#they insult as a way of showing their affection

[fragileheartbeats]

Ok so I watched promo and I'm embarrassed instead of HBO and TB actors.

And I laugh my ass off because the answers were literally the most stupid things that I have ever heard. And you know what's embarrassing? TB actors act as of they are so badass and their answers are true and they are so honorable and shit like this... Like did you guys even heard about the book that y'all gonna be in a movie about it? I don't think so. No hate to them but they look like some stupid bully group 😐

"team black are rightful heir"

As I said before there are so many Targaryen rightful heir that weren't fit to sit on iron throne and they fucked everything up, one of them was Rhaenyra, so this is not a convincing answer. Can you give me another reason?

"we have better family"

Where? I can't see it. Oh you are talking about the Daemon who groomed Rhaenyra and the Rhaenyra who didn't care about her sick father, the Daemon who abandoned his wife and children to go sleep with his own bastard, the Rhaenyra who take away her stepdaughter rights for her bastards sons, the Rhaenyra who abused and used her family and thoses who were close to her, the Rhaenyra who arresting her father-in-law for protecting his family, the same Daemon and Rhaenyra who had sex in his wife funeral, the Rhaenyra who send Rhaenys to fight instead of her own son? You sure?

"blacks are better looking"

So it's straight up an insult to the actors not the characters. And weren't blacks the one who were angry because Criston and season 2 Aegon are too hot? And I mean Aemond is so famous and one of the reasons is because he's sexy and sorry to break it to you but Alicent is more beautiful and feminine that Rhaenyra... So yeah bullshit. Just Aegon himself is enough to make you guys all look plain.

"blacks are better"

In what exactly? Fucking everything up? ruining everyone's life? Betraying each other? Abusing? Using others?

"we do things the right way"

What do you mean? What did you guys did in the right way? Daemon started a war for fun, Rhaenyra shied away from her responsibilities, Rhaenyra had bastards even though she knows it's gonna make people turn against her, she send her own children instead of ravens, she killed people daily, didn't care that people were starving and throw a party for her son, start killing her allies and so many more horrible things.

"they all hate each other"

At least they don't betray each other :)

They die for each other, they kill for each other, yes they can't show affection because no one and I mean NO ONE was kind to them. No one show them how to love and be kind. They have no one but themselves and they not gonna lost it. All they have are each other, they can't hug each other but they can cut anyone's hand who tried to harm any of them. So yeah they have their own twisted way of showing love. Sorry but not everyone have a perfect daddy like Rhaenyra.

"I'm gonna put it on a spike"

Funny line for a 49 years old man who spent all his life in battle, is a better rider, have killed many people, is one of the best fighter in Targaryen history, have more experience but still have to die so he can also kill a 19 years old boy who have literally no experience and wasn't in a battle in his whole life.

#idk who made these pictures #house targaryen #house of the dragon #aegon ii targaryen #house of dragons #hotd #aemond targaryen #aegon ii targaryen x reader #aegon x reader #a song of ice and fire #anti rhaenyra stans #anti team black #anti daemyra #anti rhaenyra targaryen #anti daemon targaryen #pro team green #team green #aemond one eye #hotd aemond #alicent hightower #asoiaf #king aegon #aegon the second #aegon ii #aegon targaryen x reader #haelena targaryen #aegon targaryen #aemond the kinslayer #tom glynn carney #ewan mitchell

[eggcats]

Headcanon that Alastor only knows how to show affection in ways HE would find acceptable to receive it. And yes, this DOES include random dead deer carcasses and the occasional sinner, but more importantly it affects how he interacts with others.

Because, other than Mimzy, who fairly explicitly tells him to fight her battles for her, most of his friends and acquaintances are powerful enough that joining a fight on their behalf would be an insult. Because HE would be insulted if someone did that to him, so he doesn't do it to those he likes and respects.

And as such, when he sees someone he cares about fighting he will watch and observe to only enter the battle if absolutely necessary - to do anything else would be to imply that they are weak and in need of protection. He respects them enough to let them win their own battles.

However, when he and Angel start becoming closer, this REALLY confuses Angel. He thought they were sorta-kinda friends, but Alastor REFUSES to help him even a little when he gets caught up in a turf war.

