#not holding anything back

[ingravinoveritas]

Crowley and Aziraphale always came off as romantic to me; both in the book and in the show. They have so much more chemistry than anyone else. And I always second guess me reading their relationship as romantic when I see the general public's takes. So then I go back over like, okay, if this was a man and a woman, how would this read. They do couple things all the time. They use pet names. The show leans more into pining but in the book it feels like they're already married. Both the narrator and other characters refer to them as a couple and its never contradicted. Is that subtext or just plain text. I wouldn't call it queerbaiting, but queercoding or representation doesn't feel quite right either. Are we reading too much into it or is media literacy dead.

Hi there! Thank you for sharing these thoughts in response to my post from the other day. What you've mentioned here (how this would read if it was a man and a woman) is something I have thought about as well--both in terms of Aziraphale/Crowley and Michael/David, as I have shipped them outside of the show for some time now, and especially given the increasingly fuzzy line between them and the characters (which both Michael and David themselves have talked about in multiple interviews).

I think what we're seeing is neither queerbaiting nor queercoding/representation, but instead a sort of incongruity between what was put on the printed page when Good Omens was first published and what was brought to life on screen when it came to TV. What I mean by that is I often see a lot of people point to the line "gayer than a treeful of monkeys on nitrous oxide" as proof (almost typed "poof" there--hello, Freudian slip...) that Neil/Terry meant for the characters (specifically Aziraphale) to be gay. But from what Neil has said, the main intention here was for this to be a play on words--so, "gay" as in homosexual, but also "gay" as in happy, which was the original meaning of the term. I'm then led to think that in the minds of two cishet men in the late 1980s, "gayness" conjured a particular, unserious image, which they then brought into the writing.

Fast-forward to thirty years later, and you have Good Omens finally becoming a television show. Terry Pratchett (Gnu) had sadly left us, and so the task fell to Neil to write the screenplay and honor Terry's last wish by faithfully adapting the story. And while Neil wisely decided to cast Michael for his goodness and angelic-like nature, what I think he didn't count on was Michael's long-held beliefs and ideas about the character of Aziraphale and how he would portray him, or his profound penchant for playing numerous queer characters over the last several decades. The gayness of Aziraphale on the written page was something that Neil could control, but he couldn't control the gayness of Aziraphale as interpreted by Michael.

So that led to Neil having to address some things that I don't think he was quite prepared to address, both about the show and inside himself. Mainly, that if we are to extrapolate that what we see in season 1 is a reflection (to some degree, anyway) of Neil's views on relationships, a straight couple with little to no chemistry can jump into bed together without any hesitation, but a gay couple with tremendous chemistry and who share a deep and profound connection can't express that, either physically or by simply saying "I love you."

Much discussion has been made about how it's not necessary for someone to say "I love you" to convey such a sentiment. But what I've noticed missing from this discourse is the age/experience of anyone who has been in a relationship where that wasn't said (or conveyed) by one partner and how painful that was for the other partner. And as I mentioned in my other post, even once gay/queer people started to exist in media, they still weren't allowed to fall in love. (The phrase "the love that dare not speak its name" even came into being because of this taboo, for crying out loud.)

So when we then look at the countless tweets from Neil about how Good Omens is a love story while considering the vastly different ways in which that love is regarded when it's straight vs. when it's gay, his words start to ring somewhat hollow. And if he repeatedly has to emphasize that something is a love story, then maybe it isn't coming across as a love story in the way he thinks it is. Maybe Neil being more comfortable with casual, meaningless sex than a deep commitment speaks to a larger issue on his part. Or maybe Neil was fine with the abstract idea of a gay love story, but suddenly less comfortable with the concrete, three-dimensional reality of it.

If I had to use a word to describe it, then, from a media/cultural standpoint, I think I would call it "queerplaying," which I would define as roleplaying queerness on a surface level without actually delving into the complexity and messiness of what it actually means to be a queer/non-cishet human being. (To be clear, I am applying this to the writing/the original GO text, not to what Michael and David ultimately brought to the roles as actors.)

