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luxlisbons · 4 months

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Voulez-Vous? - part i

Mencken's ego takes a hit when Harriet's eye wanders to the newly elected French president. In response, he engineers a grand state dinner, turning diplomatic affairs into a battlefield of jealousy.

part of the "before there's hell to pay" universe: part i - part ii - part iii

pairing: jeryd mencken x original female character. 4k

warnings: affairs, unhealthy relationships, dubious morality, explicit language, age difference, smut, religious imagery & symbolism, unprotected sex, pov first person, the french

a/n: lmao so... this idea came to be thanks to @rxgirlie and i's obsession with a current french actor known for playing a lawyer in a film (iykyk), so picture him as marcel reynaud (who will make his appearance in the second part). thank you so much to Kels and my friend Lu @nyheartbreak for proofreading and encouraging me to post this.

Read on AO3.

It all started with an online poll. The Buzzfeed type of crap you read while waiting for the clock to strike 5 pm in your crummy little open space office.

“The definitive list of the 10 hottest presidents”

Usually, despite his very alienating politics, Mencken would place number one. What can I say? Everyone loves a bad boy, especially one they can fix with sex. Attention was brought to his steely gaze, the danger and confidence he exuded in his speeches, and his past as a 90s rock band member:

“Okay but 90s Mencken??? Twink goals, honestly😍”

“Mencken got me like 😱🔥”

“I never thought I'd say this, but Jeryd Mencken, you're kinda hot 😅 “

“He is such a silver fox zaddy 🦊”

His unofficial title became “Silver Fox in Chief”, and it gave us tabloid fodder for when we wanted to deflect from his racist dog whistles and controversial actions in D.C., which was a lot of the time for very obvious reasons. We were like puppet masters pulling the strings, orchestrating this wild media circus around Mencken. It was a classic ATN move, redirecting attention from the messy stuff and instead shining the spotlight on Mencken's supposed charm.

We brainstormed catchy hashtags and encouraged people to share their favorite Mencken moments online. It was all about creating a narrative that suited our agenda – making him this irresistible figure, a distraction from the serious issues at hand. We knew how to play the game, and damn, did it work. The internet ate it up, and suddenly, Mencken was not just a president; he was a phenomenon.

The internet had found a new obsession; fancams flooded the internet– from the way he adjusted his tie to the subtle glances he threw at the camera during press conferences. TikTok became a breeding ground for creative edits, with old concert footage seamlessly synchronized to modern pop hits, each video racking up millions of views and fueling the ever-growing fandom.

Twitter experienced a constant Mencken presence. Anytime the president made a public appearance or donned a new suit, his name would surge to the top of trending lists. The online obsession transcended political boundaries; even those who vehemently disagreed with Mencken's policies found themselves unable to resist his allure.

His press conferences were now attended not just by political journalists but also by entertainment reporters eager to capture the latest juicy details about the "hottest president" phenomenon. Mencken, bemused and enjoying the attention, tried to redirect the conversation to policy matters, while also stoking the fires with quips and acknowledgments of his sex symbol status.

His fanbase (which consisted of both ironic and genuine fans) even created a nickname for themselves: the “Mencken Fuckers”. They organized themselves into a formidable online community. They created fan art, fan fiction, and even fan-made music videos that further propelled the president into pop culture stardom. The group's ironic name didn't deter their dedication; they wore it as a badge of honor, unapologetically reveling in their unconventional admiration for the leader of the free world.

One such video caught my undivided attention while doomscrolling through TikTok late at night. It was one created with candid moments in which I appeared beside him, laughing and talking with Lana Del Rey’s song “Let The Light In” playing in the background. The chemistry between the both of us, set against the dreamy soundtrack, fueled speculation and excitement among the Mencken Fuckers. It both amused and mortified me how close to the actual truth they were.

Caption: "Is it just me, or are these two looking like the ultimate power duo? 👀💼💫 #CloseEncounters #PoliticalChemistry"

Comments:

1. @ShipperSupreme: Move over romance novels, this is the love story we didn't know we needed! 😂❤️

2. @CuriousMinds: Are we witnessing the birth of a new power couple? 👫💫

3. @LaughingWithLana: Lana Del Rey's song just makes this whole thing even more iconic! 🎶🔥

4. @Daydreamer_Deluxe: I ship it! 😍💘 Who needs reality when we can have this fantasy?

5. @RealityCheck: Wait, are we calling them #Menkenriet or #Harren now? 🤔

6. @CupidInTheComments: My arrows of love have found a new target! 💘🏹

7. @PoliticalLoveAffairs: Move aside, political drama; we're here for the romance! 🇺🇸❤️

I couldn’t help myself, I sent the link to Mencken, who after some technical wrangling on his part “I’m 54, of course I’m not gonna have Tik Tok installed for fuck’s sake” finally saw it.

The ringing of the phone cut through the silence of my empty apartment, startling General Meow from her nap and sending her scurrying toward the living room. I sighed, muttering to myself about the timing, and picked up after the first ring, feeling like a good little lap dog.

"Hey there, Mencken," I greeted, smirking to myself as I imagined his perplexed expression on the other end. "Ready for a little adventure in the world of internet?"

Mencken's voice echoed through the line, confusion lacing every word, "Harriet, what in the hell is going on? Why are people shipping us? Are we supposed to be getting something delivered?"

Suppressing a laugh, I explained, "No, Mencken, it's not about deliveries. It's a term they use on the internet when people want two characters or real people to be in a romantic relationship. They call it 'shipping.'"

There was a brief pause before Mencken asked incredulously, "Shipping? Like cargo and ships?"

I chuckled, covering my mouth to stifle the laughter. "Not quite. It's short for 'relationship.' They think we're the ultimate power couple, Mencken."

"Is this some kind of secret code or a new political term I missed in my briefings?" Mencken's confusion was palpable.

I couldn't help but tease, "No secret code, just internet slang. They're imagining us as this influential and glamorous duo."

Another pause, then Mencken's voice returned, this time more incredulous, "You're telling me there are people out there who think we're having an affair? With each other?"

"Yep, that's the gist of it. Welcome to the world of shipping, Mencken. It's a strange place," I replied, my grin growing wider. “And they've even given us a ship name – #Menckenriet. Catchy, right?" I couldn't help but enjoy the absurdity of it all.

Mencken sighed on the other end, probably shaking his head, "I can't believe this is happening."

"Embrace the fame, Mencken! Who knows, maybe we'll start a new trend in political shipping," I teased, still grinning.

There was a long-suffering sigh from Mencken. "I don't have time for this nonsense. I have a country to run."

"Your loss, Mencken. #Menckenriet could've been the political love story of the century," I quipped.

As I prepared to hang up, he interjected with a serious tone, "Wait, do they actually know about us... you know, being intimate?"

My playful demeanor faltered for a moment. "No, Mencken. It's just speculation and fantasy. They don't know anything for sure."

Mencken sounded relieved, "Good. Let's keep it that way."

But before I could end the call, he added in a soft voice, "Clear up your schedule. I'm gonna drop by during the weekend."

Since Rome, Mencken's hard veneer had chipped away. He made more time for me, wasn't as mean – well, still an asshole, but, as he put it, "Your asshole, sweetheart.”

“Well, aren't you so romantic,” I mused mostly to myself, a wry smile playing on my lips.

“Yeah, well, I figured life's too short to be a constant jerk. Besides, dealing with you is marginally less irritating than dealing with most people," I couldn't suppress a laugh. High praise, indeed. Looking forward to the weekend then.

As the call concluded, I imagined Mencken shaking his head and muttering, "I'm too old for this." I let out a loud hyena cackle which leaves General Meow staring at me with her wide green eyes.

______________________________________________________________

And then the French presidential election happened.

