#baz vibes

[artsyunderstudy]

Your Fragile Bones Are Mine

Rating: Explicit

Words: 40k

Chapters: 5/5

Summary:

The grounds around the gates of Watford are burnt. The dining hall stinks of magick. It's three months since the tumultuous end of seventh year—one lonely summer, and six more weeks in a lonelier room—and Baz is finally back. And Simon needs to know why.

[pacey-bunce-loves-joey]

turning up at you man’s nemesis’ front door wearing half the countryside = peak fluff

[wundrousarts]

Wow, love this still from the animated Nevermoor movie!

[butlers-bitch]

50’s heart throb Austin

💋🎙️📺🎟️

[bazzybelle]

Good Omens 2 and Wayward Son - A Fan's Commentary on Fandom Reactions

I’m going to start off by saying apologies for any obvious grammatical errors. I am writing purely from the heart here. 

Also, apologies to my Sandman friends. If you haven’t read The Simon Snow Trilogy, this will go over your heads. However, I have been going back and forth on writing this meta since the release of Good Omens 2, and I just finished reading a spectacular meta on queer ships becoming canon by @avelera, which you can find here (read it, it’s brilliant). Anyway, I feel now’s a good time to let out all of my feelings when it comes to Good Omens 2 and how similar it was to reading Wayward Son. 

Simon Snow friends, you all know that Wayward Son is my favourite book out of the trilogy. You also know that this can be considered a controversial take within the fandom. And I don’t mean that in a toxic way, this fandom is one of the more wholesome fandoms I’ve seen; But in the way of like… Wayward Son is itself a polarizing book. 

I say this, knowing full well what went down when Wayward Son was released. Perhaps I had the advantage of not being completely embroiled within the Simon Snow  fandom until after I’d finished reading the book, but I lived on the periphery. I followed Rainbow on Twitter (fuck you, I am not calling it X), I had saved some artwork on Pinterest (before I found out those were stolen, wherein I immediately unpinned them and deleted my fandom folders), and I was excited to get Wayward Son as soon as it came out. So much so that I asked my husband to go to the Indigo near his office and buy it because I wanted to read it right away. 

Friends, I demolished that book within a DAY. 

Then I read it again. And again. And again. 

Then I wrote my first fanfiction in eight years. 

This book changed me. But you all know that. I’ve talked about it often, and that’s not what this meta (Editorial? Opinion piece? Shouting into the void?) is about. 

What I am going to talk about is the amount of pure vitriol this book got once it was released. There was SO MUCH complaining about the book. It was too short! There was no point to it! Why aren’t Simon and Baz having sexy vampire sex? Why aren’t they living together (never mind that this was briefly discussed at the end of Carry On, but go off I guess)? 

And you know what’s even funnier? Within a couple of weeks (it might have even been days, I’m a little fuzzy on timelines) Rainbow announced the third book. We knew, right away, that Wayward Son was meant to be an in-between book! Rainbow, being a fandom person herself, has said time and time again that she had always considered Wayward Son as an in-between book, structured like The Empire Strikes Back within the Star Wars original trilogy. Like think of the in-between books of any series, they are ALWAYS the darkest ones. In order to fully appreciate the win in the end, you need to go through the tough shit. 

What I loved about Wayward Son was it took that idea and spun it. It went all “ok, yeah we dealt with the win, now let’s deal with the aftermath. Only then can we have the makeouts and sexy times these guys deserved.”  (and damn, did Any Way The Wind Blows deliver on that promise).

But I am getting away from myself again. Point is, it was always meant to be an in-between book. There was always meant to be a resolution at the end of the trilogy. But that sure as hell didn’t stop people from outright demanding Rainbow give them the happy ending NOW. Pestering her on Twitter, (not so much on Tumblr) demanding she do this, or do that, or “you better not kill Baz” (even though she has ALWAYS SAID SHE NEVER WOULD) or “they better not break up” (even though, narratively, it was heading in that direction). The closer the book got to release date, the more people complained about how awful Wayward Son was. 

It was really disheartening to see. 

Which is why I got really upset when the SAME THING happened after the release of Good Omens 2. 

(For clarification purposes, because several of my friends have spoken to me about their own personal issues with Good Omens 2. And you are all super fucking valid. I am strictly referring to the amount of anger I saw online because although Aziraphale and Crowley kissed, they didn’t have an immediate happily ever after. I am also speaking of the anger expressed because the season wasn’t wrapped up in a neat little bow.)

