#i thought they'd be changing the plot but actually it's pretty much the same

[koumeowkami]

the whole episode made me feel THINGS from start to finish. akyrmez my beloveds

[watchingblsnowandforever]

Hello!!

The crack post saga continues... =D

Warning: long, long post 😊😅

To be very honest though, for today's ep I will be getting serious more than usual, because it was quite significant in the flow of the plot, and also had moments of communication (this emotional constipation is what makes me yearn for Cherry Magic ah) that need to be studied a little closely.

HOWEVER, there will most definitely be crack because this group of friends is (unapologetically) batshit crazy and my brain refuses to not make comments at the most inappropriate times.

Peem: NO ONE SAW ME CUDDLING MY CRUSH TO SLEEP RIGHT?!

The sheer panic in his movements, oh my gods. It should not be as hilarious as it is 😭😂

To be very honest though, I would've panicked a bit in his place too, with friends like those, they'd never let him live it down

Peem is so cute 😭

Nothing to see here, just a guy getting shy over how his prince charming hom-ed him, and they kissed through his hand and cuddled all night hehe

Phum: here he comes again :) *eye twitch*

Peem's expression, how he's still holding his hands as if he has the cup, Kluen's disbelief, and Phum's smug af face-

I'm wheezing 😭🤣

Kluen, I'm kinda starting to like you, but no.

You don't stand half a chance against them and their situationship.

Hope you find another boyfriend to fall in love at first sight with (and leave my boys alone please, they don't need any more complications) <3

Oh, Fang knows too. Of course he does, that's his little brother right there

We all know how protective of his brother he is, there's no way he'd let anybody else take care of him... unless, he knew Phum liked that person

les voila

Poor Tan, his theerak just ignoring him T-T

*looks between them* yeah, pretty much the same pic 👀

And here it is. The root of all his fears.

See, in this camp, almost all of them are paired up in the sense that they usually stick to that person. Even Beer has MIck. But then comes wild card Kluen, who's hogging all of Peem's attention as much as he can and that leaves Phum. Alone.

I will be getting back to this running motif of Phum being alone and how it changes through the ep in later scenes as well

Also, after they went back, both Mick and Beer asked if he really was okay, which made me smile, because maybe, Phum isn't as alone as he thinks himself to be. There are people who care for him, who are concerned, who'll support him, and of course, he always has Fang, his beloved phi

My poor babie Tan 🥺🥺

Also, notice how the shot is taken in such a way that they're the only ones in the frame, and are also standing within one specific part of the wall? (Ignore Kluen's head and hands please). It reflects how they're in their own world with each other, especially Tan

The nosy peeps gang strikes again!

Jokes aside, the synchronised strides, the background music together set the perfect levels of suspense and comedy

Peem, smug: yes! that emotionally constipated dumbass is finally getting out of De Nile

Pun: wait... is my plan actually working? Ah, of course it is

Toey: head empty, no thoughts, but... DOES P'Q ACTUALLY LIKE ME OMG I'LL DIE

Oh gods, FINALLY. I wish them a happily ever after. Sadhu 😌🙏🏼

Pun forgetting all about being quiet when Toey finally confesses is so on character 😭👍🏼

Also... what's even the point of being quiet? Q and Chain have been friends with these idiots since high school, of course they know they're peeking

Toey: *shooketh*

Gays in thai bl and staring off into the distance 😭

This scene was so, so beautiful and also quite important for both Q and Toey

Q knew what was up, more or less, but his confusion stemmed from his knowledge of Toey

Would Toey really go to these lengths? For him?

"Why? Are you the only one who can tease me?" <- Q says this to tell Toey that he might have been angry, but now he understands that Toey didn't really have any bad intentions

Hugs always get bonus points from me, and this was pretty up there

Pun hiding behind Chain is so on point

His friends: you're an idiot so we had no choice but to intervene 😭😭

Matt's (JJ) comedic timing is >>>>>>

Toey and Matt's friendship is also given weight in the series, and I'm happier for it.

Also revenge is sweet ehehe *coughs*

Moving on.

If there's no live singing dedicated to your One True Love, is it even Thai BL??

We Are making generous use of MSP songs 😭👍🏼

This scene.

The apology. It is at this point that they're leaving all the past pain, grief and anger in the past

Q makes sure to tell Toey that yes, he may have loved Milk Frappe Boy, but now, in the present, all his love was for Toey, his lovable annoying mentee

This apology is not only to Toey, or Milk Frappe Boy, but to himself as well, because by causing pain to a person he loves twice, he'd caused himself pain too

The perfect sweet and romantic moment, but also with a teeny bit of teasing, because that's who they are

No joke, I gasped and nearly stopped breathing when he said this

Peem's reply, his soft but kind of hurt voice were just so painful to hear

But it's also this moment that Peem gives Phum a reality check – if he really didn't want to, he wouldn't be doing any of this, and Phum had no business trying to control his life

The conversation outside with Q was significant, but also a diluted reflection of Peem's earlier (in ep. 7) talk with Q

Even a few episodes earlier, Q would have gone ballistic on Phum for treating his bestie like this, but now, he asks Peem how he feels for Phum, tries to understand exactly what their relationship is

It was at this point that he knew, he fucked up

Beer is a godsent. I love him <3

I think Toey says "I asked hia Tan to blow it up for me."

Also, Tiw and his rubber duck floater from MSP anyone? 👀

And, we are back to square one where Phum is left alone again

As I'd said before, this a repeating motif throughout the series, but especially the last two episodes

This is how it has always been in Phum's life: he has been left behind. He does have Fang, but now even Fang has a boyfriend. And while this does not affect his brother's affection towards him in anyway, it does introduce a new strand of lonliness for Phum because 1. no matter what, he loves his brother a lot, and knows how much he loves Tan, so he definitely will try to stay out of their way at least sometimes and 2. he wants a boyfriend too. Further, he wants Peem, but there's a push and pull there, and after what he said, in his mind he had pretty much ruined his chances with his crush

This is the moment Phum starts to hope that maybe, just maybe, his feelings aren't as unrequited as he'd thought.

On the other hand, Peem is the one afraid here. What if the deal is all that's holding them together? What if without it, Phum will have no reason to be as close to him?

Peem, baby, for one, your groups are already merged, and secondly, this guy is head over heels for you, no way he'd stop following you like a lost puppy

(Apparently, it's not Peem's turn with the communal braincell this week 😭)

Here, Phum is technically alone, but he's surrounded with friends, and he's smiling

He isn't left behind here, for once, he's sitting there by choice (to shamelessly ogle his crush, but shh we don't talk about that) with the comforting knowledge that when/if he jumps in, he won't be left out, Kluen be damned

Once the floodgates of affection have been opened to Q, there's no going back <3

(Also, notice how Tan is already asleep on Fang's shoulder? 👀)

FINALLY

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT SINCE PEEM KICKED PHUM'S BALLS

Jokes apart, this moment is so, so beautiful. The kiss, the soft question "are you ready for my answer now?" (maybe Peem isn't, but hell if he denies this man his kissies).

Everything leading up to this point is also so very delightful

Phum helping them out in the cafe, despite probably having never worked a day in his life, discovering how Peem still kept the roses and finally, finally, the completed painting. This sight, above all, is what convinces Phum that Peem might have feelings for him after all; because which fool would lie about not having completed something that would free them from being a slave to someone? A fool in love, that's who

ALSO,

if they don't get together and have the fluffiest moments in the next ep, I swear to god, hands will be thrown *grumbles* they're already making me wait a whole damn week

Anyways, that's all for this week, see you next ep! (I cannot promise I won't be jumping around and screaming, but then again, this is supposed to be a crack post so-)

And if you made it this far, thank you so much for reading! 😊

Here, have a bubble tea and a sandwich 🧋🥪

[If you'd like, here are my previous posts: Ep 8 and Ep 9.]

[olderthannetfic]

TL;DR: multiple people can arrive at the same fanfic idea/premise in different ways, but also, getting inspired by a different fanfic is not stealing, please don't gatekeep!

I joined a new fandom (it's Resident Evil (RE), which I'm mostly mentioning for that one 'nosy' anon because hell yeah I am super nosy as well, so here you go, dropping some names!), and I quickly stumbled upon one fandom-specific plot trope that I thought was both pretty neat but also super obvious (Infected!Character fic, which, in a world with zombies and viruses that cause zombies is a very logical trope).

Anyway, there was not quite as much body horror as I thought there would be, although I'm still looking, but that's not why I'm writing to you, that's just the (un)necessary background.

There was this one fic that I opened, which in its Author's Note clearly stated that the author set this fanfiction in another author's AU, because they loved the world created by this first author. The first fanfiction author basically came up with their own Infected!Character design and backstory (including fanart), and the second fanfiction author liked it so much they were now writing this fic based on/in that AU. Obviously not quoting the AN directly, but this second author was very complimentary and explicitly mentioned where they got the idea from, gushing about the first author.

In the AN for chapter two, the second author stated that they weren't aware that that first fanfiction author didn't allow others to write about the Infected!Character AU they'd made, that that first author in fact only allowed a very limited number of people they publicly approved of to write about their AU, and nobody else was allowed to touch the Infected!Character AU. This second author was now apologising in the AN for not knowing this, plus mentioning that they changed chapter one to switch up the backstory & design to not be too close to that of the first fanficton author's AU.

That made me sad, honestly. I've seen this attitude a couple of times, where fanfiction authors are super protective of their ideas that they won't allow any other fanfiction author to write about them, and it's always struck me as a little bit hypocritical, given the whole deal of fanfiction. Especially when the original/first fanfiction author is credited and the inspired work is clearly done because the second author loved the first fanfiction so much. If it's a highly developed/specific and original AU (so not just any common trope), and you don't even mention the fanfic you were inspired by, then I find that rude, but just flat out not allowing people to even touch 'your' thing? C'mon!

This partially ties into my other gripe about a specific type of comments I occasionally get, which are along the lines of 'huh interesting idea where did you get it? bc/btw there is this other fic with the same idea (posted before you)'; idk if I got the tone right, but they never seem to be actually genuinely asking how I got the idea (and I always delight in telling them, not sarcastically, I genuinely love talking about this stuff, bc I get inspired by the most random things and I love love writing 'original'/new things!! I love tropes as much as anybody, I read a shitton of them, but i when I write I love coming up with new shit/plot! it's so fun!!). They just vanish after my explanation, even when I try to invite further conversation. It always feels to me like they're 'checking' that I didn't steal the idea, and it feels a bit lousy.

I mean in (larger) fandoms, it is not surprising at all that two or three or even more people arrive at the same idea, maybe even inspired by the same thing, same reading of canon, or not, varied experiences--and just because the works are similar doesn't mean that they were inspired by one another, but if they are, that's not a sin! I just want people to not take everything in bad faith, and also, to not 'disallow' others from getting inspired, especially when they do it in a very polite manner!

It's because of comments like these that I sometimes, very privately, worry that before I'll manage to post the long fic I spent months writing--because I'm one of those who wants the thing finished before I start posting--somebody else will have a similar idea, post their thing first, and then I'll look like I'm lying about not reading/stealing their idea, or just jumping on the bandwagon, which again, it's not a bad thing, actually.

And it shouldn't be like that! I shouldn't worry, and people should also be more willing to accept that authors can arrive at the same idea at (roughly) the same time & accept that explanation without side-eyeing the author, and that if an author is inspired by a different fanfic, that's not a sin either (in fact, for me it would be an honour).

None of this is new either, but that RE stuff reminded me of it again.

Oh man, this is way longer than I thought it would be. Apologies. I'm going to add a TLDR at the start.