I hope this all makes sense. Again, the second season could come out tomorrow/Friday and prove me completely wrong about everything I've just said here, which would be wonderful. But I'm glad that other people have felt similarly about what we saw (or didn't see) in the first season, and the disconnect between the perceptions of fans/the perception of the public vs. Neil's authorial intent. Thanks for writing in! x

#pavoptes #reply post #good omens #good omens 2 #aziraphale #crowley #ineffable husbands #neil gaiman #creators are not perfect #i think neil may have some internalized homophobia he is still dealing with tbh #but i'm glad we've had Michael and David as Aziraphale and Crowley #not holding anything back #can't wait for the second season #discourse

[7roaches]

sorry that took like an hour i stopped to eat dinner heres my idea

#my art #adventure time #simon petrikov #betty grof #trans #lesbian #petrigrof #ion think i needa tag this for anything theyre both clothed & its not suggestive #i think simon isnt scared of needles but he cant make himself do it himself so betty does it for him #idk how he got by before meeting betty #i also dont think i needa tag this for eva spoilers considering it came out uh #28 years ago #FUCK I JUST REALIZED I FORGOT THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE COMIC HOLD ON #ok 10 min later im back #also i think this kinda implies golbetty is flesh underneath like an eva #ok i think thats all #and in case i dont see you good morning good evening and goodnight

[ruporas]

thinking about wolfwood (ID in alt text)

#vashwood #vash the stampede #nicholas d wolfwood #trigun #trigun maximum #from awhile ago! i forgot to upload it here i think #i realized looking back at this. wolfwood has shrunk even more. DFGMKSGMS im sorry everyone has to bear with that. short woowoo #is engrained into my bones.... but anyway. im a big fan of vash yearning if that was not obvious from my previous comics. #not to say wolfwood doesnt do the same ofc... but im just thinking about vash's layers of repression in emotions and how he holds it #all together for the most part.... and when he yearns it's not like a dopey lovesick smile or anything. his cheeks are red but he's all “:( #bc he's Shy about it. and troubled by how much he's thinking about ww. but he can't help it and even less so when ww is right there #it's a very honest expression from someone like vash i think. and wolfwood can start to tell when he's faced with it and in turn #also gets embarrassed . silly the both of them #ruporas art

[ryllen]

snap! 🫰 snap! 🫰 and it's birthing time already

#everybody told him to change out his pajamas but he is too focused on worrying he refuses to do anything but pacing back and forth #twisted wonderland #twst #sebek zigvolt #lilia vanrouge #twst yuu #twst mc #twst baby #i just want to see dad still in pajamas while holding their baby #fanart #it's not like the baby will straight away born so yeah he could have changed but no i won't let him ( ๑‾̀◡‾́)(‾̀◡‾́ ๑)

[x-i-l-verify]

Something that I've noticed ever since the Smiling Critters were introduced is that they can so easily be paired off into complementary duos, ones that are specifically designed to teach children fundamental lessons about life and self-care from two different angles. It's really interesting to me.

Like obviously you have Dogday and Catnap, with their sun/moon, dog/cat dichotomy, that stress how important it is to have fun and get things done during the day, but also that it's important to wind down, relax, and get a good night's sleep.

-

Bubba Bubbaphant and Craftycorn were introduced as a duo in the Smiling Critter show's intro, and their dichotomy is quite obvious. They are basically the right and left sides of the brain personified. Bubba is the left side of the brain, logical, analytical, focused on math and science. Craftycorn is the right side of the brain, creative and imaginative, focused on the arts and self-expression. They represent learning and academia in all its forms, the different ways people engage with and understand the world.

