alidravana

[alidravana]

listen, fuck "to each their own", sometimes your mutual gets into some batshit insane rarepair that they're a little embarrassed about and it becomes your sworn duty to put on your jester bells and jingle jangle proudly by their side for moral support. don't be a pussy. it's ride or die motherfucker

[alidravana]

With Pride approaching in a time when the entire 2SLGBTQIA+ community seems to be under attack, please try to not be your own attacker.

You are you, and that’s enough.

It’s easy to lose yourself at any time, and easy to do it during Pride.

I often wrestled with the idea of not being queer enough. I didn’t like going to the parade, it was too crowded and panicked me, the thought of being lost in a sea of people. (It’s worth noting my city has the second largest festival in the world.)

I preferred the other events. The small concerts. The artist corners. The book clubs.

The first Pride was a riot, but I wasn’t a riotous person. I wasn’t loudly proud but others would mistake it for no Pride at all.

My Pride was smaller and it lived in libraries, in movie theatres, in community centres.

My Pride has and maybe always will be not the sound of a yell, but in the sound of keys being pushed on a keyboard, writing to politicians in an attempt to stop the rewinding of time, in the stuffing of envelopes, the hand outs of petitions and when I can, quiet conversations which I hope will make people realize they are enough.

The world will tell those under this beautiful rainbow umbrella that we are other, that we are not enough.

Sometimes, unfortunately, our community attacks from within.

Not gay enough.

Not lesbian enough.

Not trans enough.

Not queer enough.

Just not enough.

Pride exists in the loud moments, and the quiet and everything in between. In everyone who lives their truth, and in the support of those who can’t because they may be in danger.

It doesn’t require degrees, or studying, or writing on pages. There are no entry requirements. You don’t owe anyone your history or some weird resume of queerness.

Just be you.

You are enough.

And I love you for it.

And me? I’m queer enough.

Not queer as in weird (though I am that too), queer as in fuck you if you think I need to live up to your expectations.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have a Pride History Walk I want to look at attending, along with a few movies in the park, a book club and a newcomers event I want to make sure I can get to.

[alidravana]

Heyyy! I’ve been reading some of your asks and you always give really well thought out responses so I thought I’d ask a question that I’ve been attacked for asking elsewhere!

I think you’re a fan of Tommy (?) I’m just curious what it is about him you like? Everytime I ask Tommy fans they get really defensive (which I get, as there are a lot of people who hate him and attack his fans) but I genuinely have no opinion on him.

I do have to say I’m definitely more partial to buddie when it comes to shipping (although I honestly am indifferent to whether or not they end up together) but this isn’t really a question related to buddie vs bucktommy.

I genuinely just don’t understand why people are so in love with Tommy’s character by himself when he has like 10 minutes of screen time, are people just fans of the ship? Does the actor have a big following idk about? Is a lot of it people who don’t like buddie, and just like Tommy out of spite?

I’d like to say I come from an indifferent perspective as I’m not actually active in the 9-1-1 fandom (I didn’t know it had a fandom until the network switch lol!) and am more of just a weekly watcher. So I was super surprised when he had such a huge following! To me personally he just felt like a good plot device to do stuff no one in the main cast was able (fly a helicopter and kiss buck lol).

I hope none of this sounds rude I honestly mean no hate to any fans of Tommy or Bucktommy!!!

I've been putting off answering this all day, I'm sorry.

First things first, let me be very clear. The reason Tommy fans get defensive when you ask why we like him is because you're using the same phrases as the people who have sent us death threats, CSA fics, and suicide bait for over a year. We have listened to those people endlessly claim that Tommy is "just a plot device" or that "he only has ten minutes of screen time" or that "people only like him because they hate Eddie". Just as you've done in this ask.

Now, I'm not saying you're one of those people, but you should be able to understand why we get so defensive after spending a year having to defend ourselves from the very worst of fandom.

With that out of the way, let me also add that I do not speak for anyone but myself in the rest of this post. So here's why I like him:

Tommy is funny. He has that dry, snarky sense of humour that appeals to me, as someone with the same type. His sarcasm and dry wit is enjoyable, and it's a good counterbalance to Buck's optimism. He's not a cynic, though. He's realistic, having lived a full life and learned that every action has its consequences.

Tommy is smart. He knows his own expectations and boundaries, and knows when and how to enforce them. He's intuitive. He's thoughtful. He chooses to take care of the people he loves, and gives his all to the task every time. He's resourceful, with a range of knowledge and the skills to back it up. He's not boastful, but confident in himself and his abilities. He's respectful and respected, both professionally and personally.

Tommy is kind. He, like Buck, is a fixer. He's mature enough to know, however, when there's something he can't fix; he sticks around all the same, though. He understands the importance of a support network, because he didn't have one. He wants for others something better than what he had, even though he might be envious or jealous of them having it when he couldn't. He's patient, knowing that discovering oneself is a long process, and one that can't be rushed without sacrificing safety, security, or happiness. He's willing to let himself be hurt in order to prevent others from feeling it.

