#so bi coded it's ridiculous

[reyenii]

— nikolai «i fall in love and flirt with everyone i meet» lantsov

[imagining-in-the-margins]

🏖️ Summer Sunshine Fics

Hey everyone! I want to start by saying thank you so much to everyone who participated - it was so much fun to write alongside you all, and I can’t wait to share everyone’s hard work. You are so appreciated, and the diversity only makes these events better.

Without further ado, here are all of the entries + recs for the Summer Sunshine Challenge! ☀️

☀️ SFW S.R./Reader ☀️

Sleepy Sunshine by @ssahopelessly: [Fem] After time in the sun, Reader wants a nap, but Spencer is more concerned about the signs of heat exhaustion.

Check You for Ticks by @andiebeaword: [Fem] Reader gets set up to share a tent (and a sleeping bag) with Spencer.

Embarrassed by @babymetaldoll: [Fem] The annual FBI beach trip could be the perfect place to make things even more awkward between Spencer and Reader.

Little Miss Reid, Entrepreneur by @/babymetaldoll: [Fem] Spencer and Reader help their daughter with her lemonade stand. So does the BAU.

Heat Stroke by @0and0its0doctor0: [Fem] Reader is self-conscious about the scars on her arms so she wear long sleeves in the heat.

Beach by @c-m-stuff: [Fem] Reader and Spencer are married. They have a beautiful daughter, and they all are going on vacation.

Pyrotechnics by me: [GN] Reader has a hard time on Fourth of July, and Spencer helps them fall in love with fireworks again.

Summer Nights by @foxy-eva: [GN] Summer may come to an end but the kisses Spencer shares with you will not.

Check below for more Spencer Reid fics, as well as Hotchgan, Penemily, Temily, and several Gen fics!

☀️ NSFW S.R./Reader ☀️

Sunscreen & Statistics by me: [Fem] Reader asks for Spencer’s help putting on sunscreen (and rinsing off). 

Lost Time by me: [Fem] Reader and Spencer spend mandatory leave on the vacation Spencer never had.

Nude Beach by @foxy-eva: [Fem] Reader finally convinces Spencer to go to the beach with her. Turns out it's a nude beach. 

Summer in the City by @/foxy-eva: [Fem] Having a nearly naked roommate made the heatwave much more tolerable for Spencer.

In This Diary by @fortheloveofwonderland: [Fem] Spencer was hoping to relax before his started his new job at the BAU, but best laid plans often go awry.

Summer Heat by @/fortheloveofwonderland: [Fem] The BAU must undertake a team building hike in the woods. Reader and Spencer get themselves lost and have to find a way to pass the time.

Summertime Service by @pinkiceee-prose: [Fem] Reader throws the BAU team a summer barbeque feast. Spencer is moved by her hard work and decides to show his gratitude.

Popsicle Love by @reidmotif: [Fem] Reader and Spencer are at a ridiculously hot precinct and getting on each other's nerves. Reader realizes she can get back at him using a certain sweet treat.

Spencer Reid Doesn't Know How to Swim by @reidsfav: No one knows that Spencer doesn't know how to swim and Reader is willing to help him keep it that way.

Just Hanging Out by @reiderwriter: [Fem] Reader finds herself at Rossi's mansion for a big summer barbeque. A hammock catches Reader's eye.

Everyone Looks Better in a Sundress by @/reiderwriter: [GN!AFAB] The AC at the BAU breaks during a heatwave, and Reader decides the FBI’s dress code is merely a suggestion.

☀️ Other Pairings ☀️

The Shape You Take by @masterwords: Hotchgan. Hotch is dwelling on an empty nest. Morgan has just the ticket: sea, sand, food and naps. While exploring a nude beach one night they find a little more than they bargained for.

July by @gaelic-symphony: Temily. The couple takes a trip to the beach.

August by @/gaelic-symphony: Temily. The couple rides out a summer storm.

Watermelon Sugar by @putting-the-bi-in-bau: [NSFW] Penemily. Emily has spent her vacation trying - and failing - to keep her eyes off Penelope while she walks around the house in nothing but her underwear.

Pool Parties and Secrets by @alicewonderao3: Spencer/Fem!OC. Swimming can be both fun and scary all at the same time.

☀️ Gen/Platonic ☀️

A Very Serious Fight by @alluring-andraya: Platonic. The team is very lighthearted, but one thing they do take seriously other than their jobs, is water gun/balloon fights.

Scars by @codename-mom: Hotch. Jessica offered Aaron to come to the beach with her and Jack, but there is something she doesn't know that stops him.

Baseball and Barbecue by @writing-till-i-run-out-of-time: Everyone went over to Rossi's for a family fun day of barbecue. Then something happens to Spencer.

Lemon-aide to the Rescue by @/PandorasDreaming [Ao3]: Henry, Michael, and Jack make their first lemonade stand but disaster strikes. They have some pretty important friends backing their first business investment!

Happy reading!

[letmetellyouaboutmyfeels]

"if Buck or Eddie is going to be revealed as queer, it means Buddie will be happening." I actually completely agree with this but can I ask you why you think this? I also want to say that I don't think Eddie needs this kind of experiment arc or self discovery arc Buck is going to get. Eddie is just going to simply be in love with his best friend, and that will be it. Buck will be the experienced one.

I think that if they're giving Buck a self-discovery/experimentation arc they won't give one to Eddie because that would be redundant.

