#Please don't put me on a watchlist for saying that

[great-cats]

I'll never understand shading. I'd be too powerful

[nozunhinged]

7 BL Newbie Moments of 2023 That Altered My Brain Chemistry

So I went through all my posts since the beginning of this journey and as much as I love dumping my insanity here without context or any punctuation, I feel that a lot of my fav moments deserve a bit more love and structure.

But first I need to put a bit of context so you won't be like "who the hell do they think they are" (aside from delusional I'm nothing, I promise) and my anxious overexplainer-heart is silenced.

My first BL TV show was Only Friends and only 5 months later I'm already throat deep into it (sorry). My watchlist is so endless that I sometimes (no, regularly) genuinely fear for my sanity. I'm still learning all the names and production houses but does that stop me from starting 10 other shows? NOPE.

I'm not new to queer fan spaces (avid manga reader since the yaoi days, my first ship was taito from digimon) but I am most definitely new to the brainrot levels these shows gave me.

And believe it or not, even though my shipper heart is over a decade old, I'm new to Tumblr and the fuel this platform added to the fire could burn down entire continents.

ANYWAYS if you're still here — please enjoy Noz's 100% self-indulgent moments!

1. The End And The Beginning - Only Friends

All I did was mindlessly scroll through the tumblr trends, no idea about how this website works, still sour and sad about the loss of my twitter bubble thanks to the elopocalypse—little did I know that fate would lead me to the wonderful world of BL shows! It was like this moment in isekai-esque movies where you get sucked into a world and you go WOOAAH once you arrive.

There was this show—on YouTube—100% unapolagetic about sex, relationships and queerness. Five minutes into the first episode, someone asks if they can bring their boyfriend to a hookup. This was ALL of my wildest dreams come true! Oh boy, was I naive.

I feel like Only Friends had me speedrun the whole BL industry. Branded pairs, production houses, fanservice, obsessive fans & haters, audience reactions influencing the storyline, EVERYTHING happened during Only Friends and I was just like "what the hell is going on here?" It was like the perfect case study for literally everything. Honestly I still don't really understand what's going on.

Unfortunately, this also led to the awful ending I erased from my brain and don't want to get into, I'm just gonna say Boston I will never forgive the writers for what they did to you. I dropped that show like a hot potato, filtered all possible tags and moved on — or so I thought.

I feel like I'm trying to recreate that first excitement when I discovered OF. But 20 shows later, I'm still not there. Does this make me sound like an addict? Yes, and this is why Only Friends EP 1 is my No. 1 moment that altered my brain chemistry.

2. The Boeing Incident - Only Friends

I talked about it just yesterday and I need to do it again because Boeing was the beginning of a thing that thought I'd never be capable of: lusting after real person TV characters. I talked about it in length here and here so the only thing I'm gonna add just for good measure is that I'd do anything, anything for a BostonBeoingNOZ threesome. Holy shit I'm cringing just writing this down but I need to get my point across.

3. Still Looking For That Kiss - Love in The Air

I know this is a general experience at this point but the chemistry between the couples in Love In The Air opened a whole knew world for me. I thought I knew chemistry but when I saw them, I realized I knew NOTHING.

It may sound weird but I'm still looking for that perfect kiss that's hitting all the right neurons in my brain. I have a hunch that one of these two pairs will deliver them one day, but until then I NEED to watch a million kisses for research.

This post by @talistheintrovert explains perfectly what I think about kissing in shows. Ji Chang Wook is still the blueprint for me.

But do I have a favorite BL kiss so far? Yes, yes I do. It's this ShinPeach beauty.

4. Main Lead Syndrome - Kiseki: Dear To Me

I am a second lead, side couple enby before I am human but I will defend these two until the end of time. My TL is flooded with Chen Yi, Ai Di, Nat and Louis while these two are over here falling in love over strawberry cake, cat analogies, failed cooking and all sorts of memory loss. Zongyi opened a fucking bakery for his babygirl and Zerui pretended to be a pretty dumdum to protect the love of his life.

I don't care how much you all love the two dumb (affectionately) gangsters, these two deserve the world, end of story. Also Kai Hsu and Taro Lin are bff's irl now, Taro said that Kai helped him get out of a very bad mental tate and I take that very personally.

5. The Fanservice is Fanservicing - Kiseki: Dear To Me

Speaking of Taro and Kai, the fact that I even know that they're bff's is another brainaltering moment that needs recognition because months later it led me to this TikTok of two actors I don't know of a show I don't watch, staring at them for ages and really considering watching it just because of it.

That is the power of fanservice my friends and I can put on my clownmask now because I avidly screamed left and right that fanservice should be forbidden when I learned about it. I blame Kiseki for that. But my point still stands, I hate actors doing stuff they're uncomfortable with. I just hope they're all friends and have fun and get that coin.

6. The One Just For Me - Playboyy

I've been lurking around Playboyy from the moment I found out they have the same writer as OF. And boy did it deliver so far! I already wrote a bunch here about which role Playboyy plays for me, but it's also a wonderful case study for my producer heart — watching the acting, directing, lighting, sets, props and storyline interact is fascinating.

People say the less you notice the better the show, which is correct, but I love all the flaws of this piece of media. IMHO it's the last puzzlepiece of the amazing, important social commentary the show delivers. All of the topics the couples represent need to get their very own show.

7. The Holy Grail - The Sign

Speaking of the less you notice — this is the sign for The Sign (again, sorry). There's a reason this show is loved and praised so widely because the production is on a whole other level. Adding the beautiful story on top of that, we have the potential for a holy grail here and I'm so in for the ride.

I keep saying I've entered the world of BL in it's absolute golden era. Never in a million years did I think I'd watch 5 shows simultaneosly but I love every single one of them so much I keep a whole spreadsheet on how I can be on time for every premiere every week alongside my work schedule.

Honorable mentions

KinnPorsche: VegasPete were my first dark, angsty, morally questionable couple ever (I'm a sissy okay)

Last Twilight: When I watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo, I cried several times about the wonderful media representation of disability. It means so much to me and Last Twilight is on par with that.

Bake Me Please: Thank you for giving me this beautiful kiss

Manner of Death: Thank you MaxTul for making gay makeouts fashionable

Bad Buddy: The one time I was glad I persisted so I could watch them most adorable phone scene on the planet

I Feel You Linger In The Air: It was too painful for me to finish but I loved the show with my whole heart and it deserves all the awards it got.

Kimi ni Todokanai: Japanese shows just hit different. I'll never get over the kissing Taiyaki.

The Novelist Series: THIS is how you kiss the one you're horny for my friends. Take notes directors.

Semantic Error: My fav webtoon -> Got Viki for the Series -> Found the BL corner of Viki -> Drew my attention to Tumblr -> This post.

Thank you for being the butterfly of my butterfly effect.

And thank YOU if you read until here! To a even more wonderful queer year 2024! I'm so ready for this ride.

[highpri3stess]

My anime fanfic opinions cause I’ve been wrting fanfics since I was like 15 and been in fandom spaces longer than that.

If the shoe fits;

The anime fanfic community is not a safe space for black women. Because if it was, all the callouts we experienced this year would not have happened. They were showing signs.

Minors don’t respect the mdni and any minor who interacts with smut is putting the writer at risk of jail time. You’re not smart or mature for doing that. You are actually, a fool.

The KOSA act will affect all of us very soon because other countries will take cue  it’s not just a US problem.

Remember how fucking ableist the tokyo revengers fandom used to be? Especially with that stupid vegetable joke during the first timeline when Mikey was in a vegetative state? Yeah, I’m not letting that go, you guys were and are disgusting.