Tommy is strong. Not just physically, but emotionally. He understands himself on a level that speaks to years of dedicated introspection and work. He's careful, not just with his words but with his actions. He's grounded, with a stable sense of self and an understanding of where he fits in the world. He's flawed, but he's learned from his mistakes and done everything in his power to atone for them. He's guarded, understanding his own weak spots and how to protect them.

Tommy is gentle. His size, stature, age, and blatant masculinity are all carefully considered when he engages with others. He knows when and how to soften his voice, to lower his shoulders, to make himself less intimidating, because he knows there are people who will make a snap decision about him based on how he presents. He knows exactly the image he projects, and he knows when it's safe to change that perception. He's thoughtful, again, of other people's comfort.

Tommy is selfish. He'll break his own heart now to spare himself the pain later. He's scared, because the life he's lived has taught him never to expect good things without the bad. He's a bitch, letting his face speak volumes even when he's completely silent. He's afraid of commitment. He desperately wants commitment. He's jealous. He's petty. He's lonely. He's alone, and doesn't want to be.

Tommy is so many things. He has experienced a hard life, but he hasn't let that life harden him. He puts his heart into everything he does, even though he guards it far more readily than Buck does. He values friendship, loyalty, and trust. He'll go to hell and back again, gladly, if it means protecting someone he cares about. He'll break the rules, the law, if it means someone he cares about can be saved.

He is a complicated, flawed, and deeply intriguing character. He is a study in contradiction. He is proof that anyone can change, if they just want to.

And none of this even touches on why I like him with Buck in particular, but that'll be another post, I think.

You might read all of this and ask yourself, where am I getting all of this? How can a character with only "ten minutes of screen time" provide this much? And to that, I would have to say, you haven't paid attention. He is a plot device, just as all characters are in a work of fiction, but his story is more than just his lines on screen. We met him first in the Begins episodes, where we watched as he evolved in the background. Sure, most people didn't pay attention then, either, but with his reintroduction, that evolution was cemented into canon.

What you need to understand, nonnie, is that a show like this is never going to hold your hand and tell you all of the character notes. They're shown to you, through character interactions and context clues. We know from Chimney Begins that Tommy and Chim became friends. We know from Hen Begins that Hen inspired Tommy. We know from Bobby Begins Again that Tommy made amends with both of them, and were friendly enough that they often went out drinking together after work. We know from Capsized that Tommy is still close enough with them both that Chimney still has Tommy's personal number, and that Hen still trusts him enough not to fight him even though he could blow the lid on her entire stealth attempt. We know from the rest of season seven and early season eight that Tommy desperately wants a family.

Everything that I've mentioned above is extrapolated from canon. Every character interaction, every line, every microexpression, every hint of body language, all of it. I analyse media for fun, and Tommy is by far one of my favourite characters to analyse.

That's why I like him. He's Tommy. It's really that simple.

[alidravana]

by the way, if a ship disgusts you but you don’t harass people who ship it, you’re a proshipper.

being a proshipper isn’t exclusive to only “enjoying a ship that would have been morally unacceptable in real life”.

being a proshipper just means “being against online harassment”.

you can be a proshipper and be disgusted by some specific ships at the same time, as long as you don’t harass people who enjoy them.

being a proshipper literally just means you know how to scroll past / ignore / mute / block things that make you uncomfortable instead of “attacking people for enjoying these fictional things”.

being a proshipper means being against bullying and harassing people over fictional things because you can separate fiction from reality and you know that how people choose to enjoy fictional things is not your business. that’s all.

[alidravana]

"Buck's bisexuality in 9-1-1 has been swept under the rug

since it was first confirmed in season 7

but the Buddie baiting

throughout season 8

only makes it worse."

[alidravana]

You know what, fuck people who force writers to reveal their trauma in order to justify the stories they write. No consumer is owed an explanation for the content a creator creates, and no creator should feel obligated to draw from or admit to pain that may or may not be in their life in order to craft a work of fiction.

“I had an idea for a story” is all the justification you need to write one, and all anyone needs to let it be. 

[alidravana]

I’d like to issue a homework assignment to the 911 fandom this summer: Write one rarepair centered fic.

It doesn’t have to be a crazy off-the-wall rarepair (though that is always fun). Just pick a rarepair and write it. There are so many benefits!

We all get to read more rarepairs (yay!)

It makes you look at the show and the characters in a different way, especially if you typically only write for one pairing.

You may find new things to enjoy about the show or new characters you like more than you realized.

And just because you write it doesn’t mean you now have to devote your life to the hope and dream that the ship will one day become a reality. Because those of us who write rarepairs know it’s never going to happen (though I personally will forever hold out hope for Eddie/Dr. Salazar). You also do not need to defend its existence or validity. That’s not a thing here in rarepair world. We are vibing no matter where the show's plot goes. We are reading and writing fantastic fics. 

