this is the disadvantage of only focussing on one year per ep since there’s not enough time to explore as much character and relationship development when we’re only seeing an hour long snippet of an entire year. it just makes things feel superficial since so much of what we should be seeing is missing...and we basically have to fill in all the gaps ourselves.

okay, back to oh-aew ranting to his friends about how he feels like his relationship with teh is fading away bc they don’t have the same interests anymore, but also wondering if that’s just normal for long-term relationships. bless that boy that came to ask oh-aew for his ig :’) at least he knows that he’s wanted and has options, even if he obv turns him down bc of teh (for now).

plug and mangpong are dating!!!!!!! and mangpong does a horrible job of trying to hide it 😂 sidenote, but i love the way pp delivers lines sometimes (like the “just shocked”), he’s so cute. plug and mangpong’s legs touching...and the wave of nostalgia that came over me (and oh-aew) during that ;;; oh-aew seeing their blossoming relationship would make him reminisce back to his own experience of falling in love with teh...when everything was still so fluttery and new. so when teh texts him about using his car to help jai move, he looks happy. like he wants to rekindle those feelings again too.

that being said, it’s kind of sad to me how even jai shows more interest in oh-aew’s major than teh (when he asks him for his opinion on how to get people interested in his play). oh-aew’s got some good ideas and is more than willing to help (esp since he wants to connect and find a common interest with teh again). also, just bc oh-aew doesn’t want to be an actor anymore doesn’t mean that he’s completely uninterested in it. god, watching this part again hurts bc oh-aew looks so happy and optimistic. he worked so hard to help teh (and jai) only for them to betray him like that. it made me mad originally, but now it just breaks my heart :(

jai’s running acting classes again for his play, and this time it’s a workshop to help them tap into their feelings. it’s like an intimacy exercise where they give one another consent to touch certain body parts. teh is still struggling a lot with this. i think teh craves intimacy, but as he doesn’t feel that connection in his personal life to oh-aew anymore, so it’s difficult for him to draw on his experiences. he can’t even remember the first time he had sex with oh-aew properly anymore. as usual, teh’s too in his own head to just go with the flow and ~feel things (which isn’t new since teh’s had problems with this since itsay), but it’s def something that he’ll need to learn how to do if he wants to become an actor. he’s trying, but the fact that he can’t get to that place makes him feel even more insecure than ever that he might never be able to get there. imo one of the reasons teh works so hard, and is as driven and ambitious as he is, is that he’s afraid that he’ll never be good enough. he puts so much pressure on himself, and the issue with that is that he’ll never be able to live up to his expectations that way.

teh is also very much alone now. oh-aew has his group of friends to talk to about his relationship with teh, but teh just has jai at this point. he’s pushed khim away...and he and oh-aew aren’t communicating effectively (which is also why they’re on SUCH different wavelengths in terms of where their relationship is at), so there’s literally only jai for him to talk to about all his relationship issues. and to me at least, jai seems to have ulterior motives (particularly when you consider that the subject matter of his play is pretty much the same thing that teh’s going through rn). it’s times like this when i do feel kind of bad for teh, but then again, he brought this upon himself the way that he almost always does...and it leaves me frustrated instead.

jai kissing his professor though...also their conversation?? i have QUESTIONS...

that whole interaction with teh when jai catches him spying on him and the professor was SO awkward. idk what it is about teh but i have never encountered a character that has given me as much secondhand embarrassment as he does. when he starts touching the bars and avoiding eye contact i just- why, teh why?????

moving on, i’m thinking there’s prob more to that scene that we don’t know about bc jai’s shifty like that...but it’s purpose is also to shift teh’s perception of jai. before this, he pretty much just saw jai as his friend and mentor, but seeing him kiss someone else pushes him to think of jai in another less platonic light. like the first spark of attraction.

the both of them go to see the mime show (babymime), and i know that the point of this is so teh can learn to just feel and let go the way that the mimes in this play do, but idk it’s just kind of funny to me the contrast between the last scene and this one.

the leg touching scene again but this time with teh and jai...thanks, i hate it :///

teh’s already feeling like he and oh-aew’s interests are making them drift apart, so by connecting with jai, it’s that initial feeling of attraction that he used to feel with oh-aew all those years ago. jai is that cool senior that he respects...he’s goal-oriented and has so much in common with him (in a way that he feels that oh-aew doesn’t anymore), so it doesn’t altogether surprise me that teh latches onto jai in this way. esp when all their conversations revolve around what teh’s most passionate about, and what dreams they’re striving towards in the future.

it doesn’t surprise me bc teh’s affections shifted in a similar way from tarn to oh-aew when he was first starting to realise his feelings for oh-aew too (though at least he and tarn were never officially dating during that time...)

there’s a genuineness to the way teh praises and encourages jai that isn’t there when he’s doing the same to oh-aew :( and that coupled with teh lying to oh-aew about him having dinner with jai while oh-aew is at home, completely oblivious, painstakingly photoshopping his boyfriend’s face on the poster of the play TO HELP TEH instead of doing his own uni work, makes me so fucking upset for oh-aew.

it’s interesting to see how different their personalities are even when it comes to something as simple as the way they read their texts. oh-aew is so ready to accept whatever teh tells him at face value, but teh overthinks everything to the point where he jumps to a certain conclusion in his head about it instead.

but yeah, it’s just really tough to see oh-aew try so hard for teh, only to see teh do nothing back for oh-aew in return. there’s only so much one side can give. it’s the absolute lack of effort on teh’s part to even try to make things work with oh-aew that is the most frustrating thing of all. oh-aew is carrying their entire relationship rn and it makes me feel all “and for what?? why should he even bother??” about it.

sneaking to sit at the river with jai is like this forbidden, new experience, so it just enhances that feeling of attraction that teh is already feeling towards jai. and esp when he starts telling him about his previous relationship with james, the significance of the plum wine, and how jai ended up breaking up with him. since it’s reflective of teh’s own experiences atm (even in how he kind of self-sabotages himself to push people/oh-aew away first), he clearly takes it to heart. and it makes him want to do an even better job since the play is an autobiographical one for jai. not to mention, teh supposedly being the only one that jai told his story to makes him feel ‘special’......and we all know how teh likes feeling as though he’s special to someone. you can see it in how dejected he is when he thinks jai only told him his story bc he wanted him to get into character better, but perks up the moment jai says he actually told him bc teh’s been doing such a good job (and to encourage him). like i mentioned before, teh’s already feeling vulnerable and isolated from everybody else, so hearing any sort of praise (and esp when it’s from someone that he looks up to as much as jai), is going to pull him in.

when they were hiding from the security guard i was like ughhh i know where this is heading and i. don’t. like. it........

the problem is that i know where teh stands on this. like i know that there’s some attraction on his end. but i don’t know where jai stands. is he intentionally manipulating teh’s feelings for his play? is there any sincerity there? i think it’s obvious that he can tell teh is attracted to him from the glance that they share in this scene, but i can’t get a handle on what he actually wants (which i guess is the point of making his character as mysterious as it is but still). and if he can tell, and he doesn’t actually like teh back in that way, it makes the end scene even more yikes imo.

hmmm teh lying in the pool trying to recreate that feeling right before their first kiss when the both of them just let everything go and sank down into the water. that’s how you KNOW the next scene is supposed to be angsty...bc just like how their first underwater kiss had a sense of sadness to it bc they were hiding, their first (on screen) sex scene has that same sense of sadness, only this time it’s bc teh’s using his attraction to jai/his method actor desire to get into character to fuel the sex instead of bc he genuinely just wants to have sex with oh-aew. and if his reasoning for the sex is bc of that, then his task to recreate their first sexual experience will never live up to the actual first time they had sex (when they BOTH wanted it, and there were no other factors involved).

that’s not to say i don’t think teh doesn’t love oh-aew anymore. i think that there HAS to be some level of love still there amidst all of the confusion, but it feels a lot more like he’s testing his love/attraction to oh-aew during this scene (sort of like how he did with tarn in itsay) than a proper ‘love scene’. like he’s trying to reconfirm his feelings, whilst using oh-aew as inspiration for his role at the same time. it makes my heart ache that this is the first love scene we get from them this series, and it’s marred by the context of what we know is going on in teh’s head. like i said, it’s this permeating sadness throughout...and just knowing that oh-aew has absolutely NO IDEA what’s going on with teh and why he suddenly wants to have sex makes it worse. oh-aew’s been trying to make things work, and in his mind, teh spontaneously coming over like this prob makes him think that things are getting better between them since this is also the closest thing to teh showing any sort of initiative to work on their relationship in this ep so far...

and that’s not also taking away how beautifully this whole scene is shot. i’ve always loved the way that teh and oh-aew play and flirt with each other (bkpp’s chemistry is honestly unparalleled!!) so it was nice to see them be kind of playful before they started kissing again (if you ignore how sad this scene really is). i LOVE the inter-splicing between their first time on the beach and the present. the way the score swells, and little moments where you can see their feet and fingers interlocked on the beach. it gives you such a visceral visual (and totally takes me back to itsay days when that sort of imagery was used a lot more). i just hate that since we know the truth, this scene is more uncomfortable than satisfying despite how nicely shot it is.

i wish we got more domestic moments from them. i know their relationship has sort of grown past those initial moments of flirtation, but it truly makes me sad that we don’t get to see more of them as a couple in general in ipytm. moments like this where they’re lying in bed cuddling each other are so few and far between that i always feel like i have to cherish every little fleeting piece of fluff that i can get. even if idek if this can really be called fluff since the context sort of ruins it.

oh-aew’s still got his heart attack bag :’)))

he was soooooo happy when he met up with his friends 😭 but also, how the hell is it possible for teachers to move deadlines up like that. i FEEL that panic... poor oh-aew...

teh’s in rehearsals again and this time he’s wearing his moon shirt which...i do NOT need those ep 3 itsay vibes rn when i was already dreading this last ten minutes with everything i have in me :((( but anyway, jai’s brought plum wine to class and we know that teh doesn’t usually drink, but he does this time. he tells teh that the taste will change over time (it symbolises the ageing of the relationship process), and teh says it’s a pity he won’t get to taste it next time since jai wants to go abroad to study. then teh tells him he’s worked on the acting exercise and wants to try it out with jai, and i feel like we all knew where it was going to go from here.........

they really had to hammer it in with him missing oh-aew’s call too huh :/

as soon as they started the touching/intimacy exercise again i was just waiting for the catch. even on this rewatch i’m still sitting here chanting “don’t do it teh don’t do it” knowing full well that he kisses jai and there’s no changing that. but then when they cut to oh-aew walking up the stairs with the posters and you hear just how much time he’s sacrificed to help teh/jai on this...sacrificing time EVEN NOW just to go over to their uni to give them the posters when he has a presentation due tomorrow that he and his friends still haven’t finished working on...it’s just heartbreaking knowing what he’s going to end up walking in on.

whether it’s itsay or ipytm, teh’s default state is confusion. so while i think that there’s a certain amount of attraction towards jai there of course, i kind of get the feeling that he’s confusing his feelings of connection with jai (bc of their shared interests and passion) with him falling in love with jai. i feel like his attraction to jai reminds him of what it was like when he was first attracted to oh-aew, and since things have changed so much between him and oh-aew, it’s like he wants to recreate and capture that feeling again with jai (which is also why he wears the moon shirt...he wore that during itsay ep 3 beach scene, which was the moment when the attraction really started to burn between him and oh-aew). he can’t feel that same spark with oh-aew anymore, so he transfers his feelings to jai since, at this point in time, he feels closer to jai than anyone else. instead of growing alongside oh-aew, it’s like he’s choosing to revert back to a time when he was happier.

we know that teh has always been the type of person that will act on his impulses when he feels them. that’s WHY it was so hard to watch...bc i knew while watching that last scene, he was never going to restrain himself or put a stop to those feelings bleeding over into action. and esp not when it could benefit him in some way with his acting too.

in the end, it just makes me so devastated for oh-aew. and i really hope that he doesn’t let this go bc he thinks it’s just teh method acting or getting into character or whatever...i know that teh’s feeling a lot of conflicting things rn, but that’s not an excuse. he really fucked this one up.

the thing is, it’s not that i don’t think teh is capable of acting this way (i’ve seen a few people say that this is ooc for him, but it really isn’t? this confusion and impulsiveness has always been a part of his character from the very start...he was always the one that had the most trouble dealing with his feelings out of the two of them), but the time skips don’t do him any favours bc we lose all those moments that take him to what he’s currently feeling. when we don’t have those moments, then it’s a lot harder to sympathise with him. in itsay, bc we always knew how teh got from point a to point b, even if he did frustrating/silly things, i always understood where he was coming from. i always felt for him. i GOT his struggles, which was why i was always able to empathise with what he was going through. in ipytm, he just comes off as unlikeable bc of how superficial his feelings seem (from what we’re being shown on screen at least).

falling out of love with your significant other/starting to feel things for someone else is obv a fairly common experience, so i don’t blame teh for FEELING like this, but it’s how he treats oh-aew throughout this that doesn’t sit right with me. even if you feel like you’re falling out of love with someone, or that they’ve changed since the first time you fell in love with them, you’d think there’d be some motivation to at least TRY to make things work with them before giving up. we never see that from teh at all. instead, he just see him becoming infatuated with jai (so we barely see teh/oh-aew together in the first place). and while i can see now that a lot of this is due to his own insecurities and inadequacies, it’s also just so disrespectful to oh-aew who's the one that we see putting in all this time and effort (it calls back to their whole “don’t give my time to others” scene in itsay bc we see oh-aew giving so much of his time to teh through helping him out with his play, while teh’s giving that time that should be for oh-aew to jai now). no matter his reasoning, watching teh act that way towards oh-aew does make it increasingly hard to root for him. there’s just too big a disparity in how the two of them choose to act and devote their time to their relationship.

what’s frustrating is that in itsay, teh would fuck up but he would always try to make amends with oh-aew in some way. he would always come forward to try to sort things out after...but there’s nothing here. even after their dinner fight in ep 2, it’s OH-AEW that reaches out to him first (even though it’s teh’s fault that they fought in the first place). where’s that boy that dressed up in his old school uniform in order to talk to oh-aew at his school? or made a whole chinese idioms scrapbook for oh-aew? or gave up his uni admission for oh-aew? i understand that characters and motivations change (and he was obv hopped up on his first love with oh-aew at the time), but it’s just really, really sad to see teh keep messing up and not even try to meet oh-aew halfway with this. yes, you can fuck up, but there are only so many times you can keep fucking up before it starts to look more like a pattern of shitty behaviour than a few forgivable missteps.

another issue is that there’s been so much focus on teh and his flaws that a lot of the time oh-aew comes off as a side character to teh’s story. previously, i understood that since teh was grappling with his sexuality. it made sense that his journey was the primary focus of the plot and character development. but i always felt that there was more room to explore oh-aew’s story (and i thought that we would get a lot more of that in ipytm...esp after ep 1), but it just feels like we kind of skimmed past all of oh-aew’s growth and struggles adjusting to bangkok/uni life so we could turn the attention back to teh again. i just hate that we never get to see more of how oh-aew’s changed in teh’s eyes (other than the surface level things like his hair, new car and major), and that we never get to see more of oh-aew’s life when it’s not related to teh in general. i hope that we’ll get more of oh-aew in the last two eps, but i really don’t know what they’ll give us anymore.

at this point, i don’t even want them as endgame anymore given everything that’s happened in the recent ep. and it pains me so much to say that bc teh/oh-aew are so immensely important to me, but they’re just in such different places in life. and teh esp has so much more growing to do (i think i said this last week too? teh...). oh-aew deserves to be with someone that can see his worth as he is (that won’t cheat on him for one!!). i just want him to be with someone that can make him happy. what i wanted most for them out of this was for the two of them to grow to a better place (together and as individuals), and while i still want that for them as individuals, it’s hard for me to want them to be happy together anymore. at least for the time being.

i’m kind of at a loss for how they’re gonna work through this (and i genuinely want oh-aew to be able to explore his options too...particularly with someone that will actually treat him better than teh’s treating him atm). so at this point it’s kind of looking to me like a break up is inevitable? but i do think it’s necessary for both of them rn. i feel so heartbroken about it though...like ipytm is actually making ME go through the breakup...breaking up with all my beloved itsay teh/oh-aew memories :((( anyway, i think a break up is also conveniently the best time to put a time skip tbh...so we’ll see if that does end up happening now in future eps.

this one took such a long time to write up bc i wrote like a quarter of this RIGHT after i finished watching the ep (so you can clearly tell which parts were me right after the ep, and which parts were me after i had some time to sit on what happened 😂), but i thought it was best to take a bit of a break. i didn’t rewatch it again until i calmed down a little and sorted out my thoughts some more (though i know this is still pretty messy). but yeah, i’m still very much interested in watching how they things are going to progress from here...but i can’t deny how sad i’ve been feeling after this.

