#the way their dynamic is and always will be god tier.......

[lesbianjamies]

Ava being playful with Beatrice and Beatrice being anything but in the mood for it

[nekropsii]

I’m curious which M/M alpha troll ships you’d put in the case study tier - who is in the Petri dish?

These aren’t ships to me, just dynamics I think are interesting for narrative reasons, but… Putting this under the cut since it's a little long. I got into some detail.

Content Warning: Long, Discussions of Abuse.

These are the top three things that come to mind on the subject. They're in no particular order, though!!

Cronus and Kankri’s… I can’t earnestly call this a friendship, that implies some kind of mutual genuine attachment, trust, and respect. This is more of an… Alliance, if anything. Their relationship is solely grounded in Kankri’s bootlicking, hemoloyalist pick-me horseshit, and Cronus gravitating to anything that can give his pathetic, sad, over-inflated ego a boost, whether it be through him tearing them down for no reason or, in Kankri’s case, enabling him for no reason. It’s worth pointing out that Kankri was outright against Cronus taking any steps towards any self improvement, so Kankri is absolutely partially at fault for Cronus being as brazen about his abuse and manipulation of others as he is. Kankri is at fault for Cronus’s manipulation tactic of adopting random minority identities, and faking suicide for pity points. We literally see Kankri backing Cronus up about these things. They are in the worst cahoots I’ve ever seen. Hitting people who “ship” them with a rock because none of them have ever read anything in their lives and it’s honest to god one of the most consistently, disgustingly out of character things I’ve ever seen. Zero understanding of the source material. Kankri’s always made into a Catholic Whore, Cronus is always wildly defanged and woobified. Completely unrecognizable. Jail.

Rufioh and Horuss’s… Already failed relationship. This thing started as a tryst while Rufioh was dating Damara before the game even fucking happened, so this thing has been going on FOREVER. Rufioh had been cheating on that poor girl for YEARS before she finally snapped, and Rufioh has the fucking audacity to call her crazy and paranoid?! I’m sending him to The Hague. Anyway, Horuss has that Zahhakian quirk of being very violently stuck in his ways as far as the caste system goes, and it’s interesting watching how smitten he is with Rufioh despite this (and, I’d argue, because of this, to an extent,) and how not into it Rufioh is. It’s interesting watching how Horuss clearly knows what Rufioh is getting at, he knows that Rufioh is trying to break up with him, he’s just incapable of letting go. And Rufioh is incapable of growing a fucking spine and communicating with people normally, instead of just immediately giving up and then turning around and talking major shit about people he presumably cares about behind their backs. As if that’s a normal thing to do. Asshole.

Cronus and Mituna’s… This isn’t a friendship, this isn’t a relationship, for the love of fucking god this is NOT a Kismesissitude, this is just undeniable extreme abuse we see on screen, constantly. Above everything else, if you ship this, I’m going to kill you with hammers and then shoot you with a gun. The thing is, though, you cannot separate these characters from each other’s writing. You cannot write a Mituna that has never been abused by Cronus and a Cronus that has never abused Mituna, because that dynamic there is so important to both setting up and understanding these characters as both characters and as people that they’d be completely unrecognizable without that element. You need to understand that you can make this shit become symbolic. Mituna is Cassandra. Cronus is both Apollo and Ajax the Lesser. Please understand the vision. It’s right there. It’s so easy.

[lunarheslwt]

28th appreciation fic recs: January edition

Hi! Welcome to the first fic rec list of 2024! I wanted to put together all the fics I've read and loved over January for this month's 28th appreciation, so here they are! Click on the links for full tags and summaries. If you read any of these make sure to show the authors some love by leaving kudos and comments, and sharing any fic posts!

🌸 Morning comes by @nooradeservedbetter

(5k / E / Sub Top L, Dom bottom H)

The stranger gestures at what they’re wearing, and oh, it’s not a shirt, it’s a white crop top, black lettering star against it. It says I ♡ SUBMISSIVE MEN in bold, capital letters.

Thoughts: we simply need more pwps that explore dynamics like this, this was delicious, and I looove how natural the chemistry between them felt. So good.

🌸 Dreaming of a green Christmas by @hellolovers13

(4k / E / Size queen L, xmas smut)

Harry opens the wrong package by mistake and finds the sex toy Louis ordered for himself. That's not an opportunity Harry can pass up on.