-

Hoppy Hopscotch and Kickin' Chicken form the sportsmanship duo. They are both portrayed as enjoying sports and the outdoors, but in different ways that highlight the different ways sports can be played and enjoyed and also what it entails to be successful at them. Hoppy Hopscotch may be loud and impatient, but she is also a team player, shown in her willingness to slow down her fast pace to make sure none of her friends are left behind. Kickin' Chicken, on the other hand, is laid-back, relaxed, and chill, the described "cool kid" of the group, but he's also described as having a ton of perseverance, more of a "slow and steady wins the race" type of person.

-

This leaves Bobby Bearhug and Picky Piggy as the last pair. Fittingly, these two are all about how to meet the fundamental needs of yourself and others. Bobby teaches children how to nourish themselves emotionally through showing and receiving care from others, while Picky teaches them how good food is important to nourish the body and soul. Depriving oneself of either of these things only makes oneself and therefore everyone around one miserable, because those fundamental needs are no longer being met.

-

Like fr, this is some pretty genius marketing right here. You have enough characters that every kid will have their favorite, but not so many that any would get lost in the shuffle, because the lessons each one of them would teach would be integral to the group as a whole. It really makes me that much sadder we saw basically nothing of the Smiling Critters during the game itself, because Mob Games struck gold with this concept, only to ultimately do nothing with it. :/

But I guess that's what fandom is for, eh?

#poppy playtime #poppy playtime chapter 3 #smiling critters #dogday #catnap #picky piggy #kickin chicken #hoppy hopscotch #bobby bearhug #craftycorn #bubba bubbaphant #xi writes #tbh that 'slow and steady wins the race' comment makes me really wish Kickin' Chicken was a turtle instead #just to drive home that parallel even further #ngl i've been thinking about making this post for ages but i finally got off my butt and did it #me holding the Smiling Critters like Marge Simpson holding a potato: I just think they're neat! #it'd be a shame if the game company that came up with them never DID anything with them HUH MOB GAMES? #mob games don't walk away from me #MOB GAMES GET BACK HERE I HAVE THOUGHTS-

[swordheld]

do the silly thing. if you do not do the silly thing time will pass and it will not be the same silly thing it could have been. it will still be silly, and it will still be yours, but it will not be the same. this is both a blessing and a curse, but so is living; and if you do not do it now when will you? who will? it has to be you, it was always meant for you, waiting for you.

#this is about writing for me but could be about anything (that is not hurtful to urself or others. very important) #that's why it is silly (affectionate) or cringey (affectionate) like u gotta just let yourself go sometimes. you have to do the thing. #even if it is terrible horrible (not what you want) bc at least then it EXISTS. at least it holds space in the universe and it lives outsid #you can let it sit and rot and gather dust but at least then you can go back to it. even if it's horrible there is at LEAST at least - #one kernel of it that you can bring into the next piece. at least one shining pearl of something. #even if it needs work or months in those lil funky rock tumblers for geodes and gemstones and all. even if needs SO much work. #at least it is there!!! and it is yours!!! #it's your call to action if it's something u want w/ all your heart. #or even a piece of it. if it's something you want? well - it's already yours. it always has been. #you just have to take the first step / the first breath / and begin. #scribbles.

[varilien]

wednesday was the 1000th day since the fateful afternoon my roommate asked to see the space cowboy show i apparently used to talk about a lot and i wanted to do a big illustrated piece to celebrate but my job keeps me from drawing anything at all !!!!!!!

anyways i've been missing vash so so so so so bad u guys can anybody hear me it's so dark in here.

lines also cuz i really like how his hair turned out :3 reminds me of the couple shoujo manga i read as a kid teehee

#trigun #trigun anime #trigun fanart #vash #vash the stampede #this is just extra details over an old doodle i posted before i haven't had time for anything else #i'm losing my mind <3 it is all so bad you guys <3 #okay but really i could NOT remember ever talking about trigun at all but i can even look back through old dms #and see how many times 2018 forward id just randomly bring it up to ppl fhdjdjjd #even with insane memory loss problems apparently trigun keeps its hold on me For Ever lol

[warpedpuppeteer]

You know what gets me? The fact that Buck was so fucking pissed at his parents and was taking it out on the punching bag yet when Eddie places a hand on the punching bag, Buck stops mid punch. He's so in tune with Eddie and his movements that he catches the move while he's fucking pissed and stressed and goes oops can't hurt the boyfriend by accident. Also the fact that Eddie knew Buck wouldn't accidentally punch him . The fucking trust he has.

