#But I was thinking about how codependent they are

[a-doubleh-x]

Buttonblossom Analysis in TADC Episode 2

(Background rainbows: hint, hint)

Ragatha was so sweet to Pomni in episode 2 🥺💖 Most people caught onto the obvious fact that Raggs is being codependant and leans onto toxic positivity on the way she tries to cheer up Pomni, but I still think for the most part her heart is in the right place.

I liked their dynamic in episode 1, but I liked it so much in 2 I decided to write a little analysis on it (plus the ship fuel 👀) in preparation for the romance fic I'm writing about them.

Without further ado, let's go!

Looking back at Ragatha, on the good side, she made some very strong, active efforts to help her during her transition into the digital realm. She checked first thing in the morning if she was okay, she tried to make her feel included in the adventure at the beginning and showed care for her safety overall.

My favorite scene, though, is when the circus gang falls into the fudge river and after checking in on them, the first thing she says is: "Poor Pomni!" 😭 Girlie is so empathetic she even manages to care for someone who's not even there, while she's in a terrible situation herself!

I think this proves how much of a good person Raggs is. She doesn't just help people to feel good or superior, she does it because she geniuenly cares for other people's wellbeing and I find that very noble 😊

On the negative side, she seems to have some very particular communication issues with Pomni, even though she seems to be the circus memeber she cares the most about at the moment.

For starters, her attitude comes off as a little condescending very often. She hardly asks questions to Pomni and tends to assume for her. She hardly acknowledges some of her struggles and tries to downplay them, like when she degrades their experience as "larping". Also, she makes Pomni feel like a child when she tries to "hype her up" in her own words.

If we take Pomni's nightmare into consideration, it seems she believes Ragatha thinks Pomni is not "cut out for it", which might be a result of her condescending behavior I just mentioned.

This makes sense to me and also sheds a little bit of light on how Pomni sees herself as: small and insignificant. It's unclear at the moment how she was before on the physical world, but I speculate based on this evidence she probably didn't think she had much agency in her life (just how she feels in the circus).

At the end, however, thanks to her experience with Gummigoo and looking at the crew grief over Kaufmo's abstraction, Pomni opens herself more to the crew, which is a very good sign.

I think her current dynamic with Ragatha is wicked cool! ✨️ There's a lot of room for growth, which is good in my opinion. Ragatha clearly cares a lot about Pomni and I think with time she could grow to reciprocate her as well.

Despite her cowardness in episode 1, I always had the feeling that Pomz was deep down a caring individual as well, which was solidly proven in 2 with her interactions with Gummi.

On the fanon side, I saw a lot of fans foaming at the mouth (myself included) over the fact that Ragatha was such a tryhard with Pomni (which was anticipated to be the contrary). Some fans have interpreted their potential dynamics as both being shy, which I really, really like.

I believe I will definitely include that in my future fanfic. Another idea I wanted to explore is Pomni talking to Ragatha about her overbearing issues, while still appreciating her good qualities at the same time.

I think it's going to be great ☺️❤ I already look forward to what the end result is going to be. I love mutual pining and I love sweet lesbians caring for each other (even when they're silly girlfails). I'm planning to start by submitting chapter 1 by next Friday and submit a new one every following one, as I've done before.

Get ready for digital lesbian shenanigans 🎪💙🎀 See ya!

[anonymousqualities]

One of the first couple spats I think Jegulus would have at the early stages of their relationship would be about how clingy James and Sirius are.

(Was thinking about how the marauders were in their early twenties and all the cringey relationship issues that happen during that age 😩)

-

Like, Reg notices Sirius knows every detail of a disagreement Regulus and james have. Reg tries to not make a big deal until they have a really big disagreement and instead of talking it out with Regulus, James goes straight to Sirius.

If it's post war, their codependency is dialed up to 1000 lol. Understandably, after losing his parents, James sees it as just appreciating sirius' presence by keeping him up to date on his life.