I wondered in season five if Eddie would come out - it was very heavily coded that way in my opinion - which would've meant that Buck then wouldn't get a self-discovery/experimentation arc. Again in my opinion. It would just be redundant to have both of them do that.

So yes, I agree with you, I think Eddie is just simply going to be in love with his best friend. Which I think suits him best. I personally don't think Eddie would bother to label himself or care about that kind of thing and would say "well I'm not straight" if asked and leave it at that.

The reason I think that if one or both of them is coming out as queer it means Buddie will be happening is that if the writers are cognizant enough to realize the audience sees queerness in one or both of them, they are also cognizant enough of the fact that making one or both of them queer and not getting them together is a) ridiculous and b) unkindly teasing the audience.

Looking at the situation as a writer, the simplest, easiest, obvious solution is to have Buck and Eddie date each other. If I'm going to make them queer, why would I reinvent the wheel by introducing a love interest the audience may not like, that I'll have to do extra work to get the audience to like, when I can just get them with each other?

Additionally, if I have noticed "hey we kinda made 'em queer and people have noticed," then I have also noticed the audience wants them together. To make Buck queer and give him a coming out episode/arc but then not get him with Eddie is rather like Lucy yanking the football away from Charlie Brown. While it's fun to bait and switch your audience in some ways (like who will have their life in danger in an episode, etc), you don't want to alienate your audience or make them feel played or cheated.

To make Buck queer and then not get him with Eddie would be like a middle-finger consolation prize. "Here FINE Buck's into men are you HAPPY?" And while there are definitely showrunners and writers out there who are that level of petty, most are not. Most care about their characters, story, and audience, and frankly most don't want to risk alienating their audience that much.

I think by now, showrunners and other head creatives are aware that "well we won't get the two together but we'll make one of them bi" isn't going to be treated as the well-intentioned consolation prize they think it is.

Additionally while I have a lot I'd like to yell at Tim about, he did say forever ago (back in season three I believe) that he never wants to make writing decisions based on pettiness or spite, and I choose to believe he stands by that.

Of course nothing is set in stone and if they do make Buck queer they might not make Buddie canon. But to me it simply makes the most sense. It's the easiest route and the most likely explanation for why Buck is coming out, and to not do it would be yanking the rug out from under your audience a bit, and I don't think any sensible writing team or showrunner would do that.

[killedthedreamerdream]

I love ofmd so much. I truly do. I think the representation is amazing, probably the best I've ever seen. But I can't stop myself from being disappointed as an aro person. I'm not necessarily disappointed at the show. I don't expect any character to just say hey btw I'm aromantic, because that's not how the representation in the show work, so it would just be weird. But I wish there was a character I could 100% relate to. I wish I could talk about a character being aro without anyone saying they're not. I'm a firm believer that Izzy is aro, and it's really important to me, but I know most people believe he was in love with Ed, or Stede, or Frenchie, or Lucius..... so yeah it leaves me a bit sad I guess

But I feel like that's not really about ofmd it's more about society being so aphobic. I mean, in a show, if a character is bi, or trans, but it's never mentioned in those terms, people are still going to respect their identities and it would be wrong not to do so. But when it's an aro coded character people are going to overlook it. They're going to ship that character with anyone they ever get close to, it's ridiculous.

[phading]

Hi, it's me!

Okay, so there’s probably a lot you don’t know about me. So just in case you’re in the least bit interested:

I try very, very hard never to read incomplete fics. Purely selfish, and the result of reading far too many heart-grabbing stories that never got finished. If you need kudos or encouragement or anything else to continue, I’m here and over the moon excited to read anything you’d like to throw at me. Just let me know what you want in return - comments, critique, suggestions, hugs, encouragement, emojis, whatever ...

I posted one fic a chapter at a time, and I doubt I’ll ever do it again.

Characterization is everything.

If you’ve noticed an absence of Brains, Grandma, Lady P, Havoc, etc… in my fics it’s because I don’t give a twit. Perhaps one day I will evolve beyond this simplistic state.

I suck at prompts, challenges and deadlines. My muse is never in the right headspace at the right time.

I have a ridiculous need to keep it believable when really, the stuff that goes on in the show – no matter how much I adore it – is often somewhat miraculous.

It’s the future, people, I’m allowed to invent things.

In real life, I write kids’ books.

To the best of my knowledge, I’m the oldest member of the Thunderfam. Challenge me if you think you can claim the title.

The first thing of importance I ever wrote was a full length Star Trek Next Gen novel which I submitted to a few select New York publishers (oh, the innocence of youth) . Surprise, surprise, many of them actually read it and sent back comments written on famous restaurant napkins.