#i promised you the moon #ipytm #text #i feel like i always need to rewatch ipytm eps bc i'm so HEATED during the first watch #but then by the second one i've usually calmed down so much more #like i obv still have a lot of things that i'm not super happy with (and rewatching this again didn't really bring me joy) but still #i get so invested in itsay/ipytm that sometimes i just gotta take myself out of the situation and go live my life for a bit #i was meant to post this yesterday bc it's been sitting in my drafts for too long but i just woke up (it's 2am) so what better time hah

34 notes · View notes

nomoregoldfish · 3 years

Text

I Promised You The Moon rant

Just binged it and this was from the episode by episode reaction/discussion with my partner in crime @glossyboy.

First of all, Oab stole the show, singlehandedly, which he's not supposed to. I don't think anyone expected it including himself. In the very top post when I searched his name on tumblr, he said this lol

But the truth is he played one hell of "villain" that required a very nuanced performance and he delivered it in a believable and graceful manner. Jai became the catalyst of the entire season and his rather complicated relationship with Teh was the highlight of part 2.

EP 1

From the very beginning it's clear that part 2 is very much a Teh's story rather than a balanced story about two young people's journey as a couple in the next chapter of their lives. It makes me uncomfortable they made Oh-aew clingy and pessimistic without giving him any character development.

The best part is probably the opening scene where they went paper-rock-scissors to decide who's gonna buy condoms. It felt authentic, the expectation, the hesitation, the mischievous act, all fits their characters well. Other times ep 1 was more like two adult kids playing house, literally in an empty giant ass upper middle class apartment.

EP 2

It's great that they poked the femininity vs. masculinity issue through Oh-aew, but stopped right there at the surface. Missed a perfect opportunity to go head-to-head with the controversial topic, start a debate, crush the stigma of femininity, bring something new, be a real game changer of the BL genre, and most importantly give Oh-aew some concrete character development. Part 1 showed us a gay character that's very comfortable with his sexuality and femininity, that's almost revolutionary in Asia, not as a comic relief but a leading role. Oh-aew questioned his own sexual identity once in that bra wearing scene, it's straight out of comfort zone, BOLD, and transgressive. So I expected more from part 2.

That's it? And they're already sophomores? Can't believe Oh-aew's character has been marginalized like this. It's pathetic.

But I love the brutally honest conversation at the end where Teh vented his rage and despair regarding his frustration of acting. He was acting like a dick because he's disappointed, and scared. Teh again was not afraid of showing vulnerability, making the reconciliation very realistic and touching.

EP 3

Dare I say I freaking love ep 3! The unresolved (partially sexual, but not entirely) tension between Teh and Jai was over the roof! And the built-up to their kiss was very authentic, which paled Teh and Oh-aew's much sidelined storyline, including the long anticipated sex scene (still can't believe it happened right after Jai explicitly instructed Teh to do it after the two spent a whole night bonding, like wow! Totally TRANSGRESSIVE and to some extent, kinky.) Teh looked up to the senior, idolized him, wanted to be good for him and make him proud, thirsted for the validation from him, which was mixed with affections. The workshop diary was a brilliant idea to let them open up to each other and eventually bring them close. This was what a meaningful arc of a story looked like. By contrast, there isn't a single moment between Oh-aew and Teh in part 2 that made me go "Damn it's soooooo hot!"

I know Jai/Teh wasn't the endgame but I appreciate the storyline so much. It's a very bold move considering it broke the over-glorified "one true love in one's life" fantasy of its target audience, mostly young cis women. The popular narrative of "you can only love one person through your life/one true love" in romance fictions/chick flicks was totally smashed. And it wasn't written just to stir up things between Teh and Oh-aew, it wasn't a silly fling. Instead, it's meaningful, complicated, natural, and realistic, delivered by nuanced and excellent acting from two young actors. It's hilarious that fans hate Jai with a passion and call him names.

And big news, Jai is bi?! Bravo! He's radiating bi vibes since his first appearance.

I kind of gave up at this point, the season wouldn't do Oh-aew any justice. Like my partner in crime pointed out, the costume design literally threw some "incongruous female fashion pieces" on Oh-aew, made him dye his hair red, without...making any actual point of his personality or his character development. Wardrobe was supposed to make a point in storytelling. Yes, PP wearing pink is cute, and? There's nothing else for Oh-aew. Unfortunately he's reduced to this sulky, crying, and wronged partner in a failing relationship.

EP 4

Oab again was killing it. The tension between Jai and Teh...from the rehearsal in front of Oh-aew to the dressing room pep talk, was incredibly intense and hot AF.

Was it a manipulative relationship after all? Oab was so good at conveying a character with many faces. Jai's a mentor to Teh, also a good friend, their relationship was genuine. He's also ambitious with his own goals, he used, challenged, provoked Teh in a way that benefited them both. It made sense the title of part 2, I Promised You The Moon, was from Jai's script. He promised Teh what the junior wanted the most, a bright future in acting. Teh's unconventional and unspoken feelings for Jai was the best part of the entire season in terms of creative writing, it's complicated, fragile, delicate and completely heartbreaking.

The after talk in the hallway was so well-written. It's funny (Teh joking about playwrights always write about their EXs is gold), intimate yet meticulously controlled, no one lashed out or wept. Both knew what they signed up for and Jai particularly made it clear about his motive and the purpose of the "special workshop" beforehand (or right away.) Yet it's no one's fault that Teh got carried away. He's younger, he's immature, he's more into it, it's totally natural. It's so romantic when Teh's singing karaoke in the bar with Oh-aew, yet he couldn't help but desperately staring at Jai on the floor, knowing he and the man who just turned him down were never gonna happen, they were done, but he's still madly attracted to him and his talent. He fancied Jai, at least the idea of Jai, a playwright, a director, someone knew him better than himself. That hurt beautifully.

EP 5

Teh/Oh-aew endgame at this point was pretty meaningless. Oh-aew as a leading character never got any solid character development over a span of four years. What happened between Jai and Teh wasn't just "cheating", though they surely made it look that way, like Teh's empty promise of "I won't see him again after the show ends". No matter how Oh-aew and Teh eventually reconciled, there's no emotional connection, no sparkle anymore between the couple.

But I knew for a fact they had to. Otherwise it's too much of a risk financially for the series. The creators had to take the easy way out like most traditional romances—one of the most contrived and formulaic trope where the male leading character made a mistake (usually cheating) and realized he's wrong, he deeply hurt the female leading character (Oh-aew was merely a girl substitute in part 2), then he completely changed for hell knew what reasons, started doing every nicest thing in the world to try to "win" the female character back. It has been feeding the emotionally-deprived cis female readers/audience who are frustrated with heterosexual relationship irl for decades. The formula that made romance outsell other genres of fictions combined in the 60s and 70s still sells today, under the name of boys' love. It's pathetic to see Oh-aew confess to Bas that he always "lost" to Teh. Love shouldn't be some kind of game or competition, there isn't winner or loser in love. Love is spontaneous. Oh-aew didn't lose because Teh developed feelings for someone else, and he didn't win when Teh begged him for reconciliation. People change, people move on.

And as predicted, they went for it. The ending was so absurd and tedious.

Overall, Jai's probably the hardest villain to play, he needed to be REALLY GOOD to be "the bad guy", to make his role conceivable. Oab absolutely nailed it with his talent and experience. He's not even my type or extremely good looking yet I'm 100% SOLD. I immediately re-watched the scene of him kissing Teh back hungrily at the end of ep 3 like I used to re-watch Teh/Oh-aew's steamy make out session at the end of episode 3 part 1. Coincidence?

I like some parts of both seasons for the same reason, each challenged and tried to break some outdated/contrived narratives in the BL genre. Part 1 took on the sexuality taboo by showing two same sex characters sexually attracted to each other, no more "I'm not into boys, I just happened to fall for someone of the same gender" or "pure love" bullshit. By staying true to the characters' sexuality and actually showing it with explicit, intense (and beautifully shot) scenes, the gay characters were normalized. They weren't just pure and innocent, no one was. And it created two of most unconventional gay characters in Asian pop culture, Oh-aew, a beautiful boy who's very comfortable with his own sexuality and femininity, not passive at all, taking initiative to pursue what he wanted; and Teh, a sensitive, caring and vulnerable boy who cried a lot, he's confused but also sweet and brave.

Part 2 tackled the "You can only love one person through your life" trope with a very nuanced story of "cheating". Yet neither carried out what they started. Part 1 fell short of a revolutionary piece that stayed true to "adolescent sexual turmoil", dismissing bisexuality and becoming a typical unrealistic BL fantasy in the end. And Part 2, ugh, forced a "happy ending" that almost no one digs. I understand it's extremely difficult and risky to disrupt the established norms of a genre. But sometimes being transgressive and progressive could be the same thing. A story, an artwork, has to challenge something in order to create something new and compelling.

#i promise you the moon #i told sunset about you #ipytm #oab oabnithi #billkin #pp krit #rant post #asian lgbtq dramas #lgbtq #i promised you the moon

17 notes · View notes

skamamoroma · 3 years

Text

BECAUSE I CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS SHOW UNTIL I WRITE ALL THIS DOWN: “I Told Sunset About You” - each other’s flaws, rivals and how the ending is so god damn hopeful and full circle it keeps making me cry etc.

Ever since I finished ITSAY, I’ve wanted to write a post about the theme of rivalry verses the fact that, in the end, Oh and Teh teach the other and give the other things they miss from their lives and how this story is quite possibly top of the list when it comes to the most romantic, most meaningful, most stunning example of that. I don’t think I’ll ever be over it or able to summarise how much emotion and lingering thought it leaves you with because it’s just humanity at its most lovely. The entire last sequence was something I rewatched the other night and it had me sobbing. I’m still just so stunned at how all of these little threads are tied together, how BOTH get what they need and have the most beautiful cyclical but developed stories and it ends in so much emotion for them both even outside of each other. AND THE GOD DAMN SCORE OVER THE END SCENE KEEPS POPPING UP ON MY PLAYLIST AND MAKING ME CRY WHEN I LEAST EXPECT IT.

So, I love that the show begins with the idea that Teh is chasing his dream. He’s in his audition making it happen and still, he thinks of Oh-aew and includes him as the reason he wants to succeed. We get their backstory and the idea that Teh’s passion for acting and especially playing Yongjian is wrapped up not only in his wish to pursue that career but also in proving a point to his mum and brother. He sees a chance to impress and be something because, as he said, he doesn’t see anything else in himself that could make them proud. Teh’s dream, triggered by Yongjian - the role - is kind of all encompassing with THAT Uni and THAT dream. It’s all wrapped up in one. It’s clearly part of the reason that Chinese is something he has this focus for and he comes back to it, even uses it to learn.

The fact that, as kids, they part on such bad terms because both effectively realised they wanted the same dream, both felt they each couldn’t have it at the same time, they were stubborn and selfish and gate keeping. Teh felt threatened and as if his unique selling point and passion was being stolen and Oh felt impassioned for once but then betrayed by a friend he thought would support him but didn’t stop to consider how effectively stepping into the one role Teh dreamed of as a kid could be a sore spot. It was all so childish and petty but when we see them as young men, they’re still those same people. They haven’t changed all too much and so we get to see their growth side by side, for good or bad.

The use of RIVALS as the first Chinese word, the word Teh writes on his test paper and the foundation of what they think they are to each other becomes so meaningful as they grow and we only see the growth through their flaws from that point onwards.

Teh’s flaws being in terms of his emotional growth and ability to be comfortable in his own skin and express himself and Oh’s in his finding drive, passion, focus and learning to believe in and apply himself. The other excels in the area that the other has flaws. Oh is so in tune with him emotions; he’s sure, confident, expressive, honest, open and affectionate. Teh is so driven and able to apply himself and never gives up, knowing he can do it that he’s a force to be reckoned with and even a little arrogant with it.

For me, THE most beautiful thing about this story is how both of them learn that lesson from the other and how the process is so detailed and wrapped up in so many other facets of the show. It’s so god damn stunning to watch each of them help the other and then learn/grow so that when they both stand at the sunset, they are different people.

Teh’s impact on Oh is significant. It’s all wrapped up in Ke Yi… he teaches Oh that he CAN DO IT. He encourages by providing his books, he tutors, he teaches so that Oh can understand, he pushes him to focus, he gives advice on how he can improve, he wakes up at 4am to encourage Oh to study… he makes him the idioms book, he never stops offering guidance and when he feels that he’s the reason all of Oh’s hard work has been for nothing, he gives up his spot to Oh. The fact that Oh goes very serious when they first have a tutoring session and asks Teh seriously - help me - has such a profound impact on Teh and his self worth, you can see how him being able to help makes him feel good. They are no longer rivals - Teh is helping him in every way he knows how and will not let Oh fail.

On the cliff, the conversation they have is so unique. I love the way that Oh says ‘never stop competing with me’. He knows the impact Teh has had on him and how good Teh’s influence is on him. He knows that his friendship with Teh has helped him see he CAN do it and has given him a boost. The fact that after RIVALS, Oh recognises that that might not be such a bad thing if competition can help you find your focus and can help you develop!

The fact that Oh makes his vow always makes me a bit misty eyed because he’s not being lazy anymore, he’s not sitting back. He’s being so active in his dreams and the belief in himself and he tells himself that he WILL succeed and be able to tell the sunset he did it. Him asking Teh to run alongside him is just… EMOTIONS… because Teh is the one he knows he needs by him.

And we see why. Because half way up the hill during their rehearsal, Oh stops and has a moment of wanting to give up and Teh doesn’t let him. He tells him they can sit for a while but they mustn’t give up… and you can see Oh thinking about it, looking at Teh and then deciding he has to carry on. Teh even helps to push him up the hill, always the encouragement.

And in the end, Teh is there by his side, doesn’t need to push Oh because he has learned and towards the end, Oh even overtakes Teh as they run. I remember in the documentary, Boss the director even telling BK and PP to run in a specific order too so I’m sure this was intentional. Again, THIS SHOW.

The fact that Oh gets to the cliff and realises the sunset isn’t visible and it’s TEH who tells him that a Uni student wouldn’t give up, that they’re not done yet and it’s that last little gentle push with the words (cue me crying on the floor) “That’s right. Still a long way”. THE MEANING BEHIND THOSE WORDS. You can see that Oh feels heartbroken for Teh not getting his dream but the fact that Teh has come so far that he can encourage in that way, can recognise his own happiness for Oh’s achievements because he loves him so much. He is able to swallow his own disappointment and pain of not quite getting his dream because he’s proud of his friend and Oh’s feelings come before any of that RIVALRY. Talk about full circle.