It was a tight race between three players, each one from a widely different part of the political spectrum. On one hand, the far-right candidate, the heiress of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, was Mencken's pick. On the other hand, the incumbent President, Emmanuel Macron, stood as a centrist, aiming to maintain stability and balance in turbulent times. The third contender, Marcel Reynaud, a charismatic socialist from the left, caught the attention of many with his passionate speeches and a boyish yet distinguished appearance, with graying hair that hinted at wisdom beyond his years, reminiscent of a Dostoevsky prince.

As the campaign unfolded, Marcel Reynaud's popularity soared. His fiery rhetoric and genuine connection with the people resonated across various demographics. The public, weary of the traditional political dichotomy, found in him a fresh and appealing alternative. The French, tired of voting for the lesser of two evils, began to rally behind Reynaud, drawn by the promise of a new era and genuine change.

Reynaud's physical presence added an extra layer to his appeal. Imagine a man with rugged charm, grey tousled hair that hinted at rebelliousness, and piercing blue eyes that conveyed both intensity and empathy. His speeches, delivered with conviction, echoed a vision of a more inclusive and socially just France.

Election day arrived, and the people of France turned out in record numbers. The results trickled in, each update intensifying the suspense. When the final count was announced, it was Marcel Reynaud who emerged as the victor. The socialist left candidate had secured a historic win, breaking the stronghold of the traditional political forces.

As the news of his victory spread, so did the memes, fan art, and adoring posts dedicated to Marcel Reynaud. Internet users affectionately dubbed him the "French boyfriend," and hashtags like #ReynaudRevolution and #MarcelMania trended worldwide. He quickly dethroned Mencken as the hottest president online, captivating not just the French public but garnering attention on the global stage.

The internet was flooded with swooning comments about Reynaud's “elf” vibes, and fan accounts dedicated to his every move and policy decision multiplied. Memes comparing him to heroes from literature circulated, portraying him as the embodiment of a modern-day romantic lead. His charisma had transcended politics; he had become a symbol of a new era, both politically and personally.

______________________________________________________________

Mencken was not impressed. Despite being in his mid 50s, he still was a petty child underneath it all, mad about the spotlight being taken off him and given to a soy boy from France of all places.

The ping of random texts, accompanied by a distinctive ringtone reserved exclusively for him, never failed to jolt me with a thrill, whether I was immersed in work or drifting off to sleep – a Pavlovian response he found pathetically endearing.

M "Just saw another damn article about Marcel Reynaud. 🙄 Apparently, he's the new poster boy for socialism. What a load of crap."

H: "Oh, Mencken, you're just jealous that Reynaud's stealing the limelight. 😏”

M: "Another day, another interview with Reynaud. 📰 Can't escape the guy. Do you think he practices that brooding stare in the mirror?"

H: "Maybe he's born with it, maybe it's political strategy. 🤷🏻‍♀️"

M: "Thoughts on Marcel's new hairstyle? 💇‍♂️ Trying to figure out if he's attempting a political rebrand or just desperately needs a barber."

H: "Maybe he's channeling the winds of change through his hair. 😂 At least he's keeping things interesting. You should try it sometime."

M: "Harriet, tell me you didn't fall for the hype. 🤨 The French might adore their 'heartthrob,' but I know you have better taste."

H: "Of course not, Mencken. I only have eyes for the 'old and grumpy' type. 😉

To that last text he replied with a hilariously outdated “fuck yea” meme, highlighting how out of touch he could be sometimes.

______________________________________________________________

In one of our romantic getaways, (if you can call secretly meeting in a pre-swept room with Secret Service agents hanging outside the door romantic) he once again brought up le problème.

We had dinner from Dorsia’s to-go in my apartment, with General Meow eyeing our food from her own seat at the table. I tried to make conversation but Mencken's answers were clipped, a subtle giveaway that something was amiss. I took it all in stride, already accustomed to his mercurial moods. I knew that he was stressed about something and that once we fucked, he would relax and the tension would dissipate.

Wanting to make up for missing a couple of our dates, he takes me for a drive around the city in a sleek black car with tinted windows, a partition separating us from the chauffeur. The sound of muffled traffic and a bossa nova playlist was our soundtrack, as we furiously make out like teenagers on their way to prom. He’s quiet except for the sighs that escape his lips. I get needy and he likes it, petting me the same way he does my cat. The similarity does not escape me. His hands begin to go lower until they eventually find my hot center and he smiles against my mouth as he realises I’m not wearing panties. Mencken's voice, low and husky, breaks the silence as he whispers, "You always know how to keep things interesting, Harriet."

I respond with a teasing smile, my voice a breathless whisper, "Well, Mr. President, I aim to please."

His fingers continued their exploration, tracing patterns of fire on my clit. “Mr. President? You're playing a dangerous game," he murmured, his lips trailing hot kisses along my neck as he slips two fingers into me.

The combined sensation sends shivers down my spine. I cry out of pleasure and I am thankful for the soundproofed privacy the partition offers us. Eager to reciprocate, my hand instinctively moved toward his belt, but Mencken halted my advance with a gentle yet firm grip.

“Not here, better in the hotel room,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. The promise of what awaited us hung tantalizingly in the air.

Our destination was a high-rise hotel he had booked, soaring 68 floors into the city skyline. It was quintessentially Mencken, reveling in the sensation of being the most powerful man even during sex. The car eased into a lull inside the hotel's basement parking lot, providing a moment for me to compose myself while awaiting the Secret Service's assurance that the coast was clear.

Mencken eyes me mockingly. “You do realise they all know what we’re just doing in here and what we’re about to do in that room”.

I roll my eyes and reply, “A girl has to keep some secrets. Adds to the intrigue, doesn't it?"

He smirks, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, let them think what they want. It's not like we've ever been ones to play by the rules."

With a final nod from the Secret Service, Mencken opens the car door, ushering me out. The hotel's opulent lobby awaits us, and I can't help but feel a rush of excitement. The atmosphere is hushed, with the discreet professionalism one would expect in such an establishment.

He is rough, manhandling me immediately after we cross the threshold of the room.

The door closes behind us, and the plush interior of the room envelops us in a cocoon. The dim lighting casts a sultry ambiance, amplifying the energy that crackles between us.

Mencken turns to face me, his eyes filled with a hunger that matches my own. With a swift move, he captures my lips in a kiss, his hands roaming possessively over my body. In the intimate space, he pins me against the door, a delicious urgency in his touch. His kisses travel from my lips down to the curve of my neck, igniting a cascade of shivers. The feeling lights me whole like a star. He grabs my hand and leads towards the floor to ceiling windows, the quiet city completely unaware of what is about to unfold. Mencken's eyes lock onto mine, a silent communication passing between us. With a heated intensity, he guides me onto my knees, the plush carpet beneath feeling cool against my skin.

My hands find their way to his belt, fingers working deftly to release him. His cock is already half hard, forming a wet patch on his boxers. I pull them down to spring him free and my tongue reaches out in anticipation. In that moment, the world outside seems to fade away, leaving the two of us suspended in time. His fingers tangle in my hair, a silent encouragement to continue the exploration. As my lips inch closer to their destination, I can feel the heightened tension in the room. His arousal is palpable, the air charged intensity. I wet my mouth, preparing to take him in, and our eyes lock as my lips envelop him. A shiver runs through Mencken's body, and the room echoes with his moans of pleasure.

As the sensations escalate, Mencken's husky voice breaks the silence. "Harriet," he says, a blend of urgency and pleasure in his tone. I smile at him, as much as one can smile with a mouthful of cock. Yet, he knows—I look at him with such adoration as if I were in prayer and him my patron saint. The city outside may slumber in blissful ignorance, but within these four walls, I hold the most powerful man in the world in my grasp.

I alternate between licking his length and kissing his tip, his skin flushing to a delicious shade of pink. “Adorable” is definitely not the best adjective to describe him, nevertheless it is the word that comes to your mind. Yes, this man who can be quite vicious and spew the most hateful vitriol can also exhibit a human side. In those rare moments when it's just the two of us, away from the public eye, I get a glimpse of a softer side that few get to witness. This only eggs me on, and I fasten my maneuvers until he can barely keep standing still.