So, in light of all of the above, I’m once again doing my own thing. Inspired by the recent “10 opening lines from 10 recent fics” post I’m changing it up to “10 opening lines from 10 WIPs”.  I mean, seriously, I’m a newbie here and have far more WIPs than I do finished fics. So here’s what’s – pray to the anti-depression, anti-chronic pain gods  – coming up …

A WHOLE LOT OF SUPERFICIAL The uniform discarded in a heap on the floor outside the showers was expected – the purple neoprene wasn’t. (Virgil, Scott, shaping up to be humour)

THE LAST ZOO ON EARTH “Say again, John. I thought you said we have a situation at a zoo.” (All brothers, major rescue, major whump, pissed off Gordon)

THERE ARE NO CANNIBALS ANYMORE “Sir! I need you to calm down!” (Hurt Virgil, this one could go graphic in a hurry)

IT DOESN’T HURT Virgil glanced up from the piano keys, searching for inspiration but instead witnessing his fish brother's spectacular dive off the board – a dive that would leave his re-built back in shambles. (Fishtank, chronic pain)

TIGHT ROPE “I’m sorry, John, but if she’s dumb enough to try and pull off this ridiculous stunt, I see no reason why we should save her from her own stupidity.” (rescue gone sideways)

STARSTUCK Alan Tracy had been looking forward to this moment for a very long time. (Hurt Virgil, guilty Alan, Thunderbird 3 whump)

STELLAR “Hey, John, what’s this?” “It’s personal, that’s what it is!” (Guilty John, comatose Gordon, poetry, John has a secret)

CASPIAN John Tracy blinked open his eyes, breath catching when he discovered the most beautiful thing in his universe mere centimetres from his face. (John, OC-John’s lover, angst, Marks and Wings, John is not only a telepathic Ave but he’s bi!)

PSYCHOTIC MEDIUMS The probe entered Earth’s solar system broadcasting a symphony of alien sound that instantaneously drove the half-a-million or so humans who were listening insane. (Virgil centric, angst, sci-fi)

THE JOHN-CODE “Hey, Eos, you wanna help me test this new game?” (Alan, John, Eos, virtual games gone wrong.)

[honestlydarkprincess]

Seven(ish) Sentence Sunday!

tagged by the lovely and talented @monsterrae1, @panbuckley, @911onabc, and @cowboy-buddie 💘

we're 11.7k into the eddie 5+1 dates fic and we're getting close to finishing! i just have the +1 date to do<3 i've been in a writing slump the last few days tho so i'm not sure when the beans will start beaning, but alas, have a snippet! it's more than seven sentences but i can't count <3

“My friend Ben is right, seeing your parents kiss is gross.” Chris went on with what he came to the kitchen for, filling up his water bottle and starting to leave.

“Wait, Chris, are you— are you okay with this? Us?” Buck asked hesitantly. He wasn’t ready for the answer but it needed to be asked anyway.

“Of course,” Christopher said, looking at Buck like he was ridiculous for even asking the question. “I’ve been waiting for this to happen.”

“You have?” Eddie and Buck looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

“Well, it was kind of obvious. At least, it was to me,” Chris said pointedly. “I gave you a hint, Dad. I told you to look at the timeline.”

Eddie sighed. “You did, you did say that. But how was I supposed to know that that meant I was in love with Buck and that he was jealous?!”

“Wait, you’re in love with me?” Buck asked, looking awed.

“Oh my god,” Christopher groaned. He left the room mumbling about his ‘stupid dads being so oblivious to everything, how did they get anywhere in life’.

no pressure tagging: @bigfootsmom, @maygrantgf, @genderqueerbuck, @heartbeatdiaz, @moonlightbuckleys, @devirnis, @alyxmastershipper, @theyarnmaidstale, @midnightsbuck, @littlebitofdiaz, @transbuck, @translasso, @mysteriouslyyounggalaxy, @transboybuckley, @queerbuckleys, and @bi-buck-coded 💕

[arty-cakes]

Mad and angry at how these two joke side characters try so hard to be heteronormative but they really aren't and that's where most of their misery comes from. not all of it but most of it, like it very much keeps them in the cycle, because they seem desperate to find a happy storybook ending and this is how they think they'll find it, by trying to be like the same characters that found that happiness. its never addressed but also painfully obvious with how much they don't fit in with the other npcs dear god these characters are queer coded to hell i could write an essay (i accidentally did)

its not even like bretta and zote are straight cis characters these two are bi and aro canonically but its more to do with the gender roles they're trying to replicate, and failing. they suck at it. he is not this emotionally stoic resilient lone knight he is in fact continuously fighting his emotional pain and if you give him the right attention he will stay forever. he'll get angry that you saved him or that he needed your help because YOU dont fit in his story. she's not a forgiving accepting loving damsel in distress she can take care of herself great and will also drop you like a hat if she sees even one flaw in you. because then YOU dont fit her story either. they care so much about their stories because they reinforce the identity they think they're supposed to have but they're also so disconnected with themselves BECAUSE of these gender roles that they dont realize it makes them miserable

the biggest cause for this is that they are lonely isolated individuals and dont understand or know enough about real people so they have to go off their storybooks and it only keeps them alone. its like you have to be stubborn about saving them and staying by their side so they can get that chance to change and thats exactly what the knight does. its stubborn as hell it will save them again and again and it will fight their dumbass crushes as many times as it takes to make them realize what they're doing is painful. and bretta gets that chance, she leaves the town that isolated her and goes to find something better, most importantly she gets experience. zote gets to stay alive, which is the best thing you can do for him. because now he might get to face his pain, whereas in death he never gets to overcome it, just escape it

its also very funny that when the game pushes them together in this fake relationship its purposely depicted as completely ridiculous and an obvious parody and you also have the chance to beat it to the ground multiple times. whereas the two more meaningful love stories that you get to help happen are mlm and wlw and completely unapologetic about it this game is GAY