Thoughts: its never too late to indulge in some christmas smut, its got size queen L ffs what are you waiting for!! Its hot, its a snack to be devoured, it's a little gift, in short.

🌸 Sweet baby by @jishlerfics

(5k / E / kink discovery)

“Haz,” he said, “do you like being held down?” Taking a shaky breath, Harry finally looked Louis in the eyes. “I think so.”

Thoughts: this is part one of a series that I'm excited to read. This is perfect and sweet and hot in every way possible, i loved it so much.

🌸 Revelatory experience by @justanothershadeofblue

(3k / E / religion kink)

Harry's not sure if it's the sound of Louis' voice, the thrill of the forbidden, or just that he's really fucking horny, but he's about to find out how well the velvet cushion in this dark little wooden booth hides a stain.

Thoughts: this was so fucking hot. Like, they're in a confession booth. That should be enough of an appetizer for y'all to go read this!

🌸 Jaerie's Kinktober: Sounding by @jaerie

(3k / E / sounding)

Louis has been casually dating Harry for a while, but tonight he plans to stay in for a much needed stress relief night of self love. He unexpectedly shares that particular love with Harry. When they discover this, they go all in.

Thoughts: so hot. We need more sounding fics. Meanwhile, do yourself a favor and indulge in this. Also love the lil bit of imperfect sex at the end.

🌸 With a sea view by @greeneyesfriedrice

(5k / E / boat smut)

Stepping onto the main deck, Harry grabs a maroon towel, squeezing all the water he can out of his hair, though it’s similar to how a dog dries off after a bath. He doesn’t bother drying the rest of his body, that’s what suntanning is for. He places the towel into a small bin and looks around. Time to find Louis.

Thoughts: so goddamn hot. But also very sweet and they're so in love which is a god tier combination. Laur never has a miss.

🌸 Heaven in these sheets by @thepolourryexpress

(3k / E / bunny! hybrid Louis)

“Bunny wants attention, hm?” Harry murmurs, turning his head and brushing his cheek against Louis’. Louis lets out a pleased noise at the feeling, ear flopping over Harry’s head as the man moves. “Please,” Louis pouts lightly, scraping his nails gently over Harry’s chest. “C’mon.” Or, Bunny Hybrid Louis has it out for his boyfriend’s phone.

Thoughts: bunny Louis is so sweet and precious, harry is the ever doting bf, and it just makes for delicious smut that also just made me feel!!!!

🌸 Mr Tomlinson by @canonlarry

(4k / E / CEO omega L)

Louis is a billionaire CEO who makes grown men cry and rival companies crumble. He's also an omega. Harry is the quiet cupcake of a man he calls his alpha and the only one who gets to see Louis as anything less than fearsome

Thoughts: powerful ceo to all, gets taken care of by partner behind doors is such a fav trope of mine and this one is SO good. I loved this one so so much.

🌸 it's always me that ends up getting wet by @loveislarryislove

(2k / E / role play, dubcon fantasy)

As Louis takes a step towards the stairs to look for his husband, his eye lands on the small round table at the foot of the staircase. It's thin and spindly, so they don't usually use it for much besides decoration. But today, there are three objects sitting on top of it. A blue policeman's hat. A small, silver key, that Louis recognizes as belonging to a pair of handcuffs. And a note, written in Harry's distinctive handwriting: I'm waiting for you downstairs ;)

Thoughts: this was so insanely good, I love a good roleplay fic and I ate this up. Every single word in this was addictive.

This is a short list, bc I've been really busy and tired. But I hope I get to read more next month. Anyways If you check these out, give these works some love. Fic writers I love youuuu X

[theconstantsidekick]

no because, supernatural is absolutely a train wreck. it's a colossal accident that is happening in front of you that you can't look away from. it is homophobic and non-sensical and downright laughable at times but you know what? I love it. I absolute love it.

season 1 was absolutely beautiful. you don't understand, really, you don't. they had a piss poor budget, you can see that in every frame. but does that stop it from being fucking beautiful? no. it is stylised and ambitious and a fucking visual treat.

and this is like the first fucking episode. the shots have so much character! and that's nothing to say of the characters themselves. from the first fucking scene you can clearly distinguish sam and dean's character clear as day. their motivations, their dreams, their hopes, all of it. it's established so well. their dynamic is unmatched. does it also have a lot of garbage? yes for sure. because what in the name of hell was that episode with bugs? what glue were they sniffing when they green lit that one? no seriously... I wanna try some.