Leave plugfic writers alone. You don’t go for other races for writing a mafia overlord who violently murders every one. I wonder why? (Racism)

It’s very easy for a white author to say “no discourse” on their blog because the only thing they have to worry about is an anon shitting on their writing. POC authors ESPECIALLY black authors can’t really have that privilege because they’ll tell you to:

yeah. We’re always dragged into discourse 

Dark content is not a moral failing.

If you defend shota or loli or defend anyone who was caught with shota or loli, you should be put on an FBI watchlist.

Remember when we used to have long fandom attention spans and didn’t throw them in the dustbin as soon as season 1 was over? Yeah bring those back please.

If you go on tiktok shitting on fanfic writers. In fact just shitting on writers in general you don’t deserve to be part of the community. We carry this shit on our backs.

Croquette or soft reader =/= class. Some of you are very uncouth, classless and crass.

SatoSugu shippers are getting irritating to me now. No the story does not revolve around them. Idc if your ship did not make a cameo in the new chapter there are other characters in the damn manga.

Jjk does not have bad female characters or hate women. Gege Akutami hates everyone because almost everyone is dead. Except his pookie Sukuna.

Boruto is not a bad manga. It’s mediocre but it’s not bad. We get it. NaruSasu wasn’t the end game. It’s been 20 years, drop it.

Also if we’re using the same logic NaruSasu is as toxic as SasuSaku.

SatoSugu shippers are the new BakuDeku and NaruSasu shippers; Misogynistic and violently homophobic/transphobic (minus BakuDeku shippers for this one)

Many Sakura fans on tiktok in 2020 were extremely racist. They still are.

JJK girls, and especially Gojo girlies on tumblr are the second most irritating set of people ever, first are the dudebros. You mass report non Gojo fics and you harrass any non JJK writer on here. We know it's you don't hide.

Chainsaw man is actually good. It just has a lot of female characters in comparsion to male characters so you guys don’t really care. Tatsuki Fujimoto is for the cringe fail girls.

You people can excuse Hisoka and Naoya but start barking when someone mentions Makima or Meimei. If you’re gonna holla, bark at all of them or shut up.

We need more Yuri in the anime community. Idc about Yaoi anymore tumblr.

People who write for the following should get a nice sloppy toppy or a nice hot meal: Nanami Kento, Kusabe Atsuya, Choso Kamo, Higuruma Hiromi any and all one piece men, Naohya and Souya Kawata, Shion Madarame etc.

Anyone who does this kind of post: 

“He kisses you and cums” or nsfw link

toji, mikey, GOJO SATORU, GETOU SUGURU, adventurine, beelzeebub, simon ghost riley, nanami kento, whitney the bully, remus lupin, childe, MIGUEL O’HARA, cillian murphey, shuji hanma, ujishima, tendou, osamu, isagi, oliver aiku + more

Is lazy asf and should not be rewarded for bad behaviour. Stop clogging the tags. These are so lazy without any effort or thought put into them.

If you don’t reblog fics, especially as a fanfic writer and you ask “where are all the fluff fics” you deserve any hate you get and you should be blocked.

I’m tired. I’ll continue next week.

*edited a few things.

[buddhamethods]

10 BL Characters I Want Carnally

AKA I'm just a person with two keen eyes and dubious morals when it comes to enjoying media so don't take it seriously, I'm here for a good time.

Thank you @sndrys for tagging me! This was an eye opening experience putting this together. As it turns out I might have a type (ew).

1) Guy from Bake Me Please (2023)

The sole reason for me creating this list! Look, I dropped Bake Me Please almost immediately because it just wasn't for me BUT I've been lowkey watching through my dash. And let me tell you, my fingers gain consciousness and hit reblog everytime this baby's face pops up because...well...LOOK AT HIM. He is beautiful and he should get the guy (hehe get it) in the end idc.

2) Yok from Not Me (2021)

Yok is such a beloved character and for good reason! He is sexy, he is gay, he sets buildings on fire and steals cops' wallets on accident because HOW WAS HE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT GUY HE WAS STALKING WAS A COP??? I love you Yok, never change.

3) Palm from Never Let Me Go/ OurSkyy2 (2022-23)

The anger I felt for all the injustice and mistreatment our beautiful Palm had to face in this show took literal years off my life. It's rare for me to get this passionately protective over a character and yet here we are, in the Palm Protection Squad headquarters. Even Nueng is on the watchlist!

4) Tonhon from Tonhon Chonlatee (2020)

Not to out myself as an enjoyer of silly goofy times , but I did have fun watching Fish Upon The Sky and Secret Crush On You, so OFCOURSE I thought I would like this one too but GOD was it rough. Did I still finish it? Yes. Did I fawn over PoddKhao pairing and have been quietly praying for some kind of reunion ever since? Also yes. Was I foaming at the mouth barking everytime Tonhon AKA Podd was on my screen? I'm not gonna comment without lawyer present.

5) Tew from My Dear Gangster Oppa (2023)

Speaking of Tonhon Chonlatee...AH! Ai Long Nhai (TC's spiritual prequel of sorts) was sure...something. And by something I mean I saw Meen and decided I will never speak ill of men ever again, feminism quite literally left my body. And then a year later My Dear Gangster Oppa came out and guess what??! MEEN IS THE GANGSTER OPPA! Dreams really do come true, kids.

6) Wen from Moonlight Chicken (2023)

(or Tian from ATOATS or Mueang Nan fron FUTS). Mix...I will eat you. Always so dewy and healthy and sparkly-eyed. But Wen from Moonlight Chicken is something out of the realm of my imagination. The sex appeal? The maturity?? The gentleness??!! Somebody sedate me before I say something I will not be able to justify in court.

7) Vee from Love Mechanics (2022)

He is a pretty bisexual who makes the most abhorrent stupid decisions known to men and then weeps and suffers for them WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED? Once again, is the show flawless or even remotely coherent? Absolutely not. That being said Vee brought me so much joy by being stupid I'm forever grateful.

(also YinWar are so back GO WATCH JACK AND JOKER TRAILER)

8) Prapai from Love In The Air (2022)

To a certain extent I've enjoyed every MAME show I've watched. To do that you need to possess the rare ability called "I abandoned every shred of moral integrity to gawk at hot men". And Prapai? MAN is this bitch hot. Tall dark handsome? Check! Bisexual on a bike? Check! Stubborn and annoying? CHECK!

9) Xiang Hao Ting from HIStory3: Make Our Days Count (2019)

*incoherent wailing and sobbing* IM NOT EXPLAINING SHIT ABOUT HIM LEAVE ME ALONE

10) AlanJeff from Pit Babe (2023)

My newest obsession! I refuse to separate our local senior citizen and his favorite prophetic mechanic. Both of them are hot as shit in their own way. Alan is a sexy dilf with so much weight and responsibility on his shoulders it's a miracle he retained his optimism and youthful awkwardness. And Jeff is a prickly baby-cow-baby-deer eyed baby that is so touch starved it's actually a little funny. SO I GUESS ALANJEFF SANDWICH IT IS.

(don't be shy tag yourselves besties <3)

[edens-pen]

𝘪 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 | 𝘣𝘢𝘬𝘶𝘨𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶𝘬𝘪 𝘹 𝘧𝘦𝘮!𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

summary | based on this — or you and Bakgou can't let each other go.

pairing | bakugou katsuki x black!fem!reader (bonnet)

wc | 608

warnings | 18+, allusions to sex, toxic exes, it's cute (sorta)

a/n | i'm trying to let drabbles be drabbles. please accept this humble offering.

[ 18+ | minors, blank, ageless blogs, do not interact! ]

—

The texts come in around midnight, when you’ve just slipped on your pajamas. Your bonnet is in your hand when you check your phone. You sigh and flip your phone face down.