[cinderella-ish]

today's fruits basket hot take: these three are a younger version of the original mabudachi trio

yuki = hatori

constantly beset by the other two

doesn't try to hide his annoyance

still loves them dearly

knows they'd do anything for him and are largely responsible for him surviving and healing from severe trauma

probably bi but in deep, deep denial

at least one of the other two was definitely in love with him at one point

booksmart

has a bit of a complex about an aspect of his appearance and everyone knows it

needs to learn how to relax

most likely to call member 3 of the trio an idiot

fell for a woman who's both hyper competent and a complete disaster

falling in love marked a huge step in their healing

responsible and dependable

extremely low opinion of self

reserved and mysterious but really kind of a mess

haru = ayame

white hair

unique personal style

breaks school uniform code and looks great doing it

frequently declares his love for Yuki, much to Yuki's chagrin

makes wearable things

openly bi, fuck the haters

shows his love in unique ways

says ridiculous things with no clear indication of whether he's being serious or not

sees the best in his loved ones

loves hard

fell for a cool woman who also has a unique personal style

the curse was a barrier to his relationship

people wrongly think he's an idiot

way more observant and thoughtful than he's given credit for

kakeru = shigure

seems carefree, is actually incredibly calculated

will needle people in pursuit of information/own goals

booksmart but doesn't mind if people think he's an idiot, possibly encourages that perception so people will underestimate him

openly bi but always in a joking way so there's ✨plausible deniability✨

casual, easygoing style also probably a calculated choice

knows how to have fun

handsome devil

actually hangs out with people who aren't the other two or his romantic partner

reveals very little of himself to all but a select few

rejected the life that was laid out for him in childhood & broke free of assigned role

was already in love before the series started

definitely gives their romantic partner multiple headaches a day

good at giving advice in metaphor form

sees the big picture

manipulative and single-minded in pursuit of his goal, but more empathetic and caring than he'd ever admit

actually does help the first member of his trio, wouldn't believe you if you told him that

[crayonboxcolors607]

i rewatched the pitch perfect movies last night for the shits and the gigs-

and HOLY SHIT-

firstly, BECHLOE BECHLOE BECHLOE

THE QUEERBAITING IS RIDICULOUS?

(also beca is bi and chloe is pan and i will die on those hills thank you very much)

and in the second movie? "You know beca, one of my biggest regrets is that I didn't do enough experimenting in college..."

WHAT THE SHIT? MA'AM, I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT IN THE SLIGHTEST

and the third movie OML

totally didn't realize this until now but looking back on it that every singer from Evermoist was my queer awakening fr

and beca is SO AUTISM CODED

she literally has a conversation with a guy and then turns to her friends and goes "Oh my god! that was so much eye contact!"

why is that literally me?

i finished my marathon and got upset because obv bechloe shouldve been canon but it wasn't even tho anna kendrick wanted it to be

and THEN i rememberd that ao3 exsists so it legit doesn't matter and i got really happy

anyway yeah that's my rant

[emiliasilverova]

Day 2 of Fest... time to unleash one very big post 👀

You've seen the title on the link above, today I bring you an Alec playlist. But me being me, there's a tiny bit more to it than just being a selection of music I love (it absolutely is, though, don't get me wrong). This is a narrative playlist—in other words, each song represents a moment in Alec's life, in chronological order, and based on my interpretation of (and expansions on) the GoldenEye canon. Oh and... although I didn't put that much thought into this aspect of the playlist, it happens to be mostly British songs, some Russian ones and a few others. Pretty fitting, I would say.

See you below the cut for the full story behind each song :D

Pink Floyd, Another Brick in the Wall pt. 1

Our story starts with Alec being a little orphan in 1950s-60s Britain. Therefore, my choice went to a song about a very similar little orphan—Pink, the protagonist of The Wall. Although circumstances are different, the song tells the same story for both kids: they're lonely and deeply resenting of their father's (or parents') absence... which will be the root of all the ills in their lives.

David Bowie, Life on Mars?

There was a joke between @prismatic-bell and I once. Since Bowie and Alec are so similar in terms of appearance, Bowie must have been Alec's first crush (and therefore, bi awakening). Therefore, there has to be some Bowie in here—and this song in particular is perfect to describe Alec growing up, looking at the depressing Cold War world from his young eyes.

David Sylvian, Forbidden Colours

Speaking of bi awakenings, well this is it. At this stage of the story, young Alec has realised ‘[his] love wears forbidden colours’. And just like in the song, he'll ‘[try] to show unquestioning faith in everything’, from public school to the army. Another brick in his wall, as somebody else would sing.

John Barry, Theme from the Persuaders

The only instrumental in this playlist, but perhaps the name of the composer alone tipped you off on why I chose it. By now Alec is a Royal Marine, and he meets a certain Navy commander—a fellow named James Bond, you might have heard of him. So why the Persuaders and not a classic Bond theme? Easy, just watch the opening of said Persuaders. The parallel editing between the lives of Roger Moore's and Tony Curtis's characters... I dream we could have that for Brosnan!Bond and Alec.

Pet Shop Boys, This Must Be the Place I Waited Years to Leave

So Alec is an MI6 agent now (probably under James's influence). The point here is, he actually loves his job—being in the shadows, not having to be around handsome men in uniform all the time anymore... He's found his place, and he can look back on his younger years as a bad time that is finally over (or is it?) Fun fact by the way, this song could have been the Living Daylights' theme song. It didn't go too far into that process, but still I highly recommend this edit of TLD's credits with the song over it.

Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Relax

‘Not having to be around handsome men in uniform all the time anymore’... yeah. Well, there is still is one ridiculously handsome man Alec is around all the time—James. Cue more bi panic, growing jealousy, and, of course, sharing everything absolutely everything. Doesn't help that Relax, an extremely gay song (enough to be banned by the BBC when it came out...), is the hot thing on the radio back in those days...

Tears for Fears, Shout

Alec has just earned his 00 status, and he has many scores to settle with life... so he's going to shout, and life is going to hear him. Case in point, his bullets.

a-ha, The Living Daylights

A continuation of the previous song. This is Alec and James living the high life as 00 agents, full of broken gadgets, expensive food and clothing, private jokes and other code phrases. An excuse for me to shoehorn my favourite Bond song in the playlist? Absolutely. a-ha's synth version of it, too—as much as I love Barry's version (the one used in the movie), I have to say this one is vastly superior.

Public Image Ltd, The Order of Death

Oh no. Alec has been too curious and got his hands on his MI6 file. Now he knows everything. The Lienz Cossacks and their betrayal by the British; his parents' survivor guilt; the fact his name shouldn't be Trevelyan but his parents' Russian name (Trailin, in my headcanon); the fact MI6 knew his origins and still got him to work for them (if it didn't have a say in how he was brought up...) He wanted to know, now he's got his answer. Whether he likes it or not.

Secret Service, Flash in the Night

Alec is depressed. He doesn't really know yet what to make of everything he learned in his MI6 file. He looks at James but he knows he can't tell him anything. James is part of the system that betrayed his parents, then betrayed him in turn. James can't possibly understand how it feels like. Yet again, Alec is alone. The scar once healed forever dissolves in the rain, as the song has it.

Кино, Спокойная ночь (Kino, Spokoynaya noch'—Calm Night)

Not too long later, a still depressed Alec is wandering in Soviet streets during a mission. Moscow or Leningrad, who knows (one day I'll have to choose, because I really want to write a one shot based on this song). Ideas are coming to him, but they aren't really clear. The only sure thing in all this is that he's starting to feel a lot more Russian than British... hence the inclusion of the first (and not last) Soviet rock song in the playlist.

C.C. Catch, ‘Cause You Are Young

Probably the same night, Alec stumbles on an underground nightclub blaring Western songs. After all, it is the mid-1980s, and Gorbachyov's USSR slowly starts to allow such music within its borders (censorship is still there, though, as proved by the blurb on the Soviet edition of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's second album not mentioning a single thing about Relax. Western music, okay, but gay? How about nyet) Anyway, my point: Alec hears this obscure German pop song, and suddenly everything starts to fall into place in his mind. A wake-up call, if you will. What he needs now is to catch his freedom from MI6, whatever the cost.

Depeche Mode, Personal Jesus

Janus is born. Alec's Personal Jesus, the persona that will give him his freedom from—and revenge on—Britain. The inspiration behind this choice of song comes from Brigada, the most famous Russian TV show of all time. Basically, the story of a group of friends in the late 1980s who go on to become a powerful mafia group in the 1990s. In the first episode, the protagonist decides to commit his first crime over Personal Jesus... and commits said crime in an underground nightclub that blares ‘Cause You Are Young. Small world, I know.

Peter Gabriel, We Do What We're Told

Alec is preparing his plans to fake his death and truly become Janus, but in the meantime he has to pretend everything's fine. So he does what he's told... like in his childhood, like in the army. He absolutely hates it, but he knows his patience will pay off.

Propaganda, p:Machinery

One word: Arkhangelsk. The planning phase is over, the day has come for Alec to make his move and disappear from the face of the Earth. Except that, as we all know, not everything goes according to plan... Fun fact, I just learned that this song was greatly influenced by David Sylvian, of Forbidden Colours fame. The world doesn't get any bigger, does it?

Pink Floyd, Hey You

In a Soviet hospital, Alec recovers from his Arkhangelsk wounds... and falls deeper into depression. But with Janus on board, depression takes on a much more threatening face. Alec is despaired, but he also wants to kill. That should distract him from despair.

Nautilus Pompilius, Воздух (Vozdukh—Air)

As the USSR slowly dies, a new organisation comes to be—the Janus Syndicate. It's only the early days, and it probably doesn't really ressemble what we see of it in GoldenEye. But it comes at a time Soviets themselves are growing disenchanted from their world. as everything crumbles down, even law enforcement doesn't see any point in catching criminals anymore (as told by the lyrics). Exactly the kind of fertile ground the Syndicate needs to grow.

The Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil

There's a newcomer in Alec's life—a certain Xenia Onatopp. Is she a cis or trans woman, I'll let you choose. What she definitely is, at least, is someone who wants absolute freedom, even if it means harming others (a cause Alec can relate to). That, and the kind of untamed energy that would greatly benefit from being given a direction. For instance... working for Janus? Unless it is dominating Janus in the bedroom... my Alec is bi for a reason, after all.

Depeche Mode, Never Let Me Down Again

Do you know Scarface, and more specifically the Push It to the Limit segment? Well picture that, but with Alec as Tony Montana, Xenia as Manny Ribera, the freshly renamed St Petersburg instead of sunny Miami... and Depeche Mode instead of Giorgio Moroder's music (with the caveat that Alec clearly didn't get married back in those days, because there's only one person he'd marry: James). These are the heydays of the Russian mafia, when some people who previously knew nothing of capitalism became dizziyingly rich overnight... and fought each other to death for more power. The days of the Gulf War, also—when the Janus Syndicate sold stolen Red Army weapons to Iraq. Pop quiz, do you know what the mafia bosses who survived those turbulent times are called today? Oligarchs. Kinda sheds a new light on Alec, I won't lie.

