#it's in his narrative bones

[wellofdean]

Plus, big structural things:

John and Sam are 'called to adventure' Joseph Campbell style, Dean is forced to it by obligations of the heart = the hero's journey, queered.

The deep liminality of their lives on the road, never really part of anything, living in motels, a motherless family, two fatherless boys, fighting monsters = family, American Dream, the very idea of heroism queered.

Dean is named for Dean Moriarty, who is a queer character from On The Road based on actual bisexual Neal Cassady. THAT'S WHY HIS NAME IS DEAN. Interestingly, Neal Cassady's wife wrote about him as being "the archetype of the American Man". He had a sexual relationship with Allen Ginsberg on and off for 20 years.

Monsters as queer allegory, and the very blurred lines about who the actual monsters of Supernatural really are = elements of queer theory 101.

Dean's role in his family is essentially feminine; he is John's partner, Sammy's mother, and he's the emotional heart of the family = masculine family role queered.

Sam gets Ruby as a supernatural helper, Dean gets Cas. Sam has a sex story with Ruby and raises Lucifer, Dean has a love story with Cas and togethe they invent free will. Again, a queered hero's journey.

Dean's complete inability to be at home in the straight world -- meaning, the world where everything is normative as shown in his Djinn dream, his relationship with Lisa, etc. Dean is not ok in normative spaces. Because Dean = QUEER.

There is no Abel in the Cain and Abel story and they invented Collette and then explicitly paralleled her with Cas as the person it would break Dean to kill. Like, that is just... that was crazy man. Bible stories queered!

The way Dean suffers when Cas is gone, moves his trenchcoat from stolen car to stolen car the whole time he's gone. The way he spent a year refusing to leave purgatory without Cas. The way he gives that fucking coat back to Cas?!

The fact that the entire last season of the show is structured around the emotional beats of the love story between Cas and Dean, right up until the fucked up end.

The fact that in the end, the only thing that's real, and the only thing that can save the world is fundamentally non-compliant love. Love that will not bend to 'god's will'.

There is so much more!! Dean's queerness is such a deep and undeniable feature of the story, and believe it:

IT IS A FEATURE, NOT A BUG.

Scenes/Things in Supernatural that genuinely don't make sense to me if Dean was straight:

The confession booth scene.

Sam just rolling with the fact that Dean's siren is a guy while still thinking sirens infect people through sex.

Dean being flustered by several men: Gunner Lawless, Aaron, Doctor Sexy, etc.

All the parallels between Destiel and other couples. (A big one being "last night on Earth" bc how do you do that accidentally.)

Having all the gay jokes be on Dean instead of Sam.

Paralleling Sam meeting his childhood celebrity crush with Dean meeting Gunner Lawless.

The boner Dean got when Cas cleaned up.

Dean gulping after Cas does an impression from a Western movie.

Charlie, a lesbian, calling Castiel "dreamy."

The way Mary looks at Dean and Cas when they hug.

Dean wondering why everyone assumes he's gay, while Sam not caring.

The logic that Charlie can't flirt with guys because she's only attracted to women, but then having Dean flirt with the guy for her.

Dean seeming disappointed when learning that Aaron's flirting was fake.

The amount of time Dean and Cas spend staring at each other.

Dean canonically having an orgy with Crowley.

A woman saying that she knows when someone's pining for someone else to Dean, just for us to learn that Dean was never in love with Amara.

[joejhang]

don't y'all just think jeremy knox is on a downhill trajectory. like he's been bottling up emotions and faking smiles and stepping carefully around his family members for at least like four (?) years at this point and even though laila and cat seem to know what happened with him he never really confides in them that we see? he's hiding so much from everyone (including the fucking readers, ok oddly aware narrator) and i think it's all just building up to some implosion.

[silverspadesss]

the first thing to come out of billy’s mouth after realising that he’s home in black sails s2 being ‘get gates’ makes me ;-; because yeah he has some very disturbing and important information that gates as quartermaster would need to know but he’s just returned from something long and terrifying and painful and so it’s also a very instinctual, very sincere ‘i want my dad.’