Anyway, I'm going to finish writing an Infected!Catboy!Leon fic now and be very unsurprised if I find out that somebody else has had the same idea long before me (aside from one or two reader fic inserts with that topic that I stumbled upon on tumblr, bc that's just not my thing at all (reader insert, I mean)).

--

In college, friends of mine had a falling out over one of them "stealing" the other's fic idea.

Space pirates.

Not specific space pirates. Not a way of integrating the concept that was fandom-specific. No, just the general idea of space pirates in the same fandom.

Never have I facepalmed so hard.

[johnslittlespoon]

ok okokk i may be pushing it but i just cant stop picturing barry circa 2012 with leaving!bucky. i just feel like theyd have the cutest dynamic ever. he gives art student vibes like maybe hes studying film or literature. theyre childhood bestfriends and maybe they were eachother's homoerotic-codependent-friendship canon event. UGHH theyd be so cute stfuu. and maybe bucky and gale are already established and curt is just yearning for a whileee like over a year of slow burn until the three of them are a throuple... idk i just miss curtbuckbucky. you dont have to change your canon for the long fic i just needed to share this idea lmfao

au post | NO ur not pushing it this is such fun world building teehee <33 genuinely this is gonna help me later for drafting! (FUCK MY LIFE HOW IS THIS 2K WORDS. i thought i only had a few thoughts... i was so wrong. my bad chief. enjoy/suffer ig)

ok so this is so funny because i've actually been thinking ab how sweet those two would be together, cute little nerdy besties, and how they'd meet because of course curt has to be in this fic!!

and the first thing my mind went to was the cliche homoerotic codependent friendship trope too LMAO. i'm feeling like maybe they meet on the first day of highschool; neither of them share their english class with any friends, and they end up sat next to each other, and john keeps side–eyeing him because curt looks... interesting. (ie: deep into his emo phase. the fringe. the smudged eyeshadow. chipped black nail polish, band shirts– all things john does not let him live down as they grow up.)

but his eyes settle on some pin on curt's jacket that has some character from his favourite movie or something, and the yap jumps out, john can't control it. blurts out a "you like ___ too?!" and curt's head snaps over and he nods nervously and john takes one look at those big sad charcoal–ringed blue puppy eyes and is like yup. this is the one. will protect with my life.

(tiny headcanon that rly won't have a big effect on plot or anything, but i feel like it just fits very well with john/his character in leaving– dude's got madddd undiagnosed adhd. he's written off as a loud mouth/troublemaker in his childhood, but he wants to be a good kid, his mind is just always going too fast and sitting still is torture and his parents get frustrated and don't look into the root of the problem, trying to discipline it out of him instead. i will heal my inner child by healing him alright)

they're attached at the hip from that moment on and it makes sense to no one because they seem like complete opposites, curt more inclined towards the arts and bookish things and his friends are all the same, whereas john is more inclined towards athletics and science and hangs around that type of crowd as well. but they both love video games and movies and music and they bond over never really feeling like they fit in anywhere particular and both groups of friends get along just fine when they all get together. <3

but yk time goes on, they learn things about themselves as they grow up, and curt and john are so close and spend so much time together that they're already a lot closer than regular friends– they just don't realize it. they think nothing of cuddling up on the couch watching movies together, or sharing a bed when john stays over at curt's place after he gets into a fight with his parents, or being much more interested in spending time together than pursuing girls.

and curt's pretty– john nearly mistakes him for a girl that first day they meet. the summer before their senior year, john practically spends the whole summer at curt's house, and curt's mom doesn't mind; she works long hours and is glad her son isn't spending the summer moping around indoors alone, and she loves john and gets the feeling that her home is a sanctuary for him. one day they're in the backyard lazing around, and they get onto the topic of first kisses, and neither of them have had a proper relationship outside of those classic week–long middleschool flings that don't actually mean anything, so there's not much to talk about.

but being dumb teenage boys, they start worrying about "what if we're really bad at kissing and no girls wanna go with us to senior prom this year" etc. and one of them pops the suggestion of practicing together, and thus begins a summer of sweet stolen kisses and hand holding and experimenting and dancing around calling it something. it ends when the summer does because they realize that they both work better as friends, but they're as close as ever and both definitely learn they aren't straight (and they probably make a cute pact– "if we aren't in love by the time we're thirty, we'll just marry each other.")

i don't see them really doing much together because they're young and shy and inexperienced, but it's enough for john to decide that yeah, he definitely likes guys too, but that's all that really amounts to (until he meets gale) because he's growing up in a small town in wisconsin and it's not the easiest/most accepting place to find other queers. john probably ends up dating a real sweet girl during his last year of highschool, but she's going away for college and john's going to a local one so it ends amicably at the end of summer, both of them staying close friends. (if we wanna get sickeningly wholesome, maybe she ends up pining for a girl while john's pining for gale and they share their little stories and give each other advice and facetime every week to catch up <3)

(++ curt ends up falling head over heels for ken, who he meets through john when curt and john's friend groups get together for movie nights or summer parties. john pretends to be annoyed at how lovesick they are when they first start crushing, but he ends up matchmaking and being the one to push them to confess their feelings after graduation because he loves his friends.)

BUT THEN, leaving this fic's 'canon' to elaborate on the throuple stuff you said! i miss curtbuckbucky too </3

in a separate universe, curt doesn't end up with ken, and as much as he loves his friendship with john and agrees that a relationship wouldn't have worked at that time in their lives, he spends that first year of college pining. when john starts talking about some guy named gale during their second year, he's a little sad, but mostly protective, because "what do you MEAN he's in his 30s??" and "he's a BIKER?"

but john eventually introduces him to gale after a few months of telling curt about him, probably once he and gale actually start seeing each other, and curt immediately gets it. and then he's in double–hell because not only is he a bit (a lot) in love with his best friend, but he's blushing every time said best friend's new bf talks to him, and they're gonna notice eventually if they haven't already and he feels so guilty.

more yearning ensues and john is dense and doesn't realize but gale picks up on it, maybe even notices john doing a bit of pining of his own that john's not fully aware of. and his heart twists because his mind goes to his own insecurities about how john should be seeing someone his own age, so he sits john down and opens up a conversation about it. john is adamant that he's very, very happy with gale, but he tells gale about his and curt's past and admits that he has always still had feelings for him, but insists that it's not something he'd ever pursue, that he values curt's friendship more.

gale throws him off by saying he wouldn't mind if john wanted to explore those feelings, and at first john gets anxious gale is calling things off with the two of them and this is his way of softening the blow, but gale reassures him that's not the case, that he's very happy with their relationship. he just encourages that if he wants to talk to curt and feel things out, he wouldn't be opposed to john and curt seeing each other as well– gale's often busy, after all, so it would be nice for john to have someone else, as long as curt's comfortable with that kind of arrangement and as long as john keeps gale in the loop.

they decide to kinda just feel it out as they go, but soon enough gale starts coming home from work every so often to find the two of them curled up on his couch together, sweet and innocent. curt's wary at first, always slightly detaching himself from john when gale's around, but gale is always friendly and doesn't change up his routine, settling on the couch at john's other side like it's not a big deal at all, wanting to show curt he's welcome there, not wanting john to feel guilty.

it's another scenario where lines just sorta start to blur over time, curt spending a lot of time over at gale's house, and gale sees the way curt looks at him, probably noticed it from the first time they met but chalked it up to nerves at the time. curt's an angel and he's grown quite fond of him, but he doesn't want to overstep, so he leaves it up to curt, thinking maybe the boy will mention it to john one day and john will in turn come to gale to talk about it.

and eventually that happens, just like gale thought it might. curt's just gone home and john's head is in his lap on the couch while they watch tv, and john asks "what do you think about curt?" and gale tells him that he's sweet and he loves how much john smiles when he's around him, the usual. "so you like him?" john pushes, and gale immediately has a feeling where this conversation is going, drags his eyes away from the tv to look down at john.

says "of course" easily, and lets john take his time forming his thoughts. john ends up telling him that he and curt were fooling around earlier while gale was at work (and god help gale for the images that puts in his head) and that he'd made some offhand comment about how curt better hurry up if he doesn't want gale to come home and catch him half naked on their couch. and john's all shy when he says "and curt, uh. y'know. that... did it for him" with a vague gesture LOL. gale never fails to find it amusing how certain things can fluster john to talk about after all they've done together.

"so, anyway. i asked him about it after, if it was a coincidence, and he was real shy about it, but he did admit after a whole lot of apologizing that he likes you." gale listens to him nervously get his words out, petting his hair encouragingly, waits for him to be done before he asks "how do you feel about that?" only to watch the flush return when john mumbles "it's hot."

this is getting sooo long i need to take away my own typing privileges, but basically that's how things would start between the three of them– john and gale agree that gale will let himself be a bit flirty with curt and see how curt takes it. obviously this goes a little too well when curt gets hot and bothered sat between john and gale during a movie night with john's hand on his knee and gale's arm resting on the couch behind him while he plays with curt's hair.

the movie is forgotten when gale's finger catches on a tangled curl and curt doesn't bite back the little whine that slips out in time and john's head snaps over and he mumbles a "fuck" when he realizes what's happened, and his lack of filter comes out to play when he turns to curt and asks "curt, can gale kiss you?" and curt turns to gale with big doll eyes and nods.

john ends up palming himself over his shorts as he watches gale coax curt into his lap, face hot and pupils blown as he gets to see both his guys make out in front of him, almost dizzy seeing curt get so shy and needy and pliant because when it's just the two of them, he and curt are both very balanced in their dynamic. they've been such close friends for so long that not much gets the other truly shy like that, and they're always quick to voice their wants and crack jokes while fooling around and all. so to see curt get so flustered in that way with gale has him lightheaded, and by the time they all collapse into gale's bed at the end of the night, john's convinced this is the best decision he's ever made.

there's a lot of pining on curt's end because for a while it's kinda just sex when it's the three of them, and he loves it but he also finds himself wanting more but feeling too scared to voice it because he feels like he's intruding. but eventually they all get their shit sorted out; curt fits into their relationship just right in a way gale and john never intended or expected, and gale falls for curt just as much as john has and curt does the same with gale.

gale's got two sweet things glued to his side now and man, do they ever give him a run for his money, and if he'd thought john had too much energy (and stamina) it's nothing compared to keeping up with both of them, but he wouldn't have it any other way. <3

throuple things won't be happening in the actual fic, but i do love the idea of exploring the dynamic the three of them might have in a spin–off of that au so this was rly fun thx :-) maybe i'll write a pwp oneshot set in that universe as an excuse to write more curtbuckbucky once the fic is done LOL we'll see!

[angelpuns]

how do you think reactions and stuff would change if one of the other turtle boys got de-aged while the others stayed teens instead of leo? im curious

Ohoho I've actually thought about this.

If it were Raph it'd be an entirely different situation. He'd trust them immediately, he just KNOWS they're his family. The real problem would be he would keep trying to take care of THEM. Getting his ninpo back wouldn't be too big of a problem, the bigger problem would be Raph thinking maybe its better if he's small and trying to convince them of that as well. Which- ofc they want him back but they'd misunderstand and think he wanted to be small so he could get a break ( a very deserved one ). But otherwise it'd be pretty chill for the most part :) Donnie wouldn't freak out as much, Mikey would carry Raph around like a plush all day and Leo would be too injured to know what was going on ( and then feel incredibly horrible guilt when he finds out what happened. This is ofc assuming Raph was de-aged through the same means as Leo, soooo yeah. Honesty this would be a really fun spinoff t write, but I've already got a bit too much on my plate.

Mikey it'd be easy. Incredibly funny, because he's even more of a menace than Leo- but in ways the brothers are used to. Raph and Donnie find it hard to keep up at first, but then they get in a routine and all is well. Mikey trusts them immediately since they've always been his older brothers. They probably just had a growth spurt. His ninpo would be back very quickly and with his innate talent for mystics he'd be back to normal within a week. The only conflict would be Raph is so so so so anxious.