While Sirius sees it as a second chance to be a doting brother to Regulus in anyway he can. To Sirius, being included in this aspect of regulus' life is a good thing.

Meanwhile, Regulus is triggered feeling like the third wheel again and like he's not good enough. Not only for sirius but for James as well.

Enter Remus and lily. The former slapping both James and Sirius over the head with the hardest of books. They give them a crash course of the different boundaries in different relationships. (Remus is used to their nonsense but understands not everyone will be comfortable with it)

[is-today-tomorrow-in-nz]

Let's talk about Mal

Malina is a ship that I absolutely loathe. It is one of the worst possible ships to exist and it should not have been in the canon. This does not mean I hate friends to lovers as a trope. But Malina is toxic on so many levels and Mal's traits should not be portrayed as an act of love, in a YA novel no less.

Character Breakdown:

Characteristics/ Background Info:

Gifted First Army Tracker/ Third Amplifier.

Conventionally handsome.

Driven.

Opiniated(Considering the century the story takes place in.)

Beds other women often.

18-19 years old.

Orphan.

Was raised together with Alina.

How Alina sees Mal till she is taken away

Alina has an unhealthy codependency with Mal. She follows him around not just in the orphanage but in the army as well. She pictures them as husband-wife since they were children. She is extremely jealous and is just waiting for Mal to see her and pick her. But she is discovered as the Sun Summoner and taken away to the Little Palace.

How Mal sees Alina till she is taken away

A childhood friend who he thinks he has outgrown. He explores life beyond what the orphanage has offered him. He carries no romantic feelings for Alina(or going by the trope he has not realised his feelings for Alina). But till Alina is revealed and taken away to the Little Palace, she is not someone whom he associated with love or dreamt of sharing his life with. She was just a remanence of his past life.

How their relationship evolves after Alina becomes the Sun Summoner

After Alina was taken away, Mal 'realises' his feelings for her. And with no response to any of his letters, Mal is worried for her 'safety'. In an attempt to reconnect with her, he risks his life to locate the Stag. All noble and admirable so far.

Finally he sees her, he is more angry than relieved. Not to mention, it was her big debut. She had finally embraced her powers, had become healthy.

He claimed to be worried about her safety and was angry that she was safe(?). Once he realises his heroic act to rescue her is not needed he verbally bashes her for becoming who she was supposed to be(?) Practically calls her the Darkling's whore. See, I was a teenager once. I know that teenagers can be incredibly selfish sometimes. But if your bestie, whom you believed was being tortured, is safe and healthy, you don't bring them down, especially when you claim to love them. You will feel relieved. Yeah, it might sting a little to know that she has moved on without you and she is no longer the childhood bestie you grow up with. But, you support them and wish them well. However, Mal acts incredibly jealous and verbally lashes out unable to face his own inadequacy.

From here on it's red flag nation and classic abuser techniques and traits.

He finds runaway Alina. When you find your bestie whom you accused of being a cossetted princess a few days ago on the run, you become worried. But Mal is all 'I told you so'. His ego is soothed . The Darkling is bad just as he said.

He comments about Alina having an appetite. He has seen his friend sickly thin, with breathing issues, cold, hungry and suffering with an unknown illness for 8-10 years. And now he sees her finally healthy and eating and comments on it as if it is an inconvenience for him. This is were Alina should have had an awakening and walked away from him. But LB thinks this is cute and a healthy love. So Alina remains.

We skip to Siege and Storm, they are in incognito. Alina has wasting sickness again. But not a single concern from Mal. He doesn't question why she became healthy or why she becomes sick again. He is just happy that he got the girl he grew up with back.

When Alina is back in Ravka and with a prince no less. We see the absolute worst of Mal. He is jealous, once again of his own inadequacy, and takes it out on Alina. She is being thrust into a world of politics, in a country literally on the verge of civil war and all he can think of are ways to make Alina's new position about himself.