Alastor just observes from the fringes and doesn't do a THING to help Angel, and it's slowly driving him mad. Because the second the battle is over, Alastor will act just like before, but during it? He seems like he doesn't know who Angel is. It's kind of offensive, really. But he doesn't say anything because maybe HE'S misinterpreting their friendship here, and is looking into their interactions more than they are because he likes Alastor. It kind of hurts, but this is Hell, so what doesn't?

Until one day, when Alastor sees some random sinner attempt to drug Angel to force a victory. And suddenly, Alastor reminds everyone why they should fear the Radio Demon - because how DARE they be so weak as to insult Angel in such a way rather than simply respectfully dying.

And Angel is CONFUSED. He's like, "What the FUCK was that, Smiles?!" And is even more confused when Alastor APOLOGIZES and shows Angel the syringe as his reasoning for joining the fight.

Angel is so lost that for the first time, he brings up Alastor's weird behavior to Husk while he's drinking. And Angel is even MORE lost when Husk simply goes, "Ah, that makes sense."

A: "WHAT makes sense 'cuz I don' get why he'd choose NOW to help me!"

H: "Al is an Overlord, and most of his friends are other or former Overlords. How'd you think he'd take it if someone fought to defend him in a fight if he didn't need it?"

A: "What's that got to do wit' anything?"

H: "Al's treating you with the same respect he'd expect to have. He thinks you're upset at him for HELPING, not for taking this long to do so. He thinks he's insulted you by implying you're weak and in need of defending."

Suddenly, Angel is reevaluating every time he's noticed Alastor watching the fight from the sidelines, but not moving an inch to help him. It's kind of flattering that he thinks Angel is so capable of handling himself, but also wanted to stay in case something happened? That. That kind of says a lot to how Alastor sees him, doesn't it? If he's treating him like Angel is just as worthy as respect as Alastor's other friends? And the fact that he only joined the fight when someone tried to force him to lose unfairly?

Angel realizes he needs to talk to Alastor and clear up this misunderstanding, because suddenly it doesn't seem so ridiculous that Alastor might care for him and Angel just hasn't been able to read the signs correctly.

#hazbin hotel #alastor #angel dust #radiodust #fic #mine #hazbin alastor #hazbin angel dust #long post #like i love the idea of Alastor defending angel dont get me wrong #but what about Alastor seeing Angel as a worthy and respectable opponent worthy of the same respect he'd grant to any other overlord??? #think about that

[comfortless]

how do you think König would react with an S/O who playfully fights/teases as a way to show affection? my love language is light bullying so idk if he'll be too receptive to that 😅

ohhh this is a fun/sad one, actually! 🥲 i think this would be torture for him, because i don’t see him as being someone who can take a joke well!

SO!

We are all aware König was bullied in his past. I personally see him as being somewhere on the spectrum, too.

He speaks his mind, and expects the same of you whether he voices that need or not. The people he was surrounded by as a child play a huge part in this. There was never any “playful” bullying when it came to his father, any change in tone or insult ignited a fight or flight instinct for König because of this. The children at school were even worse. His father was always easy enough to read as he had no choice but to be around him.

The fake love confessions, the mocking compliments, and the unprompted aggression were another thing altogether. If a girl called him “hot” growing up, she always seemed to be lying, laughing with her friends the second he became hopeful. If another student wanted to “be friends” it more often than not ended with poor König either showing up and sitting through a movie entirely alone or doing their homework for them with nothing in return.

König never properly mastered people, they’re all different shades of confusing. He never had the proper upbringing or chances to read them properly at all, and though he’s grown more comfortable in his own skin now, these things do still haunt him to an extent.

He would love a play fight, adores the feeling of getting to pin you and feel that flood of power. You’re smaller and weaker than him, most people are, but he doesn’t get to exert that energy anywhere else than on the field. It’s certainly not as fun when his opponent winds up dead and there’s no romantic aspect to it at all. You’re such a cute, fragile little thing in his eyes, he’s overly gentle but doesn’t hesitate in the slightest to engage. Physical touch is his love language, and the promise of getting to rough you up in other ways afterward is just a bonus!

But… say you’re playfully insulting him. Call him “ugly” or hurl any other insult at his body, and he just sort of shuts down. He’ll give you the blankest stare, avoid touching you, and likely storm off until he’s had time to calm himself down. A part of him recognizes that you don’t mean it, but the internal wounds speak much louder.