You’re going to ignore him. You’re not going to check the notification, you don’t want to know what he has to say. So you climb into bed and turn on the TV. Your phone vibrates on your nightstand a few more times while you try to focus on scrolling through your watchlist. But the vibrations are like a siren call and you need to know what he wants to say.

If it was an emergency, he would call Kirishima or Denki or even Deku. So you know it’s not dire.

Unlocking your phone, you read his texts.

Princess

I know you’re up

I miss you and I can’t sleep

You roll your eyes and against your better judgment, you respond to him.

And what am I supposed to do about that?

Setting your phone down, you move into the kitchen, trying to pretend like you’re not waiting on his response. Grabbing a handful of grapes, you rinse them in the sink and stuff a few in your mouth.

You absolutely hate this.

You and Bakugou are supposed to be broken up.

Exes. Severed ties.

But a couple times a month, he’ll get it in his head that he needs you, wants you, misses you, and you’ll believe him for a night. He’ll give you good sex–amazing sex–and he’ll be dressed by the time you wake up in the morning. He’ll be leaving for work and telling you thanks, but the circumstances haven’t changed. He still wants to be the Number One Pro-Hero and he still doesn’t have enough time for your relationship. He doesn’t have time to be your boyfriend.

Then you’ll agree, and tell him it’s just sex. You’ll sweep up the pieces of you scattered across his apartment while he waits for you to collect yourself. Then you’ll see him a few hours later at work, as his secretary.

You pretend that he doesn't leave your Starbucks order on your desk, even on the days when he's not in the office, and he pretends that you didn't leave your panties on his bed for his lonely nights on patrol.

He acts like you don't wear his favorite perfume on the days you'll be working close to him and you act like you don't see him glaring every time a male intern comes to your desk.

The routine is toxic but effective. It keeps both of you together and it keeps both of you from moving on.

Shuffling back into your room, you know he’s responded.

Opening his message, your breath catches in your throat.

Come put me to sleep.

It’s not a question or a request, it’s a command. It’s one that makes your cheeks warm and your heart race because it’s not the first time he’s told you that.

When he’s between your legs, he’s telling you it’s the best pussy he’s ever had. He'll moan and say it's the hottest, tightest little pussy he’s ever had the pleasure of sinking his dick into. It’s so good, in fact, that after an extremely long day, he’s knocked out after two rounds, with you locked in his heavy arms.

But no. Absolutely not. You’re not going to fall into this trap one more time. That’s the mantra that you repeat to yourself as you fling off your bonnet and slip into your yoga pants.

You’re not doing this with him, even as you slip on a sweater and grab your purse and keys.

This is not happening again, you're breaking the cycle.

After tonight.

[neonscandal]

As a fan of both bnha & jjk, can I ask you somethings?

-which majority of characters will survive if their universe is swithed (jjk charas in bnha verse or bnha charas in jjk verse)

-people in jjk verse have stronger mental state than in bnha verse because the death rate is higher in jjk than bnha (do you agree?)

- from plot and art, which do you think is better (jjk or bnha)?

-dynamics between bakudeku or satosugu, which is written better as a duo? why?

I asked this because in twitter I found a jjk fan and bnha fan have a heated discussion to prove which is better, and that's why I want to know your opinion, thanks.....

I feel like I'm getting tagged in. Excuse me while I stretch before I jump into this. As always, thank you for the ask! ❤️

Put me in the game, coach!

DEADPOOL

Please. If JJK characters' cursed techniques were quirks, they'd all be alive and going to amusement parks and eating crepes.

In the reverse, Midoriya would be a Yuta like drop in considering all of his techniques, maybe, and most of Class 1A would be wiped. Hell, I think we can all agree there are students in Class 1A that shouldn't even be in Class 1A (this is a Minoru Mineta call out, at the very least). But that's also why Jujutsu Tech has a class size that hasn't exceeded 4 students that we've seen. I could see Midoriya, Shinso (cursed speech user), and Tokoyami (shikigami user) in a class. With Todoroki (legacy family + technique) and Bakugo (Todo-esque brute force regardless of technique) over at Kyoto. I'm not saying they'd all survive but I could see it.

MENTAL ACUITY

I think trauma, or one's ability to handle a breadth of it, isn't based on the trauma itself. Even if Midoriya had never experienced loss, he'd repeatedly experienced the inequities of systemic and social oppression from being quirkless compounded by a dad that seemingly peaced out. Kid took hit after hit before being able to have a shot at his dream which he then slowly realized wasn't as cut and dry as it seemed. He keeps on trucking though.

If anything, I think that most characters in JJK are a belt loop getting caught on a door handle away from losing their shit and becoming curse users because of the higher death toll. The students of class 1A might be slowly losing hope but Yuji is constantly swimming in sea of despair, survivor's guilt, and has a 1000 year old curse whispering obscenities to him. For all intents and purposes, kid should be on a watchlist. And you mean to tell me that Megumi "Watch What These Hands Do" Fushiguro is the picture of mental health??? Nah. Buddy has been looking for any opportunity to take a curtain bow with Mahoraga since day 1. Gojo meant what he said when he had to make sure Nobara was crazy in Season 1 because that's what it takes to be a sorcerer if you want to live. You have to be a little deranged so the losses don't take you down the same path as Geto or breed an even bigger problem by generating a curse. The only easy, breezy, beautiful cover girls in JJK are the villains as they are regularly shown to be leisurely enjoying the beach, soccer, mahjong... all while 16 year olds are fighting for their lives and losing.

WINNER TAKE ALL

Plot

Taking into consideration the fact that we're in late stage My Hero Academia and, at best, half way through Jujutsu Kaisen, I think MHA has it on plot. This take is based on being able to now, with most of the story having taken place, see how everything comes together, though. Bear in mind, even at the end of the story, we still don't know how things are going to play out. I've made a lot of wild accusations though (here, here, here, here, here and, inevitably, more are bouncing around my head). What's funny about this is the fact that, there's not really a question of how it's going to end in the grand scheme. We know that Deku will be triumphant in defeating or liberating Shigaraki. I think, through all his subversion, Horikoshi will still write a story where the good guys win. But the subtler details of how the story will end are what everyone's getting fired up about regarding BakuDeku and if anyone will die.

Regarding Jujutsu Kaisen's plot, as readers, we're still too lost in the forest of the culling games to understand the overarching reason. It's still a 5/5 in my book until proven otherwise but, from what we've seen, Gege Akutami buries details that are pertinent later. His exposition style is uniquely different from Horikoshi's (and Iseyama's for that matter). Moreover, Akutami knows how to illicit rage, angst, tears even in the midst of a multi page description of one man's cursed technique (yea, I'm talking about Hikari). They are a troll with a pen and I cannot take that away from them. So, I'm trusting in the process while also acknowledging that this story is not going to echo that of shonen series' before it. Gege Akutami could very well write the end of the human world as we know it, the entirety of the main cast dead, and I wouldn't even be surprised and I would read every. single. panel. Happily.

Art

Again, it's kind of unfair to compare the refined art of a series with 39 volumes versus 24 volumes especially when they stylistically differ so much. So, instead, I'll say what I appreciate for both.

Horikoshi's unique character design, even going so far as to use different illustration styles where appropriate circumvents the issue of Same Face Syndrome while also adding a lot of dynamic visual texture to the cast. Also, hands are like a big part of the story? Which he's managed to make a focal point where it matters. I will also say that he has, in recent chapters, delved into the horror aesthetic beautifully.

Gege Akutami is just a silly little guy. By that, I mean, there will be these AMAZING spreads or panels. Then, on the very next panel or page, there will be a silly lil doodle and it doesn't even feel out of place. In fact, it's very on par with Yuji as a character. I don't think this story is told from Yuji's limited perspective where MHA is largely from Deku's POV, but, when Gege breaks down the behind the scenes, it's broken down as if it's for someone as simple as Yuji. Stylistically gory but also humorous, there are definitely some chapters that are perhaps churned out faster than others, but the art still speaks for itself.