Just when I’m about to finish him off, he jolts me up and pushes me into the bed, covering me with his body, engulfing me. He stays still for a few seconds and places his wedding band covered hand protectively over my neck. He stares at me deeply and suddenly feeling self conscious I look away.

"Harriet…” he murmurs, his voice a low rumble. His hand moves towards my chin and commands me to look straight at him. “Look at me, please”.

And I do. His thumb brushes gently over my cheek, and he leans down to place a soft kiss on my lips. "You're incredible, you know that?" he whispers, his words a mixture of admiration and desire.

He seems more expressive tonight, a departure from his usual sour demeanor. “Yeah, I am very well aware of it, thank you for the reminder.” I decide to inject a bit of humor into the situation. While I appreciate this more open side of him, it's honestly weirding me out a bit.

He rolls his eyes, “Don’t get cocky.”

“Shut up. Quick, kiss me again, old man.”

He smirks, leaning in for another kiss. Our lips meet, and the intensity between us reignites. We make quick work of our clothes, and he has me on all fours facing the window. I try to push away the thought of him imagining fucking the city in that egomaniac head of his. As he roams my body, I focus on the sensation, letting the pleasure wash over me. The position lets him get in much deeper, which combined with one hand pulling my hair and the other spanking me on the ass, makes me go crosseyed and incoherent.

“Oh shit, fuck! Oh my god”, I gasp in between moans. This goads him into increasing his thrusts and to reply with possibly the most cliche response ever.

“Nope, just me”, he snarls.

“Ugh, just shut up and fuck me, you asshole”, I groan out both in pleasure and cringe.

He pulls me up while still inside me so my back is against his chest. His calloused fingers come to rest on breasts and my clit, both rotating and pinching me in exquisite pleasure. Inside I get hot white and my vision goes out as the tautness that has been growing explodes. Mencken follows closely, my pussy milking him until he comes inside of me.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp bathes the room in a warm aura as Mencken and I fall in tangled limbs. With the air thick with a heady mixture of contentment and the smell of sex, Mencken, typically stoic post coitus, couldn't resist diving headfirst into banter.

His eyes wandered to the ceiling, contemplating the subject that had crept into his thoughts. "You know, I can't help but think about the French election."

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Oh, so now you feel like talking. Do tell. Is there a particular candidate you find captivating? Is this why you were so broody this evening?”

Mencken's lips curved into a smirk, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Marcel Reynaud, the so-called heartthrob. I fail to see what the fuss is about."

I propped myself up on an elbow, ready for the snarky exchange that was bound to follow.

"Well, Mencken, not everyone can appreciate his charm. Or perhaps, you're just not into the whole 'French boyfriend' craze?"

Mencken scoffed, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand.

“Oh, please! He's just another commie with a mediocre appeal. Looks like he belongs in some sad Eastern European gay porn."

I couldn't help but burst into laughter at his blunt assessment.

"Oh, Mencken, you have such a way with words. I suppose, in your eyes, only right-wing politicians can be easy on the eyes?"

Mencken grinned, his snarkiness unwavering. "Exactly."

Teasing him further, I continued, "Well, you can't deny he's got a certain je ne sais quoi. Maybe you're just jealous that the internet's boyfriend title slipped away from you."

Mencken scoffed again, feigning indifference, “Jealous? Hardly."

Chuckling, I replied, "Of course not, Mencken. Your appeal is far too sophisticated for the masses."

“Wait, you really find him hot? You have the most powerful man in the world in your bed but you still are thinking about some third-rate European lefty? He isn’t even a full president, he has a fucking prime minister!”

“Woah there, I thought you weren’t jealous.”

“I’m just disappointed in you. Really, what happened to your taste?”

He has a plane to catch the next morning. So when he has enough rest, (“I’m an old man, remember?”) he fucks me once again after eating me out, another habit he has picked up from Rome. During the week I have to wear turtlenecks and scarves to cover up the love bites he left over my chest and neck. Immature asshole.

______________________________________________________________

His administration suddenly became very interested in US-France relations. I could practically see the cogs turning in his mind, the wheels of diplomacy greased with a hint of jealousy. The irony wasn't lost on me—the leader of the free world, concerned about a romantic rival from across the Atlantic.

One evening, as we lounged in my apartment with General Meow resting on his lap, Mencken couldn't resist poking at the issue. “Any thoughts on how we can improve diplomatic ties with France? Perhaps organize a state dinner, or maybe I should visit him on a diplomatic mission?”

I exhale a sigh, knowing exactly where he was going with this. “You're the President of the United States. I'm pretty sure there are more pressing matters than cozying up to Marcel Reynaud just because your lover thinks he’s hot.”

He grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, I just thought it would be a shame if our relations suffered due to my charming French competition."

And so it was decided, a state dinner was on the horizon, orchestrated not just for diplomatic reasons but also as a subtle way for Mencken to flex his presidential prowess in the face of a perceived rival. It was not lost on me that, deep down, this was more about asserting dominance. Men and their petty egos.

In the weeks leading up to the state dinner, Mencken's text arrived, a blend of formality and subtle suggestion. "Pick something nice, my dear. You'll be seated with me and Marcel. Let's make it a spectacular evening."

#succession #jeryd mencken #jeryd mencken x reader #succession fanficion #succession fanfic #justin kirk #succession hbo

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do-you-know-this-queer-character · 6 months

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hey i noticed an anon mentioned submitting a lot of arcana characters and i wanted to pop in to say that that game is a racist, fetishizing mess. not only do they have a brown character who is kept literally in chains and is a vessel for one of the writers’ thinly veiled bucky barnes slavery kink, one of the bad endings features their fantasy-jewish-coded character turning into a literal bird, not to mention his numerous bird motifs.

between asra, nadia, and julian, asra and nadia are clearly more sexualized throughout the course of the game, even when fans have asked them to tone it down and stop fetishizing their “exotic” brown characters.

the fandom is and has been historically overwhelmingly hostile to fans/people of color who try to mention these problems. fans of color trying to dissuade people from writing nadia as a step on me dommy mommy queen have been shut down by elle trying to spin it into a “women can be dommes too!” issue, when the problem is that nobody would be treating nadia like this if she was white. asra gets his paid scenes hijacked by the white LI and then is painted as the toxic one in his and julian’s relationship (of which is only there due to elle’s mlm abuse fetishization) because god forbid their favorite white boy isn’t a perpetual victim.

outside of the game itself, dana rune has run a fanzine about an incestuous fire emblem fates ship (corrin/ryoma/xander) and further information can be found at the relations_zine handle on twitter. she may have scrubbed her name from it but it’s clearly her art style lmfao, and iirc she’s still in the followers/following list on that account. elle has a long history of fetishizing mlm abuse/slavery/“yaoi” on their tumblr that they’ve since deleted, but like. i googled “elle thalassiq fetishizing mlm” and immediately found posts with thorough screenshots so it existed lmfao. and even if it didn’t, it’s very evident with how they treat asra/julian/muriel.

this is heated and not thorough, but i’d like to end this by saying that this is coming from a former fan who eventually had to leave the game and fandom altogether because of the compounded issues that were never addressed, brushed under the rug, or actively encouraged time and time again. do not play the arcana. there are better games out there. and the last i was in it, the fandom was a toxic cesspool that would attack anyone, especially fans of color, who ever voiced a dissenting opinion about anything in the game. i hold my queer media to better standards and you should too. this game does not treat dark, heavy topics with respect, it treats them as fetish fodder.

Okay, I figured something like this would hit this blog eventually. The point of this blog is not for me take a stance and say what media is good and what media is bad. I am not brushing off your concerns - that’s a whole lot of awful information, and from me posting your ask, people can make their own choice about wether they want to engage with the game or the fandom. But I am just one person, and I don’t know anything about 90% of the media that is submitted here. If I excluded every piece of media that someone said was below a standard, I wouldn’t have any media left. This blog is simply a recognition game, I’m not trying to promote these pieces of media. I’m not saying that because they have queer characters that they’re fantastic or anything like that. I’m not taking any stance on any of it, actually.

