#soulmates and endgame and everything in between

[livelovecaliforniadreams]

Buddie 🤝 Chenford  Part 2 (x) 

[beargyufairy]

Destined To Be Yours

[sharkfreak-official]

Sasuke wasn’t the problem. The writing was. Stop punishing female characters for feeling, and stop forcing men into relationships they never wanted. Everyone lost. No one was fed.

Hot take but the truth™️: Naruto’s women deserved better and I will die on this hill 🧍‍♀️

We don’t talk enough about how cruel it was to shove Hinata and Sakura between Naruto and Sasuke—two emotionally constipated soulmates with god-tier trauma bonding and a love language consisting of fighting each other to near-death every six months.

Like… imagine being Hinata. You’ve spent your whole life admiring this sunshine idiot from afar, and when you finally get his attention, suddenly he’s got a whole-ass emotional husband who:

left the village for years and Naruto never stopped chasing him

shows up once every blue moon and Naruto still smiles like the sun

had a final battle with Naruto so intense it blew off both their arms

got the “I’ll die with you” speech more than once

shares more eye contact with Naruto in one episode than with his wife across an entire spin-off series

Be so for real.

And Sakura?? Babygirl carried the weight of the “strong female lead” label on her back for 700 episodes, only to be handed the most confusing, unresolved romantic arc in the entire series. She should’ve ended up with Rock Lee—who respected her, supported her, and actually grew as a person—or with Ino, her rival-turned-soulmate who challenged her, loved her fiercely, and actually talked to her like a human being. That rivalry had more chemistry in one forehead insult than her entire canon romance.

Instead, the writing forced her into a marriage that never made sense—and this is where we need to get real:

✨ Sasuke never owed her love. He never promised her anything. ✨

He was traumatized. Broken. On a mission of revenge. He didn’t have room to love anyone—not even himself.

The problem wasn’t Sasuke. The problem was the narrative pretending this was romance.

Instead of letting Sakura grow, let her choose herself, or realize that her love wasn’t returned in the way she deserved—the story punished her for feeling too much and called it a reward. That’s not Sasuke’s fault. That’s bad writing.

Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke were out there:

gazing at each other like lovers across battlefields

calling each other their one and only

collapsing into each other’s arms like it’s a Tuesday

having full breakdowns when the other one was gone for 10 minutes

bleeding, dying, and nearly destroying the world for each other

BUT SURE. Let’s pretend the real endgame was two exhausted women and a pair of war husbands trying to pretend they weren’t already married spiritually, emotionally, and metaphysically.

Let’s be honest:

Hinata had more chemistry with Kiba, her actual teammate who supported her and saw her as a partner—not a mystery to be noticed for the first time after 600 episodes and a war.

Sakura had a whole destiny arc waiting with either Lee or Ino, and we were robbed. She didn’t need to be “chosen.” She needed to be loved—and the story didn’t give her that.

Naruto and Sasuke should’ve gotten forest married.

Sakura and Ino should’ve started a psychic-medical clinic.

ROCK LEE DESERVED EVERYTHING!!!

Hinata and Kiba should’ve raised ninja puppies and babies together.

Tenten should’ve had a weapon empire.

And all of them should’ve been rich, moisturized, and unbothered.

[starrstruck-xx]

How the Paopu Fruit Relates to Sora and Riku

a soriku endgame deep dive: part 1

This is part of my soriku endgame deep dive series, a series where i'll try to dissect everything and anything related to soriku, and what it means for future installments. In part 1, we will discuss about how the paopu fruit relates to sora and riku.

This started out as screaming at soriku twitter, and when i finally connected the dots, i can't help but make an analysis about it because i haven't really seen any blogs that discuss about the paopu fruit + soriku in depth.

I assumed you have somewhat a prior knowledge of soriku as I'll be taking a lot of arguments from theories and deep dives. I'll try to make this as brief as possible and try to make this easy to read for all of us who have ADHD (me).

But if you want the short version:

From the evidence given, the paopu fruit is a symbolism for riku-sora-kairi love triangle. However, this analysis argues that the context of the paopu fruit for sokai is platonic, while for soriku it is romantic.

Because of this, i believe that one day, soriku will share 1 paopu fruit with each other as sora's final answer to the love triangle.

With that being said, let's finally talk about the paopu fruit

Start of Theory

paopu in a platonic context

The paopu fruit, is a fruit that intertwines destiny if two person decides to share it. Kind of like a soulmate cheat.

" Selphie: Hey, Sora. Have you heard about the legendary power of the paopu fruit? They say if you share it with someone you really care for, it binds you together forever and ever, through eternity! (sighs) It's so romantic. I gotta try it sometime. "

The paopu fruit has somewhat been considered as the series staple for romance. However the paopu can be viewed as romantic or platonic depending on the situation. Kingdom Hearts never said that paopu is meant to be romantic-only.

An example of paopu being platonic, is when it was used by Aqua to metaphorically describe the wayfinder charm, that binds Terra-Ventus-Aqua together, just like how the paopu works.

Aqua: Somewhere out there, there's this tree with star-shaped fruit... and the fruit represents an unbreakable connection. So as long as you and your friends carry good luck charms shaped like it, nothing can ever drive you apart. You’ll always find your way back to each other. Technically, I think you’re supposed to make them with seashells, but I did the best I could with what I had.

important keywords

The paopu fruit is related to a few things which includes:

Desitny: a fruit that binds destiny (or fate)

Star: The paopu fruit is in the shape of a star, which can also symbolize destiny.

Promise: a reminder of the promise that you made with that person you share your destiny with

A good luck charm: to ensure that no matter what, you won’t ever be separated, because your destinies are intertwined

Sea: a fruit that is native to Destiny Islands, that can be replicated by thalassa shells to make a good luck charm

kairi's relation to paopu fruit

At face value, the fruit is obviously related to Kairi, given how Kairi’s character is related to destiny, the star symbol, a promise, a good luck charm, and her name that translates to sea (海). Further elaboration of kairi's relation to the fruit:

Kairi came to destiny island by a meteor shower (or shooting stars)

Sora and Kairi’s cave drawing (star crossed lovers)

Oathkeeper (the blade is the shape of a star) or 約束のお守り Yakusoku no Omamori Promise Charm

Destiny’s Embrace (the keychain is a paopu)

Thalassa Shell Charm (in the shape of a star)

Separation and the promise never forget

Wayfinder Trio (owns a charm inspired by the thalassa (star) and came from outside of Destiny Island)

And finally, does the act of sharing the paopu fruit with sora in kh3

sokai kh3 mistranslation scene

sora-kairi's relationship in the lens of a paopu fruit is considered to be platonic with the argument: The act of sharing the paopu between kairi and sora in kh3 if you take the scene in a japanese lense:

it is kairi who initiates the thing

if anything, Sora looks so taken aback when kairi shoved the fruit in front of his face (he was looking at riku), but calms down once Kairi assures him that this is just a good luck charm to ensure that they wont be separated in battle

TR What’s R*ku doing all by himself?; TR Here!