BATTLE OF THE SHIPS

This is a hard one in the sense that BakuDeku is being explored in real time, at length whereas SatoSugu we've only gotten wisps of even though they are, foundationally, what sets off the entire chain of events that sets the story for JJK. There's something to be said for wanting and I think what makes SatoSugu so compelling is truly the tragedy of it. Gojo lost his only equal, his everything (which Geto never thought himself to be) and Geto lost his everloving mind. MHA's whole story is hinged on BakuDeku but the brainrot for SatoSugu decays so poignantly because, while both series are effectively about child soldiers trying to stay alive, SatoSugu is the after. What happens when youth aren't protected, what do they lose?

FINAL VERDICT

Just because you can read them both in Shonen Jump does not mean they're a monolith.

Considering they aren't actually in the same genre, it makes no sense to compare the two. They may have some similarities. But that's like saying a horse is similar to a cow because they are animals with four legs and tails.

It makes more sense to compare JJK to the other two unhinged stories that make up the dark trio, "Chainsaw Man" or "Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku" because the stakes are the same. Anyone can die. For the most part, there aren't miraculous revivals (like Best Jeanist and whoever else 👀).

A/N: I don't care, I know Nobara's coming back if only for Gege to kill her again.

[lorelite333]

Hugs & Cocoa

"Goodness, Sweetheart, busy on Christmas? Again? Well, it's always lovely to have you over anyhow." Marie sets her mug down on the counter. "Can I get you something to eat, hun?"

"I'm good; I ate before I left the house." Sweetheart shook their head. 

"I can't just leave you here without anything hot in your hands; you were out in that snow most of the day—what with the department making you go out doing your work. It's not on my good conscience." she smiled and moved to go get a saucepan from her cabinet.

"Hot chocolate?"

Sweetheart was close to saying yes, knowing that Miss Greer always makes the best hot chocolate, but Marie already knew the answer and swatted the air to dismiss their thoughts.

"So, how are you and Milo?" Marie opens the refrigerator to get the milk out. Sweetheart hops on the granite island countertop.

"We're doing good; actually, the company got hired for a security job out in Mont Blanc, which ultimately means he's gone for the next few days. I got a promotion—that was nice, I guess." Sweetheart trailed off.

"What? Was it not worth it or something? You don't sound too enthused, hun." Marie turned the stove on to boil the pot of milk.

Sweetheart doesn't necessarily love the new promotion, but it's not entirely bad. "Eh, it's a bit of a fixer upper," they smirk, quoting Frozen.

Marie laughed, knowing Sweetheart used to love that movie.

"Yeah?" She reached above the stove for the cabinet to get out the brown sugar. "So it's got a couple of bugs?" She laughs, pouring the brown sugar in and stirring it until it dissolves.

"Now I'm not gonna push, but if you wanna talk about it, I'm always here. I may not have worked in the department myself, but I had a workaholic husband who did. I know a thing or two, if you're down to talk about it."

Sweetheart knew Colm had been an officer of the department; that's how they met Milo. They had a case on a Shade accident and wanted to question the one person that could possibly talk to them about the incident without Sweetheart having to get involved in any paperwork with the pack. It turned out Milo had been a lot smarter than Sweetheart had initially thought.

Four years later, here they are.

"And I appreciate that, Marie, but I think not talking about it is more relaxing than speaking of it." They smiled gently.

"No more said or done. Care to crush up the chocolate?" she asks. That's what Sweetheart loved about Marie; she cared about them and respected their decisions.

Sweetheart hopped down from the island to get the chocolate out and grabbed the knife and cutting board.

Chopping them up in fine little pieces, Sweetheart had cut just enough to fill the bottom of the bowl. "That looks like enough?" they asked Marie, holding the bowl out to her.

"Yeah, it looks about to be 2 ounces." Marie confirmed, but it sounded less like a statement and more like a question. She shrugs and mixes the chocolate in the saucepan.

Sweetheart puts the knife and cutting board in the sink, then hops back up on the island.

"Well, we only have each other today; what are we gonna do?" Marie continues stirring. "We could watch Serendipity or even Little Women—I know that's something that's been on your watchlist forever now."

Sweetheart agreed, nodding in excitement.

Marie sets the saucepan off the burner, then grabs a cup from the dish rack, pouring Sweetheart their drink.

"Whipped cream?" she asks, getting it out.

"Yes please"

As Marie finished their drink, Sweetheart pushed off the countertop. Marie hands them the drink, Sweetheart thanks her for making it.

"No need to thank me, hun; I can't have your heart freezing from the cold. I know I've got the heat on and blankets in every room, but it doesn't do the same as Cocoa does." She laughed and picked up her mug, pouring her own drink.

"Only an act of true love will thaw a frozen heart.” Sweetheart quoted once again.

Marie had only hit them back with, "Well, I like warm hugs," chuckling and opening her arms for Sweetheart to join in.

The one thing Sweetheart would never trade is the feeling of Marie's warm, comforting hugs when they were cold or not feeling well.

[somedayillbepeterpan]

I tried to re-"catch" the feelings I was having from watching Crash Course in Romance.

So, I looked into my deep watchlist and ended up with two very thoroughly enjoyable k-dramas that are re-watchable for a picky watcher like me. This is going to be long so read below if interested about the k-dramas Our Beloved Summer and Reply 1988

our beloved summer

I'm a sucker for slice-of-life stories. while this story navigates through different timelines, it expertly toes the line between the past and the present thus presenting a full growth for each character in this simple yet relatable story. i love the script. i especially love the ost which i listen to every day even after finishing this drama a couple of months back.

our beloved summer, adapted from a webtoon, is the story of Choi Woong and Kook Yoon-seo who became viral after starring in a documentary about the contrast of the top and worst student in their highschool. that alone makes you curious. it's a catchy premise and the whole story manages keep the premise alive until the end.

the story is simple and you can guess where the story is headed. but what made me stay is the pacing and the writing. and it being true to what it set out to do-- to say that love can be found in different people in different times. but there are special moments where you find a different love in the same person at a different time.

i can confidently say that Choi Wooshik and Kim Da-mi are both actors to watch out for. they are not just made for the small screen. they each have such a presence that can't just be contained in a small screen. or maybe i just loved their chemistry so much. it's not even that kind of chemistry where it will grip your heart but it's the work that they put on both characters to make them as authentic as possible. i was drawn in on how they portrayed Woong and Yoon-seo. i was drawn on why they did what they did that led to their eventual *spoilers ahead* break-up and subsequent marriage.

watch this if you're not too heartbroken and you like a slow paced stories that fleshes out human emotions particularly of love-- to a romantic partner, to a mother, to a friend, and to found family.

i particularly loved the way they blindsided me about the reason why Woong was the was he was and why in a way he couldn't open himself up completely to Yoon-seo made me fall in love with the writing. with the sheer amount of content and stories readily available for us to consume, you become so desensitised that it's sometimes a welcomed gift when you don't get to predict what happens in a story.

that particular scene where they get back together and Woong says "...please keep loving me," is engraved in my heart.

--the only downside to this wonderful drama is a 1/4 of a love quadrangle that is too green to handle a wonderful script like this one. you'll know what I'm talking about when you watch it.

2. reply 1988

i don't know what got me drawn to the works of the tandem director Shin Wonho and writer Lee Woo-jung but i am so glad that i am. i started with hospital playlist after seeing so much memes about it and now i can't imagine my life without hosplay (i still watch the whole thing like every month).

but i'm not here to talk about hosplay but the third installment of the critically acclaimed "reply" series.

