#screw the both of them >:(

[funsizedcrow]

Link is Hylia's specialist little boy (this is not a good thing for him)

(stills under the cut)

[secriden]

This line. God, this line! It has been eating me up inside for 2 days now, because let's not forget, this line isn't about love, it's about trust. And that has implications that make me want to scream.

It's a direct reference to this moment earlier in the episode:

At the start of this discussion, Style and Fadel still have a kind of playful air about their conversation:

Style: Oh? Not even me? Fadel: You're at 80% at best. I feel like you're hiding something from me in the 20%.

In this exchange, though, there's a sense that Fadel is issuing a challenge, like there's something specific which Style can do to gain Fadel's full trust. And while Style knows there are things he cannot (yet) reveal to Fadel, I think a part of him is determined to be as honest as he can be, which is why he issues a challenge of his own by asking for more specificity:

Style: What do I have to do to gain your complete trust?

Part of this question is a simultaneously inquisitive and deflective - What (and why) do you think I'm hiding (something) from you? - but there's also a moment after Style finishes speaking where he stills and goes quiet that feels... genuine, weighty. Or, as @airenyah has pointed out in her meta on Style in episode 4, the "grounded[ness]" in Style's demeanour is a signal that Style means what he's saying in the moment. Maybe about his own desire to be worthy of Fadel's trust, maybe about how he genuinely does want this relationship to be real in whatever way that matters to Fadel.

I think Fadel sensed that too, because the moment looses all the lightheartedness it had before. Fadel pauses, and then gets a look on his face that just... breaks my heart. There's a sombreness there, like he knows he's going to have to say something that makes him sad. Fadel looks away, and then down, before he seems to steel himself and says:

Fadel: It'll never happen. No matter how much you love someone, I just don't believe that you can completely lay yourself bare in front of them.

Fadel says this like it's fact. Like what he's expressing is something foundational and true and irrefutable. It's not even about his doubt in Style's honesty, because this statement has no qualifiers or conditions put on it to connect it to Style. Rather this is what Fadel fundamentally believes about relationships and trust: he finds the very concept of being fully known and still accepted an impossibility.

Sure, maybe this is because of the falling out (or betrayal or disappearance) associated with the former lover; but I also think it might be because Fadel is acutely aware not only that he's hiding a rather big and dark secret (not to mince words, but: actual literal premeditated murder), but also about what it implies about Fadel. Because being able to kill another human, coldly and clinically and without remorse, takes a certain type of person. Because, yes, Fadel has lived through an absolutely harrowing and traumatising event (his parents' murder), but it's also undeniable that it changed him. Because there's something about Fadel that twisted dark and which he never quite got back. There's an anger, a hurt that colours every moment of his life; that enables him to look a man in the eyes, smile politely, and pull a trigger.

And at this point in their relationship, Fadel's understanding of Style is that he's... well, kind of innocent. Especially in comparison to Fadel and Bison, and even Kant.

Style, who easily reveals facts about his life which Fadel already knows (winning a car tuning competition), making Fadel doubt his own instincts about Style hiding secrets. Style, who also reveals the things Fadel doesn't know, like the tender and secret pain of a mother lost to cancer (which, now that I think about it, Fadel may also know) and his worries about a father who "lost his bearings for a bit" (which he probably doesn't). Style, who tries to comfort Fadel in his own loss by offering a safe space and a sympathetic ear.

Style, who doesn't just see Fadel for his tragedy, but is asking to be given the chance to accept all of Fadel as a person. Style, who not only wants but has the capacity, to be the only person Fadel needs to rely on. Style who, despite the sea of differences between them, understands Fadel on a level that is so very foundational.

I'm going to slightly segue and mention something that may not resonate with everyone, but really hit me in the gut this episode: because I lost my father when I was 16 after he battled cancer for 2 painful years. And this revelation about Style has totally shifted and coloured everything Style has done in a new light for me. Because not only does this totally explain Style's sometimes almost stubbornly childish demeanour (it's common in adults who've had to 'grow up' too early), but also why Style shows seemingly random flashes of insight and maturity when they are most crucial. Notably, Style has this almost instinctive sense of when he needs to back off a sore point with Fadel that I couldn't quite put my finger on until this episode.

I've seen a few jokes about Style's awkward subject change, but I've actually got a friend who I hold very dear to my heart who was one of the only people to give me a sense of normalcy and comfort when my dad was on his last few days and then at his funeral. And part of that was the instinctive way she would know when I needed to just. Not be a grieving daughter for a few minutes. To get a small respite from the overwhelming hopelessness and sense of impending loss. To get a moment to breathe and gather my strength, because knowing I was never going to see my dad again, or hear his voice, or hold his hand was tearing me apart back then. Sometimes she'd talk to me about college drama, sometimes she'd introduce a new kpop video to me, sometimes she'd just ask me what I wanted to eat and take me to go have a meal with her. And sometimes there really just isn't anything else to say other than "I'm sorry." Nothing you say - nothing you can say - is going to ever, ever make this grief go away, and in most cases, it was better when people (especially those who couldn't really understand) didn't try.

