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#that awkward moment when your otp is canon in a badly written show
moonlight-breeze-44 · 4 years
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Shadowhunters One-Year Anniversary!!
Hello, there! I don’t post a lot of things of my own (it’s mostly limited to my stories on AO3) but I truly felt like I had to post something now, because it’s a very special occasion! It is the one year anniversary of Shadowhunters! 
On this day in history, (one year ago, to be exact) the two-hour finale of Shadowhunters was aired. And thus we all collectively died.
So, here I am, to honour this momentous day.
I want to start off by saying that I am fairly new to this fandom. I joined it late. I’ve only been a part of the Shadowhunters fandom for about five months, give or take a couple. Today, I’m sharing the cliche that everyone shares at some point: how I got involved.
It all started when I was browsing the library in a nearby town for something to read over the long weekend and I stumbled across City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. I took it home, read it, and loved it. I started reading City of Ashes after that, and I took to the Internet in the wake of the revelation that Jace and Clary are “siblings”. I will admit, this was purely because book!Clace is my otp and I wanted to know if they were really siblings or if they still had hope. Upon discovering, (much to my relief) that they weren’t, I stumbled across another thing: a TV show based off of the Mortal Instruments book series. Naturally, I looked it up. I tried watching it on Freeform, but it buffered so badly that I stopped after only a few minutes. 
Fast forward a month or so. I’ve stopped reading the books (things that I’m not intensely interested in don’t tend to hold my attention for very long) and the Shadowhunters fandom is far from my mind. My friend gave me his Hulu password as payment for something I did for him, and though I’d assured him I wasn’t expecting anything in return, it ended up being one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten, because that was how I found Shadowhunters again. It was in the recommended on Hulu, and when I looked at the description, I remembered it. I watched the first episode and immediately fell in love. 
The cast, the effects, the soundtrack, the storyline. All of it was so perfect.The characters were immensely well-rounded. The plot was engaging and interesting. I loved it. binge watched all of season 1 in about three days and then realised I should really start reading the books again, so everything would make sense. Unfortunately, I watch things a lot faster than I read. So I ended up finishing Shadowhunters while I was just starting the fourth book, City of Fallen Angels.
Now, I’m reading City of Lost Souls, rewatching Shadowhunters for the third time, and deeply involved in the Shadowhunters fandom.
The Shadowhunters fandom is truly one of (if not the) best fandoms that I have ever been a part of. Everyone I’ve met is very kind and friendly and always willing to help each other with whatever they need. I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful people through this fandom, and I’m eternally grateful to have them in my life. I’ve also written more fanfiction for Shadowhunters than I have for any of my other fandoms, partially due to the tools and resources available for writing in the Malec Discord server I’m a part of and the support and encouragement of my new online friends. In addition to this, I’ve finally found a character that I connect to on a deep, personal level in Alec Lightwood. 
In short, the Shadowhunters fandom has made my life a better and brighter place. It’s made me smile on days when I feel like I might never smile again. It’s connected me to other people that understand me and support me and be overdramatic when I really, really need someone to employ the theatrics of Magnus Bane and make me feel better. (Yes, I’m talking about you, Aria.)
Shadowhunters is one of those things that I’m not sure how I ever lived without.
To celebrate the one year anniversary, I ask my Shadowhunters-involved followers to make their own post (or reblog mine with their information added on) with their three favourite things about Shadowhunters. It can be anything - a favourite cast member, character, or episode, something you’ve gained as a result of the show/fandom, or something that’s a part of the show or fandom itself. Let’s share the love for our fandom!
My three favourite things about Shadowhunters:
1. Malec. The simple fact that there is a TV show in existence that has two male characters in a canon relationship and doesn’t perpetuate harmful bisexual and/or gay stereotypes is beautiful to me. Malec has given so many people so much hope for the future. Their relationship has made so many people feel accepted, validated, and loved. This is the kind of thing that we, as a people, need to see more of.
2. The Malec Discord server. I joined a Malec Discord server a while ago, after finding the link in one of my mutuals’ fics. It was the best thing I ever had doubts about going through with and ended up doing in my entire life. I’m socially awkward, as I’m sure most of you know. Not to get too sappy, but throughout my entire life, I’ve been cast out of multiple social circles because I am weird and not what most people would consider ‘normal’ and I didn’t really feel like I ever truly belonged anywhere. The Malec Discord server changed that. There, everyone that I have met is kind, friendly, and unfailingly welcoming to everyone, regardless of differences between us.
