so i posted something about this and deleted it because i wanted to mull it over more
i don't like Secret Agent Alfred. i think when it was added to the post-Crisis Batman canon in the mid-to-late 1980s, Alfred was just old enough that the audience would probably assume he was active during WWII. which is cool because 1. nazis aren't human, you can just run them over, and 2. the history of the British spy world in the lead up to and during WWII is actually pretty cool stuff, especially because it crosses hard into the Polish resistance to Germany, and there are so many stories and vibes you can easily slide Alfred into there that are genuinely rad.
but as time moves on and the characters' ages remain the same we're confronted by the fact that Alfred was probably too young to participate in WWII and therefore must've been a spy during the Cold War. working for England. during the post-war collapse of the British Empire, when uh, when they were um, doing all that postcolonialist violence to maintain control of former colonial holdings, like participating in the assassination of the first ever democratically elected leader of the Congo in 1961 (primarily done by Belgium with direct MI6 involvement). there just aren't any heroic spy drama stories to really slide Alfred into.
which is strange!! because the DC universe is full of all kinds of insane clandestine organisations, but Alfred never seems to discuss fighting them. what's also weird is that the nature of clandestine stories in the post-Crisis DC universe, ala the Suicide Squad, tend to lean hard into the amoral nature of intelligence work. it's just a weird untapped area, tonally.
but here's what sticks out at me. the point of making Alfred a former spy is to attempt to profiteer on the cultural popularity of James Bond. but more importantly, the pont of making Alfred a former spy is to give him an abstract skill set that supports the Batman narrative and identity.
my question is: wouldn't that skill set also be served by alfred just being a gay guy who lived during the bar raid era? like. like come on. just make him gay. make his skill set a direct result of his being a big homo. it's not like the material isn't there to support it
look at him
what do we lose? his relationship with leslie thompkins? that thing i have never seen anybody even pretend to care about? make leslie fuck jim gordon instead. what do we lose if she does that? sarah essen? ok. these relationships are all significantly less interesting than the timeline where alfred threw the first brick at pride
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Right so, I currently feel a very strong urge to cut open my stomach like Chef Hong, but let's put that aside for now and focus on all the new evidence that Peaceful Property is very much gay, actually:
(somehow in light of the end of this episode all of this feels so shallow but well, I got this far, I'm not giving up now)
1
Peach is wearing THE shirt. The infamous "more than friends less than lovers" shirt.
And as is usually the case when this shirt appears, it perfectly describes the current state of Peach and Home's relationship.
2
I'm not really attentive enough to analyse colours in these shows, but even I noticed that Home's shirt is pretty blue at the beginning of this episode
Looks like both of them are (not so) subtly expressing their feelings through their clothes this week
3
We didn't really get confirmation either way about Peach's relationship with Best. Though judging by this little interaction between them, if there was something between them, it was probably initiated by Best. He's full-body reaching more than half-way across the frame, trying to get Peach to fistbump him while Peach only half-heartedly raises his fist towards Best's a little. (I admit I might be somewhat biased against him because of Pangpang, but I almost get the vibe that he kinda tried to get close to Peach to siphon off some of Chef Hong's attention. So he was using him from the beginning, first for his cooking skills then for his exorcism skills. But tbf it might have also just been innocent excitement.)
Anyway look at Chef Hong frowning at their interaction. She knows this is not the right man for her son favourite student.
4
Home, deepely and sincerely, wants to help Peach.
As soon as he finds out about Peach's trauma his first priority becomes helping him, not selling the property and not exorcising the ghost.
He even goes all alone to meet the ghost of Chef Hong and asks her to help Peach.
This is kind of a parallel to the second episode where Home went to confront Rak alone (with Suradech and Kan) after Peach refused to help him anymore. Except this time he actually goes alone and instead of asking the ghost to leave so he can make some more money, he sincerely asks her to help Peach. Character growth. But also. Doing it for the guy he likes.
And this is why he gets the mother in law approval and not Best.
But helping someone is not always easy, so:
This is the face of a man who's desperate to help the person he loves even if that person doesn't think he can be helped. And he's willing to play the bad guy to get him that help.
It so clearly hurts him to talk to Peach that way but he doesn't know what else to do.
And Peach is also hurt because he thought that he and Home had gotten close enough that Home would care about his wellbeing more than making money. And he's right, too because Home IS actually doing this FOR his wellbeing and NOT for money. Peach just doesn't know that, yet.