but then they recovered, cause they did faith. my god, what an episode. WHAT AN EPISODE. that motherfucking reaper haunts my every waking hour

like yeah, I love me some baby dean and baby sam going on their small scale ghost hunts while learning deep lessons about who they are as people and what they want from life.

also that 'laugh I nearly died' needle drop? where sam sees jess? god tier editing, GOD TIER.

then they came back with season 2. and here is my most controversial opinion that should not be controversial at all, season 2 is the best season of supernatural to ever supernatural.

what is and what should never be, hollywood babylon, heart, nightshifter, and the whole fucking season actually. not a single miss in my humble opinion. and that finale? THAT FINALE. beautiful, magnificent. ground breaking character writing, everything comes full circle while simultaneously opening up new plot lines to explore.

and my god, yellow eyes is an epic villain. he is a very viciously written villain like, he's... my god. it ain't a walk in the park writing villains, believe you me patient readers, villains are harder to write than the protagonists, always. well, at least the compelling ones are.

now season 3 suffered because of the writer's strike, but didn't miss much either. like yeah some of the hits don't hit as hard as the season 2, but hey, mystery spot, time is on my side, ghostfacers, bedtime stories are nothing to laugh about. those episodes are fucking solid, like most of the season. and there is so much raw emotion is sam's need to save dean, it just makes my weak winchester brothers loving heart throb a little too hard. also...

need I say more?

does the show did look little more washed out and boring? yes. but it's cool, cause we're moving on to season 4.

listen, I kinda just wanna leave all my season's critique at this. i mean, yeah this. this is it. this is the long and short of it; castiel. i don't think i need to get anymore into it

so season 5 is just—

i'm kidding. obviously i'm gonna talk about season 4, at length.

listen, being able to introduce angels this late in the game and then have them be a such perfectly hidden players is a masterstroke of genius. it just is. i am a writer guys... apart from the relentless fanfic as well lol. and when i tell you, introducing a new big player which is also (not so) secretly the next big bad and playing it off as smoothly as they did in season 4, is beyond hard. but the biggest home run these fuckers hit is castiel and the best part is they weren't aiming for a one lol. and oh oh, the way they use their very VERY limited budget to show wings with just flashing the fucking light? CINEMA! that's fucking cinema right there man. i work on film sets, i am telling you, this is the smartest filmmaking choice they make on the entire show. it adds so much visual intrigue while being so awfully easy to execute. BRILLIANt.

now i cannot talk about supernatural without talking about the deancas romance of it all, which i understand not everyone can see or wants to, which is fine. to each their own. you consume art the way you want to, i don't care much as long as you can acknowledge that castiel and dean's friendship was just some of the best written television that mankind has ever seen. is that too grand a statement? yes. does that make it any less true? no.

they even brought back the moody lighting.

and then there's the episodes this season, most of which are home runs in their own regard. just like beautiful writing, the character development for cas, for dean, for sam, even the late john winchester is wild. anna is a wonderful addition, so is uriel, and alastair? they don't make villains like him anymore, they just fucking don't. AND THAT GODDAMN PLOT TWIST AT THE END? man! the finale was just... too good. Chuck's introduction is absolutely wonderful, even if they ruin him by the end but that happens a decade later so wtv, who cares? But,,,, Jimmy. Fucking. Novak. That's all. that's the tweet. yeah. i'm gonna end the season 4 fan fair with jimmy.

moving to season 5.

subjectively speaking, this is my fucking favorite. this season is a writer's dream while also being their goddamn nightmare. so many WONDERFUL characters to play with and such a grand plot but you get to see it all on a very small, consumable scale which is just... it's too smart for me to not mention. i won't start naming the plot points and neither will i name my favourite episodes because what even is the point? all of it was fucking perfect. you don't understand how hard it is to develop characters to such an extent that they become so familiar to the audience that they know their next move before you even put it on the screen. and supernatural had that. they tied everything together with so much care and consideration, just... AAAH so good.

a special shoutout goes to endverse!cas, crowley and death this season. you all know it in your bones that those three were just the absolute scene stealers. especially death's introduction... immaculate.