And I think if you look at Fadel very closely, there's a moment of genuine surprise (Fadel wasn't expecting the subject change at all) and then... something that looks like fondness mixed with exhausted relief. Because I don't think Fadel was ready to talk about his parents yet. This was honesty he wasn't ready to give Style, mostly prompted because Style himself had willingly been so vulnerable that a part of Fadel wanted to reciprocate. But further down that path lies not only his darkest memories, but also the connection to the part of his life he is not willing to share with Style yet. So this subject change is a relief, it's a blessing, but it's also Style knowing when he shouldn't push any further with Fadel's fragile heart.

Which brings me back to how well the episode's theme of trust (both deserved and undeserved) was woven in this episode. This is true on multiple levels and characters but I'm not even going to attempt to touch Kant in this post because... Lord, that is beyond me at the moment. Someone else needs to do that, pretty please, so I can reblog it and scream.

It starts, somewhat unexpectedly, with Fadel asking for entrance into the intimate spaces of Style's life.

So, this episode was not about Fadel's fear of his own feelings, desires, or even affection for Style - that appears to be fully addressed in episode 4. I think that's why we see Fadel be so physically affectionate and indulgent of Style in this episode. He's come to terms with his lust for Style's body (hence his comfort in initiating sex), he's accepted Style as his boyfriend and so can enjoy Style's playful teasing (still reluctantly, but Fadel is still an introvert even if he's mostly enjoying Style's rambunctious nature), and give into Style's (and Bison's and Kant's) cajoling with relatively little fuss.

He's even comfortable toying with the edges of revealing his darker and more sinister side by reminding Style implicitly about how violent Fadel has the potential to be. Recall that Fadel knows Style knows some of his capacity for violence; he just doesn't know how very thoroughly Style is aware of the full scale of this truth. It does help that Style evidences no actual fear and, in fact, looks positively euphoric. Like, buddy, pal, dearest one... please control yourself.

And yet something very, very telling is the way the show makes it a point to depict Fadel very deliberately getting drunk during the double date. Even before the date has started, Fadel looks to be about half a beer in and we see him constantly drinking, drinking, drinking during the whole date. From the conversation about trust he has with Style while Kant and Bison are being off key and adorable about it, to after Kant leaves and Bison gets worried. And we've seen Fadel cope with emotional and mental distress with alcohol before, so we know that Fadel is internally fighting some kind of very intense battle even as he is also very clearly enjoying moments with Style on this date (most notably when they're dancing by the bowling lanes and when Style asks him to go home with him).

So here's my take: rather than being about love, this is about Fadel fighting to hold onto his own philosophy on relationships and trust. Because as much as I do believe Fadel believes he's telling the truth when he tells Style that 100% trust is "impossible", I think it's clear that's not what he wants.

What he wants is to finish this last job so that the only thing he can't be honest about with Style will finally stop being a factor in his life. What he wants is to fully and completely reciprocate the openness Style seems to be giving Fadel. What he wants is to switch off his brain and let his heart lead for once, to stop fighting a battle he has no desire to win anymore, only he can't. Trust (not love) is Fadel's final frontier, and one which he can't quite give up in spite of himself.

Which is why I think Fadel intentionally gets himself drunk here. Because he wants to let his guard down around Style. He wants to open himself fully, he wants to "lay himself bare" for Style, he wants Style to know the full truth and accept him anyway - and he gets so close, but can't quite get there - because he doesn't know that Style already has.

When Style says this, Fadel thinks it's empty words, not knowing that Style has long passed the bar Fadel thinks is insurmountable. And just like Style was able to offer safety and reassurance to the vulnerability Fadel was showing in episode 4, Style instinctively gets to the core of Fadel's darkest fears again:

Style: One day, I'll be your 100%.

This isn't (just) a promise that Style will wear Fadel's stubbornness down, or that Style will be worthy of Fadel's 100% (which, already, has me in tears, ngl). Beyond that, this is Style promising Fadel isn't ruined for this; that it isn't too late, that whatever hurts and wounds Fadel has can be made whole again. That the kind of honest and all-encompassing and unconditional trust which Fadel says is impossible can, in fact, be his. That Fadel still has the capacity to trust and be trusted the way he so desperately, painfully longs for.