This isn’t about the quality of a media, the quality of a fandom, or the quality of the representation that a character represents. It’s just a recognition game.

I am not going to get into any of these debates myself, since I know almost nothing about most fandoms here, but if you have serious concerns with a particular media posted here, send in an ask like this detailing the problems and I will post it, so that people looking at this blog can see valid criticisms before diving into a new piece of media.

As a further note, racist and antisemetic comments or tags on any post will be blocked on sight.

I will tag all asks like this with “media critical”.

#the arcana #racism #antisemitism #homophobia #Media critical #asks #not a poll #Important update in the comments

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stupid-sloot-headcanons · 19 days

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🔥For fandom's favourite blue eyed man Gojo Satoru

Keep in mind that I already find JJK overrated, and Gojo is the most overhyped character in JJK imo. When I first read and watched, my initial thoughts were just "Oh, he's the Urahara-inspired character in this very obvious albeit genuine love letter to Bleach" and I never found him more interesting than that. Maybe it's because he's beloved by rabid stans and powerscalers alike but part of me likes to talk shit about him just out of spite lol.

Like I enjoy writing for him because I like portraying him as this insufferable narcissist that genuinely struggles to understand humility. The dynamic I love with him is a Darling/Reader that's like "Can you stop acting like my thoughts and wants are a joke, and talk to me like a real fucking person for once?" and he may not be able to at first because he's just not born that way and hasn't been nurtured that way. And that entitlement and possessiveness of a Darling, especially one who consistently cuts through his bullshit, actually makes him serious for the first time in a very long time. And let's be clear, it makes total sense that he's like that. He's the most powerful sorceror ever. I love cocky assholes.

I think that he's also perfect yandere fodder and esp perfect angst fodder. I think deep down he knows that if he ever did have a relationship or a family with someone, that they would be targeted by curses and rival sorcerors alike for the rest of their life. And he's failed to save people before, so I think he'd either try to hide any serious feelings with his casual flirty demeanor or he would get very serious and very fucked up in how he prevents anyone from taking his Darling away. You managed to make him vulnerable and now that you're precious to him, he is NOT going to lose you.

But fics where he's super sweet and loving and that's it? Nahhh that isn't for me lol. He'd have many, MANY red flags and I think a serious relationship would be very difficult with him.

#sloot bitches about things #also idk if its just a rumor but i love the idea that Gege actually hates how popular Gojo is. i just find that really funny #hes in the same category of character as Levi from AoT #both are massively beloved and i just Dont Get the level of hype #also both of them are massive fuckups now that I think about it

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practically-an-x-man · 1 month

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❤, 🧡,💚,🖤,🏳️‍🌈 for X-Men since you're the expert on that

Oh man, expert is a high bar to reach but I'll see what I can do

Ask Game: Unpopular Opinion Edition

❤: Which character do you think is the most egregiously mischaracterized by the fandom?

Oh man... a lot of them get mischaracterized in a lot of different ways, this is hard to answer. I'm actually gonna go with Mystique for this one - she's such a popular character, so I see a lot of people who've only barely dipped their toe into X-Men try to write for her and it just... isn't quite right. They make her too soft and morally-pure, they chop whole sides of her character off, they remove the fact that she's canonically bi... it's kinda death by a thousand cuts sometimes.

🧡: What is a popular (serious) theory you disagree with?

I don't think they're going to bring Apocalypse into X-Men '97, at least not in the first season. I've seen it tossed around a lot but like... we've already got Trask and the Sentinels as major villains, and they brought Apocalypse in at least 2 different times in the original animated series, so I kinda doubt they're going to go back to him again so quickly.

💚: What does everyone else get wrong about your favorite character?

God, what don't they get wrong? He falls victim to Hot Guy Syndrome so badly, especially here on tumblr. He's got one of the richest character arcs and storylines of just about anyone, and yet most of the fics I've seen either make him the "X Reader fodder" boyfriend with therapy-speak emotional intelligence, or go the opposite direction and make him the hopeless tortured sadboy.

He's just so... flat. And I get that the movies don't give us much to go off of, and not everyone reads the comics, but like... it's so annoying to me. The entire point of his character is that he's forced into these extremes (the angelic golden child to the Horseman of Death), but when he's allowed to be himself he's neither of those things... and yet the fandom just shoves him into one of those extremes anyway. Even just thinking about this is pissing me off a little lol

🖤: Which character is not as morally good as everyone else seems to think?

CHARLES! I mean, the whole point of his character is that he tries to be a good leader and sometimes he fails. And sometimes he fails badly and it ends up in a complete moral catastrophe. Yet a lot of fanfics I've read seem to paint him as a great, morally-perfect leader, which just... isn't true. Just because he tries to do good things doesn't mean every decision he makes is automatically morally pure.

🏳️‍🌈: Which character who is commonly headcanoned as queer doesn't seem queer to you?

Another tough one, because there are so many comics and writers that I honestly don't know what's been confirmed queer and what's just a widespread headcanon. And let's be real... this is X-Men. Nobody's not queer.

#my friends!!!#answered asks #ask game

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lost-technology · 1 year

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Vash - Asexual Icon?

Okay, controversial hot-take ahoy! This is NOT a anti-shipping post. I freakin’ love shipping. It’s awesome! I used to be big into Vash x Meryl back in my old OG fandom days. However, I read something on here (because this is tumblr, of course) about Vash being a queer icon, as in some notation on how in Trigun Stampede the director was cited as saying that he made Vash kind of like “both the female lead as well as the male lead” - as in, male, but having some traditionally feminine traits, hence why he looks more “bishounen” than he did in other iterations. He has some “ship-fodder” moments with various other members of the cast - commenting on Wolfwood’s “kind eyes” and, of course, my VashMeryl heart soared at a certain scene in Episode 11 - those who’ve seen it know the one. So far, in this version, there’s no clear canonical shipping with Vash. In the other iterations, there was never any canonical shipping with him (the only canon ship is the OG anime having Wolfwood and Milly “eat sandwiches” together). He never “ends up” with anyone. Some fans think that he’s heterosexual (well-argued in the OG anime due to his flirtatious behavior toward some female characters - the old late 1990s trope of “let’s make the hero a bit perverted for humor” that was popular at the time). I’ve met yaoi fans who were convinced that he’s one-hundred percent gay (despite the pervy toward attractive women behavior). Bisexuality can be very well-argued for him, especially in Stampede as noted above, also the “every character in every fandom is bisexual or pansexual in fandom” rule that people seem to have unless a character as a specifically stated sexuality. But has anyone besides me ever thought of Vash as an...asexual? (In this essay I will...) Consider Vash’s general character through the franchise when it comes to romance and / or sex: Stampede incarnation: Has a few moments that can be interpreted as flirty or budding feelings toward both Wolfwood and Meryl, however, nothing clear. His most significant relationship is familial - his grief-filled relationship with his toxic brother. This seems to be what this anime is about. Trigun Maximum incarnation: Never has any clear shipping with anyone, although there are interpretable moments, same as above. I remember that moment of pretending to be unconscious to avoid the attentions of prostitutes and being ashamed of his scars in the manga, same as in the OG anime. Nothing else of note. Classic Trigun Anime: Vash plays the flirt with pretty women. He goes into that common Late ‘90s Flirty Shounen Hero trope for anime heroes of the time. This seems more or less tossed in by the anime writers and director. As the anime becomes more serious, this is generally forgotten in a “Vash has too much on his plate for the romance-stuff” and it’s an action anime, not a romance anime... And the same shame of his scars... the same scene with the sex workers as noted above. (The context for the scene is that a town is celebrating because Vash saved them all and some of the men in the town set up with the local brothel ladies to show Vash a good time as a reward. Vash pretends to have drank too much and passed out, couldn’t be roused - to the disappointment of the brothel workers. He gets up as soon as they leave and wonders “could I be regretting it? Maybe just a little)? The scene is generally interpreted as him not wanting to take advantage of the women in the situation. (Although, honestly they were eager)... Well... it seems to me that Vash might not be as interested in the old bang-bang as some fans would like him to be (and are perfectly within their rights to fanart and fanfic to their hearts’ content). Even the “flirty” Vash of the OG anime seems to be doing it as part of the fake-stupid / silly behavior that he does to throw people off-guard. And where it seems to be genuine behavior, well... I still think asexuality is a valid interpretation because, speaking as an asexual, myself, many of us “do things that we think we are supposed to do” because society tells us that people are supposed to do certain things. Some of us never learned what asexuality even was until fairly late in life and went through various “supposed to” behavior even when we weren’t really feeling it before we discovered ourselves. This is common throughout the queer community - the gay person raised in a community that is hostile who will try to date the opposite sex, someone thinking they are straight until they discover that they really are bi, and etc. This happens to asexuals, too. I had a boy-band member crush when I was 12, just like all “normal girls” did. It took a while for me to figure myself out - that I wasn’t really “normal” and that it was okay. Therefore, I see even the “Let’s make him pervy for comedy” written with clearly heterosexuality in mind of the OG anime as compatable with an asexual interpreation of Vash. He was just doing the “I am a normal human” act! Do keep in mind that I am arguing for “an asexual interpretation for the sake of fanwork / fan-fun” for Vash NOT based on his artificial human nature / his status as a plant, but just, individually, as a person.