And then you have Oh’s influence on Teh and it’s monumental. Teh’s entire arc is his journey towards feeling comfortable in his own skin, to know himself, to like himself and to feel he knows who he is. Oh doesn’t need this. Oh is so endlessly sure of himself in the loveliest way and when he’s not, he’s not frightened to be honest and open and wears his heart on his sleeve. We saw how easily he loved Teh and showed it. As they get closer, the way Oh KNOWS Teh is stunning. He may not always be able to read his thoughts but he knows how to handle Teh when he’s struggling. The amount of moments when Teh is close to impossible to understand, Oh watches him, listens, is so attentive and then on so many occasions, tells Teh he can talk to him and that there will be no judgement. Oh is so gentle with him, so understanding and so encouraging to use Teh’s tells or his quirks to try to get him to open up. He’ll allow him the time and space to work himself out. The beach scene is so beautiful for that because there’s Oh being all lit up that Teh is there and Teh just has no idea where to put himself, how to behave or what to say but only knows he wants to be near Oh. The words Oh tells him, to just BE and do what he wants have such an impact because Teh changes in an instant to being more relaxed. AND I CANNOT EVEN WRITE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THESE TWO IDEAS COME TOGETHER IN THE ‘MALE PROTAGONIST’ SCENE… do not. Because that’s Oh trying to speak Teh’s language to try to help him with his feelings and trying to work out their emotions and it’s Teh leaning into the constant wish to help Oh (even if he uses it as an emotional crutch or a safe space when he’s all in his feelings!). The way that Oh is so affectionate and loving and ALWAYS first to speak is the kind of ‘all in’ someone like Teh needs. Oh KNOWS Teh has feelings for him and doesn’t ask DO YOU, he asks HOW LONG. He’s so patient on the boat allowing Teh the silence and then returning to sit down and give Teh the time to try to sort himself out and SAY SOMETHING. Teh is the kind of person who says I love you in weird ways and who expresses his affection through unusual means and Oh knows it - the “message me when you’re home”, “I’ll get up at 4am to tutor you”, “yeah boys whatever, I’m not taking the time to make you flashcards, who’d do that”, a handmade book of chinese idioms made pretty with pictures and flowers - the list goes on...

My favourite moment to show how in tune Oh is with Teh’s inability to tackle his own emotion is after their first kiss. That entire scene, Teh does his usual and collapses with his head on Oh’s shoulder. He can’t process his emotions but Oh lifts his head and pushes his hair back… then Teh distracts from his feelings by playing with the hole in Oh’s vest and Oh takes his hands and puts them on his own face...then Teh jokes by playing fighting and Oh takes Teh’s arms and puts them on his shoulders. It’s a scene ENTIRELY speaking in touch because they don’t speak at all for that whole moment but the words are all there and the subtext is overwhelming. He guides and is just so sweet with Teh in helping him work out how to express himself. The fact that he even resorts to using Chinese on instagram to try to get through to Teh when he’s going through it is so meaningful.

It’s what makes the way Teh behaves in the end sequence SO meaningful. He’s so relaxed, comfortable and chill. His looks are sure, his eyes aren’t scared anymore and he’s there FOR Oh. He’s not wrapped up in his own head, he’s so attentive towards Oh - running with him, buying him a coconut, helping him pack his bag, encouraging him to the Cape when the sunset doesn’t quite appear… and he’s playful. His blowing Oh’s face and walking backwards with the coconut and making silly faces - they’re all Oh moves and Teh’s only able to be this way BECAUSE Oh has been so kind to him and has taught him how to be.

The sunset shot will always make me cry. That moment Teh just stands and looks at the sunset and sighs and ends up crying is so unbelievably moving - I have no words, honestly. It’s his peace and comfort. He looks like he’s eventually able to breathe and the way he just allows himself to cry and FEEL. God, it’s blissful. I think that shot is what keeps haunting me in the best way because it’s so utterly gorgeous and emotional. The way Oh walks towards him and the way he LOOKS at Teh even though he can’t see.

“You came, finally”

“Well, I had to take care of a new uni student”

THE FULL CIRCLE FEELING OF THOSE TWO STATEMENTS. Teh is speaking first, being forward and knowing what he wants to do and Oh has succeeded in his dream. Those two moments they touch the other’s arm to say ‘it’s ok’ because they just CARE. There is no semblance of rivalry left, just pride and/or emotion in where the other has ended up.

The journey from rivals to finding value in that, finding friendship again and learning from the other and falling in love along the way is just made so overwhelmingly meaningful and powerful because of the way each step is framed, how HOPEFUL the ending is because even without the romantic element, it’s so beautiful. Oh being his typically brave self asks first about them but the fact that he says himself that he’s ok to not have anything more other than Teh in his life is so lovely but the fact Teh chooses to be the one to speak first and to be brave himself and shows how much he has learned by asking for more is just the most perfect ending. AND I AM STILL NOT OVER IT ALL, CAN YOU TELL.

#itsay #I told sunset about you #itsay thoughts #WHY CAN THIS SHOW NOT LEAVE ME ALONE

38 notes · View notes

ilonga · 3 years

Note

Chancellor’s office variants or clone Vader?

ooh since I just did a clone!vader ask, imma go with Chancellor’s office variants!

Chancellor’s Office Variants is basically a oneshot with three aus where Anakin doesn’t turn to the dark side in the Chancellor’s office (the first time, when the Chancellor reveals himself as the Sith, not the second time with Mace & the others fighting Palpatine), with varying results. All three of them more or less begin with Mace and the other Jedi entering because Anakin’s been gone a while/there’s been a disturbance in the force, and they’re going to get to the bottom of it.

AKA Anakin doesn’t turn, but Palpatine still wins, in three different AUs in the Chancellor’s office.

Variant #1:

Mace and the other Jedi enter the room to find Anakin barely conscious with Palpatine holding Anakin’s own saber to Anakin’s throat.

Upon Palpatine revealing himself as the Sith to Anakin, Anakin attacks him instead of leaving to report to the Jedi Council. Palpatine manages to get the upper hand and uses that handy-dandy ~sith lightning~ and now Anakin is. In a very precarious medical state. And, sensing the Jedi approaching, Palpatine decides to use Anakin as his safety net, more or less. Because take a step forward, and he’ll kill the Jedi’s Chosen One--a win for Palpatine. Do nothing, and Palpatine escapes alive and unharmed, the Jedi’s greatest threat--also a win for him.

I haven’t decided whether I want Anakin to survive this or not, so ig we’ll see lol.

Variant #2:

ooh this is probably my favorite variant tbh,,,

Mace and the other Jedi enter the room to find a dead Anakin.

In the same situation as before, Anakin attacks Palpatine. However, instead of keeping him alive, Palpatine decides to cut his losses and kill him then and there. When Mace and the other Jedi enter, alerted by the massive disturbance in the force, Palpatine pulls out them acting chops and acts terrified and betrayed, accusing teh Jedi of sending an assassin to kill him. When the Jedi make it clear that they’ve done no such thing and demand to know what went down in the office/try to arrest him for killing a Jedi, Palpatine provides this explanation of events.

- Anakin came into his office, acting strange and extremely unbalanced

- He seemed angry and threw out accusations about “withholding the power he was rightfully due”/accused the Chancellor of holding him back (maybe the Chancellor even says something about how he was saying he “should have become a master, it was denied to me by you”)

- “I should have listened to you, Master Jedi, when you told me that boy was dangerous”

- “You always knew he would snap someday”

- “His eyes seemed strange, it was almost as if they were yellow.”

He tries to plant the idea in their heads that Anakin was in fact the Sith they were looking for all along. Whether or not he convinces the Council, I haven’t decided, but some of them do believe some of what he’s said. At the very least, the public believes Palpatine fully, and he’s definitely not unseated from power.

Variant #3:

Mace and the other Jedi enter to find Palpatine with a saber at Anakin’s throat.

The difference here is in what happened beforehand--Palpatine reveals himself as a Sith Lord, but pulls out some “I’m not the Sith Lord behind the war, I just know of the dark side” and “if you turn me in, the Jedi will kill me, Anakin. You know what the Jedi do to dark siders--you’ve done it yourself”. Anakin agrees uneasily and says he won’t turn Palpatine in--the man’s been his friend since he was nine, he couldn’t just repay him like that, and Palpatine explains that the Jedi will be coming to arrest him soon, he can sense it, and concocts a plan.

He tells Anakin that he’ll have to use him as a way to escape safely, but please remember that of course, he’d never hurt Anakin, Anakin will just be helping him stay alive and unharmed.

So when Mace and the Jedi enter, Anakin is there with the saber to his throat and Palpatine threatens to kill him unless the Jedi let him go unharmed. Palpatine escapes unharmed.

Anakin, on the other hand, feels so. . . strange, in the aftermath, because he knows the Chancellor would never hurt him, he knows it, but there’s a slight scar on his neck from the burn of the saber and he can’t help but feel. . . hurt. Because in that moment he was afraid.

oof this got long. Essentially I just want an excuse to write Palpatine being manipulative as hell dfghjk.

(ask me about my star wars WIPs!)

#writing asks #asks #my writing #star wars fanfiction #star wars au #anakin doesn't turn to the dark side

24 notes · View notes

zuffer-weird-girl · 4 years

Text

"No. Absolutely not. Cancel it." He growled while you made a hurt and desperate sound at the immediate answer of your boyfriend.

"Kai please! My sister don't have anyone else to take care of her kids, and she is desperate!" You pleaded while he only arched one eyebrow at you.

"Then she should had hired a babysitter. Not give trouble for their sibling." He scoffed and returned his attention to the papers in front of him.

You sighed out loud and burried your face a bit in your hands.

"Then I guess I'm sending her a message to take them to my old apartment instead..."

He stopped abruptly on his reading to look at you.

"That won't be possible either." He said nonchantly while you arched a eyebrow.

"W-why not?"

"I sold your apartment." He said normally whil eyou widen your eyes in horror at your boyfriend's words.

"wHAT?!" you almost shouted while he sighed for you to lower your tone of voice "K-k-Kai! Why?!"

"First, you are living in here long enough, so that place won't be useful for you anymore. Second, we were in need of money and I talked to you about it."

"I don't remember you saying ANYTHING about selling my apartment!" He lifted one finger for you to wait before showing you in his cellphone a chat that you two exchanged.

Damn your distracted brain...

"Why do we again need that much money?" You sighed in hopeless.

He... wouldn't talk much about that issue right now... he was first going to talk with Pops. Later you.

"Is just a project from the yakusa angel, nothing to fuss over with."

You sighed again before frowning at your cellphone nuzzling on the pocket of your jeans.

"Anyway. The kids and I are staying in here aparently."

You merely deadpanned at his glare before you heard a muffled honk from the outside.

"You know, I can talk with that sister of yours and then-"

"Kai, no. Thanks a lot, but no. I know how my boyfriend is." You giggled while he frowned and debated with himself if he should lock the door or not...

He never met those one, but... he wasn't a fan of children... in the slightest.

It didn't take much for you to enter house with one girl and one boy holding each hand of yours, the girl had a wary look on her face while clinging to you while the boy looked around with nothing but interest.

"Its such a big place in here auntie (Y/n)!" The boy exclaimed while you laughed at his energy.

"Alright guys, remembering that this house has extremely importance; and quite honestly I have no idea how your parents let me take care of you two in here; so please be careful alrighty?" You crouched down to be eye level with the children, teh girl nodded while the boy smiled and high fived your hand.

Kai watched with a wary look on his face your interactions, sighing in defeat and choosing to place his hands on his pockets and come to you.

"Ah! Kai!" You smiled at him while the boy chosed to tilt his head at him while the girl stared blankly at him back "Those two little precious thing are my nephews! (B/n) and (G/n)!" You looked at them back with a smile that made both ease a bit their nerves.

"I see. Just instruct them to not cause any messes. You know how much I despise it." He said nonchalantly while making his way out... only deadpanning when he heard the boy asking why he said that and you simply answered that he was a cleaning maniac.

He is going to have a long talk with you.

Your laughter along with the kids made him lose focus more than once...

What it was so fun about those little pests? Children are loud, annoying, never follow your orders correctly and dirty... he couldn't get why and even how you could be genuinely happy around one of those.

After two screams of the kids he made his way out, thinking about the worst and his heart almost jumped at seing you layed on the grass with eyes completely closed and the kids shocking you a bit.

"I told you it was a bad idea you idiot!" The girl said in irritation while she shook you and begged you to wake up.

"It was just to be a little scare! Not to make aunt faint!" The boy exclaimed while doing the same thing as his sister.

His jaw clenched as his hands turned into fists, already preparing to demand answers from those brats on what they had done with his angel before you suddenly opened your eyes and screamed to scare them.

"Ha! Think only you two can do pranks?! Take that then!" You grabbed both of the children and gave each one of them raspberries on their necks, the boy succumbed into laughter as the girl squirmed and begged for you to stop, trying her hardest to not laugh.

... huh. So he didn't needed to worry. The sign in front of him seemed almost... cozy even.

Wait... what?

He walked through the halls, screeching a bit his wrist from all of his writing before he heard your voice from the kitchen.

"So you kiddos want what for eating? Already warning that junk food is not a option..." he heard nothing for a bit seconds before you whined "I'm sorry! Please dont do the pouts! I can make something else though!"

"Oh!" He heard the boy's voice "I know something then!"

Curiosity spoked louder than his knowledge so he peaked a bit on the kitchen, enough to look but the necessary for not being caught.

"Peanut sandwich!" The boy exclaimed while the girl arched a eyebrow at him.

"Mommy doesn't let you eat those things." The boy pouted at her before making a 'shh' sound to her while she rolled her eyes at him.

"Thanks for the honesty (G/n). Mommy also told me this due to your allergy mister!" You poked teh boy's nose as he poked his tongue out with a smile.

"Hum..." you brought your hand and poked your chin a couple of times with your index finger a bit before snapping your fingers "How about some sandwiches that are not all boring healthy neither much junky then?"

The kids looked at eachother before nodding while you giggled at their actions and quickly made their specific ones.

He noticed that the girl was by one or two even years older than the boy, and was definitely more reserved than her brother while the boy was simply the energy itself. But even the two being so different, both widened their eyes in awe after they took their bites when you handed their lunches.

"Amazing auntie!" The boy exclaimed before unpolitely digging his food while the girl simply stared in awe.

"Aunt, please cook instead of my mommy. Please."

"God no." You said in exasperation "She might kill me for that sweetie, dont do that."

He smirked a bit at that as he made his way out with hands on his pockets.

"I can see that when we have children she is the one spoiling the brats..." he muttered to himself before abruptly stopping on his tracks and widening his eyes in horror of what he just said.

Him? You? Children? You guys weren't even marriage! Why the hell was he even speaking about damn brats?!

No way that you and him were going to have a kid. Those gave much work, planning and pacience-

"You kiddos want me to what?" His attention got back to you as he listened your voice this time coming from the living room... aparently you just got there since minutes ago you were in teh kitchen.

"Tell is a story!" The boy exclaimed while the girl hummed in agreement.

"You always comes with the best stories aunt, please?" Teh girl asked while he followed your voices, catching the you had sitted down and the kids on both of your sides.

"Alright then..."

You chosed a fairly tale, a not much know of but it was slightly impressive how calm and... gentle you were with your words, the way you carresed the kids hair was similiar with how you carresed his own hair on a bad day..

He never noticed neither catched that you looked like the best example of a... real mother. Caring and loving... his own mother he couldn't point neither convince himself of only one time that she acted like this way with him.

He had so many troubles with his biological... that he never thought that true love with a child was even possible. He owned his life to Pops, but the yakusa was almost deprived of womans, and even some of them were generally like their atmosphere. Rigg, cold, reserved...

Yourself acted like that as well when the necessary time came... but never with him. And aparently you loved your nephews to treat them like he did.

He immediately got out and walked through the houses with a frown on his forehead... thoughts of you holding a baby on your arms and being just as or even more gentle and lovingly with a child that was also... his. A child thhat he had no shame neither disgust to have with you...

Dear lord what was happening?! When his heart started to beat so fast? When he started to care for children in the first place?! God you two weren't even marriage why on hell he was-

"Chisaki?" He snapped from hsi thoughts to see Pops looking at him with a concerned face "My boy, I called you at least five times and you didn't even listened?"

"I'm sick." He said nonchalantly to the elder "I need to find a cure or a treatment."

The old man only got more concerned as he looked at his sucessor.

"What do you mean? You seem perfectly fine at least physically. What is the issue?"

"Ever since (Y/n)'s nephews got here it started." He brought his hand to hold his chin in thought "Maybe it was because of them... I'm not sure, they are too young to have a quirk so it's not that either."

"You're feeling like you have a fever then young man?"

"No. Is not that. Ever since they came I can't stop thinking of (Y/n) with a child on her arms, a toddler or even a infant. That looks like me and her, a mix or whatever."

The elder let out a disbelieving laugh which only triggered Chisaki even more.

"So you're telling me that you're having baby fever?" Thhe way Chisaki's eyes widen in horror were quite concerning for Pops and he almost went to speak if it wasn't-

"You're joking that is a actual illness... Fuck, I need to find a cure, buy it or something-"

"Kai. I raised you better than this... please." The elder interrupted while Chisaki only glared at the man, whose face was just as unimpressed as his.