Like with the release of Wayward Son, people seemed to have forgotten that season 2 of Good Omens was meant to be an inbetween season. Neil Gaiman has not been shy to talk about that. He has said over and over again that Season 2 was always meant to be a bridge between the Good Omens he and Terry Pratchett wrote together, and the sequel they had been planning. 

What… did you all just forget about that? Do you not know how narrative writing works? 

It’s like people refused to take a step back and breathe for a second and appreciate the season for what it was. A beautiful romantic story (because, IT WAS! Just like Neil said it would be), as well as a lead up into what will be the epic, dramatic conclusion. No, instead people started demanding the happy ending NOW, and getting angry when Neil wouldn’t budge and offer more information (even though he never has before) (funny how people just… forgot that).

It was Wayward Son all over again.

Yeah, I’m not going to lie, I was crushed with the way Good Omens 2 left off. Just like I was so confused when Wayward Son ended out of the blue. You know what I did about that? I wrote fic, I read the book again, and I happily anticipated the upcoming final part that would tie up all the loose ends.

Know what I’m doing to heal after Good Omens 2? I’m looking at gifs, rewatching episodes, laughing at memes and crack, and hoping to all the gods of story writing that Amazon approves of a third season, so that Neil Gaiman can be allowed to finish the story he and Terry Pratchett built together.

It’s become sad to watch this feral hunger from fans demanding immediate gratification, and getting upset when it isn’t the ending or gratification they were expecting. Wayward Son came out after years of Carry On fans having nothing else but the one book. Like I said, I wasn’t part of the fandom then, so I don’t know how fans from 2015 felt upon learning they’d get more Simon and Baz. Same with Good Omens. I only really got into the fandom a few months before season 2 came out. So I don’t know how OG fans felt waiting and waiting and waiting. So maybe I have that going for me as an advantage, that my hunger wasn’t growing more and more feral. 

Then again, I’m now a part of The Sandman fandom, and we’re essentially waiting on Season 2 to start development. And while I’m hoping a few things are tweaked (like Dream and Hob’s relationship), I’d be more than fine if it stays the same as in the comics. And if they decide to go about that in an entirely different way, I’d be fine with that too. You know why? Because I’ve learned to trust the writers of the stories I love not to lead me astray. 

And if I’m unhappy with something –because nothing is ever 100% perfect, and even my favourite stories end up coming short– there are always fanfictions to write, gifs to laugh at, and fandom friends to discuss plots and meta with. 

I may have lost the point of this meta. I tend to do that, following a train of thought that doesn’t always make sense in the end. 

Fandom friends, can we all just agree to take a breath and be thankful of the stories given to us? Can we learn to appreciate the entire picture, and not just a tiny section of it? And for the love of all that is holy, can we learn to be patient and to listen when our story tellers remind us to wait and see? To trust them when they assure us that our characters will have a happy ending, even if they need to traverse a little in the dark to get there?

I sure as hell am, and I hope you will too. 

Gonna tag @carryonsimoncarryonbaz because she was instrumental in encouraging me to write this.

[otherpeoplesheartachept-2]

I think it's kinda funny that we all call snowbaz enemies-to-lovers bc they were enemies only in a very performative way. Baz realized years before they got together that he loved Simon. And while Simon believed he hated Baz, I think he hated Baz all those years in the same way that he was "straight" for all those years; it was part of the Chosen One role he was playing. But there was never that truly deep hatred for the other person. Even when they would fight or say they hated each other, it was just the performative "enemy" version of the other person that they hated.

I think this is why other enemies-to-lovers never quite draws me in as much as Snowbaz does. It's hard to like believe 2 people truly despise each other, and then flipping that all around in the course of a book or movie. But it is SO interesting and rewarding to read abt Simon and Baz–not learning to stop hating each other–learning to accept the love that's been there the entire time.

Idk maybe that's also what other enemies-to-lovers stories are doing, but the ones I've seen the couple seems to start out genuinely disliking everything abt the other person

[prettylightsbigcity]

So this one time, @cutestkilla decided to count how many times the Carry On characters say “fuck.” Baz won, of course. Then @mostlymaudlin made a joke about this song, and @sillyunicorn and I took it a little too far. Cover art by @stardustasincocaine ♥

May I present... “A Case of You [Baz’s Version]”

@rainbowrowell 🙊

[liyazaki]

shoot me.

kinnporsche | episode 13

[burninlovebutler]

// synchronicities pt. 5

[pushing500]

Wendy got an inspired recruitment, so she invited Connie's sister to join the colony! The only downside to this is that Emerald (formerly known as Wttkottyn) hasn't been converted to the Path of Animism yet. We'll get there, though.

