#CAN'T EXPLAIN HOW EXCITED I AM FOR S2

[sharkteethunderneathmysocks]

"Ayaka Is in Love with Hiroko" - Season 2 Trailer🔗

[markantonys]

3x01 thoughts!!!!! book spoilers abound. there's also probably a ton of stuff i'll forget to comment on since i didn't stop to note anything during the episode so as not to miss even a moment of it!

i will also note that i heard some new music mixed in with previous seasons' tracks during the 15 minutes at the beginning before the event started! i can't wait for the full soundtrack!! and all of the shredding music was insanely good, i really hope there will be a nice long track on the OST that includes all of it (the piece during the battle inside the tower reminds me a lot of the rings theme from ROP, which is neat. maybe a new theme for the black ajah?)

moiraine saving siuan during the battle! i got so emotional! in the extended s3 preview after the episode, it did show siuan speaking with moiraine in the fish hut about rand needing to kneel to the tower, so i'll be intrigued to see how that conversation might come about (if it's even in the real world?) after moiraine's left tar valon without mending fences with siuan.

our first avirand interaction! 10/10 no notes! i love the bickering vibe they have to start off and am excited to watch their relationship grow over the course of the season. this episode also does a good job of explaining why they get off on the wrong foot: rand is annoyed that avi is putting her expectations onto him and being demanding of what she wants from him as the potential car'a'carn, and avi is annoyed that rand isn't living up to her expectations and doesn't have any investment in the aiel people the way the car'a'carn should.

glad to see egwene getting a chance to talk to elayne and nynaeve about her trauma and the struggles she's having in her relationship with rand. the show is committed to maintaining the weight of what happened to her in s2 and exploring how it affects her long-term! elayne going from a confidante for egwene about her relationship with rand to later rand's partner herself with egwene's blessing - i'll be super intrigued to see how they handle that shift in a future season, because it's a delicate emotional situation. i'm guessing that whatever closure randgwene gets this season will be solid enough that it will feel believable for egwene to sign off on her friends elayne & avi dating him in potentially s4.

and then later we see egwene and nynaeve teasing elayne about avi, which was so adorable <3 i always loved the book scenes of the wondergirls gossiping about their love lives together, and i'm thrilled that this episode paid homage to it!

speaking of, we ALSO got a scene of the wonderboys gossiping about their love lives together, which i don't think the books ever really did thanks to RJ's seeming conviction that guy friends don't confide in each other about personal things the way girl friends do. but the show has delivered! equality is restored!!! overall a very fun and wholesome scene between the boys here. (though we do find out by implication that rand has not told anybody the truth about having slept with a disguised lanfear, setting the stage for that to be an earthshattering discovery for egwene later. i do hope they can frame the randgwene breakup in a way that doesn't feel like lanfear/randfear is the main catalyst, but rather in a way that feels like they would have inevitably broken up regardless of that because they just aren't right for each other.)

"you don't give yourself enough credit" "no YOU don't give yourself enough credit" the boys continue to be the most wholesome besties!!

i'll admit to being sad that we didn't really get any dedicated cauthor interactions, just a couple of quick little moments slid into group scenes, but they've had so much one-on-one time in the first two seasons that i can acknowledge, objectively, it's fair to give the one-on-one time to other duos among the group in this episode haha but i'll cross my fingers for them to reunite for s4!

the moiraine-lanfear shaky temporary alliance is very intriguing! lanfear calling ishy "a gentle soul" djkfjg it's a good way to set the stage for the other forsaken and explain how they pose a different threat than what we've seen from ishy and lanfear, due to just wanting rand dead and not caring about getting him to join their side.

we also see mat uncontrollably speaking the old tongue. i cracked up the first time he did it and the gang was just like ".........." and he went "um carry on" hjdkfhkgh and then i LOVED his and nynaeve's one-on-one moment later, it was incredibly sweet and a lovely fleshing-out of a friendship duo we haven't really seen yet (on that note, pour one out for mat and egwene STILL not really getting to have an interaction, i don't think!). anyway, it's wonderful to see nynaeve slipping back into her wisdom role as caretaker of the group (and we can see that this gives her some confidence back after she's been feeling like such a failure channeling-wise), and i like that we hear about the traumatic side of mat's new hero memories with images of battles and pain and death haunting him 24/7. him admitting that he's struggling with this (and only after nynaeve pushes hard for him to admit it) after we've seen him living it up and putting smiles on all episode is such a good illustration of book!mat's whole "he'll holler about a papercut but treat a broken leg like it's nothing at all" attitude. he really sees his duty as being the light of the group and doesn't want to burden his struggling friends by confiding his own struggles in them. baby!

egwene accepted test speedrun! i was glad they made it brief but impactful, since we've already seen one in-depth test with nynaeve, no need to do it again. but her heading out of the city with rand & co at the end of the episode is the final nail in the coffin of my hopes for a gawene meeting this season :( i'll be interested to see how they get them to cross paths later, because from my perspective it seems like a tough thing to manage, logistically speaking! but you never know how they might shift things around.

in the books, gawyn's motive for defecting from elaida's army is that he hears egwene is her captive and he wants to help her. he needs to be sufficiently emotionally connected to her in order for that to happen - just a friend or a mild crush would be 100% fine, they don't need to have any real romance yet, so as long as s4(?) has them cross paths long enough to establish a good enough connection that we believe gawyn would desert his own men for egwene, we're all good. they could also change his motive, of course, but that might make me sad. unless it's a really good alternate motive! or, ooooooh, what if gawyn is still with elaida and is inside the tower during egwene's captivity arc, and he defects by helping her escape or something? that could be VERY tasty, and would delay his moment of switching sides longer to give them more time together beforehand and therefore accommodate their first meeting being pushed til later than it was in the books. i will count on gawene to be the slowburn romance i crave but have been denied elsewhere (more on that in a bit)

also, alviarin!! as we suspected. i noticed her when the cold open first dropped and i recognized her from the accepted test trailer shot, and i was like "this is the most beautiful woman i've ever seen in my life so if this really is alviarin then the shadow can take me" haha i'm excited to see more of her this season! the show continuing to bat 100 on making everybody hot! (also, we didn't get any confirmation this episode on whether tsutama and galina survived the battle, so hopefully that will come soon. galina had to have, surely, so hopefully tsutama did too!)

our first (and only this season, alas, but i expected that) randlayne scene! loved it so much! we get them bonding over duty and elayne teaching him about politics (hooooopefully a tee-up for a bigger arc of her teaching him wetlander politics in s4?), and an arm-touch and a smile. with both randlayne and avirand, they did a good job establishing a Vibe that's easy to imagine shifting into romance, but for now is subtle enough that viewers won't immediately take it as flirty and be indignant on egwene's behalf (not to mention it wouldn't fit rand's current headspace to be having flirty vibes with new people).

but who does have an overtly flirty vibe is avilayne! this was by far the most unexpected part of the episode for me. never in a million years would i have guessed they'd hook up already in 3x01. i'll be honest, and this is probably an unpopular opinion, but............i don't like it! i'm disappointed! i wanted a slowburn, i wanted to have to wait for it and build anticipation and cheer when it finally happened! i feel that i've been shortchanged out of getting to watch their relationship blossom and develop organically; instead, they've never met by the end of s2 and then by the start of s3 they're suddenly hooking up, and the only buildup we get is a couple flirty conversations and other characters telling us that they have vibes with each other. the focus on Immediate Flirting felt like the show going "hey we really want you to know immediately that both these characters are sapphic and that avirandlayne will be a throuple instead of a V in this version, so here, they're going to hook up right off the bat just so that you know right away they aren't straight" and i get shows wanting to establish characters' queerness as soon as possible since they'll be assumed straight otherwise, but the hookup didn't feel earned in my opinion (and even all the flirting was a bit too heavy too soon for my taste, oh how i love my slowburns). elayne said "finally" and i was like "what do you mean finally, i've only been watching you guys interact for 5 minutes?" it felt like i was only seeing that they're into each other, but not WHY they're into each other because, at least according to what i can still remember from the episode, so much of their pre-hookup conversation time was dedicated to flirty quips rather than meaningful conversation. for readers, them hooking up makes sense because we know how deep their book relationship is and that they're involved in a polycule together, but for show-onlys who don't have that context i feel like it would feel like a very random pair-the-spares that just kinda got dropped on them out of the blue. though i'll definitely have to rewatch to listen to those conversations more closely and see if there was more emotional depth there than i'm remembering, because i was so startled by the hookup that a lot of the episode's prior content flew out of my memory! i did like their conversation about rand and duty (and likewise elayne's conversation with rand about avi and duty), because there we do see that elayne understands avi and is able to reach her emotionally.

with siuaraine we had a wlw romance that was pre-established, and i was really looking forward to getting to watch a slowburn gradual development arc for a wlw romance with avilayne, but instead they moved faster and more offscreen than even any of the book romances ever did :( still, they DID frame it as a fairly casual thing, more flirtation and hookup than serious feelings, so i'll have to hope that they get some more depth added whenever they next see each other and that we'll get to watch their relationship grow and evolve and have an actual arc. me, i never like it when a romance is too easy in fiction! i don't want to see any of my favorite ships just fit together perfectly immediately and get together right away with no problems and be perfectly happy forever thereafter! hopefully, the addition of rand into the relationship will present a nice new emotional spin on the established avilayne dynamic so that we can watch their relationship with each other shift and grow. (and i JUST KNOW that avilayne already being a thing pre-rand will 100000x worsen the "why is a man ruining my f/f ship!!!!" reactions from certain segments of queer WOT fandom when he does start joining lmao and i'm sure plenty of show-onlys who don't already know about the polycule will be like "wait but i thought they were lesbians??" when they start having vibes with rand because audiences often tend to forget that bisexuality exists and assume that a character's sexuality is 100% determined by the gender of their first onscreen partner.)