they did lose a few points for not being as aesthetically pleasing as the past few seasons but hey, gabriel was enough to make a smooth recovery.

but this... this is the end of the road for me people. season 5 is where it should have ended. in no way shape or form am i saying that there aren't a few good episodes here and there after this, because there are. i think season 5 was so fucking solid, tied up so many goddamn lose ends and then just put a cute little hell shaped bow on top and i just... yeah. this was and should have been the end of the road. do not get me wrong, i love me some jack kline, charlie bradbury, kevin tran, rowena macleod and eileen lahey but were they worth the bullshit ending i had to sit through? not really.

i absolutely think if there weren't more episodes of supernatural I would never have become a destiel fan, because i started shipping them when dean made cas a mixtape in season TWELVE! but my god, the good times were so scattered amongst the horseshit that even when i found those hidden gems, they were so fucking drenched in the stink that they lost their value.

the worst of it all is that, i cannot explain to you what supernatural means to me in a million words, because it is a part of me, heart and soul. i fucking AM castiel. i am a gay little angel you hear me? i love this show. i do. i'm glad it went on for however long it did but i feel like once in a while i need to write shit like this or read shit like this to remind myself of the show that it used to be. of it's beautiful cinematography, of it's clever little storytelling techniques. of it's wonderful cast. of how epic their song choices used to be.

FUcking RENEGADE? iconic. wanted, dead or alive? cannot hear the song without hearing sam's off tune goat bleating that he called singing along.

i need to remind myself of how afraid i used to be of lucifer. of how much i cried while watching dark side of the moon; when dean and sam burst the crackers, and how i learnt the lyrics to knocking on heaven's door just because of that scene.

sometimes i just have to walk through memory lane and look back at gabriel's death, the good one, the only one. it was so fucking meaningful. i have to think of "we are making it up as we go" to be able to breathe properly because those moments were so fucking beautiful.

fuck the big ones, i even remind myself of the small ones, of dean's handwriting being in all caps, just like him. of sam's fucking huge laptop with that weird blue black sticker in the middle. of castiel's tie, that just was the right shade of blue, and hung all wrong but just naturally enough to add so much more to his character than any fucking dialogue could. every small little detail of supernatural that made it so damn supernatural. i miss it all.

idk. i'm rambling. whatever.

[whump-in-the-closet]

Recommended Stories

Just a compilation of whump stories by other writers that I’ve enjoyed. No, no one asked for this, but here it is anyway. Since I’m always looking for new stuff to read, I imagine that this list is going to grow. But for now…

(this isn’t in any particular order and they’re all SFW as far as I’m aware)

Our Man Flint by @dismemberment-on-a-tuesday-night

Poetic prose that lures you into the story. A vampire hunter is forced to face (quite literally) his worst nightmare.

Erebus & Terror by @brutal-nemesis

There’s a gradual loss of humanity as the prince of a fallen kingdom is turned into a science experiment. Gore, suffering, and a protagonist you love to hurt.

Diamonds to Dust by @kira-the-whump-enthusiast

Some fantastic villain whump, with a sprinkling of angst. Family dynamics involve a distraught brother as a caretaker.

Jane’s Pets by @another-whump-sideblog

Nasty captivity and heavy torture featuring an immortal twelve year old whumper and her human pets. A very relatable protagonist and cast of characters.

Ongoing Untitled Story by @verkja

Fantasy adventure whump with some cool worldbuilding and three morally grey main characters. Oh and btw? The world is ending.

Kane & Jim by @whumpsday

Whumper turned whumpee and whumpee turned caretaker. Vampire whump and some truly horrible torture methods. It’s fantastic.

Seven Series by @whump-queen

Objectification and pet whump, hoo boy. A roller coaster of BBU suffering and a sad whumpee who’s in way over his head.

Waking Dreamer by @painsandconfusion

An intriguing magic system with a very whumpy plot that only gets worse and well developed characters.

Sunlight and Embers by @whither-wander-whump

Fantasy setting and a rebellion in the making. A prisoner is recruited from the dungeons to be used as a pawn in the rebellion and the plot continues to thicken.

Betrayed by @suspicious-whumping-egg

Hero and Villain whump. A hero is betrayed by their team and left at the mercies of the opposing side.