The family resemblance is uncanny, though. I don't think I would have been able to differentiate between them if it weren't for the name tags.

Also, I managed to pawn Boomer off to the leader of the nominally friendly Viking faction. I don't think he'll be too thrilled (he's a straight, cold-blooded lizard being sent to marry a man on the ice sheet), but at least I don't have to deal with him anymore.

First | Next | Previous

[talleryn]

Kaz: is there anything better than pussy?

Kaz: yes

Kaz: *slams hands on piano*

Kaz: REVENGE

[stillgotme]

ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕞𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕘𝕠 𓆩♡𓆪

[sailorblossoms]

You could say that Simon being jealous and going absolutely feral over Baz comes from a place of insecurity, like Baz could "do better than him" and leave him, but the funniest part it's that Simon thinks Baz doesn't have a vibe check. He realizes now that his obsession with Baz was nothing but homosexual behavior, as into Baz as any being can ever get, and he notices Baz is still very surprised to learn Simon could never leave him alone because he liked him, obviously. And if Baz could never pick up The Vibes from the gold medalist in the "obsessing over Baz Olympics", what hope is there for him??? Clearly a guy could be all over him, trying to get him to join his vampire empire over milkshakes and he would be none the wiser. He's the most fuckable person alive (or otherwise) but he cannot see that other guys would find him hot?? Simon has even seen him being too diplomatic to beat the shit out of a creep overstepping and getting handsy, oh no, it was up to Simon to right the wrongs and stab the bitch who thought they could fuck with his boyfriend right in front of him. Truly Simon can never know any rest ever again.

[butlers-bitch]

pics of Austin you’d have in your camera roll

[sucrosette]

★— ⋆｡˚ [02. A Life in the Future]

For Day 19 of Carry on Countdown 23, Sci-Fi. @carryon-countdown

Simon needs work done and there's no place better to get it done than with Basil Grimm-Pitch. If the sodding bastard says yes, that is.

Rated T for cussing and, I think, themes.

This is going to be a series of snapshots of different Simon Snows and Baz Pitches in the greater multiverse. You can find the first "life" here, which was written for Day 3, Alternate Universe.

⋆｡˚

“This isn’t a chop shop, you know,” the tech says as soon as Simon Snow slips through the door. He hasn’t even looked up from the prosthetic he’s been working on.

Simon scrunches up his nose in annoyance at the assumption, slipping off his coat all the same. “I didn’t want a chop shop, I need a bioware specialist.”

The tech looks up and squints over at him. He looks at him hard enough that Simon can feel the judging. He looks at him so hard the tech decides he needs to get an even closer look, his eyes shifting as he walks over and takes Simon in, circling him like a predator assessing his worth in meat. “Well, I am a bioware specialist. Sometimes. I don’t think that’s exactly what you’re looking for though.”

“How would you know?” Simon prods, as though he weren’t talking to someone who knew bioware like the back of his hand, probably better than that.

“Because these are illegal,” the tech answers with no hesitation, running a hand over the metal of his wings. Simon knows now that this is definitely the shop owner, Basil Grimm-Pitch, the eyes giving him away, not to mention the impromptu assessment.

“Not all customs are illegal,” Simon argues, “Your eyes aren’t illegal.”

“Not so far as anyone knows, no,” Baz grins as he says it, and Simon supposes it would probably be a lot easier to pass illegal eyes off as legal versus whatever he had going on. “But these wings are. So’s the tail. That’d never pass check in this city. You can’t tell me you get away with it just by covering them up with a coat.”

“Well, no,” Simon admits, “That’s why I’m here, actually.”

“You’ll have to give me a good reason to want to risk my business for your illegal augments.” Baz runs his fingers over the joints in his wings, making them twitch slightly with the touch. “What’s wrong with them?”

“Well, technically nothing,” Simon answers and then makes a great exaggerated face and clenches his fists and looks a good bit more exerted than he should for someone who’s just standing there, sweat beading on his forehead, and then he relaxes again, “Except when I try to fold them against my back like I should be able to. They just don’t anymore.”