#overhaul x reader #overhaul scenario #fanfic overhaul #overhaul #chisaki kai imagine scenario #kai chisaki x reader #chisaki kai x reader #chisaki kai #kai chisaki #bnha imagine #bnha characters #bnha villains #bnha x reader #bnha #my writing #zuffer writing

354 notes · View notes

watchinglikeafangirl · 3 years

Text

Tagged by @shortpplfedup because I thought it would be fun

1. Your all time favourite BL and why?

I told sunset about you

Everything about it. It does everything right. The script, the directing and the acting, it's all on point and makes this whole show special to such degree that you just can't get over its story. Everytime I go back, I know why I love it so much. Everytime I think about it, I want to cry. Because I told sunset about you is so beautiful it hurts and the nostalgia coming along with it is overbearing.

What I loved most is the cinematography because there are so many details to discover. The scenery often says what's not spoken alound, so the audience always understands the emotional conflict without being told. Every show and movie that works like this is good when it comes to carrying the atmosphere. But it's not only the composure of the scenery, it's the story, the characters and the acting. Teh and Oh-aew are pretty complexe characters and even though they are introduced as being nearly the same person when it comes to goals and choices, you more and more get how much they are actually not alike and rather complete each other than being the same. So, their lovestory makes sense, nearly feels like destiny and Billkin and PP portray them in a very lovely way.

Yeah, I LOVE this show but only ITSAY deserves my whole heart. IPYTM didn't pull me off my feet at all and it didn't even get close to anything ITSAY-related, in my opinion.

2. The one BL that scared you for life

Tonhon Chonlatee because how badly can you mess up?! It was scary how quickly things crashed down because it started of at being ok and went down the hill completely. Tonhon was the worst character. He was homophobic and everytime he made Chonlatee uncomfortable or me in front of the screen wanting to vomit, was explained with him actually liking Chonlatee in secret? Sorry, but I didn't buy it. He was a disgusting and horrible person, made everyone scared to show they're gay and didn't ever see his faults. Yeah, this show scared me because it was toxic and went down the hill so fast and so deep that I couldn't even realize what happened.

3. Is there any BL that made you feel very single?

Gameboys because they deeply care in a different way than friends do and when watching I craved for something like that.

It actually felt like true love and even though they only knew each other via screen mostly, their bond was so strong and it made me feel a bit lonely and yes, very single.

4. If you could change one thing from a BL, which one would it be?

The non-existent relationship in 2gether. This sounds a bit harsh and their relationship wasn't non-existent but it wasn't show that much either. Sarawat flirted a bunch of times and they said they love each other and it was all pretty wholesome but at some point, I really wondered if they even moved to the next level. Tine stayed shy around Sarawat the whole time, they never kissed except at the very end and I wished for a bit more than flirting only. There wasn't even much physical contact. They looked just like close friends to be honest. If they didn't want to insert many kisses, that's fine, but they hugged for like one time and never held hands. For me, their relationship was a bit unbelievable.

5. That one BL you detest

Theory of love looks like something I wouldn't like but I haven't seen it, so we stick with TharnType - especially season 2.

I still don't know why I watched this til the end without skipping. My internet was too bad to skip but boy it was hell to endure. Season 1 was a guilty pleasure but season 2 messed up in so many ways, I can't count. Everything went down the hill and the only thing keeping it alive was MewGulf's real chemistry because not even TharnType had good chemistry but at least the actors were comfortable with each other, so it looked okay between them. But oh boy, this show was terrible. Terrible writing, terrible directing and partly terrible actors. The whole concept was bizarre and dumb. I felt like my IQ dropped from watching because of all this inconsistency.

6. Your top 5

I told sunset about you

Cherry Magic

Gaya sa pelikula

Gameboys

We best love: no 1 for you

7. That trashy BL you lowkey like

History 4: close to you even though it had many problems. I managed to look past them and quite enjoyed it then but the second the final was over I started laughing at myself in surprise how I could've looked past every wrong thing they did. But I did it and enjoyed the good moments, let the bad ones wash over me.

8. Your favourite korean BL

Light on me because it had all the fluff and complexe characters. The love triangle was written in a realistic way and everything about this show was right. The side characters had proper screentime and I cared for them all. Some choices were a bit frustrating but they were teenagers and teenagers just act stupid sometimes. The accuracy of the life of teenagers hit way too close to my life, to my school.

9. Season 2? Which one?

Definetly Gaya sa pelikula. There are so many things left unsaid and so much Karl needs to discover.

10. A bunch of BLs will air soon, which are you the most excited about?

Probably KinnPorsche. The teaser looked so epic and it's a lovestory with a bodyguard which always catches my eyes. Don't know when it will air but I hope soon and I'm afraid I am too excited... but well, it can only be better than golden blood because that one was something else.

I tag everyone who feels like it

#tag game #bl quiz #this was fun

3 notes · View notes

popculturebuffet · 3 years

Text

The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck: The Master of the Mississippi! or “How Much Satisfaction Can There Be?”

Hello everybody. I’m back to the life of scrooge mcduck.. it’s been an eternity hasn’t it and that’s for a simple reason: I had other reviews to do, especially comissions, I kept pushing this back further and further as while I love this series i put my paid work ahead of any other projects, until Kev, i.e. the guy paying for most comissions out and out asked that this be done before I got to the rest of The Ride of the Three Caballeros. It’s also why I finally put a loose schedule in place, to keep projects from slipping so the MANY retrosectives and what not I have going can move along at a steady pace and I can slot in comissions easier, 5 bucks an issue or episode if your curious. So now things are a bit tider, i’ll try to have an installment of scrooge’s storied past up a week from now on, so keep an eye out for that, minus christmas week as I have something else planned Duck Comics wise. So with all that out of the way and any exposition able to be baked into the plot proper, we can FINALLY get back to the life and times of scrooge mcduck

PREVIOUSLY ON THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SCROOGE MCDUCK:

A Young Scrooge got his inspiration, his start and also scared the crap out of some asshole scooby do style. Also his sister Hortense was adorable. SO there’s that. But eventually with some inspriation from what he didn’t realize was a ghost, Scrooge decided to head to america to find his Uncle Pothole. So that’s where we left off, with Scrooge heading to

youtube

Since then as the scrapbook page explains, Scrooge has worked his way up the Missippi to Louieville, Kentucky... which is where Rosa lives, and it is not a concidence it’s set here as a result. But much like how the Marvel staff being in new york in the 60′s lead to that universe having it’s unique and vibrant New York setting that’s lasted to this day, sometimes a creator using where they live as the basis can lead to really great and intresting stuff and here he had a valid reason as Louieville was one of the main hubs on the Mississippi river and thus a massive boomtown.

Not the kind of boom town I meant but I can never say no to boomtown. But yeah it’s not only a bustling hub usually anyway, but things are extra amped up given it’s Derby time. I mean the Kentucky Derby’s no steel ball run but what could be? So naturally the crowds are booming and scroogie is impressed. I mean he’s a 13 year old boy from a poor community in Scotland. This is huge to him. But he has no time to dawdle and asks the closest random gentleman where he could find his Uncle Angus, who was mentioned last time and is the one needed for this. The guy is genuinely helpful and points him to his uncle... but as I only noticed on this read through also uses a knife to swipe his bag by cutting the handle off. It’s part of why I admire this series so much: rosa snuck so many small background gags into the margins you can always find something new reading it or always get something fresh out of it. We also meet Gyro’s grandpa Ratchet.

I mean there’s no might about it. David Byrne is rich and he’s the delightful weirdo we all deserve and the autistic icon I needed.

I have no context for this, I just figured searching David Byrne in Tumblr’s Gif Search would find something delightfully batshit in that way only hec an do and I was right.

So as the tweenager enters the gambling establishment, we find Uncle Pothole, whose playing poker with local asshole and tophat enthusiast Porker Hogg...whose name keeps tripping me up as I write this as he’s not the only pig named porker I know of but is far less memorable than this one

He and Pothole are playing cards, and while Porker can go on for days he can’t go on for eight weeks.. or even two days really and prepares to finish it. He puts up his boat the Dilly Dollar, which Angus takes offence to since Porker sank his. Angus offers up the location of the Dreenan White, a legendary, and real legend at that, riverboat that sank. Since Angus was a Cabin Boy on the boat, he knows where it is. So the final hand is dealt and Angus wins with five aces, mostly because Porker’s ace ejector jammed. When Scrooge questions if this is dishonest, Angus explains their under riverboat captain rules which basically means you can cheat your ass off and it’s not only expected it’s an insult NOT to. So Angus takes Scrooge with him, seeing the boy as a good luck charm and finding out to his shock Scrooge is his nephew, but gladly takes his newly found relation under his wing as he relates to his coming to america to find his fortune, having done the same.

Angus is the first of Scrooge’s many mentors and easily the best part of this chapter. He’s lively, intresting but a contrast to scrooge, someone whose not AFRAID to work but wouldn’t mind an easy victory or giving up the adventure game, as he ends up doing. He’s a lively, clever guy and very charming. I”ll get back to the mentor part of it in a bit, but needless to say in a chapter that i’ll admit, and get more into the why as we go, is not one of life and time’s better chapters, he’s a highlight. So the two get to the Dilly Dollar while Hogg decides to follow to find where the Dreeynan Whyte is. As for why he hasn’t drudged it up Angus simply can’t as the Mighty Missisippi’ s too muddy for that, making another mark twain quoted joke about it. But Scrooge mentions the clarity pills from Ratchet, meaning he has a way to do so, and Angus is now elated and decides to head there to get his fortune, specifically near Monkey’s Elbow kentucky, which while relocated slightly to fit the story, is a very real town and an objectively great name for a town, much like Forty Fort, which is also a very real town name. Hogg overhears and after being literally booted out of the boat, as we’ll see literal asskicking is a McDuck family staple, goes to recruit some hired goons.

Yes hired goons, as every good villian needs some hired goons. And these specific goons.. are a bit.. familiar. And you’ll find out who they are under the cut!

Yup it’s the Secret Origin of the Beagle Boys. And if your wondering “Wait are they immortal too?” well. their not these are their grandpas. Also Hogg’s whole complaint about “wearing them if there yellow” just.. bugs me. They .. they aren’t cowards.. Grandpappy’s just being smart and knows his sons are excessively dumb, as is family tradition. They have no issue with committing crimes, they just don’t want to be arrested by the first Navy boat that finds them. That’s just.. common logic. This is one of Life and Time’s weaker atrributes: Due to being built around barks stories, that means most of his foes here are the random greedy asshats of the week Scrooge faced who had some loophole to his fortune or the grandparents of said assholes. With the exception of hte Beagles, who show up a few times, Glomgold and Soapy Slick who wihle a minor vilian is at the center of one of the best chapters of the story, most of these guys are just forgettable hooligans. Not terrible, and the stories around them are good enough to make it enjoyable but nothing really distinct from what Scrooge normally faced outside of his origin story. Really Barks was simply stronger at STORIES than he was at creating villians: As Magica, The Beagle Boys, Gladstone, Rockerduck and Glomgold all show he wasn’t untalented at it, it’s just more often than not he fell back on some random asshole.

Instead of using a dedicated Rogue’s Gallery of intresting baddies, most writers of most comics just used villians of the week and maybe ONE OR TWO designated hitters. Batman’s Rogue’s gallery wasn’t big enough to form their own country at this point is what i’m saying, it just meant Rosa had to build more vilians of teh week. It dosen’t drag the story down entirely, as the story is about SCROOGE and his growth: sometimes the villians are just a secondary ingrident in a good story. But it’s still something very noticable and one of the weaker parts of the story, it’s just like I said, with the story being more on Scrooge and where a lot of his personality came from, it’s something I really didn’t notice before and really dosen’t bother me now I have. The villians are weak btu the hero is so intresting and grows so much it just dosen’t matter. Their there to provide Scrooge with opportunites to evolve, and the really good ones are saved for the best moments of that and for when a villian IS needed to change scooge as a person. So it all evens out.

So naturally the next day when the McDucks head to get the pills, Hogg’s beat them to it, and when Ratchet refused to cut cards for his stock had them beat Ratchet while they were at it. Though oddly Angus assumes he’s just passed out while Scrooge is the one to recognize someone knocked him out. You’d think a well experienced guy like Angus would know that eh whatever. Point is Hogg is ahead and Angus dosen’t have a crew... though Scrooge and Ratchet naturally volunteer since both have skin in the game: Scrooge wanted a job with Pothole anyway and Ratchet is out a job and out his pills. Angus gladly takes them on.. but accidently sets the Dominos in place for one of Comics!Scrooge’s worst behaviors down the line.

Yeahhh.... Pothole is partially responsible for Scrooge criminally underpaying his staff and family. That gag.. is easily one of , if not my least faviorite part about Rosa’s work. It’s a holdover from Carl Barks work naturally, and one that makes some sense: Rosa set his work shortly after barks, so some time in the 1950s, having barks works take place around when they were written. There isn’t a strict timeline of what happened which year outside of life and times, but Rosa’s works are delieberate period pieces. That’s not a bad thing and if he’s going to base most of his stuff around stuff Barks did, then it’s a good call to make. The issue is the execution: While with Barks it was in part because there was less income inequality, it was also clearly a bit of satire, as Donald was the every man and companies could be unfair, cheap douchebags then as they are now. IT feels more like a joke on Scrooge. Donald still puts up with a lot of stuff, but he’s more liable to complain. In the Rosa stories.. it feels more like he just makes Donald the butt monkey and it dosen’t play well as.. Donald dosen’t want to be there. He has every RIGHT not to want to be there as he’s not being paid a decent wage, not being compensated in any other ways, and could be searching for a boss who actually pays him a living wage. Donald is more the victim in Rosa’s stories but he simply doesn’t realize this, or the fact it’s even worse since Donald is you know RAISING THREE CHILDREN AND SCROOGE KNOWS THIS BUT DOES NOT PITCH IN ONE EXTRA CENT. So already without even adding the decades on, it hasn’t aged well.. but add in the modern day business where it’s a STRUGGLE to get states to raise minimum wages, the job market was hit horribly even BEFORE Corona came and made things worse, and companies horribly abuse their employees to ludcirous extremes such as time crunch in the video game industry, black friday in retail and of course the house of nightmares that is the amazon warehouse, and I say that being a frequent use of amazon.. just because I rely on a company dosen’t mean I have to LIKE doing so in any way shape or form.

What i’m saying is Scrooge’s actions were already bad, making this joke fall flat, but it comes off as downright unfunny after all of that. Even given the times Scrooge was raised in it’s just not a funny gag that “oh ha ha a 70+ year old man ever learned right from wrong when it came to paying his family or workers”. It just paints scrooge in the worst light possible as man who never grew, in at least one aspect, from being a goddamn tweenager and is easily one of the weaker moments of an otherwise epic and well crafted saga, and as i’ve said of Rosa’s exemplary work as a whole.

Anyways the race is on and with the DIlly Dollar gaining on Hogg’s Cotton reiver witch, Hogg has them ram into the boat and flip it over. And no i’m not descrbing a sex act. In a show of competence while Blackheart Beagle’s actions send them close to the falls too he just uses the dilly dollar as a ramp. We also get a really cool flipped over panel as our heroes are waterlogged. A snag boat shows up, I assume it removes snags and dangerous objects and complains about rescuing them. .even though CLEARLY they had some kind of accident. It’s.. never a good look to complain about having to save someone’s life or livelyhood unless that someone is Tucker Carlson. Then it’s ABSOLUTLEY okay to grumble a bit about having to do the right thing.

So after a quick gag we’re introduced to a chekovs gun as a massive tree sprouts out of the river and spooks Scroogey.. and Angus who explains it’s a “sawyer”, something that happens when a dead tree falls in a river.. sinks in.. and then can rise right back up suddenly, violently and boat destroyingly.

So our heroes head on and find the location and Angus dumbly assumes that Hogg, who had a clear start is just lost.. and not you know lurking in the bushes watiting to strike. And strike he does as he once again rams hard and long into the Dilly Dollar, leaving it on a sandy shore. Schwing. Our heroes are landlocked but Hogg, just to earn himself a dare to be stupid award, gives the Beagles their deed, and tells them theirs diving equipment. You can take a wild guess what happenes next.