so, yeah! i don't like this change, and i don't think i'll ever like it as much as i would have liked a proper avilayne slowburn no matter what else the show does with it in future seasons, but hey, getting explicit confirmation that romantic avilayne is in the cards is of course a great thing, so in that respect i am happy! i think i am just Like This about wanting to really be made to wait for it with romances, because i remember watching s1 as a show-only and being shocked that lanaeve hooked up when they did because it felt way too early to me.

on the other end of the spectrum of avilayne being thrown together too fast, we also have randgwene getting dragged out too long. i like their scenes in this episode and i'm sure it will be a very well-written emotional arc, and they DO need closure what with the way the show set up their relationship in the first two seasons, but again, just not my favorite adaptational change. i think i would've liked it more if we saw them break up in this episode and then navigate the emotional waters of Exes On A Roadtrip in the rest of the season as opposed to them probably spending most of the season both clinging onto an obviously dead relationship in a way that kinda feels like a waste of time and makes it so that there's even less breathing room in between their breakup with each other and their getting-togethers with their future partners, but of course we've only seen one episode so i'll have to wait and see how it all unfolds! if they break up in ep5 (which is when "egwene learns rand's dark secret," and maddy mentioned having a really good and cathartic scene with josha under the block 3 director), then that would leave a few episodes post-breakup to let the dust settle and watch them begin to build a new equilibrium with each other, and then i'd guess there might be a month+ timeskip between s3 and s4 to give them time to travel back out of the waste.

okay that's enough criticisms considering that i truly did LOVE this episode haha it's only that The Romances are my most-highly-anticipated thing so i get extra-sensitive to things not playing out Exactly The Way I Envisioned. but in the past the show has always delivered something even better than what i'd envisioned in the times when it went in a direction i didn't expect, so i will wait and see and trust in rafe & co!

moving on! i want to quickly revisit elayne trying to smooth things over with avi and rand, which i mentioned briefly above in the avilayne discussion. i loved these moments so much!!! elayne taking her duties as Chief Communicator Of The Future Polycule very seriously haha i'm so delighted that we did get a little connection formed between the three of them in this episode, but in an appropriately subtle way for the very very early stage we're in here. they definitely did a good job of establishing foundations to revisit later next time these three are together, even if i wish avilayne's foundation wasn't established QUITE this firmly this soon lmao although, now we're opening the door for "how to establish a polycule when two partners have already hooked up?" (or rather, have already hooked up AND parted on good terms that make it clear a repeat would be welcome, as opposed to book!rand having pre-polycule hookups but then parting on bad terms and thinking there's no future), and that could be quite an interesting new emotional spin on the polycule to look at. from avi's bafflement at the idea of Lying With No One Else in s2, it seems open relationships might be the norm for aiel, but how would elayne react to reuniting with avi & rand and learning that avi is growing interested in rand? would she feel any jealousy at first, or would she be all aboard right away? maybe we could get elayne trying to wingman avi with rand while also developing a crush on him herself, that would be adorable and hilarious.

and there's also the min of it all - if elayne joins up with avi & rand for s4 (which...........i feel like she HAS to, it's the only window of opportunity for making those relationships happen, and rand will definitely be in need of a wetlands politics teacher since moiraine will be gone without having taught him much about it yet), will min come with her? will she join the polycule in s4 as well? it's very interesting that, again, another episode with min and rand in the same city but they did not cross paths, so now we know they won't see each other all season. given that, would it feel too rushed for him to be romancing her as well as avi and elayne in s4? they DID already have a meaningful one-on-one scene in s1, so now on equal grounds with randlayne there, but that will have been aaaaages ago (for both the characters and the audience) by the time s4 rolls around, so i don't know if it would be able to lead into s4 romance the way randlayne's more recent meaningful one-on-one scene might (plus, it's established that randlayne spent a month together and consider each other friends now, whereas min only met rand for an evening).

(given that it's now twice that the show has had rand and min in the same location and chosen not to have them interact (granted, there wasn't much space for min in this episode since it was already jam-packed), i'm continuing to lean towards my theory that they'll focus on avirandlayne for now and min will be an optional addon to the polycule if they have enough time. though her scenes with elayne this season might change that prediction if they feel like they're setting up for her to join the polycule sooner rather than later!)

maiden's kiss, 10/10 spectacular and hot and we finally got official confirmation of what the game entails, god bless. mat wants to get pegged by bain and chiad confirmed, and then "the spears get closer if you're a bad kisser" followed by mat having a dozen cuts on his neck when we next see him is a great continuation of the Nobody Wants Mat Carnally saga jdkfjgh but then chiad winks at him as she's leaving at the end of the episode which cracked me up. they just like messing with him, and he likes being messed with. good for all of them!

(also mat's toast being like "may we all get hot redheaded girlfriends" put him in the polycule so help me god!)

and we got our confirmation that the new shadowspawn type is indeed gray men! and Show Lore drop that moggy is the only forsaken who knows how to make them (and we see her doing just that), which is super interesting. it was really cool how they filmed it too and how they managed to convey the concept of an assassin that people's eyes just slide off, with the way he's just kind of glimpsed in the background of shots until the moment he attacks, and then nynaeve and the audience are very much aware of his presence but mat is still totally oblivious (though that may have also been due to lanfear entrancing him with the cards).

moiraine listening to everybody screaming in pain and refusing to help and ordering lan not to help was diabolical in the best way! the layers this woman has! and then we get the reveal that the gray man was NOT part of lanfear's scheme and therefore things got even more out of hand than she, moiraine, or lan had anticipated. also a great moment for showing lan's conflicting loyalties between moiraine and nynaeve, and him actually being angry with moiraine for her decision was a great and needed aspect of the scene.

also, confirmation that all the happenings were caused by lanfear (and moggy), so we get the bubbles of evil events without the show needing to introduce a new type of magic fuckery by using the concept of bubbles of evil as the cause for the events. a great decision!

and they did good setup with everybody's motives for wanting to go to their different locations, despite their initial plan of wanting to stay together. i wish so badly that we could have had more time with the gang all together and get to have even more one-on-one scenes for the duos who didn't get them, but i always figured they'd probably be heading out on their missions for the season at the end of ep1 instead of lollygagging around the city for a second episode. we gotta get the ball rolling!

okay! that's all the thoughts off the top of my head, but there was so much to unpack in this episode and i don't know if i even got to half of it! i'm looking forward to rewatching this episode again in the future when i can absorb it better and also pause and make notes haha i think i won't rewatch any individual episode until after the whole season is out, though, and then i'll rewatch the whole season at once (maybe not immediately after it's over, i might give it a few weeks), at which time my thoughts on ep1 might be significantly different having seen the full season.

[my-rose-tinted-glasses]

Question (because i'm curious and because i love enabling friends' hyperfixation): what is Tengu no Daidokoro? Why do you like it? What are you hoping for in a s2?

Also, should i watch it?

I adore Koisenu Futari and i have other similar queer-people-in-their-daily-life Japanese shows on my watch list (i loved my dining table and i have Kinou nani Tabeta and Tsukuritai Onna to Tabetai Onna waiting) that i just know i will love once i have the time to watch it!

Is Tengu no Daidokoro anything like it?

Thank you so much for this ask cause it gives me the opportunity to share my love for this show and also maybe make other people want to check it out.

Before anything else. This is not a queer show. All those shows you mentioned are some of my favourite shows, as you can see by my choice of pfp I adore Koisenu Futari as well. Kinou Nani Tabeta and Tsukutabe are magic and I really hope you get to them because they are so amazing. But Tengu is not that. It's an absolute gem and I adore it.

Now. Why do I love it? Why I am excited like it's christmas morning and I still believe in santa? So many reasons...

-IT'S GORGEOUS (if I hadn't binged this ,I would've giffed every frame)

I mean the greens are just incredible. All the colours in these show are actually. The change in the colours is amazing as well. My delusional brain will believe that this second season was made specifically so that me and @colourme-feral could once again lose our minds over THE GREENS.

-It's about two brothers. (I love stories around family)

Motoi (older brother played by Komagine Kiita) and On. A city 14 year old who comes to stay at his older brother's house in a rural area. They are estranged and have little in common. On is the perfect representation of 'kids these days...' (I know I'm getting old when this is what comes to mind), completely hates the idea of being away from the city and technology and internet (I related). Motoi is at home here, he's very quiet and calm. I love them. I love this relationship. I love how it grows and I can't wait to see where they go next.

-The food. (I love food)

Motoi has his own vegetable garden and he makes everything from there or other local sources. Just like the shows you mentioned in your ask, the food is a major ingredient to this story. It's the thing that brings these brothers together as well. the scene in the above gif is one of my favourites because of that. Not gonna give you spoilers.

-The dog. but also...

this is where the show takes a different turn than you'd expect. although not really because it's in the synopses, but if you only knew this show from gifs and this post you would not see this one coming. There's a supernatural element to this show. For starters that cute dog you see there, he talks. He's a talking dog!!! And he is delightful. but also this

(Can we just stop for a second and appreciate how beautiful Kiita is? I barely recognized him in 25 ji.) So yeah it's in the show's name, Tengu's Kitchen. Tengu's are a legendary creature from japanese folklore and the brothers are descendants of them. (more info here about that if you're curious).

-The three of them.

I adore them. I don't want to say more so you'll just have to watch it.