[stagefoureddiediaz]

Oh Oliver Oliver Oliver how I love thee!!

In flux you say

Dealing with changes you say

Velocity you say

A lot of possibility you say

So many most excellent things all in one answer!

Flux and change in the same sentence is so interesting and telling on several fronts (and not just Eddie’s moustache!). It’s very loudly saying bt bones sooner rather than later, but it’s also suggesting some things going down at the firehouse and maybe with Bobby (the working together during the plane emergency was very much giving me calm before a storm vibes) which I’m excited to see as I think it will be fabulous for Bucks development both personally and professionally. But it’s also giving me changes with Eddie vibes - and on a couple of fronts - the Christopher front, and the personal front.

The use of velocity is an interesting choice - when you think Bucks been stuck on that hamster wheel for so long and then got off one to land on another, the fact we’re now talking velocity is pretty interesting! It’s very much suggesting we’re going to get a huge amount of buck set up stuff in the next couple of episodes - on multiple fronts. So btw bones obviously, which I’m expecting to trigger some soul searching and figuring out - that his bisexual awakening has triggered buck knowing himself more than he ever has before but that Tommy has been holding him in stasis and as soon as he’s gone it will actually catapult him forward quite dramatically.

I mean velocity is giving me feelings for Eddie realisation vibes, but then, because I think in 806 Eddie is going to shave the stache off and then head off to Texas to try to fix things with Chris, things settling down for buck for a little bit makes a lot of sense to me. In combination with ‘a lot of possibility’ and the concept of ‘next step’ and Oliver being excited to see where ‘the story goes in the not to distant future’ it’s very much giving buck sort of pining era vibes. Eddie being physically gone (and working on his own stuff which I expect to take 2 episodes at most) giving buck some processing space would be great to watch - especially if we are shown them being in contact by phone and video chat etc. As the audience we’d get to see Buck actively knowingly in love whilst not being able to act on it - Oliver obviously wouldn’t know yet how that initial pining era is going to go from there because it would take us through to 808 - which is what they’re finishing up right now, so it’s all set up to be exciting because Eddie will then return and Chris will be back (he better or I will be protesting at the studio!) so focus will shift to that aspect for an episode or so, and we’ll have fully pining buck who’s also delighted Chris is back and that leads to a cliffhanger mid season on the will they won’t they front!

I can see it all so clearly and I’m very here for it please and thank you

[aleksanderscult]

I'm really appreciative of some good fucking discourse about the Darkling bc tbh, the first time I tried to read the books, I gave up after the reveal that he was the villain of the series. Even to a 14 year old, it was disappointingly unoriginal and I've never gotten over it. He was objectively right? And Alina says he's a monster because he's killed people, then she kills him? I THOUGHT MURDER WAS BAD, ALINA??? She wouldn't kill the literal rapist king but she'd kill the one person fighting for the rights of Grisha. It just doesn't make sense.

Honestly the root of the problem comes from Bardugo who used the evils of persecution and genocide for her books but labeled the violence to end them as "bad".

Anyone can have their own opinion for this but I don't think there is another way to change such things but using brute violence. People that hate your race will not calmly listen to your pleas and reason.

King Alexander got the better end in comparison to the Darkling and that is infuriating, true. There was hypocrisy in the way Nikolai dealt with his stepfather but, hey! He felt bad about it so we're supposed to root for him since he didn't show plain apathy. 🤷‍♀️

[lucabyte]

transfem loop + siffrin... you agree

i does agree.... i does in fact ... write a 7k word essay on the subject..... if you would like to perhaps click that link and read it if you were not already aware...... kisses u on the forehead......... sorry its that long but i had to cover all of my bases you know how it is with textual analysis when you're trying to draw a distinction between "headcanon" and "reading of the text" because those are different things.... to meeeeeeee.......

[ncfan-1]

I have a few wants for Mae’s story next season, with the hope that she gets her memory back relatively quickly being a pretty important one, but it’s not the only want I have for the way things go for Mae that I consider important. There’s something else that feels even more important: namely, that Mae find people in her life that deeply love and prioritize her.