Donnie would RAISE HELL AS A CHILD. I think he has a lot led trouble trusting than Leo, but isn't immediately on board. After a simple DNA test tho he'd accept it and move on. Then he'd promise to tell his brothers everything he learned ( not how the time travel works but he doesn't know that yet ) his main conflict would be having to deal with the ninpi and the mystic stuff. He's already at an age where he relys on his tech and having to do mystic stuff would be so overwheing and bad he'd want to give up. Also Leo is not doing well in the med bay and he's incredibly worried ( sort of got a taste for that in the spinoff )

But yeah, these would be really interesting takes I think!! originally Kid Leo was about -like- childhood perceptions being different. Like the bros had certain expectations of Leo as a child and they were warped. Its still covered, but I think its lost a lot of that and is more about the plot now :)

Sorry I wrote a lot, I just was thinking about this a whole bunch <3

[esta-elavaris]

Major Fallen Through Time spoilers/potential plot discussions.

I have been meaning to discuss another aspect of changes in CTW/FTT -- spoilers beneath the cut? Kinda? Like I do fully discuss my plans and different options, not to the extent of every single change and all that, but nothing is set in stone, I'm just cut between trying to manage expectations, not disappoint people, while also judging what feels believable for the story --

So folk are getting very excited (which I LOVE) about how the adventure portion of the story would change -- a lot of people thinking Theo would end up on the Pearl with Elizabeth, as a captive of Barbossa.

The problem is...I can't actually think of a sequence of events where that would work? Like, the pirates make it very clear that they're happy to kill everybody in that mansion who is not Elizabeth. They kill the footman (butler?), and she has to make the maid hide so that she doesn't also die. I think they'd kill Theo. And that, by some miracle, even if they didn't, there'd be no convincing them to take a random spare along with them. All they want is the gold, and the Turner blood.

I did toy with the idea of them basically being like "we're sisters! we both work here!" and insisting they're both Turners, but a) Theo is quite a few years older than Elizabeth, and I think the only reason Elizabeth's story is so believable is that her and Will are the same age, and b) I just don't think the pirates would buy that...and even if they did, they don't NEED two Turners?

I think the odds of Theo surviving the whole thing are small, and the odds of them taking her along with Elizabeth are even slimmer. There's also the fact that Theo basically needed this arc to get a chance to prove her knowledge to Jack, impress him, and show she can hold her own. If she's on the Pearl with Barbossa, she can't do that half as much.

SO my plan was as follows:

The attack begins, Elizabeth sends Theo away with the maid to fetch help. The maid runs for the Fort, Theo runs to Norrington's house. There, she finds Hattie (either dead, injured, or in the process of trying and failing to fight off the pirate who attacks them in CTW, I hadn't decided that yet), and either saves her or uhhh? It seems a cop-out to not have her die tbh, but I'd be willing to "settle" on a pretty dire set of injuries (no SA though, not doing that, not willing to do that).

After that, things would more or less follow the CTW-verse, but start to diverge once Theo and Elizabeth are once again reunited - because by that point, Elizabeth would have to find out that Theo at least knew something of what was going to happen, and even a saint would not take kindly to that immediatley post-kidnapping, and of course the change also impacts Elizabeth convincing James to go after Will "as a wedding present".

That is what feels right and fitting and uhhh, for lack of a better word, "real" to me as far as the stories go, but I'm seeing a lot of excitement for big grand changes and I just do not want to disappoint 🫠🫠🫠🫠

So lmk your thoughts, all that, and we'll see ig.

[mdhwrites]

I saw a post a while ago lambasting Amphibia for having its characters 'do the most horrendous shit imaginable' for the sake of comedic plots and get off far too easily for it. In their view, Amphibia took slapstick comedy way 'too far' sometimes. I thought this was quite hyperbolic; the protagonists made serious mistakes, but rarely anything I'd call unforgivable, especially since they'd almost always show a level of remorse. But it did make me think about the way immoral acts are portrayed in comedic shows, and how we, as viewers, can tolerate and forgive things we probably wouldn't in real life because of the way these acts are presented to us.

I mean, think about Hop-Pop using mind control on Anne, Sprig and Polly in Children of the Spore. If anything like that happened to you in real life, chances are you wouldn't react to someone violating your body and mind by shrugging your shoulders and going 'well, guess we pushed you pretty far.' You'd probably beat the shit out of HP and never talk to him again. But that episode is kinda self-aware about the awfulness of it all (which I love). Polly flat-out says the old frog crossed all kinds of ethical and moral lines XD

Going back to the whole 'too far' accusation, though, I'm pretty sure we're smart enough to understand the difference between a silly frog show and real-life crimes. I don't think there needs to be super realistic consequences to everything (as the post I mentioned was suggesting) when your focus is on writing a slice-of-life fantastical comedy. I guess the only real argument you could make is 'but it's teaching kids to forgive absolutely atrocious, unforgivable things!' And...maybe? But I'm pretty sure any kid with their head screwed on straight understands not to replicate or forgive immoral behaviour too easily.

I guess what I'm trying to ask is, do you think characters doing awful things for the sake of comedy or plot can go too far, in that they can unintentionally make characters far too heinous to sympathize with, or do you think complaints like those of the post I mentioned above are a result of taking something far too seriously? Is there even such a thing as 'too far' when it comes to slapstick comedy?

So let's talk about intent, tone and framing because these things REALLY matter to a story. It's actually part of the problem with fandoms wanting everything to be realistic, darker, etc. because they're really asking for one thing: For them to all be the same. To not be what they are because, you know, the fact that these are comedy cartoons for kids MATTERS.

But first let's actually shift gears AWAY from cartoons for a second to talk about things being genuinely irredeemable for comedy. MANY people are really against prank style reality tv because it preys so completely on human suffering. Because these people are doing terrible things to just normal people. I personally don't like the premise... But I like Impractical Jokers. That show frames it DEMONSTRABLY more about terrible things happening to these four friends, by these four friends, and usually the worst they do to others is leave them a little confused or a bit uncomfortable. One of the big elements to changing this is that all the challenges are effectively dares. Someone either commits to the bit or if it becomes too much, they dip out but they are ALLOWED to dip out, minus the final jokes which are always pretty much purely at the Joker's expense.

Are these four people bad people? No. But part of why we also know that is because it's television and they're doing it to entertain as part of being comedians. Bizarrely enough, a lot of modern cartoon fandoms seem to want to act like fiction IS reality. It's where you get people going "Oh, you're being so cruel to a 14 year old, nuerodivergent girl!" and me going "I'm being critical of a character in a narrative. Can you please stop telling me, an actual human being in the real world, to kill myself because of a fictional character?"

Because shock of all shocks, PEOPLE CAN TELL REALITY FROM FICTION! In fact, even kids can! The fucking video game industry had to go through this hell HARD to prove that killing people in a video game is not the same as having psychopathic tendencies in the real world. Do you know how many kids play CoD? And those kids are fine. At least most of them.

So with all of that preamble out of the way: When can a morality focused show fuck up?

It's actually incredibly rarely in the terrible things the characters do because the show USUALLY addresses these elements as part of the moral of the day.

For the example given of Hop Pop's mind control, it is shown as... Eerie to put it mildly. Even from go, Hop Pop only enjoys it so long as he doesn't have to interact with it. It is never framed as a positive besides a bit selfishness. However, Hop Pop is a good enough person to show genuine remorse and try to fix this. He puts in a lot of effort, is admonished as the lesson of the day is learned to not try to control people and to potentially compromise and then it MOVES. ON. Because they live in a fantasy world where anyone could die at any second. A day of none thoughts is not actually that big of a deal, especially since it wasn't done out of malice or even really on purpose. It's a part of the fun of the setting and of the fantasy genre as a whole that you can just do these weird concepts like this and move on because magic happens sometimes. You might grumble for a day or two but hey, at least it was your neighbor and not the king, am I right!? Hail King Andrias.

A big part of this though, and why so many morality driven shows can have characters do terrible things without imparting the wrong lessons, is because it's addressed. Pretty much explicitly. It is framed as wrong, addressed as wrong and then fixed because it was WRONG. Even if it gives momentary gain, that gain is almost always also included in being wrong.

It's actually a formula that Amphibia purposefully breaks for an episode, carrying it over from directly the one before, because there genuinely was one crime committed that hadn't been addressed and by the time it was, that sin had grown to a point where it was too reasonable to have a character still be mad to ignore it: The music box. Hop Pop hiding it is actually an AWFUL thing to do because it dooms Anne, it means her parents will never get closure, dooms the rest of Anne's friends, etc. etc. Hop Pop has to be okay with Anne never quite being fully happy because of always wanting to go home while also living with this false hope that he implanted into her. A trust he has not earned because of the lie.

So even after they theoretically have their morality episode about the box, Amphibia takes this time for such a PERSONAL attack on Anne to stick with her for another episode during The First Temple. It actually acknowledges that you don't get over everything immediately. That sometimes you need space. I don't even like that episode but the break in formula is actually meant to make the message more powerful, and does so successfully, especially because the crime was different. It wasn't of indifference or something quickly fixed. It was of long term AGONY and a complete breach in trust that would make one question what relationship they can have with another person. There's pretty much zero other crimes in the show like that besides Sasha/Marcy's betrayals, which aren't treated as easy fixes, and Andrias' betrayal is the heel turn that makes him the primary antagonist. These crimes, these personal, genuinely awful things to do to other people that could be replicated, unlike so much of the fantasy violence, are usually seen as something you do have to work on. It's a great, nuanced take on being a morality one off show while also being able to elevate some issues to being dealt with more seriously and consistently.

Also, quick note from someone on my Discord: They NEED to do bad things in order to teach! They are meant to be the bad example so when their actions lead to things going wrong, you understand not to copy that behavior. This is honestly storytelling 101 for most... Plots. Not just morals but plots. If the characters do NOTHING, nothing happens and nothing will be learned.

You want a show that will teach kids bad lessons and then reinforce there are no consequences for those? WELCOME TO THE OWL HOUSE! Specifically: The show that tells you to lie and keep secrets because your fear justifies keeping them!

I know that sounds shitty but like... Luz is the main character. For half of the show, she is portrayed as the second most moral character in the show behind Willow. She admonishes stealing, cheating, etc. as her contrast with Eda. Then after Yesterday's Lie... She literally can't stop lying and never faces consequences for it.

The closest actually comes in Falls and Follies where Amity at least forces a promise out of Luz to be more open with her. This actually though doesn't fix the problem, it just makes it WAY WORSE because one of the main targets of these lies, that kids can easily replicate, especially because Luz is almost always lying about things that might upset others which is the most common thing kids will lie about, is Amity. So now we have both lying and breaking promises. You know, two of the most basic morals any kids show should impart on the audience!

In Reaching Out though, Amity gets a little mad but then it's excused because of her dad! In Thanks to Them, no one gives a shit that Luz has been keeping secrets and lying for months. Camila makes sure Luz DOESN'T tell her friends the truth either about her plans. You know, Luz's MOM who should want her daughter to be an honest person. The show then constantly keeps cutting Luz off from telling anyone anything because it literally can't without revealing how bullshit what she's doing is until by the end of the show... Luz hasn't been punished in any way and the lies just... Drift away.

Completely unaddressed.

This causes a problem because while the lies theoretically hurt Luz... They hurt less than losing her friends. Hurt less than disappointing a parent. Hurt less than making her look bad. And this is the main character. The one kids are supposed to connect with the most. The one who usually most explicitly defines the morality of a show. And she is never punished or stopped from all. Of. Her. Lies.