-the setting (did I mention it's gorgeous?)

I know I've mentioned the visuals but it's not just that. it's the scenery and the rhythm and the music (I love the ost of this show) and the everything. Look I watch shows for a bunch of different reasons. This one, I watch it, or rewatch it as the case may be, for my soul. It's beautiful, it's soothing, it's touching, and I feel better after watching it. I really can't explain it any other way.

There are more things I could say honestly but this is already so much longer than I intended. But it's 10 episodes of 30 minutes and as with a lot of jdramas, an incredible human @aoinousagi has fansubbed it for our viewing plesure. here is the link to their post.

These are just some of the reasons I love it and can't wait to watch more. I never expected it but this day is better because of that announcement alone. I'm so happy. I will do rewatch soon, and probaly gif more of it so maybe more people will want to check it out.

@yannig thank you so much for this question. Sorry if it's a bit of a incoherent mess but I'm really excited and having trouble putting it into words. And I know there are a lot of shows to watch and not enough time to watch them all, so of course no pressure, but if you're ever in the mood for something that is wholesome and beautiful I do recommend it highly.

[whoopsyeahokay]

Hello!

Girlypop, I am O B S E S S E D with October Sun, like how do you write so good?!

I can't wait for parts 26 and 27, I swear it's SO addictive!!

And especially being Desi, I love the Desi rep in the form of Ajay. So, thank you so much for that! <3

I hope you have a lovely day/night/whatever it is where you live! <33

babyyyyy 😭😭😭 omg THANK YOU!!! i am bawling with joy rn i can't explain how happy i am to hear how you're enjoying the chaos and insanity 🥺🥺🥺

Ajay is my sweet-salty bae and i'm likely going to undertake a S2 rewrite just to put him in it bc, as far as i can tell, our three "seat fillers" aren't featured. and this is an Ajay for school president zone 🥸 i'm genuinely relieved and excited that i managed to bring something positive to the page through Ajay 💖 i've had such a fantastic time fleshing out his character and i can't wait to showcase more of him throughout the next series 😊

thank you so much for reaching out, love, it means the world 💓

big bear hugs 👐🧸

October Sun

[shrinkthisviolet]

Happy Pride and Happy TST! For Morgan, what aspects you're looking forward to explore further in the RUTTTS series? And what situations has she yet to be in? Sending grand ☆☆☆ vibes ☆☆☆ and loads of creative energy and good luck your way. ~~ - ✨️ (@enchanted-lightning-aes)

Ahhh thank you thank you! Happy Pride to you too :D

That's an interesting question. I definitely hope to explore more of Morgan being Sentry, specifically her creed of "protecting all metahumans." It's something she grows into throughout s1, and arguably s2 too, and it's interesting, because it...puts her at odds with Team Flash, in a way.

Because Team Flash is all about apprehending metahumans, right? Meanwhile Morgan wants to protect them. She's still figuring out what that means, really, but what it will eventually come to mean is like...for example, Amunet Black will be her major nemesis—because she is the direct antithesis of Morgan's creed (and yes, that does mean that Amunet Black will be treated as the fearsome villain she is, rather than comic relief—we're talking about a human trafficker here, and unlike the CW, I don't see anything funny about that).

Or that, for example, in Rogue Air...she'll feel torn between agreeing with Snart that the metahumans should be freed from the Pipeline, and backing Team Flash up because that's her family. Not sure yet if Snart will know her well enough to directly call her out for that, but Hartley certainly will. Though this will not be a major point of conflict because, ofc, Morgan will be having a major Thawne crisis during that episode, and she's just a kid, so no one will really press her overly hard to commit to one side or the other. So even if Hartley would be the one to call her out...maybe, in a brief moment of sympathy, he doesn't. But it's a seed planted regardless.

I am also very excited to write Morgan & Bates angst >:D I've talked about that more here. Bates was a missed opportunity imo, because he was only used to assault Caitlin and later worked with Eowells, but like...the former is dropped without resolution, and the latter ended in him just...dying. So in the Morgan AU, I'll show his intelligence and have him poke at Morgan's sore spots while disguised as her dear big brother. Surely that won't break Morgan's heart into a million pieces! (It will. Though Bates doesn't much care. But careful, Bates...Barry might, when he finds out)

The Zoom arc has been seeded ofc, though the s2 arc is currently unfinished 😅 ik you haven't read that far in the posted fics yet, so I won't say too much on that front, except that...Zoom's menace factor is kicked up a notch, and he's a little more strategic. And it introduces some fun Morgan & Jesse tension...as if things weren't already complicated enough there (Morgan and Jesse are a bit jealous of each other, though they haven't fully realized it yet. And it hasn't been fully explained yet, but it will be! Though imo the pieces are there to start to put things together)

The Savitar arc is something else I'm excited for :D if you've followed me for a while (whether by literally following me or just regularly keeping up with my posts), you know that Savitar is like. The ultimate missed opportunity of the show to me. The show has plenty of missed opportunities, but man...this one hurts! Barry isn't a very difficult hero to turn evil, and they got so close...but they didn't manage it, and Savitar's story has so many holes in it, and to this day, I have no idea why s3 is so wildly popular.

I have a few different ideas for how to fix Savitar's story, but as for the one that will take center stage in the Morgan AU...all I'm gonna say for now is that it'll be a blend of show!Savitar and comics!Future Flash, he won't have his scar (if the writers can't be bothered to explain it, I can't be bothered to include it), and he'll get to do some impersonation. I'm still not sure yet what I'll do with the Alchemy stuff, but I'm at least making it so that a) Alchemy is not Savitar (because that made absolutely no sense, since when can speedsters possess people) and b) the stuff with the metas either doesn't happen at all, or at least doesn't go on as long. There are...a lot of question marks here 😅 since I'm getting rid of Flashpoint, s3 is a big pile of question marks with a few scattered ideas and snippets. But to return this to a Morgan focus...I am very excited to write the Savitar & Morgan dynamic :D I've written so many brainstorming snippets already, I love them to bits and pieces, and I hope you all will too!

(Though with the AU spin-off series being a thing, you will probably see another version of Savitar in the future too ;) just not in the main AU! And he will have a different interesting dynamic with Morgan)

Speaking of the AU spin-off series...yeah that's a thing! Only a few intro fics posted thus far, because a lot of the spinoff AUs can't really be kickstarted until I finish the main AU s1 arc, but...some have been kicked off, others will follow :D and they'll explore different facets of Morgan by putting her in different situations! Hop on over there and take a peek, if you're so inclined!

With the s5 arc...I have many interesting plans for Morgan & Nora's dynamic :D alas, I cannot say much, except that a) Morgan being Barry's sister makes her Nora's aunt, and b) if you've browsed the future!Morgan tag...there's a reason she has blond hair: she's undercover. Can't say why, can't expand much more on points a or b, but I can tell you that it complicates Morgan's relationships with Nora and Iris in a fascinating way...and future!Morgan presents a more ruthless, fierce version of her that we don't get to see much of!

Though if you do want to see more of that...i didn’t know (where else to go) and sometimes i think you might hate me (maybe you just wanna be me) are two fics starring RF!Morgan (here's her Tumblr tag if you wanna know more about her)! She's more ruthless in the second fic ofc, but...the first fic shows some rare vulnerability :( RF!Morgan doesn't do that often post-s1, and that fic illustrates the last time she does.

And that is currently all I'm at liberty to say (some stuff I haven't figured out much yet, other stuff I can't say due to spoilers). Thanks for a great question :D

Taglist (send an ask or DM to be added or removed):

@arrthurpendragon @ocappreciationtag @raith-way @vexic929 @ironverseocs

@thechaoticfanartist @tempests-of-hope @negative-speedforce @starstruckpurpledragon @angst-is-love-angst-is-life

[hopeymchope]

Castlevania Nocturne S2 continues Nocturne being amazing

I wrote this love letter to season 1 of Castlevania Nocturne recently, and here I am today to sing the praises of season 2.

The conventional wisdom online seems to be that season 2 is leagues above season 1.

I do not agree; I think season 1 (which I loved all over in this post) is the better of the two. But admittedly, season 2 still is pretty great.

Minor Gripes

Why do I think season 2 is the lesser of the two? Well, I'll offer some minor criticisms. (Let me reiterate: These are minor issues.)

Season 2 is ultimately afraid to play the ball where it lies. We ended with Bathory becoming all-powerful and blocking out the sun in a magical eclipse; as the new season begins, this is promptly undone and we're told she wasn't yet strong enough to maintain that, actually. She's suddenly weakened a lot. The fear of eternal night and an ultra-powerful "messiah" is quickly washed back with "eh, it's not really that bad."

Season 2 feels compelled to plainly spell out things that were already plenty obvious to me through facial expressions and hints of dialogue in the first season. I geatly prefer "blatant undertones and implications" over "telling me to my face." So I don't need Orlox to give me a speech explaining how he feels about gods and messiahs! His stated heritage, his facial expressions when listening to dialogue about those things, and his couple of lines dismissing them in season 1 were PLENTY clear to me. But season 2 feels the need to lay everything out for people who can't be bothered to pay attention. I suppose that's... fine, but god DAMN is it less interesting. But based on how people reacted to Season 1—i.e. totally not getting all the blatant character depth—I guess we needed this, sadly. And from what we're hearing, this is exactly the kind of dumbing-down we should expect from Netflix going forward.