Reply 1988 is the highest rated in tv ratings among all the "reply" series. and i can totally understand that as this show captures all the tales and woes of each generation.

i can say that the number 1 appeal of the Shin-Lee series' is the nostalgia and the bravery it takes to tackle the simplest yet the most constant worries of a human.

for the 3rd "reply" installment, it goes back to 1988, before the year looked funny (as you will see on one of the episodes). there definitely is something true about that as that's when all the technology in the world started to become accessible.

this show crept up to me (much like Prison Playbook). this was my second attempt at watching it since the first time made me drop it for being too "scream-y" which to be honest, a lot of shows are anyway. but what made me stay were the moms and dads. only did the last few episodes made me notice the actual gang of young misfits.

i loved the way it tackled real-world, real-family problems without being preachy. i love the way the pacing is so slow and nostalgic. i love the way all the families interacted with each other and with the other families.

don't come watching this show for the love story (although i absolutely loved who the main girl character ended up with). come watch this show if you enjoy stories about family dynamics.

--the only thing i didn't like (and this is just totally me), is how the noona who seems to be levelheaded fell in love with an immature child. maybe i was too salty to understand how it all went down but it just wasn't for me.

[spadecentral]

OM Brothers React to Teen!MC Going On A Date

Blast Anon asked: Hi! I was wondering if you could write the demon brothers reacting to teen mc being on a date with someone (could be a girl or boy) please Ingore this if you dont wanna do it!!! - Blast

lmaooo its alright its not too love and sorry about never getting around to this ask i had a little bit of an om slump lolol this is totally not from june 17th...

Lucifer:

He doesn't want to admit it but he actually doesn't want you to go on the date

Very reluctant to let you go out in general

He knows you're going to sneak out anyway even if he says no

Obviously he has to meet whoever youre going on a date with

Doesn't trust them

He's very disappointed in your choice

...you still go on the date if you play your cards right

Mammon:

Says he doesn't care

He does

He stalks you two throughout the whole date

When you get home he tells you why he doesn't like said person

He's very passionate about his speech

Levi:

He doesnt know why youre asking him if you can go on a date

He doesnt know anything about dates

He does, however, check their whole background

If they've done one wrong thing

One sus thing

He's putting that person on a watchlist

Watches through security cameras

Satan:

Makes you read books on adolescents dating

Against letting you go on a date

You still go on the date

Is overprotective

Gives you set times to get home by

If you aren't home by the set time then he will rain hellfire

Asmodeus:

Very excited!!

He wants to help you get ready <333

Helps you pick out an outfit

And do your hair/makeup!

All and all very supportive ^-^

Beelzebub:

He doesn't mind

As long as you're safe and happy

He doesn't care

Just don't do anything to dangerous

Belphegor:

He's asleep when you tell him

Surprised when he doesn't see you

Someone else probably tells him that you're on a date

Unsupportive

He forgets to be mad when you get home because he took another nap

Obey Me! Taglist: @gh-0st-y | @ch3lun | @oseathepebble | @ventisaircurrent | @epelys | @pastelmages | @xphantasmagoriax | @atlasnessie | @divinesapph | @mystaposts | @ze-maki-nin

[cosmolog]

Duskwood Detectives

(Jake Love Story)

Part 6

"A witness? Who?" Alan asked.

"Me. I was on a video call with Richy before he...well, before he faked his death" She told him. "He told me he was The Man Without a Face and that he was the one who attacked Jessy. But after that he told me Phil had threatened to kill him if he didn't do it"

"So you're saying he was blackmailed?" Alan asked.

"Yes. I know he wouldn't have hurt Jessy if he had the choice" she said.

Alan was silent for a minute before he said. "Alright, fine. But you need to come down to the station so we can discuss this further, okay?"

"Of course, as soon as I'm finished with what I have to do in Forest-Edge I'll get back to Duskwood and we'll talk then" Y/n said, before hanging up and getting out of the bed.

She sighed before getting dressed, then walking to the the kitchen where Jake, now also fully dressed was making coffee. "I'm really sorry I intruded on your call. I completely forgot you were here. I'm so used to living alone-"

"Don't worry about it. It's fine, Jake" Y/n shook her head, dismissing his apology. "Besides, I was gonna tell you who called me anyway."

Jake looked up at her, handing her a coffee. "Who?"

"Alan Bloomgate." Y/n told him, sitting down.

"Bloomgate? He's still looking for me" Jake sighed. "What did he say?"

"He said he wants me to go down to the station and have a chat with him about Richy and you"

"And you said you would go?" Jake asked in disbelief.

"He threatened to add me to his criminal watchlist if I didn't, he's got a spot saved for my name right under yours" Y/n said.

Jake put his cup down on the table before starting to slowly pace around the room. "Did you tell him where you were?"

"He already knew. He tracked my phone" Y/n replied.

"Well then we'll have to get you a new phone" Jake said. "A safer one"

Y/n looked down at her phone then back up at Jake. "Fine by me"

"And we'll have to move state again" Jake said.

"Okay, not really fine by me" Y/n shook her head. "We can't spend the rest of our lives on the run, Jake. That just raises suspicions that we might have done something we shouldn't have"

"You may not have done anything against the law but I have, Y/n. Hacking into people's phones to listen in on their conversations and hacking into criminal databases is illegal" Jake said.

Y/n looked at him, confused. "Why were you hacking into criminal databases?" She asked.

"I...Uh" Jake stuttered out, breaking eye contact with her. "I was looking into Phil's criminal files"

"Why?" She asked, standing up and walking closer to him.

"To see how long I had to make you safe before he gets out of jail" Jake said.

"And?" Y/n waited.

"He'll be out later next year because of his good behaviour. They're thinking of letting him go free again" Jake said.

"What?" Y/n exclaimed. "He should be doing five more years, this is wrong!"

"I know. But as long as he stays the hell away from us, we'll be fine." Jake reasurred.

"He's dangerous, Jake. You can't just say he'll leave us alone, after what happened. He's a dog. He'll be looking for us the minute they let him loose" Y/n warned.

"Well then I'll be waiting for him with a gun in my hand, don't worry" Jake replied, his voice grown as stern as Y/n's.

Y/n sighed. "Fine, let's run. I'll pack my stuff and we can go far away" She said sarcastically.

"I want you to be safe" Jake said, defeatedly.

"And I want the same for you. But Jake, I really don't think I'll be able to run for the rest of my life away from that asshole" Y/n shook her head.

"You won't be, I promise" Jake said, his voice now soft. "Now can we please stop the arguing and make some breakfast, please?"

"We're not arguing" Y/n said quietly, making Jake sigh.

"We're not, you're right. Wrong choice of words, sorry" Jake brought her into a hug. "I never want to argue with you"

"I'm sorry too, Jake. These types of situations seem to always find their way into our lives, don't they?" She smiled, sadly. She looked up at him as he gave a small smile back.

"Well, hopefully this is the last time" He whispered back, reaching his hand up to cup her cheek, slowly running his thumb under her eye before his gaze dropped to her lips. "I really care about you, Y/n. Ever since I met you, you have struck my interest."

"I find you quite fascinating, too" Y/n repeated his words to her from many years ago.

Jake let out a small chuckle as she smirked. Jake lent forward, placing a soft kiss to her cheek before pulling away slowly. "You missed" Y/n joked. "Let me show you how it's done" She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his. Jake was shocked, he didn't know how to react at first but eventually started to kiss back.

The kiss felt as perfect as perfect can be, it felt touch-starved, like when a beginning and an end finally make a story come together. They were longing for each other, missing one another. And now they were finally together after so long being so far apart.

When they finally pulled away, Jake remembered something. "I forgot to buy food for breakfast..." He whispered.