(As a note: This is also how you get a lot of guys taking the wrong lessons from anime perverts. Sure, this guy gets smacked but he never loses his friends. Never faces real consequences. In return... He gets way more ass than the main character does, doesn't he? *gags violently*)

THAT is how you impart bad morals. It's not surprising to me that the fandom for TOH hides behind excuses so much for their show because their literal main character was justified, in fiction, to have all of the terrible things she did, all the choices she didn't have to make or the people she discarded, because she ALWAYS had an excuse. And so long as you have an excuse, by what TOH says, you can get away with fucking anything.

And mind you, that last part is NOT Luz specific. Have a bad uncle? Don't worry Hunter, the fact that you literally hunt, oppress and potentially kill wild witches can be entirely forgotten and ignored. Have a mean mommy? Don't worry Amity, we literally never have to properly address the literal years of bullying you did to another character or even how attempting to kill Luz was wrong. Collector? COME ON! You just had bad friends/family so now you just need good ones and we can forget all about you oppressing people for fucking months!

This isn't addressing these problems. These are excuses. And excuses can seem REALLY appealing to people. After all, how many hide awful acts or statements behind: "Come on, it was just a joke." Shields are useful for trying to avoid criticism after all. If you never acknowledge you were in the wrong, you don't have to feel bad for having done something mean, let alone terrible.

Just to bring it back to Amphibia: Sasha tries to do this. She believes she knows best so she feels justified in all she does because it will make everyone the happiest, at least in her own eyes. Then in Turning Point, she realizes the folly of her ways, addresses that she was a terrible person and plants her foot down FIRM. No more acting the part of protector while actually being a tyrant. She will risk her very life in order to right these wrongs. And we see it also in Commander Anne where she is taking the change seriously. These are two half episodes, a single episode in full, that lets us know that her actions were inexcusable and that they were wrong and now she is allowed to be a part of the good guys now that she has made sure the audience knows that they can look to her as an example.

One full episode to ADDRESS the fact that what Sasha did was wrong and to not excuse it but to learn from it.

That's why all these terrible things protagonists do in shows is fine. They learn from it. They genuinely regret their actions. They show the audience why they shouldn't have done it. It's never okay to the show that they did. Not that it can't be forgiven, because people should be allowed the chance to grow, but that it still wasn't okay.

For a kid's show, that is pitch perfect. It's why moral of the day storytelling exists and I can't really think of any huge errors in this department on Amphibia's side. It's pretty damn good at smacking someone over the head when they act like a jackass. At bare minimum, there are WAY worse examples out there.

======+++++======

This is absolutely one of those criticisms that has me look at the person making it and go "Just admit you don't like cartoons. Or children's media in general probably." Admittedly, there's actually plenty of adult stuff just as childish, no one stays mad in Family Guy, so it's probably just "You don't like cartoons." It's the sort of bad faith criticism that just reveals you as not having actually wanted the product but whatever you thought the product should be.

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[ao3gobi17]

Hi I have two questions - What would you have done differently if you’d written AWOW? And if Custody was set in Pandora what would that look like? 🥰

I really loved AWOW and any changes I'd make would be dependant on whether I knew what was coming up in Avatar 3 and beyond.

A couple of things that come to mind are:

1. I don't think it's super clear why Ardmore still has the recoms chasing after Jake after Jake gives up the fight and runs away. If they think he's still leader of the Omatikaya and is just recruiting the Metkayina/drumming up support from other clans I would have made that a little more obvious.

2. It seems like Neytiri giving Spider the scar is meant to parallel Jake giving up leadership earlier in the movie, but I'm not clear on what that parallel is.. presumably its the son for a son thought from Jake later since Spider has never been a leader? I would have either changed the earlier scene or made this more obvious.

3. I think they did a good job with so many characters in the climatic sequences, but there was a lil bit 'one gets captured then freed then another captured and freed, people are split into twos and threes then split into different twos and threes', esp with the kids... I mean I loved it, I'm glad it was a long sequence, but I reckon it needed tightened up, with the Metkayina being a little more visible.

4. This is less for plot reasons and more for selfish reasons but I would have liked one more (short even) Q and Spider scene. Especially during the Seadragon period because they'd got super comfortable with eachother, Spider is now 'betrayed' and upset as Q is decimating these villages and it would have been good for him to have had a bit more animosity towards the Seadragon crew and esp after he sees that they hunt the Tulkun for just the Amrita.

5. I would have had Lo'ak and the other kids name check Spider during the Metkayina sequences - when Jake references him to Kiri when she's upset, it feels like a very barren single reference, like they only just remembered him.

6. I would have only had the one recom die when Neytiri and Jake (and Neteyam) ambush Q to save the kids. I understand that it helped establish Neteyam and it would be weird for Jake to not get a successful kill, but I'd have preferred if after Neytiri's first shot there's just a lot of diving for cover etc like the recoms are actually pretty worth opponents? Would help with the shock impact later of Neytiri's rampage.

7. I probably would have given Payakan a voice... like a telepathy type thing... maybe not using a lot of words and maybe only for Lo'ak but I wanted to get a 'human' vibe from him.

8. I would have de-Americanised Spider and Lo'ak a bit and I would have had Q do the haircut and get clothes on Spider.. It would be good for showing time passing and esp if Spider is slowly reverting back to his original form without Q stopping him, while Q himself is getting more Na'vi.

The Custody question is tricky, because I deliberately went modern AU to avoid Pandora! You could have a scenario where Q appears to have killed Paz but I imagine he'd be court marshalled and sent back to earth or else he'd be 'forgiven' to continue work as normal. Q and the RDA are the main authorities on the human side, so it's less likely we'd see the combo of him stitched him up by someone internally and also remain in his post.

So I guesss... I'd have him captured by the Na'vi? Spider doesn't visit him because of the whole war criminal thing. Jake and co are keeping him alive for intel. Q is still demanding to see Spider that way. He could be recom!Q or regular!Q - and then his team probably rescue him and grab Spider same time?? Or maybe they rescue him and try to find Spider but grab a Sully kid instead and that plays out like the Leo thing but with the comms. I'm not sure the Paz thing would be much of a murder mystery though, so aside from Q attempting to bond with a reluctant Spider, it would prob diverge a lot from the original plot! <3

[bluestar22x]

The Weekend

Summary: Steve and Connie visit you and Javier in Texas; Connie realizes something new about you that changes everything.

Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader (The same from my Sweet Summer Series - there is a mention of the reader having hair again, but no other details)

Rating: 18+ (to be safe)

Word Count: 3,790 (ish)

Warnings: Anxiety/angst, fluff, fowl language, pov changes, and mentions of pregnancy symptoms

Author’s Note: This can easily be read as a regular oneshot if you haven't read the series yet/don't want to. Anyway, I was so excited to write this one cause I've wanted to write Steve, Connie, and Chucho since all of last year, I just never thought of a plot for it until now. (Chucho still didn't get enough love here, but someday, maybe, it'll happen). Anyway, apparently I won't stop until pretty much every Pedro character is either a first time dad or a dad again. Sorry, not sorry.

xxx

The first time you met Steve and Connie Murphy was on a weekend in mid-November, the same year you'd started dating Javier Peña. They'd driven from Florida with their daughter Olivia to stay at the ranch for a few days, Steve's excuse being that duck hunting season had started in Texas and he needed to show Javier how to actually shoot one, claiming his ex-partner was a shit shot and that it might take all weekend, leading to Javier to grumble under his breath and you to laugh.

They'd hugged despite initial hesitance from Javier and when he relaxed in Steve's embrace you understood then who they were to each other. Brothers, in every sense of the word but blood.

It only made sense from everything you'd gathered from Javier's father, the town, and later Connie and Steve himself. Colombia had been like a war zone, and war zones forged strong bonds, even unlikely ones. Not that Steve and Javier were all that different, you thought. After all, they'd shared the same goals while working together as DEA agents, they'd shared a similar capacity to do what needed to be done to reach those goals, and they'd both come back home with enough nightmares and regrets to last more than a lifetime. Connie had told you about nights where Steve startled from his sleep and didn't return to bed until morning and you'd shared with her that you'd caught Javier doing the same many times while you'd been dating, wandering outside in the middle of the night clearly in an attempt to empty his head of whatever was bothering him. Some nights he still smoked a cigarette or two before returning, the bad habit sometimes the only thing that helped calm him down at first, until he'd made some real progress with his therapist.

It was safe to say your first time meeting Connie and Steve had been eye-opening. It had helped you understand your boyfriend all the more, and you were grateful to them. Not just for the insight, but also for them having been there for Javier before you could be, and for them still wanting to be.

The second time they'd visited the ranch you and Javier were getting married and naturally Steve had been Javier's best man. Connie had also kindly accepted your offer to be maid of honor, since you hadn't had any real friends after you'd graduated college. Besides, after the first day you'd spent around her, you could've easily called her your best friend over all of your past friends. Connie was a very nice person.

You all had briefly seen each other once more when you and Javier had stopped by their house for a meal before heading out to the Keys for your honeymoon and that visit had been just as pleasant, ending with goodbyes and promises for future visits. You planned to make sure the Murphy family would always be a part of your lives.

And so they were back on the ranch the following November, Steve reaching out for Javier even as he roasted him once again. "Have to keep coming back until Javi is finally able to hit a bird. Any bird at this rate will do."

"Shut up, Murphy," Javier growled, though he couldn't hide the smile pulling at the edges of his lips. That made you grin, and it only grew broader when they hugged once more. You loved that your husband had a friend who understood him; who knew him from his darkest days.

"Let's get you all inside," you eventually said, herding them all towards the house, little Olivia tugging on your shirt sleeve as you followed them, looking up at you all adorably with her big brown eyes and wavy dark hair. "Food soon?"

You beamed down at her. "Soon. I'll have it ready in a half hour sweetie." You ruffled her hair a bit and she smiled up at you pleasantly before running ahead of everyone to fall to her knees before Trix, your red and white Basenji. Trix started licking her face like crazy and the little girl's giggles in reaction made your heart soar.

Once in the ranch house, Steve and Connie dragged their suitcases upstairs, into Chucho's old room. Chucho had moved out into a smaller, remodeled house on the south side of the property after you and Javier had married in June, on the day that marked the first year anniversary of your first meeting and date. It had once been a house for employees to stay during peak ranching days, but he'd claimed it was the right size for an old man of his age. You knew the real reason was because he wanted you and Javier to have your own space, because, though he hadn't said the words, you were pretty certain like most parents, he was hoping to become a grandfather.

While Steve And Connie were upstairs with Olivia settling in, you and Javier worked in the kitchen to finish chomping up fresh vegetables for the tossed salad you'd wanted alongside the main course of grilled chicken tacos which you were careful to monitor as the meat cooked.

They had just turned up at the kitchen table with Olivia when Chucho walked in, dressed in the cleanest white button down shirt and pair of blue jeans you'd seen him in since your wedding day. Everyone was in their best casual clothes. It wasn't every day they all got to gather together, after all. And it was almost Thanksgiving.

"Afternoon everyone," Chucho said cheerfully, snatching his cream colored cowboy hat off his head to hang on a hook by the main door. "Ya waiting on me?"

"You are just in time," you told him, smiling. You loved Chucho. He was as much of a father to you as your own, though you'd never admit it for your father's sake.

He settled at the table with Steve and Olivia while you, Javier, and Connie started to set the food out on it. You were feeling great physically and emotionally until you seemed to spin around too fast with the salad and barely managed to hold onto it, getting dizzy with the movement. Javier noticed your sway and pressed a palm to the middle of your back to steady you, concern evident in his expression. "Are you alright?" he inquired, frowning.

You nodded quickly. "I'm good." You weren't sure what had come over you, not being the type of person to easily get light headed, but you were feeling fine again as soon as the moment had passed so it was easy to brush off.