One of my favorite things in season 1 is Ricther and Maria's familial relationship. So naturally, having that take a deep back seat in season 2 is going to make it a little less satisfying. The pair have an early falling-out, and they only reconcile in time to split up again at the very end (although that separation is going to presumably be mostly off-screen, so whatever). It makes sense for the story in that it gives us more time to develop Richter and Annett's love story (which is adorable and MUCh better-handled here than the inexplicable crushes they had in season 1) while also giving Juste more time to shine as he steps into the main supporting role in Maria's stead. But selfishly, I still wanted to watch those kids together again.

Being a fan of the source material means that I have to simultaneously be excited the more references they pack in, and also question the deviations. As I said in my review of Chapter 1, I don't know how they could do this story WITHOUT deviations. But I do think, sadly, that making DROLTA be the final boss battle was a step too far. Drolta, in her point of origin - Castlevania: Bloodlines - is a pretty generic servant of Erzebet/Elizabeth. A witch who never even appears in the game itself; only in the instruction manual's story! But now she's a vampire (sure, fine) and also...the final battle of the whole fucking thing, usurping Bartlet/Bathory's position?????? For what? What does that get us, really? Other than one second of a surprise twist, it doesn't serve any real purpose at all. We gain nothing good out of this.

But... look, season 2 of Nocturne still left me with a huge, goofy smile on my face for almost its entire run.

Alucard is a saltier, angrier person than we were previously privy to. He was formerly a tragic and sad figure, but now he's spent another few hundred years hunting demons and vampires, befriending various Belmonts, and he's embittered. Yet not SO embittered that he doesn't still have friends and hasn't fallen in love "countless times," and I love that for him. I love that they didn't do the tired old "I've refused to love" trope for him. And it certainly opens up the hope of us getting Maria/Alucard once we advance another decade or so...

The way they tied together concurrent historical events like the Haitian Slave Revolt and the French Revolution and how the latter led to the founding of the Louvre? It was all pretty fucking genius and beautiful. (Still wish Bathory's origin was more historically accurate, though.)

The action is beyond reproach. But ultimately, when you have someone like this version of Annett who can wield earth materials and metal, you have someone who's probably too OP — especially in an urban setting where stone and metal are EVERYWHERE. So it makes sense that we had to kick her out of the main battle and make her unavailable, honestly. We have to make this fight actually be a challenge, y'know? They did a good job putting her at risk and raising the stakes while also preventing her from being this OP killing machine during the climax.

What's Next?

Perhaps the best thing I can say about this season is that, if they never make a third "Noturne" season? I think that'd be fine. We have a satisfying arc here, and it might even be better leaving it right where it is. Just move on . What we have here still contains some dangling hints of future arcs, but nothing too terribly compelling or mandatory to explore.

But the obvious place to go is to some kind of warped translation of Symphony of the Night. Where we see Maria and Richter signifcantly older and we get some Maria/Alucard romance development now that she's an adult. And yet... what would that even look like? What could it look like, in this totally different universe? I don't know if there's any way they could make it and still have it seem similar or satisfying. The only way this would ever work is if they finally undo the mega-happy ending of the original series' Season 4 and accept that ultimately, Dracula has to be the recurring big bad because this is fucking Castlevania. But alternatively, maybe something more like the first series' third and fourth seasons (a.k.a. "shit made up out of whole cloth") could work.

The most obvious nugget they have sitting out there for a possible continuation is the whole Old Man Coyote/Mephistopheles chestnut. I feel like, at the start of the Nocturne series, in the wake of how Season 4 of the first show ended, someone looked at the final bosses/main villains in the game series who AREN'T Dracula, and was like "Elizabeth Bathory!" And now that she's dead, someone looked at the same collection of remaining options who were big bads in games and was like "Uhhhhh... Satan??" Which is a HELL OF A LEAP from what we've been dealing with thus far.

However, could Old Man Coyote a.k.a. "Teh Devil" be the connecting point we need to getting Dracula back to evil and back to Big Bad status? Could he be tempted by Mephistopheles into seeking vengeance on humanity for new/recurrent reasons? I think there might be something there... at least I hope there is.

[tenpintsof-sundrop]

I’ll leave whether or not this is a request up to you. I just want to share the idea of Christmas season with JayGar. Making cookies with them, putting together a gingerbread house too. Kissing under mistletoe. Decorating the tree, just the place in general. Maybe it snows. Gar insists on making snow people and there’s a snowball fight. Watching them roll around in the snow, play-fighting. Going inside after and making hot cocoa. It’d be so sweet, cozy, fun, and loving and I’m soft for it right now. -Rotten Anon

okay, this makes me feral and foaming at the mouth. I am so deeply upset that Jason was not at the Titans Christmas in Season 4 because it's supposed to take place in Gotham at Wayne Manor if I'm correct? and like I understand that Jason was still kind of on the outs with the Titans, but Gar would have wanted him there, and Jason coming to Christmas dinner or something would have been a great step in mending the relationships. grrr

anyway! Christmas with JayGar. omg. consider this my headcanons post because I can't help myself

Christmas With Jason Todd and Gar Logan

(These headcanons operate under the idea that they are in a poly relationship with the reader, or they are flirtatious/sexual and forming that kind of poly relationship.) (This also kind of accidentally turned into Christmas headcanons about the Titans in general.) (Also, this is mostly fluff and there is some mild sexual themes, because I can't help myself when it comes to JayGar.)

So, first of all, I definitely feel like Christmas at Titans Tower would be so different from a family Christmas - like, spending Christmas with Jason and Gar once the three of you have moved out to start a family and 'settle down' or when everyone has come home to a place like Wayne Manor for a traditional family Christmas. Living with Jason and Gar in your own place would be a lot more like you mentioned, but I am thinking about more of the S2 era (I love that era so much.) But I could definitely make another post about like - post No Place Like Home Christmas with JayGar.

Christmas at Titans Tower - I am imagining a situation where they lived at the Tower for longer before Rose showed up (and then Deathstroke tried to kill everyone) and they had Christmas during that time. OR during the time they continued living at the Tower before Gotham, they had Christmas (and Jason is still there because I said so). It would be wonderful chaos.

Dick would not even have the idea to decorate or really celebrate Christmas in any way until Rachel or Gar bring it up. The original Titans did celebrate Christmas, but it was 90% Dawn's doing. (In the show, we saw how she turned Hank's sad, single guy apartment into a really femme, well decorated place. And it is of my opinion that she planned Garth's birthday party by herself. She would demand Christmas decorations.) And because Dawn wanted extensive Christmas decorations, Dick funded it (with his daddy's credit card) because he would do anything to please her.

So back then, the original Titans had a huge, lavish Christmas tree, they had all kinds of extensive decorations for the main lounge area - Dawn bought everyone ugly Christmas sweaters and Christmas pajamas and made everybody wear them. And they definitely did a Secret Santa where everyone picked a name and only bought one gift, but it was soooo easy to tell who bought which gift.

So when Rachel starts asking Dick 'what are we gonna do for Christmas?' - Dick's first thought is: nothing. Kory and Conner are curious about what Christmas is - it's actually funny trying to explain to them how a holiday that is technically rooted in religion is actually practised by a lot of non-religious people, and most of the traditions have nothing to do with Christianity.

Gar is excited to do something for Christmas. When he was living at Caulder House, they used to have a big family Christmas - mostly because nobody left the house and it was something to do. His parents weren't super religious when he was growing up, so he never had super traditional Christmas celebrations when he was living on the nature reserve - Rita and the others were the first ones to introduce him to a lot of Christmas elements and classic Christmas films, and he has loved it ever since.

Gar loves the idea of a time when you give to others selflessly and when simply being kind is a unique magic of its own. So of course he's eager to celebrate Christmas with the Titans.

You're kind of indifferent to it all - you can get into Christmas, but you can go without it.

And on the other hand, Jason hates Christmas.

Yeah - genuinely, it's of my opinion that Jason from Season 1/Season 2 (and probably Season 3) would fucking despise the concept of Christmas. (An evolved, post No Place Like Home Jason would love Christmas, but we'll talk about that later.)

So - Jason hates Christmas. And it's one of those things that, much like everything else in his life, can be attributed to his upbringing. Sometimes Rachel makes jokes that Jason blames everything on 'foster kid bullshit' but - it's true. Because everything in his life can be blamed on his shitty childhood. When you grow up poor like he did, there is no Christmas magic. He was the kid in school who was telling everyone else that Santa Claus does not exist, because he was bitter and angry that Santa never brought him any presents, and he realized very early on that it was just a made-up story. So he forced that bitterness about his own situation onto other people.

Did he start liking Christmas after he moved in with Bruce? Fuck no.

Having Christmas with a billionaire only made things more awkward for Jason. Especially because Alfred is the one with Christmas spirit, and not Bruce. Bruce grew up half Catholic and half Jewish due to his parents faith, so before they died, he several years observing Jewish holidays and having a huge blow-out Christmas with a lot of Christmas magic, and after they died - he became stoic.

(Note: I am talking about the Titans version of Bruce here.)

He mostly observes the holidays by silently donating to charity, sometimes going to church to say prayers and reflect, and privately lighting a menorah and saying the prayers that go along with it to honor his parents - something that he has never invited Dick or Jason to participate in. Alfred always makes a big, traditional Christmas dinner and decorates the Manor, and he is the one who prompts the exchange of gifts - and Jason fucking hates this.

Jason doesn't have an income of his own, and he hates shopping for gifts with someone else's credit card, and he always feel awkward as fuck receiving generic, expensive gifts from Bruce (like an Xbox or an iPhone) while giving him something like a tie or cuff links that Alfred picked out - that Bruce knows were bought with his own money, that doesn't even garner much of a react beyond a polite, mandatory 'thank you'. In Jason's opinion, one of the only hell's worst than spending Christmas starving, cold, and penniless is spending it in one of the large, opulent, over-decorated rooms of the Manor sitting with Bruce in stony silence while the man sips tea and makes stiff faces at the gift Jason's gives him.