Y/n chuckled. "It's okay, we'll eat out. Let's go" She took his hand and walked out of the house. "Where's your car?"

"Car? I don't drive cars" Jake said. After a few seconds of silence, he added, not sure how she'd react. "But I do ride motorbikes"

"You have a motorbike?" Y/n smiled excitedly.

"Ever been on one?" He asked, now guiding her to his garage and pressing the button to open it. The garage door slowly revealed a all black, sports-type motorbike. "Good thing I bought an extra helmet" Jake smiled, grabbing the helmets and putting his on before helping Y/n with her's.

"How do I look?" Y/n asked jokingly turning around in a circle.

"Like an angel" Jake smiled, making Y/n jokingly roll her eyes and put his visor down making him chuckle again.

"Alright, you're gonna put your feet here and sit up here. You can hold onto me because when we go around corners, the closer you are the more in sync you will be with me when we lean with the bike, okay?" Jake explained, getting on the bike after he put some gloves and safety equipment on himself and Y/n.

"Smooth choice getting a bike" Y/n laughed, before getting onto the bike, sitting behind him and wrapping her arms around his middle, closing the gap between them. "That close enough?" She asked as heat suddenly rose in Jake's face.

He cleared his throat then put his visor down. "Yeah, are you- are you comfortable?" He stuttered a bit.

Y/n put her own visor down and snuggled into him. "Very. You?"

"Very" Jake repeated back, before starting up the bike and revving the engine a bit before slowly rolling out of the drive and onto the road where he picked up a steady speed. "I'll let you know when I'm gonna turn or go faster, okay?" He yelled back to her.

"Okay!" She replied, smiling so hard her face was starting to hurt.

He got out to an open road. It was very early so the roads were pretty empty, so it was the perfect time to test out the accelerator.

"Do you mind if I speed up?" Jake asked.

"Not at all!" Y/n replied. "Put her through her paces!"

Jake accelerated, the roar of the engine mixed with the wind blowing loudly filled their ears. Y/n cheered, hugging Jake tighter making him laugh.

The sun was making an appearance just over the horizon, mixing night and day in a beautiful hour of thrills and excitement.

When they got back from getting breakfast at a local cafe, Jake helped Y/n removed her gear. When he took off her helmet, she immediately kissed him. This time he kissed back straight away, hesitantly resting his hand on her waist to hold her closer.

"Thank you for today" Y/n smiled once they pulled away.

"It's only the morning. We're just getting started" Jake laughed.

"I'm gonna need an afternoon motorbike ride later on, then" Y/n laughed with him.

[scribl1ta]

Tag someone you want to get to know better!

Thank you for tagging me @theromaboo ‼️

Favorite color: emerald green🥬

Last song I listened to: "PROFUMO" by M¥SS KETA

Favorite movie: I usually tell people it's Fellini Satyricon because even if I say Satyricon if anybody's even heard of it they usually assume I'm talking about the Fellini version anyway, but I kind of go back and forth between the two depending on which I've been thinking about or which I saw most recently lol. Fellini's is more interesting and almost objectively of higher artistic merit but Polidoro's is more fun to watch and kind of fits how I imagined the novel a little more😖

Currently watching: I have some stuff on my watchlist but nothing new since I'm back at school :/ I'd also love recommendations if anybody has any! especially anything you like to put on in the background while you draw or study

Currently reading: mostly Plato's Apology for my Ancient Greek class :)) I've also made some progress in The True Story by Lucian but there aren't many useful translations or commentaries I have to check my work with so it's a bit slower. I do not have anything I'm reading strictly for fun atm (procrastinating on ordering the next Daughters of Rome book).

Currently working on: some illustrations for a really special faculty publication that I am so so so excited to share more about!! I don't want to post anything before I know for sure they will be published but it was just a huge blessing to be able to make them. I'm also editing a youtube video I've been working on for a few months that is finally coming together, and making some more time every day to write a little in my screenplay.

Current obsession: saying ha ha ha where's the freaking gabagool

tagging @boydrudolo @illegible-scribble @kostekkaz and @emperornero! no pressure to do it and ofc anybody else who finds this post and feels like sharing please do!!

[phdmama]

Hello!

15. An actor everyone loves that you don't like for whatever reason

28. Do you prefer to read digitally or from a physical book?

78. A show/movie thats been on your watchlist forever but you for some reason keep putting off

Please 🧡🧡🧡

Oh my gosh, thank you!! xox

Let's see.

15. Hmmm.... I can't say anyone springs to mind? I know there's singers and bands that people adore that I don't really love (the Beatles, I KNOW I KNOW), but I don't tend to consume a ton of visual media, and what I do, I have a fairly low bar ha ha. Entertainment for the masses, that's about my speed these days!

28. I love both!! I pretty much read entirely digitally these days. I had a looooong period (like, YEARS) where I only read fic, but I'd read it on my Kindle (I have an e-ink Kindle, which is closer to a book experience, I think). I'm back to reading published stuff, right now almost entirely silly M/M romance novels, the vast majority of which are actually terrible but it's fun. I also swap freely between my phone, my iPad and my Kindle since everything syncs now. I am a voracious reader and I love being able to carry SO MANY BOOKS around in my pocket! Like prior to the Kindle, going on vacation, it was an ISSUE for me because I was always afraid I'd run out of things to read. Now I never have to worry!

78. OMG so many. My middle kiddo and I really love the same kind of stuff, and we've started a ton of things (Moon Knight, Lucifer), not to mention we have a ton of stuff backlogged (like all the Star Wars stuff, I don't even know where we're at with the Witcher right now). I will also admit, just between you me and the internet, I never actually watched Episode 9 of the Star Wars saga (and I am someone who saw the originals in the theater when they were released?? LIKE THIS SHOW IS HUGE TO ME) - I don't know why, I think I'm afraid of being so let down. My heart is still broken over Endgame, not gonna lie.

[augustmoment]

Meet me,

Namira Maziyar.

Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo! Warm reception to those of you who have come to Namira's blog. Firstly first, let me introduce myself. I go by the name Namira Maziyar. You may refer to me with Amy, Nami, Mimi, Mira, Rara for short—(other nicknames are welcomed as long as it is still related to my name and does not have bad meaning). My preferred pronouns are She/Her, already at my legal age (twenty-three in Korea!) and coming up with Leo (the good one ♡) as my horoscope. Goes by ENFP as the result of my MBTI. My TOP 2 love language is Word of Affirmation and Quality Time (just in case it's needed).

I'm the one who is noisy and talkative. I'm good at starting a conversation, also approaching people first. If I get a good response, I can say, I'm good at finding topics (so, it's basically depends on you too, because sometimes I can't handle convo-killer). I'm a sensitive person, I can feel the mood swings from how you respond. So, if there's something that doesn't make you feel good, just tell me. Even though I'm not a good listener or a good adviser, I can understand people's feeling very well. Many people say I'm good at comforting people. If you need someone to talk to, I'm ready to listen to all your stories! Just knock-knock my roomchat, ya (don't feel averse ^_^).

Get to know Namira's interests!

What am I into? Actually, I'm into so many things. Recently into watching k-drama, anime, and reading some books. A cluster of stars, the moon, the sun, and theory about the world of outer space! 🚀💭 *giggle*

͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  °

Music taste? I was the type who could listen any kind of music. If I thought the music was good and pleasing my ears, then I'd either likes it or I put it in my playlist. But I'm a casual listener of Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, Nadin Amizah, Reality Club, Novo Amor, Bruno Major, The 1975, Arctic Monkeys, and many more.

Top 5 Spotify Playlist:

Anything You Want – Reality Club

Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey

Labyrinth – Taylor Swift

Mendarah – Nadin Amizah

5AM Empanada with You – Bubble Tea and Cigarettes

͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  °

Watchlist? I enjoying myself watching some cartoon, k-drama, c-drama, anime, movies, series with romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror as my favorite genres.