#buddie #AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THEY'RE NOT CANON?? #anyways I'm slightly obsessed with that scene #because truly he was just fucking going ham on that punching bag #i would've accidentally punched Eddie's hand #but not buck #he cannot be normal about anything #also the strength it takes to hold back that punch like ok damn buck

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 142

Dan came from the Flashpoint timeline, which was destroyed. Well, mostly destroyed. There were a few things that slipped through, which would be concerning if it was anything else. Honestly Danny has no clue what to think about the murder-grandpa Batman ghost, but honestly, he’s happy to get proper training and- holy fuck the murder-batman just oneshot Vlad away this is his new favorite person. 

#dcxdp #dpxdc #prompts #Danny reminds Thomas of Bruce #And Vlad reminds him of Martha’s side of the family (the ones who were assholes) #Sure hope the GIW won’t try to pull something because Thomas was a surgeon #He knows how to put someone back together and knows how to take them apart #He is gently holding all of Team Phantom including Ellie & Jazz #The adoption instinct is genetic #flashpoint #Thomas: I have only had these tiny vigilante children for an hour #Thomas: But if anything happened to them I would obliterate everything in this timeline and then myself once more #Ghost murder grandpa batman who gets Powers #those poor goons who thought they escaped batman when they died #Now they get to deal with Double

[perpetual-fng]

a very rendered roach

#gary roach sanderson #cod fanart #cod #cod mw2 #i struggled drawing his right hand ngl #also before anyone says anything yes I do realize he's holding it with his left hand #but I realized that halfway through shading and was like #yeah I'm not redoing this #so he's just left handed for now 👍 #ACTIVISION BRING ROACH BACK #anyways #anyways hopefully I'll figure these guys out soon #gotta get the FEEL of their character y'know

[puppyeared]

doodles of my fav sillies

anton belongs to @poicyss

#my brain is a barbie dreamhouse and theyre all just living in it #im especially fond of the second one because my mom used to hold me like that all the time <3 #im drawing them a lot lately because im being crushed by the horrors and have to compensate for it somehow #homemade comfort blorbos...... #watch me draw anton inconsistently bc i can never decide if i wanna draw him close to how he actually looks #or yassify him and give him soft fluffy hair and kind eyes and defined features. head in my hands #i dont really have a lot of drawing ideas for them bc they dont have like. a canon storyline or anything methinks #its just stuff me and bow toss around and giggle abt thru messages lol. maybe ill draw infant vincent one of these days #i just come up with stuff and draw them doing it. it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside #cuz like anton works for lobocorp as an abnormality BUT hes super duper chill and cute and does his funny little tasks so its fine #AND hes unkillable. auggie is an oc ive had since like 6th grade and i smushed them together. and vincent was for fun but i got attached #i dont have much of a read on anton either bc i think hes meant to be more of an insert character??? if im using that right #on one hand i dont think too hard abt anything being ooc since im not taking it seriously. on the other hand i just hold them in my hands #and stare into space until i can come up with something to draw since i dont have much to go off of. but its fun to build on small tidbits! #i think bow called it an au so i guess??? its an au????? im not really sure. bow if youre reading this im just willy nilly #the only thing i know for sure is that they boink like rabbits. im talking gomez and morticia levels of boinking #maybe ill go back and look at my old doodles for them and redraw em lol #myart #my art #my oc #oc #friend oc #augusta #anton #vincent #sillies family #doodles