He would assume the worst, that all of this time you’ve just been pitying him and you’re only now speaking true. You’re not attracted to him, and he was an idiot for ever believing that you might be. This guy had tried and failed countless times to find himself with a pretty thing that he can love, and never would he say anything like that to you. It’s always an abundance of praise and an eternal stare. His eyes and hands never leave you. So, that stings.

Once he calms down… some, he would return with the same hurt painted across his face, ask you why through gritted teeth. Just, “Why?” Depending on if it’s something that can be fixed, maybe he’ll offer to do it for you. Make himself prettier, better built, anything so that you don’t leave him for a man you deem more worthy. He knows he sounds small and pathetic, but he can’t stop himself. He doesn’t want to lose you. It pisses him off knowing that he’s already done the work, too, only for the end result to be the same as the things he’s already endured.

He wouldn’t be entirely convinced that it was just a joke, but he isn’t the type to come sobbing to you for reassurance, either. The next few hours are filled with condescending little comments. “You like fucking ugly men, schatz?” or “Do you always get wet like this when you’re sorry?”

#kö headcanons

[oblivionsdream]

Your foolknight OCs have captivated me. I know Jester hates Caius, but how does Caius feel about Jester?

Not going to lie, the drama hound in me loves the idea of Caius trying to pursue Jester romantically when he finds out Augustine has caught Feelings. (I don't know if he's vindictive in that way or just kinda a real dick)

Or if they don't mesh at all right from the get-go, still having a moment where Augustine sees Caius and Jester talking. It looking like Jester is flirting because that's just how he is (but Jester's really just roasting him to oblivion)

Basically I think I just love the idea that Augustine's on edge whenever Caius is anywhere near Jester. Thank you for the brainworms by the way I'm going to go stare at a wall.

AHHH THANK YOU!!

You’re actually SO on point about that. Caius is in fact that kind of asshole who just can’t let someone else have anything. He sees Augustine showing interest in someone and so of course he wants to get in the way and ruin it just to be a jerk. He honestly thinks it won’t be too hard to seduce Jester because when he’s not being a shit Caius can in fact be very charming, and he’s attractive with a very high noble status so he’s used to being fawned over. However Jester clocks that shady bitch a mile away and is not having it.

This is especially devastating to Caius’s ego because Jester is such a flirt to basically everyone except for him. Jester instead will roast him and mock his Daddy issues to his face.

Augustine now has an entirely new reason to hate his brother because he does not need more competition for the Jingly Menaces affections but it is very funny to see Caius get insulted 😂

#foolknight #jester x knight

[cerise-on-top]

what do you think kate, aleria and farah’s fav pet names to call their s/o’s, or even if they like pet names! i absolutely loooovvvvvvveeeee your stuff by the way, love! <3 you are feeding the lesbians in the cod fandom

Hey there! Thank you! I'm glad to hear that I can make something for the women lovers in the CoD fandom! That was my intention all along!

Pet Names That Valeria, Farah and Laswell Use

Valeria: I don’t think she’d use too many pet names as she does believe they’re somewhat embarrassing. Will absolutely not use any in public, but might use some when she’s drunk and alone at home with you. When she’s drunk she usually speaks some Spanglish, so chances are, unless you know both languages, you won’t fully understand her. And even then, her pet names are very few and far in between. They’re also nothing too special. Something along the lines of cariño/a or querido/a. Really, it’s nothing too fancy as Valeria isn’t usually one to show her affections through words. However, you can call her jefa and she’ll go wild internally. Naturally, she’s the boss among the two of you, but it’s nice to hear that anyway. Also the implication of you being family is nice.

Farah: Unlike Valeria, Farah is all for sweet pet names. Loves calling your romantic things that show you just how much she cares about you. She can go either way as well, either calling you something adorable in Arabic or English, she’s fluent in both languages after all. Calls you “my love”, “my moon” or “my heart”. It’s important to note that she usually puts “my” in front of your pet names since it’s important to her that you are hers. However, in Arabic she’ll call you something along the lines of habibi/habibti, rohi or ya amar. Maybe I should mention that she’d also love nothing more than to be sweet with you in Arabic, so her saying things to you in that language aren’t restricted to just pet names. She’ll compare you to the most beautiful things in existence. Farah can be quite eloquent in Arabic, actually, so it’ll always be sweet.