There’s something very pointed going on in Season 1. “Everyone seems to want you,” Qimir says to Osha, but by comparison, nobody ever seems to want Mae. When they’re children, Sol professes a connection to Osha, and Mae is little more than an afterthought; as an adult, Sol ultimately leaves nothing for her but the worst parts of himself. Qimir is visibly fascinated with Osha from first sight, and ultimately doesn’t seem to have thought much of Mae even before she attempted to desert his side; he seems to brush her off the way you’d brush a speck of dust off of you.

And don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that Osha should have chosen to stay with Mae in Episode 8. It doesn’t make sense from a storytelling standpoint, not at this juncture. This is the culmination of Mae’s character arc this season, where she is finally able to stop clinging to Osha, to accept that what she wants more than anything is for Osha to be happy, even if she isn’t with her. For Osha to choose to stay with Mae at that point would feel wrong, for Mae has to prove to the audience that she has reached this kind of peace regarding her relationship with her sister by accepting that Osha doesn’t want to stay with her without bitterness. As for Osha, this is the culmination of her character arc this season, which has been about taking her life and her power into her own hands, and it would be strange for her to stay with Mae when Qimir has offered to help her do what she wants. It wouldn’t feel right from a storytelling standpoint; for things to make sense, they have to part ways at the end of Season 1.

But even if Osha frames it as making sure that Mae is safe from any reprisals on Qimir’s part, and even if it’s what make sense from a storytelling perspective, what it ultimately amounts to is that Osha doesn’t choose Mae, either. Nobody ever chooses Mae.

And it’s so uneven. I’m not saying I want Osha to be this alone, too—I don’t. But it’s wrenching to watch this woman who has nothing and no one at the beginning of the season still have nothing and no one at the end of the season, because even the memory of Osha forgiving her and loving her again has been taken away from her. Even her memory of the one person she had left who actually loved her has been taken away from her. She had nothing then, and she has nothing now.

Like I said, it feels pointed, the way Mae is never chosen, and what I’m hoping is that this means that it won’t be the case anymore in Season 2. Vernestra, you say, and yeah, I have high hopes for that dynamic, but no matter how things shake out between Mae and Vernestra, that is never going to be a relationship of equals, and I don’t think it’s ultimately going to be the kind of relationship where Vernestra would choose Mae, not meaningfully. Not over every other option.

That’s what I want for Mae, really. Someone who will love her deeply and choose her over everyone else, every time. With her memories and without. Knowing what she’s done, the good and the bad, knowing what she’s capable of, the good and the bad, knowing her past, knowing her faults and knowing that those faults aren’t all of who she is. Someone who would choose her without a second thought.

Because I feel like there’s going to be a scene like the one in Episode 8, where this time, it’s Mae who chooses. But Osha had more than one option. Either Qimir or Mae were viable options. Osha had a solid foundation to rely on, whatever she decided to do. But as it stands, Mae only has Osha. Osha is all Mae has. And if we do get a moment like that in Season 2, where this time it’s Osha asking Mae what she wants, if she wants to go with her or not, if Mae’s options are still “Osha” or “be completely alone,” then it's not the meaningful choice that Osha had, is it? My point is, I want Mae, whatever she decides, to have actually had a meaningful choice. To not be completely dependent on Osha for love and acceptance. To have someone else she could turn to if she decided that she didn’t want to go with Osha. To not have her choices be: Osha—or no one.

[bonefall]

Do you have anything concrete for Jayclaw in BB? Curious about him since we never really learn how he dies. We don't really know much about him, besides the fact he's reasonable, fast and had a physical fight with his brother over a small mess.

Funny enough I have had a crystal clear image in my head of who Jayclaw is for years, and have not had to change it at all. He's a total background character but for some reason I just know what this dude's about.

Jayclaw was a dancer, a FANTASTIC one. He played Jingleshells, which are a full-body instrument made of netting and percussive beads. His performances were playful and dramatic, and he reveled in pulling off impressive movements while still keeping rythmn with his chimes.

His friend group was essentially a little band. His brother Owlnose played drums, his friend Podlight sang, and that connection was how he was introduced to Curlfeather. It was impossible to resist his charms once he started courting her-- he was fun-loving, romantic, and absolutely captivating.