Serves as a wrap up to sora and kairi’s arc as the realization of sokai's cave drawing

There’s even a version where this doesn’t exist at all?! (based on an interview done with their VAs, nomura made them take two takes, one with paopu, one not with paopu)

speaking romantically, if this is considered as their tie the knot scene it feels like it came out of no where because why didn't they just follow it up after kh1? why wait about 20 years to do it when there's multiple instances to develop sokai's relationship over the years aside from good luck charm

Serves as a wrap up to sora and kairi’s arc as the realization of sokai's cave drawing

There’s even a version where this doesn’t exist at all?! (based on an interview done with their VAs, nomura made them take two takes, one with paopu, one not with paopu)

speaking romantically, if this is considered as their tie the knot scene it feels like it came out of no where because why didn't they just follow it up after kh1? why wait about 20 years to do it when there's multiple instances to develop sokai's relationship over the years aside from good luck charm

if you squint, the legend says when the person shares 1 paopu fruit, so why does sora and kairi shares 2 here?

the thalassa, the crown, and the paopu

Now, going back to kairi's strong relationship with the paopu. (Notice how i say kairi's strong relationship with the paopu? ) There are multiple instances of the paopu being related to just kairi, when sora is not present (see kairi's relation to paopu fruit above) Therefore, the paopu fruit is more of a representation of KAIRI ALONE, not sora and kairi.

If anything, SORA AND KAIRI is represented more by the variant of the paopu: the thalassa charm, that is unique to sora and kairi only, as the only time the thalassa shell appears is if a scene involves Sora, Kairi, Xion, and Roxas.

Which parallels SORA AND RIKU crown necklace 'good luck charm', that is exclusively unique to them (necklace theory). Which is why Oathkeeper has the thalassa charm, not a paopu fruit.

Unlike how the paopu fruit is treated (pluck, eat/throw), both the thalassa shell (that came from the sea) and the kingdom crown (that came from land, riku 陸 shore) has been carefully and uniquely modified to sora.

The paopu fruit also grows exclusively on destiny islands, on a beach, near the shores where water and land met. And unlike the thalassa shells and kingdom crown that can be made on their own area, paopu fruit cannot exist without water and land.

Both the thalassa shells and kingdom crown are either rarely appears or never mentioned (like at all...) outside of SORA AND KAIRI and SORA AND RIKU, the paopu fruit is used more frequently, appearing everywhere, anywhere, and is used by every person in the game... including riku.

See what I'm getting here? Paopu fruit is the embodiment of riku-sora-kairi love triangle. Not a symbol for Sora and Kairi. It is important to also note that the paopu's dynamic only reflects

riku->sora and kairi->sora.

Namine's fake charm also contributed to this (if we are going by the believe that she's trying to insert herself to kairi and riku's messy love triangle, pls necklace theory and aitsu). Namine turns sokai's thalassa charm into a fake paopu fruit. So this charm became a mutant variation of Kairi's thalassa and Riku's crown.

And now where I'll back up aitsu and necklace theory: Again the form that came up is a paopu fruit. if we were to delete those theories into our narrative (meaning that namine is only inserting herself as kairi), it does not make sense, because why would she conjured up a paopu that has a messy relation with sokai?? why not a variant of a thalassa shell?? why not a drawing? a painting? why the paopu specifically? where no one else can be involved other than riku->sora?

riku's relation to paopu fruit

Unlike kairi, the use of paopu fruit with riku is almost to none (which is probably the reason why no one had really talked in-depth about this) so here are a few instances that it appears:

Terra and Aqua just so happen to find SORA AND RIKU on Destiny Islands after interacting with paopu fruit back in BBS

Riku 'teasing' Sora about who gets to share the paopu with Kairi

Sora and Repliku's fake paopu charm

GaybladeTM COMBINED: Isn't it odd that the key chain turns to paopu fruit when sora and riku combine their hearts together?? even though Kairi had 0 thing to do with it?? Even though this is an exclusive SORA AND RIKU thing? Even though we agreed that the paopu rarely ever appeared alongside riku?

*presence of kingdom crown

Note that all of the instances that i've jotted down, always rarely occurred, and has only been present.... when SORA AND RIKU are around.

One reason alludes that paopu only appears whenever soriku are in sync, another is because of riku's forgotten VOW (chikai) (see necklace theory, chikai & don't think twice, to sum it up chikai or vow is riku's version of kairi's promise (yakusoku), chikai in another context is the kh3 music that came from riku POV to sora).

A third is because Riku is the opposite of paopu, his whole identity defies destiny. He is an oathbreaker (opposite of kairi's Oathkeeper). He litterally destroys destiny island, altering sora and kairi's fates. The opposite of sea...

So following that logic, the paopu should be viewed as romantic when viewing Riku->Sora

soriku and the paopu

we finally arrived to the final chapter of my lengthy analysis. so, how does this affect soriku in future installments?

i believe that one day, soriku will (either in KH5 or KH4) share 1 paopu fruit with each-other, and it will be Sora who offers the fruit to riku as his final say to the triangle. The reasons why are:

a nod to kairi who initiates the offer to sora in kh3, with sokai's case, sora is technically the first who propose the fruit via cave drawing that he done in secret at the beginning of KH1. It wasn't actually until the end of the game that kairi saw that drawing and realized: WOW! Sora wanted to share the fruit, with ME??? (because the drawing is hidden in a cave...?)

this parallels to how Riku 'jokingly', not so smoothly, try to rizz Sora at the beginning of KH1 (nearly identical timelines) and basically try to trap sora into sharing the paopu with him. Notice that in this period, soriku still aren't 100% in sync and are still dancing around / masking their feelings for the other(it isn't until kh2 that they started to re-bonded, being more affectionate and honest)

that scene is also an interpretation of how paopu should be viewed as romantic (following riku->sora = paopu romantic), notice how i always stressed riku->sora, kairi->sora, and never kairi<-sora, riku<-sora?

despite being the center of it all, sora's relationship with the paopu fruit is neutral to say, not really leaning torwards one or the other (maybe kairi but it slowly changes)

it's Sora's final answer to riku-sora-kairi love triangle war that had been going on for 20 years, sora had already rejected kairi's romantic advances, choosing to stay as friends, a slot for a gf is still available....

i have a theory this is soriku leaning because sora had been abusing the power of waking that he got to mess with reality, (check sleeping realm) so now he's leaning on the defier-of-destiny side

soriku sharing ONE NOT TWO fruit to finally do the legend as intended, because in sokai's beta-testing (the cave drawing), it's sora give kairi, kairi give sora.

Meanwhile in soriku's beta testing ('riku's pathetic attempt at rizzing')

riku: *yeets the fruit to sora*

sora: *throws fruit away*

(sokai 2 fruits soriku 1 fruit, sokai 2 fruits soriku 1 fruit, sokai 2 soriku 1, SOKAI 2 SORIKU 1)

THE END!!!!

Okay we have actually reach the end!!! great job sorikus!! tysm for listening to my ted-talk!! i hope you like it

other parts

part 2 (meteor shower; the necklace and the sword)

[biancasaidstfu]

Just an opinion regarding everything I’ve been seeing lately, don’t care if I get hate - i hope you post this. I got into bridgerton after seeing the WT interviews on my FYP. I questioned their relationship and then started seeing the premiere looks. I binged the show, fell in love with Polin. I got deep into the Lukola fandom despite the pap pic of L and A. I truly did believe in it until the pictures of N and J. And then more pictures of them came out. And you can’t deny that she doesn’t look happy asf. You can try to deny it by saying it’s fake but let’s be realistic. If they announced a relationship the internet would break. So why would she try to cover up a relationship with Luke? They’re just not together, in my opinion. And they both can’t be more clear about it, especially Nicola because I feel like the shipping helps Luke more than it helps her. The shipping overall is a money-maker for the show. I’m personally only watching s4 for Polin.

