#i think where this (predictably) ends up is he can't change the story or make izzy understand what's happening but he can give him a

[napneeders]

Izzy being sedated by the narrative and Frenchie being the only one who notices. worries. nobody gets what he's talking about, Izzy seems fine? Izzy says he's fine. Frenchie knows all about being fine. it doesn't matter whether the option not to be fine is locked in a box or in a finished chapter.

[writers-potion]

Storyediting Questions to Ask

As You Read the First Draft:

Are there place that surprised you as you read your first draft? - Why do you suppose that is? - Is there material there you'd like to expand?

What are the character really doing in this story? - Might they have issues you haven't explored fully yet?

Look to the places that drag. - These might be scenes where you have avoided dealing with something deeper. - What are the characters really thinking in these places? - What are their passions, frustrations, and desires?

Imagine alternative plotlines. - How might your plot be different if ti headed off on another tangent from various points in the story? - You don't have to follow them, but they might suggest other streams that can flow into the main plot.

Think About Structure:

Does you story play out naturally in three acts?

Is there an immediate disturbance to the Lead's world?

Does the first doorway of no return occur before the one-fifth mark?

Are the stakes being raised sufficiently?

Does the second doorway of no return put the Lead on the path to the climax?

Does the rhythm of the sotyr match your intent? If this is an action novel, does the plot move relentlessly forward? If this is a character-driven novel, do the scenes delve deeply enough?

Are there strongly motivated characters?

Have coincidence been established?

Is something happeing immediately at the beginning? Did you establish a person in a setting with a problem, onfronted with change or threat?

Is the timeline logical?

Is the story too predictable in terms of sequence? Should it be rearranged?

About Your Lead Character:

Is the character memorable? Compelling? Enough to carry a reader all the way through the plot?

A lead character has to jump off the page. Does yours?

Does this character avoid cliches? Is he capable of surprising us?

What's unique about the character?

Is the character's objective strong enough?

How does the character grow over the course of the story?

How does the character demonstrate inner strength?

About Your Opposition:

Is your oppositing character interesting?

Is he fully realized, not just a cardboard cutout?

Is he justified (at least in his own mind) in his actions?

Is he believable?

Is he strong as or stronger than the Lead?

About Your Story's Adhesive Nature:

Is the conflcit between the Lead and opposition crucial for both?

Why can't they just walk away? What holds them together?

About Your Scene:

Are the big scenes big enough? Surprising enough? Can you make them more original, unanticipated, and draw them out for all they are worth?

Is there enough conflict in the scenes?

What is the least memorable scene? Cut it!

What else can be cut in order to move the story relentlessly forward?

Does the climactic scene come too fast (through a writer fatigue)? Can you make it more, write it for all it's worth?

Does we need a new minor subplot to build up a saggin midsection?

About Your Minor Characters:

What is their purpose in the plot?

Are they unique and colorful?

Polishing Questions:

Are you hooking the reader from the beginning?

Are suspenseful scenes drawn out for the ultimate tension?

Can any information be delayed? This creates tension in the reader, always a good thing.

Are there enough surprises?

Are character-reaction scenes deep and interesting?

Read chapter ending for read-on prompts

Are there places you can replace describing how a character feels with actions?

Do I use visual, sensory-laden words?

For a Dialogue Read-Through:

Dialogue is almost always strengthened by cutting words within the lines.

In dialogue, be fair to both sides. Don't give one character all the good lines.

Greate dialogue surprises the reader and creates tension. View it like a game, where the players are trying to outfox each other.

Can you get more conflict into dialogue, even emong allies?

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[devilmen-collector]

Did Satan rip MC's talisman out of selfishness?

So, recently, I saw that some players are upset about Satan's actions in the first part of Ppyongs/Juno's L card story. However, Satan's actions don't come from him being selfish. So I'm writing this post to analyze and explain his actions.

Also, as an F2P player, I don't have Juno's card and can't read his story, the images come from the YouTube video. The credit I'll put at the end of the post.

Firstly, I'll summarize the story. Spoilers alert.

On April Fool's Day, weird things happen to Hell and every habitants of Hell. The weird things vary and are different from devils to devils, they are also unpredictable. Zagan sticks talismans on everyone, these talismans can predict the weird thing that will happen to each devil. Devils can choose to accept it or not. Of not, they rip the talisman. However, they have to suffer another weird thing instead. As MC is living in Hell, they have a weird thing happening to them too. Zagan's talisman on MC says that MC can return to Earth. Satan grabs the talisman before MC or Sitri can. After reading it, he rips it and teleports away (teleportation is what Satan gets for his April Fool's).

So the problem is this. Many believe that Satan refuses to let MC return to visit their only family, Minhyeok, for one day. But I don't think so.

We'll begin with the reaction of the devils right after reading what the talisman says.

Their first reaction is worry. Why? Because to return to Earth, MC will have to leave Hell, where the devils can protect MC best. Remember, there's currently a great war between Heaven and Hell, dozens or even hundreds of devils die every day, because of the attack of the angels. It's a fact recognized in the main story that after the appearance of MC, angel's attacks begins to focus on wherever MC goes.

Minhyeok story 12

Gehenna has always been the focus of angel's attack since ages, because of Satan and his citizens' attitude. Gehenna is the first county MC stays when they come to Hell, so the change isn't noticeable. But when MC goes to Hades, the country began to receive more attack than usual, even Michael himself comes down. In the Halloween event, it's said that usually, only Gabriel comes down to attack Hell directly, Michael and Raphael rarely show their faces. So wherever MC goes, that place will receive unwanted attention and will be attacked more. And Earth isn't the place where MC can be best protected by devils.

Furthermore, it's weird thing happening to Hell. So I don't think MC will come back to Earth normal way, using teleportation place of Hell, but get ty teleported randomly to Earth. The talisman only says "return to Earth", it doesn't specify where. MC could end up in dangerous places, like in a desert with no water, or in the territory of a crocodile, or in the middle of the ocean. Again, the talisman doesn't specify where. It's a misconception that MC will be back to spend time with Minhyeok.

Also, if MC is back to Earth, MC will be out of Hell and will be out of the influence of the law of April Fool's Day. Any weird things happening on April Fool for devils will be reverted back to normal when the days ends. But because MC is out of Hell, that law no longer applies, and MC's return is not guaranteed. I think it's like you board a flight from your home country to country A. You already bought a ticket for a returning flight. But something happens at country A and they invalidate your ticket. And now you can't return to your home.

While pondering what to do, Sitri says they are concerned with your best interest. Remember devils cannot lie, except Lucifer, Gamigin (who isn't technically a devil), Leviathan and the Hades devils. Sitri can doubt because he studied in Hades, but he can't lie, just like any other Gehenna devils. So they are having your best interest when making the decision with your talisman, just like they said.

As for Satan teleporting away right after tearing MC's talisman. The text makes it sound like Satan gain an ability that he can control. But I don't think so. It's the rule of the April Fool's Day that you can't avoid the weird thing happening to you. If Satan decided not to use his teleportation ability and proceeded the day as normal, the law would fail. All the weird things happening are things that the devils can't avoid (like Ppyong gaining his handsome form, Paimon with animal ears, Sitri showing doubt, Leraye saying whatever is in his head). It's not something optional. So either Satan has no control of his teleportation or he has to use it after a certain period of time. And he can't bring MC with him either. I just can't imagine Satan not spending time with MC of his own volition.

Satan is possesive, yes, but he isn't a jerk who doesn't consider MC's feeling and emotion. It's he who invites Minhyeok to Hell in the Halloween event, just because MC says they want to see Minhyeok.

Credit

Images of the Ppyong's L card story come from Juno P unholy board story pt 1, Hiki channel, 04/06/2024

[albertonykus]

I have many feelings about Hilda, but foremost is that it's so good. How does a show manage to be this charming?! I don't rewatch series often, but I suspect I'll be returning to this one again. Also, natural history enthusiasts who like anglerfish and closed-mouth vocalization will enjoy the final season.

Stray thoughts about Season 3 below the break. Contains spoilers!

I love how the changes to the opening in each season reflect Hilda's evolving relationship with Johanna (and this time, with the trolls as well).

This is a big mood.

The Wood Man is still great.

I liked Eugene's anglerfish lure, very symbolic.

Johanna hanging out with Alfur and Tontu is definitely one of the most underrated dynamics in the series. (...I think. I don't browse Hilda fandom content much.)