He throws tantrum anytime Alina has thoughts other than him. He doesn't allow her to focus on the war or grow into her new role. He hates that she is no longer the girl he grew up with. He hates that Nikolai is actually making her better, giving her autonomy, coaching her to the life of politics. He picks constant fights with her. Suffocating her more when she was already struggling under the pressure of leading an army.

Alina tries to establish herself as the leader and commander of the Second Army and he thwarts her attempts by telling the guards and soldiers under her direct command embarrassing stories from her childhood to 'humanize her'. She is the Sun Summoner, a living saint, someone who is being courted by a prince. But he cannot have that can he? He cannot let her raise to glory. He has to bring her down to his level to show her that she was no better than him. He does not want Alina to have anything that was not him or given by him. He punishes her for his inefficacy.

When Alina backs away from a kiss, he goes on to kiss Zoya and cheats on Alina and tells Alina she made him do it. This, right here, is how an abuser behaves.

I don't buy his redemption arc in Ruin and Raising. It was a switch up after the negative feedbacks to his characters and nothing more.

It doesn't matter in the end because, Alina's powers which were an integral part of her was ripped out and she ends up with Mal to become his wife. Mal gets his girl he grew up with, who has always been beneath him.

Mal was an anchor who did not allow Alina to move upward and succeeded in his attempts to sink her with him under the disguise of love.

Conclusion

LB portrays the Darkling as the evil guy and retcons the trilogy to show us how bad he was in the duology. But for an author who is so concerned about young girls falling for abusive men, she literally ignores the glaring, mile-long red flag in Mal and packages them as a destined lovers. For an author who is all about morality and opening young girls eyes to the viles of men, she is doing a disservice to her own readers. The chances of me as a woman, coming across an 'evil' shadow man like the Darkling or a literal Prince are zero(not even near zero.) But Mal is a regular guy. A guy whom we see in our everyday lives. You can see him in a friend who grows jealous of your growth and tries to sabotage your career or in a friend who carried torch for you and spreads rumours about you when he sees you with better men than himself or you can see him in a boyfriend who strings you along for a decade while he waits for his dream girl to come. My point is, men like Mal exist in the real world and the author cannot claim a moral high ground with the Darkling and ignore all the abhorrent things Mal did to Alina. I don't care if people reading this are pro Darkling or not but I care if someone calls Malina as a healthy ship.

Note: Please read books like 'Why Does he Do that?' by Lundy Bancroft or please watch the show 'Kevin can f* himself'. You will see the parallels and understand who Mal really is.

[tokillamockingbird427]

yes !!! exactly !!!! u do it get.

elias was like 23 when Hesh was born so like YOUNG and the military is def all he knew. I think the walkers are probably a military family. I can just imagine the brothers grandfather telling them abt The War and hesh is super into it and Logan's eyes are glazing over bcs hes 5 and doesn't know jack abt shit. point being elias treats them closer to soldiers/war dogs (side note do you think elias had to use one of those baby leashes for them?) despite loving them. he's trying he just wasn't prepared for any of that.

also yes I am an autistic logan bpd/attachment anxitey hesh and elias/rorke (worke, if you will) truther

-angel

Yay I get things!!!! :D I'm literate!!

Oh yeah, that's the vibe I get too. Hesh and Logan seem like they'd be such brats lol. Makes me wonder if maybe Mrs. Walker was military too? Maybe that's how she and Elias met.

"doesn't know jack abt shit" adopting that into my lexicon.

He absolutely had those fucking leashes for them but they were like the backpack harness kind and Elias only needed one (That was styled to look like a lil chimp hugging the wearer.) because Logan would follow David no matter what so all he needed to do was leash his oldest. Boom. Solved.