(Quick aside about Peach: Shouting at someone while clutching their shirt. That's 'I love you so please understand me' level of fighting)
Classic tragic romance shit (in preparation for later things to come?). Especially with their next conversation happening through a glass pane. (Star Trek anyone? and many more that I can't think of right now)
And Home gives him hope. Hope that maybe his mentor didn't kill herself, hat maybe he's not responsible for her death. And with that he gives him the strength to face his fear. Good (not yet) boyfriend.
5
It's love, your honor!
He litterally takes over the job of taking care of Peach from Peach's mother figure
and then holds him while he breaks down. And not only does he hold him, he PULLS HIM IN so Peach can cry into his shoulder.
And Peach lets himself fall apart in Home's embrace, to let out all of the grief and guilt he had been carrying mixed with the relief of realising it wasn't his fault she died, and she never blamed him for any of it.
(I know I've said it before but man, Tay and New are really blowing this out of the water. They're just so good. Everything about this show is just sooooooo good.)
6
Is that jealousy I smell, Peach?
Don't worry. Home has already admitted that he's flirting with Kan as a bit not with any real intention. The real is reserved for you.
7
He fully plans to give it to Peach, doesn't he? Simp.
8
Between all the real talk, raw emotions and vulnerability, they're right back to bickering and teasing each other.
9
Now there's a classic BL trope. (And also again a callback to Chef Hong taking care of Peach, making it even more meaningful.)
10
Its LOVE, your honor!!!
But seriously:
Peach has fully fallen in love with Home at this point. And how could he not, after Home fully proved his kindness and selflessness and care for Peach this week. Peach had already started to really trust and be comfortable around Home last episode, but with this he's fully brought down Peach's walls. (too bad it's going to end up hurting them both soon)
And Home knows it, too. Speaking it out while also giving the plausible deniability of a joke. And note how Peach denies on behalf of Kan but not of himself.
They're inching their way towards each other, neither of them willing to say it without beating around the bush but both of them fully aware of what's happening between them. (too bad there's a big storm coming for them that's going to wreck this puppy love bliss)
11
And this, ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between and beyond,
is the face of realisation that you did irreconcilable harm to the man you love and you didn't even know it. That the man you love just said a most sincere and heartfelt "Thank you" to his killer. To you. That all your newfound happieness is about to come crashing down around you and it's all your fault.
Seeing them be happy and flirty in the credit scene hurt. Because how long will they still have this? And either way, any blissful moment from now on is going to feel hollow for Home. And Kan knows, too. Will Pangpang find out before Peach? Will Home get to tell Peach himself or will Peach have to find out from someone else?
Major angst is incoming and honestly? That's pretty gay. Silver lining and all that, I guess.
Anyway I don't want to leave us off at a complete downer so have a quick
Lesbian Corner
The focus was very much on Peach this episode and Kan was mostly off doing her own thing so there's not much but there is this:
Pangpang felt quite betrayed when Kan didn't take her side against Home. She's clearly aware that they should hook team up seeing as the boys are busy with each other.
Don't worry girl, you'll get there eventually.
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I like narumitsu/wrightworth enough but you people need to accept that it’s not that deep compared to the rest of the series. Most of the cool things about it exist only in the fandom.
That said, to help you i have compiled a list of ships that are gayer/more canon than narumitsu/wrightworth, ranked by how gay/arguably canon they are:*
Asoryuu. Do not spoil the rest of tgaa2 for me, but i do know about some things that I haven’t gotten to yet. Anyways i think breaking the boat rules and risking your trip to Britain that you’ve been dreaming of forever in order to bring your childhood friend (for whom you were already about to risk the trip again in order to get him out of murder charges) with you is a bit gayer than starting work in a profession you’re good because you heard that guy you knew in elementary school is a prosecutor now.