On top of that, there’s a picture of Luke and A circulating. It was clearly taken yesterday morning. Huge invasion of privacy. Not sure if planned by him or it was just a random person. Nicola is clearly with Jake and Luke and Antonia are clearly together as well. While I do feel like something did happen between Luke and Nic (probably right after Jade and him broke up or during the WT), it’s a little insane to think they’re secretly together if they’re constantly seen with their respective partners. Like wouldn’t they just announce it to the world at this point?? Like the shipping is cute and clearly brings in numbers so they’re not going to be hostile towards each other either. They literally play a married couple and Polin is a huge part of the fandom. I just feel like at this point, they’re clearly trying to hint that they have their respective partners but their chemistry and how they act is undeniable. I would love if they’re endgame but I highly doubt it tbh. I won’t be surprised if we see pics of N at J’s play. I feel like there’s going to be a hug/kiss picture.

It’s hard to see what you don’t wanna see. Moving on to s4, they’ll probably either be acting the same exact way (would hate to be A, I feel like J truly does not care tbh since he’s an actor) or just very cordial in 0-a few interviews together. The SAGs clearly brought back the delulu but let’s be for real. They’re not together. Hopefully they do get together but I highly doubt it. Either way they’re not together, it’s not the end of the world. I hope their careers strive without the need for the constant shipping when they’re just 2 platonic soulmates.

We all have our own opinions.

[blueishspace]

Lucky Life session 6

Blueishspace (He/Him) + @a-sociopath-do-your-research aka Oli (Xe/Void/It): ☠️☠️☠️

@bendy8me aka Bendy (She/Her) + @juno0n aka Juno (She/Her): 💛💛

@raeistrying aka Rae (She/Her) + @silverorchideon aka Orchid (He/They): 💛💛

@communistcatboi aka Catboi (He/They) + @theblackglitch aka Glitch (She/Her): ☠️☠️☠️

@kazanfamily aka Kazan (He/They) + @max05nb aka Max (They/Them): ❤️

@twisttea aka Twisttea (She/Her) + @cowgirlginger aka Ginger (She/Her): ❤️

@italianbiscuit aka Manu (She/Her) + @lizzlylou aka Liz (They/Them): ❤️

@thatoneloudintrovert aka Floracica (She/Her) + @not-ready-for-gaster aka Bee (She/They): ❤️

@whats-she-gonna-post-next aka Starfall (She/They) + @frostywisp aka Fros (They/Them): 💛💛

@the-local-pineapple aka Tessa (She/Her) + @spectresharmony aka Ari (She/Her): 💛💛

@astoriagalaxy aka Astoria (All) + @3-pots-of-soup aka Soup (Any): ❤️

First of all:

Glitch and Catboi are ghosts this session, who will they haunt?

Glitch haunts Tessa.

Catboi haunts Juno.

Now: The wheel.

It's the finale, a lot more murder, a lot less fun.

Astoria begins trapping other people bases, lava holes, tnt and all that kind of stuff.

Bendy, meanwhile, traps the paths between bases.

Liz starts setting people bases on fire, what remains of them at least as most have been destroyed by the wither and various traps going off.

Starfall uses a trapped portal and ends up swimming in lava bringing Fros and herself down a life.❤️

Ari creates a beacon using the wither star they got two sessions ago.

Floracica takes by surprise and murders Rae with an axe taking Orchid down as well. ❤️

Tessa steals the dragon egg from Starfall and Fros and uses a sign to frame Bee.

Max pushes Juno into a lava pool killing her and Bendy. ❤️

Bee goes around de-trapping stuff. There is no reason for it, they are just doing it to annoy people.

Twisttea steals the dragon egg from Tessa and also frames Bee for it. Is this a bit I'm not getting?

Ginger explodes herself while trying to build a trap, Twistea also dies with the dragon egg in her ineventory. The egg is lost because of keep inventory, they get to keep it. ☠️

Kazan, meanwhile, steals the beacon from Ari's base because ...why not I guess.

Manu, Fros and Soup team up to murder Ari (and therefore Tessa) bringing the last two yellows down to red. ❤️

Ari attacks Juno and Bendy but they fight back and kill her instead, Tessa dies with her. (The shortest red life ever) ☠️

Kazan apologizes as he stabs Liz in the back bringing death to both Liz and Manu. ☠️

Soup steals the enchanter from Floracica and burns it in lava.

Juno and Bendy work on re-trapping what parts of the base Bee has de-trapped.

Fros takes out Rae and, because of the soulbound, Orchid as well- ☠️

-Only to be killed by Max immediately after and getting themselves and Starfall out of the series. ☠️

Floracica offers Bee a semi "reunited soulmates alliance"... Bee agrees.

We are in the endgame, there are few pairs left:

Bee and Floracica.

Max and Kazan.

Bendy and Juno.

Astoria and Soup.

From now on there is only murder.

Bee and Floracica kill Bendy, they kill Juno in the process. ☠️

Bee kills Max soon after, killing Kazan too. ☠️

Astoria and Soup gang up on Floracica taking her and Bee out of the game in forth and third place.

Astoria and Soup are the only players left, they decide to travel to the end before anything else.

Astoria and Soup are together in the desolated end island, the audience wants one winner between them.

Astoria smiles and with an hint of sadness thanks Soup for everything (You were a wonderful experience. You were everything.) and then pushes them into the void.

Astoria's death message is the last in the server. There is only a card left where they stood, Temperance.

[rinadragomir]

First thoughts after quick reading, cause I'm absolutely rereading it like 10 times. 7/10

Good sides:

✅The plot🤌🤌🤌it's actually so entertaining, like seriously, it's worth your time!!!

✅Mathew's dreams, rip my heart, I don't need it anyway.

✅Writing in general

✅Humor

✅Dramatic moments between Matthew and Sylvain, it was tense and yummy and kept me focused!

✅Mathew's grief progression and the end of it was very beautifully done, I feel peace🌸

Bad sides:

✅Parallels are too obvious. Cassie needed to make Sylvain sth like a 'soulmate' for Matthew so she needed to add half of Mathew+James background but reversed to his backstory asap. This is why it feels a bit unnatural, as if she needed to convince me that he's "the one" as soon as possible.

✅Obviously it's too short so it doesn't feel like it's an endgame, more like one of those times when Magnus had other love interests in Bane's Chronicles during his travels. Which reminds me: Cassie wanted to make a series of short stories about Mathew's travels. And it'd be way better cause this novel feels more like a little part of sth bigger, but we won't have anything else. We need to 'use imagination'

✅The same issue. Because it's just one story she needed to add time skip and everything feels rushed as if he found a new love interest a week after Chain of Thrones even though it was actually like a whole year? Even more at this point. So you always need to keep in it mind.

[suzukiblu]

Thank-you sentences for Jan behind the cut; they gave me dealer's choice and are getting “matchbox pockets”. content warnings: Borderline panic attack, nonconsensual drug use, history of medical abuse/trauma in a lab setting. And I still don't know if this WIP is going to be endgame clonecest but it is at least “the two people involved in this situationship literally do not know the difference between familial/romantic/platonic feelings” clonecest, so obvi we’re still tagging for it. (( chrono || non-chrono ))

“You’re pretty smart, huh, little dude?” Superboy manages shakily, attempting a grin that comes out probably more stressed and definitely more crooked than he means it to. Just–just it’s–it’s a fucking lab, and not a fucking lab he fucking knows, and at least in a definitely-a-supervillain’s-lab he’d know what to expect, so like–so–“Well, guess one of us’s gotta be.” 