Hero and Villain Story: Behind the Masks by @whumpering-heights

Hero and Villain whump, but with a villian who does not deserve what he’s been put through. There’s an unlikely bit of mercy from someone you’d least expect. As the kids say, it’s right in the feels.

Weapons Don’t Weep by @wolfeyedwitch

A human weapon in a dystopian setting is rescued by a team of rebels. Dehumanization and angst with hopes for a recovery arc.

The Second Wave by @there-will-always-be-blood

Whumper turned whumpee and is furious about it. A morally-grey (she’s more than happy to commit murder) type of protagonist and an antagonist you want dead.

Liliholm and Page by @yet-another-heathen

Vigilante whump with a cinematic feel and characters who are vividly human, whether whumper or whumpee. God-tier whump will have you gripping your screen.

[bucktommys]

also in honour of 6x11 being my favourite episode of all time i thought i’d do a very quick lil fic rec list of my favourite time loop/alternate universe fuckery/dream fics. this is by no means definitive or comprehensive and i know im missing so many more so if u have any others pls pls feel free to rec them bc i actually love this genre of fic so much i could read it all day

keep going, keep going come what may by @fcntasmas​ - reading this fic for the first time damaged me in the best way. i wont spoil it so i cant give any real good summary but just read it its a++++

my words are paper tigers by @hattalove​ - all i can say is that i read this fic once a week for mental health purposes. basically buck breaks up with eddie and then gets caught in a time loop and its just. wow i should reread it again today i think

don’t take the money by @hmslusitania​ - the time loop fic of all time? the time loop fic of all time. time loop fuckery circa monsters and the lawsuit arc and its just soooooo good. also chimney immediate believer no1 stan

burn the straw house down by @hoediaz​ - this fic is SAUR good god. buck and eddie get trapped in their own time loops. the buck/maddie siblings dynamic in this is GOD TIER there’s a line near the end that i won’t spoil but GOD i burst into TEARS the first time i read it. u will know which one as soon as u read it. (also by zoe is this fic which is similar alternate universe fuckery and SO GOOD pls read) 

the persistence of memory by @anxieteandbiscuits​ - i read this like on the verge of tears the whole way through. its so so good and so beautiful and i was forever changed afterwards. basically au where buck gets shot instead and eddie time loops in despair UGH its amazing) (also again by sami is her most recent fic it’s a dream fic and 6x11 spec and SO beautiful omg)

it's funny 'cause i've always dreamed of me and you by @capseycartwright - dream fic/its a wonderful life au fic!!!!!!!! this fic means everything to me you don’t even understand. its so soft and tender and ugh. i love love love it. 

again plz let me know if there r others bc i would happily read 600 more fics of this variety

[bigdreamsandwildthings]

Review: Gwen & Art Are Not In Love (Lex Croucher)

Rating: ★★★★★/5

"'It's not too late to cut you out of this speech.' 'You wouldn't,' Arthur said dismissively, putting an arm around Gabriel's waist and then grinning when he didn't remove it. 'You think I'm far too charming.' 'When they come for my kingdom, I'll tell you if it was all worth it.' 'Please stop flirting,' said Gwen. 'You're giving me a headache.' 'You are sitting in Bridget's lap,' Arthur pointed out. 'And I can very clearly see that she's got her hand on your thigh.'"

Oh my GOD this was adorable and hilarious and SO much fucking fun.

Gwen and Art have been betrothed since Gwen was born. She's always loathed him and his nice hair and his devil-may-care attitude, and really, she's had a crush on Bridget, a knight who comes to fight in the tournaments at Camelot, for years. Art himself is no stranger to crushes; he's had many, always on boys. Art is now being sent to Camelot for the summer's tour, and their marriage feels imminent. How can the two of them reconcile their true feelings when the good of England seems to be at stake?

I love the mish-mash of historical fantasy romance comedy that this book is. There were multiple pages that had me laughing out loud, top tier banter, a fascinating historical backdrop, and romances that you can't help but root for. It all fits together in such a fun package, I don't know how anyone could leave this book and *not* be smiling.

I have to start with the characters, because my god, they're just so, so good. I immediately loved and empathized with Gwen, solitary introvert that she is, and I rooted for her and Bridget SO hard. But Art really does steal the show - he's hilarious, dashing, sweet, and with a heart of gold underneath his bumbling. He and Gabriel have such a great dynamic, with Gabriel being his exact opposite in so many ways, and though I did have a few moments of wishing Gabe ill, overall, what a well-written romance they have in these pages.