"Maybe you should see a doctor," Javier said lowly, only loud enough for you and a close by Connie to hear. Her eyes darted towards you both, and you could see the curiosity his words had peaked in her.

"You've been getting dizzy a lot lately," he continued.

"I'll set one up after the weekend," you promised him, more so he wouldn't draw the attention of any of your other guests. Whether you actually would or not was still up for debate. To you a little dizziness here and there wasn't enough to warrant a trip to the hospital. It was probably just a consequence of you being tired. You'd done some overtime at work recently and it had worn you down. You'd been going to bed early the previous four or five nights yet still hadn't made up for it. "But I feel fine, Javi. I swear."

He seemed satisfied with that for the time being, though he did insist on guiding you to the table to sit and had Connie finish helping him lay everything out.

The rest of dinner was pretty normal, filled with general chit chat about things like how Chucho and Javier were getting the cattle ready for winter, though it never got too cold in Texas, and how Olivia was adjusting to being in kindergarten.

Connie of all people seemed distracted the entire time, pondering, like she had something on her mind but wasn't sure how to say it. You were so concerned with her distant look that you almost didn't catch Javier sneaking a piece of chicken to Trix. Almost.

"Javi!" you exclaimed, dismayed, even though you'd suspected for a while that he'd been doing it. "No wonder she begs for food now!"

He gave you a sheepish look and Steve grinned from his seat on the other side of him. "Going soft in your old age, Jav."

Javier huffed and you giggled. You knew it wasn't because of his age though. He and his father had both always had a soft spot for dogs.

After that you forgot about how odd Connie was acting until you both cleared the dishes from the table and began washing them in the sink.

"I don't want to be nosy," she whispered to you just loud enough to hear over the background noise of everyone else still talking at the table, "But I can't help it. Do you think you could be pregnant?"

Her question caught you off guard and you starred at her, frozen in place with a soapy dripping plate still in your hands. "You think I could be?"

"Javi said you've been light headed a lot lately," Connie stated, "And you told me just the other day you've been tired. And you also mentioned eating something that hadn't agreed with you. You said you almost threw up."

The cheeseburger you'd had Wednesday night. You hadn't thought about it since.

You glanced around to make sure no one had gotten up from the table. "Are you suggesting it wasn't bad meat?"

"Might not have been," she replied. "I've been around enough pregnant mothers in my nursing career to know greasy foods can trigger morning sickness in them, especially at night."

"Ironic," you quipped. Calling that pregnancy symptom morning sickness was very misleading.

Connie gave you a stern look and waited.

"I shouldn't be," you told her eventually, leaning back against the counter. "I mean, we're not using as much protection as we used to, but I'm still on birth control."

"Any chance you missed a pill or two?" she inquired.

You pursed your lips as you thought about it and bit down on your bottom one after. "It's possible," you admitted. "I do get forgetful sometimes. Usually I'm pretty good about taking prescriptions, but..."

"Are you late?" she interrupted.

You didn't have to think about the answer for that one since your birth control pills always warned you when it was coming. "I might be a few days late. It's not outside the norm for me, but it's also not really inside it either since the pills are really good at keeping me on a strict schedule."

She nodded. "You have any tests here?"

"I have a few in the master bathroom," you told her.

She craned her head towards the table. "Mind finishing the clean up boys?" she called out. Javier and Steve gave you both puzzled looks but when she explained you wanted to show her something upstairs they agreed to do so with Olivia's help.

You watched briefly from the bottom of the stairs as Steve hoisted her up to sit on the countertop and Javier said something to her that wasn't quite loud enough for you to hear before booping her nose with a soap sudded finger, making her giggle, and your heart swelled.

He was so good with her.

Minutes later, Connie sat patiently on the bench in front of your bed while you took three pregnancy tests in the attached bathroom, to be extra sure, and took your hand in hers when you joined her to wait, nervously bouncing your leg up and down.

"Have you and Javi talked about having kids before?" she asked gently.

"Of course we have," you answered with a sigh. "But we also agreed to wait a year before I got off the pill."

You weren't sure if you were quite prepared for it yet, but you knew you could ultimately handle whatever the results were, adapt your plans. What made you nervous was Javier. He was only just starting to find his peace, his healing, as much as anyone who'd been through what he had could. You weren't sure he'd be ready yet.

"I'm sure he'll be okay," Connie said knowingly, giving your hand a squeeze. "He's a good man and he loves you. I've never seen that man look at anyone like he does you."

The timer you'd set on your watch started beeping obnoxiously and you bolted for the sink where you'd placed the tests, anxiously scanning their result windows. There were two lines in each, which meant that they were all positive.

Without a doubt, you were pregnant.

Despite your concerns over how Javier would handle the news in that moment you were joyful, tears immediately flooding your eyes. Before meeting Javier you had lost all hope you'd ever get the chance to be a mother, but there you were, staring at three sticks that confirmed you would be one. You beamed at Connie when you walked back into the bedroom and she smiled back at you. "Congratulations."

You pitched into her arms and she squeezed you a little. "You're going to be a great mom. And if you need any advice, I'm one call away. Not that you can't call your mom too."

You chuckled as you also held onto her a little tighter. "I'm sure I'll need all the advice I can get."

You were fully aware that while you had wanted to be a mom for as long as you could remember, you hadn't had lots of interactions with babies. Olivia had hardly been a toddler anymore when you'd first met the Murphy family and you'd been an only child with an uncle and aunt who hadn’t had any kids.

"You'll do great," Connie assured you as you pulled away and wiped at your tear stained cheeks with the backs of your hands.

You nodded. It was comforting to know she believed in you and that she'd be there if you needed her help. She may have not known what it was like to be pregnant because she and Steve had adopted Olivia while in Colombia, but you knew her advice would always be solid because she was an amazing mother. Everything you hoped you would be.

You glanced towards the hallway. "Should I tell him now?"

"Delaying it won't make it easier," she told you wisely, grasping your elbow. "Do you want me to send him up here?"

"That would be great, thanks," you said gratefully.

She smiled sweetly at you. "No problem."

With that she left the room and you paced as you waited for Javier to show up. You couldn't remember a time you'd ever been more nervous - and you'd had major anxiety every time you'd taken exams in college.

"Connie said you wanted to see me?" he questioned as he strolled into your shared bedroom less than a minute later. When he saw the stress on your face his expression grew concerned once more. "What happened? Are you feeling okay? Did you get light headed again?"

You shook your head furiously. "No. No, Javi." You approached him and cupped his face. "I'm fine. I promise. I just know why I've been off now."

"What is it?" he inquired, stance still tense with worry. He searched your eyes with his dark ones as if they could answer for you.

"We're going to be parents," you told him, barely above a whisper.

He jerked his head away from your hand and blinked at you, stunned. "You're pregnant?"

You gave him a single nod to confirm and he gaped at you before wrapping you up in his arms and burying his face in your hair. "Oh, mi amor."

You melted in his hold after his initial reaction and hugged him back. "You're not upset?"

He pulled away from you and frowned. "You thought I'd be upset?"

You folded your arms over your chest, slightly ashamed of your assumption. "I wasn't sure. You said you wanted to wait a year, and I agreed to it. I had every intention of waiting, but I think I might have forgotten a pill at some point. It was a mistake."

He shook his head and leaned forward to kiss your temple tenderly, then your lips, letting his forehead rest against yours after. "However this happened, any child of ours could never be a mistake, hermosa."

You felt the love in his words bloom in your chest, warming it, and you beamed up at him. "So you're happy?"

"Of course I am," he assured you, brushing his nose against yours.

You grinned wider and kissed him again. "You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that."

He smiled back at you, though it didn't reach his eyes.

You were too excited to retell the story of how Connie got you to take the three tests to see that it was a front.

x

Once you'd told him the whole story, you'd lead Javi downstairs to announce your news to Steve and Chucho as well, and they'd pulled you both in for hugs after giving their cheerful congratulations.

"I'm going to be a grandfather," Chucho had boasted proudly and you'd smiled at him fondly. "You sure are."

Javier had been overwhelmed with how happy everyone was for you both, and a part of him was undeniably happy too, but another part, the part that sat in the darkest corner of his mind, said he didn't deserve it. He'd barely accepted that he was good enough for you, he didn't think that could extend to an innocent baby who had no say in who their father was.

He put on a show until his father left for his house, then excused himself to go hang out on the front porch alone, watching as clouds rolled in for an evening rain. It was fitting for his mood.

He should have known Steve would follow him out, handing a beer to him like it was some kind of peace offering.

He popped off the lid of his own bottle and took a sip before leaning on a beam at the front of the porch, across from him.

"Javier Peña, father," he said with a smile playing on his lips. "I'm honestly surprised." He quirked his brows. "Not that you are going to be one, but rather that it took so long, considering your reputation back in Bogotá."

Javier tilted his head, giving it to him. He couldn't say he wasn't surprised that a woman hadn't come forward to tell him she was pregnant while he was in Colombia. It wasn't like he'd been totally irresponsible, but the odds had to have been stacked against it not happening just by pure numbers. He'd had casual sex as a form of stress relief while he was there, just like smoking, and he couldn't deny he'd been very stressed during those years, especially since he hadn't always been able to keep his heart out of some of those said casual relations.

"I don't know if I'm ready yet," he admitted to his friend. "We just got married not that long ago. It took me months of therapy to work up to proposing to her and then going through with it. She kept insisting I was enough for her, that as long as I loved her that was enough, but I always still had that doubt at the back of my head. A part of me telling me she could do better."

"She could," Steve stated plainly, taking another sip of his drink. "And what about Connie? You think I deserved her?"

Javier snorted. "No."

"Exactly!" Steve exclaimed, pointing the lip of his bottle at his shoulder and grinning. "But that's not the point! Something Connie and several sessions of couples therapy when I got back to Miami taught me is that marriage isn't about what anyone deserves. It's about what you're willing to do for your partner. Who you're willing to be for them. And it's the same with being a father. I was a mess when we found Olivia. I didn't know what I was doing. And I'm not going to lie, it wasn't easy, but I did eventually learn how to be the dad she deserves. If you want to be, chances are you will be. It's as simple as that."

Javier glanced down at the bottle in his hands and swished the liquid inside, trying to find his words. "I do...want to be," he told him quietly.

Steve nodded. "That's good to hear. Because the one thing your wife definitely does not deserve is you running out on her now."

Javier clenched his jaw. "I'd never do that to her!" he hissed, outraged at the mere idea of it. "Lorraine was different. I was different. Back then I had the thought that marrying her would hold me back from my dreams of seeing the world and making a difference. Now I know better." He adjusted his stance and met his friend's eyes before continuing, "And I know being a parent can be tough, whether or not you're as fucked up as I am, but I do want this, more than I ever imagined I would."

"Shit, Jav," Steve said, the edges of his mouth pulling up, "Don't tell me that. Tell her."

He was right. Though Javier was sure you hadn't noticed, he still needed to tell you all of it. To assure you that he loved you and that he was going to be there for you, the both of you.

He chuckled and Steve raised a brow at him, uncertain of what was so funny.

"You ever consider a side job as a shrink?" Javier smirked and Steve huffed at him. "Depends, you ever gonna hit a bird?"

"Fuck you. You distracted me last time!"

Steve nodded at him as an amused gleam sparked in his pale blue eyes. "Sure. Whatever you say, Jav."

He patted his shoulder. "See ya in the mornin'."

Javier grunted a goodnight to him and entered the house to find you waiting in the kitchen, a broad smile on your face. He realized then that the screen door's window had been open.

"How much of that did you hear?" he asked.

You strolled over to him and kissed him softly on the mouth. "Enough to know you're going to be a great father, whether you believe it or not."

"Say that again," he murmured against your lips, his heart feeling like it wanted to burst out of his chest.