Curlfeather loved him so much that sometimes it was hard to look at him. "I can't be seeing you right now, you're going to make me grin like a fool."

"Like it would be so terrible for you to brighten my day, gorgeous?"

Losing him was sudden, unexpected, and heartbreaking. I don't know what it was specifically, but I do know it was a freak accident and quite violent. He left camp one day in the prime of his life, and came back dead.

I don't think his passing planted any seeds in Curl's mind that weren't already there, but the combined stress of grief and the loss of her emotional "rock" was the catalyst.

In fact, at first, believing Frostpaw's bad dream had been a vision was probably something Curlfeather actually believed, or otherwise was something she came up with for non-nefarious reasons. Like maybe Frostpaw believing her vision "killed her mi," and Curlfeather meant to soothe her by explaining that visions simply predict the future and that his death wasn't something she caused.

In any case, after his death, Curlfeather was driven towards acting on her ambition. That's Jayclaw! Trophy husband who died ❤️

[more-than-tender-curiosity]

So do you like Nick Carraway or not? I’m getting mixed signals here 😅

My only hobby is handing him my Most Specialest Fucked Up Golden Boy. What do you think

[deadrocks]

しのん on Pixiv is back with a new Majimako story. Only the first half is posted so far, but it's cute and light, a big tonal shift from the previous story I posted so much about. Grateful to have new fic to read, especially as I'm in a weird place with my current employment and need all the new shippy stories and art I can get. Frustrated that there's not really anyone I can share this with; this site isn't exactly drowning in currently-active Majimako fans, and I don't know any that want to read Japanese fic and then talk about it in English. Once again, should've started this game series seven or eight years ago and gotten in when the getting was still good.

[aleksanderscult]

Antis: "The Darkling was cruel! He killed, manipulated, lied and forced himself to Alina!"

*Meanwhile the antis when Nikolai cut the fingers of a man, decided to usurp the throne, lied to Alina, hid information from her and kissed her without consent:* "Now isn't he a cutie?🥰😭"

[clonerightsagenda]

Jessica’s fate is a miniature of what's happening to all the children in this universe: victims of a previous generation’s imperial extraction while everyone assigns blame in the wrong direction. I think that’s intentional but, given that, I’m not sure what to make of how they use all those hoarded relics later in the series. Maybe I’ll have a clearer idea when I get there, although I feel like the politics get pretty muddled at the end of Ptolemy’s Gate also, so sometimes you just decide to set aside your themes for a cool set piece. I get it.

Anyway if Listener powers can overcome the language barrier I think Lucy should ask those people who they are so they can be returned. IDK how Lockwood's parents got all those artifacts, but I find it hard to believe people willingly handed over the literal souls of their relatives.

[starpros-sunshine]

Might be a hot take but I don't like the phrasing of "Yeah curly already got his punishment for his inaction" as if he deserved to end up like that because he made a mistake. I'm not saying he didn't do anything wrong quite the opposite actually had he just listened to Anya then yeah a lot could've been avoided and his compliance is a huge factor in why things went the way they did but idk I still don't think him ending up this severely disabled and hurt should be regarded as "Just punishment for his inaction". Leaves a bitter taste in my mouth I can't quite explain it but there's this weird undertone in that line of thought that just rubs me the wrong way

[theknightstemplar]

perspective. (end of year rant)

Rubbing my hands together as I force redditors to sit around me like kindergartners. I then explain that "Argath's actions are undeniably Bad but. we are viewing them through a lens of detachment and fiction so it's all too easy to say 'WELL I WOULDN'T DO THAT IF I WERE IN HIS SHOES' ."

Ivalice isn't real-- though the issues it represents very much are. Argath is also not real but going "well I would subject this 16 year old to what amounts to war crimes for his actions!" is not the hot coals of justice take you think it is.

Argath is a child.

A fictional and fucked up evil child, but a child still. I'm more willing to pity him than I am the adults who perpetuated and even rewarded his behavior. You wanna know who you should hate more in my opinion?

Zalbaag Beoulve.