David can be brutal. (He had some really good lines this season in general.)

Hilda being traumatized by bells from her time as a troll was not unexpected, but oof.

This was such an amazing creature concept. Having it speak entirely through vocal sacs and not its mouth was an inspired choice.

I definitely chuckled at this.

That was one jam-packed finale. There were probably at least two or three moments where I thought the story was about to wind down, and then they'd throw another wrench into things. Despite that, I felt they managed to keep the narrative remarkably well paced.

I think it was a really brilliant move that after all the mystery surrounding Hilda's dad, Johanna turned out to be the one with an extraordinary heritage, especially considering that most viewers probably would have pegged her as the most "normal" major character.

I was wondering how they'd follow up with Victoria Van Gale, so I wasn't surprised to see her return. Didn't quite expect her to make the save in the end though.

I did predict Twig being critical to saving Hilda and Johanna (especially remembering how the trailer showed him summoning the bridge to the deerfoxes' realm), but it made for a great scene regardless. Also, credit to Frida for pushing herself to the limit while trying to bring Hilda back.

I loved the character cameos in the epilogue. I might have been a little disappointed by the Thunderbird not getting a plot-relevant role, but he did get an entire montage for his return and even a couple of lines, so I can't complain too much. Besides, it's more than what Kaisa got.

[goldenchunkycat]

First time with aged-up!Lo'ak

[I know some people don't feel comfortable reading smut about aged-up!Lo'ak so please don't read it, there's no need to comment :)

I thought about that all night long and decided that I would just give it a try, I'm probably not going to write others smut for Lo'ak, but I really wanted to write at least one because like I said before I think that it would be a nice experience, seeing that Lo'ak is really different from his brother.

Well... Enjoy I guess ?]

So it happens years after atwow events. The Sully family is still living with the Metkayinas. I think that with Lo'ak it would definitely be a 'best-friend to lovers' kind of situation. No matter if you are a human or an Omatikaya, you guys are best friend since childhood - if you're human you're probably the one who taught him the 'middle finger'. You, him, Kiri and Spider were menaces when you were younger. People often came to Jake to complain about your antics, you really had a great childhood.

Your dynamic what funny to others and they often asked themselves how you, who were shyyyyy, could be hanging out with someone like Lo'ak, let alone be his best-friend. They eventually get used to it.

Be friend with Lo'ak would be: tiring, exciting, sometimes annoying, but overall it would be a great experience to learn about yourself. He would always encourage you to do things that you don't usually do. The Iknimaya for example... But this is a story for another day.

When the sky people came back, you and Lo'ak were thirteen years old. Leaving your home, the forest, was devastating, but thanks to the other it was bearable. You were there for him when Lo'ak was being reprimanded by his father, he was there for you when he found you crying over the fact that people told you: 'No, you can't bring the Pa'li up here.' You guys could have pretended to be twins, people would have believed you.

Anyway ! When the Sully family said that they were leaving you made a hunger strike in order to go with them. You could not leave your best-friend like this, who was going to comfort him when he's mad. Eventually, they agreed. It was hard fitting in and learn the Metkayina's ways, but you still got the hang of it, faster than Lo'ak - he was mad when you teased him about it so you had to gave him 'private lessons' -he said, where this mf would just try to drown you. Well, fourteen yo Lo'ak wasn't the kindest. But he was still the nicest best friend ever. He often got into arguments with the Metkayinas teenagers because they picked on you. Then you two would make fun of them in the Marui.

"Fucking moron, telling you that you're ugly when his lips are nowhere to be seen."

"I swear that if they ever make fun of you again im gone beat them up. Again."

"No but have you seen his face you slapped him with your tail ?" "..." "An accident ? A good one, his face was fucking hilarious."

Those were the good times. Then the sky people came and destroyed everything. Luckily you guys were able to stay safe. But when Lo'ak almost lost his brother (Neteyam lives here, like come on...), he changed. Well, he tried, hard. Took him two years actually. It's Lo'ak, it was hard for him to associate a 'No' with 'I can't do that'. He was stubborn. Neytiri once told you that he was just like his father before. It was hard to believe, Jake was so... strict ? You ended up spending your adolescence living with the Metkayinas.

When you were eighteen, Lo'ak eventually asked you to be his girlfriend and, obviously, you said yes. Nothing changed between you two; he was still the funny and annoying friend you grew up with. You two were more comfortable with skinship and Lo'ak would always rub his relationship to his brother's face. But no one was surprised when you told them that you were going out, it was predictable, they were happy for you and his parents asked you to keep him safe. But who were you to prevent him from doing what he wanted. I don't know why but I imagine Lo'ak as a very romantic lover. Like, walking with his arm around you shoulder, resting his hand on your thigh whenever you two are sat next to each other.

"Do you- Maybe- Hanging out ? Going out...with me ?"

"I'm definitely going to tell Payakan that you are now my girlfriend. He's the one who encouraged me to ask you out." "..." "How ? Don't ask questions I can't answer."

Now the juicy part. Despite being together for one year you two actually did it when you were both nineteen years old. Your first time was...awkward. Cute but awkward. Like I said before he would want that to be something unforgettable so he would probably bring you to his favorite hidden area of a beach were everything glow during the eclipse. Once you're comfortable on that cover he brought, I think that Lo'ak wouldn't know what to do. Whee should he touch you first ? Is is alright if he lays his hand on your hips ? He would be so attentive to your needs. But you two would be two shy beans. It would give sub x sub vibes.

Now let's be REALISTIC, the prep would be rushed. Like, the boy really wants you to feel nice but you really don't know anything about the other's body. He would prep you and you would try to touch him. The boy would would come from feeling your mouth around his dick, you can't change my mind. Lot of apologizes later, he would make you cum with his fingers. Lot of praises and kisses from both of you. You two would be inexperienced so expect messy kisses with saliva and mistakes - like when he pulled your hair to hard of when you accidentally scratched his forearm while he was trying to finger you. Once he would be in your private part he would come IMMEDIATELY - don't worry about protection there's some Tsahik magic awaiting for you at the Tsahik's Marui. He would be mortified. But don't worry, one look at your pretty face, at your glowing freckles, at your glistening lips and at your twinkling eyes, full of love for him, would make him hard again. He would make you cum at the third attempt, pretty good nah ?

"I'm sorry, I came. Again. I'll do better."

"I can't help myself you're just so pretty..."

"I wouldn't have believed myself if I told the young me that we would b" together, I'm so lucky to have you in my life."

"Yeah ? I'm doing good ? You too baby."

You would spend the rest of the night looking at the glowing fish and the beautiful biodiversity while talking like to best friends and lover. But don't worry, you two are young adults, you will often disappear in order to sort out Lo'ak' little problem ♡ . Hormones.

Masterlist

[eriexplosion]

Getting my finale predictions in before it airs.

Things I'm reasonably sure will happen:

Zillo Beast attack (obviously)

Emerie redemptive death (I don't want this to happen but I feel like she's got a lot to make up for and not much time)

I still don't think we're getting main character deaths, for a variety of factors (a big one being that Omega is worried about getting people killed and so more of her family dying to save her from a situation she put herself in would just validate that)

Continuation of that, Omega will demonstrate her character growth and play a big role in saving one of the batch, probably through some last minute connection with the force

Still think Tech is CX-2 we spent too much time on him this season for him to be irrelevant and no one else will have equal impact on the whole batch, especially Omega. Bringing him back will finally unite the batch and through that get them to a point where they can finally win something. This also pulls together the theme we've touched on this season that people can change no matter how far gone.

Things I just suspect/want:

Crosshair knows Tech is CX-2 and that's what he's been so cagey about. We know about the torture on Tantiss, we know they tried to turn him into a CX, but he still feels like he's holding something big back.

Couple other theories on CX-Tech: has all his limbs but his eyes are cybernetic having been damaged by his goggles, Phee brings back the line "better late than dead" because it feels like one just written to be a callback

Hemlock will survive the batch but all his research will be destroyed so he actually ends up killed by Palpatine for failing him in one last creepy appearance

Rampart betrays the batch and gets one last amazing scream in when the Zillo beast eats him. (Alternate possibility: he survives but is trapped alone on Wayland. In the distance we hear the Beasts. Maybe the Empire will bother to rescue him in 30 rotations. But probably not.)

The Commandos feel abnormally loyal to Hemlock so I'm curious if they're still chipped in some way - if they are, then maybe if they're unchipped they could start reforming Rex's resistance cell?