Angus understandably laughs at his misfortune because it’s funny.. and Hogg responds by dropping him down a well. Before Scrooge can raise a benefit concert to send his love down a well, Angus asks Scrooge to join him instead.. and soon we find out why as the Beagles only find a wrecked town. Turns out thats where Monkey’s Elbow WAS, and they build the new town near it.. with the farm Angus ended up at being where the wreck is now.

Our heroes explore the wreck which honestly, looks really damn impressive, a muddy destroyed riverboat hauntingly beautifully lit by candle light, which Scrooge is holding naturally. I may of had my criticisms for Rosa this chapter, and I will again, but it’s moments like this that reinforce that the man is still one of the best comic book artists i’ve ever seen and knows how to beautifully meld his art with storytelling.

Speaking of which our heroes find the safe with the money. Angus is ritch but Scrooge.. dosen’t get how he can be happy. Scroogie questions “How much satisfaction can there be in having your life’s fortune handed to you? “ It’s easily the best moment of the chapter.. while it’s only two panels before we get to Angus moving things right along... it really speaks to Scrooge’s character. Even as still a naive boy from Glasgow... his whole life has been hard work, effort working your way up. To just.. LUCK into fortune like this baffles him. To be satisfied with that and not seem to have any amibation to use it to go further, to make more of yourself. To be more. While he hasn’t quite got his love for adventure yet, we’ll get there next time, even now there’s a hunger inside him, a desire to not just get rich, that’s all fine and good.. btu to have EARNED IT. To truly feel like he made his way.

And it perfeclty makes sense with his background: Scrooge was raised with nothing, and found out at the start of the story his family had lost everything, a once glorious clan reduced to a poor starving family on the edge of Glasgow. To him it can’t just be about getting Money.. he wants to bring his clan back. To make his family happy and proud. To make sure his father’s faith as the last of their line wasn’t misplaced. He has a lot of expectation on him and that’s bred his character. Angus.. just sorta left at a young age and has been incommuincado. He dosen’t really care about family or legacy.. not that I don’t think he would’ve sent some money back to buy the castle, I just think he was never that concerned with his family’s legacy like Scrooge despite coming from a similar cloth. He wanted the money, but Scrooge cares about the money.. and his family. It’s what anchors him. What keeps him from his worst impulses and keeps him grounded.. for now anyways but that’s a ways off. Point is it really speaks to Scrooge’s character.

But soon the beagles find our heroes, and a fight breaks out.. and naturally even without years of experince yet, Scrooge is still a McDuck and while previously his fighting was based on ingunity.. this time the little runt’s just out for blood and suprises the beagles with a clump of mud and then beating the shit out of them. When one of them tries to respond by wacking him with a piece of wood... he instead breaks a collumn and with the dreenan unable to handle the mud without it... the place starts to collapse. However our heroes don’t make it out unschathed as the Beagles capture them and the gold... for some reason. Seriously Scrooge dosen’t fight back or anything nor does angus they just.. let hte beagles overpower them. WHen Scrooge fully fought the grown ass men just a few mintues ago. What the actual hell.

But we do get another Badass Scrooge Moment, as once hteir on the ship, Scrooge mentions another treasure.. which baffles Angus despite you know.. the boy clearly playing at something. Yeah whlie I do like Angus.. he can be grating in parts and here he just comes off REALLY stupid. But after being tortured by running on a boat, with the beagles mistaking Angus’ genuine confusion for being a bastard man, which naturally their impressed by, Scrooge fessses up.. and you can see exactly’s coming.. the sawyer raises the boat into the air and harpoons it. The beagles try to play off the port authority but scrooge unmaks those “infamous beagle boys”.. and thus names one of his greatest threats. Blackheart vows revenge while our heroes go for a sasparillia..though Scrooge keeps the money.. as he says the memory of that adventure is worth more than anything. As for the Gold, the goverment took it back, but did give them a reward, and Angus only dosen’t give Scrooge a share because he’d have to refloat it, but offers him a job and the dollar in two years at a bargin price. Alls well that ends well. A truly poetic way to end the chapter and prepare scrogoe for the next... TO BE CONTINUED...

FINAL TH...

Yeah.. as you probably know this is NOT the end of the chapter. Instead we go on for a bit more. And a few more pages would’ve been fine, to help bridge the gap.. we see scrooge get the Dollar at a bargin price as his uncle promised, though the deal turns out to be a bit of a lemon as the riverboat industry has dried up. But then.. we get a couple page adventure with the beagle boys, where the beagles try to steal the goverment gold scrooge is transporting, Ratchet helps him escape, and we DO get the utterly badass image of scrooge driving the boat onto land and it exploding and causing a massive flood> While that is awesome.. the pacing just takes a huge hit and it’s easily why this chapter is one of my least faviorite. It probably would’ve been better if they just had a passage of time montage of events at the start of the next chapter and ended on that bit before.. but instead it just goes on a bit and really tries my patience every time as instead of moving on to a bold new adventure.. we just get some filler to help pad things out so Rosa can get it to the right page length. I don’t blame him, sometimes shit happens, but it dosen’t make it any more fun to read. So the Dollar is scrapped and Scrooge is back at the bottom with barely a cent to his name. But he’s resolute: since the river boating days were winding down anyway he’s going west to become a cowboy, and heads off on the Wabash Cannonball as a fireman, i.e. the guy who stokes the engines, to make his way there. So we end our story for now and again.. this would’ve been much better condensed but whatever. We’re finally done.

Final Thougts

As you could probably tell but I saved for here, and I outright even said this is one of my least faviorite chapters and one of the weakest if not the weakest. Part of it is the structure issue I mentioned, but the other part is it just.. isn’t as intresting at least to me personally. The rest of life and times have pretty unique stories that while not removed from genres Scrooge stories have covered, use the story of his rise to make them really pop as we slowly see how the iconic Scrooge we know became the legend and what shaped him that way. Here while we get bits of that, it’s mostly just a standard uncle scrooge story but with him as a kid. It’s not a BAD one, it dosen’t drag the whole of life and times down and it’s servicable but it just feels a bit more standard for Rosa’s work. Still enjoyable, but nothing really spectacular like the next two chapters. On it’s own or as one of the side stories it would’ve been fine but as part of this huge sprawling masterpiece, it’s just a bit underwhelming and just makes me eager to get to the next part every time rather than really suck me in as much as the others. Again the pacing dosen’t help with that and only makes it drag further. It just dosen’t have the weight the other ones do character wise and as such just makes me want to get to part 3 already, which naturally that story within a story dosen’t help with. Overall while not a bad comic, I don’t think any part of life and times is truly bad, it’s still not a GREAT comic like what’s to come or what came just before.

NEXT TIME ON LIFE AND TIMES: Scrooge heads out to the wild wild west.. though instead of a giant mechanical spider he fights some cattle rustlers and meets Teddy Roosevelt HELL. YES.

Until then, happy holidays and later days!

#the life and times of scrooge mcduck #scrooge mcduck #life and times #ratchet gearloose #angus mcduck #the beagle boys #the master of the missippi #don rosa #duck comics

18 notes · View notes

meanminyxrd · 3 years

Text

believe but its ab a redheaded runaway

alright so today i’m tackling ‘believe’ by hollywood undead. i think the vibes can fit both andrew and neil, but moreso neil in this connotation. as always, book spoilers ahead. i’ve been forgetting to put that lately.

let’s start w the chorus and opening of the song:

I can't believe that when I breathe

There's something good inside of me, just one good thing inside

So close to me, that memory

Of that one good thing inside of me, just one good thing inside of me, yeah

neil is, inherently, a selfish person before he gets attached to the foxes. think ab it: he cares only for his survival and nothing more, nothing less. that takes a certain type of apathy towards other people, which was taught to him by his mother. stay disconnected, stay safe. care for no one but yourself. when he starts seeing that the foxes care for him, and he’s just... playing them, essentially—lying to them about who he is and where he’s come from—he acknowledges that they’re never going to forgive him for ditching them later on in the year; specifically andrew, because he promised andrew he would stay. he feels like a bad person but it’s what he has to do to live. he wants to stay and play exy and be able to focus on something other than survival for once, but he knows it’s all just a play in his head. in the end its about his survival.

If I ran out the backdoor, nobody would stop me, but where would I go?

'Cause I ain't ever had a real home, so what do I know?

So I could keep running, hide until they find me, but what would that do?

If they could only know what I knew, what would it prove?

I should've seen the writing on the wall, instead I'm left to fall

'Cause the longer I'm away, the more we stay the same

Looking back, would've thought I knew it all

Instead I'm left to fall, did I throw it all away?

neil is a runaway. it’s how he’s managed to survive this long; running away and keeping on the move to avoiding his father’s men tracking him down. never leaving a trail, never staying anywhere for too long and never making any connections. when he leaves, there’s no one there to stop him both physically and metaphorically. no connections means he isn’t held back emotionally or by someone forcing him to stay. he’s never really had a home, being on the run his whole life. its all about survival, but neil signs the contract to palmetto, right? he knows he could keep running to stay safe but really, what would that do? is that really living? he wants to open up to people im sure, but what would that prove to them? in his mind it would just show that he was a bad person—dangerous. keeping kevin around is one thing; kevin is an exy star. he’s worth it. but neil? neil is nothing. why would they risk their life for a nobody?

saying he should have seen the writing on the wall alludes to all the hints that his father’s men left that they were closing in on him, however he ignored it just to be able to stay a little longer—play a little longer. instead he ignored it and fell. looking back on it he thought he had a handle on it and would be able to get away or at the very least accept his death, but it actually hurts. he got attached without realizing. and now he’s wondering if any of it was worth it. is this worth losing his life for? or, did he do enough w his time with the foxes and with andrew? or did he throw away that time for nothing?

Don't you know, little boy, they'll lay you to waste, man?

Little do they know every song has a lifespan

Never taken one, but I'm taking my last chance

To hold all we know and let go with both hands

So don't you know the clouds are made from concrete?

Right through the stone, can you hear my heartbeat?

Beats through my bones like the memory left me

Not for a second or a minute when I dream

I wanna go home like the home that I keep

You can dig six or sixty-six feet

‘don’t you know, little boy, they’ll lay you to waste, man?’ his father’s men want him dead and he knows that. they’re who he’s been outrunning his entire life (and i suppose the yakuza but he didn’t know that.) he knows attention is being drawn towards him by being in the public eye, so this is like he’s mocking himself, because he knows he’s taking a very big unnecessary risk. he’s never taken a chance in his life before because its always been about survival. but this time he is taking a chance. he’s taking a chance by joining the palmetto state foxes. but by taking this chance it is metaphorically the last chance he’ll ever take, because at this point he’s 99% sure he’s gonna end up dead by the end of it all. ‘dont you know the clouds are made of concrete?’ referencing that the only way out for him is by death. whether by someone else’s hand or his own. the only way this whole catastrophe is going to end in him being ‘at peace’ or ‘in heaven’ ie the clouds, is if he’s killed. digging 6 or 66 feet down implies ‘6 feet under’, again a death metaphor.

We could live forever, still your misery missed me

Hold this song together with a bottle of whiskey

Look into the mirror at the lines that time drew

See them painted white and the eyes that shine through

My heart beats heavy in an open chest

And I wanna say goodbye, but there's nobody left

he could have gone to his dad and flipped everything on his mom instead, or run off to live with his uncle, but the anger that his father had missed neil. yes, neil had his father’s temper, but his father was tainted with misery that neil didn’t get and he didn’t want any part in the crime scene of things. ‘look into the mirror at the lines that time drew, see them painted white and teh eyes that shine through.’ this part to me is in the mirror after the nest, when neil is first really seeing his scars, ‘the lines that time drew’ would reference like old age lines stereotypically, but in neil’s case i see it a reference to his scars because that’s what marks time for him—his scars. the scars that his dad and his dad’s men left. the scars that riko left. the scars he has just from living. the ‘eyes that shine through’ is because neil no longer has his contacts. when wymack gets him from the airport he has nothing of his disguise left. and god, is he tired of running. his heart is so heavy. he wants to be able to say goodbye to someone when he dies, but there’s no one left. his mom is dead and he has no connections other than, now, the foxes. but being in this mindset of its him vs everyone, he’s alone. he cant say goodbye to anyone but himself.

I broke it all, and I put it to the test

Put your hand on mine, and feel this emptiness

There's no beat in my chest 'cause there's nothing left

No, it ain't goodbye, it's a last caress

What's another dream? You can hardly sleep

Can you believe bad things only happen to me?

God knows one day you will finally see

That scars will heal but were meant to bleed

neil, by making these decisions, broke every self imposed rule he had for himself to stay safe. he broke the rules his mother had set in place prior to her death, and he tested the limits. he chanced trusting, if just a little. he chanced making a connection. specifically, with andrew. so this part is really andreil heavy for me. let me explain why.

this part is almost like the locker room scene when his father’s men were being security guards and he knew he no longer stood any chance. he says goodbye to andrew in that moment, and this last part is a big goodbye message to me.

he’s empty. he’s out of fight. he cant fight or he would risk the foxes lives too. there’s nothing left inside of him. he says thank you to andrew as a goodbye, but it’s not a goodbye, no, it’s a last touch, one last joy to share even if it’s small. ‘whats another dream? you can hardly sleep.’ what’s the loss of something you lose all the time? what’s the loss of something that doesnt matter? neil doesnt think he matters to andrew, and so what will his loss mean, if anything? why would andrew care? the ‘can you believe bad things only happen to me?’ is a mocking quote if anything; bad things have followed neil around his whole life, and though statistically its not true only bad things happen to him, it sure feels like he’s got the worst of it. and even in the off chance that andrew does miss him, the emotional scars will heal, even if it does hurt. because neil doesnt think he matters as much to andrew as he really does.

Do you realize I would lie for you?

Please, have my last breath, I would die for you

I know I'm no good, but my heart beats true

You know I'm gonna fight, though I might be scared to lose

You took me in, and I fucked it up again

An empty promise? No, I won't pretend

'Cause in the end we need someone to solve 'em

Nobody can fix me if I'm part of the problem

he would give everything to protect the foxes. he cares about them more than he’d like to admit. he may seem distant, but do they realize how far he’s willing to go to ensure their safety? first he went to the nest to protect them, right? now he’s literally going off to his death to keep them safe. he would lie for them, he would die for them; he would throw away everything he could and couldn’t have for them. he doesnt believe hes a good person, for putting them all in this situation, but he’s trying his best. his heart has the best intentions for the foxes. in that ‘goodbye’ to andrew, he conveys so much, and andrew obviously catches on that it’s a goodbye. but neil conveys that he’s gonna fight, even if he’s scared he’s gonna lose, even if he knows he’s gonna lose. andrew took him in after everything; after being sus of neil and then neil telling him half truths, and yet he’s fucking everything up again by going off to die. and empty promise? there isnt an empty failed promise because he made andrew break off the deal beforehand. in the end, andrew was the one who was helping to fix him. the connection he formed with andrew made him feel like he had a shot; like maybe they could outwit his father and he would be safe. however, this whole situation including himself couldn’t be fixed because he is a part of the problem. he blames himself for the foxes being a target so to keep them safe he will go off w his father’s men and remove the issue. no one can fix him and keep him safe if he’s the dangerous one.

uhhh yeah i hope you liked my breakdown! here’s neil’s playlist if you’re curious for more! see ya next time.

#neil josten #song analysis #aftg #all for the game #tfc #the foxhole court #playlists #songs #music

6 notes · View notes

twoidiotwriters1 · 4 years

Text

Written In The Stars XXVI (Harry Potter xF!Oc)

A/N: Okay so I have a sort of “fancast” for how I imagine Erick to be, and I’ll gladly show you who I see when I write him, BUT you can still imagine him differently if you want, so be ready to see his lovely face one of this days

Words: 2,849

Warnings: Some nasty slugs, uh hints of bad family relationships ig??

Series’ Masterlist

Previous Chapter // Next Chapter

Chapter Eight: Ron Eats Slugs.