The plot here is also much more fleshed-out than a lot of romances, and I love it for that. There are tournaments and battles, layers of subterfuge and ploys for the crown. I didn't go in expecting much on this side of things, and it really blew me away because of it.

The whole underlying current of being true to yourself and finding your crew and all of that just takes this one to the next level for me too. I loved watching these guys figure things out and come together. I love every single one of them.

[finalmoment]

ep10 thoughts (spoilers for trigun stampede 10)

it's very obvious that Vash's pain tolerance is at best highly variable and most probably obscenely high. he gets shot and makes barely any sound, without even giving the impression that he is deliberately keeping himself quiet, and then walks off. also what an insanely good character beat!!! I'm going to throw up.

i actually wonder to what extent (and I've been having this thought since the plant reveals dropped, around that time) Vash's extreme compassion for humans is inherent to him on a species level. most of the plants we've seen haven't been characterized (as much as they've been shown as having an internality) as...disliking the way they're used even though it's clearly bad for them? like this isn't scanning as a metaphor for slavery, more for symbiotic relationships or parasitic mutualism. not that i think that's a decent status quo but, ah. thoughts.

Vash apologizing repeatedly to Wolfwood ;_; WAIT SHIRTLESS VASH REVEAL????? IM SHAKING LIKE A CHIHUAHUA RN

“I can imagine, even if i don't want to, how a misfit like you is being treated by humans,” I'm going to climb into a rocket and blow myself up to fuck. what the fuck

i need to print every line of dialogue from this scene onto the inside of my skull they're giving me EVERYTHING i want

then we're immediately catapulted into some kind of sick and twisted old man yaoi between Doctor human experimentation and our good friend Roberto

side note it's very funny to me that the Meryl/Roberto dynamic parallels the Vash/Wolfwood dynamic in the sense of: idealistic person walks into trouble and their cynical, substance abusing boyfriend/mentor trudges despairingly after them to keep them alive another day. top tier

i love a good artificial and fucked up child I'll be honest. also Roberto saying “the important thing is how you feel when you see these children”...i may be reading too much into his character but his addiction and cynicism make sense to me from the perspective of this—essentially okay if ordinarily messy person trying to survive in a world where every daily decision runs counter to the basic morality he cannot silence no matter how much he drinks. which adds a certain tint to how he views Meryl? i don't precisely love their relationship as is (i would want a few more layers folded into it) but I'm inclined to view it more favourably in this episode.

SO I TYPED OUT "interesting backstory for Elendira" and then this guy said "he" so i was like "what" but INTERESTING BACKSTORY FOR ELENDIRA. PLEASE LET HER BE TRANSFEM STILL.

weirdly paced runaway scene though, really hollow and... tonally dissonant voice acting when i didn't notice a problem before. direction issue? it really jarring :/

VASH'S LITTLE WAVE AFTER THE ELEVATOR DOOR CLOSES IS SO. BABY BOY YOU HAVE MY WHOLE HEART

huh, Roberto really let them walk into a trap and then abandoned them there. stone cold! i like that in a guy

“I hate you” “me too, we might get along well” Wolfwood will find a kid who looks traumatized and unsupervised and be like “is anyone going to be an elder brother to them” and not wait for an answer.

oh, Roberto NO. this is so annoying. let me have a good dynamic between them for ONE episode before it gets utterly killed oh my god. violently irritating stuff.

thematically, i like that Meryl receives the message that it's okay to run away if you're scared from her mentor, who has literally always advocated for this while also following Meryl into trouble quite frequently. it's also very...i don't have a word for this but i see it happen often, where one character hears something alone that other characters need to hear too, that type of emotional beat; this is a message that Vash needs, and Meryl is meant to pass it to him. but it's also for her! i like that Roberto emphasizes on some level the importance of not dying for a cause, for knowing your limits and sticking to them even when the world is demanding too much from you—but then he dies for it? hmm.

this monologue from Wolfwood is very interesting, isn't it? “i don't have time to hesitate for the fear of making sacrifices, i have to make a choice. i will do anything to protect the things i cherish. i am the guide, after all... what a great babysitter i am; i managed to bring you here alive when you're always asking to get killed” oh Wolfwood i will kiss you and your Judas parallels directly on the mouth. with tongue. and feed you olives <3

“thank you for all this time” aaaaaaaaaa

he has stubble in this episode I'm about to burst into tears. i need to make a list of Wolfwood's hottest features starting with 1. betrayed the love of his life (or tried to, i suspect it won't stick) 2. STUBBLE!!!!!