The batch helps to establish the path with the first people helped by it being our four force sensitive kids, which let's them leave soldiering behind while still actively resisting the Empire

Omega is given the choice to train in the force but actively decides that she would rather stay with her family, giving her a smaller and quieter future but one very in line with her character.

My biggest reason for having a pretty hopeful outlook is that a story needs both high and low points - we've definitely had MAJOR low points, especially in both the previous finales, but we've never really had a big win. Just little ones, small successes along the way but never anything that compares to the losses. If we get another big loss then the story stays flat, nothing ever Peaks and every single season ends on the same tone of loss. Three seasons of slogging towards a sad ending is a hell of a hard sell, especially since it doesn't really show Omega's growth.

She lost Kamino and Crosshair (again) in Return to Kamino. AZI sacrificed himself for her and only survived at all because someone else stepped in. She lost Tech in Plan 99, sacrificing himself for her again and she can't do anything about it.

So season three, do we really need to see her lose again? This time actively because of a choice she made? Does that show us anything about her growth? Or would her being Key to successfully not only getting everyone out alive (remember they're only there right now because of her) but in being able to bring Tech home and, for the first time all series, make their family whole?

This season has been sad, but it's also been about healing the scars of past seasons. Just look at Crosshair's arc. And CX-Tech brings us up to the biggest scar, the one that we've made no progress on healing, the one thing keeping them from being complete. If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but there's simply too much pointing to it for me to think anything else.

[seleneprince]

Hear me out

With the growing popularity of transmigration webtoons, I assume we've all read those ones about a random girl or fan reincarnating in the villainess' body and changing the original plot completely, and often finding out the villainess wasn't so bad and the MC was the real enemy all along.

I'm obsessed with that trope and I don't care how repetitive or predictable it gets sometimes, it fuels me. It gives me life. And since I recently started to re-read The Remarried Empress on webtoon (i'm following I Abdicate my Title as Empress now and the nostalgia hit me), I had an idea I can't stop thinking about. Well, two ideas:

A fierce fan of The Remarried Empress dying in an accident or falling into a coma, I don't care, and reincarnating in Rasha's body, right when's she found by Emperor Sovieshu on the trap. She's a BIG supporter of Navier and hates Sovieshu with passion, blaming him for everything. Her opinion on Rasha is the same as the average fans...until she experiences the girl's trauma and hardships herself, and realizes that there's more depth in the unfamous webtoon villainess than she thought. Despite her new identity and knowing most of the plot, she cannot bring herself to stay away from Navier and show her adoration for the Empress, acting like a fangirl whenever she sees her or hears about her. She helps push all the strings to guarantee Navier and Heinrey's love story to shail, because even though she wants her close, she wants Navier to have the happy life she deserves.

Or the original Rashta going back to the past after her death and, feeling terrible for what she did, vows to not commit the same mistakes again and decides to do her best to help Navier from the distance whenever the Emperor fucks up. She doesn't want to be empress, just have a cozy and secure life away from slavery, so she's resolved to make Navier stay and if she has to act as a marital therapist for them so be it. She knows her position is secured with her baby, so it's not like she needs the Emperor's affection on her, just his promise to look after her (plus she resents him a lot now, so the less she interacts with him, the better).

These ideas were born out of my new found realization that Rashta, while she works amazing as a pitiful villain, her character was deeply misunderstood and forever condemned to be mocked and attacked by everyone, both in the story and the fandom. She wasn't a saint, sure. She did bad things out of selfishness and purposedly went against Navier to steal her place, and I was satisfied with the ending she got. But most of the flaws that made her so annoying for the fans are actually reasonable within her character's past. Rashta was sold as a slave by her own father when she was a child, placed in a house with masters that abused her and treated her like trash simply for existing (Lotteshu even gave her a dead baby to let her believe it was the one she lost, how the fuck no one talks more about it?). Then, she escapes and the Emperor saves her, showering her in affection and riches and promising her a fairytale love story. She think she's safe, that she can finally be happy, but Lotteshu re appears and begins to blackmail her, and then turns out the Emperor doesn't love her but wants to the heir she can give him. Ergi is her only friend in court apparently, but he's manipulating her from the beginning and eventually betrays her. And Rashta wasn't purposedly rude to Navier at first, the girl was illiterate and knew nothing about etiquette, but she admired Navier and wanted to be close to her, but Navier assumed she was mocking her instead. And Sovieshy obviously never helped this situation.

I want to see a story where Rashta's traumatic past is properly explored instead of showing it as side information, and she gets the development she should have had. And what better way than with a reincarnation story? At least in my opinion

Anyway, thanks for coming to my ted talk lmao

[acoffeemug]

What If's in Transformers Earthspark Seasons

Spoilers: Warning!

I just want this ideas out in the open cuz it has been eating me for quite some time.

I'm sorry if my writing style gave you an head ache. English ain't my first language and thanks for reading my ideas? Prediction? Ramblings? What if's?...

Well, this is going to be quite long, so yeah. Buckle up.

In the end of Transformers Earthspark that last act/scene when the Emberstone revive the Terrans, Autobot and Deceptions.

An idea? or curiosity got me thinking all the deceptions or autobots in bot brawl has been revived? Or bots that died/stasis in the war.

Or the power of the Emberstone made more Terrans around the world, where as the energon/life force is found (creepy water cave).

Or maybe it's just in Witcky's vicinity all because the fragments of Quintus Prime is only there.

Or the mix.

So my point is, it's a given that they could add any bots in Season 2 like, maybe Rachet went into stasis and can't be revive with only few Medic Bots or resources. There's a few Autobots in Earthspark so yeah they could add any bots in the soup (or maybe some autobots are still in hiding same situation like Bumble bee or Grimlock.

Sidenote: Grimlocks situation is mostly about the Bot Brawls. Handling that problem, like a secret mission. Putting an end to it but got caught and got controlled by Mandroid, easing the problem of Agent Croft the one that initiated the Bot Brawls hinted in Episode 18

And that is a story for another time.

I think they would probably add Prowl (he has a action figure) Rachet, Ironhide or the other cast in the opening when they destroyed the spacebrige.

Or this could be just Alex perspective in the story.

This is Megatron's perspective...

Or the idea of other Terrans are around the world with the other Cybertronians who just been revived. It could be a Good version or Bad version, like for example the good idea would be the other revived Cybertronians would treat the newest Terrans as their child, like they would act as a guardian to them and the bad version would be Terrans without guardians. Like without the Maltos or other Autobots, Deceptions that knew their existence. So... they could play with the idea of Terrans having to grow up in a bad environment or influence or both.

Or A few years later when G.H.O.S.T. changed, reformed with the leadership of Agent Schloder, Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Sidenote: Prowl could be the prickliest prick with this new found peace saying

"I don't approve this" or "This ain't going to last" and Prowl could be the only problem in this season. No villains, just him being the "No no guy" then we could have it like a parallel of Twitch holding out a hand to Mandroid but this time it could be Thrash lending out a hand also Prowl accepting it and that's another idea for the other day.

Making the Agency what it was meant to be, having a safe haven for all bots and connecting with Earth's population.

And G.H.O.S.T. could be a rescue operatives saving bots and people! (One of the things Agent Schloder wants) or sending bots all around the world with the help of the basement spacebrige.

(The spacebrige is only accessable for travelling from places on earth for now the same function as in TFP)

And having new life at hand, the Terrans all over the world. The last act of the Emberstones power.

Looking for them with the help of the Maltobots, Robby and Mo's cybersleeves connection. (Or having a hard time locating most of them considering they're so far away for the bond to respond) Helping them integrate with their new lives on Earth.

Then the idea that some Cybertronians could adopt Terrans!

(Aye another wholesome fam or problematic fam. Who knows? that's another idea.)

Like Rachet (or Dratchet, I would do anything just for them to show up), adopting a Terran then that Terran got inspired with Rachet's Medical Knowledge and you know where this is going...BOOM! a Terran Medic bot.

So they could go hard with the plots with bots being injured or explore with their physical or mental state? Terrans being taught basic medical practices, self-care or their body parts.

(I heard that they plan to add Dratchet in Season 1 for them to teach the Terrans to maximize the full potential of their Cybersleeves but it got scrap. Glad they scrapped it. I don't want them just to be seen in a few episodes, I would want them in all episodes, still guiding the Terrans about the cybersleeves or just "life" in a way. Heh I'm becoming quite greedy here...)