3. Alec Lightwood. I spend a majority of my time self-projecting in fanfiction and relating myself to my favourite characters. Naturally, I’ve always been on the lookout for a character that’s extremely similar to me. I found that in Alec Lightwood. So much of his story is synonymous with my own, from the pressures of watching over other people with all of your heart to the repression that comes with internalized homophobia. His story gives me inspiration and hope. Alec goes from hurting himself to avoid dealing with his own feelings to marrying the man he loves with all of the love and support he could’ve ever dreamed of. He is not only an icon to members of the LGBT+ community. He is also a sign that, even if things seem absolutely hopeless, there is always room for change. Things can and will get better, and he is proof of that.
Please don’t hesitate to reblog if you’d rather do that! I encourage everyone I know on here that’s into Shadowhunters to make their own post about the anniversary with their own three favourite things. This fandom has given me so much, and I feel in a way that this is like giving back.
To kick-start this post, (because I am not at all confident in myself and my ability to make it known) I am going to tag some of my favourite people from the Shadowhunters fandom to do this, as well, if they want to. You guys can tag people, too, if you like, or not. It’s up to you.
@archeryandeyeliner @arialerendeair @eternallysilvermagnusandalec @lightwormsiblings @bidnezz @skylar102 @aceon-ice @sugarandspace
TLDR: I am absolutely in love with the Shadowhunters fandom and everything it stands for. In this post, I talk about how I got involved and what the fandom means to me. In addition to this, I tell you my three favourite things from/about the Shadowhunters fandom. I also task my followers who are in the Shadowhunters fandom to create their own post about Shadowhunters in honour of the one year anniversary and encourage them to list three of their favourite things, as well!
Have a good day/night, everyone, and thank you for giving me a few minutes of your time. <3
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ombreecha · 6 years
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Oh great one, please teach us how to write smutty fanfics for Clerith. Please!
i’m literally just sitting here doing nothing so why the fuck not.iactuallymeanttoreplytothiswaaaaybeforenowimsosorryforgiveme.
Lemme just start out by saying that I don’t think there is a right, or wrong way to write smut for Clerith—don’t get me wrong when I say this though.
Badly written smut is still bad. I’ve read some shit. Trust me.
It’s all about experimenting while considering their personality types. I think the thing that gives people the most trouble when writing smut for this ship is the large misconception of Cloud, and Aerith’s characters. Aerith, especially, has had this fanon representation applied to her that just makes it almost dirty (in fact all of the characters have had large misconceptions applied to them over the years, honestly).
Fanon Aerith: The puriest of purest purer puring pure things, would never think of the birds and the bees, calmest of calm, and daintest of daint. Did I mention pure? How about dainty? What about the fact she is like the biggest child of god that ever walked with a bible in hand and is a preachers wish-fulfillment daughter?
I could literally go on but you get my point.
Canon Aerith: Spunky, sassy, vocal, outspoken, and definitely knows how to tease. Not afraid to get down and dirty including in the bedroom, has flaws, and feels more than just peaceful daisies and floral happiness pouring out of every pour of her body. The girl is confident.
Don’t lower her down for less. She is all of these things and yet because we either haven’t played the game in forever, are new and have no clue outside of her design, or even worse have bought into fandom’s fanon representation it’s become a thing.
Fanon Cloud: Is either the dumbest of fucks who can’t speak words, or the most possessive cucklord to ever exist because “mEh sHiPs” and “bEsT gUrL”. Super confident, or super anti-social to the point words don’t exist. Likes to yell for no literal reason???? Did I mention that in almost every occasion everyone loves him? Every girl is a literal self insert thirst trap whether a bystander or an actual character? I didn’t? Oh, well include those.
Sometimes you might be lucky to find a nice happy medium but usually it’s chaos honestly. You never know what Cloud you’re getting. It’s like a mystery loot box you get every month.