Mans really wasn't ready given he's like... Barely an adult by the time he has two damn kids and THEN Sand Viper trauma and THENNNNNNN his wife also dies so now he's a single dad. Mans had it rough. AND THEN ODIN COMES IN WITH A STEEL CHAIR-

Oh we 🤝 LISTEN THEY HAD TO HAVE S O M E T H I N G alright. You mfs who've read Devil's Breath know this; What other explanation is there for the few sane moments Rorke has in the pit being "Elias Elias Elias Elias Elias Elias-" Like there's some codependant hero worship right there we should talk about HEAR ME OUT--

[34saveme34]

anyways thinking about it more now cuz people who depict 34 with more layers than just the like, fluff, gay and the like trauma they shared after 3's redemption

but genuinely, especially with looking at how 3 and 4 are in the show

with how one time they bring up the past at each other, the other they're basically inseperable

and that can be so easily made into an unstable dynamic unless you're making them talk to each other about it

and like, it doesn't obviously has to be the norm for them

there's so much like, development they could do together to become stronger and healthier but also more dependent on each other

I think they would end up developing quite the codependency either way

I mean like, 4 is the reason 3 even knows the crew, people he's around now all the time

and he still clearly trusts 4 the most, and 4 deeply trusts 3 shown just by the fact that 3 really seems to be the first person he goes to when he needs help, and like I definitely think he considers 3 his right hand man

so I think some codependency would definitely happen

[wonderlandwriting]

Ngl the dissonance between what Kalim and Jamil are & what the story is doing with them (master "dependant" on servant the way that a billionaire's child is "dependant" on their "beloved" housemaid, and what happens when the maid decides she's had enough, regardless of the master's feelings) and what many Scarabia fans think that they are & what the story should do with them (Toxic Codependent Relationship™️ also Kalim is Lonely™️ so they need to have a Heart To Heart Talk And Heal™️) will ensure that no matter how well-written their dream arcs are, a lot of people will still be mad because their expectations will never be fulfilled. Calling it now.

Also. Muttering. Twst took Kalim's "I want Jamil to be happy" and curled the monkey's paw's fingers regarding a privileged, spoiled if well-meaning teen wishing for something he couldn't possibly understand the implications of, and the main story has consistently been challenging Kalim on his wish, showing him what exactly "Jamil being happy" entails. Jamil has betrayed him. Jamil has attempted to kill him, has insulted him, has taken the spotlight and induced feelings of frustration that Kalim had never experienced before. Jamil has also been kidnapped, Kalim had to step up as a dorm leader and hold it together until everything was fixed, because Jamil's arc towards obtaining his freedom will inevitably involve Kalim's interference, possibly as a mediator between the true master - his own father - and the servant. Holds mic. This is what Episode 6 truly meant for Kalim - again the narrative challenged him, asking of him maturity that will be essential when the time comes for him to be mature enough to confront his father in defence of Jamil.

Most likely, Episode 7 will follow this pattern. I'm 90% sure that Kalim's dream arc will be about him finally understanding that Jamil truly wants to be FREE - as in, free from the Asim household, free from his position of servant, free from HIM - above everything else, and that this - accepting that such an important person to him also NEEDS to get away from him - is the price of "I want Jamil to be happy".

Something something Aladdin's woes regarding his truly dire social position weren't more important than him understanding that he had to do the right thing and free Genie because he had promised him that → whatever loneliness/trauma Kalim has won't be prioritized by the story over him understanding Jamil's feelings and supporting him because.

"I want Jamil to be happy". Then prove it, Kalim.

[lunerium]

Hello!

I'm happy to find some people loving this ship!

I read the manga a long time ago but I'd like to know your opinion : which arc do you think has the most or the Sebaciel content ? Do you think we'll get more in the manga when we come back to their story? Thanks for answering! ^^

Hello, @canonicallytrue heh. I'm glad you're taking an interest in the manga, and of course, in Sebaciel, again.

Now the question here is, which arc has the most sebaciel content?