So Jason doesn't expect Christmas at the Tower to be much different. He's not looking forward to it, and generally, wants to avoid it.

But he has no such luck.

Dick is randomly on the phone with Dawn one night (Dawn and Hank are trying to do the farm thing again - they're not taking care of horses, but they are living out in the country in the middle of nowhere, because they have come to like the seclusion), and he mentions that Rachel brought up Christmas, and this sets off every neuron in Dawn's brain. She asks Dick what he's gonna do for Christmas and he says 'I don't know'. Within hours, Dawn has dragged Hank to a Christmas tree farm, picked out the biggest tree possible, and has it strapped to the top of their truck, driving in to San Francisco.

If Rachel wants Christmas, she's going to get Christmas.

When you get up and find Dawn decorating (she dug out the Titans' old decorations, and Dick and Hank are struggling to get the tree out of the elevator) - you are excited. You rush to get the others out of bed, and immediately - Jason starts complaining. He says Christmas is stupid - he's one of those people who feels the need to point out that Jesus was actually born in the summer, and that it's a holiday 'actually made my companies just to sell you more crap'.

But when Dawn says that she needs help bringing out more of the boxes of decorations and Gar asks Jason to come and help, whipped as he is, Jason sighs and rolls his eyes, and he goes to help.

Decorating is certainly an adventure. Everyone is tripping over each other, Dawn wants the tree moved to different locations in the lounge three different times and it's only on the third try that Dick and Hank remember that Conner has super strength and he should be the one doing most of the heavy lifting.

At one point, you're up on a ladder hanging garlands and you stupidly ask Jason to 'give you a hand' - thinking that he'll hold the other end of the garland while you secure it or that he'll hand you another tack, but instead, he walks up behind you where you're standing on the ladder, very firmly and confidently puts his whole hand on your ass and says 'better?'

Gar makes everyone hot chocolate to help the decorating process along, and Jason says that the holiday is 'slightly less stupid' because he thinks the hot chocolate tastes really good.

Once all the decorations from the boxes have been put up, Rachel gets the idea that everyone should make their own custom ornament to put on the tree, and her and Dawn rush out to buy supplies for this, and while everyone is gathered around the kitchen island participating in this crafting session - it is the most genuine family moment that you have ever felt with the Titans. Everyone decorates a simple, flat piece of wood with glitter or paint to put on the tree - Gar decorated his with a green tiger wearing a Santa hat, and Jason made his a depiction of Santa Claus crashing his slay and dying - which you thought was funny and put on a central position on the three.

Gar even got the idea to put Krypto's paw in paint and stamp an ornament with his paw print so he could have one too.

(Okay, this is getting really long and rambly, so here, some quick fire hcs.)

Once Jason figures out that he can use mistletoe as an excuse to kiss people, he is infuriating about it. He will carry it around and dangle it over your head and Gar's head - you will just sigh and smack him, and Gar will blush so hard. Sometime's Gar will give Jason a kiss on the cheek if no one is looking (usually, Jason will respond to this by dodging and stealing a kiss on Gar's mouth) - and rarely, you will actually give in and kiss Jason on the lips if no one else is around.

At one point, Jason even tapes the mistletoe to his bellybutton as a 'joke' - to make you kiss his cock. (It definitely doesn't work. Ya know.)

Gar loves Christmas carols and Christmas music, and he will always play them and sing them at the top of his lungs - Jason pretends to be annoyed by it, but you have caught him singing along under his breath or mouthing the words, or even dancing a little when he thinks nobody is paying attention. But you know the annoyance is kind of real during the 5th round of Jingle Bell Rock. Gar can't help it though.

Gar is a vegan, and Jason will claim it's because he's bored - but he spends one afternoon cooking up vegan versions of several Christmas classics, like Christmas sugar cookies, and a full Christmas spread (with substitute meats that you guys both can't decide are creepy or cool) - and when Gar sees everything, he has some tears of joy in his eyes at the pure consideration of it. Turns out, Jason is actually an amazing cook. (Dick and Rachel are particularly surprised by this development.)

One night, the three of you sit down and watch a bunch of Christmas movies together. Jason finds Home Alone to be hilarious because Kevin is so brutal (and naturally, Jason is reminded of himself), and he spends most of the film commenting on how stupid the criminals are. When you watch The Grinch, Gar cries at the scene where the Grinch is bullied in school and you and Jason have to comfort him about it.

At one point, you buy you, Gar, and Jason matching ugly Christmas sweaters and Jason is adamant that he will not wear it. You are disappointed, but you put on yours anyway, and soon you hear some mumbling between Gar and Jason, including a 'please' and some grumbling on Jason's part - they come back twenty minutes later. Jason is wearing his sweater, looking stone-faced and grumpy about it, and Gar is looking entirely pleased with himself. You have no clue if sexual favours were exchanged, but when Gar moves to put a Santa hat on Jason, the effort he makes to fight Gar off about it is so lackluster.

When Dawn takes a picture of the three of you in your sweaters together, Jason flips her off - and it's one of your favourite pictures of all time.

(I could easily go on like this forever, but I'll leave it there for now.)

[havingfriendsincollege]

So, on the 5th, I rewatched OFMD S1 while working from home because I was too busy with work to actually watch S2. On the 6th morning, I finally watched S2, with only 4 hours of sleep because I couldn't sleep more due to the excitement. On the 7th, I showed every pretty or important scene of the show to my sister, who doesn't usually watch shows. I explained every single thing so that she could understand, just so I could actually talk to somebody about this masterpiece. On the 8th, I spent the whole day on Tumblr looking at fan art or pretty clips. It's currently the 9th of October, and I can't wait. I just need more right now, and I don't know how I'm going to be able to wait.

How do you feel? Am I alone here?

[0owhatsamsays]

I think I am the only one who doesn't see what others see in Aziraphale's expressions in the elevator. We've seen him through a lot of emotions. He was in love, angry, determined, confused, happy, sad, excited, hurt, etc. But none of his previous facial expressions were similar to the ones in the elevator. This, for me, is not Aziraphale. I am sorry, don't come at me. I am not underestimating him. I know he is intelligent and perfectly capable of plotting a master plan to bring them all down. Unfortunately, I don't believe this is the case.

No matter how many times I watch this scene, I don't see it. What I see is Aziraphale going from Aziraphale to something else. And I often find myself not seeing what others see in Good Omens and what might happen next, so I am going to lay out how I see it because I feel the need to do it (because I can't stop thinking about GO... HELP), even when I know, that many won't agree with me, mostly because it includes theories, which many people dismiss. Also, some theories of my own, that I haven't seen anyone talk about.

I am going to start with the thing that I feel like we intentionally ignore, because it hurts thinking what impact it can have, or it had. The erased memories and Book of Life. They aren't just thrown out there to build S2 and then dropped. Especially knowing that S2 is a bridge between S1 and S3. I would even call it an outline. Cut here, so I don't spam, continuing below the cut

How I see it: This is something Heaven has done for ages. After the fall, there were others, for sure. You can't convince me it was only these angels and then no other angel ever rebelled. But as Metatron said, it will look like an institutional problem if they send them all to hell, especially after the fall. But they found a way to solve this problem. Erase their memory, demote them, and start over. Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.

They were going to demote Gabriel to 38th scrivener!! Gabriel, the supreme archangel. If they can do this to him, nothing can stop them from doing it to others. And not only that. They have the power to erase you completely, but this will be noticed. They call it "extreme sanctions". It's extreme, and therefore - noticeable, so they just overwrite them.

I don't believe the coffee theory. I think it's just symbolic. The almond tree is part of a psalm where God shows the almond tree and says "if you see it, you know I watch", which is explained as: he also judges if you follow him and I think the almond is something like a test - if Aziraphale likes it, then he is still on God's side. And here comes my... I wouldn't even call it a theory, but rather fan fiction (it's my fan fiction, which I am writing right now, but it's possible to have been just like this) Crowley and Aziraphale knew each other before the fall. Aziraphale was Jophiel. She was blond with blue eyes, one of the most beautiful angels, she disliked confrontation, but she had a flaming sword, and she was the companion of Metatron.

She and Crowley (then Barachiel /don't hate me/) were really close, but Metatron, the companion of Jophiel, didn't like that, because Barachiel was a "bad influence". Jophiel started to question Metatron's actions. Metatron erases Jophiel's and Barachiel's memories. Jophiel becomes Aziraphale.

But something draws Aziraphale to one particular angel - Barachiel. Somehow they always seem to find each other. They start getting close again, but then the fall happens and Barachiel falls with the rest. When he falls, any erased memories are restored, but not without an effort.

What he said to Gabriel about "looking at where furniture isn't" - when he fell, he probably had flashbacks of things he didn't remember doing, but he knew it was important to remember. Someone up there was worth remembering. He made an effort to remember and eventually, he did. He remembered Jophiel, and he realized what Heaven did.

After that, he wants to disconnect as much as possible from Heaven and he changes his name. Later, when he adds the "Anthony J.", he adds the J to honor Jophiel. This is the reason why he doesn't explain to Aziraphale what the "J" stands for. He doesn't want Aziraphale to know how they do things in heaven. If he tells him, Aziraphale will rebel and probably will be erased again, and Crowley cannot let this happen. This is also why he said to Aziraphale that he understands better than Aziraphale does. He knows, he remembers. 