Canon Cloud: Sassy, not interested in dumb shit, can in fact laugh, is more than angst, is absolutely shy underneath it all, insecure to a point (large point lets not be over-dramatic here), awkward, and when it comes to deeper issues struggles to get the words out but tries his best. Does in fact feel things. Is not the internal dialogue king that is Squall Leonhart.
Don’t over do him, but don’t under do him.
Getting personality is hard. Trust me. We’ve been there. We’ve ALL been there. This shit takes literal time. You’ll get there. Sometimes you get a good feel immediately. Sometimes you don’t. I’m still working on how I write Cloud. I am by no means perfect in my writing with him and I question how I do him consistently which is a wonderful thing because it means I know I have room to improve.
Now for the smut portion and how I do what I do and wrapped it together in a wonderful nsfw bow.
Test. Those. Boundaries. Test them. Push them. Cross the line then come back.
The number one thing about Clerith is that it is wholesome. It is genuinely a wholesome pairing. From their actions to their behaviors. Canon shows and tells us their wholesome from their teasing between each other to their moments of connecting on deeper topics and wanting to be there for the other.
Don’t let that scare you, though. You can write something absolutely filthy, and still make it wholesome. You can write some amazing possessive, and passionate sex, and it still be wholesome at it’s core.
I’ve literally done this. I can’t even count the times I’ve done this for this ship and others.
It’s not always about the physical action. It’s so important to include that mental link. It’s so important to include that connection of love. Bring it back home to the fact they love deeply, and love so reassuringly.
Filthy smut is some of the best shit, but writing your OTP showing how much they love each other through smut whether it’s filthy, or a nice relaxing vanilla is even better.
Why? Because you’re literally reading or writing this because you want to see/show that love.
Now do I think you should walk away from this post doing some major dominatrix BDSM shit… I mean you can but is it probably gonna be good? Nah, fam (send me it though I’ll totally give it a shot even if I might end up not being my cup of tea cause shit I’ll read just about anything once).
That’s because it’s not within their personalities to go THAT wild.
That’s why I say test the boundaries. That’s why I say cross the line and then comeback. When you come back to this can you honest to god be sure this is how you think these characters would do this?
Wholesome doesn’t mean vanilla.Wholesome doesn’t mean you can’t be filthy.Wholesome doesn’t mean you can’t be spontaneous in the bedroom.
Remember that you can be wild, fun and kinky in the bedroom and be just as fluffy and cute outside of the bedroom.
Vanilla also doesn’t equal boring, though.
Remember that you can be fine with missionary, relaxing, and sensual sex in the bedroom and be just as fun and out going
It’s all about comfortablity in the end. I’m sure there are some Clerith who think I go too far (I’ve yet to meet them but hey can’t say it’s impossible and I respect that my work isn’t everyone’s cup of tea).
It’s all about the happy medium you as a writer have to find within yourself. Just remember to have that wholesomeness. Imagine and think about how you would want that to go down when you just love the other individual and put it on paper.
I think about Cloud getting head and how he would react far more often than I would like to admit, but I do it because I would love to hear, see, or feel those responses from someone who I love and am connected to not only physically but mentally.
Don’t be afraid to pull from your own sexual experiences as well and how those things made you feel, react, and respond. I do this far more often that I’d like to admit but fuck it truth is truth.
I have a long distance relationship IRL and after seeing my boyfriend you can bet your ass I’ll pull from the last time we did it.
Anyways, this post is forever ass long and will definitely be a major TLDR for some which is gucci as fuck. If you’re still here bomb dude.
Wrapping this up though, what makes bad smut bad is bad characterization. Nothing else. It’s not the act. It’s not what they do. It’s not how they show their love. It’s all about just bad characterization.
If you need help ask. I have helped other writers in clerith with their own pieces before because sometimes having that second set of eyes just helps. Asking how an author writes this or that helps. It helps you grow and helps you build.
You’re never going to get better if you don’t try.
Now go forth. Bring that shit to my door. Give me that filthy wholesome content. Gimme some of those sensual and relaxing romps.
I love Clerith, and I’m always down for some smut, my dude.
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carolrance · 7 years
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I saw this thing. I’m answering this thing... even though nobody asked.
So, I saw someone answering this and thought it was sorta cool but I don’t think people will respond anymore so I’m just doing it myself. Self love, ya know.