It is a difficult choice, you see. Sebaciel is spread around the whole manga, constantly evolving in their dynamic, constantly changing. At first, Sebastian only cared about consuming Ciel's soul, rather than Ciel himself. Their dynamic was more predatory, and thus more attached to mere carnal desire. It was purely erotic but with no hints at the romantic. The most notable scene of that specific dynamic is the asthma scene

Sebastian only cares about the cultivation of that soul to satiate his hunger. The more he sees Ciel suffering, in pain, the more "cultivated" his soul will be. However, there are no feelings attached to it. Some people are particularly into this aspect of their dynamic, the predator/prey, the play in power dynamics. If that is the type of Sebaciel that the reader is looking for, the Circus arc would be the perfect example of this.

However, when looking at Sebaciel as it evolves in the manga, it's subtle yet clear that Sebastian starts actually taking to heart his role as Ciel's butler. not only that, but he starts caring about him.

When was this shift exactly? It is at the end of the circus arc when Sebastian sees just how powerful of an individual Ciel is. And when did he start caring about him, when he sacrificed himself for Ciel in the Campania arc. That pivotal moment marked the shift in their dynamic, from a mere predator eyeing his prey to satisfy his hunger to a genuinely devoted butler who cared about his master. It is in those moments where Sebastian is scared of losing Ciel, of having Ciel taken away from him, where his true feelings shine out. Ciel reciprocates those feelings, and he praises him. Sebastian is speechless, and then Yana draws their two silhouettes facing the sunrise, capturing a truly romantic moment between the two. The calmess after the storm, and the beginning of this new dynamic between the two.

So far, that shift in dynamics in the Campania arc makes it one of my favorite arcs for Sebaciel content, along with Sebastian's flashback which is purely the story of how he met Ciel. It was truly captivating.

But throughout the manga, several moments show the development of Sebastian and Ciel's relationship, some more subtle than others. This ultimately leads to that same change in dynamic, one where Sebastian slowly realizes that he is, in fact, bewitched by this human.

Chapter 117: in a conversation with Ciel, Sebastian hints at the fact that he doesn't just want to possess his soul, but his heart as well.

Book of Murder Side Chapter: In this fantasy AU, the hint of codependent possessiveness in their relationship is highlighted, as Ciel admits that, after all, he doesn't want to be saved from the devil. As his eye (aka. soul) already belongs to him. The devil is in his possession in the most codependent of ways, to the point where they have practically become one.

Chapter 130: In other times, the panicking and shock Ciel was experiencing here would've amused Sebastian, as the cunning devil he is. But here, his expression betrays him. The way his eyebrow is tilted upwards, the gleam in his eye. He feels empathy, and he is worried.

There are many more moments like these that hint at a more caring relationship between the two, but the post would otherwise become too long.

Of course, with this shift in Sebastian's actions and feelings, he has become more affectionate than ever. And with the recent occurring in the manga, now that Ciel has lost everything and is at his most vulnerable, Sebastian will completely show that caring side of him that until now has only shown subtly. Sebaciel in Brighton will truly be the nirvana of every Sebaciel shipper.

[moodymisty]

Some of the legions disliking/hating their primarch’s beloved because they think the beloved distracts their father from his responsibilities is all fun and games until you realise that space marines are a large part of a primarch’s responsibilities. I mean, they’re not only his sons but also his army, and ever since he’s met this new mortal person he’s been taking time away from his war-related duties (a.k.a taking time away from them). So for someone as familially codependent as a space marine, the idea of their primarch possibly abandoning them because they got romantically involved with somebody is an absolute nightmare scenario.

And not only that, but the legions that are disliked by their own primarch? Like maybe the iron warriors? Ohhhh boy that’s gotta suck. Because yes their father doesn’t care for them that much and doesn’t hold them in high esteem but him leaving?? Him leaving them forever??? No way!! 10,000 holes punched in the ship’s drywall after Perturabo’s “I have a partner now” announcement happened

Agree 100%. I mean even in 30k space marines still look at their primarchs as something greater than them, to guide them, even well before 40k when the primarchs are etched in stone as gods.