"You can't miss the defense against the dark arts lessons-"

"You can't tell me what to do."

"You have to respect him! He's a teacher!" Hermione whispered angrily.

Ron sat down in front of them and said Harry was at Quidditch practice.

"Maybe we can still catch him," Ron offered, "once I'm done with breakfast..."

While she waited, she finally decided to open her mother's letter.

She'd been way too nervous the whole week to open it, afraid of what might be inside.

'Mel Dumbledore.

I can't even imagine why would you do such a thing on your very first day. I'm speechless. Mr. Weasley’s car? I don't understand why you thought that was a good idea.

Maybe you were just following Ron and Harry's lead, which I must say, is a little disappointing.'

Mel didn't want to keep reading, but she figured it was better to get it over with.

'-You should never base your actions on what other people expect you to do, Mel. Not even if that person is one of your closest friends. How do you expect to become your own whole witch if you keep following other people's tails?

I'm not angry, I'm sad that you didn't trust your own instinct -let's be honest, I know for sure that whole adventure wasn't your idea- please, next time you're in trouble, take a deep breath and do what's best for you, and not what others would prefer you to do.

Be good. I'll wait for your reply,

Mum.'

"I'm a failure," Mel pouted.

"How come?" Hermione looked up.

"My mum says she's disappointed because I went along with Ron's idea instead if insisting on staying."

"How does she know it wasn't your idea?" Ron frowned.

"She's my mum," Mel replied sternly, "besides, I suppose Dumbledore explained the whole thing to her."

"At least you learned the lesson and you weren't expelled," Hermione shrugged, "but see, this is what I mean, you can't just abandon your studies, Mel. You have a second chance."

"I really think you're wrong," Mel sighed, "but I don't dare to hurt my mum more than I already did..."

The toasts were cold by the time Harry went out to the field, he saw them on the bench and approached with a weary expression.

"Aren't you finished yet?" asked Ron.

"Haven't even started," said Harry, his eyes flicked to the toasts Hermione and Ron were eating, "Wood's been teaching us new moves."

"Take one," Mel said lovingly, offering the toasts, "you can't play with an empty stomach, remember?"

Harry blushed, lightly mumbling a 'thank you', and devouring it.

As he mounted on his broom and flew around with Fred and George, Colin Creevey started to take pictures.

"Look this way, Harry! This way!"

"You know, say what you want about Ginny," Mel mentioned as she watched the younger boy, "but at least she doesn't follow Harry around with a camera..."

"I still don't understand why she's so shy around him," Ron frowned, "it's so weird"

"She likes him," Mel shrugged, "people act oddly around the person they like, right?"

"I wouldn't know," He raised his eyebrows, "never liked anybody"

"Yeah," Mel sighed, her attention back on Harry, "Me neither..."

"Look, it's the Slytherin team," Hermione pointed to the large group of people nearing the field.

"Holy Snitch," Mel leaned over, squinting, "is that- it is! Malfoy- and they- they have new brooms!"

"Who?"

"All of them!"

"This can't be good," Ron stood up, "let's go."

The girls followed their friend down to the field.

"What's happening?" Ron asked Harry. "Why aren't you playing? And what's he doing here?"

"I'm the new Slytherin Seeker, Weasley," said Malfoy, "Everyone's just been admiring the brooms my father's bought our team. Good, aren't they? But perhaps the Gryffindor team will be able to raise some gold and get new brooms, too. You could raffle off those Cleansweep Fives; I expect a museum would bid for them."

The Slytherin team laughed.

"At least no one on the Gryffindor team had to buy their way in," said Hermione. "They got in on pure talent."

Mel couldn't have said it better.

"No one asked your opinion, you fiIthy little Mudblood."

"How dare you!" Alicia Spinnet gasped.

Ron pulled out his wand.

"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!"

Mel didn't know what was going on and got even more confused once Ron fell back as if something had hit him.

"Ron! Ron! Are you all right?" Hermione kneeled next to him.

Ron was throwing up slugs. One after the other, it was gross.

"That wand..." Mel shook her head, trying to help him stand.

"We'd better get him to Hagrid's, it's nearest," said Harry and help her get Ron on his feet.

"What happened, Harry? What happened? Is he ill? But you can cure him, can't you?" Colin was now on the field, eagerly jumping around them like a puppy.

Ron puked a particularly huge slug.

"Oooh," said Colin, "Can you hold him still, Harry?"

"Get out of the way, Colin!" Harry demanded.

They walked as fast as possible, trying to avoid stepping on the hideous slugs Ron kept throwing up.

"Nearly there, Ron," said Hermione when they were a few meters away from Hagrid's hut, "You'll be all right in a minute - almost there -"

Suddenly, Gilderoy Lockhart emerged from the cabin.

"Quick, behind here," Harry hissed, and they took Ron behind a bush.

"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" Lockhart was saying aloud. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one - I'll sign one tonight and send it over. Well, good-bye!"

They waited a few seconds, Ron still having not the greatest time. Hermione knocked on the door. Hagrid appeared quickly, for a second he looked like he was about to yell at them, but it soon changed into a smile.

"Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me - come in, come in - thought you mighta bin Professor Lockhart back again -"

Hagrid was not surprised by Ron's issue, he let Harry explained as Ron sat there, shaking uncontrollably.

"Better out than in," he said cheerfully, handing Ron a big bucket, "Get 'em all up, Ron."

"I don't think there's anything to do except wait for it to stop," said Hermione, "That's a difficult curse to work at the best of times, but with a broken wand-"

"What did Lockhart want with you, Hagrid?" Harry asked, scratching Fang's ears.

"Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies out of a well," growled Hagrid, "Like I don' know. An' bangin' on about some banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle."

"I think you're being a bit unfair. Professor Dumbledore obviously thought he was the best man for the job -" Hermione was quick to correct, but Hagrid interrupted.

"He was the on' man for the job," said Hagrid, "An' I mean the on' one. Gettin' very difficult ter find anyone fer the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter take it on, see. They're startin' ter think it's jinxed. No one's lasted long fer a while now. So tell me," said Hagrid, looking at Ron. "Who was he tryin' ter curse?"

"We were on the Quidditch team and the Slytherin team walked up to them, Malfoy is the new seeker, apparently he bought his way in..."

"Malfoy called Hermione something -it must've been really bad, because everyone went wild"

"It was bad," said Ron finally able to speak, "Malfoy called her 'Mudblood,' Hagrid -"

That was all he could say before throwing up another bunch of slugs.

"He didn'!" Hagrid gasped.

"He did," she said, "But I don't know what it means. I could tell it was really rude, of course -"

"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," gasped Ron, coming back up. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggleborn - you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards -like Malfoy's family- who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood." He gave a small burp, and a single slug fell into his outstretched hand. He threw it into the basin and continued, "I mean, the rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom -he's pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."

"An' they haven't invented a spell our Hermione can' do," said Hagrid proudly, making Hermione go a brilliant shade of magenta.

"It's a disgusting thing to call someone," said Ron, wiping his sweaty brow with a shaking hand. "Dirty blood, see. Common blood. It's ridiculous. Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out."

He retched and ducked out of sight again.

"Well, I don' blame yeh fer tryin' ter curse him, Ron," said Hagrid loudly over the thuds of more slugs hitting the basin. "Bu' maybe it was a good thing yer wand backfired. 'Spect Lucius Malfoy would've come marchin' up ter school if yeh'd cursed his son. Least yer not in trouble."

"His father is just as awful and annoying," Mel huffed, "one of this days, I don't know which one of us, but I'm sure we'll end up giving Malfoy the beating of his life"

"It won't be you, of course," Harry said sarcastically, "you hate getting into fights"

"Shut up, Glasses."

"Harry," said Hagrid abruptly, "Gotta bone ter pick with yeh. I've heard you've bin givin' out signed photos. How come I haven't got one?"

Mel snorted, taking a treacle fudge that Hagrid had kindly put on the table for them. Harry looked completely offended.

"I have not been giving out signed photos," he said, "If Lockhart's still spreading that around-"

"I'm on'y jokin'," He laughed, patting Harry so hard on the back he almost hit the table face-first, "I knew yeh hadn't really. I told Lockhart yeh didn' need teh. Yer more famous than him without tryin'."

"Bet he didn't like that," said Harry.

"Don' think he did," Hagrid grinned. "An' then I told him I'd never read one o' his books an' he decided ter go. Treacle fudge, Ron?"

"Can I be your maid of honor, Glasses?" Mel teased as they walked back inside the castle, Hagrid mentioned that he'd found Ginny walking around his house trying to run into Harry, "If you and Ginny want to, of course, I'll be more than happy-"

"Stop," Harry snapped, "I don't tease you about Fred and George, so don't tease me"

"I just think it's so romantic!" She grinned.

"Of course you do, Mellow," He replied.

Mel gasped.

"I told you not to tell him about that stupid nickname!" Mel turned to look at Ron, who had shrunken in his place.

"Sorry! I didn't do it on purpose, we were talking the other day and it slipped!"

"It slipped -don't give me that look, Harry. The fact that you found a better nickname doesn't mean I'll stop calling you Glasses."

"I wasn't counting on it," He smirked.

"There you are," Professor McGonagall walked up to them, "You will do your detentions this evening."

"What're we doing, Professor?" said Ron, nervously suppressing a burp.

"You will be polishing the silver in the trophy room with Mr. Filch," said Professor McGonagall. "And no magic, Weasley - elbow grease."

"Miss Dumbledore will help Hagrid, and Potter will be helping Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail," said Professor McGonagall.

"Oh no - Professor, can't I go and do the trophy room, too?" said Harry, "Or help Hagrid?"

"Certainly not," said Professor McGonagall, "Professor Lockhart requested you particularly. Eight o'clock sharp, the three of you."

"Filch'll have me there all night," said Ron as they sat on the Gryffindor table, "No magic! There must be about a hundred cups in that room. I'm no good at Muggle cleaning."

"I'd swap anytime," said Harry, "I've had loads of practice with the Dursleys. Answering Lockhart's fan mail... he'll be a nightmare..."

Both of them looked at Mel with the same frown.

"You got the best deal," Ron complained, "helping Hagrid? He'll probably let you sit and watch"

"No, he'll probably make me work hard," Mel replied, "but I can't say I won't enjoy it, as long as it's not inside the forbidden forest..."

She made her way out of the castle alone after dinner, less upset than expected with her detention, humming absentmindedly to the dim afternoon light.

"Good evening," Said someone behind her.

Mel turned to see Erick, catching up to her.

"Mind if I join you, Miss?"

"I'm heading to detention," Mel informed him.

"I just want to tell you something," He said shortly.

"Well..." She eyed the boy curiously, "go ahead?"

"I didn't know about Malfoy- about him being the new seeker- I didn't know."

"Oh," Mel stopped walking, taken by surprise. "I wasn't expecting you to know."

"Good," He nodded, a soft frown upon his features, "I heard my brother making fun of the Weasley boy, is he alright?"

"He's better," Mel tilted her head, "Why does it bother you?"

"I'm not-" He said, then immediately he corrected, "I am- Not for him if I'm honest- I was worried about you, thinking I knew about Malfoy and decided not to tell you. I always knew my brother is an idiot but it never occurred to me that he'd be stupid enough to sell a position to someone that isn't even that good. We're surely gonna lose the cup again- not that I mind, I've never been a Quidditch fan myself, but you know... the house cup is a high stake to lose"

Mel observed him with a pensive expression, Erick raised a brow.

"What?"

"The Weasleys are such a lovely family... they tease, and most of the time they're arguing, but they love each other," She shrugged, "it's just weird to me that you speak so poorly about your own brother, he's your family, you know... I thought purebloods were loyal to their own kind"

It seemed like she'd touched a sensitive subject. Erick's eyes shifted to an angry glare and he said, very coldly:

"Not everyone can have a pretty family, Miss. Not all purebloods are as likable as the Weasleys."

The girl tried to fix it, but it was too late.

"I didn't mean-"

"Good luck with detention," He turned around.

"You could come and meet Hagrid if you want?" She offered loudly, Erick was already half-way.

"I'll pass," The boy replied, climbing up the stairs and back to the castle.

She was right about Hagrid, he made her work a lot but it was bearable and in the end, he let her go earlier than expected. At eleven she was already seated in the common room, finishing her History of Magic essay and softly stroking Grey's tiny head.

Once she was done, she wrote a letter to her mother, apologizing and promising she'd stay out of trouble for real this time. Then also wrote one for her uncle, he probably knew all the story by now, but Mel figured it was time to write to him anyway.

While looking for more ink, Erick's note fell from one of her books. Her stomach sank at the thought of their chat a few hours prior. Why did she always end up upsetting him? She wondered if being friends with him was actually a good idea.

Harry appeared around midnight.

"Oh," She jumped in her place, remembering she wasn't the only one who had detention, "how was it?"

"I... I'm not sure," He sat down next to her, the girl messily put her things away, "something odd happened while I was with Lockhart..."

"Odd?"

"I heard a voice," Harry shook his head with incertitude, "it sounded like it was in the room with us but when I told Lockhart he said he hadn't heard a thing"

"What kind of things did it say?"

Harry shivered.

"Not happy things for sure"

She nodded, a bit confused by his statement. She figured he was just confused, but believed him. Harry had no reason to be lying about something like that.

"Maybe Malfoy found out where you were and decided to do that, you should ask Ron if he had some strange occurrence like yours once he's back"

Harry looked up.

"He's not here yet?"

"I don't think so, Hagrid let me go earlier and Hermione told me none of you had arrived yet"

His eyes landed on the fireplace, deep in thought.

"I don't feel like it was just a joke..."

"Cheer up," Mel searched for his hand and gave it a little squeeze, "at least our detention it's over!"

"Yeah, yes..." He looked back at her, trying to smile, "I'll go to bed, you should too"

"I will," She nodded and watched as Harry got up and left.

The girl picked up her things. She felt her skin tingle where Harry's hand had touched.

Next Chapter —>

Taglist.