FAVS: {♡}

Our Beloved Summer (k-drama) on Netflix

Bridgerton (series) on Netflix

Horimiya (anime) on Netflix

Sweet Teeth (c-drama) on IQIYI

Kiki's Delivery Service (movie) on Netflix

͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ͏͏ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  ° ✢ ♡  ⊹  .  °

Anything more! I'm a cat person (I love kitten sm <3) and really love oreo flavored any food or drink. When I'm sad, McFlurry Oreo and Cookies & Cream Frappuccino is my life saver! Ah, don't forget Strawberry Cheesecake too. Neeways, Kuromi is my soulmate. (ෆ˙ᵕ˙ෆ)♡

ABOUT MY MUSE:

ㅤㅤㅤ ⋯ 🗝️ ❀ Chaewon ⁺ Legal (23+) ⁺ Leo ⁺ ISTP ୧

Kim Chaewon (김채원), also known mononymously as Chaewon. She's the leader in a South Korean girl group named LE SSERAFIM under the auspices of Source Music. Born on August 1, 2000. Her English name is Anna Kim. She was a former trainee of Woolim Entertainment and participated in 'Produce 48' and she ranked 10th at 'Produce 48' finale, then debut as a member of IZ*ONE. Her MBTI used to be ISFP but now it has changed to ISTP. She likes mint-choco ice cream and doesn't drink coffee. A calm person but she's everyone's sunshine!

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ ୧ ⁺⁎˚ ꒰ఎ ★ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚ 🧸 ⑅˚₊ (🕯️) . . z Z

Before becoming mutuals, you should read this:

<☆> I do temporary a lot. :D

<☆> Sometimes I'm a fast and slow at replying personal chat and prefer socializing in group chat. But don't worry, I will try my best to reply anything, so, don't hesitate to talk to me! ♡

<☆> You can break the mutual if any time if you found me too loud or (maybe) annoying for you.

⚠︎ ! DNI ! ⚠︎

LGBTQ+ phobic, racist, disrespectful, loves to spread hate, abusive, over NSFW, rprl acc, please don't interact with me. I beg you.

Another ACC!

♡ https://twitter.com/forelskcet

♡

If you perhaps want to send me anonymous message(s), you can hit me up through:

[girltomboy]

I just watched Triangle of Sadness, a movie that's been on my watchlist for some time now, and while I was hesitant to click play on a 2.5 hour long movie, it was definitely worth it. It didn't feel long and excruciating, I didn't constantly check to see how much I have left of it. It's a gripping movie that honestly achieved what The Menu didn't even crawl close to: comedy, satire, a statement, a mirror.

The ending took me by surprise, I was pleased to discover that Ruben Östlund intended for it to be a puzzling cliffhanger, and even said himself that he doesn't know more about it. This playful approach to movies is rare but welcome, and it's quite refreshing to be able to analyze an ending in its entirety.

The big question about it seems to be whether or not Abigail ends up killing Yaya with the large stone after hugging her so genuinely moments before. I thought the parallel between the torturous killing of the female donkey and the rage-induced, cold blooded murder of Yaya would be quite clever. Some kind of a Cain vs. Abel moment, especially in the context of Abigail seeking Carl for herself. Returning to life as before would mean a loss of power and authority for Abigail; she would go back to her stable and secure life, but she would lose her entire "matriarchy", as Yaya had put it, that she quickly curated on the island. So it would somewhat make sense for her to wish to keep it, no?

Then there's (what would probably be) Yaya's last words. She proposes to Abigail that she work for her as an assistant, once they return. She speaks with her back turned, unaware of Abigail's intentions (or so we think - maybe she hears her footsteps? Maybe she senses Abigail's malice? The beauty is that we don't fucking know!). This could make Abigail hesitate, out of fear of Yaya turning around, or maybe out of gratitude. Why go back to being a toilet manager, when you can be the assistant of an influencer, go from a thankless job to an empty job? But Yaya utters this proposal with her back turned, we don't even see her mouth moving. So perhaps these words are only in Abigail's head. Perhaps she's trying to fuel her rage so she can drop the large rock on Yaya's head. Or perhaps she's trying to mentally talk herself out of it from Yaya's perspective. Either way, her expression makes it clear that she is about to make a life-changing decision.

The last shot of the movie shows Carl running through the island in a bloody and sweaty frenzy, at dusk. He is running towards the other side of the island, making it clear that the girls have not returned - or not both of them, at least. I read an interpretation that said he was running for his masculinity, I think that's a reductive take. Men are always expecting other people (mainly women) to bring them their masculinity on a tray, and when they're not satisfied with it, they spit it out and say "not like that", blaming the other for it, of course. Anyway, I thought that was a pretty sad projection, but it's welcome nevertheless because it's a fictional creation with an open ending.

Overall, I think this movie is a pertinent commentary on the futility of wealth, class differences and the ridiculousness of rich people. On the yacht, Abigail was a toilet manager. On the island, she was the captain, and made sure to let everybody know. Her skills were valuable to everyone both on the yacht and on the island, whereas the wealth of the customers was only meaningful on the yacht, where it was merely symbolic - a symbol of what they were allowed to say and do: order the staff around with ridiculous requests - power and authority. Not taking no for an answer, even being offended at the sound of a No. Ultimately, the abuse of power and authority leaked, and lead to a reversal of roles in terms of class, manipulation, cowardice, death.

What I also loved about it was that, despite being an open-ended movie, it left no room to question anything but the ending. Everything is pretty much pieced together and there was no scene that was pointless or useless. Every detail holds a message, which made me eager to check out Ruben Östlund's other creations, and VERY excited for his upcoming project.

[sudden-memory-loss]

Hi rhys! new mutual matthew here, I am going to go absolute ballistic in your inbox ^_^

please tell me about the subtle yet meaningful character development, please tell me how much the characters changed yet feel the same - from the start of the show through their powerful journeys. i NEED to know how much love they share, i need to know when or how they realize how much they care for one another, i need to know when the characters finally see the love between all of them and realize that they'll be alright.

i need to know about the dynamic of rodney and his sister, and i especially need to know literally everything about this show, enlighten me because i am putting stargate atlantis on my watchlist

okay okay I'm gonna be honest I was half asleep and emotional and had just spent a couple of hours reading sga fanfiction when I wrote all that but yes. yes. I can tell you more. by which I mean I am actually going to go on about rodney mckay for longer than would be socially appropriate for any other setting. thank you. (I do touch on everyone else and the show as a whole but I will be honest, most of this is about rodney skfjsh)

so the thing about rodney mckay (my favourite character in the show) is that he's an asshole. bear with me here. he's an asshole in a way that's actually so amusing and so clearly a (poor) cover up for how he's a mess of neuroses and not used to caring about other people or having them care about him.

he first shows up in the original stargate show (stargate sg-1) and lets say his performance is. poor. he basically suggested the team break the cardinal rule of stargate: don't leave anyone behind. certainly don't leave your teammember to be erased in the buffer of the stargate, but anyway. sg-1 is also a good show but that's another ramble.

the other thing about rodney mckay is that he's a genius. two phds: astrophysics and engineering. smartest person in two galaxies if he's to be believed (and quite honestly, he is). he's got an ego the size of a small planet, but he can back it up. he is absolutely as smart as he claims. he's usually the one pulling miracles out of his ass as sheppard yells at him to do it faster.

the other other thing about rodney mckay (oooh, look, complexities), is that he's a huge fucking wimp. absolute baby when it comes to any sort of physical danger. he has a deadly citrus allergy that he goes on about at every given chance and will absolutely run away if he thinks he can get away with it.

so that's baseline rodney mckay. possibly the most high strung person in the known universe with a genius level brain going a mile a minute at all times.