I won't lie, I get a little sick of the "zalbaag should have joined the party!" opinion. At least as it is now... You really think Zalbaag "This Changes Nothing" Beoulve would have done anything to help in ch2 onwards? Ha ha, I fucking doubt it! Even if you think tietra's death was a fluke or that "argath shouldn't have shot her" (someone else would have if argath hadn't, you know this I know this.) the first thing he does when ramza DOES come to him for help issssss... oh wait, let me check! HE DISMISSES HIM AND DISOWNS RAMZA TO HIS FACE.

Ramza: You speak of trust, Zalbaag, yet you show me none in kind! Zalbaag: What have you ever done to inspire my trust? The mistake was my own. Until today I had looked on you as a true brother. But your mother's common blood forever stains you common. You are not fit to bear the Beoulve name!

He doesn't let Ramza defend himself or anything, it's on-sight immediate "you're wrong you're not my brother commoner filth i hate you fuck you" Argath was less defensive than this when Ramza called him out just before Zeakden ("Best of luck, my soft-hearted friend. You'll need it.") so WHY AREN'T WE TALKING MORE ABOUT WHAT AN ASSHOLE ZALBAAG IS? He's the same vein of classism Argath is only WORSE because he's an adult in a position of power over others!

It's almost always "Ohhh zalbaag the tragic hero!" "zalbaag felt so bad, I wish he could have been saved :(" and rarely "zalbaag only felt sorry after it was too late for 'sorry' to MEAN anything" or "zalbaag never truly apologized for facilitating the death of several northern sky soldiers and at least 2 children, only for being dycedarg's good little moron" yeah zalbaag, tell tietra how sorry you are that you essentially said her life means nothing. even if you say it to her grave. would you have, zalbaag?

the narrative forgives zalbaag as well. dycedarg largely takes the fall for his little bro flubbing fort zeakden. zalbaag gets the more heroic sounding theme of the older brothers and he's given the benefit of doubt by ramza re: war scheming-- I would say it's a mercy almost that Argath's in turn forgotten by the narrative as a person and turned into more symbolism but then. War of the Lions had to fuck that up lmao

But my point is. I don't forgive Argath's actions; I pity him. It was adults like Zalbaag, Gaffgarion, and Dycedarg that left him to fall through the cracks and become the hateful thing he was before he died. And even if Zalbaag didn't have some grand sinister agenda he's still an asshole whose inability to open his eyes and either act or change lead to death abound, moreso than argath.

[theskeletoninthegarden]

I know any followup to Alien: Covenant would basically be just about watching David expand on the development of the Xenomorphs into the hell raisers they are today and I'm all for that

[lordmushroomkat]

Was just thinking about shadowpeach and I remembered a line from a song that fits them so well in the way that it absolutely cuts to the bone.

So anyway here's the lyrics to Elsa's Song by The Amazing Devil so you can think about it with me.

I can hear the cannons calling as though across a dream

And I can smell the smoke of hell in every stitch and seam

And like flowers, the bodies tumble around this muddied lot

I cannot hear them scream, "Forget me not",

Your voice, it carries over the hubbub and the hum

And it paints the sky and circles high like the beating of a drum

You will scream, "I won't forget you, " but I'll cover my cold ears

It cannot be a lie if no one hears

'Cause although you say good day to me, I know I don't belong

And although you hold my hand and say, "I love you, " you are wrong

Because love does not exist here, in this garden, there's no feeling

And you say the words so often that I barely know the meaning

And when all the flowers are rotten and all the cannons shot

I'll scream, but you won't hear, "Forget me not"

And in years to come, you'll wander to the place up on our hill

And then you'll cry to our painted sky, "I loved him then, I love him still!"

And you'll strew some sage and lilies and roses where I rot

Of all the flowers you picked, I knew you would forget

Forget-me-nots

Just. The war with heaven, the loss, the separation, the death, the mourning, the coming back to life but still feeling dead, the distance, the love that was real but hadn't mattered when it needed to, the grief.

I'm gonna cry, I swear to the gods. If someone doesn't make an animatic for this I'm gonna be so upset. It's perfect!! (I guess I could try??? Ugh I have too many projects already, I don't need this!)