Laswell: Oh, she can probably go any way. Laswell knows so many languages, there’s a good chance she knows yours as well. So she likely wouldn’t be above calling you a pet name in your own language. Besides, if she doesn’t know your language then she’ll simply learn it, she really wants to indulge in the joy of speaking your native tongue with you. So she’ll definitely learn some sweet things she can call you in your language. However, if we go by English alone, then she won’t be too fancy on that one. She could be, don’t get me wrong, but she usually chooses to stick with something that will convey that she loves you, but won’t go overboard. You can expect something along the lines of “my love”, “sweetheart”, “sweetie” and, if she’s feeling especially daring that day, “cutie” from her.

#cod #cod x reader #valeria garza #valeria garza x reader #kate laswell #kate laswell x reader #farah karim #farah karim x reader #if you want some sweet and embarrassing nicknames then Farah would be your best bet #if you want something more classic then you better ask Laswell #if you want none at all then you should go for Valeria #also I do believe that Farah would hope that you don't know too much Arabic so that she can be cringe and in love with you #without you understanding every single word she says. plus she can tease you more easily like that as well #however she'd be very romantic in Arabic #Valeria would likely tease you in Spanish. but lovingly so. calls you a dumb idiot moron affectionately while patting your head #she shows her affection through lovingly insulting you in a fun way #Laswell might sometimes be a bit mischievous and say something to you in a language you don't understand #however she's usually just reciting the grocery list or calling you cute #nothing that she says is really malicious she just wants to tease you a bit

[rioblitzle]

i guess im not too involved in the zelda fandom cause seeing a post about rabid totk defenders is wild to me. from my perspective people were singing that game's praises for 2 months total before it fell to the "popular game bad actually" criticism wave and i don't think i've seen anyone say positive things about totk since then lmfao

#maybe it's just twitter's algorithm showing me discourse and criticism to try and spark engagement or whatever #ive experienced the same thing with mario odyssey which sucks cause i DID get into that game well after release but whatever #i think the game has plenty of flaws but is still like. one of the best games on the switch and that's not an insult to the switch #and most of my writing issues are 'well this sucks but also makes reasonable sense within the constraints of the game design' #like the lack of sheikah tech or the repetition with the backstory cutscenes with the sages #ive also never been super interested in trying to piece together the timeline or linked universe fan stuff but that might just be me #i feel like botw/totk is way better when you view it as a retelling of the zelda universe and give up on trying to reason with the timeline #for making a direct botw sequel on the same map w the same formula and still trying to make it fresh they knocked it out of the park imo #at least in regards to gameplay? #i acknowledge that there is a MASSIVE flaw in the non linear gameplay clashing w the linear story cutscenes this time #(... but that one didn't personally affect me since i saw the memories in mostly the right order and the story hit me weirdly hard) #but anyways yeah where are all the mean totk defenders i keep hearing about i thought that game fell out of the public consciousness #all i still see about it is NintendoMarioJimmy47536 on twitter calling it 'mid af' or whatever #and occasional gorgeous paintings of the light dragon on my dash

[samble]

i know nobody cares about this but me, but the way people still in 2024 think homura is some Obsessive Evil Psycho Abuser™ who wanted everyone but madoka to die horribly drives me up a wall. like, did we watch the same anime/movie(s)? are you just so blinded by hatred of homura that you flat out ignore canon entirely? what is it.

#ableism m #i guess #pmmm #'homura HATES the others and wants them to DIE HORRIBLY because she's an EVIL PSYCHO' #ignoring that she tried to prevent mami's death spent 10+yrs trying to save ALL her friends offered to leave the city if she/kyoko won #yet people will ignore any and all evidence of homura being not even a good but even just a DECENT person #bc 'nooo.... she's an evil meanie stalker abuser !!!! 1!!/' #she's 14 + also this 'take' isn't canonical #like even madoka IN CANON says she could never hate homura iirc etc etc etc #(i think a big part of it is lesbophobia tbh) #(and before anyone says im crazy ive literally seen homura called 'lesbian' the same way she's called 'stalker' ie as an insult) #(and So many bring up the 'psycho lesbian trope' for her...showing affection openly to another girl? and being weird about it bc trauma?) #(and the amount of fandom 'jokes' and stuff of her being perverted for being gay or even a fucking Rapist doesn't help) #rape m #in tags

[alexjcrowley]

One of the funniest shit I've ever seen looking up The Banshees of Inisherin hashtag is that so many posts under that hashtag come from users who have profile pic/user name related to Succession. Like of course you are obsessed with the theme of perversion of love and seeking affection to the point of (self)distruction.