He doesn’t know how the fuck to get out of here, but he definitely needs to figure out how the fuck to get out of here, and probably also get whoever his soulmate is out too, if they’re meeting today. Which seems, like–pretty likely, considering, so–yeah. He might have to bust them both out, since “sneaking” them both out is definitely not a thing he is even slightly capable of pulling off, so–yeah. Plan for two, definitely. Just in case. 

Maybe this place isn’t shitty or evil or morally dubious enough to pass for evil, but since apparently they’re making Superman clones, he’s not all that optimistic on that one. 

. . . or, well . . . if he’s been here for . . . however long he’s been here . . . 

He guesses, actually, his soulmate could be a clone of him. But he really hopes the fuck not, because being a xerox of a xerox does not imply good things for the guy’s, like, long-term genetic stability. 

Or any genetic stability. 

He really doesn’t wanna watch one of them degrade and die again, and he wants that even less when it’s gonna be–when it’s his–

He really, really doesn’t wanna watch that. 

( please don’t make him watch that. not again. not again not again not– )

Superboy swallows hard, and tries to breathe a little slower. Or at least a little more, like–normal, maybe. Just–normal. Yeah. He can breathe . . . normal. 

He really doesn’t think he can, but he doesn’t have another fucking choice, so he does it anyway. 

He feels out around the room with his TTK; feels out past the room with his TTK. There’s, like–there’s–he doesn’t feel anyone close by, but the walls are full of complicated machinery and he feels–cameras, which makes his fucking skin crawl, and he can’t, like–he can’t grip anything, really, it just all feels so–he feels a little fuzzy at the edges, and when he tries to grab the fiddly little wires or the IV needle or . . . or . . . 

He really needs to grab something, just–just–

Superboy is not even slightly managing the “breathe a little slower” thing. 

Fuck. 

He grits his teeth; squeezes his eyes shut. Just–concentrates on what he can feel. It’s a room. He’s in a bed. There’s a fucking needle in his fucking arm and he can’t fucking think right and his TTK’s not working right and there’s a fucking NEEDLE in his fucking ARM! 

The Pocket makes that little melodic sound again; makes it a couple times, over and over. It sounds like somebody dropped a really tiny piano, and Superboy almost laughs about it and almost has a total fucking meltdown about everything else. If it weren’t a lab . . . this would be–easier, if it weren’t a lab. Just–just it’s a lab, and there’s a needle in his arm and cameras in the walls and fused-shut cuffs and metal straps that he can’t take apart holding him down, and he doesn’t–he can’t– 

He needs to figure it out. That’s all. He needs to take care of it. That’s what he always does: he figures it out. He takes care of it. He just has to do that again. He can do that 

He always does, doesn’t he? 

He does. So he will. Just–same as always; same as every other time. 

Superboy wraps his TTK around the fucking needle in his arm as carefully and thoroughly as he can, and everything still feels all fuzzy and distant and he knows if he just rips it out he’ll probably end up bleeding everywhere and also it’ll fucking hurt, but he does not given even the slightest, smallest scrap of a fuck about that right now. He just–he just needs to get a grip.

Like–on the needle, but also his own stupid fucking self. He feels like that’s the last thing he’s ever gonna manage, but–he just has to do that. That’s all. Just–same as always. Same as every other time. He can do that. 

He can.

[milevenstancyendgame]

Reasons why Mileven drama/breakup and Byler endgame in ST5 are unlikely

Looking at the whole show, we can see two constants regarding these relationships:

-Mike and El keep overcoming external and internal obstacles, and always end up together again

-Will's homosexuality is hinted at from the start, as well as his deep feelings for Mike.

Regarding the latter, this creates the expectation to have Will accept his own feelings and then his friends do the same.

In S4, it's clear that we got the first. Will's monologue didn't achieve the coming out, but he did express his love for Mike, albeit disguising it as El's feelings. He basically sacrificed himself in order to support Mike, who in turn was able to support El, who then managed to (barely) save Max.

Based on that, I think we have two possible scenarios for S5:

-Will won't confess his love to Mike openly. He has accepted that Mike and El love each other, and we see him having moved on from this right from the beginning of the season. His coming out as gay will still happen though, and Mike's acceptance of that will be crucial for Will.

-Will will confess to Mike that he's in love with him - I'm thinking of the close-up of his face during Mike's monologue in S4, when he says "And somehow I thought telling you how I felt would make that day hurt more." Will clearly feels the same way, but maybe hearing Mike confess this to El gives him the courage to confess it to Mike as well.

No matter which scenario we'll get, I think the focus will be on Mike's acceptance of Will's homosexuality, on him being different, but Mike making him feel better for it. It's possible that Mike might mess it up, not knowing what to say, but no doubt he will be accepting of Will's sexuality, and I think this will give power to Will to be freely himself (and maybe kick some butt).

However, from a storytelling perspective, I really don't see Mike suddenly realising he loves Will and not El. It would be extremely bad writing, because they have been telling us that Mike and El love each other since they first met in S1.

If they had not planned for them to be endgame, they would have sunken the ship already. There were plenty of opportunities. But what we got instead were relationship issues and them being able to work through these issues.

Mike not being very articulate at telling El how he feels about her has also been a constant since S1. However, this finally got resolved at the end of S4.

That's why I think that ST5 will start of with a strenghtened bond between them and their love won't be tested any more.

Mike finally told her how much he loves her, El has no more reason to doubt him. Mike doing a 180 degree turn and realising he lied to El would be equal to creating a new character for Mike. It also would spit on everything they took the pain to show us of Mike and El's love during the whole show.

From a storytelling perspective, this would be total self-sabotage. Why waste a whole series to tell viewers that two characters are in love and then saying "Surprise! It was a lie all along!"? What would be achieved by that?

If it had been their goal to show us that romantic feelings can change, then they would have had to tell a completely different story and would have sowed the seeds for doubt from the very beginning. Instead we got nothing but soulmatism for Mike and Eleven (including their relationship issues, because they overcame those).

Also, remember that this story is about defeating the big evil with love. El is the super-hero. Destroying her biggest source of power (love) would make it impossible for her to win against anyone.

Apart from all this, considering everything that needs to be wrapped up in S5, there simply is not enough time to have Will confess to Mike, Mike figuring out his new feelings, getting up the courage to tell El, the drama of breaking up the main ship of the show, have El get over it, establish Mike and Will as a couple, get all their friends' support, AND defeat Henry.

This is why they resolved Mike and El's conflict in S4. Because there won't even be time for their established relationship to have any drama. This is why they already showed us that Will accepts and supports Mike and El's love, so the love triangle situation has been resolved as well.

The only thing left to resolve is Will's coming out to his friends, which doesn't need to take up a lot of time. It could be one or two scenes.

[nikethestatue]

What you think of the take that elain will be with Azriel but them she will end with Lucien? A lot of people believe she just want to be with Azriel because she doesn’t want to follow what fate choose for her but then she will be with lucien not for mating bond but because I guess she loves him? I get confused about this because I don’t think Elain is petty that she wants Azriel just because she wants to choose to me that sounds a lot like the takd “Azriel just wants Elain because he wants a mate…” it just doesn’t add up. I am sure Elain wants to have her own choices but it feels to me she genuinely likes Azriel and enjoys being with him. It also weird to think that Sarah left all those crumbs about rejection of the bond and the cauldron being wrong to be equal to nothing. There is also no evidence of Elain and Lucien being a paired of true soulmates no once in any of the book has any scene between them been romantic or shows you how their love is going to be. Next book is Elain if sarah wanted Lucien to be w Elain shouldn’t she have set up something.