@tiphareth2018 @vampiregirl1797 @siriuslysirius1107 @celestialhayi @mikariell95 @thesuitelifeofafangirl @omiwashere

#twoidiots writing #harry potter fanfiction #Harry Potter #harry potter xoc #harry potter x y/n #harry potter x reader #ron weasley #hermione granger #rubeus hagrid #draco malfoy #WITT fic

22 notes · View notes

goldthatglistens · 4 years

Text

For some reason I started writing down whatever was in my head when I was watching Black Sails and sleep deprived and this is what happened:

Now you have everyone’s eyes where you want them. What happens next? I wish to speak on behalf of the defendent. The power you’ve given them. That the prisoner before you. For those of you who live to see tomorrow, know that you had a choice to see that the truth and you let yourself be convinced otherwhies. Stay down. Fire. How are they so good at fighting? I’m so confused. Peter Ashe. Her word with be the last hope for this place. Move. What? They’ve engaged the blockade. I’ll take my chances sailing. Oh my goodness. What? I gave you an order? What is your problem. Where are his key’s? And has he seen them since he took me away from my men. Shouting. Gunfire. More screams. Billy Bragg. I legit can’t believe he is in so many shows. Take him to Howell. Help me. If those ships flank us, they’ll have us. Gun crews at the ready. Fire at will. How did that happen? WHo did they conspire against. How did two pirates fight literally everyone in town. I don;t understand. They’re over there. This is probably the most unrealistic part. People screaming. The buildings on the right, every building. Look down there. Cannons boombing. This is literally chaos. I don’t understand how people. He sets the m free. Move. There is so much chaos, how do they even know who the pirates are? How did they not runinto them. They are really leading their reputation. I wonder if Peter Ashe was a real person? Fire! Get them both. Men. Take aim. Behidn them. Wait, what the fuck happened? Why didn’t he fire? How are they not getting hit by the cannonballs? What did they do to his leg? Somone give him some rum. Somone should just knock him out. Oh my lord that is nasty. I think they need to cut it off. How is he still talking and not screaming. What does that mean?W hat does that mean? They should knock him out omg. Why don’t they. Don’t they have things. But it’s under control now. Release those men. What/ I know what happened and I don’t care, I won’t hold pirates prisoner on my ship and I wont again . Ready the guns, full compliment. Whatever’s left. They are really going to town. Charles Vane is just chill there. I can do it wiht as few as three or four men. I don’t want this. I don’t want this. You’ll die. This way there is a very good chance to prevent this. I don’t understand how cutting off can make it better? Also, how did they do that much damage with just a hammer? I guess hammers are really heavy. Oh wow, this is more graphic than I thought. Wow. Did this actually happen to Charles Town? Is this in penssylvania. Literally everything is being blown apart. Yikes that must suck to be Lord Ashe. But he betrayed them? I really don’t understand what is so bad. HOw are they sawing his foot off when he’s still alvie? Why the fuck didn’t they knock him out? Or why didn’t he pass out. I am so confused. How do they stop the blood? How did they stop the infection? His eyebrows look weird, I think that’s why he looks weird. Also, he should shave off that ugly mostashe. Also, bwhy did they put him on the bed. At least he lived, I guess. Just south of Inagua. Winds blew us east. We stopped at tortuga to refit and garner news which there was plenty. Elanor Guthrie has been arrested. In teh custody of His Majesty’s Navy. There is no Guthrie in Nasseau. Did Guthrie actually exist? Try and act suprised. That’s nice that they coted. THe more those men need you, the more you need them. It drives us to do the most unexpected things. There’s something you’d ought to know before we reached nassea. I’m sorry I’m having a hard time. He lied to us all. And then he sold the information to the other crew so that he could retrieve the gold. WHo the fuck did he sell it to. Mr. Jack Rackham. Oh gotd thats an ugly child. I guess its a boy. Max is honestly so annoying. Honestly, Jack is the best. The information was incomplete at best and they fought like hell. Is that the. We needed the hold space? OMG he got it. I can’t believe it. WHy did the spanish soldeir figiht. Also, why would the king get so much money. What happen to Elinor Guthrie. What is Carolina? Oh, I bet this is the British dude. Oh wow, those are good brothers. Eww look at his beard. Everythign moves towards its end. I feel like clocks are a symbol. I explained all this to Mary who said she understood. Well, you’re here. I can think of at least three lies. First, I amge she told you I retired from a prosperous trade. The trade was piracy. Second she told you my name was drummond, she clearly led you to believe that you could point your sword in my direction and survive the experience. Yikes. It’s not their fault. This too was somethign less than the truth. There is definitly a similar way they introduce pirates. They start with the bad and then go on to add more layers. Also, was there an intro to every episode, because if so I missed it lol. Who are these masked leaders. Those are the same signs that arthur uses in the once and future king. What the hell is happening. Is this blackbeard? What happened to the gold? Where is Jack Rackham. Jack Rackham is my favorite because he’s funny lol. Oh my goodness are they saving Eleanor guthrie. Oops thats some other blonde woman. OMG thsi is flint. Who are these old farts? Hazzard the magistrate. Their magistrates hagned men for piracy. Fint has gone crazy and SHAVED off all of his hair. I don’t understand why flint is so gungho about saving all the pirates after they are dead? I wagered that despite all I heard about you that you could tell the difference. Why the fuck did he kill him? Oh my goodness, Flint has really gone off the rails. What happened? When he lost his hair, he lost his sense of justice or something. I thin he is being reminded of Miranda. I guess without Miranda he has nothing left as an ancor to humanity. Hoenstly, I just want captain vane and flint workign together. Why does Long John Silver have that ugly ass neck beard? Don’t enable Flint Billy. Charles Vane is very pretty. HE is gathering the slaves. Charles Vane does not like slavery. I forgot how scary the pirates are. Why did that dude just give up? How was Charles Vane a slave? Like how did that happen? HE’s white? Who enslaved him. Oh my goodness, I would rather just get shot.

#black sails #captain flint

1 note · View note

fucking-hydra · 5 years

Note

can i just say your drabble with Dog!Winter where Steve takes him from teh compound was a masterpiece and i would kill for another scene from the univers eif you can find it in your trashpanda soul

Anon, I love you, I loved writing that story, and your wish is my command (and Winter’s, too). This definitely got away from me, I’m so sorry:

(Edit: Part one is here, this is part two, and part three is here.)

When Steve, Natasha, and Sam get Bucky back to the tower and park the truck in the garage Tony has underground, Bucky hops out of the car on all fours, dropping into a heel at Steve’s side. Nat, Sam, and Steve trade glances.

“So, I think I’m just going to go grab some juice, you know, post-battle sugar replenishment,” Natasha says, and Sam nods.

“Yeah, me too. We’ll see you later,” Sam says, and Steve doesn’t even have a chance to argue before they head for the elevator, leaving Steve and Bucky behind. Steve looks down at Bucky and can’t stop the choked up feeling he gets at seeing his best friend crawling on the floor beside him, the confused and trusting look in Bucky’s eyes.

Steve clears his throat, nodding. “Okay, we’re going to go talk to Tony and Bruce, okay? They’re friends, and they might be able to figure out how to help you better, okay?” Bucky barks, and Steve barely holds down the sob in his throat. He doesn’t know how, but HYDRA broke Bucky, and Steve has no idea if even Tony and Bruce can repair the damage. He walks with Bucky to the elevator anyway, because he doesn’t have much choice anymore, and this might be Bucky’s only chance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter follows its handler to what looks like a mix of a lab and a workshop, two men standing in the center of the room bickering over some kind of projection between them.

“I’m just saying, if we reworked the coding, we could–”

“No, Tony.”

“But look all it would take is– Oh, Cap! You’re back. How did it go– What is he doing?”

Winter tilts its head at the man, confused. What else would it be doing? It’s waiting by its handler’s side.

“I don’t know, Tony, that’s why I need your opinion, and Dr. Banner’s,” Rogers says, stepping forward as the other two men approach, staring down at Winter. Winter leans into its handler’s leg, holds back the whine in its throat at the idea of being examined. Winter hates going to the vet, but it’s a good boy, and it will go if its handler says it needs to.

Dr. Banner approaches Winter, hands poking and prodding at various parts of Winter’s body. “Can you tell me what hurts?” Dr. Banner asks, and Winter looks up at Rogers, confused.

“Go ahead,” Rogers urges, and Winter blinks slowly, processing the command and trying to determine what response is expected. When it can’t determine a good response, it barks once.

“Shit!” Dr. Banner jumps back, hand clutching at his own chest, and Winter watches, confused. It isn’t sure what response it was supposed to give.

The other man, Tony, watches Winter’s metal leg for a moment, then moves on, eyes roaming all over Winter’s body and face, and Winter ducks its head under the attention. “Has he spoken at all yet? Anything useful? Even any negative reactions to things?”

Rogers shakes his head. “Nothing. He responds to commands for dogs. That’s all I know. What’s wrong with him?”

Tony turns to Bruce, and they trade a look. Tony nods. “Well, a lot, I’m sure, but I don’t think we can help with the dog thing today. We can do MRIs and CT scans, but until then, I think you have a pet, Steve.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Steve watches as Tony and Bruce do various tests on Bucky, scanning his head and body, running diagnostics on the arm, having JARVIS do analysis on various things, poking and prodding at Bucky to see what they can figure out.

The whole time, Bucky is passive and obedient, but he only responds to Steve, turning to Steve whenever Tony or Bruce asks him to do something to confirm that he’s supposed to do those things, and every time, Steve repeats the question and Bucky responds appropriately.

Bucky doesn’t speak, barely makes any noise, and Tony tries to fill the silence with random chatter.

“So, would it be too off-brand for me to repaint one of the Iron Man suits in the bisexual flag colors for pride month? Because personally, I think it would look really nice, but I also don’t want to give bisexual people a bad rep, you know, what with the whole playboy thing. On the other hand, I could sell it at the end of the month, donate all the proceeds to charity. I could even do a whole line of them in different pride flags. It’s a thought, right?”

For once, Steve is grateful for Tony’s rambling, because it distracts him at least a little from how worried he is about Bucky, because test after test seems to be coming up with nothing.

Finally, a few hours later, Tony sighs. “I really don’t think there’s much we can do, Cap. Sure, he’s got brain damage, but that appears to be more in his memory, not his personality or behavior. Best guess is they trained him like this, just like you would train a normal dog. I don’t know what to tell you.”

Steve turns to Bruce, who shrugs. “He’s right. I’m not seeing anything that suggests a causal link to his behavior. Whatever this is, it’s not something that can be fixed by a STEM field. I’m sorry, Steve.”

Steve nods, even though he can feel tears welling up in his eyes. He found Bucky, he got him out, and he still doesn’t have his best friend back. “Okay. Yeah, okay. Thanks for trying, I appreciate it. Buck, come on, let’s get you some food.”

If Tony or Bruce notice Steve’s tears when Bucky hops off the exam table on all fours and leaves the room at Steve’s side, they’re kind enough not to mention it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter follows Rogers to a bedroom, where Rogers puts Winter in clothes, much to Winter’s confusion, because dogs don’t wear clothes, but if this is what its new handler expects, then Winter can wear them.

Rogers takes Winter down to a kitchen, reheating something in a bowl and setting it on the table, pulling out a chair. “Can you hop up here and eat?” Rogers asks, and Winter tilts its head, whines in confusion. Dogs don’t eat at tables. Is this a test? Is its new handler testing Winter’s manners?

Winter hesitates for long enough that Rogers just sighs, moves the bowl down to the floor in front of Winter. “Please eat?” Rogers asks, and Winter doesn’t understand why its handler’s commands sound like questions, but it eats, surprised to find that its handler has given it human food, meat and rice mixed together with some kind of broth.

Winter eats, licks the bowl clean, and uses one paw to wipe at its face, licking its paw clean. It looks up at its handler, waiting for its next command, but Rogers is just leaning against the counter, head in his hands, and Winter is confused. Has it done something wrong?

Winter pads over, nudging Rogers’ leg gently with its nose, and Rogers looks down at it, a sad smile on his face.

“Good job,” Rogers says, and Winter preens, leans lightly against its handler’s leg to show its gratitude. Rogers leads Winter to a living room, and Rogers sits on the couch, turning on the tv and leaning back against the cushions, so Winter curls up on the floor, head on Rogers’ feet.

It’s done this before for previous handlers, when in a hotel room on a mission or when Winter has been given the chance to relax with its master during the day. Winter stays curled up even as people filter in, talking to its handler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Jesus Steve, is he okay?” Clint asks, wandering in carrying a plate heaped with pizza.

“I don’t know, Clint, I really don’t,” Steve says, and Clint just nods, pats him on the shoulder.

“You’ll figure something out. Is it alright if I stick around? Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is one of my favorite movies.”

Steve gestures at the couches in the room, grateful that Clint said something because he’s really not sure he can handle being alone right now. “Go for it.”

Clint stretches out on the nearest couch, eating his pizza. More people start to settle on the couches around them; Rhodey, Pepper, Nat, Sam, Tony, and Bruce, all of them politely doing their best to ignore Bucky curled up on the floor.

Steve sees how Bucky evaluates each of them as they enter the room, and he makes a mental note to figure out how to make Bucky consider the others as allies and not threats. For now, he just talks to the team, keeps one eye on Bucky, and tries to prepare himself for how he’s going to help Bucky through this.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Winter has been curled up on the floor for at least a few hours when its bladder starts to bother it, but it ignores the urge to pee because its handler hasn’t given it permission, hasn’t taken it outside or gotten a pad for it to pee on.

It takes another few hours for Winter to really need to pee, and it’s starting to wonder if maybe this handler just forgot, or maybe its handler has never owned a dog before and doesn’t know to take it outside. Risking punishment because it’s not sure it has much of a choice, Winter sits up, pawing at its handler’s knee with a whine.

The only sound in the room is the TV in the background, everyone’s side conversations stopping abruptly. Rogers frowns, and Winter’s stomach sinks, worried that maybe its handler just doesn’t want it to pee yet and it’s misbehaving.

“Are you okay?” Rogers asks, and Winter whimpers, paws at Rogers’ leg again.

“I think he might need to go pee,” Clint says slowly, and Winter looks at Clint and barks.

Rogers looks between the two of them, then nods. “Okay. Umm. Yeah, okay. Let’s go to the bathroom, okay?”

Winter tilts its head to the side, whines. No, Winter doesn’t want a bath, it wants to go outside. Rogers looks confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Steve, if he’s acting like a dog, then he’s not going to pee in a bathroom. He wants to go outside,” Clint says, and Winter barks. Winter knows it’s an ungrateful thought, but Winter almost wishes that Clint was its handler, because at least Clint seems to know what dogs need.

Rogers, on the other hand, just looks mortified. “I don’t…”

Tony stands. “Give me one second, Cap, shouldn’t take long, and I think I’ll have a compromise.”

Tony leaves, and Winter waits, whining intermittently, until Tony comes back, carrying what looks like a large plastic tray.

“Ta-da! A fake grass patch. Should work,” Tony says, holding it out for Rogers to take. “Just set it in the bathroom, let him go, then you can just dump it into the toilet.” Tony reaches into a pocket, pulls out a stack of something. “And some bags, because, well… eventually, you’ll need them.”

Rogers takes both, looking exhausted. “Yeah. Thanks, Tony.”

Tony nods, expression softening into something concerned and caring. “No problem. You’ve both been dealt a terrible hand, so. If we can help, we will.”

People around the room nod, and Winter watches in confusion, because it’s not sure what’s so bad about it just needing to pee. Either way, Rogers starts to leave the room, and Winter follows, trotting at Rogers’ side to the bathroom, where Rogers sets down the tray.

“Okay, go ahead,” he says, and Winter tilts its head, because is it supposed to go in the clothes its handler gave it? It steps forward onto the fake grass, then looks at Rogers, waiting.

Rogers picks up quickly enough. “Right, sorry.” He pulls down Winter’s pants and boxers, and Winter starts peeing almost immediately, whimpering in relief. When Winter’s done, Rogers pulls Winter’s clothes back up and Winter moves back, letting Rogers dump out the tray into the toilet, flush, and wash his hands.

“Okay, are you tired?” Rogers asks, and Winter barks, because Winter hasn’t actually slept since this morning, and all the sudden changes in its life are confusing and exhausting.

“Okay. Let’s go to bed then.” Rogers leads Winter past everyone in the living room to the elevator, and they go back to the bedroom from before, Rogers changing into just boxers and a shirt and climbing into bed.

Winter watches, sitting on the floor by the foot of the bed, and whines when Rogers gets into bed. Is Winter supposed to protect him while he sleeps? Winter doesn’t understand. Winter sleeps in its crate. What is it supposed to do?

Rogers sits up in bed, frowning. “You can come up here,” he says, but Winter knows this is a test. Winter is not allowed on furniture. Winter waits, and Rogers sighs, scrubbing a hand over his face.

“Fuck, you’re used to sleeping in a crate, huh? Okay. Let’s see if Tony can make something.”

It doesn’t take long for Tony to make a crate for Winter to sleep in, and Sam and Rogers carry it into the room, setting it down against the wall across from the bed with the open door facing the bed.

“Can you sleep in there?” Rogers asks, and Winter crawls in, curls up on the soft pillow inside. It’s not used to the softness of the pillow, but it can adjust. It barks, lays down with its head facing the door, and that seems to be good enough. Rogers climbs into bed, and Winter falls asleep to the sound of its handler breathing.

#my posts #my asks #my writing #steve's good boy AU #phoenix's writing #frank's writing #(i wanna say frank helped with this one?)

22 notes · View notes

vicscratchpages · 5 years

Text

Eml Writes His Name (Part 3)

(Part One) (Part Two)

“Have you written your name any, since the last time we met?” Tu’l asked him.

“Oh—I did!”

“May I see what you’ve come up with?”

“Come up with?”

“It is your name, after all.”

Tu’l tilts her head. She wants to smile, but she knows she must be a little serious to impress upon Eml what it is that he needs to know.

“You will write what most comes naturally to you,” she explains. “And you may find that, depending on the situation and the people present, you will write your name differently.”

“Is this different from my call name?” Eml asks, blinking.

He still remembered the way Koteh had first introduced himself. Although Eml hadn’t known it at the time, he was already parroting words back, testing them on his tongue. Always careful, hoping he wouldn’t offend.

Ko...teh…?

Well, my full name is Ko’l. Ko’l Theodore Edward Hawke is my formal name, but that’s too much for even me to remember—or it would be, if my Gran’m didn’t use it every time I got in trouble. But Koteh is my call name. What’s yours?