#yes shade but I am mainly shading me #because yes even if the profile pic and the user name aren't succession related I am insane made obsessed with the show #we're terribly obvious #but you know not in a bad way #I always hate when people use obvious as an insult #Obvious things aren't inherently bad most of the time they're just logical #Yes it tells a lot that a bunch of people who watch a tb show about family abuse and estranged relationship -> #-> in which love ends up being confused with violence WOULD love The Banshees of Inisherin #we're all craving a very specific brand of affection or better distortion of it #maybe because we've fascinated by it maybe because we've already experienced it anyway it scratches a very peculiar itch #I am actually happy if I find someone who loved The Banshees of Inisherin they could easily be Succession fan we'll have more to talk about #this shit is funny but also happily familiar #yeah this group of people I feel like there are part of us that belong together #it's nice. My people :D #succession #the banshees of inisherin

[stinkrascal]

i love writing about annie and vaughn’s friendship because they are just so mean to each other lmao

#the way vaughn will say anything and annie is like ‘shut up fatherless’ ANNIE 😭😭😭 YOU CANT SAY THAT SHIT #leave his daddy issues alone!! #but they still love each other so much. theyre very sweet when theyre alone #annie is just super bossy so she shows love by nitpicking and criticizing (virgo venus queen) #and vaughn feels uncomfortable expressing himself honestly so he can only show his affection for her by insulting her (king of mommy issues) #so when they see each other and say shut up ugly i hate you. go die. its their way of saying i love you id die for you. lets rewatch shrek.

[pigeonwit]

sometimes i think maybe i should stop focusing on inane character interactions that arguably don't do much for the plot but then i think of the Weird Guy Davey possibilities and i go 'more'

#he is like a very long cat to me #he climbs on his friends and hugs them in very inconvenient ways and throws his entire bodyweight on top of people to show his affection #he threatens his friends with murder multiple times but that's just how he says hello!!! #and then the moment someone is even slightly rude to him he goes full miette-mode #'you... INSULT davey?? you make a haha joke about him like the weasel?? oh!! jail for newsies!!! jail for newsies for ONE THOUSAND YEARS!!! #eventually just gonna bite the bullet and let him scratch someone for funzies #newsies #davey jacobs #run boy run

[gregoftom]

connor standing up and gently putting his hand on roman’s heart, telling him that willa doesn’t think he’s a joke so he’s going to listen to her, taking her hand and leaving with her. my son actually

#txt #that's the way my boy!!!!!!!!! ugh!!!!!!! so good!!!!!! #yknow what's crazy tho IT ACTUALLY WORKED #it de-escalated roman bc insulting him back just makes him angrier and more worked up #and he's quick and smart so you'll never win in an insult battle #the best thing to do is to calmly show him that you're not affected and you still love him. but fuck him #CONNOR FOR PRESIDENT

[insanechayne]

~ ~ ~

#all I wanted was to love you and care for you #I’ve never met a man who was offended that someone wanted them in some way and yet here you are #for all the problems you have in your personal life you think you’d just be happy that someone wants to show you affection in any way #but you’d rather be miserable and ‘better’ and halfway hate your life than just accept this #I’ll never understand someone who willingly chooses to be/stay unhappy especially when better options are available #I’ll never understand why you would show me so much passion just to give me a cold shoulder #you say it has nothing to do with me but disregard the fact that you treated me like trash to throw away when you were done with me #you say I didn’t do anything wrong while also saying everything I do makes you uncomfortable #you act like we never had a history that still haunts us both #and what’s going to happen when you need that passion again? #are you going to find another anxious vulnerable girl to use and manipulate? #are you going to fuck up someone else and ruin another life? #if you’ve done this before and then repeated that then you’ll just end up doing it again one day #you’re just another lesson I’ve had to learn and I’m tired of being taught #for someone I thought was my savior you sure make me do a lot of labor #but hey I’m always fucking up anyway right? so I’ve always gotta apologize for something #have to grovel at your feet lest you say I’m hurting and insulting and pushing you #have to let you control this whole relationship and just be glad you give me something lest you walk away #I hope one of these days you realize who I was and what I gave you and how you fucked me up #I hope you understand the damage you’ve done and the wreckage you’ve left in your wake #and I hope someone does to you what you’ve done to me so you’ll finally get to hurt the way I do #personal