Talk about the first ship you ever had. Uhhh… I can’t remember which came first Mulder & Scully or Usagi/Mamoru. (The latter being really icky to me now that I’m older, lol.) I think it was Mulder/Scully… I was in primary school for both of these so it’s confusing cos that was a really long time ago.
Talk about three of the most important ships throughout your life. Mulder/Scully (The X Files). I honestly don’t really feel like “talking” about them cos I don’t think it’s very interesting. Also, I have no idea where to begin. Naomi/Emily (Skins) – I fucking can’t stand them now, to be completely honest. I actually sorta hate Emily. By they (and Skins in general) did have a rather huge impact on my life. Now, I feel like I should put Dany/Doreah but really I think more importantly in terms of my life, it would be Marissa/Alex from The O.C. Does that sound stupid? Maybe. But that pairing (as shitty as they treated Alex and the whole relationship by the end) had a fairly huge influence on me. I think it was my first femslash ship that I was totally open about. (I totally shipped Jo/Rachel (and Jo/Rachel/Paul) from S Club 7 (DON’T EVEN!) but back then I didn’t even think it was serious…even though I had a whole website about it, lmao.)
What’s your current OTP? Oh my… Dany/Doreah forever & Marg/Sansa (ASOIAF/GoT). Michelle/Naomi (Skins). Carol/Helen (Episodes). Amanda Rollins/Olivia Benson (SVU). (With a bit of Rollins/Lindsay on the side. SVU/Chicago PD). Niska/Astrid (Humans). … So… Like… A lot? A lot of old OTPs are still OTPs now? Bo/Lauren (Lost Girl). Meg/Veronica (Veronica Mars). Katniss/Johanna (THG). Lou/Tess (Lip Service). Quinn/Rachel (Unreal). Jessica Jones/Trish Walker (Jessica Jones). Virginia Johnson/Lillian DePaul (Masters of Sex)………I think even my few het ships I’m still not totally over (Chase/Cameron, Mulder/Scully, Martin/Sam, etc) but I mean, I don’t really care either.
What’s your current NOTP? Any of the above characters paired with men. Simple. I have a lot of nOTPs tbh. Most canon ships are NOTPs lmao. Although… I guess Patsy/Delia is a current NOTP of mine. Don’t shoot! I just don’t care for them. They are boring to me.
Do you have any poly ships? I was sorta into Marissa/Alex/Ryan (The O.C.). I started a fic about them. And the aforementioned Jo/Paul/Rachel.
How do you feel about love triangles? Lazy. The thing is, they’re a real thing. I’ve been a bunch and they’re just uncomfortable. No matter what, somebody gets hurt. I just feel like in TV/films they’re SO LAZY. An easy way to create drama for drama’s sake. And one faction of fandom is always upset. And usually they’re really shoddily designed so it’s like one girl, 2 boring ass boys fighting for her WHO WILL SHE CHOOSE?! BLAH……. Boring. “The triangle’s not a friendly shape, okay? It’s pointy. It’s got edges. Triangles hurt people, man.”
How do you feel about RPF? Nope. I’m a bit of a hypocrite cos I spent a great deal of time in my childhood sorta straddling the very thin line here with the whole S Club 7 thing. And, I’ll admit, I did enjoy this April Pearson/Lily Loveless fic once.
Have you ever shipped yourself with a character? No. Usually my favs feel a little too relatable which is why I’m attached to them, not cos I wanna bone them. Also, way too much drama. I mean, fictional characters are almost always exaggerated people.
Do you have many ships that never got together at all? All? LMAO. Okay, let’s see… Sam/Martin did, briefly (Fuck Without A Trace tbh. What a horrid little show.) Chase/Cameron were together and that ended badly as well. Carol/Helen, also ended horribly (so far). Mulder/Scully… that’s difficult. They’re difficult. Marissa/Alex, ended horribly. Naomi/Emily, technically… hmmm. Well, as of S4 they were back together but I didn’t buy it and I pretty much loathed Emily by that point so fuck em. That ended badly too. It ended horribly if you count S7–which I don’t cos I never watched it. If I didn’t see it, it didn’t happen. Bo/Lauren. Okay, this may be the only bright light in all my ships, lmao. They were together and then not, then together, then not, then END GAME. So, I guess the ones that never got together??? Basically just look above at my OTPs and see all the ones I didn’t mention here ending horribly lol.