#vash the stampede #trigun #trigun maximum #trigun stampede #vash #asexuality #asexual #asexual vash #variable character interpreations #a real asexual having asexual thoughts on fandom

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tragicclownwrites · 1 year

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A tragic clown's SBSP ship opinions

So I came across @shiba-deer's ship ranking post and I thought "fuck it. i'm gonna do one, too!" 😝 I tend to agree with most of their points with just a few differences including the addition of shitty Canva edits by me.

Disclaimer: As the title suggests, these are just my opinions. I know some folks may disagree and that's okay! I'm not trying to flame anyone or start any drama, so please keep it chill. We're all just clowns here. 🤡

Here's the scale I'm working with:

god tier - OMFG I LOVE them 💖🥰

top tier - I really like this ship 💜👍

mid tier - I'm neutral about this ship 😐

bottom tier - I really don't like this ship 👎😓

hell no tier - Get this shit off my dash immediately 🤢🚫

?? tier - I don't know enough about them to form an opinion 🤷

Anyways, here we go~

SQUIDBOB - god tier

Ah yes, SquidBob. The only "god tier" ranked ship on this list. Are we surprised? There are just so many great moments between these two and so much that could be said. Alas, I'll spare the long monologue and just say that their dynamic is absolute perfection. It's literally the basis of a great, slow-burn romance - you can't make this shit up. I love "opposites attract" for the exact reasons that I disliked some of the other pairings on this list. It's notable that while Spongebob is mostly cheerful and exuberant and Squidward is mostly grumpy and reserved, that isn't all they are; Squidward very much has a fun side just as Spongebob has a serious one. They keep things interesting and bring out the best in each other (whether Squiddy wants to admit that or not), in spite of their differences. And per this post, they actually do have a lot in common as well! I could wax poetic about why a fucking sponge and octopus are literal soulmates, but idk. I just think they're neat. 💖

PLABS - top tier

Now this was not a ship that was initially on my radar when I first joined the fandom. But I am happy to say that has definitely changed and it is now a favorite of mine! I love a good friends-to-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers ship, and Plabs is one of the best. I feel like they have such a "will they, won't they" thing going on that leaves me on the edge of my seat. I definitely want to look into them more. And who knows? Maybe I'll get around to writing a fic? 😉 As for canon, I could list various examples but there is just so much compelling evidence in favor of this for me not to ship.

KARENDY - top tier

This is a ship that I have grown to really enjoy. While I would like to see more of them together in the show, the few interactions we have gotten are great fodder for a budding romance. I like how they have so much in common (ex. intelligence, interest in inventing), but not to the point where they clash (which I likely will talk about later in the list) and it actually benefits them and adds to their connection. They just have so much potential! They inspire my creativity the more I look into them. I mean, c'mon. Sandy literally said Karen was "beautiful" and Karen's wiki says her relationship with Sandy is "a purely positive one."

SQUIDLIAM - top tier (as exes)

This list simply wouldn't be complete without this pairing. If you've read SquidBob fanfiction, Squilliam is the perfect villainous ex-boyfriend. 😈 It could be that I'm a sucker for villain redemptions (spoiler: i am) or perhaps @misslattesart has made me consider alternative possibilities for this character (probably both tbh), but I find myself increasingly intrigued by this dynamic - particularly Squilliam's motivation for constantly trying to outdo Squidward when he appears to have it all. While I'm part of the majority of fandom that headcanons them as exes, it's evident that they were definitely romantically involved at some point. But I do agree that they would inevitably find themselves in conflict eventually. After all, they broke up for a reason.

PLANKBOB - mid tier

Fun fact about this ship: PlankBob actually got me into the fandom (more on that here), so there's a level of fondness for me there. However, it is purely on a crack-ship basis and I've more or less stopped shipping it since joining in favor of other ships on this list. But idk man, it's just a funny dynamic.

PATWARD - mid tier

This is such a hilarious and chaotic match that literally no one would see coming. I think everyone probably knows about that one moment in Kamp Koral. I can't find the clip right now but, I mean, what the hell even was that?? Still, I'm only giving it a "mid tier" rank as, like PlankBob, it's more of a pairing that I'd ship ironically.

SQUIDVIA - mid tier

I mean, Squidward went on a practice date with Spongebob, who was significantly more interested in him than Squilvia was. She didn't get all that much screentime, despite her being the girl Squidward was presumably trying to impress. I'd argue that Squiddy wasn't all that into her either, but rather the idea of her because they are so similar and he thinks that's the kind of person he should be with. I don't really feel any sort of way about this ship, but their relationship probably wouldn't last. SquidBob FTW.

PUFFKRABS - bottom tier but would be mid tier if not for their bullshit (very confusing, I know)

Surprisingly, I do feel like this pairing has potential... if it weren't for a major Plankton-shaped obstacle holding them back. I've touched on this a bit in my fic, but apparently Mrs. Puff and Mr. Krabs have been/were secretly dating for 16 years. Now, 16 years is not a number to scoff at. However, the "secretly" part is giving me pause and sending up all the red flags. 🚩🚩Both of them are single/divorced/widowed/etc. They are not having an affair. So... why keep it a secret? As far as I'm aware, neither of them have any reason not to be open about it (assuming that I'm not off base about this whole secrecy aspect). Sure, not everyone needs to be in their business. But then it's implied that even Pearl doesn't know. I have no idea who made the call but if I was Mrs. Puff and everyone, including my boyfriend's daughter, was in the dark about our relationship and he made no moves to give me any sort of real commitment after over a decade... I'd start to wonder what the fuck was up.

PATBOB - bottom tier (sorry 😔)

I was really conflicted on this ranking because PatBob has all the makings of a great ship - they're best friends, they look cute together, and they have a lot in common. However, the reason I ranked this so low is mostly because their friendship is so much stronger than any sort of romantic connection. I feel like whenever these two are put into a remotely romantic scenario (ex. when Spongebob they raised a baby scallop), that's when the cracks start to show. As friends, they have a great dynamic and are so funny together, even when they get into arguments/spats. However, as romantic partners, it feels unnatural. As shown in the episode I mentioned as an example, Patrick gets to be his silly, lazy self whereas Spongebob has to take the more serious, rational role - which is not his natural inclination, even if he has that side. I just can't help but feel like this would become a pattern if they were actually in a relationship. I live for best friends-to-lovers... but this ship is not the one.