[melonpond]

okay so I was talking with some friends and I noticed we all had a common theme in love languages so I'm curious

#melon rambles #I always thought it was weird that acts of service is one of my main ways of showing affection but if someone performs a service for me it #it feels like an insult #but the girls I were talking to all were the same way #so it just has me questioning what the general concensus is

[prettyboyscollection]

gender critical people, especially women, will spend all their time tearing down the appearances of trans people, especially trans women, and then when trans people dare to retaliate and make a joke about their appearances, they act like they’ve just been shot

#classic case of not being able to take what you dish out to others #‘you don’t look like a real woman!!! you have disgusting man hands and bad skin and ugly hair and and and’ #‘trans people are way more attractive than transphobes’ #‘omg how could you be so misogynistic and cruel this is just proof that women are the most oppressed ever’ #if you spend all your time insulting peoples appearances and rights to exist and use public spaces and live openly as themselves #you can’t act like a victim when you get some of that hatred thrown back at you #play stupid games win stupid prizes #also related to this is how they always seek out the most ‘obvious’ looking trans women #ones that have stubble or no breasts or are wearing obvious wigs etc #and i think that it’s because they wouldn’t be able to recognize a trans woman who doesn’t have stereotypical masculine features showing #they say they can always tell but they probably cross paths with trans people all day #which explains why they’re so paranoid and obsessive over being able to clock people #to the point of swearing that cis women are trans because of some ‘masculine’ feature that yknow. also can develop on women #and just being straight up wrong about what features people can have #like they jabber a lot about looking for an adams apple and like. cis women can develop those too you know that right #it happens because of testosterone affecting your larynx #and it doesn’t have to be a lot either #like it literally just happens because of hormones. it’s a secondary sex characteristic just like body hair getting thicker/darker #during puberty #and there are tons of features like that #cis women can be just as broad shouldered as a man and they can be flat chested and have strong jaws and thick dark eyebrows #and an adams apple and big hands and big feet and deep voices and can be tall #all the things that they claim means someone is secretly a trans woman #and this gets people harassed #ive heard plenty of stories about cis butch women being told to leave womens bathrooms or even attacked for it #because instead of pulling their heads out of their ass and using their brain terfs would rather make things worse for other women #by narrowly defining what a woman can look like #they bounce around on what makes someone a woman but a lot of the time it lands on having a vagina and ovaries and a uterus etc #which is uhhhhh. what’s the word here. incredibly misogynistic #defining women by their ability to have babies but in a feminist girlboss way this time

[tinylittlebab]

bleh everything SUCKS

#sisters stupid freind/both our roommate is HORRIBLE #hes so controlling and decided hes in charge of of her #she bought a fish. something that doesnt affect him in the slightest. and hes furious with her #hes like. saying it will cause issues in their friendship if she doesnt get rid of it. hes not even saying that its a problem because he #doenst wanna deal with it bc he has acknowledged that it doesnt affect him. hes angry bc he thinks it was impulsive and irrisposible #which like 1. it wasnt and shes beentalking about getting one for years and can probably afford and take care of it and 2. even uf it was #its not a decision that affects him so he has no right. shes an adult who can make her own choices even if theyre are bad ones #hes so mean to her all the time and demands all her time. talks down all her friends. insults her for wanting a relationship. refuses to #listen to any of her problems or support her and refuses to let her talk about any of her interests he doesnt share either #talks down every hobby she has. calls all of it stupid and a waste of money even though he soends SO much money on clothes all the time #and he gets angry with her when she isnt into the stuff he is (mostly shows). even when she agrees to watch it with him he gets angry if #she isnt as into it as she is. hes just decided theyre in a relationship which means shes not allowed to pursue anyone but he is also not #interested in her in the way she wants. he insults her for wanting anything more out of a relationship bc hes content without it rn #hes awful. i hate him. i dont wanna live with him another year. i dont want her to lose him totally bc theyve been freinds for so long and #she really cares about him but fucking hell. they should NOT live together. gonna apply to some places. this lease ends in 3-4 months so #theres not much time for me to adjust but if im adjusted in time then maybe we will go get an apartment just us 2 #and then maybe she can get a fucking support dog like she needs bc shes disabled but he refuses to let her get

[ashfae]

The thing about romance is, it makes a good story.