However, it's too late. As always. Aziraphale is in Heaven and I think they are erasing his memories in the elevator. These expressions were not Aziraphale’s. BUT, now Aziraphale is more human than ever. He felt the strongest human feeling – love. And this love is so deep and long-lasting, that it cannot be erased. It’s coded into his being. You can’t just erase thousands of years. Metatron, you are not God. Don’t try to play God.

Aziraphale will constantly feel something is wrong with him. He will feel that he must be somewhere, he will feel that there is something wrong, he will feel like he must remember something very important. And in the meantime, Metatron will try to distract him with the Second Coming. It has to be started. Then there will be prophets and so on, I won’t go into details. But what about Crowley? Muriel?

Crowley will suffer, then suffer more, and then he will get angry. Really angry. We will see Crowley really bad. It will be sexy, I cannot wait. Bad and hurt. <3 I got distracted, sorry. So he will be angry and it won’t be towards Aziraphale. It will be towards Heaven, Hell, well, everybody. This will be his greatest mission. Nothing more important had happened to him, ever. He is alone, Aziraphale is in danger, the world is in danger and he is the one to save the day. Also, Muriel and the fact that it is said her other name is Abaddon cannot be irrelevant to the story, too. No way.

I have 2 or 3 theories on how it will go on from here, but I am not sure which one to pick. It became a really long post anyway, so I will leave the rest for either the fan fiction I am writing, or for a second large post.

[sarascamander]

My favourite Hargreeves ranked that no one asked for

7. Luther

I actually think he's a good character and I love his development but I just don't care enough for him lmao. I'm happy he's happy but if he were to die... I'll be more sad about how it will affect the other characters rather than his death itself.

6. Ben (both Umbrella and Sparrow)

In season one, he ranked lower than Luther because I don't feel anything for him at all. He was just there. I appreciate him more at the end of s2 since he made me cry and was just so sweet to Viktor. Sparrow Ben is an asshole and he can go die again for all I care but he's also really funny and the way he stood at the balcony while the other hand karaoke did something to my heart.

5. Viktor

He floats through the ranking through the seasons. There half of the time I was batshit in love with him and the other half I was so annoyed. So I think it's fair that he's in the middle. He's a good character himself but there are some of his plotlines that I think are boring.

4. Allison

*sigh* so I don't like her in season 3, it's really hard to watch and if I were to judge her base on that season alone, she'd be the lowest. But I couldn't ignore the fact that I really loved her in the other 2 seasons and after some consideration I actually like how her character turned out (her actions are vile and not justified but I am a sucker for a corruption arc). I'm really excited to see her in s4 just so I can see her suffer from the consequences of her action. She, although insufferable, is at least interesting. Which is more than I can say to Luther and Ben (sorry).

3. Diego

He's just so hilarious I can't! S2 Diego actually infuriated me but in the end I still enjoy his character. His humour and broody vibe and the way he loves his mom! I actually wouldn't love him as much as I did in season 1 if he didn't love Grace the way he did lmao. He's stupid and sometimes infuriating but overall very enjoyable.

2. Klaus (this is the only screencaps I have of him that is not when he's crying and I'm too lazy to download a new one, I'm so sorry Klaus)

In s1 he ranked the highest for me. I felt so bad and I just want to keep him in my pocket! But as the season goes on, there are things about his character that irked me, but nothing major. I still love him to death. His humour is everything! His style, his Klaus-ness, and everything. He's just really lovable.

1. Five

Do I even need to explain? I love self-sacrificing, emotionally constipated, highly traumatised, illegally sarcastic old man who just loves his family above everything (even though he's the last person to admit it). All of his scenes are interesting, his character itself is complex and did I mention he really loves his family? Everybody is so quick to catch up in their own shit but the whole world is his family and that's something I really respect.

(if you have me ranking Grace Hargreeves, she's #1. That woman stole my whole heart and soul.)

[ultfreakme]

Hi Riki! How are you? It's been a while since I last in tumblr. And I can't wait to see your blog. Oh wow! So excited that you're a JayVic shipper, too.... Can I ask why do you love that ship? Since when that you start shipping them? What do you think about the plus & minus of their relationship? Thx

Hi Anon!! I'm doing good!!! Lol yeah I am in my JayVik era so get ready for that asjdbhfbh.

I only recently started shipping them while watching S2. I really didn't get it in S1. I was way too focused on the Vi-Caitlyn-Jinx plot and I kinda forgot a lot of the details of the Jayce-Viktor-Mel side of things. But the first arc of Season 2 really convinced me.

Starting from how Jayce seemed absolutely heartbroken when he saw Viktor in the rubble, to the end of arc 1 where they parted ways ;_;. And then my love for the ship just kept growing and growing until the final episode.

Reasons I like them:

Okay remember in S1 when Viktor goes to Singed to get Shimmer, & Singed says something like "legacy and love are the sacrifices we make for progress" and Viktor says, no hesitation, Jayce will understand? Frankly, I thought Jayce wouldn't, I thought Jayce would recognize it'd be a disaster but Jayce is obsessed with that man and he absolutely did understand. In fact he's WORSE than Viktor about recklessness. Viktor can(and has) destroy the planet and Jayce just won't stop loving him or letting him do what he wants.

Viktor is also equally obsessed with Jayce. Like he's been time-hopping god knows how many times just to meet him again, just to keep him alive and happy. The last part's important because Viktor could've stopped the apocalypse if he just....made sure Jayce's hextech dream never came to be by foiling the research but he just never took a decision that'd lead to jayce being dead or unhappy. They're both so stupid about each other.

On their downtime when they aren't fighting for their lives, they're really cute. I love a good friendship.

Soulmate trope, but specifically soulmates who CHOSE to become soulmates are my everything and they are the pinnacle of that.

If we're talking their relationship pros and cons...hmm.....

Pros:

They perfectly match each other- like I have never seen two people fit so well together

They care a lot about each other's well-being and would do anything to help one another

They celebrate in each other's achievements

Always willing to do things as one- be it good or bad- perfect partners tbh

Cons:

Codependent as hell like dear fucking god stop ruining everyone else's lives in an attempt to keep each other

Jayce still has some of those classist assumptions which he needs to break. He got better in S2 but I think that causes conflict in their relationship

Viktor refuses to properly communicate with Jayce and actually explain things because he either thinks Jayce won't get it, or Jayce doesn't need to know. Again, source of conflict.

Ah I hope Riot and Fortiche just does nothing with those two and leave the story as it is. Thanks for the ask anon!!!

[sam-reid]

first off, i have to say i love the url!! second, what are you most looking forward to seeing in s2 of IWTV?

thank you haha, i love yours too :P

ooh so many things, but mainly... all the lestat paris flashbacks. like i can't even explain how excited i am that we're getting some tvl stuff on screen finally. i've been waiting a very long time for it! i also can't wait to see (hopefully) the devil's minion arc playing out!

[lovinggreeniehours]

🎆 for your Ninjago self insert bc I can't remember if u ever said it before

HI MULTY!!!! :D HIIIII i haven't seen you in a while i hope you're doing good 🙏 sorry this is really long hdshhddhj

🎆fireworks: does your self-insert have any powers or abilities? ff so, what are they and how do they manifest?

i. also don't remember ngl i don't talk about him that much anyway 😭 but thank you for asking so now i can explode about it :D

technically, i have. two self inserts but. no one knows about the other guy with no powers so ebony doesn't have any traditional elemental powers, but he is a core member of the group still 👍 so for the sake of being official about it, they have elected to call him the elemental master of bane :)

screams into my pillow actually why am i so excited typing that,, i don't think ive ever gotten to explain this lore to anyone before sorry HDSHGSGH

ebony's powers were kind of inspired by rogue from the xmen franchise. i don't remember much of those movies bc i was really small at the time, but. yeah touching him induces pain 👍 the powers didn't quite develop until coming into contact with the first 4 ninja. something about a chain reaction from the power of 4 core elements. but i am due for a rewatch so who knows if i change that 🤔

they are. inconvenient, because of the risk of touching the other ninja. so he's very covered a lot of the time. he goes at great lengths to hug his friends o(–( and originally, i think they found a way to turn off his powers (training???? there was training involved i think??) and there was this really sweet moment where he and lloyd could properly hold hands for the first time after the trauma that was s5 :) yayy

his other power! is very vague! (and not fleshed out very well because i haven't touched the idea since i was 12) but it's called his silver power :) it follows a similar idea as lloyd's golden power from seasons 1-3, but less bright and flashy. and if i remember correctly, it was linked to ebony's race as well. but that's another post i think hddjfsgj

the main idea of the silver power is that the user is able to perform "miracles" for others at the expense of their own life force. and this is indicated by their hair color!

this was my old indicator to help remember the progress of his hair color. it was originally all black, and every time he uses his power, some of the hair turns silver. originally, he'd just die after it all turned white, but ive considered changing that. we'll see jddjjdgj

the main miracles i remember him performing were healing lil nelson and helping lloyd reach the top of the tower(?) in the s2 finale :) i think he also uses a miracle for harumi at some point but i forget where

edit: I FORGOT TO MENTION THIS ONE because it doesn't do that much but ebony can change his eye color. when i was getting older i thought i was being cringe but im cool now so yeah. his eyes are usually just black 👍 so he can change the sclera black, and there's a thin, silver ring in the middle. given that his power is just. repulsion of everything maybe they could have an effect like that too 🤔

[xxladynenexx]

Heaven Official's Blessing S2 Ep1

Why do I have to wait for episode 2 TT_TT

I want to have it all at once and then neglect every aspect of my life to watch it TT_TT

Spoilers for the ENTIRE story of Heaven Official's Blessing/Tian Guan Ci Fu below the cut!! Have my thoughts and excitement!