Or other Cybertronians giving them advise, broadening their options then adding the Terrans being observant with the major details also them working out with those passed wisdom and what they have observed. The example to that is Trash being the most observant in some episodes

Sidenote: Rung being a therapist. We got like... A ton of traumatized bots in the last scene being controlled and what not. I think Megs is going to be more traumatized seeing that they almost made Megs cry in the cut.

Then they could add Megs thanking Starscream for being the Terrans backup. Tadah! "Connection" for the two of them dun! dUN! DAHHH! Making a deeper connection between the two so they could understand each other well. We could already see Megs starting to realize what he has done to Screamer or just stick to the other traumatized bots that being Starscream, Hashtag and Grimlock.

I noticed when Megatron got injured in Episode 10 it was still there until to the last episodes.

(This pic is from Episode 25)

One of the reason why he seems weak in the Episode 16 and that fact alone, they don't have a medic, resources or Megs being stubborn not wanting medical attention or making it a badge for G.H.O.S.T. to see those scars or a reminder.

So that idea comes in full circle bots being revived or adding more Terrans in the mix and having a Terran medic since they lack in it. 

Season 2 for me is almostly establishing connections with Cybertronians and Humans, Autobots then Deceptions and for Terrans to be that connection or the  bridge. That's why the idea adding more Terrans in this situation seems most likely to mend and connect.

Then adding some preparation plots for the Season 3's opening. (Mainly the spacebrige and the lack of energon for me)

And the ideas I have in Season 3 is that they could establish the connection on Cybertron. (Most bots has been revived on Earth. It could be Perceptor or Brainstorm or both. They would be helping Wheeljack and Shockwave with the rebuild of the main spacebrige that OP destroyed or the basement spacebrige then maybe enhance it a little. Resources are low so ye.)

Sidenote: oh, OH there's that Quintus Prime Ship just hovering outside of Earth's atmosphere? That may have resources to rebuild the spacebrigde? Or maybe that ship could be in the past that crashed landed or landed on Earth million years ago, and boom creepy water cave but that's a low possiblity for the ship to be in the past.

With the Terrans, Autobots and Deceptions had adjusted to earth and fixed the main spacebrige. They can now travel all around the universe.

The Terrans could have Earth and Cybertron as homes. The older bots could teach them the culture of Cybertron in deeper aspects.

They could add the idea why the war really started or other cultures in Cybertron. They could spice this idea up! for example in Episode 7 where as Alex shares his history and culture.

Or they could explain the the history of the Thirteen Primes? Well, maybe they couldn't "for the bots" cause they know so little details about them but you get my point.

Or they could just stick with the history of war, how it started.

How Megatron came to be then who is Orion Pax and why was he been choosen? Or they could make a movie about this topic.

And they could add other bots perspective, Autobots or Deceptions, their lives in Cybertron. I want to know their POV in the war, like for example Tarrantulas didn't want to join the war but needed to join to survive.

The idea in this, it's like in the Episode 16 "Warzone" Megatron explaining to the Terrans their histories, past mistakes and not repeating it again.

And we can dive deeper in the plot on how's and why's 

Idk if the other animation franchise has that deeper lore in their history in Cybertron but if Earthspark would add it to their plot mix, I would gladly drink that shot.

And they could add the other (lost?) colonies of Cybertronians for like example Caminus, they could introduce Windblabe and Chromia or Velocitron like Knockout or Eukaris where as Airazor and Tigatron or Cheetor.

All that good stuff you get the idea.

So Terrans wouldn't feel that their the only other colony. Well, Terrans are quite unique, maybe the other Terrans could have like an Insecton or Beast Alt modes or even a Combiner? Who knows earthspark has a lot of potential for Alt modes or they can make them connect with the other colonies with their alt modes.

And that's all for now folks my social battery has ran out.

Thanks again btw for reading this heckin' knotted of ideas ~(°^°~).

Have a good day.

[heretherebedork]

So Zo has now told us three stories in the show, one that he was recording, one to Joke and one to Nita. And I am not @respectthepetty to be able to make plot predictions from these shows but I want to look at the kinds of emotional beats we get in each show and what we're seeing in terms of emotional resonance and the weight the stories are giving to different kinds of relationships as well as what they're showing us about the different characters.

The rabbit story is the only one that isn't a legend in general, it's an original story for the show obviously, but that doesn't mean we can't connect the ideas. And we start with, well, the beginning.

With pain. With being trapped. With being isolated and unheard. It's a bright and colorful cartoon but that bunny is still trapped and still hurt and still alone.

And we get the instant connection to the Adonis story. Being alone, being injured, likely crying out... but this time, there is an answer. Aphrodite rushes to him. This is also the story that Zo tells when he's with Joke. He is not alone in a recording studio, he isn't by himself and speaking into the void. He is telling this story to Joke and bringing meaning to this.

The first story is alone and isolated and the answer, the rescue, doesn't come from love. In fact, she barely seems to even notice she rescued him. She simply leaves after she releases him. Which is compared to Aphrodite's failure to rescue Adonis but without any doubt of her love for him.

So we have one story where the boy cries for help and is not heard but is rescued by someone who doesn't really care about him and a story where the person is loved and rushed to the rescue of but the rescue is too late and the love isn't what makes a difference.

This is... y'all. This is isolation and loneliness and that feeling that no one cares about you and, even if they do care about you, it only hurts them in the end. Two stories about being rescued, one successful but from not affection and one failed but from love... It's about whether or not love is worth it, it's about if love can actually save you or just hurts you in the end. Is it worth loving if you won't be rescued by love or is it worth being alone if it means that no one will come when you cry?

Probably a good time to finally bring up the story he read to Nita, right? Nita, who is almost certainly (I believe) meant to be the girl knight in the original story as told by Zo if not by the narrative of the actual show... but the story that he reads her reflects the elements of the original story that are not reflected in the story he reads Joke.

Aphrodite and Adonis is about requited love that is still not enough to rescue someone. The original rabbit story is about falling in one-sided love with someone who saves you. The story of Sunflower Clytie is about unrequited love and pining after someone without hope.

This story reflects many elements of the original rabbit story as well. About not being seen by the person you love, about being ignored by the world, about feelings that don't matter and aren't returned and are too big to put down but that just makes them hurt more.

The idea of staring and watching but doing nothing is so powerful and the fact that both stories end with nothing changing and nothing happening and no love and no romance, just pining and waiting and surviving on nothing but the concept of hope itself, the abstract idea of love.

The three endings. Loneliness, red roses and a sunflower. Two trapped and one lost but meaning something bigger. The boy rabbit and Clytie are both forever trapped by their love, in loneliness and as a sunflower, while Aphrodite lost Adonis but will always symbolize love to the world.

Zo told three stories to us in this show so far. One about loneliness, one about loss and one about being left behind. There's so much there to everything in the show and I'm sure many predictions could be made.

But I'm just thinking about how the only story that included truly returned love was the one he told Joke. That the story he told Nita was about staring after someone so long that you rooted in place, so long that you weren't even looking at them any more because you'd become someone else. And that the story he told that ended only in loneliness was told to a friend who had already fallen asleep.

Zo might have friends and he might have people around him but how lonely is he? How much of himself is behind these stories and his own grumblings and the debate club and the people who know him but don't know about his issues. How many hidden agendas are here and how many are on purpose? Can you have a hidden agenda so secret you've hidden from yourself and forgotten about it entirely?

Look. Zo is obviously a storyteller. He communicates through words and not actions. Everything is about expressing how he feels indirectly, even to himself, through stories and debate and discussion and worries and fears and twisting words until they both do and don't mean what he's saying. And that's why he doesn't hear Joke's hidden agenda. Because Joke's agenda is in his actions and his words are a struggle for him, as we've seen and as is clear in his actions. They're speaking different languages.

This is the only time he ends a story wanting to say more but not saying it. Every other story simply... ends.

Also, the reactions. The first one is just teasing, Joke isn't able to respond to the story because they're not at that point in their friendship at all. This story is Joke saying he'd never leave the person he loves alone long enough to get hurt. And Nita's response is to criticize the story and point out that it hasn't aged well (you know, like his multi-year crush on her that's going away).

I just... it's all so good and so mixed and it's showing how Zo communicates and sees the world as well. It's great. It's beautiful storytelling within storytelling and an amazing way to show us characters.