I know a lot of people have said Style in this episode is writing cheques he has no ability to honour, but I think it's more layered than that. Because in a very significant and profound way, Style is wholly deserving of Fadel's trust. Because in all the ways that Fadel has ever known he should want, Style actually IS worthy of his trust. Style knows the truth Fadel is hiding, knows what this man is capable of, knows the danger of being in his arms, knows the likely nonexistent future Fadel has to offer him -- and wants him anyway. Style is a man who would stare into Fadel’s darkness and reach out first. Strip away the complication of Kant being blackmailed and dragging Style into his mission, and Style is literally perfect for Fadel. He is exactly what Fadel wants (and possibly has wanted for a very long time). He is, in fact, exactly what Fadel needs to ever experience anything beyond the shadow of a life he's had so far.

But oh, the cruel narrative means that Style is also, simultaneously, painfully undeserving of Fadel's trust; and this is something Style is very much aware of. I think that's why he's trying so very hard to be worthy in all the other ways he can be. Style's awareness of what Fadel is hiding enables Style to (counterintuitively) be completely honest about his feelings for and about Fadel even as he cannot reveal his motivations. So he gives Fadel as much honesty as he can: offers the vulnerability of his own pain and hurts; the comfort of his true understanding and acceptance.

And just as Fadel's vulnerability in the abandoned factory was met with Style choosing a form of physical connection that prioritised Fadel's pleasure (it's made very clear that Style is jerking Fadel off and that all his focus in that moment was on Fadel, not his own pleasure), so too is this moment met with Style very intentionally choosing to worship Fadel's body with all the tenderness and genuine emotional weight that Style wanted Fadel to have in their first time in the storeroom.

Because, crucially, this was Style giving Fadel the chance to lay himself at least physically bare. This is the closest either of them can get to full honesty with the secrets they both are keeping. It's why Style tries so very hard to show the care and adoration and genuine feelings he has for Fadel. Why he makes sure that the vulnerability of Fadel getting himself as drunk and as relaxed and as trusting as Fadel can allow himself to be is tied only to gentleness and tenderness and pleasure.

Because Style actually knows that Fadel can't (and shouldn't) trust him in the way Fadel truly wishes to.

And as much as I believe that Style genuinely means this from the bottom of his heart, the horrifying full truth is that it is Style that has the metaphorical knife hovering over Fadel's chest. He is the one with the capacity to actually give Fadel a new scar that would truly matter. He is, in fact, the only one Fadel wants to fully trust -- and this, along with Style's compromised heart, makes it so that the circumstances will doom them both.

[indehed]

Danny and his James Bond crushes

[mothtato]

Showing me this man and then telling me no is so mean

[deathandnonexistentialdread]

the British Museum should be taking notes

[23fallencomets]

*eye twitching, hands shaking* streets are saying it’s true that jack is not racing in imola and im now wishing nothing but the worst for that team, i hope your pit stops are slow, you get impeded during quali, your hopes for points gets ruined every single race

[imagine-to-be-a-pike]

,,Fu Yao and Nan Feng as Fengqing's twins" yea sure But what if they don't know about it either. Like Mu Qing and Feng Xin had idk like 10 years of peace, spawned two kids (don't ask me, ask them) but ended up separating them

Nan Feng ended up as Nan Yang's deputy and Fu Yao as Xuan Zhen's. Both very unaware of their parents. They just think they are favored for some reason

[azadrithaanatheme]

Unexpected Reunion, Part 2

part 1 | part 2 - Click the images for better quality

*points at Nori, Yeva, Khan, and Yeva's husband (who I'm calling Alexei because other people call him that and I like the name)*

"Old. Married. Polycule."

[pepperpixel]

SAID HE LIKES CRAZY GIRLS,

BUT HE HATES WHEN I ACT CRAZY,

IT TAKES TWO TO TOXIC!

FINALLY!!! Finished these pics of jinx I’ve been working on!!!!! HOLY SHIT, these took so long…. But finally… they’re done… pls enjoy this art of my beautiful princess w a disorder. Featuring alternate colors for the big pic and also a closeup! Cuz I rlly like how both the lines and coloring on her face turned out… like the pink gradients w her eye… her deer in headlights expression,, like uve just startled a raccoon digging thru ur trashcan and r two seconds away from getting mauled.. m proud of it!

[madbard]

I’ve been thinking about having a double.

Maybe they’re better than you, and you resent them for that. Maybe they’re better than you, and you are in some way grateful that you don’t need to be perfect anymore, because they will be perfect for you. Maybe they’re better than you, and everyone else agrees, and you are left alone, and you hate them because of it.

Maybe they’re worse than you, and you feel such a deep empathy for them because that could have been you. Maybe they’re worse than you, and you hate them because they represent everything you hate about yourself. Maybe they’re worse than you, and everybody else agrees, and when they abandon this lesser version of yourself you must wonder how easily you could be discarded as well.

Maybe one of you is more real than the other, and you both know who it is. Maybe one is more real than the other, and you don’t know who it is. Maybe both of you are equally real, which means you are equally unreal, and as halves of what should have been a united whole you become something either so much greater than yourself, or so much less.