As soon as Neil described season 2 as "quiet, gentle, romantic" I figured we'd be in for it, because as he's the first to point out, writers are liars. And the best way to deceive is with truth.

Season 2 is romantic. The trappings of romance are everywhere. Crowley tries to set up Nina and Maggie by trapping them under an awning during a rainstorm, a classic cinematic bonding technique. Aziraphale's chosen method comes from his beloved books: the ball, the dancing, appearing as a pair in public, hands held as you twirl gracefully with your heart thrilled and racing. If they can set up a sensational kiss that will unlock the happy ever after. They've lived on earth, they've studied the tropes, they know how romance works.

The problem is a story is only a story.

Nina and Maggie had the classic romantic setup completely by accident before Aziraphale and Crowley ever began trying to interfere with them. They get locked in Nina's coffeeshop. They can't escape or communicate with anyone else, they end up talking by candlelight because there's no electricity, Nina offers wine. Maggie mentions how she'd hoped for a chance to talk to Nina, and now here they are. It's every bit as much a standard as what Aziraphale and Crowley attempt to arrange. Blanket scenarios galore exist because of that starting point. We love that story. And there's nothing wrong with that.

But it's still only a story, it's not enough. Because once that moment of connection is over, however lovely it was, all the rest of the world comes flooding back in in the form of dozens of angry text messages. Nina's messy entrapping relationship hasn't magically gone away just because she and Maggie shared a romantic encounter.

And it's so tempting think oh well, that's easy. We'll just give them more romantic encounters and eventually those will overwhelm the rest of the baggage. Must do, because it'll make them fall in love, and once they realize they're in love that trumps all other considerations, right? So it'll be fine. Love Conquers All.

Neil also mentioned Pride and Prejudice.

Darcy knows he's in love early on and makes a disasterous proposal that shows that he has no understanding of Elizabeth's perspective, possibly hasn't even thought about it. They've been meeting in forest lanes for walks, conversing, had tete-a-tetes in the sitting room, danced at a ball. And while his turn of phrase isn't as flattering as he thinks, he's still offering her everything he thinks she wants and needs: affection, security, his good name, wealth, an escape from the embarrassments of her situation, the world. How can there be anything to object to? Why would anyone ever refuse so much of value?

Elizabeth quite rightly cuts him to pieces. He lashes back with a few hard truths of his own and they separate. During that separation, he thinks and he learns. He takes to heart the criticisms she offered, re-examines his assumptions, opens his eyes. Thinks about her perspective and how sometimes the only difference between pride and arrogance is where you're standing. He does the work. When they meet again he tries to demonstrate that he's learned--not in order to court her again (yet), but because the only real apology he can offer, the only one that would have weight, is to show that he's grown, he listened to her. He changed.

Elizabeth of course has her own journey, accepting that many of her own conclusions about Darcy were erroneous because they were formed without her having the full picture to hand, and once she's done that she has to apply it to her own situation as well. She loves her family, but they do place her at a disadvantage on a number of levels, leading eventually to full-out disaster as her younger sister carelessly ruins all of their reputations. It's hard to admit, it's mortifying, but Darcy was offering her a great deal she needs. His offer did have worth for all that she dismissed it as an insult. And as she learns to value his own character more highly, and then as she sees that he did listen to her even though she insulted him so thoroughly...well, she grows too. And when they do eventually come together it's not because of courting and balls. There's a big romantic gesture in his rescue of her sister but even that isn't why they'll get their happy ever after. It was just the catalyst for the conversation. They win because they've learned how to understand each other and how to communicate for the future. How they can strengthen and support each other, how to balance their strengths and weaknesses. The films leave them at the wedding, but the book shows a bit of their marriage too, and during it they keep learning from each other. Their relationship is held up as a superior love story for good reasons.

The end of season one was romantic too. Crowley stopped time rather than face a world where Aziraphale would never speak to him again, Aziraphale walked into hell to protect Crowley, they dined at the Ritz and toasted the world. But then they stopped. Sure they spent time together, talked, enjoyed each other's company. But if they were talking about important things would Crowley still be living in his car? They had a bit of respite but all that real world baggage that exists outside of the romantic moment hasn't been faced, none of it. Four or five years sounds like a long while but for beings who are quite literally older than the earth? That's just an intermission.