Any thoughts? I have to admit sometimes I get scared that Elain won’t end up with Azriel I mean all this evidence was put there to confuse the reader? It just seem sad

What would it serve, narratively?

In 2 other main examples of a LI switch, and that's Aelin and Feyre, there was an actual need for the change--it had to do both times with becoming Fae. Aelin needed Rowan to basically drag her Faenness out of her, and it would make sense that she would end up with the most powerful Fae in the world, being herself the most powerful in the world. Feyre needed to become Fae too, which she did through her association with Tamlin. She needed to get the powers of all 7 High Lords, she became the curse breaker and obviously she ended up with the most powerful Fae High Lord.

This is SJM, everyone always ends up with the most powerful counterpart.

What would switching from the Most Powerful Spymaster, who might be Starborn, and who might be the Heir to Dusk Court, 7 siphon Illyrian warriors and Carynthian to Helion's son for the Cauldron Made and beloved Seer achieve exactly?

Not to mention that Azriel's demonstrated every and all mate behaviors towards Elain, and Lucien is living with another woman? Which strongly suggests that Elriel are in fact mates.

A MUCH more logical narrative would be for Lucien to end up with Vassa, bringing him full circle from a humans-hating Fae to falling in love with a human queen. It would also bring full circle him becoming a spell cleaver for a bespelled queen. It would also make sense for him to become a unifying force between the humans and the Fae. it would also give him autonomy and the ability to forge his own destiny, not shackled to yet another thing that he had no control over.

So again, what purpose would some Elriel fuck fest serve, only to have Elucien be endgame?

What would it mean for Azriel to have been rejected yet AGAIN by a woman he fell in love, and would it mean for him to have snuck into Hybern, after muttering 'i am getting her back', risking his life, Feyre's life and all of Prythian, snatching Elain, getting his wings shredded, not being able to participate in a battle, giving Elain truth Teller so she could kill the king, only to have her leave him for Lucien at the end because of a mate bond that SHE DOESN'T WANT.

Do you hear how crazy that sounds? It would be the same as if Feyre, after being tortured UTM, after going through everything with Rhys, after dying, after going through everything with Rhys in ACOMAF such as stealing the book, meeting the Bone Carver, falling for Rhys, then turning around and going back to Tamlin.

Sorry, but it's a no.

[wisteriasymphony]

I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on that brief Implication the show makes in Reunion & Kwamis' Choice- that the Ladybug and Cat holders can never truly work out long-term as a romantic pairing because of The Universe. And that any variation of the lovesquare is subsequently doomed because of it, unless one or both of them give up their Miraculous.

Because to me that SEEMED like a really fun dynamic/concept to get into right up until I realized that ML is a romcom kids show built entirely around the lovesquare and this type of storyline wouldn't really fit into that?? Is it still marketable and appeasing its audience if the main plot is revealed to be irrevocably tinged with tragedy.

Yeah, I feel like it's an instance of the show not wanting to be honest with itself for the sake of giving the lovesquare external stakes. Because, frankly, it doesn't. If Adrien and Marinette are commented to be "made for each other" by outsiders multiple times and their superhero dynamic is built on them being stronger together and whatnot—They are, at least in terms of the meta, soulmates and are always going to be endgame, with every hitch simply being a temporary obstacle. Even Gabriel's few instances of opposing Adrinette felt incredibly weaksauce, and the "what-ifs" of their love failing don't hold any weight because them only being hypotheticals gives the impression that any meaningful instance of the endgame ship not endgaming is a fluke. The true timeline won't allow for the square to fail, because the show is so deeply entrenched in the idea that the entire point of all of this is for it to be fulfilled and that they'll get their picket-fence 3 kids and 2 hamsters life just like the writers said we would.

Of course, I agree with the tragedy of it all not fitting with what show says it's supposed to be. I would love for it to be tragic, and I know mutuals of mine who do in fact love the tragic moments of the "what-ifs" and such. It's another instance of the show clearly wanting to do more with itself while never being able to fully shake the constraints of an episodic kid's show. I do think, though, that all of the "made for each other"-ness leading up to that point in S4 does make the Kwami's Choice point ring hollow. If it really was never meant to turn out well, a kwami should've said something wayyy earlier. Even just as a "hey, i know you're having fun but feelings between holders never works out so let's keep this to a short-term fling?". That could've been a great thing to mention during Glaciator. In general, their tragic fate being something better established throughout the show would've been a better call.

From the meta-perspective, I tend to take the opposite approach (As two halves of a whole, all Ladybug and Black Cat holders are destined to be together whether they like it or not), but I think other than I don't blame people for wanting to ignore it for how it conflicts with the previous setup of... everything.

[venusiandollz]

My s/o in my fame dr

Chris Evans- SIGH HES SO FINEEEE

status:future/endgame

Before:Chris will listen to my new album(emails i can’t send💌) and he was amazed by it and started stalking my instagram(all during july) liking a few ect. He likes my third post and decides that he wants to DM me and he does!!! i Obviously reply and we go from there texting online til meeting in September for the first time

Drama: Four months into talking (November), Chris knew I was the one from the beginning—ever since we met. One night, his anxiety kicks in, and he starts thinking, What if she hurts me? and What if it’s not meant to be? What if I never get over this? Overwhelmed by these thoughts, he decides to call an old hookup, leading to a one-night stand(he lost a baddie for an old hookup😞).Somehow, word gets around, and about a week later, I find out—Tana Mongeau(that’s so random LMAO) is the one who tells me. Furious, I immediately start texting Chris, going off on him. He’s extremely apologetic but doesn’t reveal the real reason behind what he did—he just keeps apologizing. I refuse to forgive him.During this time, we aren’t communicating. He feels as if he’s lost his other half, like there’s a hole inside him(😼-how feel writing that). Desperate for advice, he turns to his family—his mom, brother, sisters, etc. They give him a hard time but still support him, telling him to give it a little time, that I’ll cool down, and that when I do, he should go to me.Two weeks pass(that’s ALL i can do😖), and he finally reaches out. He sends me a long message, asking to see me so he can explain everything. I respond, agreeing to meet him at his house in LA.When I arrive, we sit on the couch, and he pours out all his emotions. He tells me how he felt during our time apart, why he did what he did, and how much he regrets it. He apologizes sincerely, with tears in his eyes, and asks me to give him another chance. I start crying too. He finally confesses that he loves me.I open up about how I’ve been feeling, and through my own tears, I tell him I love him too. At that moment, we decide to fully commit to each other—officially, officially together, devoted, and now truly dating.

i just needed a bit of drama there btw all this is happening in 2021 btw during this time we aren't like together together but we kinda are and kinda not so it wont be cheating what he does but it would still be hurtful due to the connection we have.

love trope : soulmates,twin-flame,fated love , and love at first sight

Controversy: his fans will suspect he’s dating me and will hate me cuz of it (stole they man 🤭) talking abt our age gap and me ect how crazed fans do ofc