[snackugaki]

boys from the bay(verse)

it’s nap time, you little shit

#bayverse tmnt #tmnt 2016 #bayverse turtles #Bayverse Raphael #bayverse leonardo #bayverse mikey #bayverse donatello #even when I'm being nice I'm still bullying these big-ass turtles #leo turns making donnie take a nap a training session #that's why Raph can sneak around despite being big as the broadside of a barnhouse #like the video of someone carefully putting an oven mitt over a beeping cockatiel #Raph knit that special #Donnie's nap condom is the name Mikey gave it #Leo can't come up with anything better and Raph is fully of the If It Fits It Fits #The first few times the struggle lasted hours #legs akimbo in your face in his face oh so NOW he can do a spinning back kick #eventually it's gotten to the point of a conditioned response #the trick is getting the sock over his head and holding him down til he nods off #oh shit I didn't color in Mikey's magazine #...oh well #i love gag fanart but damn I'm not trying to turn a joke into a novel

[kingkatsuki]

Bakugou blows so hot and cold you never truly know whether he’s actually in to you or not.

#that’s why you’re so surprised when he asks you out #and then you get a second date #and then a third #because he’s silent most of the date #or frowning #hands bunched in his pockets as he drags his feet beside you #but you don’t know the real reason #he’s silent because he’s hanging on your every word. enjoying the sound of your voice #shy to say anything back in case he fucks it up #hands so sweaty he has no choice but to keep them in his pockets #terrified of creating tiny explosions or WORSE #you try to hold his hand and it’s too sweaty

[fanaticalthings]

Just thinking about how Jason had a bit of a rough childhood and considering the state his parents were in, I feel like he probably wasn't held much?

So can you imagine Jason getting carried by Bruce for the first time and absolutely loving it, but he's too afraid to show how much he actually enjoys it, which gives Bruce the impression he shouldn't do it often, until Jason has to shyly ask B to pick him up like how a 5yo would be asked to be carried by their parent like:

[Jason lightly tugging on Bruce's shirt]

Bruce, looking down at him: What is it, Jay? Do you need something?

and it's just Jason hesitantly raising his arms up hoping Bruce will get the message sjoajdiididjns

and ofc Bruce is absolutely elated that his son loves to be held by him and squeezes him extra tightly when he picks him up

#listen i think this is really cute ok #like can you imagine baby jason assking for uppies #jason: can you...hold me..please? 🥺👉👈 #bruce holding back tears: yes of course anything for you my beautiful son #THEY MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME OK #everyday i wake up and lament the erasure of 80s jason and bruce #jason todd #red hood #robin #robin!jason #batman #bruce wayne #batdad #batfamily #batfam #batkids #dc comics #incorrect quotes #fluff #headcanon #guys please can you just imagine a smol jason todd doing this #you dont understand how soft baby jay and good dad bruce make me ok #and jason was tiny asf as a child like just imagine how small he looks when bruce carries him #fanatical posting

[mizzyislost]

so i heard it was a certain silly slug game's birthday

#yes i will keep harkening back to my first piece of rain world art all the time no you cant stop me #sorry i didnt have anything prepared for this </333 #i forgoet................. #anyways shoutout this game for being one of the best games i never played #double shoutout the awesome community im so sorry i stopped. doing anything rain world but you guys always hold a special place in my heart #honestly pushed me to draw and create more at a weird time in my life so. huge thanks for that #i dunno why im actually giving some speech here i just really like rain world crazy that its. 7 years old. what. #how did that happen #rain world #rain world downpour #rainworld #slugcat #yeah we got the slugcat tag theres a lot of those guys here #various meanderings

[havntedcheese]

when people put monster high with other y2k nostalgia items im like

MONSTER HIGH WAS RELEASED IN 2010 IT IS NOT Y2K OR 2000s ADJACENT

#monster high #i’m sorry but monster high is literally My Interest #anytime someone gets anything about it wrong i have to hold back all my um actuallys