So like, how do you react if your near demigod 'father' just, leaves you? Or his priorities start changing, and you can slowly see yourself and your battle brothers being slowly pushed out of the picture.

Perturabo's and Angron's announcements would probably go the worst, but I'd put Konrad and Ferrus' up there as well.

I feel like a lot of the legions hide their discontentment about the whole thing under the guise of their primarch losing focus, but I imagine deeper down they probably feel some sort of weariness. I mean, when you've been molded and cut and shaped for only war, and the person guiding that war is looking elsewhere, what is your purpose then?

[mipexch]

comic about v2 and the goal they'll never fully reach alongside a dissatisfying conclusion. intimate rivalry and all (alternative ending comic. V1 dies instead of V2 during 4-4. V2 is narrating. V1 is dead.)

[dayurno]

something so cunty and delicious about both kayleigh and kevin having their lives depend on the whims of obsessive men. how close they both were to tetsuji/riko and how, ultimately, their lives were thrown away once they no longer served the family’s purpose (and how both their absences were greatly noticed and mourned by the men who hurt them). both lifetimes of wanting to play exy and travel the world, and not a single drop of control for their fate shared between mother and son. tragedy of all tragedies

[clearancecreedwatersurvival]

Never seen a homoerotic rivalry I wouldn’t ship.

[sysig]

i want to go on a big and elaborate date with papyrus SPECIFICALLY bc of the way u draw him bc he’s so bbg cutie patootie

PapyrACE 💚💜 Happy Valentine's Day!

[zer0point5ive]

adam who knows the door is wide open, knows he could leave at any point, knows that lawrence wouldn’t stop him, couldn’t stop him and yet. and yet .. adam who looks at the fresh crimson stain on lawrence’s shirt collar, the red beneath his nails he hasn’t quite managed to scrub away yet and wonders if there’s any universe in which he’d run to the cops, to anyone. adam who knows there isn’t. lawrence wouldn’t stop him but adam wouldn’t run. adam who despises everything jigsaw stands for, tells lawrence as much, tells lawrence that he’s gonna be the first to dance on that bastards grave when he finally kicks it but who still stays with lawrence. despite it all. because he’s lawrence, because he’s adam’s. because they’re so inextricably intertwined that not having lawrence around now would kill him as surely as reaching inside and pulling out his own beating heart. he’s everywhere and he’s everything, living in the spaces between adam’s ribs and wrapped around his brain like a live wire. running would be suicide and besides, adam’s not gonna let him go, can’t. not now. adam who would absolve lawrence of just about anything as long as he’s by his side, as long as he keeps coming back, as long as he switches the light on when he gets home and cups adam’s face oh so gently in bloodstained hands

[tokillamockingbird427]

Sad thought:

What if when the boys were little they used to make a lot of silly home videos of Elias just goofing around with the boys and also just of mundane things. This only tho because even if the kids didn't realise it at the time, just knowing dad left sometimes for work, Eli and his wife knew that everytime he left there was a big chance of him not coming back, so they filmed a lot so that if Elias wouldn't make it home at somepoint, the boys would have the vidoes to not forget how their dad was.

But then the opposite happened and his wife died, and she was always the one that filmed so the only thing of her on those tapes is her voice and occasionally a hand

-🐑

(Normal ask from me after so much only oc stuff and then it's this, tired brain will do that)

I enjoy this repeating theme as of late of Elias being highkey paranoid about him fucking dying suddenly. Realistic I think. Explains things too. (The whole "Accidentally made my kids codependent" thing.)

Oh my god.... yeah... tragic irony my beloved. Seems more likely that Elias' would die but "plot twist" it was her.

[zebratimw]

Spirit animal SQH

[shorlinesorrows]

mom you don’t understand I don’t want romance or sex I want to be woven into a single body with an alien symbiote and trade snarky commentary to each other constantly and never ever be alone ever again because we’re physically bonded together