PLANKAREN - bottom tier

I was originally going to rank this "hell no tier" but it's not the worst thing I've ever seen - mostly just a prime example of compulsory heterosexuality (this was a great response on the topic). I still dislike the pairing quite a bit though. Like, are they even married? The two of them are so off-and-on, hot-and-cold together and there's just something so... forced about it. I just think they both would be so much happier if they weren't together, you know? I don't doubt that they support - and maybe even love - each other a bit, but to quote my own fic (not to plug lol): "you can love and care about someone without being in love with them."

SPANDY - hell no tier

I've never liked this ship, even prior to joining the fandom. Hell, even when I was a kid and didn't know what shipping was, I still felt there was something off. As I've gotten older and wiser though, I think it really comes down to Sandy and Spongebob having virtually zero romantic chemistry. Nada. Zilch. Despite SBSP being episodic in nature, their dynamic consistently gives me sibling vibes - which does not translate well into a romantic connection at all. They're just miles better as friends and I don't see that changing in the slightest.

(And this is just a personal nit-pick vs. a solid point but I find myself put off by the frequently OOC portrayal in fanworks - particularly for Sandy, who is actually one of my favorite characters. I know as writers and artists, we're going to take some creative liberties. But if you have to drastically alter a character's personality and/or physical traits to suit your ship narrative, it's probably not a good ship. 🤷)

SQUANDY - hell no tier

I do love seeing Squidward and Sandy getting along and being pals - I mean, look at this interaction (sorry, couldn't find a better gif)! However, any sort of romantic connotation gives me a serious case of the "ick" (SquidBob be damned, honestly). Hence the very low ranking. They are strangely more believable than Spandy, but that's probably the only redeeming thing about this as a ship tbh. Otherwise, it's a "hell no" from me.

(This sound effect is literally me when thinking about this lmao.)

MINDRICK - hell no tier

Not to be that person, but even if there was genuine chemistry... let's just say Mindy doesn't just look young. I even Googled it for you. You're welcome.

SQUARRY - ?? tier

Okay so I've heard lots of good things about this pairing and how they have some great, shippy interactions. However, it's not a ship I'm familiar enough with to form an opinion.

BUBBLERAY - ?? tier

Not really super familiar with these characters' dynamic in general, let alone the ship.

SLAPFERATU - ?? tier

I've seen this ship making the rounds as well, but definitely not familiar enough with them to make a judgment call. From what I've seen (including pulling this pic together), it is pretty hilarious. I will say that. 😆

#tragic clowning #for ships and giggles #😉😉#squidbob #plabs #karendy #only tagging ships ranked top tier or higher #aside from squidliam as i like them more as exes #i probably missed some ships but i spent an embarrassing amount of time on this already lmao #my blog theme doesn't like the colors for some reason 😔

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kylesvariouslistsandstuff · 3 months

Text

By the by, regarding all the recent DreamWorks developments: KUNG FU PANDA 4 almost out, THE WILD ROBOT trailer out, the recent release of ORION AND THE DARK (still have to watch it, it's part of my animation ketchup alongside Pixar short SELF and a few other things), etc.

I have no reason to speak of this new MEGAMIND "movie" that's really just a pilot movie to a streaming series made by DreamWorks Animation TELEVISION. Not worth the energy, nothing for me to really talk about. I see some people on twitter all abuzz about it, with considerable fury. How DreamWorks fucked this up so bad! And how DreamWorks is so "inconsistent", how the WILD ROBOT is going to be an "apology" for this MEGAMIN- roflmao are you **serious**? Are you SERIOUS right now?

Different studio, number one... This would be like someone grilling Disney in spring 1994 for THE RETURN OF JAFAR, and suggesting that THE LION KING made up for that or whatever. Do these people hear themselves when they talk? DreamWorks' TV division has been making all sorts of lower-budget streaming fodder for years now, and they've only ramped it up in the recent years. These are the equivalents of the Disney DTV sequels and spin-off things.

But also, there are a concerning amount of animation fans out there who seem to look at DreamWorks - like any big studio - like it's one person. One author directing every movie. A "Mr. DreamWorks" fellow that directed everything from THE LAST WISH to TROLLS BAND TOGETHER to this MEGAMIND direct-to-streaming thing. If "animation is cinema" to you, then you ought to understand WHO is exactly working on these things... Not the buildings where they're being made. And think twice before you use THE LAST WISH as a meter that TROLLS 3 or *heck* any DreamWorks movie needs to live up to. Never mind that each filmmaker has their own aims. Maybe TROLLS 3 or whatever isn't made for *you* specifically, and that someone else out there really likes it. And that's fine. DreamWorks can make fantasy adventures about swashbuckling cats for general audiences, and movies for 6-year-old horse girls, and a lot in-between. Something for everyone!

I know, it's a bit hard for some people because animated features are literally branded like that. It's never Joel Crawford's PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH, it's DreamWorks' PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH. Ditto Walt Dohrn's TROLLS BAND TOGETHER or Kirk DeMicco's RUBY GILLMAN, TEENAGE KRAKEN, Mike Mitchell's KUNG FU PANDA 4. THE WILD ROBOT is getting an extra level of love because it's from a pretty well-recognized animated movie director, Chris Sanders. Some other directors in animated movie-making don't have that pedigree nor level of love, that household name status... They tend to be overshadowed by the studio name, the BRAND.

But I look past that. And each production has its crews, its circumstances. I can only imagine what the people working on the MEGAMIND thing had at their disposal, ya know?

I also get that a legit DreamWorks Animation theatrical MEGAMIND 2 is something a lot of fans wanted. I get that. It's okay to feel that, even as a direct-to-streaming movie and show, there was a downgrade in quality here. But like a lot of various fandoms, I feel it's expressed with the tact of a freaked out horse, kicking its back hooves all over the place. I generally tend to ignore things like this, I kinda know what I'm getting myself into. I grew up in the '90s, when it was not only Disney direct-to-video sequels everywhere, but tons of other stuff too. There was a FERNGULLY 2 and a SECRET OF NIMH 2 and BALTO 2 and a SWAN PRINCESS 3, 4, 5, 6 just kept going, and seemingly a gazillion LAND BEFORE TIME sequels. In addition to other weird random animated bin fodder. And I remember as a kid, them just mostly being... Whatever, for me. That's this MEGAMIND thing. It's not for me. I didn't bother with that BAD GUYS Christmas special, either.

Especially when there are other things for me to worry about in life. I just genuinely don't enjoy ranting about these things, or getting all upset about them. Even when I kinda want to (like with, say, TRON: ARES, a film I'm largely unhappy about), I have to tell my 31-year-old self "No... No..." I try to be fair in my criticism most of the time, especially when talking about - say - recent Disney Animation films or whatever. So yeah... No reason for me to dive into MEGAMIND TV Movie Thing. I guess this was my James Rolfe GHOSTBUSTERS No Review I Refuse moment, lol.

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fergus-cousland · 10 months

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i hope this doesn't come off as weird but i really want to know more about your howe family headcanons. i've only recently gotten back into the dragon age fandom and if anyone had thoughts on the howes outside nathaniel in 2010, i never saw them. the fact that you have a howe family playlist means you must have put serious thought into this and i want to know more

Not weird at all! Least not compared to how(e) much time I spend thinking about video game NPCs (god help me)

Rendon Howe and Eliane Bryland were matched in ambition if nothing else - he married her for her dowry, she went with him because it meant she would be an arlessa (being younger than her brother meant no South Reach without fratricide and she's not that Orlesian)

Despite everything, Nathaniel takes after Eliane more than Rendon. He picked up her herbalism skills, he has her temperament, he inherited her way of looking at someone in such a way that it reminds them that from dirt they came and to dirt they shall return

Thomas is ten years younger than Nathaniel and seven years younger than Delilah. I have no evidence for this, it came to me in a dream and I know it to be true in my heart.