So yes, this is my challenge to you this summer. Write a rarepair. Post it anon if you’re worried about your street cred (just also anon send the link to my inbox because this is all self serving. I want to read it). 

[alidravana]

Glad to have survived another season of 9-1-1.

[alidravana]

Now Buck will have another new place that he can offer to give Tommy 'a tour'....

[alidravana]

Anyone else slide little puns or fandom nuggets into your fics and then just wait excitedly to see if anyone catches it? Or is it just me?

[alidravana]

FYI. As someone who has worked as a writer's mod for this zine, I am shocked and heartbroken over this announcement. We are doing our best to get to the bottom of this and will continue to communicate as much as possible.

Please feel free to post any questions you may have on this post and I will try to find you an answer. Sending love and support to all the amazing creators that worked for this zine.

In case people don't know , unfortunately , the head mod made this post to the @sunshine-soap-zine accounts on twitter and Instagram with an update. I'm so sorry to anyone who purchased this zine. These are screenshotted from their twitter:

I want to say explicitly I WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THIS ZINE. I was only an art contributor, and I'm posting this just because it hasn't been posted about yet here on Tumblr, and buyers and contributors alike deserve to know.

These posts were made by the head mod Micky for this zine. I do not support a witch hunt or sending them hate, but none of the other mods knew about this, they had no idea this was going on or played any role in this.

Such heartbreaking news. I'm so sorry to anyone who purchased from this zine. I feel so bad for all the people who worked so hard and passionately on this fandom project. Them and buyers alike were taken advantage of by this head mod, and lied to.

And yes, this mod also lied about donating the money to charity. No money has been donated to charity on behalf of this charity zine.

I contributed a piece of page art, and the cover to this zine, which I'll now be sharing on my own time in the coming days. 💔

[alidravana]

Everything about that kitchen scene felt wrong.

It started off making me very temporarily nostalgic for Buddie, the domestic vibes of picking up the groceries, sharing the same space together...but then everything that came out of Eddie's mouth felt like the lawsuit arc all over again, and in crept that awful dread.

Buck is alone right now. Everyone else has someone close by (and yes, you can say that Buck has Maddie, but Chim is her partner), and as Buck said, they're all walking on eggshells, talking about him behind his back, including Eddie. And then Eddie goes on a rant about it's all about Buck again, and like, I honestly am getting the feeling that Eddie is never going to be truly there for Buck.

I'm not sure if that's what the writer's are going for, trying to draw that 'Buddie is never going to happen' sign in the sky, but that's how I felt after that episode. And I'm truly confused why some people think otherwise.

[alidravana]

hey, did you know that the world is a better place because of your creations and art and writing, no matter how niche or how many people see it

[alidravana]

I’m sure people will disagree, we’re all entitled to our own feelings and opinions, but last night was one of the best episodes of 9-1-1 I can recall seeing in a long time.

Am I angry, sad and upset that Bobby is gone and so is Peter? Yes. He is a character I will grieve for a long time, but man do I know PK will do amazing things because he always has.

But last night felt like a tribute to the core of who Bobby always has been, even in his worst moments, even when he refused to call them family, he was always willing to sacrifice himself for his team.

It also felt like a tribute to the growth of all of the people who were there when Bobby first joined the 118, when they were all so close to being something more and were flawed and messier than ever. Before they learned to fill in the cracks all their broken pieces had and stand strong together.

They also managed to show how much of an influence Bobby, and through him, the 118 can change someone’s life, through Ravi.

Bobby convinced Athena she could try again.

Bobby taught Buck how to be strong, but also how to stand tall when you don’t feel it.

Bobby taught Chimney the value in being a good partner and a food leader.

Bobby taught Hen that she could be so much more than she could ever imagine and to take support where it was given.

Bobby taught Eddie that mistakes were okay, as long as you were willing to be there and to show up for your kids.

Bobby taught Ravi how to lean on others, how to be steadfast and loyal.

Bobby Nash showed us all compassion, and strength, and weakness that didn’t mean you were a weak person always. That out of that weakness could come family, and love.

And thank you to the cast and crew of 9-1-1 for showing is that grief is ugly. That it is a monster clawing away at your lungs until every breath you take hurts and comes out as a sob.

Thank you, Peter Krause, Angela Bassett, Kenny Choi, Aisha Hinds, Anirudh Pisharody, Tracie Thoms, Oliver Stark and Lou Ferrigno Jr for acting your goddamn socks off and reminding me why I watch this show.

[alidravana]

Come on people, tag your hate posts so I can block your bullshit. It's really easy, you just put anti-whoever you're bashing in the tag.

And when I say people I mean 911 fandom.

[alidravana]

I'm sad to see him go, but damn, that was excellent storytelling IMO. An amazing episode.