The real question is becoming... why did the girl knight save the rabbit and was it at the hands of another boy rabbit who's been watching even longer?

[my-fancy-hat]

Most romance novels follows an scheme of what love should it goes, how people have to meet and follow a certain path and archetypes to correctly fall in or out of love, that what's makes this kind of stories predictable and boring to some people, but what about love that evolves? love that exists despite the desire for romance/selfishness? what about friendship? family? what if we choose to love ourselves too? to love the path we choose? I think that what Ao no Flag is majoritary about, romance as we know in a love triangle it's just the surface the tip of the iceberg of what this story is about, series of choices where we pray for them to make us happy, to make our loved ones happy, because we want to be brave about the things we love.

The four cour characters are put in one of the most troublesome and chaotic times of every person who had access to the system education can experience: final year of high-school, the deadline between childhood and adulthood, to accept reality on how it approaches us, the fear of rejection and failure of what we are of what we do. Many people incluided me had wished to have been more wise, more patient, more accepting yet strong about our chosen path, and that's what Ichinose, Touma and Futaba had to learn and eventually guided them toward their happy end. Not just that, but the experience many queer people had to endure avoiding the social suicide of showing to the world who we are, this ilustrated with Touma and Masumi's characters, and (subtly yet quite importantly) Ichinose. How can I exists in their world if I live like this? will my parents accept me? they will still think about me as someone successful and worth of their last name? will they disown me? hate me? will my best friend who I am in love with reject me in disgust? It's so easy and understandable to succumb to a hatred that you think you deserve, because at the time it was less painful to play along lying to your loved ones about this secret than "revealing the truth", they deserved to know yet you failed, and this loneliness is what you get. If this is how the enviorment wants you to feel, then isn't it expected that the individual would desire for freedom of it? that's what Touma wished for his future to be, not concrete answer more than to exists without regrets.

The desire for romance can be rightfully observed by its selfish nature, to own the right, the demand for them to love us back, but it can be the exercise to accept ourselves as well. Touma wanted to show Taichi his heart without fears, despite if he would love him back or not, in doing so, he would be walking toward the ideal happiness he dreamed of. To openly love is the call for the indifferent cruel world to see in us the desire for goodness, that in this place can exists kindness too.: Touma most than anything, wanted for Ichinose and (by extention) Futaba, to be happy, to share their 1000+ points of best friend power and make everyone happy. That is, the core of love, to wish the best for your dears, and see them smile.

But accepting and not to, can be actually be the same. Masumi had to constantly fight with herself, with the inavility to change what she can't, to live with the fabricated idea of what she is supposed to be and what she is supposed to do, and what other people would react about it. That's why that, even if I have my reservations about her ending, I find it really meta for Masumi end to end up in a het marriage, making us conclude that at some point she gave up on Futaba, but paradoxically, accepted herself and her reality by coming out as bi. Us readers expected and rotted for her to confess to her crush and end up in similar terms like Touma and Taichi did, but this ending make us putting the lesson she learned though her character arc into practice: what people may think or not about our decisions, is their problem, not ours. Life can be so treacky and unfair, but no matter the circunstances, we can still find and make our place. We deserve it.

A friend or a lover, what is the difference if you just want to share our happiness with them?

That's how you humanize your characters, by expossing through them the good, the bad and the absurd, to tell a story in each how the circunstances molds them, but to oppose what damage us is quite a brave thing to do, even if it's our own mind, and that's what Futaba character speaks to me. The desire for wanting to change, to (once again) accept and not-to-accept. She's a weakling, clumsy girl loaded on self-hatred for her unability to live just as the others do. The fear of have reached your maximum potential and there's nothing else for you to do about it, that you born to live like this for the rest of your life. But she sees in Touma an example of hard work and due to her admiration (mistaked at first for a crush), wants to prove herself that life can be something else. To break our self-stablished limits and see what's beyond, to surpass your limits and try to understand what scares you. To be confident enough to think you have the right to live too. Failure reafims the truth that you are better off muted; what bother trying if it will end up in misery anyways? but the beauty of humankind is the unbeatable hope that things will change, to not give up, and without noticing, we'll feel blessed for have born in this time, in this place.

This as a result inspires Taichi's way of viewing life without him realizing too, just as how Touma's pure-lover heart expeled his sincere feelings ever since they started talking again, to the point to even sacrifice his leg and career for Ichinose: How can I exists and make it up for such people like you? what can I do? It's easy to fill your heart with resentment for the things you couldn't live, to feel prideful as consolation for a lonely life you didn't choose, as the left overs. But what we think makes what we are, if you keep on your days thinking you exists for the things you believe you deserve, to live in the imaginary unbreakable rules you made for yourself, then nothing will change. Touma, Futaba and Masumi changed Taichi's life forever, in the driving force of his spirit to pursue a better version of himself, to live driven by the desire for freedom, for love, and not care of what other people may see this choices.

That's why I think the final chapter is such a piece of art that makes the pay off so satisfying. What tortured him when Touma confessed wasn't that his best friend was gay, or that he lied to him about the nature of their friendship (he didn't): it was the though of losing him, so he chose both options at the end (if the analogy can't be more in the face). But as Yorkie said, it part of the course of life to most likely break up with your first gf, more less if they go to different universities, so them going their separate ways wasn't a surprise, but what made me happy about it that they still ended up in good terms and respected each other deeply for what they lived together. The surprise though comes from the actual realize of which POV we're following at the end, that reveals that Taichi had become Touma's husband. This is where I think Ichinose teach to the audience the lesson he learned from his former classmates, where he reaches for Touma above the lines that divides panels, to reach his husband's hand, the hand he shouldn't hold, and walk together toward home: he surpassed his own limits, his barriers and knew where his happiness lied.

A lot of queer people had *the realization* in their 20s (me included as nb), finally giving an explanation of all our past behaviour. I know before-hand most people got shocked for Ichinose to get reveal as bisexual, but isn't the story already gave us an idea this would happen eventually? when Futaba and Ichinose confess to each other, it's Touma's (and Masumi's) heartbreak that it's on spotlight overlaying their conversation, how Taichi and Touma hand-holding is such a central element for the story telling (literally it ends with them holding hands), and much more? Even Futaba suspected it before himself realized years later.

(it happened twice that when Taichi thinks about Touma what crosses his mind is his well-build chest/cleavage area like, ok)

But what makes the different between friendship and love? can a boy and a girl be friends? can a gay boy have male friends? can I be friends of someone I love and viseversa? can I forgive and maitain what we have? The only certainty I have right now, in this moment, is that I love you so much. I'm so happy to have meet you.

This got too long so to grap my final thoughs and make myself more loose right at the end, I'm so happy for have read this story FULL BLIND OMG I was so conviced that no one would end up together lol the only thing I knew of it is that it talked about queer drama and, textually: "had the ending it deserves". It genuinely made my perspective on some things change for the better. I actually loved so much how this story handles with such maturity a pretty much easy-target for comedy and bitter angst (bury your gays) the premise of "bff is gay and in love with the main character since they were kids". Not only that, but not picking sides of "who deserves who" taking leads between Touma vs Futaba, is quite refreshing for the genre: it humanize and treats fairly each member of the cast, giving proper space for them to explain themselves (worth mentioning Mami I loved her character so much you have no idea). Most of the drama in romance comes from missunderstandings or the lack of dialogue, when everything can be solved if the characters can actually sit and talk their feelings and thoughts out! and Ao no Flag is a masterclass on this manner. The explanation, exposition and introspection of every character struggle, the script, monologues, are so compelling and to the bone, I can't choose which interaction of the cast is my favorite. The pay-off is spectacular because we can actually follow each person train of thoughts and choices in which these end up in, with the faith that this path will make themselves and his loved ones happy, because even if we aren't certain about anything we do, we'll still find meaning in the absudity of destiny (or the lack of it?).

[schneereggen]

Simple question, but I still want to ask, looking at the manga right now there seem to be some chances that the author might ruin mikayuu ship, and if that happens I'm afraid gureshin/shingure would also reach the same fate.

Worst- probably kagami will end up guren with mahiru after all that emotional damage and we will never get to see shinya's real feeling towards guren or shinya may just become yet another love interest for guren.

Mikayuu is surely more popular than gureshin and if this ends then I'm quite sure gureshin will too.

What are your thoughts in this?

So... Where so I begin? I think chronologically according to your points would be best.