Extra: - it will be like a supernova for us and everybody around can feel it too. The moment we lay eyes on each other, time stops for us. It literally feels like a slow motion supernova. our eyes glow up, our hearts skip a beat and then begin to beat faster with each second. our body’s will feel weightless and electrified at the same time. Electric and sizzling atmosphere between us, Chris will look at me like he just discovered a black hole in front of him. It’s that feeling we had as a little child in kindergarten, when we had our first 'crush', this feeling of pure excitement and joy. Pure and electric.our souls recognize each other, but we are not aware of it. Not in that very moment. We feel it, but we don’t know what it is. we will just stare into one another, until one of us says something. It’s just seconds, but for us it will feel like minutes. Time stood still as we saw each other. Chris is the first to say something.He will feel something he never felt before and he doesn’t know what it is, that’s why he is a little bit irritated. this feeling when we forget a word or name, we know that we know it, but in this very moment we just can’t remember. That’s how he feels, i seems familiar to him, but he never saw me before.He finds me very attractive and stunningly beautiful. It’s the energy/aura that i radiate that he’s drawn to. This feeling of familiarity haunts him. “How can she feel so familiar without knowing her?”The way i looks, my voice, everything is like a forgotten memory for him. It seems like he doesn’t really flirt at our first meeting, as he is irritated by me (in a positive way), i makes him nervous and he doesn’t want to screw it up. him giggling and blushing like a child when im is around. i will somehow remind him of his childhood or makes him feel like a child again? Either way, we both will feel very familiar with each other other.

long ass post for what?? But nothing less for my man

(who i dedicated my “love look so pretty on you” album to which you could find through my account with a playlist included 🤭)

[onepiece-polls]

One Piece Shipping War - Grand Finale!

Propaganda under the cut.

Propaganda for Franky x Robin:

Do I really need to explain?

The old married couple who's healthy, Enies Lobby (and all their appearances) are their propaganda really.

It’s all about the maturity!

Their dynamic is perfect and their pasts are so similar. I love the chemistry between them as well as their introduction that helped build the connection and shared history they already have.

they are THE t4t bi4bi ship | franky telling robin "existing is not a crime" immediately puts this at number one for me | they are opposites (bright and loud + quiet and goth) but also they're both so eccentric and silly <3 | THEY WEAR MATCHING OUTFITS

Mom and dad Straw Hat

They are STILL the Mom and the Dad of the Straw Hats, this is the one thing I don't care what Oda says <3 Also their interactions in Enies Lobby and Thriller Bark are amazing.

In my eyes, they are married. Some of my favorite character interactions in the manga/anime and in official art.

Oda had Franky call Robin his wife at least once

Your honor they’re married

I'M GOING TO PUT LINKS IN MY EXAMPLES (Mod note: I linked to the whole post, the propaganda was going to get too long otherwise. But I will copy this line:...) They immediatly clicked in Enies Lobby, Franky saved Robin with both words and actions ("Your existence is not a sin!"), and then she grabbed his balls.

The duality of two kids who were just trying to chase their dream and having circumstances outside their control (the government) take everything they love away from them, but one choosing solitude and the other adopting every other person in a bad circumstance??? I love them. Plus they literally had couple moments from the first interaction.

The ultimate t4t couple idk what else you need theyre iconic

A wholesome ship of a woman who feels the need to be constantly on edge trying to relax and a man who is a 110% himself from the moment we see him. the joy of frobin is the causal domesticity, in many color spreads and especially post timeskip we can see them casually enjoying the others company.

Remember when Franky was in Chopper's body in Punk Hazard and every time he spoke Robin was like "Franky. Stop talking. Do not talk while you're in Chopper's body."

idk like. he's obsessed with her. she's his weird Goth gf and he's her himbo. they have matching outfits. I love them.

Look. It's Franky and Robin. Literally the only two characters that make sense to ship on the Sunny. Their arcs are inextricably intertwined (water7/enies lobby). Also LOOK AT THEM interacting, both during their arcs, but also thriller bark, or post time skip. I love them. Also robin crushed frankys balls.

funny big robot man & analytical smart research lady power couple... silly x smart... himbo x researcher... augh... so good

They are the ship for taxpaying adults your honor I LOVE them they’re literally freak4freak and they share such a fucking powerful arc together (Water 7).

that moment she let him sleep on her lap in punk hazard was sooo cute <3 -- The matching thigh highs and bottoms in film z can NOT be understated. -- Strawhat mom and dad -- Let's not forget the way robin convinced franky to join ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) -- she also indirectly called his balls "treasure" so,,, -- the way their stories are so closely intertwined...they were both keys to destroy the world...the way they instantly connected over that...the soulmate-ism of it all...

they . them. girlboss and malewife. that's it.

She grabbed his balls. He totally liked it.

He's so silly and she loves it. She's so scary and he loves it. She grabbed his balls in public.

They will be endgame trust me. Franky doesn't treat any other girl like he treats Robin. There dynamic in Water 7 and Thriller Bark was and always will be one of the best in all of OP.

Propaganda for Nami x Vivi:

Yes, Nami has a new girlfriend on every island, but her heart belongs to Vivi. Vivi in turn refuses to marry, because her heart belongs with a pirate ❤

THEY’RE LESBIANS! IN LOVE! another point: my friends who are watching OP for the first time came to me and asked “so Nami and Vivi… they’re gay right?” So it’s pretty apparent to even newcomers

I just think they’re neat! And in love. Nami gave up money for Vivi that’s True Love

Anyone who saw them can just tell they’re gay. Like Nami gave up money for her

They're one of the rare lesbian ships in op, they care for each other so much !!

Lesbians

Lesbians

They were so gay that Luffy offered to share food to cheer Nami up when they were separated.

i dare you to read Baroque Works through Alabasta without shipping them. the way Vivi and Nami are so affectionate with each other, and Vivi putting saving her nation on hold to get Nami healthy again ???

Lesbians

Let’s go lesbians!!!!! Ok but actually, I think Nami saw a lot of herself in Vivi (ha) especially when Igaram “died” and then throughout their journey together Nami really encouraged her to open up to the crew. Nami showed Vivi it was ok to ask for help just like Luffy showed her.

Vivi was Nami's gay awakening and you cant change my mind. Nami was in love with Vivi and Vivi def had some kind of feeling for Nami. They were so close and they were more then just 'gal pals'

Lesbian Pirate Supremacy! they clearly care a lot about each other and considering when nami meets vivi she is probably one of the first close female friends she gets to have.

[desiderio-dixon]

Darkest Before the Dawn

Chapter 7 : I'd Rather Go Blind

Pairing : Daryl Dixon x f!reader (endgame), (unrequited) Glenn Rhee x f!reader

Series summary : When Glenn Rhee comes into your life, you become convinced he's a guardian angel sent by your late best friend. You think he's your soulmate. But then he falls for the farmer's daughter, and you find that your own angel may be a little more blatant than expected; wings and all.

Chapter summary : Leaving the CDC in the rearview mirror, the group faces further obstacles: A misunderstanding arises between the reader and Daryl, Sophia goes missing, tensions build between reader and Shane, Carl gets shot, and Glenn begins the heartbreak saga.

Chapter warnings : uhhh jealousy, heartbreak, misunderstandings, illusions to sex, shane being a creep, sophia goes missing, grief, lmk if I missed anything! <33

Word count : 2.8k

A/N : OKAY SO THIS ONE TOOK FOREVERRR I'm so sorry!! To be fair though, something super serious happened to a family member of mine so my life has just been absolute chaos the last couple weeks. BUT TRUST ME THAT I DIDNT ABANDON THIS FIC!!! Love u guys! (also there may or may not be a Dean spicy fic on the way to all those who voted yes to that poll I made hehe)

❀~~__~~❀~~__~~❀

The next morning, you woke to a knock on your door. Groggy and hungover, you wrapped your naked body in blankets and stumbled to the door. You opened it to find Glenn, his head hung low and eyes sunken. He was equally, perhaps more, hungover. He made no effort to greet you, just groaned at you and pushed past into your room. He flopped himself down on your bed, face in the pillows. You sighed, leaving the door open and moving to sit on the bed, still only in a puddle of blankets.