Do you ship any characters that have never met? ONLY THE BEST ONE: MICHELLE/NAOMI.
Talk about your favorite first kiss. Like in canon onscreen? Or in my head? Big diff. Chase & Cameron maybe. I loved that episode. Mulder & Scully’s first (onscreen) kiss was a bit weird. I don’t remember Sam/Martin tbh. Hmm… Marissa/Alex was hella stilted and awkward prolly cos it was on FOX and like Mischa Barton is a terrible actress. Bo/Lauren’s first kiss was pretty good. Yeah, I really liked that one. Mostly cos it didn’t fade to black immediately (ahem, Carol/Helen) and it wasn’t set to ‘I Kissed A Girl’ (Naomi/Emily)… Okay, in fairness that was only the American version. The one I saw had Lily Allen playing instead… But still. I loved that episode but it wasn’t the best first kiss I’ve ever seen.
Have you ever been disappointed when your ship finally got together? Yes, when they get together only to end even shittier. Which is basically all of them except Bo/Lauren.
Has a ship ever broken your heart? All of them. Canon and otherwise. My heart breaks on a regular basis.
How do you feel about will they/won’t they? Ugh. Useless. Generally, it’s queerbaiting when it’s my femslash OTPs. When it’s het, I’m just like, “As if these two lonely, outrageously attractive co-workers wouldn’t have banged already. Like, give me a break and just do it already. Who believes this shit?”
Have you ever “shipped at first sight”? Lemme think… Probably? I can’t actually recall any specifics however. Not Mulder/Scully, I know that. The first time I saw them, it was New Year’s Eve and I spent the entire show huddled on the sofa in my friend’s basement with her and her cousins, shaking and screaming, lmao. The X-Files really isn’t great TV for easily scared children with big imaginations, lbr.
Talk about a ship you initially disliked. One that I like now that I disliked previously? Erm. None. I don’t flipflop on ships, lbr. It goes like this: I am oblivious/indifferent to ship, depending. I see ship. I ship ship. I love ship. And it’s only then that this can diverge. Either I stay in love forever, or I end up positively hating the show/pairing and I stop shipping it, or it just kinda dies out over time. Normally it’s the first or second, rarely the third.
Talk about a pairing you’ve stopped shipping romantically. And now just ship them only as friends? Or stopped shipping them and dislike them now and don’t want to have anything to do with them? The latter is clearly Sam/Martin. I just hated how the characters were written and the show was fucking awful after S3. The former… Ah, the former. I think this really has to be Naomi/Emily. I am 1457% Naomi/Michelle, no alternatives accepted. Naomily is toxic imo. Like so incredibly nope. I am -100000% Naomily. I stopped shipping them mid-S4, probably during Katie’s episode. I was just like, “Nope, this is pretty gross and not healthy and what the fuck?!” I gave up completely at the finale when it was so fucking stupid. I think by then I’d already had my Michelle/Naomi dream… Anyway. Like, I literally cannot handle Naomi/Emily anymore. At most, I can deal with them as friends. But even then, sometimes I wonder if writing them that way in my fics is pandering in some sense. It’s not intentional pandering to Naomily stans… but, now I look back and wonder? They’re just so awful together romantically. I shudder.
Talk about a moment which made you question an entire ship. Hmmm…. Carol/Helen in Griffith Park in 4x09 when she makes Carol give back her bra. That whole episode was really nasty and really awful and not funny at all. I really dislike the writing there. It was just… Helen was just disgusting really and it made me really uncomfortable about shipping it. I have other examples but it only asked for one.
Have you ever shipped something despite yourself? She-Ra and He-Man. I had no idea they were brother and sister when I was little but I thought they were cute together. Oops. It wasn’t until a few years back when I mentioned them at a party and everyone was like, “Errr, you do know they were twins, yeah?” NO. I DID NOT.
Talk about a ship you feel alone in shipping. Carol/Helen. I feel like the few people that shipped it with me on tumblr here were really turned off by their breakup. And also, it’s been on hiatus forever. Also, I suppose Claire Dearing/Zara Young from Jurassic World, lmao.