Howes grow bitterness like others grow flowers and, based on what we know about Leonas, the Brylands are close runners up. A dysfunctional combination 😔

Nathaniel resented Thomas because he got to stay in Amaranthine. Delilah resented Nathaniel for being the eldest and getting to go to the Free Marches while she was kept at home. Thomas starts to resent them both for what he considers their abandonment of him and their mother during the Last Days (Nathaniel never came home; Delilah ditched when their father went to Denerim and never looked back.)

Delilah spent some time in Denerim as part of Anora's household and steadfastly refused every marriage proposal that came her way. She thinks this is the only time she and her father ever agreed on anything.

Thomas carved his name into the wall of his childhood bedroom, hidden behind the bed. if Nathaniel lies flat on the floor and is very careful with his candle, he can find it and know that the castle remembers Thomas was there, even if a lot of people won't.

The Howes and Vigil's Keep have been intertwined for so long, that Amaranthine legend holds that the castle will fall if there's no Howe in residence. Neither Nathaniel nor Delilah believe it but the way the Orlesian Wardens waiting for the HoF crumbled so quickly is just fodder for the story. You see, how smoothly everything is going at the Vigil now that Arl Rendon Howe's boy is in the Wardens...

I have to stop here, lest I write a novel. I have too many thoughts, not enough post 😔

#anonymous

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neonscandal · 5 months

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Can I ask, why do you love MLM romance better than Het romance? What makes them better? I did not mean anything negative, and I know everyone have their own like and dislike but I want to know your thoughts....

Also what do you think that made Asian MLM (Danmei, BL manga/manhwa/manhua/tv series) romances different than western MLM romances?

Out the gate with the fujoshi allegations!

Hahaha I joke. I feel like, from my blog, it's very reasonable to make that assumption. I think I watch and recommend mostly het-romance but, there are a number of reasons why MLM ships cause some serious brainrot and frequently appear on my page (this is a SatoSugu, BakuDeku and AshEiji specific call out).

I won't say that the ships are better but as to why they're more pervasive?

From a shonen standpoint, the protagonist and deuteragonist tend to be the the most developed and nuanced characters with more chemistry due to the complexity of their relationship typically driving the plot forward.

Additionally, the development of the relationship will generally have more texture than the flat afterthought of the MC with the FMC they are canonically paired with.

Typically, because these characters are both men, while you'll see some toxic stereotypes (specific to actual BL and yaoi which are usually ick inducing), both characters will generally have the same amount of agency which isn't always given to prop female characters. Remember, kids, the fridge trope is harmful for everyone.

Because these ships aren't always intended, there's that delulu element of "will they, won't they?" like Ross and Rachel from Friends. The DRAMA. Also, they are generally more tragic and, what lingers more: happiness or pain? It's pain. Pain by a long shot. And the fodder to rectify that pain is endless (thank you, fix-it fic authors). There are of course, also ways to twist the knife, too (thank you, sadists).

Subsequently, the resonance of these ships stems from the much stronger emotions you have when things are gut-wrenching. But, also, I am actively reading the ongoing series' of JJK and MHA so of course that part of my brain gets poked more frequently than series' that have long since been completed.

Let's not forget that there's a disproportionate number of shonen and seinen series' that ultimately get full anime adaptations. Off the top of my head, the Ouran High School Host Club fandom is still waiting for a second season. ⌚️👀 HoriMiya and Sasaki to Miyano were heavily abbreviated before getting second seasons, a refreshing shock to the system.

Specifically, of the three main ships that litter my blog (see above), I happen to viscerally relate to one or both of the characters in question. Again, we can chalk that up to the depth of character and my own flaws.

Stylistically, there's a big difference between Western and East Asian media across other genres too. For instance, after only being exposed to the dramatic musical scores in Western horror, there is something truly unsettling with the absence of build up or sound in East Asian horror right before something big catches you unawares.

When it comes to romance (if we're focusing on MLM, it still applies), I think the big difference is the intimacy. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely some series that have a similar level of physical engagement as a Western romance. But, with a lot of stories, you'll go a whole series holding your breath for a hand hold or a hug and it's delectable. The absence of the physical creates so much more depth in those telltale looks characters exchange or the moments of silence when they're alone in each others' presence (awkwardly as hell, might I add).

By comparison, in Western media, you're going through the whole gamut without as much nuance for the layers of non-physical intimacy. Or it's something that gets developed post hookup which is realistic to an extent. But, considering real life hook up culture these days, I think it makes the before stand out as a lot more endearing so maybe that informs the preference.

All that to say, this isn't an endorsement of modesty politics, at all. Life is a healthy mix of both and I'm all about comprehensive experiences. People will gravitate toward whatever speaks to them at whatever point they are in their life. Do you have a preference and, if so, what do you think informs it? Respectfully, I appreciate your curiosity in reaching out.

#neon asks #anon asks #anime #manga #fujoshi

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sproutwings · 1 year

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I'm curious about your opinion on Brudick, and also I wanna read you rave about Sladick ♥

Two for the price of one! :D I'll start with Slade/Dick because I love them so much! 💙🖤🧡

What made you ship it?

I wasn't into DCU comics or Batfam stuff at all, so I only knew Dick from live action canons (mostly the old Batman TV show from the 1960s – the reruns were on TV when I was a teenager and it was a formative experience in many ways :D), and Slade from his short DCEU scenes. Then @wednesdayhey wrote a fic Dickstroke fic that I happened to stumble upon and read canon blind, and I fell hard and fast for them!

What are your favorite things about the ship?

I could just eat up the entire dynamic up with a spoon. The different morals and attitudes and the antagonism that comes from it, the way that Nightwing can still hold his own against Deathstroke, the grudging respect. That arc in Nightwing 1996 where Slade casually breaks into Dick's apartment to let him know that he has a contract in Bludhaven and Dick is pretty much unfazed by having an enemy watch him change and in the end, after some fighting and banter, Slade agrees to let Dick buy off his contract by one dollar and fifty cents is one of my favorite things. I generally love the idea that Dick can't be sure of where he stands with Slade – he's a serious threat that Dick can't afford not to take seriously, but he also has maybe a tiny bit of a soft spot for him.

Then there's the whole thing where Slade has a hand in Bludhaven's destruction as revenge for Dick turning Rose against him, and on the one hand, I hate how it probably permanently alters the sometimes-enemy-sometimes-ally dynamic. On the other hand, in terms of fic fodder, it's so ripe for angsty fix-its! *\o/*

I generally like it better when Slade is morally grey rather than an all-out evil supervillain, though. I love the two of them bantering and navigating UST-filled uneasy alliances, lingering resentments, maybe with some unfounded fear from Dick and unexpected mercy thrown in. (Also, this is one of the few fandoms where I'm very much into A/B/O, so I'm also here for that.)

Is there an unpopular opinion you have on your ship?

Not so much an opinion as a preference – I know the animated cartoon is very popular and made a lot of people ship them, but the ship dynamic there is not how I like my Slade/Dick, and the whole apprentice arc thing is kind of a turn-off for me. My favorite version of Dickstroke is Deathstroke/Nightwing rather than Deathstroke/Robin.

For BruDick, my answer is somewhere between "I don't ship it" and "it's complicated" :D Why don’t you ship it? / What would have made you like it?

I don't ship it as a requited thing that potentially happens for real. For once because cross-generational incest is a bit of a squick to me (KINKTOMATO and all), but also because I just don't see Bruce feeling that way about Dick - and even if he did, he'd never admit it even to himself.

What I can and do see is Dick having complicated feelings for Bruce and wanting his love and approval in a way that might or might not involve romantic or sexual attraction. Basically, Dick (let's face it: all the Robins, really) is the walking embodiment of daddy issues.

Despite not shipping it, do you have anything positive to say about it?