Nina's relationship ends, leaving her with a tangled mess; Maggie realises the sweet dream of love she's been longing for isn't as important as the real Nina. They talk. They plan. Nina will sort through her life, get closure, figure out what went wrong with Lindsay and what she wants from a relationship, learn how to ask for respect instead of just bending under her partner's demands. Maggie will support Nina the way Nina needs, which sometimes means helping her get oat milk for the shop and sometimes means giving her processing space. They're on the same page; they're going to do the work. That's why most likely they'll succeed. To quote one of my favourite fanfics: it's not happily ever after, but it's a chance. It's all going to be okay. (The Profane Comedy by Mussimm, who absolutely nailed this theme)

The romance is nice, it's lovely. We need it to keep ourselves going. To give ourselves the dreams that help us get through the days and nights. But it's not the relationship. It's not enough on its own. The wedding can be the grandest most beautiful ceremony ever with doves flying and sweeping music and bells ringing, but that doesn't guarantee the marriage will last.

Crowley and Aziraphale have had their romantic gestures, oodles of them. One wing raised to protect the other from falling stars, another from rain. Shared ground, shared interests, hands offered in friendship and held on a bus. They've tried to get to the same page, they really have. They just aren't there yet. The biggest most important things still haven't been talked about, and season 2 showed there are even more of those big important things than we'd realised.

The show paints Maggie as Aziraphale's foil and Nina as Crowley's, even to the point of Nina casually calling Maggie 'angel'. But Aziraphale's baggage is Nina's. The toxic relationship has to be processed and understood and closed, and it hasn't been, despite season one. Lindsay never really liked Nina very much, for all that they tried to keep her trapped; Heaven never really liked Aziraphale very much for all that he believed in it. They both let themselves be used. But Lindsay left Nina and went to their sister's, whereas now the head of Heaven has reached out to Aziraphale and said here, we can fix this, you can fix this, don't you want to fix this? Others are already writing about that and maybe I'll add to it later, not sure. And Crowley, like Maggie, has had a sweet dream that he has to set aside. Maybe he'll be able to pick it up again eventually, maybe not. But sometimes you offer support by buying oat milk or rescuing your beloved from the legions of hell, and sometimes you do it by standing back while they sort through their shit.

Quiet, gentle, romantic. It was.

But that's only part of the story. Now they have to do the work. They thought they had, but they were wrong, because there's so much they just hadn't touched yet and tried to cover over with relief and sleight of hand and alcohol and forgiveness. The apology dance doesn't mean much without showing that you listened and learned. They've faced so much trauma already and that should have been enough, we wanted it to be enough and so did they and it's such a blow for it to turn out that there's still more to do, that the baggage hasn't just gone away and can't be hidden under blankets or soothed with cocoa. The texts are still coming in and demanding answers.

But it'll be okay. It will. It's still a chance. And one that in the long run makes them better, builds something real that lasts.

The best stories, the ones that last longest and become classics, are the ones that don't end with the kiss under the awning or the blanket scenario or the wedding. They're the ones that heal us while the characters heal themselves. It's hard to accept that there's still more to do. Harder to imagine how it can possibly work out. And yes, bloody frustrating to wait and see.

And we'll get through that interim by telling even more stories. Because the story is never just a story. It's how we get through the work, it's what we tell ourselves so we can do the damn work. Stories are what we cling to and how we remind ourselves we're human and connect. A book is a person you can carry with you. We're not alone, none of us, stories connect us because we love them and see ourselves in them, which means we see each other.

Aziraphale's back up in Heaven to deal with his unfinished baggage; Crowley left his behind long ago and it's clearly going to come back and bite him in the arse however much he tries to go his own way. And they can't help each other with that. Not yet.

But they'll get there. So will we.

#good omens #good omens season 2 #gos2 spoilers #good omens season 2 spoilers #crowley #aziraphale #ineffable husbands #nina #maggie #nina and maggie #stories #romance #relationships #am I projecting here #of course I am isn't that the whole point? #pride and prejudice #elizabeth and darcy #quiet gentle romantic #good omens meta