Is there a ship you just don’t get, but have nothing against? Most het ones? Like, just… why would you be with that puffy wonderbread boy when you could be with this other hot lady and have 10003x times more chemistry and interestingness? (Like I mean, I’m totally talking about Erin Lindsay and that gay dude she’s fucking, when it would be so much better if she was with Rollins, lmao. You go watch the crossovers episodes and tell me I’m imagining that.) Other het ships, I have definite things against the men.
Which of your ships have the best chemistry? OH GOD. Now, ermmmm…. this depends almost exclusively on my own headcanon/bias so obvs others aren’t likely to agree. Cos, well, Michelle/Naomi have hella chemistry LMAO. Like just look at this photo. Clearly. Okay, seriously… Bo/Lauren. Like hands down, undoubtedly.
Which of your ships deserve better writing? Every single one of them. Especially Dany/Doreah lmao.
Do you mostly ship canon pairings? Clearly not.
Have you ever shipped a pairing before you even started watching the show/movie simply because of gifs and graphics or similar? Skins. Lost Girl. Actually, hmm. I saw gifs of LG but I guess it wasn’t until I saw Zoie Palmer at a film premiere I went to that I was like, “WHO IS THAT?!” And then I realised I had to start watching that programme.
Have you noticed a pattern in your shipping? Is there a romantic dynamic you’re more drawn to? Blonde/Brunette. Like, it’s really obvious. But not 100%. Otherwise, I don’t really see any substantial patterns.
Is there a ship you’ve shipped for most of your life? Mulder/Scully.
Does shipping come easily to you? Neither here nor there. If it clicks, it clicks.
Do you need to ship something to really enjoy a movie/book/tv show/comic? Most of the time. But then sometimes shipping gets in the way of my enjoyment cos it becomes all about the pairing.
Name a couple of fandoms in which you have no ships. Fortitude? Honestly… I don’t even know. I watch a bunch of TV I have no particular interest in shipping anybody. Oh! Here’s one NASHVILLE. I honestly do not care who’s with whom. It’s irrelevant.
Talk about one of your favorite headcanons for a ship you love. Dany/Doreah – Doreah is alive. That’s it. That’s the headcanon. (And bonus, Dany takes Doreah to Lys and burns down the pleasure house Doreah was sold to as a child.) I have to add that most of my fav headcanons revolve around one half of my OTP still being alive. Which is both sad and really telling. (Like… Doreah, Margaery, Naomi, Meg, Marissa, Lillian… Ouch.)
Share five must-read fics. I’m trying really hard not to rec my own shit cos I just love my headcanons too much. Okay, here: They Will Crown You, They Will Take Your Legs by (Netgirl_y2k); tie your handlebars to the stars (and throw away the map) by (majesdane); my heart is gold and my hands are cold by (quinnking); If you’re gonna shoot me down, do it gently by (aphrodite_mine); I Can’t Get Out Of Love (a love i had a grip on; now it’s gripping me) by (doreah) hahahahahahahahaaaa i will do whatever i want when i want to force this pairing on everyone
Name your favorite fanartist(s). IDK??????????
Share your favorite fanmix for your OTP. Dany/Doreah: actually… oops. my fav fanmix for them is on my ipod and nowhere else lmao. it’s really good hahahah. anyway… um. so i’ll choose one that’s not mine: i’ll send a storm (most of mine are either doreah-specific or based on my fic which is a lot of headcanon and this one has excellent musical choices. that first track is killer.) Meg/Veronica: song of solomon (your poetry in motion) Chase/Cameron: i’m all second chances Michelle/Naomi: can’t get out of love Bo/Lauren:  it’s killing me, it’s killing you, a page from the book of my fantasy
Recommend 1-5 shipper blogs. Pass. I don’t even know any…
Do you create fanmixes/gif sets/fanart/fic/fanvids and so on for you ships? Used to. Obvs.
Do you have a favorite trope and/or AU for your OTP? Half of it not being dead.
Do you like and use ship names? I generally stay away from them unless I to find stuff/want people to find my stuff on tumblr. I find them cloying.
Is there a fictional relationship you’d really want for yourself? Hell no. Real life is difficult enough.
If you could change one thing about your OTP, what would that be? They would all be alive. Sensing a pattern? Also, being canon would be nice.
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