Tina Turner, GoldenEye

I had to include it. There's no two ways about it, this is the ultimate, canon Alec (Bondalec, even) song. Just look at the lyrics, and tell me this isn't Alec spitting all his jealousy on James. Xenia would be just as menacing, yes, but nowhere near as salty. So where are we in our story for me to include this song? Well, just at the beginning of GoldenEye proper: Xenia has met James in Monte Carlo, and tells Alec as they prepare to steal the Tiger (yes, Xenia's accomplice in that scene is Alec. Fight me). Cue a very sour laugh from Alec, who cannot believe fate has put James on his path again. Not that it really matters to him at this point though—all he's focused on is his upcoming revenge on Britain, and if James has to be a bystander, then so be it.

Midge Ure, The Man Who Sold the World

James wanted to be set up with Janus... well, he's got what he asked for. Janus, in person, at the statue park. Alec, alive and with a murderous intent. Again a song with a connection to Bowie, as you might have noticed... but unsurpringly I prefer the very 1980s, synth-heavy version by Midge Ure. Bowie, hmmmm... a hint towards renewed bi panic on Alec's part? You'll know soon enough.

Nautilus Pompilius, Нежный вампир (Nezhniy vampir—Tender Vampire)

A little interlude before we enter the endgame. The tender vampire here is Janus, of course—dragging Alec's better self into the abyss, being so jealous of James he starts circling around Natalya like a hungry shark. The absolute creep we see in the train scene, in short. For the record, I know this song from Brat, another very famous Russian movie about the 1990s mafia (I'll probably run a watchalong for it later during this Fest, so stay tuned 👀).

Propaganda, The Murder of Love

Train scene, act 2: the Mexican standoff. Alec and James face each other again, but James still doesn't really have the upper hand. So Alec (well, Janus) spits more poison at him, this time a lot more personal and hurtful. And yes, the bi panic is firmly there, as smug as Alec tries to look. He knows he can't kill James, but he also knows he can't let James talk to him. Alec can't be diverted from his revenge on life itself, because that would be acknowledging that all the time and effort he put into that goal was a waste. Therefore, he prefers to gloat at James... in other words, to be the victim who's become the judge, and to make James plead for mercy.

Pet Shop Boys, I’m Not Scared

Well, this particular one originally wasn't in the playlist. But the moment I first heard it, I knew I had to include it. This has to be James's answer to all of Alec's venom in GoldenEye and The Murder of Love. James has always loved Alec, and doesn't understand how Alec could have grown so scorned and spiteful. Are Janus and Alec really the same person? Will he have to kill Alec? If he does, will James ever be able to forgive himself? If only he and Alec could talk heart to heart... as @3nigm4art commented about this song, Alec would cry if he heard James singing it to him. Perhaps he could even be reasoned... So what I envision here is the beach scene, with James looking at the sea asking himself all those questions—and Alec, somewhere in his lair, being unable to take James out of his mind.

Leonard Cohen, First We Take Manhattan

We are now in the Janus control center in Cuba. Xenia is dead by now, but Alec probably hasn't really processed that yet. After all, he has other things on his mind: his scheme coming so close to completion... and James right in front of him, watching and commenting what he sees. Alec likes this, in a way—what better witness to him becoming a literal god than James? He's not jealous anymore at his point, because in his mind, he's won. He's done the impossible: destroying Britain, and beating James. But there's an issue here... being so drunk with his triumph, he forgot that James won't let himself be just a passive bystander. Which surely won't come back to bite him in the arse, will it?

Pet Shop Boys, It's a Sin

As everything explodes around him (literally), Alec loses it. James has stolen the triumph he deserved to get. Therefore, James will die. By Alec's hand. Ensues the fight on the antenna. Alec probably knows he won't survive it, but he doesn't care anymore. All his rage, all his jealousy, all his frustration are what fuels him at this point—with glimpses from his past flashing before his eyes, as the song suggests. He has wasted nine years of his life, and the rest of it in fact. His whole life has been nothing but sin, from his origins and attraction to James to becoming a spy then a mafia leader. So if there's no turning back... at least he'll go out with a bang. And hopefully take James with him.

Кино, Легенда (Kino, Legenda—Legend)

The story ends here. Alec falls to his death after James lets him go, and James has to live with the memory of Alec haunting him. But is it what really happens? If anything, this song is here to be an open ending. It is an elegy, yes, but it could be Alec singing it. Since death is worth living, but love is worth waiting, maybe he survived and has to piece himself back together at James's side. Or maybe it's James who fell. You decide, but at least there's one thing we can all be sure about. Credits might roll, but Alec's legend never ends.