"My head is gonna explode." Glenn cries out. You hum tiredly. Outside of the room you can hear everyone waking, wandering out of their rooms. Part of you wants to kick Glenn out and fall back into sleep. But you don't. You two sit quietly for a few minutes, you're certain Glenn has fallen asleep.

And then, there's a crinkle in your doorway. You look over, surprised to see Daryl. He stands, fully dressed and ready for the day, with a waterbottle clutched in his hand. He'd brought it for you, you knew that somehow. But you watched his gaze rake over your bare shoulders, and the onto the figure laid in your bed. He doesn't say anything, and neither do you. For some reason you feel like you've been caught doing something you shouldn't. He crouches down, setting the waterbottle in your doorway. And then he's turning, leaving.

The CDC is a blur after that. A blur of confusion, panic, anger. Screams and explosions. And an overwhelming loss. Jacqui died, Jenner and the sanctuary you thought you'd found went with her.

You'd never seen something explode like that. What was once there, simply wasn't anymore. No longer an impressive and futuristic building, but a mess of fire and ash. It shook everything. The ground, the air, even your insides felt like they were vibrating within you.

You weren't even sure whose car you'd piled into, simply just eager for cover, but you'd realized too late that it was Daryl's truck, and this was going to be an awkward ride. Though, neither of you said a word. Not about the drunken conversation you'd shared, or him seemingly finding you and Glenn in bed together. There's an air of shock that only silence seems appropriate for. Still, when the caravan stops due to the RV hose again, you break it. Digging into your back pocket, you produce the crumpled pack of cigarettes. "Here, I, uh, found them. Figured you'd like them." Daryl grunts, slapping his hand over yours to grab the pack. Nothing else is said, so you both climb out.

The traffic build up seems to go on forever, cars for as long as you can see. Everyone drifts off into groups to scavenge through the cars. You end up by yourself, sorting through a mini van. The sight of the empty toddler car seat brings a sense of dread washing over your body. You try to shake it off. Surely there's a chance the baby lived, just moved on to another place.

You find a box on the floor, overflowing with clothes. Winter will come quicker than you think, so you begin to rifle through, looking for anything thick and comfortable. Instead, you find a pretty dress. A sundress, with wildflowers printed all over and a dipped neckline. You're not sure that it's something you'd have worn before, but something calls you to it. It's exactly your size. Something tells you to take it, even if it's not exactly practical. So you shove it into your bag.

Then you hear Glenn's laugh, an excited and relieved laugh. You decide you need a little joy in your life, so you seek him out. There, you find him and Shane, drenching themselves with water off a truck. "You guys not gonna share?" You tease. Glenn ushers you forward to stand under a spout, then he releases the cap. You squeal at the sensation, water soaking through your clothes. Your eyes are closed, enjoying the cooling sensation when a hand wraps around your wrist, yanking you to the floor.

You smell them first, the horde of dead stumbling through the traffic jam. You roll under the truck with Glenn and Shane, making panicked eye contact with each of them back and forth. Then you hear them, groaning and shuffling. And finally, you see their feet as they move past. Most of their shoes are muddied and falling apart, ankle skin falling off the bone like good barbecue. When it's finally passed, your heart shatters.

Where you expected silence, you found the cries of a distressed mother. Carol, screaming after Sophia. You crawl out just in time to watch Rick run after her, Lori holding a sobbing Carol.

You want to pull her into a hug, hold her sorrow in your hands to take it off her shoulders. But you're soaking wet, and you're sure she doesn't need a cold on top of everything. You settle instead for a hand on her shoulder, telling her a gentle, "Rick will bring her back." You're not sure you believe it. You have faith in Rick, though you're not sure about Sophia. She's a smart girl, sweet like sugar, and you adore her. It's just that a scared adult is unpredictable, let alone a scared child. Still, you want to hope.

It's only a few minutes, maybe ten. Rick emerges from the forest and you wait with bated breath for Sophia to trail after him--but she doesn't. Carol's sob sends a lightning bolt right through your heart.

Rick gathers a few people up to go look for her: Glenn, Shane and Daryl. While they gather up their things, you stand with Glenn. You feel eyes on you, heavy in their gaze. Turning, you find who'd been staring at you. Shane. He meets your eyes, and something about it turns your stomach. His eyes are dark, and he doesn't look away. You break the eye contact yourself, looking to your shoes.

"You okay?" Glenn asks. You hum, nodding your head. But truthfully, you can't shake the feeling of unease that has washed over you.

Then, just as everyone is geared up to leave, Daryl trots up to you. He tosses something at you. You catch it, unfolding it to reveal a flannel shirt. "Cover up a bit, huh?" He says, looking at you before his eyes flick to Shane. For a moment, you're confused. Then, you look down to your shirt--your soaked, white shirt that has now turned see-through. Your ears burn with a sudden rush of blood, and you hurry to throw on the flannel he gave you. It has the sleeves cut off, because of course it does. It looks ridiculous on you, you're sure, but it works well enough.

You stand, dumbfounded for a bit while the group pushes forward. Another one of Carol's sobs throws you out of your daze.

She stands, hands covering her mouth as sobs pour openly out of it, leaning against Lori. Lori has tears of her own streaming her cheeks, but she stares coldly ahead at the treeline her husband disappeared into. Although the sight of them squeezes your chest, it's the sight behind them that hammers the final nail into your heart.

Carl, a few feet behind his mother, looking sorrowful with tears of his own silently falling, but a determination in his eyes unlike any you'd seen. You walk to him, grazing your hand over Carol's arm gently as you pass. When you reach Carl, you pull him into a hug. His arms wrap weakly around you as you crouch, and he lets out a sob into your chest. "They'll find her. And if they don't--me and you will." You whisper to him, squeezing him tight.

It's not long before Shane and Glenn return. Glenn looks solemn, which quickly gives away that their leads aren't solid. Shane barks orders immediately upon return to search and move cars. You rifle through more cars, coming up mostly empty time after time. After an hour, you produced three items. A leather jacket, thick; good for winter and to stop bites. A box of granola bars, unfortunately your least favorite flavor. And an unopened limited edition Barbie.

The Barbie came from a car with no sign of children, and given how old it is, you assume it's someone's antique. You feel better taking it, given you don't think you're stealing from a dead child. It'll be nice for Sophia, you think. It's the exact thing you'd have loved as a girl. Big, poofy white dress with black polka dots and heaps of frill. A classic red lip and a pair of cute little heels. She's absolutely fabulous. You tuck her carefully into your bag, making sure to not dent the box.

As you weave through the cars to find your next hidden treasure, you spy Lori and Shane. The tension is thick in the air as they whisper-yell back and forth to each other. It's not hard to piece together the contents, despite you not being able to hear them. Surely it's about what once was between them, and what never can be now with Rick's return. Still, the sight sends bolts of unease through your spine. Especially with the way Shane slams his fist against a cars hood, fire burning behind his dark eyes.

You enter some beat down sedan, crawling into the drivers seat and letting your head drop down to the steering wheel. 'Please let Rick and Daryl come back safe with Sophia.' You think to yourself. You're beyond anxious, chest feeling as though a pile of rocks sit in your lungs. Moving on from this stupid highway with your group intact would be the greatest gift.