KNIVES!!! also I've been really enjoying the cuts to Knives playing the piano between scenes. so beautiful, so tender. augh. brotherly reunion ;_;

i have so many thoughts about the scene between Vash and Knives but starting with “you're just trying to make up for the big fall” no honey i think it goes back further than that but also! Vash is the most guilt-ridden man of all guilt-ridden men. so yes. head full

“Nicholas, have you put down your cross?” oh they gave him a cross just for dialogue like this to hit like a truck. i get it. I'm dying fr. "and what if i have" while carrying. denial is a river in egypt

“the redemption will never end: no matter what you do, the humans will never forgive your sins before they die” okay lots to unpack there also. he's right! but also. lots to unpack

is this Knives plan with collecting the dying plants? to send them out in a blaze of glory to make Vash a plant with the ability to create? that's SO sick and twisted i love it. freak rights who is doing it like Knives Millions for his baby brother

incredibly satisfying episode, 10/10 would watch again.

[bonearenaofmyskull]

Hey! Curious if you're currently into any great shows. If so, mind sharing your recommendations? Always on the lookout for some good TV suggestions!

I imagine you've seen everything I have. I spend more time gaming. Not into anything great at the moment, but I can dig deep and see if I can remember what shows I've watched since Hannibal aired and give my opinions. I binge TV series with my mom who is in her 80's and has Parkinson's and macular degeneration and can't really do activities or read anymore, so I rewatched some old ones with her here largely to torture her with them, so they'll be in here also.

S-Tier (Winners)

My Brilliant Friend. Probably the best thing I've watched since Hannibal. If S4 is out I haven't seen it yet, no spoilers.

Better Call Saul. Possibly tied with My Beautiful Friend. Better than Breaking Bad. Much better ending. So good, no complaints. Nailed the ending. Did I mention the ending?

A-Tier (Runners-up)

Black Sails: God, there were some parts of this that were so gratuitous and tedious, especially early on, and I hated Eleanor Guthrie and not in the kind of way that means good things for a show. Some of the dialogue was just really on the nose too. This sounds like a lot of complaints, but the things it did well, it did SO WELL that it really does make up for the negatives. The acting was sooooo good and the Flint and Silver dynamic was AMAZING and the show looked great, and over all that, it really had something thoughtful to say, and that stays with you when it's over.

Stranger Things: Some parts of this show hit better than others, but I'm squarely in the bullseye of the target audience and get the vast majority of the references and nostalgia, and I love David Harbour. I appreciate their exploration of various types of horror, attempting a new style each season, and I like the charm and humor and cheese, and it's a show that knows its voice and its tone and commits fully to those things. It's trying to be a fun show and it is, and it wants to deal with real fears and real grief, and it does.

The Handmaid's Tale: Speaking of shows that are committed to their tone, this one definitely is that. It's too heavy and relentless for most people, I think, but I don't mind that at all. Parts of it do drag, but it has a lot of the same qualities (for good or bad) as Black Sails: great acting, powerful character dynamics, the things that it does well it does so well it makes up for the shortcomings, imo.

Breaking Bad: Famous show, not much to say here. Rewatched it recently and don't think it's as good as Better Call Saul, so I put it here.

B-Tier (Can't complain but will anyway)

Good Omens: Can't get into it, can't find anything particularly wrong with it. I'm into the ship. I guffaw out loud while watching it yet am thoroughly bored most of the time. Love Michael Sheen and David Tennant on screen together. I know the show can't be that all the time but I wish it was. Aziraphale ftw. I feel like people missed the point of the ending of the last season.

Mad Men: Show could give Seinfeld a run for its money in terms of being about nothing, but definitely had its charm. Watched it with my mom so her nostalgia and appreciation for how historically authentic it felt went a long way. Good performances. God, it could be boring sometimes though.

Vikings: This one was a lot like Black Sails for me. They had a bit of a struggle for a season or two but once going, they really got going. Many great acting performances and characters. Loved Ecbert and Ivar especially. Didn't have Toby Stephens and Luke Arnold, so you know...can't quite make that tier. And didn't have as much to say, or didn't say it as well, and it doesn't stay with you.