(Thank you so much for reading, and listening ♥️ I put a lot more energy into this post than I thought I would 😅)

[steddie-fanfic-recs]

Chateau (Feel Alright)

by wowthisissad

Rating: Mature Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationship: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington/Original Male Character(s) Character: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Robin Buckley Additional Tags: Bisexual Steve Harrington, Gay Eddie Munson, Lesbian Robin Buckley, Robin ships it, Wingman Robin Buckley, Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Handkerchief Code, Gay Panic, Kissing, Boys In Love, Past Relationship(s), guys steve knows he's bi, no beta we die like men Words: 5,113 Chapters: 1/1

Summary

Steve likes guys. He's liked guys since forever. However, he's never liked a guy as much as he likes Eddie, and his pining is getting a little ridiculous considering he's 80% sure Eddie likes guys too. So what does he do? Confess his feelings like a normal person? Date a girl who looks and acts conveniently like Eddie? Suffer endlessly and end up dying alone? No. He's whipping out the hanky.

[caughtonwebcam]

Unpopular (?) sp/sp fanon opinions

Tweek is taller than Craig

Kenny and Wendy aren’t genderfluid

Towlie is annoying and I can’t stand PC principal.

Mr. Garrison used to be really funny, but now he’s just kinda eh.

Cartman needs to be “human chili” and “I’m gonna give Kyle AIDS” evil again. It’s so entertaining

I’m sad that Stan and Kyle aren’t as close as they used to be :(

Pip and Scott Malkinson are cute, but are very one dimensional and bland.

I really like Heidi as a character and I wish they used her more.

WE. NEED. MORE. KENNY. CENTERED. EPISODES.

I miss when Butters was the innocent one. He’s still less crass than the other boys but he doesn’t stand out as much.

I really wish Stan’s alcoholic and gender identity arc were expanded on more. Could’ve made for some really good episodes.

South Park isn’t transphobic. While I do somewhat disagree with some of their stances (like Gerald wanting to become a dolphin is not the same as being trans and the infamous “Board Girls” episode (which I PARTICALLY get),) I thought “The Cissy” handled the topic of trans issues really well.

Tweek and Craig need more episodes together

Stan and Wendy need to break up for good already. The on again off again is getting really old.

Newer Randy is funny, but has been so flanderized compared to earlier seasons it’s kinda ridiculous.

We need more goth kids

Kyman gets way too much hate than it deserves.

Shelia Broflovski is so incredibly unlikable that she isn’t even fun to watch. I want to smack the shit out of that bitch idk why.

Why does everyone think Kenny is pan? He’s clearly straight. I say that as I hc the other characters with lgbt hcs but honestly someone like Stan is so bisexual it might as well be canon (and yes, I am bi myself so I can say that) I also feel Kyle is ace coded soooo... but Kenny has never shown a possible interest in guys.

While I enjoy the irony, Cartman becoming Jewish just feels so out of character and hard to take seriously. I know that was the point and was meant to highlight Kyle’s emotions towards him, but it’s so cartoonish he might as well have been fucking with him. Like, who the fuck names their kid Menorah? I still like the concept, tho.

Stan was unnecessarily hostile towards Kyle in Post-COVID. Surely, you would have moved past your differences after forty years.

[shreya11111]

I think melvins mostly rely on the assumption that melvin is this perfect straight main couple that the duffers never intend to break apart and they have been build up since S1 and that's why breaking them up ain't making sense. with all the additional stuff and ridiculous arguments like ''mike isn't gay/bi and he is The Heterosexual manly man to ever exist'' or shit like ''mike would never want to leave el for her brother'' as if Mike and Will didn't know each other for years before el and will became siblings lmao.

They also think the monologue solved everything and means el and mike cannot break up now but they never actually sit and think about the background build up for the monologue aka it being led by Will's lie and coded confession from the van scene and the way the whole monologue being prompted up by Will don't seem to be that much of a problem for Melvins bc they're like ''oh mike gave that monologue already so it doesnt matter if Will lied about the painting and gave Mike a coded confession which led Mike to confess to El in the first place''. They think Will was just used as a plot device to further melvin and they think the painting and the lie won't ever come out but they don't realize how dumb that whole thing sounds. Like. The writers intentionally built up the painting and made Will lie on purpose so that it will come out later on. Because it's a lie that will come out. since it's a big lie too.

EXACTLY!!!!

[pdaliceliveblogs]

Asks pt5: more shorter asks

...whoops,

And they’d treat their baby sibling like such a ridiculous child for not appreciating it; “just because your favourite type of preservation is making dolls doesn’t mean it’s the only one, for something dangerous as a Titan a pinned skeleton is really the only way, you’ll understand when you’re older” while he’s sobbing over his friend....

Which is cute as hell! I still hate the look of loafers or sneakers without visible socks but oh well, FJ tattoo is worth it lol

I HEARD THAT’S SO FUCKING CUTE

It really has-- and that’s the primary reason I’m now pretty sure that’s what Manny died of. (there’s also the fact that my uncle died of brain cancer a couple years ago and now my aunt has the same kind and I’m terrified so it’s on my mind but.) There’s something really beautiful about Luz getting to save King’s dad’s body/memory/legacy from the cancer another human brought and became.

Same!! It’s also so nice to have a character who’s multigender/genderfluid; I love that we have agender rep and also that, you know? King and Queen, best of both things!

I love that she’s actually helping out with stuff, with rebuilding! Like, is that the community service part of a sentence? Is she finally figuring her shit out and trying to be a member of society without cleaving herself to a dictator? Either way is good. I’ve never been as Broiling Hatred about Kiki as some folks; she’s much more in the “oh my gosh you little brat” area for me. I love going FUCK OFF KIKI WE’RE HAVING A MOMENT it’s genuinely fun. She’s genuinely fun.

It ain’t mine to allow, lmao!