First of all, how should the Mikayuu ship be ruined? If they turn out to be two parts of Mikaela? I don't see how this would ruin the ship in any way. It doesn't undo the "we will stay forever for several thousand years". No, it even emphasizes "we belong together". That the two are inseparable had always been an essential part of the ship. I don't see anything undo what they already have.

In my opinion it's silly how everyone keeps panicking now. It had always been clear that mikayu will probably never be canon-canon. But nothing of this changes the possibility that they would still be together in the end. As I said before, they are inseparable and i can't imagine an ending where they either die or live together.

As for GureShin. Guren and Shinya were also never made to be canon-canon. Still we got overly romantic toned scenes. For example the motorcycle scene. Listening to your friends heart beats? *Cough* still, this was made to be read romantic not be romantic. And Guren would never end up with Shinya in a romantic relationship.and that's fine.

It's always said that Kagami doesn't know how to write romance. He had been writing romance in his previous works and these always had more chemistry and build up than all the other shippings that the fandom claims will be canon in the end.

Shinoa was even predicted to project her own nerds and desires onto a person and Guren always kept his distance from Mahiru. These ships are written to be one sided. And that's really interesting. It's just that the story has the tendency to not tell the reader anything concrete. So it won't tell you "Guren doesn't love Mahiru". It will tell you "he doesn't like to talk with her about his problems" or "she was his biggest mistake". That's a lot of evidence that is often ignored because the other characters think that they are lovers (Shinoa, Kureto) and this makes sense in the context of the story.

But considering how Guren's and Shinya's relationship is described and Shinya always is Guren's sweet spot: all of this will never change. Guren had been crying for Shinya's sake, he had been protecting him no matter what. So I'm still here to hopefully - in the future - get more fan service scenes between Guren and Shinya despite knowing they will never be a "real thing".

I'm just here to see them act overly cute together and I'm positive that this will happen again 💕

[autumnbrambleagain]

like wow I can't believe they let Lana Wachowski make the matrix 4

the first 30 minutes of the movie is literally just her standing in front of a blank screen saying "Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you." for like 30 solid minutes

just looking at every redpillcel chud proudboy who appropriated her metaphors and going "fuck you" looking at everyone who took away nothing but bullet time going "fuck you" looking at the world for getting so fucking bad and going "fuck you" talking directly to warner bros and saying "fuck you" for making her make a new one, i can't list everything because my woman went on for 30 solid minutes and did not even repeat a single fuck you it was 30 minutes of solid fuck yous

and then the rest of the movie is a matrix movie in the barest fucking sense at all it is medieval allegory level of a matrix movie okay i'm talking we got characters named Do-Goode and Righte-Living and they're on a quest to find the fabled city Submission-To-My-Lord-In-Adversity medieval allegory level of a movie ok

every FUCKING line every character says is on 3 levels of medieval allegory level no one has a throwaway line that isn't metareferential to the movie itself, the act of watching and judging the movie, the effects the movie had on society vs the effects they had hoped it would have,

characters appearing just to talk to the wachowskis and keanu and the original staff literally saying shit like "i grew up on stories about you, neo, even if you think you didn't change the world how you wanted, it still meant something to us, look at the life we built because of what you made"

like there's literally a new city where machines and humans live together and neo's like "i wanted to end the war entirely :c" and the characters are like "yes, but look at what our side has become at least c: " and like the metalayer is so fucking paper thin this isn't a movie about "what happens 60 years after the last matrix movie" this is "what happens 20 years after we released the last matrix movie in real life no for real"

the villain is LITERALLY and METAFICTIONALLY using neo and trinity to his own perverted ends twisting what their story was meant to be about and forcing them to be together even when they were supposed to be dead and the sequel is them going "well if you're forcing our story to not be over we're going to rebel and make it about what we want it to be about"

the movie literally ends with lana wachowski walking onto screen and dragging david zaslav out of his chair in the WB headquarters and going "hey fuck you for making me make a new matrix movie, fuck you, but thanks for giving me a chance to try to make another big impact again, but still fuck you"

i don't think i've seen a single criticism of the movie that the movie didn't already predict and have an answer for in the movie itself

like there are people who are like "eehh but where was the humanity it was so meta" it's like my dude this is Piers Fucking Ploughman, you aren't watching this to see the continuing adventures of the story, we are well past where the story ended and now we're in full blown allegory town and if the first 30 minutes didn't prepare you for that then honestly buddy you need to go back to 9th grade english

"oooh but neo just uses force push every fight scene" yes it's making fun of you for wanting to be distracted by 20 minute long fight scenes and having neo be so fed up with this shit he just turns on wallhacks and cheats his way through every combat encounter

"uuooo it was so boring" my dude you walked into Synechode, New York and expected a popcorn thriller fuck you

"it felt very unnecessary" i'm sorry did you miss the central thesis of the movie which was "this is unnecessary, why are we being forced to make this, fuck you" ??

look at this revieww

"The Matrix Resurrections" carries on as if it has something important to impart to folks looking to see cats in mirrors and bullets in slow-motion. There is action, but it seems remarkably old-fashioned.

i went to the car wash, and it was just a bunch of nozzles spraying water on my car, what the fuck?

The film also stuffs itself with footage from the earlier films just to remind us – because the public is stupid, right? – that this is the same series but only serving to remind us that this is just the same old, same old but nothing like as good.

imagine going into a movie and missing the point of something so perfectly, it's like

honestly, i don't have a metaphor for how completely fucking DIRELY this idiot missed the entire point of the movie this is incredible, media literacy is fucking dead my dudes, which is also something the matrix 4 spends like 10 minutes of lana wachowski standing on screen on a white background just making eye contact with you going "fuck you. fuck you."

The plot is absurd and largely impenetrable, the visuals just a rehash of a visual style we’ve seen before and any superficial pleasure we might get from seeing Reeves as Neo and Carrie-Anne Moss return as Trinity (and a slightly larger-than-life turn from Neil Patrick Harris as The Analyst, creator of the new iteration of the Matrix) are quickly snuffed out as the film smothers us in a tidal wave of its own smug self-satisfaction and the mistaken belief that we’ll welcome this stuff back into our lives like some long-lost old friend. The Matrix Resurrections doesn’t even try to be metaphysical or pseudo-intellectual, it’s just content to regurgitate a concept quite happily and adequately explored 22 years ago but with absolutely nothing new to offer either narratively or visually. Frustrating, futile, and foolish, The Matrix Resurrections is largely utter guff.

imagine walking into a movie called "I am going to insult you if you fuck this up" and fucking it up and the movie spending 2 and a half hours going "Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you." and going "yeah i dunno it didn't feel very welcoming or friendly for some reason, i don't know if it had anything to say"

the movie literally has executives bring neo and trinity back from the dead and they spend the entire movie justifying their reunion because they weren't supposed to survive or be together again and people out here really be like "but you just gave us neo and trinity again, why did you think it would just work like that?" and meanwhile they're hallucinating because all that's on the screen is keanu and carrie-anne going "fuck you. fuck you. fuck you."

The rehashed story is convoluted, existing under the guise that if you can't follow along, it's because you aren't smart enough to understand.

so you weren't smart enough to follow along, huh? that's okay, art movies aren't for everyone. let's see the rest of your review let's see,

Some of the scenes (and even lines of dialogue) are almost identical to the movie’s predecessors. It’s the same movie with slight changes, much like “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” or “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” and it relies too much on nostalgia and the goodwill of sci-fi fans.

yeah buddy it's maybe not that the movie is too convoluted, it's that maybe you have 0 media literacy and you shouldn't be a film critic. holy fuck is this all it takes to be a film critic? you don't have to be media literate at all?

you guys walked into an art movie that was just keanu reeves, carrie-anne moss, and lana wachowksi standing on a blank screen saying "Fuck you" for two and a half hours, and you half-hallucinated an action movie and somehow came away disatissfied the action movie you were hallucinating wasn't as cool and hip as you had hoped it would be

fuck you

matrix 4 unironically one of my favorite movies absolute fucking masterclass of 300 cuil metalayer infiniteoroborous commentary 1000 years artistic triumph

[daz4i]