You understood, you always did. You placed a hand over his heart. "You're going to be a father, Javi."

He grinned at you and scooped you up into his arms. "Thank you for that."

"I couldn't imagine having a baby with anyone else," you told him honestly, and the love in your eyes left no room for him to doubt it, so he didn't.

You spent the rest of the night in each other's arms.

xxx

Tagged: @angelofsmalldeath-codeine​ @yoursoulsunbreakable @harriedandharassed

xxx

Sweet Summer Series

New Year's Promise

Main Masterlist

xxx

[capn-rikshu]

Messy thoughts on batch 1 of season 2. SPOILERS

First. The first episode is like breakneck pace, pretty much all action, room to breathe is little. The context of the Decepticons betraying the Autobots after a time of working together is brief. I feel it would help if it was a two-parter or at least slowed down a little so we can actually catch up on the characters the past year. I don't think it was best that it was all pretty much action, it was great though, the story boarding and animation.

I liked that Hashtag was shown to have some battle damage and went out of commission for a while but nothing permanent comes out of it. I initially thought it may play into her picking a new alt mode.

Breakdown basically creating and attempting to be a father to Aftermath was funny. Though it didn't last past episode 1. And the only interaction we get between Breakdown and Bumblebee was when they were fighting in the finale, in the background only though. And speaking of Bee, he was barely in this batch. Only in a few episodes with few lines. It was like he's been demoted to cast B and he doesn't seem to be teaching the Maltos anymore. I hope he's there later, he was such a prominent character in S1 and a mentor to the Terrans.

I love Aftermath and Spitfire, they're fun characters. Twitch's and Spitfire's rivalry was great. Disappointed that JB didn't crush on Aftermath. I hope they come back in the next batch. It would be interesting if they were permanently dead though I doubt it. And I knew Starscream would have to rip those shards out of them in order to complete his plot! This answers the question, Starscream would kill a child.

Starscream is not painted sympathetically at all and there is no mention of his and Megatron's backstory. His motive is briefly mentioned though I wish they put more focus on it. Certain people are going to throw a fit over it. I understand though we still have more episodes.

Sad that there is no Hashtag betrayal, sad that there wasn't a big talk between them of her trying to convince him not to awaken the Titan or even him hesitating.

I wonder what happened to Wheeljack after he was hit with the Cyber Slayer, I think he may be dead but no one acted like he was dead. I don't think we see him again after. They better tell us next batch.

Surprised we didn't see Prowl. He was one of the earliest characters leaked. But I think in the next batches we will see him and hopefully Cybertron. I hope we see Tarantulas next batch as well, I hope Tarantulas and Prowl meet.

I hope Tarantulas reunites with Nightshade the most. Luckily there were there and not taken by a UFO!

I still feel like the Terrans aren't fully fleshed out and I'm disappointed that their dynamics didn't get fleshed out more either. It's too same-y still. I want inner conflicts, I want drama, I don't want this perfect siblings. ;w;

The Terrans personalities don't change drastically, sadly. No characters arcs yet.

I keep thinking about this while watching. This batch doesn't feel mature but to be fair it was the same for batch one in season 1. I see bits of trust but not much of the other two. They'd be in the next batches hopefully.

Over all, I need more than one rewatch. I'm interested in more episodes. I didn't absolutely love it, I didn't hate it I just wish they did more. But I enjoyed what was given and I love my Terrans <3

I think the carnival episode with Robby's crush is my favourite. I hope the Terrans also have crushes in the future hehe.

[td-frog]

thoughts on disventure camp e4:

tom and jake

seeing people complain about tom being a hypocrite for snarking at jake here and i agree that it is hypocritical. but i don't think it's bad writing (i honestly really like it?)

like. tom and jake are messy. they have no communication. they overreact to everything. that's like their whole thing.

idk why tom ghosted after the first season, or while he's continuing to be distant (and now, more openly hostile). this is because the show hasn't told us yet. i assume, given that it's only episode 4 and this plot is getting a lot of attention, that there will eventually be some explanation. it doesn't really feel out of character to me at this point, just that we're missing information.

also specifically the reason i like this interaction is because it makes it very clear that tom is also being shitty here! like imo that was clear from the very start with the ghosting and dodging confrontation stuff, but more recently the focus has been on jake's jealousy. and while i do think jake is being unreasonable as well, tom is not innocent. as before, they are messy!!

villians' alliance and elimination

first off: i so called miriam being out this episode. didn't know the exact context, but in order for the alec helping fiore plot to work long term she needed to be out of the picture.

i like that she played well here though. like she did exactly what she should have done in the situation and it just didn't work out. sad to see her go, but not surprised.

poor connor tho :( my man's all alone now. i'm hoping that with grett turning on yul (you go girl) that maybe he'll last a bit longer

also yet again reminded why i love alec as a player and a villain. he's so good at planning and thinking things through, and he's not just thinking in terms of his own best interest. man plays this game like chess.

like. the rest of yellow team would have happily let ellie or fiore lose and get booted despite the alliance. alec's main goal was to get rid of miriam, but at the same time he was proving to ellie (and less so fiore) that he was also looking out for them.

i also like that it's not working out as cleanly as he'd like. miriam exposing him may not have been a problem here, but it will be later. in s1 he was able to largely fly under the radar for a while, and now is having to change tactics.

other thoughts

aiden and tess made me smile :) i want them to be friends

like ally's apology and hunter's non-apology (and fiore's wtf response). i think ally's really sweet and i get why fiore doesn't buy it but i'm glad someone on this team was like "maybe bullying a child is wrong"

ashley's backstory :(

predictions for next episode

elimination is harder to predict because the teams are even again. i'm thinking yellow team again makes the most sense, given the inevitable fallout of the villain reveal and the vote for yul. my guess would be connor vs. yul (vs. alec?) and of those three i see yul as most likely.

(could also be connor but the letter from miriam might save him somehow; i'm mainly doubting that they'd take him out of the competition here bc that'd be pretty unsatisfying for the connoriya drama. kind of leaning this actually bc yul being betrayed but not eliminated could also be juicy.)

if it's not yellow team... i could see gabby on cyan, mostly through process of elimination. tom and aiden need to stick around for the drama with jake, ellie's got the villain thing, and tess hasn't really gotten to do much other than be stuck in the middle of things.

gabby also hasn't really gotten to do anything besides support ellie, but i wouldn't be surprised to see her go early- like with james and lake, it feels like her character so far this season has been more in support of another character, and the impact her elimination would have on ellie feels like the most likely plot direction for this team to take.

that said idk why anyone would vote gabby out at this point. but i digress.

i really doubt it'll be magenta. fiore and jake have their own plots happening that i doubt will be wrapped up next episode, hunter and ally's relationship feels like it needs slightly more focus and deterioration before either of them goes home, and ashley just doesn't really seem likely?

aside from elimination

jake's gonna be sad about miriam. i think tom might be too, but unclear how exactly he'll react. will definitely make their whole thing worse, because for some reason they decided miriam should hold the brain cell of their relationship.

yellow team is definitely gonna have drama: fallout from miriam telling everyone alec was untrustworthy, the whole situation with grett and yul's relationship, connor being the only outsider to the alliance.

not sure what else- hunter and ally might have some plot progression, but i think those top two bullets will be the main points.

also whatever advantage connor got will definitely come up- seen speculation that it's like the "make people switch teams" card riya got in s2 but idk how that would play out

[tookishcombeferre]

In Defense of Wish

Firstly, I want to say that I'm not trying to "gotcha" any of the critiques or change people's minds about the film in any way. I just wanted to pose a different viewpoint on the film because I have a child, and I think having a child has made me simultaneously more simple and given me more time to think in the privacy of my own mind.

Secondly, before I dive into my actual thoughts below the cut, I do recognize that there are lots of reasons not to feed into the Disney machine, or the film industry, or what have you. However, I no longer live in the world purely for myself. I do my level best to enrich my child's world with things that are actively anti-racist, and anti-capitalist, and radical - to many people in my family too radical. However, Bean is one years old and there's only so much they understand. I also, as a parent, recognize that I have to balance the realities of the world with hope, such that, they feel empowered to make change as opposed to feeling eternally hopeless about the world that I helped bring them into.

Which actually is a great transition into my thoughts on the film which is below the cut.

In regards to the actual film, I do agree with most critics in that it, at times, felt a little bit jumbled. I think this is because a lot of plot/ concepts that you need to make sense of the world are tucked in songs, facial expressions, or other more subtle places as opposed to being given in exposition. This CAN be fine if the frame stays on that topic long enough for folks to process it. Therefore, I think Wish could benefit from an Extended Edition or director's cut. I think some of the ideas in the story aren't conveyed as well as they could be due to the fact that the film sometimes feels rushed in some places.

However, my first major point is that, as a long time space nerd, I think Wish really hinges on a unique concept that is, in fact, scientifically accurate.

Human beings, animals, plants, and the universe itself is actually made of the same matter that composes the stars.

When the Big Bang occured, particles of space matter, star dust if you will, spread across the universe creating the cosmos. Thus, Wish actually touches on, and makes magical, a real scientific concept. This is the dust that we hypothetically return to when we decompose in death is stardust.

So, that earned a big thumbs up in my book because that's some pretty nifty world building.

I also really enjoyed that Magnifico was just evil. He was deranged. He was confident. He was a silver fox. I didn't need to know why he went all power hungry. I didn't need to know his trauma. He was just bad, and I was here for that. (I might have actually been happier if they'd just left out the tidbit about his crest and let him just be BAD without a hint of anything else.) I've missed the past Disney villains that were just evil for evil's sake. There's something refreshing about someone just being bad and getting what they deserve for being bad and lying to people.

On the subject of Magnifico, the depth that I discovered in the movie is what happens when people give him their wishes. In so many ways, they hand over their soul, their hearts desire, the thing that makes that person who they are in return for safety and happiness. Thus, instead of being able to work towards their dreams, people waste away longing to be reunited with their soul only once the wish can be granted magically.

This really struck me because I'm trans masculine, and I have begun a social non-medical transition. I have longed for a "boyhood" all my life. It's something I was never allowed. It's something that invaded my dreams every night. It's something that I, in my dinosaur pajamas, now try to give myself in small ways. I know what my wish is. I know what I am in that dream, and I try to become it in my own ways day by day. However, if that wish were taken from me, I would no longer be me. I wouldn't want to give up my "dangerous wish" and lose myself no matter what it afforded me. I was really struck by the way a person's heart's desire was, in a sense, their whole being. In losing their wish, they lost themselves, and I think that's a really powerful, and important thing.

Thus, Magnifico may think, in his twisted mind, that he's helping relieve them of a burden. He's allowing them to live without the pain of things that, like my own desire, may never come to be in the way that person desires it. However, in reality, he's not protecting people. He never has been. He wants to keep the wishes because they give him power. He's an ass through and through, and I'm here for that sexy silver fox of an asshole.

And, yes, like all the villains before him, he successfully dupes the hero into trusting him. However, Asha is smart and very quickly understands that Magnifico is a dick. She's faster to that conclusion than any other hero/heroine, and I think that's important. She sees the purity of all the wishes that Magnifico possesses though the wish of her grandfather. Her grandfather wanted to inspire others, and Magnifico's first thought is that he'll lead a rebellion. Asha is able to see though Magnifico's bullshit in a way few others can because she sees the purity of the wishes of her own people.

I've seen a few reviews that call Asha selfish because her initial reaction is just to save the wishes of her mother and grandfather. Valid point. I see you. However, I raise you that she could have just made a break for it and saved her own skin. I also draw your attention to the lyrics of her wishing song. "If I could show them everything I've seen/ Open their eyes to all the lies then/ Would they change their minds like I did?" - In the animation of these lines, Asha is walking through the courtyard and remembering the wishes, not of her grandfather or mother, but the wishes of some of the citizens of Rosas. The wish to fly. The wish to captain a boat. The wish to be strong and explore. Her hope is for all of her people. For the first time since "God Help the Outcasts," the heroine's desire is for others not herself.