Eml had blinked, trying to capture all that had been said. Koteh talked fast—and was still talking, Eml realized.

That’s not to mean to tell me your full name if you don’t wish to give it, and certainly not your formal name. You needn’t share it simply because I told you my own. I simply would like to call you however you desire.

And grinning. Always, endlessly grinning. Eml had felt his face mirroring the expression, but he was certain that Koteh’s cheeks were naturally rosy while his own face was flush with something quite different.

I’m—just Emilio, I’m afraid. Emilio Lucas.

Is that what I should call you? Em-Leo? No, that wasn’t right. Can you say it again for me?

He’d laughed, because it was impossible not to. Koteh—Kole Theodore—was unbearably kind. Unbelievably likeable. And unquestionably attractive, but that wasn’t the point. Koteh wanted to know his name. Koteh wanted to know his name. Eml had steadied himself with a breath, hoping he wouldn’t sound like a fool.

Emilio. But maybe I could have a name like yours. A—call name?

You want me to give you a call name? Then we certainly must be friends! Or at least, I hope we can be. Eh—mee—Leo. Lucas you said, right? My own call name is really just all my initials. Yours could be similar, with the Em and the L.

Eml?

Except when he’d said it, it, it sounded like he was nervous and nauseous before giving a speech. He didn’t have Koteh’s eloquence. There was a richness to the other boy’s vowels, a musical yet peculiar way he had of rounding out his words and enunciating the consonants with a light flair.

Eml, yes. Or Emuelle, in the Myrdaven accent. Emil, if a smith from Kolraven were to say it. Of course, if you don’t like it—

No, no—it’s nice...

Eml sighs to himself, still wishing he had come up with a better way of expressing how touched he was. I love it, he’d wanted to say—except it would have come out as I love you. Even then, he’d been aware how absurdly, dangerously, hopelessly drawn he was to Koteh.

Now here he was, folded into Koteh’s family as if they had been expecting him all along. He straightened, his eyes focusing on the paper in front of him as he wrote the carvings Tu’l had taught him. He found he was fond of the backwards E, perhaps because it meant something in him matched something in Koteh. Or so he hoped.

The M, he slanted to the right. The L was the only forward letter—and compared to a standard alphabet, it was backwards. Setting the pen down, Eml draws another breath—but his hands are not shaking.

Something about seeing his name written so always brought a twang through him. It was right, he knew. But from the outside—from his family’s perspective, he imagined—it was wrong. Well, wrong might be a harsh word, but certainly bewildering.

Tu’l hummed, nodding as if in agreement with the way the letters landed on the page. Something in the note soothed him, as if Tu’l knew of his choices. His hope—or intention—to be who he knew himself to be, even if it meant enduring some form of discomfort.

“To answer your question, this will be a little like your call name and a little not. Your name in Crevasse says much about you.”

Tu’l wrote out the carvings again as she spoke.

“The first line is what you might use in any sort of introductory occasion, if you want people to know the type of person you are or your outlook on life. The second line says more about how you came to that outlook, how it plays out in your interactions. How much you share of your name is always up to you.”

Eml smiled, thinking again of how Koteh had given his name so freely. Later, Eml had learned that it was quite rare that anyone offered another person their formal name. They were formal names for that very reason—used only for ceremonious occasions. Full names—what he thought of as his own first name—were shared to explain or clarify a call name.

He had yet to observe anyone share their name in Crevasse, but then again he realized there was still much he did not know. His brow wrinkled a moment, wondering if he was still an outsider despite how welcoming Koteh’s family had been. Was he intruding somehow, pushing himself into spaces where he didn’t belong?

“It is not every day that we get to teach someone their name,” Tu’l said, as if knowing his thoughts. “Although really, it’s more like helping you learn more about yourself and your journey.”

“I’m learning more about me?”

Eml only found honesty in Aunt Tu’l’s smile. Her gaze was direct, her nod firm.

“Our ways are all about learning—and while it may seem intimidating or perhaps prideful to others, what we really hope to know is how to be ourselves, both by ourselves and with other selves. We would hope that as you learn more about us, you also learn more about yourself—and become more comfortable being yourself. Because there is only one of you, and the world needs you.”

Something soft blooms in Eml. He has become familiar with the feelings around Koteh: of his throat tightening, his chest loosening. Of being overwhelmed and perfectly alright at the same time, never better. He swallows and finds himself nodding—maybe not in agreement, but as if to say, I will do my best to believe you, because you’ve never lied to me. I will try to trust you.

Part Four

#to be continued #tu'l and eml #eml writes his name #eml and koteh #thanks for reading!#more coming soon #eml stories #should i make these segments longer or shorter?#let me know what you think!

9 notes · View notes

vvivacious101 · 4 years

Text

Atomic Monsters

This episode is all over the place. I can’t even tell if it’s good or horrible. I’ll probably get back to that once I’ve watched it a few more times.

I did updates as I was watching the episode, so that’s what’s going on initially and then I’ll write up some of my thoughts on the epiosde. But there are only spoilers up ahead so be warned!

Not even three minutes into this epiosde and I’m not prepared for this.

What the hell is happening?

Benny’s here! BENNY’S HERE!!! Why is Benny here? Isn’t he supposed to be in Purgatory? And he tells Dean that he will meet him on the other side? What other side? Benny is a vampire, he dies and goes to Purgatory. Dean dies and goes to Heaven, Hell or the Empty. You will see what I left out Purgatory the only place Dean can’t end up in so how are they meeting on the other side. Is Benny Human? How the hell is Benny here? Where the hell is Benny even? Where is Dean? Why is the bunker flooded with red lights? Why is it being attacked by demons and how is Dean killing them with bullets????

So many questions and I haven’t even been three minutes into the episode. Also, apparently Becky is in the episode. I have no idea how I feel about that.

Just resumed the epiosde and I realised Benny who is a vampire is apparently dying and still talking. How is he dying when he hasn’t been decapitated? He really is human isn’t he?

Wait... What? Sioux Falls? Bobby is alive..

What is this? An alternate reality or something?

Wait this is a dream!

What?

How did Cas see Sam’s dream before Sam ever dreamt it? This makes no sense.

“No one even mentions Cas.” is my most favourite dialogue ever.

The Sam and Dean funko-pops seem to be shaking in terror at the end of the episode.

So as I said earlier I have no idea if I like the epiosde. But let’s talk about the episode. The first three minutes are a very elaborate dream sequence from Sam’s head but it is literally a treasure trove because there is so much happening. i wonder what it all means, there are so many inconsistencies also at what point does this story converge from the established canon. Sam was drinking demon blood in season 4 and Bobby dies in season 7 and the bunker only came into the picture in season 8, yet we have Sam still drinking demon blood or did he start again while Bobby is still alive and this is all happening in the bunker.

I can’t make head or tails out of it. The demon killing bullets seem more understandable, I believe at some poin in the canon Crowley melted down an angel blade to make into bullets that when fired could now kill demons, so it’s possible but why and how does Dean have them. Additionally, why doesn’t he have the knife?

And what the hell is up with Benny? Why is he human?

And more importantly if it’s just a fragment of Sam’s imagination why was Cas picking it up when he probed Sam’s God wound. That is the part that makes the least sense because this entire scenario so to much a mixture of plotlines yet Cas picked up on it so does that mean that there will be a time when this is the reality.

Wow! I have no words for that.

Let’s move on to the rest of the epiosde which Becky summairsed for me in five words. “No one even mentions Cas.”

Why did Sam not bring it up? Sam not bringing it up makes me very curious about what Dean told Sam about Cas’ departure because it seems increasingly plausible after watching this episode that Dean might have lied to Sam.

The case is a moral quandry and I’m not sure what I even want that fade-to-black scene to even be. So, basically we have a boy named Billie who gets turned into a vampire and his parents who go to extraordinary lengths to protect him.

At the end of the episode, we have Dean beheading Billie but the scene fades to black before we know for certain if Dean actually beheaded Billie and I really don’t want to know. I didn’t want him to be killed but that’s what Sam and Dean do so he must be dead, right?

Also, that conversation in the car had me really crying for Sam. Sam is depressed there is no other way to put it. He is going through the motions but he is not moving on from his present state of being which is in mourning. It was surprising they bring up Jack because has Dean even forgiven Jack. I mean he seems to be saying all these things but I’m pretty sure he is lying.

He says how Sam saying that them saving people is what life is all about is what made him realise what they should do next. But, we know for a fact that isn’t true because after he had that conversation with Sam, he had the same conversation with Cas and he didn’t seem convinced after that one either. So Dean saying that what Sam said resonated with what he was thinking is a big fat lie. He seems to be lying more than telling the truth in this one.

Then we have God and Becky. Becky is a problematic character especially after what she tried to do in season 7 which was pretty abhorrent and like what can actually excuse that kind of behaviour but overall she seemed sensible in this one, and thankfully wasn’t crazily obsessed with Sam though she was still very much into Supernatural. Unfortuantely, I kind of related to her especially with how deep I have gotten into this fandom but having Becky in a episode makes teh episode really meta because she is kind of supposed to represent the viewer which makes her opinions trippy as all hell because who’s to know if we actually share her opinion and if we don’t than there is actually no way of even getting at what the original idea is. But, one way or the other this episode does seem to be the end of her but who knows maybe she will turn up again. Again, this is something I have no idea how I feel about which seems to be the theme of this episode.

But my biggest complaint is how the hell did they get away without even mentioning Cas. That’s blasphemy. I really hope the next episode isn’t like this because really that’ll kill me.

#supernatural #spn #supernatural season 15 #spn 15x04 #atomic monsters #sam #dean #myposts #no one even mentions cas

3 notes · View notes

zuffer-weird-girl · 4 years

Note

so I'm kinda having baby fever,, could we maybe have a wholesome baby Kaito scenario? if the requests are still open, thanks I love ur writing btw

I missed writing my baby uwu♡♡

He was merely reading his book when it happened.

Chisaki Kai wasn't a man to get emotional with... something easily. Hell, it was difficult to see him even with actual human emotions at all.

But they say that marriage and having a kid does change someone.

"Kai? Can you help me out a bit?" You asked while entering the room, huge smile on your face as you caried your baby in your arms. The kiddo himself was playing with your cheeks until he saw his dad and giggled at him.

"What's the issue this time?" He sighed while closing the book. "I hope that brat didn't do anything to make his mother even more tired than she is already." He got up and went towards teh pair of you, pinching his son's cheek the moment he poked his tongue out.

"He didn't!" You cooed while rubbing your cheek along with Kaito's affectionately while the kid let out the most beautiful laugh "He is such a little angel!" You juzzled your nose along with his while Kai deadpanned.

"Sure. A fallen one. But still you got one thing right." He smirked at the look you gave to him before you scoffed a smile.

"You know-" you said while making your way to the middle of the living room "I do prefer that you call Kaito deviant or fallen angel than brat."

"I will call my son whatever it works with him. If him acts like a brat, then he gets called brat." He arched a eyebrow in disaproval at seing that you took a seat on the floor "Get up from there. Is dirty."

"But we cleaned yesterday."

"Tqelve hours is enough to make one environment just as dirty as the garbage." He scoffed "Get up."

"No." You poked your tongue out, making his eye twitch on the slightest.

So it was from you that his son got this habbit. Why was he even surprise on the first place?

"Stop being a brat yourself (Y/n) Chisaki and get up."

"Can you please sit down with us for just a moment? We are on the carpet Kai!"

He glared daggers at you while you made those cursed puppy eyes... your son opting to just play with the hem of your shirt while sitting on your lap.

"Pick a cushion then? Pretty please?" You asked hopefully with shinning eyes and pure smile while your husband growled, grabbing one cushion and dropping on the ground for him to sit on.

"I despise you in so many levels sometimes." He grunted while you made a victory sound along with the baby in your arms.

He was spoiling his wife and son way much than he should... he had two brats then, goddamit.

He arched a eyebrow when you got away form his side to sit a bit far away across him.

"Mind explaining me why this? You got me away from my lecture, so at least has to be a very good reason for it, dearest." He crossed his arms in impacience while you giggled.

"I know, I know. It won't take long I promise! Kaito just wanted to show you something, both of us actually." Your baby cooed and you kissed his forehead affectionately.

"A infant that knows what he wants? That's irrational." He arched his eyebrow while you rolled your eyes with a smile.

"You forgot that he is YOUR son, right? Not only does he knows exactly what he wants, but he also learns quite fast." You positioned your baby to stand on his tiny chubby feet as you holded hsi waist a bit firmly "Go to daddy baby" you whispered gently before kissing his cheek.

Kai widened his eyes at hearing your words and when you let go of Kaito. The baby boy stood a bit trembly on his legs with a concentrate face, reminding too much of his own father.

"(Y/N) he might fall-!"

"Is okay, he is only two or three steps away Kai and I'm holding him..." you picked Kaito hands and just hold them carefully "Go baby! Show daddy your new trick!"

Kaito made a rather anxious yet excited sound as he shakily took one step towards his father, the baby almost hyperventilating looking at his own feet moving while Kai stood there with wide eyes at the scene in front of him.

You still stood close to Kairo, hands holding his sides in case if he fell. The baby took his second step amd giggled in excitement while looking up at his mother whose was encouraging him even more.

His chest tightened at seing the baby coming slowly to him, he couldn't even move due to his astonishment... how human life could be so despicable yet so... majestic.

He and his wife made another life, a boy that each day that passed was growing in front of his eyes, and different from him, this lucky little man was having a decent family from the start.

Quirks weren't needed on this sick society if only two pair of people could raise a child... if he could become a decent father, then anyone could actually... only needed a bit of couragment or a angel on their lifes... just like he had his own.

He got his air back when the baby almost tripped, the confidence from before quickly vanishing as he whimpered a bit and looked up at you, bottom lip trembling a bit.

"Baby is alright, mommy and daddy is here in case you fall.." you said sweetly before Chisaki snapped his fingers in front of him, catching both yours and Kaito's attention.

"Come on brat." He extended his hand towards Kaito "you made halfway, you can do the rest. Come on."

You almost teared up at hearing and seing Kai acting like that, and due to thsi new surprise, Kaito found the strenght and confidence to try to take another step towards his father, you letting go completly of his body now.

"He is walking." He said in amusement, his golden eyes shinning at such a sign "Walking angel..." he looked a bit at you to see that huge smile plastered on your beautiful face, his own smirk growing.

Kaito giggled before deciding to do something that shocked both of you... Aparently, some toddler was just too impatient to just walk, and decided to just move his feet faster, almost run even towards his father.

Kai widened his eyes at that and quickly extended both of his arms and luckily caught his son just in the moment he was about to fall... He let out a breath he didn't even knew he was holding while his son emmited a huge laughter on his chest.

"You did it! Yay Kaito!" You clapped your hands while the baby imitated your actions.

Your happiness was gone though, replaced with concern at seing that only one lonely tear escaped your husband's eye.

"Kai? Love, you're okay?" He looked at you in question before he noticed tagt he let one tear fall as he smirked, pushing the hair of his son the most gentle way he could back as the boy looked up at him.

"Da!" The baby made two grabby hands at Kai which he only scoffed a smirk and gave Kaito his gloved index and middle finger to hold on to.

"... thank you." You tilted your head in confusion before he gave one of the softest and most charming looks he had ever did, making you fall in love with him even more than you were already "Thank you my angel. For such a divine present like you and our son on my dark life..."

You blushed before smilling at him, scooting closer to push his mask down to crash your lips against his as his other gloved hand went to push you even more against him.

You two ignored for a bit Kaito's whines and pushes to make you two separate before you broke away as Kai messed Kaito's hair and flipped his forehead for good measure.

"He is such a brat."

"A brat that you love apparently then?" You smiled at him while Chisaki rolled his eyes in false annoyance as he picked Kaito up and made him stand up again on his feet.

"He needs more training... so-" he pointed at you when you took your seat on the floor back as Kaito made grabby hands and giggled at you "This time is your mother's turn."

Kaito shriek in laughter whille Chisaki only scoffed a smirk.

"Come on now, or else you won't be able to walk properly. Go to your mother this time my deviant."

303 notes · View notes