I think the whole dynamic between Bruce and Dick is incredibly interesting. It's a beautiful mess, and I like both the messiness of it as well people fixing it in fic and getting them to a happier place.

You can still ask me about ships I may or may not ship .

#dickstroke #dcu #hello askbox #sladick

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heyharoldsboo · 1 year

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What’s your theory / hypothesis on deuxmoi or any other gossip site not creating stories out of Jenna and Percy? Especially before the allegations came out.

I read somewhere that Percy x Jenna were giving early Tomdaya feels. Which if you recall, Tomdaya have even less interaction outside of press junket especially before Spiderman 3, and they were rumored together just as long (I think even when Zendaya was still dating someone else, people didn’t believe it).

Percy and Jenna interacted a lot, like a lot. Just from the IG pictures and stories there like loads. Then combined with the press photoshoot for the new movie, spending a week in Toronto at his house (possibly) during New Year, the airport hug, then press during Golden Globes (the Netflix party the night before, during the Golden Globes itself, after party), then Paris Fashion Week. I am surprised time and time again many gossip sites just mentioned them as friends and cast mates and not spin it around romantically.

What are your thoughts on this? Why there hasn’t been romantic gossip swirling around?

Okay, so this is my personal opinion on this and in no way should be taken as the truth or insider knowledge or any of this stuff, okay? I should probably put this disclaim on the blog?

But in my opinion, when something looks too clean, it's usually becaus it was scrubbed.

Do you know in the Star Wars prequel movies, when Obi-wan is searching for a planet that just isn't on the archives? But then he goes to take counsel with Master Yoda, and Master Yoda tells him that even if you can't see the planet, you can see what it affects? So you can see the affect the gravitational pull of this planet has on the stars around it and trace its location.

It's what I see when I look at the utter lack of gossip news about Jenna and Percy that don't originate in fandom spaces. There are a ton of photos, photoshoots, interactions, "my my my good friend Percy" stutter in the Golden Globes interviews, travelings and being in the same hotel that would make a gossip website's day.

Only that no one is picking up on this story. After the whole my my my good friend Percy stutter in the Golden Globes, there was news of Jenna leaving with another actor. Later we saw they were with Percy and other friends/colleagues in a hotel room.

No news on her and Percy.

There have been celebrities that interacted for less than 10 minutes in front of the press, and had more gossip. Hell, there was more gossip about Taylor and Harry at the Grammy's (and Taylor has been in a serious relationship for ages) than it has been on Percy and Jenna.

So for me, it's too clean. For some reason, there must be a ban on stories about either her personal life, or on stories about the two of them together. It wouldn't be the first time a celebrity used a gag order like this, to limit exposure. Because even while taking Percy out of the equation, there are no news on Jenna at all. No paps, no sightings, no celebrity gossip fodder. And she's the internet and Hollywood's sweetheart nowadays. Content on her mus be a gold mine. But no one is buying/selling photos of her or speaking about it. Only at official events, always being very very subtle on the coments.

#percy and jenna #percy hynes white #jenna ortega

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sunnydice · 1 year

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cquackbur<3

okay. listen to me. to an extent, i support and agree, and i can be understanding on the base appeal and i can go so far to meet halfway and say maybe i kind of like it sometimes maybe. but to act like the fandom's treatment of everyone involved hasn't deeply soured me on it would be 👍a lie.

first off, i feel like it's the klance of the dsmp lmao. ppl more obsessed w a sharply to the left idealized version of something rather than what's actually on screen, and it's kind of almost insulting to me, because there IS so much there to be enjoyed and explored and unpacked, and yet its squandered bcs people just can't stop being fucking insane and weird abt it and that leads well into my point abt ppl being insane and weird abt cee wilbur ill get to that right now actually.

ive mentioned before that i really really despise the woobification of wilbur in the fan base and that deffo doesn't change in tntduo spaces, if anything it's worse. i feel like people are very eager to scrub away his flaws and agency to make him very palatable, more easy to defend and consume instead of accepting the complexity that their guy kinda sucks bad and that's OKAY 👍 he's deeply hurt and complicated and painfully human, and he's understandable i fucking feel for the guy i really do, but he's also. he can also be very very selfish, and very cruel, and very quick to hurt others in a pursuit to feel good about himself and only himself and it isn't. okay. and he does this a lot w quackity.

wilbur isn't nice to q. he doesn't seem to particularly respect him, not really see him as an "equal" and ESPECIALLY not originally, and while he does come around a bit more, he still puts q on a weird pedestal that q bristles at more than people like to think. and in that tntduo haze, along w that specific brand of wilbur soot apologism, people brush right past those kinda flaws and just. ugh.

one good example of this is the fanbase general consensus of "omggg look at nikis birthday party 😻 look at their romance!!" like wilbur didn't spend the latter half of that calling q worthless and only good to be looked at (something quackity explicitly goes over and over hey fellas can you please not do that to me if i don't ask for it. please.) and the schlatt's bitch isms and then pulling a long ass PURPOSEFUL powerplay where q had to practically beg him to calm down and listen and not blow up manburg, if he could please just give him a chance to talk to schlatt, and niki in the bg of her own party clamoring for wilbur to look at Her abt it please talk to Her abt it and him flatly ignoring her to fuck around w q. but yeah true love♡♡ yeah im sure q walked away from that one incredibly smitten.

or another great example, the way all of hitting on 16 tends to be treated. this interesting conflicting story that shows quackity DOES like parts of wilburs back and forths, he clearly does care abt him, he is clearly having a degree of fun, and just like before wilbur can't stop taking it too far, and people ignoring all of it for ship fodder like thats not a good chunk of the story 😭 the scene where q went "sit down wilbur." and wilbur listening being treated as some fucking weird sexual thing, like it's not quackity coldly shutting down wilbur after he spent 10 minutes calling him stupid and ugly and worthless and then making fun of his scar, q making it a POINT to shut it down and that he's Done w this conversation and then calling wilbur pathetic for it, and wilbur explicitly scrambling over himself because he knew he crossed another line. but lmao yeah true love 👍i too love when my suitors purposely go out of their way to say the most vile shit to me imaginable and then get upset when i go cut that shit out.

even the later scene w tubbo is a great example, their physical fight, it being treated as some ohh it's it SEXY when q pushes wil into a wall like the man isn't genuinely fucking furious at tubbo being put in such danger again be SERIOUS and for WHY. so wilbur can kill his horse for no fucking reason because he "messed w him" BY DOING WHATTTT 😭😭😭 imagine his plan went through and he kills ossium and q is left standing there behind the glass oh real romantic id swoon. girl i would KILL HIM ‼️

and also uhh the fact a lot of tntduors are like plain racist to q can i say that. 👍 can i say that. sorry for being upset abt it.

i have more points too, the way karlnapity or pumpkinduo will be treated in regards to it n again those two have heavy flaws 😬!! im aware!!! i am aware and acknowledge, but to flanderize and criticize both those relationships, to the point of Making Shit Up to make tntduo look better in comparison and then replicating those v critiques within that space because you think it's hot. well be serious is the thing :heart_hands:

anyways, despite my critiques i do find it enjoyable on occasion, i do think it can be so interesting and snappy and (sorry) kismises like in the sense of a rivalry w GENUINE respect and acknowledgement, that push to be better that rush to improve and also gay sex and then maybe...gay love? 😳 but for that to be possible the respect has to become more undeniable it HAS to be both ways and consistent and i feel like more often that not it just isn't the case. and the fandom stuff i have mentioned. pissed me the fuck off forever.

7.5/10 ssorry sorry sso srry don't look at me

#YAAA i hope this made sense i finally got some of my tnt thoughts down thank god!!! feel so much better thank you thes my beloved thes #ask games #zombur #AND ANOTHER THING ppl reducing them to only eachother every single want and need or goal siphoned into this TAR PIT #and even other characters being scrubbed of who they are or what they think so they can just become eyebrow raisers for gay jokes frever #v annoying to me -___-#askatraz

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