She goes on to say, several times, "So I make this wish/ To have something more for us than this." Her desire is not for herself. Instead, her deepest desire is to give the wishes, the heart and soul, back to her people. Again, I find this to be an incredibly selfless wish.

This wishing song leads into one of the most lyrically dense songs in the movie. However, the line that I want to call attention to is "See we're all just little nebulae in a nursery/ From supernovas now we've grown into our history/ We're taking why's right out of mystery." This line dives into the depths of that star science I mentioned in the beginning. Each person, being made of stardust, is, in a way, their own nebulae that has their own history. Secondarily, we also have our own moment in history that weaves into other people's histories. This sets up the conclusion of the film really nicely, but this is something I think could have been expanded on to make clearer because this song is really, really fast paced and dense. (Bean loves this song and bounced on my, my mom's, and my spouse's laps in the movie theater to it.)

It's all great to know that we're stars, and that power lives within us because of that. However, Asha needs to grow in understanding the importance of community. She cannot do this on her own, and she comes to discover that her mother and grandfather aren't the only people at risk. She's young. She's somewhere between 17 and 18 years old. She's naive and innocent. She literally doesn't understand that Magnifico would do anything to keep his throne and power. However, alongside her friends, she discovers what's really at stake, and she works hard, with help, to make things right.

Thus, what Asha has in grit, determination, and independence, she needs to learn in community. She needs others to help her in her goals to save her family, and eventually to save her whole kingdom. When Magnifico takes matters into his own hands, and falls prey to his own conceit and lust for independent power, he's crushed by the weight of it. It, quite literally, consumes him. Her whole country decides to take their power - their heart's desires - back from Magnifico. They want those pure and innocent parts of themselves back. So, they unite their wishes for a better world, for their heart's desires, back because, no matter how weird or impossible, our dreams ARE us. (Don't dream it, be it - if you will.)

I think, at its core, Wish has two things it's trying to say in a very simple way.

In the purest sense, we are what we dream.

We are all stardust, and thus, we are all connected.

Wish is an incredibly simple story. It doesn't have deep twists. It's not long. It's saying a lot of complex things if you're willing to look. However, it's a very simple story. As a parent, Wish's simplicity is it's beauty. We have so many stories for children that are technical, complex, and deep. I do hope we can continue to see more stories like Encanto or Puss in Boots. However, I found Wish refreshing in some ways because of its simplicity. It's a story that a small child could summarize easily. It's bright and colorful and hopeful. It has a nice message, and it has a decent amount of diversity without diversity being a plot point TM. It's something I am happy to let my child watch because, even if Asha looks different from them, Asha has qualities that Bean should aspire to. To me, Wish is a fairy story with a background and protagonist that fit the modern world. But, as a fairy story, there's isn't a whole lot of depth in the plot. The depth comes from the morals it teaches us.

So, I guess, I'm a bit of a dreamer myself. I dream of a world that might one day accept me as I am even if I choose not to medically transition and "pass." I dream of a world where I get to remain who I am without someone sucking my passion, my dream, and my desire from me. I want a world for my squish where they are allowed to retain their innocence, and where all children are allowed the innocence of their youth. I don't want anyone to take away that dream because I don't want to lose the fight that's in me to achieve it. I'm not becoming a soulless zombie of the "Magnifico Machine" if you will. I have to dream a world worth living in if it's ever going to exist.

Those are the sorts of things I want my squish to hold onto for as long as they can. The world is a horrible place at the moment, but if we choose to cover our eyes, our ears, and our mouths, if we choose to stop dreaming of a better world, then, we won't have the strength to make a better one. Hope is one of the most important things anyone, but especially our youth can have. Without hope, nothing has meaning. School is useless. Nothing means anything. We all fall apart. We have to have hope. If everything is beyond saving, why try to save it at all? So, we have to keep our dreams, and keep them safe. Our dreams are us. Treat even your silliest ones with kindness. They just might change the world.

If you read all this, thank you. If you didn't, that's totally fine. If this made you angry, I'd love to hear why. If this sparks some thoughts, related or unrelated to this film, I'd love to chat.

Much love,

Pip

[otakween]

Digimon Adventure 02: Revenge of Diaboromon

Wow...somehow this one just completely fell off my radar, otherwise I would have watched it a long time ago lol. I seriously thought I was all caught up with pre-Tamers anime until I saw this on the 02 TV Tropes and was like "oop..." It was a good surprise though, I can never get enough of these Mamoru Hosoda style shorts! (Looks like he didn't actually work on this one though).

I watched this dubbed first to take screenshots and then subbed. It's hard to find a non-crunchy version of the subbed short. The OG Japanese was a lot stronger imo because, as usual, the dub ruined some stuff with it's jokey tone and music choices. Still decently faithful though. Full thoughts below.

Notes:

So this is like a midquel, I guess. I don't know if there's an exact place within 02 I was supposed to watch this, but I didn't feel like my immersion was wrecked or anything haha.

While the aesthetic of the short was great, I felt the story was pretty redundant and eye-roll worthy. "Oh Omegamon/Omnimon is back for some contrived reason and the OG chosen children's digimon can't defeat him like they did last time...for some contrived reason. This looks like a job for the 02 protagonists!" Whatever, it doesn't have to be deep to be fun.

The early 2000s CG looked pretty good actually. I thought it added a fun otherworldliness to the Kuramon.

Kuramon look a lot like Takodachi (Hololive fans know what's up). I wonder if there was some inspiration there on a subliminal level.

I wonder if Daisuke's character designer intended him to be from a southern part of Japan. His tan skin sticks out more in this art style.

I feel like Diaboromon got uglier somehow compared to Our War Game lol. Armagemon's design was deliciously creepy though. He looked like something out of an Alien movie. His entrance was epic and probably would have freaked me out a lot as a kid. Weirdly, they never actually said Armagemon's name so I just assumed it was Diaboromon until I googled it just now lol

Sora and Mimi were like two sides of the same coin in this. Mimi was useless, but in a delightful way. Sora was useless, but in a boring way lol. Seriously, she didn't need to come all the way home from her tennis club trip to just go "I'm here!" and then do nothing. I'm not saying there was much she could do anyway, but I get really pissed that they never gave her character a real point aside from "bland love interest" in any Digimon show/movie.

Loved Mimi's interactions with Koushiro. Their awkward "we're in the same friend group but have nothing in common" chemistry is so fun.

Yamato seemed extra cool with his rings and stoicism. I do kind of wish he and Taichi got a little more dialogue though.

Really didn't like the direction of the fights inside the internet. They were either animated too up close or too distant so I felt like I couldn't really follow what was going on half the time. Also, the choreography wasn't that inspired. The IRL fight at least had a cool Evangelion vibe going for it. The harbor was a really aesthetic setting for a final fight.

I've started shipping DaiKen for funsies (there's some really cute fanart) so it was nice seeing them together in the elevated art style hehe.

Daisuke has a Yamato phone strap! So cute and supportive

It's funny how the digimon sizing suddenly changes when we're in movie-mode. Angemon and Angewomon were huge in this! I was excited to see the 02 digimon, but they mostly looked the same as they looked in the show tbh.

The Shibuya vibes, complete with Hachiko statue, were fun. Was 02 set in Tokyo? I honestly don't remember...

Seeing all those children running around at night without any worries about safety...must be nice, Japan.

When Omegamon "ran out of energy," I had the thought of like "can a jogress digimon die in the real world or would they always just de-digivolve??" I guess they'd never go that far for plot reasons anyways

Imperialdramon gets a new mode! Paladin mode, according to Google. Were these names in the credits or did they just decide things later for the TCG or something...?

We got the 02 theme inserted towards the end and even the OG show's theme as a ring tone. Really cute touch. (I was a little triggered to hear Bolero again for the millionth time though).

All in all I'm glad the 02 kids got their due in this style. Was it groundbreaking? No. Was it worth 30 minutes of my time? Absolutely!

[acourtofthought]

Each side of the fandom uses the "I thought it was obvious" line SJM said in one of her IG Lives but when it comes to her interviews as of late, is anything truly obvious?

February 2021 IG Live - "I haven't even started writing this book but it's coming soon and I'm very excited".

- (in regards to the next ACOTAR book

September 2022 Interview - "I haven't even started the thing yet"

-(in regards to the next ACOTAR book)

Then there was this:

February 2021 IG Live - "Once you get to the end of ACOSF, I think you'll know who the next book is about and Azriel's journey is one I'm very excited to write about.

"There will be a Pegasus" in the next book (works for either a Gwynriel pov or Elucien pov though right now, Lucien has the actual connection to the Pegasus as Helions son)

However we also have:

February 21, 2021 Live Talks with Eva Chen -

"Will the third sister be getting a book?"

"Yes, yes to all".

"As soon as Nesta and Elain came back onto the page in ACOMAF, I knew they'd have journeys beyond. They were only in the middle of their own journeys."

"Because I knew this is where I wanted to go, it allowed me to plant things for Nesta's journey and even Elain's journey early on.

And taking it back.....

After ACOFAS was released:

"I do know that Cassian and Nesta's book is next. And I know what I want to write for the second spinoff novel, but I'm keeping the door open after that.

"Some of these books might be sequels but I've got an idea for. prequel that takes place long before the events of ACOTAR"

On an Australian ACOSF Tour - "Not much changed with the initial, the overarching bigger plot."

"So I wouldn't say that things changed as much as expanded"

"I pitched my next several books to her and most of it remains the same"

Here's what she said in an interview where she discussed that drunken lunch:

"some of them will take place after ACOWAR, some might take place before. I know what the first two will be about and I say three novels but there's so many stories I want to tell in this world."

"In ACOWAR, I deliberately left a lot of threads open on that book. I wanted some stories to still be open. But I also want to set some of these things up."

Her interviews are literally all over the place.

She originally knew who the first two books were going to be about, had said she knew she wanted to write books for the sisters, had even done research for Elain's book, and the Elucien storylines were definitely left open (their mating bond, Helion being his father, Vassa's curse, their powers, etc). I find it difficult to believe she wasn't referring to Nesta and Elain for the first two at that time especially if she was unsure of the third, that she was keeping it open and thought it might it be a prequel. That means she wasn't positive Az would get his own pov.

Then she was ready to get started on the second book but over a year and a half later hadn't even started the thing yet. Now the interviews show it's "obviously" Azriel's book though she said her original plans for the spin off series remained pretty close to what she pitched to her editor, that the only real difference is the world expanded.

She could have switched the order but that doesn't line up with what she said about things remaining pretty close to her original pitch. What if the third spin off is still a prequel which is what she originally spoke of?

The world expanding could be her referencing the new books they announced her being contracted for and that may tie into the crossover storylines (involving Az). The crossover could simply be her setting up for the newly contracted books, which she'll write once she finishes the original spin-offs (an Elain book and a prequel).

At one point she also said the novella was a bridge to the next books in the series and while it definitely set up Nessian's storyline it also strongly hinted at Elain and Lucien's (while giving E/riels conviction that they were ending up together while Elucien's noticed the similarities between both Elain and Nesta turning away from Lucien and Cassian after it seemed they had made progress by the end of ACOWAR). But the novella reminded us that Vassa's curse was still not yet broken, no one outside of Feysand knows about Helion being Lucien's father, and the Spring Court is needed as an ally however Tamlin’s depression is worsening.

Once CC2 was released, she said this of the crossover:

Really, SJM could be playing us all and laughing herself to sleep at night.