I will say, knowing what I do about Jun Wu and how close he was to Hua Cheng's ashes right then? Seeing it was so different to reading it. I unfortunately lack the ability to visualise things so reading, while fun for me, is quite difficult with character descriptions lol.

I did say that the idea for [Tenebrous] came to me in a dream, and that is true, but it's not the same way other people I know dream. I actually have a little thing I sent to friends to explain how I see things in my head, which I will paste here.

You are in a dark room. You can sort of see shapes of objects around you. There are no details on anything. You're pretty sure you saw a white cat. So you look for it. But you can never look at the cat and see it, you can only see it when you look anywhere but the cat. The cat is only ever very faintly visible. It's never clear, always blurry, and you can't see the whole cat. Only parts of it. You have to keep your eyes moving, because if you look at one spot too long the cat vanishes, and you have to look around for it again. There are never colours. The images are never sharp.

I also can never imagine things actively, I have to fully zone out or be asleep for anything to be 'seen' in my head. Also means when I get high I don't hallucinate lmao.

Back to TGCF spoilers.

I read some funny headcanons about how Hua Cheng probably had his little panic on "Shit, it's gege, how do I sit in this chair to look like the coolest Ghost King ever?" (Tbh I think he sits like that all the time because he gives off those vibes) and it gave me a giggle.

I love Shi Qingxuan's design. And I also really liked the animation/art style of the opening. I read a few people hated it but I quite like it. It's a unique style. A few angles may look awkward, but QI RONG?? DID YOU SEE THE INCREDIBLE TRANSITION FOR HIM? FAM.

It was so beautiful and I loved it.

Man even though I know what happens I am still so stressed about HOW CLOSE TO HUA CHENG'S ASHES JUN WU WAS!! Like, he didn't know they were there but I DID!!

[tagalongifyoudare]

Hey there :) I just love your thoughts and observations about all the little (and big) things in YR, and that ep4 flashback scene in your (amazing!) fic has got me thinking about something again. So I'd like to pick your brains if that's ok... :)

I've never really read about it that much and it might not be important, but to me it's kind of meaningful... That when Wille & Simon lie down and Wille is spooning Simon, Wille is actually very clearly getting aroused. I'd never really picked up on that before (although I mean it's pretty much to be expected, given the little sounds Simon's making and how he's clearly enjoying himself and also, well, just being Simon really), but I recently read this comment about it, and since then I can't really unsee it. The clue being that once Simon is asking Wille if he remembers what he said, Wille gets up and frantically starts pulling his blanket over his lap. I kind of used to overlook this previously, assuming that maybe he's shuffling around trying to get up or looking for his shirt or whatever--but no, he's clearly just covering his crotch. And judging from that millisecond glance we see Simon giving him, following by that tiny smirk, I kind of feel like Simon caught on to him as well. Wdyt?

I think it's kind of cute and, frankly, relatable, but what actually gets me here is that I feel their following interaction is kind of running on two tracks: Simon saying "Wille, it's okay" with that look he gives him kinda refers to two things now, and it definitely explains why Wille is blushing THAT hard in that moment… Also, when Wille moves on top of Simon after Simon has said he likes him too, the first thin he does actually is pushing the blanket away, in this super determined and forceful movement. To me, that's kind of beautiful and poetic--with a split-second decision, he gets that there's no need to hide himself (or his feelings) in front of Simon anymore, and there's that really determined + unapologetic version of him coming out at that moment (the one I'm hoping we get to see more of in S2).

Haha, boy that's a really long paragraph just thinking about a (fictional!) teenage boy's bodily function, gahh! But what actually fascinates me here is the double meaning aspect, the two layers this interaction is kind of happening on (at least in my mind)--if that makes any sense? I'd love to hear your opinion on it :) Is that all just in my head, or do you see it too, and does it change something about your perception of the scene / their interaction at all? I personally think since every tiny little detail in YR appears to be there for a reason, there must have been a decision amongst Rojda, Sara, and the actors at least about including that...

OH MY GOD!!!!!

First of all, this is beautiful. I am delighted that my obsession with YR is bringing you joy!

Secondly, I am so glad you are liking my fic; it started out as like a 3 chapter scene I couldn't get out of my head. It is now over 90,000 words and still growing 😂 (I may have added to one of the scenes based on this ask!)

Thirdly, thank you so much for the ask! The depth and thought in this question brings so much excitement to my heart. Also I had to rewatch this scene to properly answer, which always warrants a thank you! Onwards to the answer!!

This got away from me by a lot, so enjoy a lot of my unhinged ramblings below!

One of my absolute favorite things about YR (yeah, yeah, I know, I say that about every part of it 🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️) is that I honestly don't think there is anything in it that is unimportant; I think that every detail, every aspect is very meaningful, and very intentional.

As they lay down, Wille is already studying Simon. Wille holds his body almost cautiously as he allows Simon to settle comfortably. Wille seems sure of his desires, but still cautious. As they are lying down, Simon seems more visibly unsure; just allowing Wille to move him. He wants this, but is still unsure of what Wille is wanting or thinking. Simon looks surprised and delighted when Wille places his arm underneath his head; I think Simon was just planning to just lay down on the bed. Simon immediately grabs Willes hand, and starts playing with it. Simons breath becomes slightly quicker when Wille plays with his hand too. Simon is being just as effected as Wille.

Willes eyes never leave his face as Simon is nestled within his arms. Wille is just making sure this is okay, that Simon wants this too. (Side note-I think Wille has a hard time trusting people's intentions when it comes to being around him; another thing about the "it's okay" that makes the double meaning such perfection). You can hear Willes breath catch just slightly as Simons hands begin stroking his other hand, and up his arm. Simon wants this too. Wille just keeps studying him.

The real changing point for me is when Simon kind of twines their fingers together. It is such a tender caress; you can hear both of their breathing change. It feels so intimate, so loving. They had to feel each others breathing change in that moment. This is when Wille begins to shift his body around minutely. I think this is when he starts to actually think about their positions, and that if he gets aroused; Simon will know. We can see Willes face heating up just slightly.

Then the camera pans back, and we can see Willes breathing speed up, just slightly. Simon is studying their entwined hands; he can feel Willes arousal, and he wants Wille too. For Simon it is complicated though, because of the drugs/alcohol and because of everything with Micke. I think that Simon asked BECAUSE he felt Wille getting aroused. Before anything happens, Simon has to know if Wille remembers, if Wille meant what he said, if Wille will admit to it in the sober light of day.

And so Simon asks, and they both panic.

I think Simons initial thought is panic that he misread the situation, as he has done before (the music room scenes to name just a few....it's really complicated....you get it). His second thought is of feeling Wille aroused, and so he smirks. Simon always seems so delighted and proud when he can effect Wille.

You are so right about the blankets and the double meaning it adds to the interaction; I am absolutely OBSESSED with this new detail. The amount of times I have watched that scene, and never picked up on it is why I love YR so so much. I always just assumed it was Wille being nervous and awkward and panicking. NOPE, he is straight up covering his lap; and Simon definitely clocks it. This gives so much additional beauty and care and meaning to Simon reassuring Wille.

On one level Simon is reassuring Wille that it is okay to physically feel how he is feeling, it is okay to want Simon. Simon with his gentle words, and his little teasing smile, is trying to let Wille know he doesn't have to be embarrassed. Simon is trying to let Wille know that Simon is right there with him, that Simon feels the same. And yes, this 100% explains the level of Willes blush!

On another level other, Simon is telling Wille that it is okay to remember what he said, it is okay to have said it, it is okay to feel it. I think that this is so important. Wille has spent to much time fighting against his feelings for Simon; he needed to be told that how he is feeling is valid, is normal, is okay. (Sad side note-Simon is also the only person to tell Wille that they did nothing wrong after the video is leaked 😥)

I love the determination with which he climbs on top of Simon. The way you said it sums it beautifully. "To me, that's kind of beautiful and poetic--with a split-second decision, he gets that there's no need to hide himself (or his feelings) in front of Simon anymore." The fully trust each other in this moment; you can see it in how Simons body follows Wille as he moves, in the way they they look at each other, in the way they touch each other, in the speed with which they lose their clothes.

Another thing I think is so beautiful about this scene is their lack of doubt. After Wille moves the blanket, and climbs on top of Simon; all hesitation is gone from both of them. Neither of them question, or faulter, or hesitate; they just enjoy each other. So often in queer media, the characters first times (especially with someone like Wille who may not have really thought about boys before) are portrayed as uncomfortable, and often layered with doubt and hesitation. YR portrays it as awkward (because it absolutely would be) but without hesitation. They both feel so comfortable and safe and free with each other; it is just so breathtakingly soft and perfect.

This got well and truly away from me. Thank you very much for this ask! It gave me so much to think about, and an added perspective on this scene. I am always so amazed, and excited that this community is always finding and sharing new details. It feels like I got something new, even though it might just be one shot in a scene I have seen a hundred times; it makes me just as excited as the first time I saw it. Thank you for that!! I hope you enjoyed my very long answer 🤦🏽‍♀️ and that it at least included something you were hoping for! 🎶🫀👑

[unkillable-gays]

Mexican-American!Eddie Munson

Okay so I'm becoming less in denial about being in the Steddie fandom. (I don't think I have to cop to being in the ST fandom given that I haven't watched the show since whatever year it was that s2 came out.)

Anyway I wanted to ask why Latino!Eddie Munson hasn't gained more traction? Or have I just not been able to find the content? I found several posts from people expressing excitement at the idea, but then never mentioning it again.