I don't know how to explain it succinctly. but the biggest change in rodney is about bravery and belonging.

in sg-1, rodney would have happily (well maybe not happily but certainly without question) had someone give up their life for his own. he hadn't yet gotten to the point of understanding how bonds like that are important.

by the end of the show, if it came down to it, rodney would die for atlantis. he would die for his team. but he also gained the trust that maybe, just maybe, they can get him out of the dangerous situations that he occasionally gets himself into in an effort to keep the rest of the team safe (or pure bad luck).

but believe me, he'll absolutely still bitch about it. he doesn't lose that annoying charm--and trust me, it is kind of charming. there are real assholes in sga (e.g. kavanaugh, ugh) and rodney is not that. rodney will call you an idiot while saving your life and kavanaugh will tell you that it's hopeless and you should give up. and also bullheadly tell you he's right even as he's oh so terribly wrong. rodney isn't wrong. well, rarely. he did blow up a solar system that one time but, you know, it was uninhabited.

that's one of my favourite things about rodney honestly. not the blowing up a solar system thing, but the fact that he never stops being a blustering asshole for all his moments of sincerity; he's still a coward for all his occasional moments of bravery. he thinks he's better than you but he'll save your life, he'll just call you an idiot while he does it. he becomes a better person without changing who he is.

also he doesn't think biology is a real science which is so funny to me. yes, you're right, mckay, clearly medicine is vodoo djgdk.

jeannie miller (rodney's sister) is first brought up in letters from pegasus, if I remember correctly. during which, to give some minor spoilers, they think they're all gonna die and they're each sending messages back to earth for the people they left behind.

rodney actually spends most of his talking in circles about "leadership" and also absolute nonsense, but of course he has to have his one moment of sincerity, where he addresses jeannie. it's also, I think, the first episode where it's acknowledged how they are a kind of family now, these people in atlantis (”family is... important. I’ve come to realise that, because the people here have become sort of a surrogate family to me.”). those videos are never sent and turns out they don't die (surprisingly /s) but we saw it, even if jeannie didn't. yet.

jeannie is also a genius, of course, except that she isn't an asshole and also at one point decided to make a family and give up all the long nights and hard work that comes with being a genius. she married an english major and had a daughter, madison. rodney did not take this decision particularly well and then they didn't talk for 4 years. whoops.

eventually their relationship heals, with work from both sides, the start of which leads to one of my favourite exchanges in the whole show that makes me wanna cry and hyperventilate whenever I think about it.

and their whole relationship is so delightful. the actors are real life siblings so they know how to act like siblings. there's no 'bro' or 'sis' (does anyone actually talk to their siblings like that???) but jeannie is the only one to call rodney by his real name (much to rodney's everlasting despair) she tells embarrassing stories to his friends (as is her right as a little sister), she berrates him and they whine at each other. but they love each other, even for all the years they were estranged.

but, god, yeah, that’s just rodney. and obviously I have the most to say about him because he’s my favourite character, but there’s so many good characters in this show.

there’s elizabeth weir, lawful good leader of the atlantis expedition, who cares so much about every person there. there’s john sheppard, cocky flyboy allergic to talking about his feelings but regularly willing to blow himself up to save other people (who’s way smarter than he lets people think). there’s carson beckett, scottish doctor who puts up with so much bullshit from rodney but is good natured and endlessly kind and also kind of a bit of a coward too sometimes (there’s a reason those two are friends). there’s teyla emmagan, leader of her people and full of such incredible strength and grace. there’s ronon dex, warrior with a tragic backstory and dry wit and hidden affection.

there’s radek zelenka, basically the only scientist rodney actually considers capable, and aiden ford, an absolute puppy dog of a marine, and peter grodin, possibly the only other scientist rodney would consider capable. you have laura cadman, a marine/explosives expert who rodney can’t stand because she loves to tease him, and peter kavanaugh, a scientist rodney can’t stand because he’s terrible. and eventually there’s evan lorne and jennifer keller and richard woolsey and even sam carter (a main character from sg-1, along with col. jack o’neill and dr. daniel jackson, who also both turn up every so often), and they all have a place in this strange and wonderful city.

and there’s the intricacies between the relationships where you have teyla and ronon as the aliens on the team not comprehending the shit rodney and john say about earth or their pop culture references, and you have john and elizabeth starting out clashing but eventually melding together as a command team really well, and you have woolsey trying to integrate into a group of people who are already so close knit, and you have rodney’s really ridiculous crush on sam that’s mellowed out enough she can actually stand to work with him, and the way that everybody fucking hates kavanaugh because he’s totally insufferable skjfd.

and it’s the way that once they’re all settled in, they just trust each other (except maybe rodney, who trusts most of the scientists in his lab as far as he can throw them off a balcony into the ocean). there’s no question about it, it’s just there. there’s an episode where a virus causes everyone to lose their memories, and sheppard has a picture of teyla on a tablet and despite knowing nothing, searches for her because he knows she can help. there’s countless episodes where john throws himself into dangerous situations with full belief in his team’s ability to bring him out again (much to rodney’s constant stress: “you see, the thing is, colonel sheppard and I have sort of gotten into this habit of saving each other's lives, and it's my turn.”).

honestly, the plots range from borderline ridiculous to actual emotional shit and I couldn’t tell you which I prefer.

there’s an episode with this guy who has a “potion” that makes everyone adore him despite the fact that he is more insufferable than kavanaugh (I hate this guy <3). but there’s also an episode where rodney is slowly losing all his memories and they bring jeannie in to say goodbye and it’s. so much. and then again there’s an episode where rodney and cadman are trapped in the same body. so the mood is. variable. it’s great though, because sometimes you need shit that doesn’t matter. and sometimes you do.

anyway that’s my ramble I think skfjsd. thank you very much for reading and if you decide to watch it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do <33333

[sherl-grey]

Hello fren! I hope you've been having a (relatively) relaxing couple of weeks! 🥰 🍓 💌 📚 🦷 and 1 free choice for the writer's asks!

Hello friend, thank you!! You too! 🥰 Thanks for the ask!

🍓 ⇢ how did you get into writing fanfiction?

Ahhh... well, I got into reading fanfiction when a friend sent me a 500k fic in high school and told me it was his favorite thing to read. (We can talk in DMs if you want but that's all I'm saying about that on main, LOL.) I was... intrigued? By the option of writing fic, tried it a couple times less-seriously on various cursed platforms for various cursed ships, and got very positive feedback. So when I got into Doctor x Rose.... my brain just slowly convinced me that I may as well take a stab at making an actual AO3 profile. And here we are.

💌 ⇢ how many unread emails do you have right now?

Er.... 1,646. Please don't ask how many of those are from AO3, lol.

📚 ⇢ what's the last thing you wrote down in your notes app?

Technically, it was checking off things on a my grocery list. The last actual written word I think was "FOREVER" which was a Ticketmaster pre-sale code so that I could copy it into my clipboard to paste quickly.

🦷 ⇢ share some personal wisdom or a life hack you swear on

I'm honestly a full blown disaster of an adult, so I'm not sure you want advice from me 😂 I guess maybe just to not be self-conscious about what makes you happy--life's too busy and short for you to be one of your own obstacles.

🔪 ⇢ what's the weirdest topic you researched for a writing project? (free choice)

For Rose-Pond, I ended up going from The 1889 World Fair to the construction of the Eiffel Tower to how elevators in 1889 worked. It's still not clear to me if I actually needed to know any of that. More recently for my next Bingo fic, I tried to google something that did not yield any results but probably put me on a watchlist somewhere. Whoops.