I'm gonna sound a bit bitter for a sec so sorry for that, but i think the reason i can't get into most fyolai fics and such, in addition to a lot of ppl just straight up getting nikolai wrong as a character, is the flattening of their relationship in general and making it almost basic? or rather, i guess, just simplifying it, making it almost one sided at times

basically what i see people interpret them beyond what's in plain text is 1 nikolai is the only person to call fyodor a friend, thus making him stand out in his mind, and 2 they're both the same brand of weird/got the same quirks or sense of humor etc

which are both well and true imo. but my problem is, this is where it stops. this is what i mean by simplifying. it feels like it's only engaging with the tip of the iceberg of what they got going on, and it's a shame because their relationship can be so spicy

i think what makes fyolai interesting - in addition to the whole "i love him and that's why i want to kill him, i can't bear the thought of being tied to a person" - is that while fyodor is the first person to see nikolai, nikolai is the first person to outsmart fyodor

it almost feels like the reason people make fyodor like nikolai is for the sake of making a story about them happen and that's it. now, it's a romantic(?) fanfic, that's understandable, that's how most of them start. but it does feel unearned and at times even out of nowhere and pointless

nikolai is the first person to show fyodor that humans aren't as predictable as he thinks. that yes, he could read him, but not fully, not enough to actually manipulate him. that his method of cutting off all other possibilities is not perfect, and that at least nikolai will always get himself a way out. that's huge!! we've never seen anyone outsmart fyodor! the closest we got was whatever he's got going on with dazai, and he seems to be prepared for everything dazai throws at him anyway bc they're so equal. but honest to god going outside of his plan? ruining his plan, even? nikolai is the only one who could do it.

think about how that can impact fyodor's character! his world view! a blow to his pride that might actually change him as a person! this can be so interesting!!!!

i feel like this ship should be more about that. about how they're each other's special person - not because of titles of friendship, but because they truly challenge the way the other sees life

now, i will say, i don't expect fic writers to delve this deep into each character. it's just a hobby at the end of the day. let me emphasize, this post isn't to actually attack anyone, more like an observation with some bitterness about something i am well aware does not actually matter, bc i want to let it out and maybe change the way people see this ship if they agree. so i hope i made you see it this way, just like fyodor might show nikolai he's not as alone in the world as he might want to be, and nikolai can show him the same in return uwu

[shadedsecrets]

I realized today... that I can't wait to see where Amos Ellery ends up and I have more predictions about how that'd go.

Do I think he's going to be showing up frequently? Likely only as frequently as we check in on the rest of the Parents Squad, not often until thicker plot entanglement. Is he going to have important things to do and plot-impacting choices to make? Ooooh, most assuredly. And I am most eager to see which garden path he grouches down.

From my perspective... there are two options, and both of them are so very very fun.

This man has already been asked to and made some hard choices. He would not be a confidant of That Bird Goddess if he hadn't committed. The man knows his son has been dead for two months and that his body will never be found. And he isn't enthused about it, even grumbles a complaint, but that is as far as it gets. He reaffirms his loyalty. This is a man... that clings to the belief that seeing whatever this is through will be worth it in the end.

He has put his eggs in this basket and come hell of high water, he will defend those choices.

.....for now.

We don't currently know why Amos was upset about Irving not getting a body double that could at least be brought home. And I can think of a few reasons other than caring for his son that could fit that bill, but again, we don't know. With how hostile he got when our favorite Grandmother of Chaos implied he didn't, I do think he loves Irving, and expresses his affections... differently.

So we have a grumpy man currently working for the assumed Big Bad who seems like he may be loyal out of principle, fear, and honestly not believing there to be another option. He professes that he will do whatever it takes to see this through, even something like being implicit in the murders of his family and friends...

So what do we think is going to happen when news inevitably breaks of some Really Funky Seaghosts that look like those missing nobles? Yeah, the Phantomarine Crew are going to do their best to stay out of sight, but if a Pavel needs defending? Screw that, protect the baby! Let's face it, the boy with a stigmatized condition and a Godly Bounty on his head is going to be at risk of harm around people and in the wilds in equal measure. But what will the Parents do with this knowledge...

Personally... I hope Amos will be given chances at choosing something else, and he will double down the first couple times. He is a man of conviction. He does not read as someone who gets shaken easily, expression barely changing, voice rarely raised... Changing tracks just like that for likely only vague information would undercut all of that unless he was shown to take the time to VERY thoroughly research it on his own. I doubt he would be given the time to, however. No no... it's going to be the last time he has a choice that would be interesting.

It would be a choice that he cannot take back; most of the cards will be on the table and he will not be able to feign ignorance of the consequences. And he would have two options... Continue on this current course, or finally reach his limit and do ANYTHING else. Either he goes down as a man who finally tried to stand up to a Deity, or as someone who could not accept he had done the wrong thing.

What can I say? I am a sucker for these sorts of stories. An antagonist that just can't accept they did something wrong for a shitty reason is so cathartic to watch go down, just as good as someone finally taking a stand and responsibility for their actions and striving to dig back out of a very deep hole is.

Am I reading too far into a side character? Maybe! But he seems to be set up as the actual right hand of the Big Bad and is a protagonist's FATHER. He has some stuff to do here... And I see some veeeeeery fun flags.

[trulybetty]

Sunday Week in Review IV

It has been a really weird week this week. One of those weeks where you don’t feel right but you’re not unwell, but you know you’re not yourself. That’s been me the entire week. As a result, I didn’t read or really do much - but I’m hoping this long weekend will get me out of my funk and back to some sense of normality - whatever that is these days lol 🙃

Truly Betty Updates This Week…

Sick Day (Marcus Pike x f!Reader)

Plans for Gold Rush: I recently had a re-read and got to have a really good conversation with @gnpwdrnwhiskey about Charlotte and Joel this week, and it really made me realize how much I miss them. So, my plan is to go back and have a good edit of what’s posted - (both my writing and editing style have changed and Gold Rush is wordy in places it has no business being). Going to take the next week or so to do that and get back to the story that brought me to this community and even if it’s me and three other people reading it, I don’t mind - because I love these characters and want to see it through ❤️ 

Fics I Enjoyed This Week…

Shared Breaths by @frenchiereading I think I’m up to chapter six on this now, as of this week, complete fanfic! It’s a cute read of Frankie enrolling his daughter into Readers school and two having a magnetic back and forth that they can’t act upon until Frankie’s daughter is no longer in Readers class (boo school rules) and I can’t wait to see what happens when they’re finally able to be together! 

The Layover by @goodwithcheese How are we all doing? Have we all recovered from this chapter? Are we prepared for the epilogue that’s coming? This story has been a joy to read and I will honestly be revisiting this one with a permanent place on my fanfics to recommend list! 🙌

Talk Tonight  by @darkroastjoel Joel Miller. Delayed flight. One night in Paris. Did I mention Joel Miller and one night in Paris? This was a delight to get stuck into the opening chapter this week and I’m a suck for an OC. I’m really excited to see how the night plays out for Camila and Joel on the backdrop of Paris.

Late Night Texts by @mvtthewmurdvck Another series that had its last chapter this week and an epilogue on the way. This has all the hallmarks of a good rom-com and another that will be a re-read in the near future. I had an inkling of how this last chapter would play out, but rather than be predictable it keeps you on your toes to a very toe-curlingly sweet ending that will make you want to hug the screen.

Hungry Hearts | Independence Day by @atinylittlepain This is another that will always be on my permanent fanfic recommendation list. Things are reaching a peak between Cherry and Joel and I can't wait to see how things are going to come to heads between the two in the present day.

Delta Landscaping | Chapter 4 by @rhoorl Just realized I keep thinking this is chapter three and it’s chapter 4 (told you it’s one of those weeks 🤦🏻‍♀️) - anyway, another delight of a chapter from Jess and there’s so much to unpack here with the residents of Mulefall Court - so do yourself a favour and go take a read… or two! 

Supply & Demand by @wildemaven Between this fanfic, @rhoorl’s portrayal of Benny and the influx of Garrett Hedlund posts on my feed this week - I think I’m slowly being converted to the Benny side! This is a truly sweet one-shot that I don’t want to get too into here as it deserves a read to find out yourself how it plays out and how endearing Heidi’s Benny really is. Because even if you’re not a fan, you’re going to want to read more of him! Trust me 🥰

20/20 by @ladamedusoif This popped up on my feed this week and it’s always an instant re-read when it does as it has a place on my favourites list! Joel needs to get his eyes tested and the man needs glasses. However, he really doesn’t want them.