“Sounds like a simple issue in the gears,” Basil stepped around front of Simon again, “Are you sure you’re not looking for a chop shop?”

“They’re connected at the nerves, I can’t go to just any chop shop for this. Can’t unhook em, can’t not feel em, they’re just stuck there,” Simon sighed, “Anyway shouldn’t the challenge be enough to incentivize you?”

Basil hums and runs his hand over his chin, considering, “I’ll need my hourly fee. I still need to eat around here, and potentially the cost of discreetly shipping in parts, depending on what you need. Can you afford that?”

Simon pursed his lips, “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe. Hard to do jobs like this. Can I loan for it? Or trade for it?” Bartering wasn’t his specialty, but trading was generally alright. Someone always needed something done, and Simon was damn good at doing something when it was most needed.

“I might have a job for you, eventually. Not right now though.” Basil took a step back and gave Simon another look from head to toe and back up again. “Sure, yeah, something could come up. You’d have to stick around till it did though, are you up for that?”

“Nowhere else to go,” Simon admits with a shrug, “You’ll do it?”

“I’ll make an attempt. Removal sounds like not an option, so I’ll make an attempt. You trust me enough to bring in a consultant?” Baz asks as he sits himself back down in his seat, placing a pair of particularly complicated-looking glasses on his nose, picking up where he left off with the prosthetic.

“You need a consultant?” Simon perks a brow as he steps to get a closer look at whatever Basil’s working on. He knows… shit all about any of this. It looks to be… a hand, so far as Simon can tell. Five fingers, a palm, some knuckles, little faux nails… yep, it’s a hand. Beyond that, Simon’s bloody clueless.

“Not really, but a second pair of eyes and/or hands can be helpful in complicated cases like yours though,” Basil answers with an off-handed wave. “Who fucked you up with those augments anyway? Why’d you ask for something so insane in the first place?”

Simon shuffles his feet awkwardly a moment, leaning back and away from Baz. “It wasn’t something I asked for, actually.”

Basil glances up at Simon through those glasses, then over them, a look of understanding passing over his face, and then he refocuses once more on the hand in front of him. “I see,” he says simply, “Well, who botched the job? Do you know?”

“Ah,” Simon relaxes a moment, shrugging slightly, “Well, only what he goes by.”

“What’s he go by then?”

Work names were generally better known anyway, Simon admits to himself, at least most of the time. He wonders a moment over whether or not he should give up the name. At one point in his life, Simon had considered him something of a mentor. Did he want to admit his former mentor had ruined him like this? He’s not entirely sure yet.

He gives the name over anyway, “He goes by the Mage in most circles.”

Basil puts down his tools and takes off his glasses again, zeroing in on Simon’s face. “Are my ears malfunctioning or did you say the bloody Mage?”

Simon furrows his brows a little at that, “Do you have augmented ears?”

“That’s neither here nor there,” Baz dismisses, leaning further forward while he looks Simon down, “Did you say the Mage?”

“Ah,” Simon blinks a little bit, “Yeah, I said the Mage.”

“Oh, I’ll do it for bloody free, I hate that sodding blighter.” Basil shook his head again, regaining his composure just that easily. “You should head in the back for now. I’ve got an expected client in the next half. You’ll not want them seeing you all wings out like that. Most of my clientele are above board, after all.”

“Alright then,” Simon agrees, a little confused. He wasn’t about to protest a free fix though. His legs were already moving him the way towards the door Baz had nodded to, “Anything I should know?”

“Yeah,” Baz answers without looking, “Don’t bloody touch anything. I’ll pop back after we’re clear.”

“I think can manage that...”

“Good. You have a name I can call you?”

“Simon,” he says after a moment’s pause at the door, “Simon Snow.”

“Excellent, Simon. Now you hide in there for a minute. Take a nap or something. We’ll handle those wings, and then maybe we’ll talk more about the Mage, sound alright?” Baz just barely glances back at Simon out of the corner of his eyes.

Simon… wasn’t exactly sure he wanted to talk about the Mage, but he did want that work done. “I’ll tell you what I can. If it’s not enough, I’ll still do that job then?”

“Brill,” Baz turned back again as Simon slipped through that back door and into a wide, open… well… operating room. He wasn’t sure what he should be more confused about: the operating room in what was definitely ‘not a chop shop’ or Basil Grimm-Pitch using words like ‘brill.’

[ebbpettier]

i would bet money that agatha wellbelove stands in turnout all the time without realizing it