Someone is going to be right, it's basically a coin flip at this point but literally every single person in this fandom has interview evidence to support their stance on who is next and which pairing is next.

From everything she's said in interviews, the thing that probably matters the most is how Bloomsbury wants her to keep the next ACOTAR book a secret. Is she really going to strongly hint at it in an interview? Doesn't that push the boundaries a bit too much from what her publishing company wants?

Therefore "obvious" is most likely her feeding one side crumbs to use as "proof" while turning around and doing the same for the other side.

And yes (because this is a big argument in favor of Az), Chaol, Nesta and Cassian had bonus chapters followed by a book but none of them had a confirmed mating bond. Elucien may not follow the same pattern for the simple fact that they have a very different setup from anything she's previously written.

Also, no other character has ever been as heavily featured in multiple bonus chapters as Elain. Not only was she a main focus of Lucien's pov in ACOWAR, but her character was talked about in both the Feyre and Az bonus chapters. It's a way for SJM to relay information about her while still keeping what she thinks a mystery.

SJM once wrote a bonus scene for Rowaelin that she waited to distribute as she felt it was too spoilery. Is it not possible for her to do the same for Elain or Lucien? That Elain's thoughts would be too revealing at this point?

And that doesn't even prove anything, I'm simply presenting the various arguments and counter-arguments

I see everything the fandom is saying and it's all valid but if SJM managed to keep the crossover a secret, why do we think the reveal of the next ACOTAR book is something she'd carelessly announce in her interviews as being a sure thing?

[thatbrightblueshine]

the full time whistle is blown. bottles scattered all around, disappointment written all over his face. he realises how alone he is with all this burden, so much responsibility to carry, yet, none at all.

is he happy he won't get blamed? or is he sad that his currently biggest rival might get blamed for not doing more? why is he everything that's on his mind. all the time.

aaron's feelings towards david haven't changed during these past few weeks. he went from being sceptical of mikel's decision to bring a new keeper into the team to realising he's actually a lovely lad to realising he might as well be slowly replaced. quietly. mikel sat him down and explained his decision to rotate keepers when the season had just begun - kind of like the match plan of pep. aaron wasn't happy with that decision but decided to play along, realistically, what could he do about it anyway? the media viewed all this as a very weird move from mikel - aaron was to be england's number one someday, so they said at least, he thought he didn't perform so badly last season, at least not bad enough to be blatantly replaced by a loan keeper. so mikel was meaning to rotate the squad - maybe play david whenever they were up against smaller clubs, aaron still being their undisputed number one. but as the season progressed, he realised that this wasn't the case. he had indeed been replaced. quietly. as if no one would notice. worst thing about it was that david performed on the same level as him, perhaps even better.

aaron couldn't help it but blame it on himself. his confidence was on an all time low. he trained with the others, putting on a happy face, waiting for his time to shine again. david was always around, he hated how much he liked him. he felt like he shouldn't. david was being genuine all the time, he could tell. he wasn't two faced, wasn't plotting, wasn't scheming. he was a goofball, a joker. someone who would always there for you, always knew how to see positives in things. but he was also naive, easily to manipulate. he was older than aaron, yet much more childlike, inexperienced. not in football, but in life. ben and martin joked about taking him to night out to get him laid, get him a girl, but david shied away, almost as if he was scared. the others kept joking about david being a virgin, but that was not the reason.

the looks david would give aaron sometimes were quite clear, even with language barriers, no words needed. "i think he's got a crush on ya" ben would say often. ben was bi himself, so he was likely not taking the piss here, no judgement whatsoever. aaron would laugh it off, not making anything of it. "well, he can try." but secretly he hated the idea of david taking a liking in him, as more than a friend. even if it was just a silly crush - aaron hated the idea of it. bloody hated it. david was not supposed to like him, aaron was not supposed to like david. that's not what rivals do - they don't develop feelings for the other, they don't yearn for the times they'd bump into each other during training, not the hug they'd give each other in front of thousands of fans after a match.

they don't fall in love. they don't. the talks were there, but they're just empty words. rumours would always arise, but luckily they were quickly overshadowed by declan's and kai's arrivals at the club. suddenly they were in everyone's mouth, david and aaron would only come second now, maybe even third. why did aaron bother that? why did he enjoy the attention the others would give him and david? the times martin would come to him and tell him the things he's supposedly heard, about how david apparently had a wank once and moaned aaron's name in the showers. how he immediately stopped when he suspected someone spying on him. or how embarrassed david would get whenever someone would jokingly say he's had a thing for aaron. these things happen all the time - players would hit it off and then move on. no shame in that, they're all pretty open about it.

but the attention went onto new players, overshadowing aaron and david, as if their supposed thing never existed. as if it never happened, it vanished as quickly as it came. and it didn't, it never existed. not to them, but to the others.

[heartc0ffin]

*sees an ask game* Allow me to jump on the opportunity~

📝,💞,💘 and 💌 for your Black Butler s/i!

By the way, I remember sending you a similar ask about the lore behind your selfship with Undertaker… about a year ago, during summer. I don’t think I ever saw the reply… Did you answer it and I somehow missed it, or did it get lost in your drafts?

– villain-in-love

Yes, I definitely received it! It's been in my drafts on my old account, still about halfway through being answered :'3 Then I went through a weird life change and a bunch of my interests changed for a while. But now I'm slowly focusing on my Black Butler insert again sometimes, I still want to get around to answering it! I was just struggling for a while to answer it because I wasn't as fixated on them as I used to be. But I will defo get around to posting them because you brought up a lot of great points and questions!

Also little sidenote, this does contain some manga spoilers, specifically with certain events that are on-going.

📝: How would your story in canon go? How would you influence the events of the original story?

It's a bit of a WIP because I haven't totally figured that out yet, and it subject to change as the manga progresses! This manga's plot is so massive at this point, but I really want to fit my s/i's arc in with canon as much as I can. I can see it being shown in two ways... One being their place in the overall story (working with Undertaker and his plans) and the other perhaps being a look into their backstory before they met Undertaker, and how they came to be (which is still so messy and needs a lot of work bc I'm unhappy with it :'D). Kind of like with Finny, Mey-Rin and Baldroy got.

But yeah... As I said, it's complicated rn because of how massive the plot of Black Butler has gotten. But I think my s/i does have stronger roles in certain arcs, like the Book of the Atlantic, the school arc, ect. There, they might start showing how they have a hand in Undertaker's plans.

If I had to grossly generalise it right now for the sake of this question, they're heavily involved with the 4 Stars/Lords. Particularly, they work as a sort of guardian for Lord Vega, similar to how Undertaker is like a 'guardian' for Lord Sirius/R!Ciel.

💞: Aside from with your f/o, who else would you commonly be shipped with? Why?

This is quite interesting, I've never thought about this before! I had a relationship chart with my s/i and the other Kuro characters that I don't think I ever posted...? (Maybe I can update it and post it). But I'm looking through it because I think it would be quite helpful for this particular question...

While I don't see my s/i being exactly interested in anyone else romantically besides Undertaker in their story, if I had to look at it from a purely fandom perspective... I would say perhaps they'd be shipped with other grim reapers, Ran-Mao, or maybe even Gregory Violet.

I say this because in the grim reapers case, it's pretty self-explanatory. Chances are my s/i would have to have common run-ins with the other grim reapers since they're working with Undertaker. And this way, I think there's bound to be a chance of her building some sort of relationship with the other grim reapers, whether it be platonic, or more than that. Or in a most-likely case... rivalry.

I actually had an on-going inside joke with an irl friend about Ronald in particular. Basically, for a long time I didn't like Ronald for some reason, I can't remember why *shrugs*. But it started this joke about Ronald perhaps flirting with my s/i or showing interest in her, but it's completely one-sided. My s/i can't stand him tbh lmao, she'd shut him down completely.

As for Ran-Mao and Gregory... My s/i does admire Ran-Mao for her strength and skills, so this could blossom at some point into a small crush on my s/i's end - but I don't think Ran-Mao would necessarily return the same feelings or even know about my s/i's crush on her. And while in my s/i's 'canon' story they never like Gregory Violet in a romantic sense, they both share a lot of common ground and build a platonic friendship in the school arc at some point. I think I could see a fanbase dubbing that as 'shipping material,' but again, I wouldn't consider it ever actually being anything more than friends.

💘: Why would people love your ship? Why would people dislike your ship? How might it start debates?

I think people would be very split on the topic. On one side, I can see people perhaps liking it because my s/i represents hope, and new start for Undertaker. He's been amongst humans for so long, and working on his reanimated corpse plan for decades. I think he's actually very miserable despite his cheery facade... He's been isolated, not just from most people, but from supernatural forces as well (like the other grim reapers). So when my s/i comes into his life and they eventually start seeing him past this wall he's built for himself... his vulnerability, his past, what motivates him, ect... I think they'd really start to build a connection, even if Undertaker denies it himself. It would lead to an internal conflict where Undertaker might start questioning his plans, and want to focus on building a new life for himself with my s/i.

I think Undertaker wants to believe that my s/i is more like a tool in the grand scheme of his plans. Another person he is indifferent towards and will discard once he achieves his goal. But there would be little moments that contradict this. Like him rescuing them in extreme moments of danger, refusing to abandon them by a split-second, even though it might have looked like he was going to, and even if it put him at great risk. Because in actuality, even if he himself doesn't want to acknowledge it, they're becoming more and more important and valuable to him. And I think those moments would be what people might find interesting about their relationship. Because on one hand you've got an antagonist/grim reaper who is old enough to think he's seen it all, and who probably thinks hardly anything can get to him now. And on the other hand, someone who has extreme abandonment issues and relies on him, and could perhaps bring out those 'human' emotions in him that he thought he'd forgotten long ago.

But as for the other side... I think I can see people disliking the ship too, of course, for a few reasons. But I think the main complaint would be that it 'gets in the way' of the Undertaker x Claudia Phantomhive ship. And I've actually had run-ins with actual fans like this since being in the fandom for the last 10 years. People who are mean to self shippers/oc x canon for this exact reason (not naming names ofc but... *coughs*).

Listen, I totally get the reasoning behind this theory and if you ship them, that's cool. But you know what? IMO Undertaker deserves to be happy and have a new relationship. Why should he have to obsess over an old relationship that led to his misery, destruction and the countless deaths/sacrifices of other people? Why should he stew in his own self-hate and do nothing think over this past relationships mistakes? The answer is... he doesn't have to. There are literally no rules saying he can't. Him being in a relationship and building something new with someone else doesn't take away anything from his past relationship with Claudia.

Anyways, sorry, I'm getting heated so I'll leave this can of worms to be opened for another day. I just have a lot of feelings about this topic because of run-ins with toxic fans in the past lol. It's still something that agitates me.

💌: How would your dynamic be portrayed? What might people focus on most? Any misconceptions?

I think they're dynamic shifts through the course of the story, and is often messy and lop-sided tbh. With Undertaker, you can expect anything but a linear relationship.

I think in the beginning, it very much starts off with my self insert relying on him and needing him to survive (abandonment issues go hard). But as the story progresses, it will gradually switch around between them needing him, to him needing them.

I think misconceptions would pop up because this change would be subtle and might not be noticed by some. My s/i would grow more confident, but I think it would be like a 'blink and you'll miss it' kind of way since they're naturally mostly passive and quiet. If that makes any sense. They don't suddenly become out-spoken or an unbeatable force. But they pick up on Undertaker's vulnerabilities and traces of humanity in him that are still left as they grow a deeper connection to him. I think they'd actually be smarter than most give them credit for, especially when picking up on the emotions of others. Undertaker would perhaps have moments where he reaches out to them, and seeks out them for help, instead of the other way around. But because it would be subtle, people might think that my s/i just constantly relies on Undertaker throughout their entire character arc, which isn't true.