I mean, I never actively hated it, you know? I just really like close M&F friendships without any romance, I wanted to see them get that, and the ship was contrary to my preexisting headcanons (I don’t know how far ahead they planned things, but the business with Beefy Bob in HMH felt very much to me like a casual “by the way, Willow’s a lesbian” coding to me), so I guess I was resistant and kinda disappointed, because it meant I didn’t get the thing I’d have liked more... but hell, it happened, it’s sweet. I don’t hate it, I just don’t feel motivated to seek it out/write it as the main focus of a fic/etc.

Not gonna lie, I’m a little baffled and kind of upset by the way “wah, I would have liked it better if this wasn’t how it’s going” seems to be read as “I hate this virulently and also everyone who likes it”. The internet, man....

Same as before except that Hunter and Willow are bi, I guess!

[welovetotry]

If Mike isn’t queer, then why is he pretty explicitly queer coded? Why include all these details (keep in mind the Duffers don’t just include random things, every Easter egg is intentional) like a one-way sign to the closet, regularly staring at his best friend’s lips, being ridiculously confused after El kissed him in season 3, and so much more (enough to fill a power point hundreds of pages long)? Why the tender and emotional music? Did the Duffers just accidentally include the same music as Lumax and Jopper, two canon ships?Why does the cast ship Byler? Why make him have a full on gay panic around Will (his best friend since Kindergarten) that cannot be properly explained by just them “growing apart?”It’s one thing to be “nervous and awkward around feelings,” but why does he go out of his way to find the one Valentine’s Day card in all of Hawkins that says “I like you, happy valentines”? Why are most intense, romantically coded moments between Mike and Will initiated by Mike throughout the show? Why have the Duffers intentionally mirrored El and Will in such an extreme way down to blocking, music choices, specific lines? Why turn off your comments if you’re so confident in your position? Mike being at least bi isn’t a “stretch” or over-analysis; you don’t need to spend time in the trenches on Byler tumblr to go, “huh, maybe we’re meant to read this as a love triangle.” The theories are great, but the best form of evidence is the show itself. Even before I got into the theories, I’ve always said, “This is one of the most transparently bisexual characters I’ve ever seen” (now I think he’s likely gay with comphet, but that’s beside the point). You say he’s always pined for El for four seasons, but he’s also pined for Will for four seasons so…

Ahh, sorry about the comments being turned off, I didn't realise they were, I'm pretty sure the last time I posted on here was before that was even a feature. As for everything else, that's the exact sort of thing I mean when I say reading too much into things. I don't really think that Mike has been queer coded, at least not compared to Will's queer coding. Will being queer was always alluded to from day one, from Lonnie's and the bullies’ comments about him, to his lack of attention towards girls in general. But Mike's crush on Eleven was obvious from season one simultaneously, from Lucas and Nancy teasing him about liking El, to him kissing her and asking her out. I think Mike’s facial expression when Eleven tells him she loves him is more based on him not quite knowing what to say, as he has difficulty expressing his feelings. He always has, even back when he asked Eleven to the Snowball. He stumbled all over his words then too, his awkwardness is just a part of his personality. The tender emotional music does relate to the romantic subtext of the scene, but doesn't necessarily reflect Mike having feelings as well. It's representative of Will's feelings though, definitely. I'm also honestly not sure what moment you mean when you say Mike had gay panic around Will. As for Mike pining for Will for four seasons, I don't really see any evidence of that. Season 1 he wanted to find him, season 2 he wanted to help him, as they both felt alone at the time for different reasons. I would agree that season 2, the two of them had some very meaningful emotional moments, but in season 3, Mike is paying zero attention to Will. That's what their fight was about and that's also what they fought about this season, so no pining there on Mike's part. Listen, I love the Byler ship, I just think it's unrealistic to argue that Mike also reciprocates Will's feelings.

[wakeupthemembersofbylernation]

Imagine if we’re wrong (we’re not, but imagine 😭). At this point, with how much energy has obviously been put into making one of the most queer-coded characters in cinematic/television history, and with how many transparent parallels and clues that aren’t even clues atp- just full on SIGNPOSTS as obvious as the one way sign to Mike’s closet- the idea that we could be wrong, that Byler could be one-sided, that this could all be accidental, and that Mike could be straight after all is just so RIDICULOUS AND COMICAL. I’m THAT confident in Byler endgame because the alternative literally doesn’t make any sense- not in terms of Will specifically (I suppose hypothetically the Duffers could think that writing a sad, one-sided ending for their gay character is “realistic, tragic, and heartbreaking” - it wouldn’t be the first time a storyline like that has happened in history). But Magic: The Gatherings often say things like, “What’s wrong with Mike being straight and loving his girlfriend? Not everyone’s gay/bi. Mike’s not obligated to return Will’s feelings.” But they miss the point entirely. There’s nothing “wrong” with Mike being straight and loving his girlfriend in a general, theoretical, neutral sense. In real life, unrequited love storylines happen all the time. But this is a STORY with a very expensive budget and high levels of intentionally behind every frame. And based on the way Mike has been written, based on the very specific cinematography choices the filmmakers have repeatedly used, and based on his increasingly confusing and chaotic behavior in the more recent seasons, there isn’t ANY other explanation for him. The mustache twirling villains have a Mike Wheeler problem on their hands. Because at this point, it’s clear that he simply hasn’t been written as a straight character.