Susahao. do not spoil the rest of tgaa2 for me. Anyways if you’ve played it you know what I’m talking about
Aurametis. If you try to tell me that “unnecessary feelings” is gayer or more canon than “her respect as a coworker isn’t all that I wanted” you should maybe see a doctor. This would be at the top of the list if I wasn’t also ranking for sheer gay energy
Shamseki. do not spoil the rest of tgaa2 for me. Anyways see my shamseki post, it’s gotten even gayer as I play through the case. Even if it’s not a true ship, they definitely fucked and soseki was topping
Klapollo. This is more vibes based with only a few lines that actually help it, but holy shit are those vibes there. Especially if you ship narumitsu, then it’s a narrative parallel
Gumwright. The entirety of t&t, maya is just constantly trying to get phoenix to date gumshoe and gumshoe isn’t denying it. My headcanon is that gumshoe told maya he liked phoenix and she’s trying to be his wingwoman
Gumworth. I have to concede that this is actually on the same level of gayness/canon as narumitsu if not slightly less but I’m putting it here because most people assume it’s far lower than that and that’s an injustice to poor gumshoe
*not ranked by popularity/which ones are my favorites. I haven’t finished tgaa2 or played aaic so i don’t know about that lore yet, please don’t spoil anything more for me.
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Hey! Call me Bet, I'm a writer who gets so absorbed in the stories in my head that I forget to do important things...like my actual job... And fun fact, my mom reads my fics (she's very supportive, it's validating and mortifying)
Fandoms I Write For
Top Gun Maverick
Twisters
Outer Range
Stardew Valley
Hogwarts Legacy
I take requests!
My Bookshelf Of Favorite Fics @bets-bookshelf
Masterlist
Kinktober 2024 Masterlist
WIPs
Rooster x Single Mom!OC
Sneak peek
After divorcing her gay, marriage of convenience husband, Olivia and her teenage daughter move to North Island. Her daughter's one wish for Christmas? A hot step dad. And damn, if Rooster's Hawaiian shirts don't look like the perfect wrapping paper.
[Chaotic teenager daughter plays wingman | Rooster has total dad vibes | Olivia's exe just wants her to be happy | Olivia really needs to get laid | Her exe and daughter agree | Lots of domesticity | Olivia is the best mom to her gremlin daughter | Fresh start at life | Accidental pregnancy]
Hangman x Marine Corpsman-Devil Doc!OC
Every time Fiona "Kitten" Reid is deployed, something bad happens. Win-a-medal type bad. And when Warlock is looking for a survivalist instructor for the Daggers during the uranium mission, he's shocked that the top recommendation from his colleagues is a young medical corpsman the Marines she served with dubbed "Kitten." After making a grand entrance at the expense of Jake's older brother and Bob's sanity, Fiona finds herself squarely in Hangman's sights. But he better pay attention in class because her lessons come from more than a textbook...
[Its classified sweetheart | Tequila makes her want to dance on elevated surfaces | Fiona has a Meredith Grey level disrespect for her own well being | Jake really wants to know how Fiona knows his brother | Fiona prepares the Daggers for being shot down in enemy territory | Warlock is a chaos enabler | Lots of Marine slang | Big Gibbs vibes | She once ran towards gunfire with a stethoscope around her neck | Bob is a great dancer | Penny will kick Jake's ass personally if he hurts her | She'll also kick Fiona's ass if she hurts him | Penny needs a raise]
NCIS! Top Gun Maverick AU
Blurb to come...
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Jane Austen was so insane for writing Emma I’m losing my mind
Like you have the mean bossy femme lesbian in her late 20’s, living off her trust fund and becoming hyper-obsessed with a local pretty peasant girl Jennifer’s Body style. People call her perfect, and she knows they’re right
(They’re wrong. Her childhood best friend - her metaphoric conscious - reminds her every day.)
She’s the protagonist of this book but the antagonist of every other: she’s Caroline Bingley, Blanche Ingram, Cordelia Chase, Regina George, Heather Chandler. She’s the queen of this school, and popularity is a hell of a drug.
(Popularity is the only power she has. There’s something itching at the back of her brain: She doesn’t want to be this. She doesn’t want to do this. Why is she trying to impress all these mean people.)
She can do no wrong. She mocks the annoying weird girl and everybody laughs and the weird girl finally shuts up.
(He’s frowning at her in the background. She’s frowning at herself. She’s angry at both of them)
People think she’s charming and beautiful and so kind.
(They’re wrong.)
She keeps everybody at arm’s length, staying mean and fiercely independent.
(They can’t see her loneliness. Her failures. The way she watches her pretty new friend laughing joyfully and beautifully in the sun, and it just makes her feel sad.)
She plays Cupid because she sees people as her play things - love is just a game for her.
(She plays Cupid because she knows that everybody will leave her in the end, anyways. This just allows her to control it.)
Jane Austen famously called Emma “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.”
(I like her too)
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