Fics I’m Looking Forward to Reading... My TBR List is still a work in progress, will share it when it’s done 💕

These two I was hoping to get stuck into this week, but mental headspace got away with me and wanted to make sure I gave them the attention they deserve because peep the premises for both! 🙌

Tempered in the Fire by @ladamedusoif Okay, so it’s a Blacksmith Din AU set some time after the Irish Rebellion of 1798 - the creativity in this synopsis alone is enough to have me mentally carving out some time this weekend to devour the first chapter.

Let’s Call this a Win Win by @jomiddlemarch Joel. OFC. No Outbreak AU. Sarah and Ellie at summer camp. Sign me up! Joel is dropping Sarah off at summer camp where he meets camp nurse Meghan. Did I mention that Joel is going to be working maintenance there too? I cannot wait to give this one the attention it deserves and find out what happens! 

Posts I Enjoyed This Week…

Pedro living his best life at a Beyoncé concert this week and everyone living for the pure joy of it. 

Things I’ve Enjoyed This Week…

Marry Me - I am a sucker for a rom-com, and I’m a sucker for a JLo rom-com. Throw in Owen Wilson with a batshit plot line that is absolutely unbelievable and you can just shut up and take my money (which Apple did because I bought it)

Something from Tiffany’s - this was on paper a ‘meh’ kinda concept, but I’m glad I gave it a chance as I adored every second of it and now have all the feels and ideas for seasonal one-shots and mini-series that are way above my ability to pull off lol

Discussing WIP’s and OC’s - got to indulge with both this week with some awesome mutuals about not only my own, but theirs too! It's always oo much fun hearing other people’s thought processes and bouncing ideas around. Highly recommend it!

This Week’s Song…

What's a rom-com without a good pop song? This was the bop of the week as I made my way through the week.

Hope everyone had a great week! Let me know if you have any good fanfic recs or your own lists to share! 💕 xx

[pia-writes-things]

#river and the fucked up punds' dynamic

ok i'll bite, tell me about it

Ok, so, first, that typo is BURNING my eyes 🥲🥲 I'm so sorry Amy and Rory, I would never disrespect you like that on purpose 🥺

Second, this will basically be my Ways To Heal chapters about the Ponds but in essay form, so if you wanna read the angst-filled version, it's there 🥰

Putting all of my unhinged thoughts under a read more because, as predicted, this ended up quite long. And it wasn't prompted, so I'm glad to know I could really do a presentation about them on the spot ^^

So, to start, you have the Ponds, a couple that started, well, not bad, but not great either. But during the course of the 3 seasons we got them, we saw them choose each other, again and again and again. And everytime they chose each other, every time we saw what perfect life looked like for them, there was a kid in the picture. The most obvious example of that is Amy's choice obviously, but the beginning of season 6 is also a big indicator. When we beging season 6, they're settled. They haven't seen the Doctor in a while and they built a domestic life that is theirs. And later in the first two episodes, you learn that Amy thinks she is pregnant. And she is worried for the baby, for what travelling in the Tardis might have done to it (which, in retrospect, she was right about ^^). Her worry, the fact she wants to talk to the Doctor about it, and the fact that Rory and her started to build a life together on Earth makes me think that they had talked about it, had planned for it, and maybe were considering starting trying. So, clearly, having a baby was really important for them. There are a myriad of other moments when we're shown it was really important for them : when Amy explains to Mme Kovarian why she's more than happy to kill her in The Wedding of River Song, the beginning of season 7 and the whole reason she and Rory are about to divorce, and, whether you believe it to be canon or not, the fact that they adopted a kid in Manhattan. A fundamental fact about Amy and Rory is that they wanted kids together, and didn't get to raise Melody. They had to accept River as their daughter while she was already an adult, and probably older than them. They had to accept also, especially Amy, that her birth meant they couldn't have children of their own anymore. They had to accept that their own daughter was always away, never quite fitting in with them. They had to accept that they would never be the family they wished they had.

On the other hand, you have River. River whose life is entirely in disorder compared to her parents. They met her before they knew who she was. They were her friends before they were her parents. She had to lie to their face countless times to protect time and prevent a paradox. She never got to really experience life as their daughter. We got glimpses in The angels take Manhattan and in The Ruby's curse but that's it. And even then, it's moments in her life, always fleeting.

That's where my first point of the fucked up dynamic appears (admittedly I only have two but whatever). See, an established fact of River and the Doctor's story is that they forbid each other at different moments to change their story in any way shape or form. And that include the Ponds' story as a family. At the end of A good man goes to war, the Doctor promises Amy that he will find her daughter. At the beginning of Let's kill Hitler, he's still looking for her. My personal interpretation is that he either didn't look for her, or made the choice not to intervene. I can't believe that the Doctor, clever as he is, Mr. "The laws of time are mine and they will obey me" couldn't find his best friend's daughter, his wife, as a kid, even though he knew when he last saw her. At this point in season 6, he knows the kid in 1969 is River. So, my personal headcanon is that he chose not to look for her, or not to bring her back to Amy and Rory. Because, and that's the thing, if he'd found Melody, she would not become River. If Melody got to be raised by the Ponds and not the Silence, she would never have become River. So, to keep his promise to Amy, he would have had to break the one he did to his wife when she was dying. And he just couldn't do that. So, indirectly, River was responsible for her own fucked up childhood. She was responsible for her parent's unhappiness. Even if it wasn't her direct responsibility, the consequences and implications are there. And, I think, as a daughter, that is a very fucked up thing to know and realise. And River being River, knowing so much about everyone and being so used to being out of order, I think she knew. She knew she was a paradox and the Doctor couldn't change anything about her history. She didn't know about her death and what she told him then, but she knew the rest. So she always knew they were doomed from the start as a family.

Which ties to my second point about their fucked up dynamic. River never got to be raised by her parents. At most, Rory and Amy were her "parent-friends" when they were kids. But it's not the same thing. So, knowing that, knowing all that we said in the precedent paragraph, and knowing that she was raised by Mme Kovarian and the Silence, I think that "Hiding the damages" is as much the Doctor's fault as it is indirectly the Ponds' faults. I think we can all agree that River had a very fucked up, beyond traumatizing, childhood. She didn't have any parents, she was shot at by her own mother (again, not Amy's fault, she didn't know, but still), she was brainwashed, trained to kill, and, weirdly, Mme Kovarin doesn't strike me as a very nurturing parental figure (*irony itensifies*). She never had anyone who could really listen to her, or even know her completely. As a child, no one ever knew her real self, or no one bothered to learn to know her. She was either a future weapon or a story designed to fit in Leadworth. Her parents weren't there for her when she needed them, or they couldn't really be her parents. And - and !- tying all this up with my precedent point, when they finally got to be her parents, she had to live with the fact that her birth, her story, fucked them up beyond measure. She was, though it wasn't her fault, partially responsible for their unhappiness. So, she learned to hide the damages. She kept lying, like she had always done, she kept the pretense of being a good psychopath with no feelings, because it's easier than showing to her parents how much exactly her own story fucked them and her up.

And, I think this will be my conclusion, to me, River being a psychopath is actually just her being traumatised and coping unhealthily. We never really saw her being a real psychopath, or at least a cold-hearted assassin who would shoot at anyone like the show tries to imply she is. She has feelings, and she shows them all the time. Even in The Husband of River Song or Let's kill Hitler, which are the episodes where they try to show River being a psychopath, she isn't really one. The people she wants to kill are themselves assassins, or the person she was literally brainwashed to hate. And she doesn't even really want to kill them for the most part, only scam them. Even the Doctor, in the end, she saves him. To me, River's "psychopath" tendencies, her selfishness that so many people in the fandom hold against her, are just the ways she found to cope with her traumas. It's the only way she found to cope with lying all the time, never having the stability of knowing people and people she loves knowing her. It's easier for her to pretend she is what Mme Kovarian and the Silence wanted to make her that actually showing her true self, when half the time, no one is there to receive it. It's easier to be that way than to be vulnerable. Especially because every time she was vulnerable in her life, it ended badly for her.

So, tldr: River is very fucked up by her childhood and that informs her relationship with her parents, as well as the relationship between her parents. I love them all very much, and they love each other, but apart from Marisa, Asriel and Lyra in His dark materials, the Ponds are probably the most fucked up fictional family I know.

Also, a lot of this essay is based on my interpretations of canon, the characters, and some plotholes Moffat gave us, so I know I might be wrong or biased on some points. But here, you have my rotating thoughts about them! I think about this more than I care to admit tbh ^^