Is it because people think they're not allowed to use that hc bc it'd be racist because he's poor and/or because he deals? I guess I can't exactly say from every possible perspective, but from mine (Mexican-American but grew up thoroughly middle class) it seems fine? Like, it seems like you could easily weave all those elements into his story in a way that's respectful.

Anyway, in the spirit of furthering that agenda, here's some Mexican-American!Eddie hcs that I've been rolling around in my hands like marbles:

I figure he is probably, like, second generation or so? And his dad is regular not-latino white. (Hence the last name.) I'm going with what is either canon or the most widely accepted hc, that his mother died when he was elementary school-aged. I think he knew his Mexican extended family, but only barely; like, saw them every four years or so, kind of deal. Within that family, there's a large variation of levels of assimilation, Spanish language fluency, political views, etc. They are, just about, all poor/working class, though. (It's not stereotypical to acknowledge the systemic structures put in place to keep our people disenfranchised 🙂) and maybe they all live really far from Indiana? I guess I'm putting them in Texas bc that's where I am. They are all excited to see Eddie whenever the occasion rises, and they love him, for as much as that is worth, given they have really no way of knowing him at all. (This leaves open the potential for cousin ocs, if desired.)

(alternately, his mother could have completely split from her family before or soon after his birth, and his ties to that side of his family are completely severed. If we wanna be lonely and angsty about it. Maybe she did it for a good reason, though?)

(also his dad doesn't HAVE to be white, of course. There are infinite ways to be Mexican-American, and one of those ways is an asshole with a white-sounding last name.)

I don't think Eddie speaks Spanish. Even if he knows it. I think he probably understands it at a basic level, and he probably has several handfuls of slang/cuss/diminutive-type words in his vocab. (idk quite how to explain this rn bc I'm tired, but in my tex-mex community, there are certain words that even exclusive English speakers will often sub out, like the words for underwear, hair ties, boogers.) Though I think even Spanish words that are very natural to him, he'd probably keep close to his chest, because:

Being Mexican is a big part of what makes him a Freak. White people LOVE to act like there's just ~something~ weird or off-putting about us while pretending like they don't notice we're a different race than them. If we're pale, they can even pretend they have plausible deniability. Even if Eddie is white-passing, (which he doesn't have to be; it's my hc and I can picture him how I want) the Hawkinsites are obviously gonna know, and be racist dicks about it. It's true that Eddie tends to own his differences and shove them in people's faces, but I don't think he'd do that with Spanish, because it's such a loaded topic for us, and he's been cut off from it. You're either getting shamed by your relatives for not being able to keep up, or by the rest of the world for having an accent or being worse at English. Especially in the 80's, bilingual people speaking Spanish around English speakers (including their own relatives) just wasn't done. Given that Eddie's not fluent and doesn't have anyone to practice with, I don't think the linguistic difference is one that he'd build his identity around. He'd feel the loss of not having community to share that with. I think he wouldn't have confidence in what Spanish he does have, and would avoid speaking it in front of others whenever possible.

I was gonna talk about how he probably has a connection to his culture through food, at least a couple favorite childhood dishes, but I honestly don't think he'd be able to get the necessary ingredients in rural Indiana in the eighties, and, like, I can't see him making tortillas by hand on his own in the trailer, so. Maybe scratch that lol. (I think my mom actually WAS in rural Indiana briefly in the eighties, I should ask her about that.)

I do think he got exposed to your usual roaring heterosexual Mexican machismo growing up, and he is consciously rebelling against that. If we're making his dad Mexican, that'd definitely be a source of friction between them.

Also, in my, admittedly biased and limited, experience, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans are pretty into metal. It'd be cool if his connections to the metal scene outside of Hawkins extended to metalheads of color.

Okay, this one might be stereotypical. But he's loud, chaotic, goofy, and celebratory!! which is what we're like lol. 🇲🇽 Also musically inclined!!

He learned to play guitar from his family pretty young. Maybe not proficiently, but was encouraged to jam along with everyone else at parties. I do think he'd love pulling out mariachi tunes to annoy those he's closest to. Gritos are quicker and more general use than a whole song, but no less effective. (annoying) Like, I think he'd enjoy throwing in some "ay"s, tongue clicks, and rolled rs to embellish his already superfluous way of speaking. And when Gareth groans and tells him to cut it out, Eddie smugly asks him if he's gasp! Insulting his heritage? Gareth tries to tell him, "no, you're just fucking loud", but Eddie just tells him that's also part of his heritage. I think Eddie would be very willing to sing in Spanish to be funny or obnoxious, but rarely does it in other contexts. (I think he probably knows a lot of songs no one else ever hears, though.)

Actually, what if he could also play trumpet, (mariachi style) and would pull that out occasionally just to enjoy the sheer volume of it? Like, he doesn't even own one, he can just play a couple bars if one happens to be nearby. Logically I realize this doesn't make any sense, he'd have no way to maintain an embouchure, but imagine the comedic potential!?!???! Imagine the horror dawning on the faces of Steve and the Corroded Coffin boys when Robin smugly slides her horn over to Eddie, and they realize they're not backing down from the bit. Maybe once he and Robin start getting close, he can start practicing with her in secret? That could be fun. I know this boy's gotta have mad lung capacity. Aww, imagine him teaching Robin to play mariachi-style??!? 🥺

I like imagining his name is Eduardo, just cause I love Hispanic names in any context, and I like the idea of all his white friends getting confused by someone calling him Wardo or Lalo! But he could definitely still be Edward, or whatever Ed- variation y'all prefer. As I said before, there's an infinite number of ways to be Mexican-American! It's super common to give your kids anglicized names in an effort to assimilate. He might also choose to use Edward, even if it's not "actually" his name, for reason of navigating racism. Also, Spanish speakers may give him those nicknames even if his name doesn't quite correspond correctly. Really, everything is on the table here.

Okay, my stance on him speaking Spanish might be evolving, because I think it'd be funny if he cusses people or situations out under his breath when he's frustrated. Not to them; if he's talking shit to someone, he fully intends for them to understand it. But, like, when all his audio cables get tangled together, or when he gets told he has to go fight demons in a hell dimension, or when the cute rich white boy does something completely enticing without even realizing it. For example. 😶 But he still won't speak to people.

I don't think Wayne is Latino, just because he and Eddie already have this dynamic of coexisting on completely different wavelengths, and I think this would add to that.

Spanish lessons with Robin? There might be a non white-savior-y way to do that... Like, he teaches her more colloquial vocab and syntax, and she teaches him more formal stuff?

As he becomes more comfortable with Steve and the party, he does eventually start using Spanish around them more casually; mostly endearments and jokes. Calling Dustin, "pobrecito" when he's complaining, or "mijo" in a loving but condescending tone. (Not to be stereotypical but I LIVE for Mexican endearments; English speakers have nothing on us. And we already know Eddie is a verbally affectionate guy!)

ARGYLE. I saw a post hcing Argyle speaks fluent Spanish, which I can definitely get behind. I don't think he'd push Eddie to speak with him, but I think he'd notice when he understands things he mutters to himself, because Eddie's eyes will quickly flick over to him. So then Argyle will mutter knowing Eddie might understand him, and let Eddie respond however he chooses. That escalates to jokes just for Eddie, or digs at Eddie that the others won't risk overhearing. At first Eddie responds with huffs, chuckles, or eye rolls, but as he gets more comfortable it becomes common for him to snark back in English. Eventually, however, the teasing escalates enough that Eddie bursts out, "Oye! ¿de verdad, guey? Porque recuerdo specificamente una vez cuando tu--" Argyle just breaks down into hysterical giggles, and he never points out when Eddie has to switch back to English to continue their teasing. Sometimes he calls Eddie primo or hermano.

Eddie is delighted to be able to complain about white people and the Midwest to Argyle. Argyle is genuinely baffled as to how he's surviving. Eddie laughs and says, "only barely." Argyle's no instrumentalist, but he's thrilled to sing Mexican folk songs with Eddie, and refresh his memory of lyrics he's forgotten or gotten mixed up. (Alternately: Argyle kicks ass on the accordion, and has had one in his van this whole time.) Argyle starts bringing up whatever food that can make the drive whenever he visits, along with the good California weed.

(if anyone WANTS to talk about racial stereotypes, we can get into how Argyle is giving "token brown comedic relief character with no emotional depth whatsoever, but don't we get credit for not killing him off?!?! 😀" but...I don't wanna get angry about all that, so I usually just try not think about it, and just look at Argyle and say, "what a nice young man! 😊")

(*deep breaths* 😤 this is why we stopped watching the show...)

I do absolutely believe Nancy is the kind of white girl who would put her foot in her mouth and stumble all over her words if she tries to address matters of race/ethnicity. ("Oh, but don't you... Because, you're.... um.") But only, like, once, maybe twice. She catches on fast. Steve generally manages not to embarrass himself just by virtue of the kind of directness borne of not knowing you're supposed to be being delicate. Robin's normal and relatively cultured so she's not a problem. Jonathan knows better from hanging with Argyle, who was probably the only vato patient enough to put up with his white ass in CA.

Huge thanks if you read this, and sorry it's so rambling and inconsistent! 😅 I'd love to know what you think, if this prompted any hc's or ideas, or if I've managed to accidentally say something embarrassing lol. Sorry there wasn't really any Steddie in this; I'm not used to writing romance! And it feels like it'd be super easy to slip into Latin Lover bullshit in that context. Is that why I haven't seen more people embrace this concept? I guess that would make sense... 🤷🏻‍♀️