Maybe you were torn in half, and you will always feel the phantom pain where another consciousness was ripped from your very being, where you were born from an act of unfathomable violence.

Maybe you discovered them, as you were just living your life, and it shook you to your very core, because if nothing else was certain, you at least had a sense of yourself as a singular entity, and that sense of self can never fully be regained.

If your double experiences something, are they stealing that experience from you, or are they expanding the definition of you so that you may experience twice as much? If someone loves your double because they think it is you, is that love stolen? What if your double loves them back?

If you love your double, is it because you love yourself, or because you love the person you were, or the person you could be? Is it because they know you like no one else can? Is it because they are inescapable, as the self is inescapable, no matter how far you run? If you hate your double, does it mean the same thing?

Is your double your reflection? Are they your shadow? Are they a carbon copy or the imprint you have left, the inversion of your impression on the world?

If you kill your double, have you killed yourself? Or have you become, for the first time since they existed, an individual?

Does killing your double make you a monster, or does it finally make you human?

[hiding-under-the-willow]

For your hermitcraft/ghosts au

If you are going to go with the zits being inventors whose machine blew up and killed them, I think it would be very funny if every one of them blames another one for screwing something up that caused the explosion

Oh of course, it's only natural.

[royalarchivist]

[ Volume warning at the beginning ]

Quackity: LUZUUUUU!!!

Luzu: [Shifts happily]

Quackity: Luzu! Luzu!!!! Luzu, I love you very much! Luzu I love you very much!

Luzu: [In chat] Hello Quackity how are you

Quackity: You don't speak, you aren't speaking, [he's] speaking in English, [he's] speaking English. He speaks in English, he speaks in English! [He switches his translation box]

Luzu: [In chat] Como estas? [How are you?]

Quackity: No no, I speak English too! I speak English too, I'm so good– wait. ...Hello? Are you not able to speak to me? Are you not able to speak to me?

Luzu:

[ Translation: i speak anything ]

[ladylightning]

also it seems like a giant fuck you to introduce sevika as someone who is tired of playing nice with piltover and wants zaun to defend itself and then narratively punish her for it over and over. she loses her arm repeatedly. she loses nearly every fight. she’s never happy. everyone close to her dies brutally and nobody even tells her. her community does not respect her. she is ignored every time she tries to rally her community and make change. she does not want to fight in piltover’s war but her people die in enforcer uniforms anyway. all for her ending (with no dialogue!) to be: accepting a position on the council to play nice with piltover.

[thinky-think-brainblast]

Katara reminiscing about her first pregnancy:

To be fair the pregnancy was unexpected, Or in my brothers words, “A real boom of an accident, get it? Because you named him Bumi.” It had honestly taken him a long time to get there, he wasn’t at all pleased with the news of his nephew when he first heard them. It was all becuase they were still considerably very young, Aang and I found out about the pregnancy when I was 21 and Aang 19, however during in the 9 month period of the pregnancy they both had there respective birthdays. Which made them 22 and 20 when Bumi was born. Ofcourse Aang tried to use this as an argument against Sokka’s endless scolding, he wasn’t successful at all and my brother just kept on going with it. Some honarble mentions of his two hour and half long speech include, “The two most irresponsible people he has ever met.” and “You can be babies having babies that doesn’t make sense.” And the unmissable “You are 19 and you are 21, do you two know what I was doing at that age? I’ll tell you what I wasnt doing, having a child!”. Ofcourse he got around to the idea of having a niece or nephew a couple days later, it wasnt like he was going to be angry forever, our friends and family were just shocked by the news to say the least.

[mrmeepsmadmind]

rewatching this over and over again.. mainly bcs tarn makes soundwave into a manlet but also bcs it's hilarious

[ghostsyourghoulzx2]

PERIOD HORNY IS WEARING OFF I MUST SAY THIS BEFORE IT'S GONE

Imagine a famous actor woman who's just been found out for having a secret daughter, but she refuses to tell anyone who she is because she wants her daughter to make her own name in the business! and then suddenly there's a new famous actor, a super young newbie who's already in the ranks of a certain mother! Of course people assume it's her daughter, and to stop that from coming out, after a few weeks on set with the other they start rumors that they're dating

Definitely can't be her daughter! So who's this!? But still... dating the actor near the age of her would be daughter!? How terrible! If only they could find the daughter to interview her... If only she wasn't already in an interview, with her girlfriend.. mom. :)

And you know the directors lean into it on stage, I mean really. They don't know that's ACTUALLY her daughter, and well both the mom and her daughter are this far in so they can't back out now?! Now they're in scene fucking and it's totally improvised that the young actor calls her mom's girlfriends character mommy... On accident. For the show. It's for the clicks NOTHING else is happening. And the conspiracy theorists are CRAZY!!!!!!!