❀~~__~~❀~~__~~❀

It's almost dark now, though the humidity still weighs down the air, thick and heavy. A thin sheen of sweat collects over your skin as you sit and wait. "Oh, God. They're back." Glenn says. Your heart leaps to your throat. Rick comes first, then Daryl, then... Nothing. No Sophia. Just as quick as your heart rose, it sank to your feet like an anvil.

"You didn't find her?" Carol squeaks, sounding small like a scared child.

Rick shakes his head, guilt written in the way his lips draw tight and his eyes drop to the floor. "Her trail went cold. We'll pick it up again at first light." You knew they didn't find her, but even so, the confirmation feels like a hammer bashing into your heart.

"You can't leave my daughter out there on her own to spend the night alone in the woods." Carol cries desperately.

Daryl glances to you, then the floor. Shaking his head, he responds. "Out in the dark's no good. We'd just be trippin' over ourselves. More people get lost." You know he's right. He's smart with these things, a natural. But you also know hearing this hurts Carol. Truthfully, it hurts you too. A part of you wants to stray from the group right now, tear the forrest apart until your hands are bloodied to find Sophia and bring her home to her mother.

But Daryl's right--so you stay.

The next morning is early, sun barely up. Dew slides over the morning grass, tickling your ankles as you all trudge through the forest. The air is damp and crickets chirp around you. It reminds you of early wakings during your school days as a child. Up before the sun so you could drown your stomach with sugary cereal before the bus called your name. It's nostalgic in such a bitter way. Sophia will never get that again, whether you find her or not.

The only two that hadn't come on the search were Dale and T-dog. Dale, to fix up the RV, and T-dog to rest. He'd landed himself a nasty gash on his arm during the herds passing. You're thankful Daryl was there.

Everyone else in the group, even including little Carl were gathered around you. Daryl, Shane, and Rick mainly led the charge-- but everyone was equal in effort of looking for signs. You'd lost count already how many times you'd crouched to inspect the dirt, trying your hardest to search for small shoeprints.

The search had been null, up until you found a campsite. Carol had called out, and you all held your breath in anticipation. When nothing came, Daryl investigated. Nothing but a man who'd been dead for a long while.

Now, you stare at Daryl. He's disappointed, maybe even frustrated. You guess he must feel pressure, feel that it's on him to do the tracking and finding. Your feet seem to move on their own, stalking towards him on shaky feet. He doesn't notice you coming, doesn't look up from his boots. But still, you reach a hand out, just mere moments away from touching his bare bicep--until the bells ring.

You freeze, catching Daryl's eyes immediately as he shoots up. And then, as if reality had snapped back into motion, you all run.

The church is a grim scene, the pews loaded with rotting corpses, staring lifelessly at the cross. When you swing the doors, they groan, turning and shuffling loudly across the wooden floors. The smell is overpowering. The air is thick with rot, moist and sickening.

It's fitting. Fitting to the soulless feeling of tearing through walker after walker, only to at the end be met with nothing but a pile of corpses; no Sophia in sight. Carol prays in front of the statue of Jesus, and you can't judge her for turning to faith in a time like this, but something about it turns your stomach.

How could a God allow a mother to be without her child? Suddenly, the air in the church feels like it's no longer air at all. You feel suffocated. You rush out, hand covering your mouth as a nauseous feeling rises. Falling to your knees in the grass, you huff breath after breath of fresh air. When will the constant loss end?

❀~~__~~❀~~__~~❀

It's only a couple hours later when you're trudging through the forest, chatting with Glenn absentmindedly as Daryl leads your group back to the highway. And then, like a flash of lightning, a woman appears. The heavy thudding of her horse's hooves matches the rapid beating of your heart, and then she's yelling. Yelling that Carl has been shot. Then, you feel as if your heart stops at the same time the horse skids to a halt. He's stable, she says, but it's still a weight you're not sure you can handle.

You want to cry, to collapse, to give up. You want to curl into someone and share in your sorrow. When you turn to Glenn, your stomach swirls in sickness at his expression. Well, perhaps not the expression alone, but that the expression isn't being sent to you.

There, frozen in place, he stands. Awestruck eyes gazing up at the woman on the horse, jaw open. Your eyes fly between the two of them, time moving in slow motion. You can't even blame him. She's beautiful. Big, green eyes wide in urgency, tan skin slick with sweat, shining in the sunlight.

You can't blame him--but it hurts so bad.

❀~~__~~❀~~__~~❀

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[darklinaforever]

i'm a bellyjere and i agree with you on pacey / joey (from what i've seen of dawson's creek) but not so much on delena. damon's never sat well with me as a person (because i feel like the narrative never held him responsible for some of his less than stellar actions) and he actually reminds me more of conrad now that i think about it, and stefan reminds me more of jere. but anywho, preferences aside, crossing my fingers for a bellyjere endgame despite everything because it's what we deserve.

(also sidenote: but bellyjere spicy times in the water to offset and contrast the first time she had with conrad? it's definitely a yes from me!)

Damon and Jeremiah's characters have nothing to do with each other.

I only compare Bellyjere to Delena in the sense that they are both relationships based on reality versus another relationship that ultimately leads nowhere, even though it is described as soulmates (Stelena / Bonrad).

And since there are writers in common between the two shows, that explains why we find these dialogues on reality.

And speaking of comparison, I want to die when I see people comparing Joey & Pacey to Belly & Conrad... when that spot clearly belongs to Bellyjere...

And yes, a Bellyjere love scene in the water would contrast nicely with Belly's first time with Conrad, facing the fire.

Besides, I don't know about you, but I really struggle to find Belly's first time romantic :

To add to what I said in this post about Belly's first time, I doubt Jere wouldn't have touched her a lot during and after sex, given how he is during even their kisses. He would never fall asleep with his back to her after sex.

Seriously, I don't understand the idealization of this first time by Bonrad fans.

[oliviasgreenmug]

Potentially v long:

I wanna talk about bensler and the Kathy of it all

So that scene in season 2 when Elliot’s all moody and Kathy asks him about his day and he doesn’t want to tell her and she says “did you talk to Olivia about it?” And all he says is “she’s my partner” like brother you’re gonna have to get it togetherrrr. Not only is he making his marriage harder for no reason but he’s implicating Olivia when she has nothing but pure intentions. Like yeah it’s obvious she’s in love with him from season one but she was always so careful with the line. He was always the one to initiate physical contact (hugs, touching her arm, hand on her back or shoulder).

But Jo was such a good explanation for why Kathy was always so scared of Olivia bc she’d obviously been burned before. They never actually laid it out but it was obvious that something had happened with Joe and Elliot that was beyond what he had with Liv (poor Liv).

Also the way Elliot pretty much became a whore in that lil period when he and Kathy were separated but they never let him do what he clearly wanted to do and confess his love to Olivia.

My theory is that they didn’t let him do that bc they knew it wasn’t the right time for him and Bensler getting together would be so much more serious than a fling in between could give. That’s also why I think they felt the need to unalive Kathy before they let them pursue things (even though it’s been seven thousand years) bc Bensler is so much more than a relationship. It’s a cosmic occurrence. It’s a nebula. A cannon event. It can’t share space with past could’ve beens or maybes bc it’s the very definition of endgame.

I think Kathy knew that too. And she was probably more scared of Olivia than any of the girls Elliot worked with or even the ones he actually slept with bc she knew Olivia meant everything to him.

Even though Kathy and Elliot were together since high school, he met his soulmate in Olivia.