C-Tier (Can complain and will, but were good enough to stick with)

LOST

The X-Files

His Dark Materials

Downton Abbey

BBC Sherlock

Game of Thrones (I think most people have misdiagnosed this show's problems, but it sure did have them)

D-Tier (Tried but could NOT, though many people will like these...they were just Not For Me)

Bridgerton

Dark

The Good Place

The Gilded Age

Outlander

The Crown

Outer Range (what even the fuck with this show)

I tried to think of more shows I've watched in this time, but this about sums it up. But here are a couple YouTube channels I really like:

Beau of the Fifth Column

Bistro Huddy

[saintsenara]

Hi, if you're still doing the ask game, may I inquire about your opinion on the following ships ? : Tomarrinny, Bartymort, Quirrellmort, Petermort and Tom Sr/Cecilia/Merope. Also, thoughts on MoD!Voldemort or on how a meeting between Snape and Petunia would have gone ? Thanks !

thank you very much, @take-the-unknow-road-now for this wonderful selection of unhinged things for me to talk about. i am always ready for asks which inspire chaos:

tomarrinny

when she's eleven, harry's twelve, and tom is an immortal shard of soul? no.

when she's thirty, harry's thirty-one, and tom is back from the dead for some reason? absolutely. after all, why shouldn't ginny be allowed two orphans, as a treat? and why shouldn't tom be allowed two people who are clearly less good-looking than him to pay him attention? plus, two quidditch players will definitely be willing to do all the work, allowing him to achieve his true form: undying pillow princess.

but - in reality - we all know which way the power dynamic actually lies: tom and ginny are both harry's subs. let's hope that their ability to jointly write a poem has improved since the 'his eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad' days.

bartymort

canon.

there has never been a man with a more flagrant daddy kink than barty crouch jr., and we all know that he threw himself onto lord voldemort's lap the second he arrived in his first death eater meeting. the dark lord advised him that he'd be physically chastised if this behaviour continued. unfortunately for him, that was exactly what barty wanted to happen.

the reason it burned out hard is because lord voldemort also has towering daddy issues. he is even forced to reveal what his real name and background is in an effort to make barty understand that sometimes he'd like to do something other than put on a double-breasted suit and pretend he's come home on time to attend a birthday party. (for example: 'hello son, i've come to pick you up from the orphanage' role-play.)

barty literally couldn't give less of a fuck. lord voldemort is not sorry when he gets turned into a soulless husk.

quirrellmort

lord voldemort - overcome with joy at being back in a human body after a decade - doesn't think through how awkward the aftermath of this will be, and spends the first night he's attached to quirrell's head directing him in a... let's just say... exploration of his anatomy.

quirrell is so pathetically suggestible that - from that point onwards - he can't get off unless the dark lord is talking dirty to him. but can you imagine how cringe trying to speak sexily to quirrell must be? (hey baby, what are you wearing? a turban which smells of garlic?)

voldemort simply pretends not to have heard when quirrell brings this up. unfortunately, all this does is make quirrell want to talk about his feelings.

lord voldemort is not sorry when harry kills him.

petermort

flopping. lord voldemort hates wormtail, because he betrayed a man to whom he would give his affections: james potter.

[seriously, he is a simp for james. there is no other explanation for why he insists that james fought him bravely when he turned up on halloween when we canonically know that what james actually did was run into the hall without his wand and then fall over.]

but don't worry. wormtail is getting some god-tier hate sex out of snape.

tom riddle sr./cecilia/merope gaunt

i'm going to answer this lightly, on the assumption that this triad is consensual.

tom sr. is getting thrown out of the bedroom within seconds. they're lesbians.

[he'll be fine. he goes for a little walk to sulk and ends up making out with frank bryce against a rose trellis. the four of them become bffs.]

and then our not-ship questions:

lord voldemort as the master of death

sounds like a lot of hard work, plus both of his parents keep appearing whenever he touches the resurrection stone to shout at him.

snape versus petunia

snape went round to speak to her about what a dick he thinks harry is (dumbledore told him to speak to her about the blood protection, he didn't want to.)

they fucked.

[alicole-sideblog]

Ranking Pre-Raphaelite Lady and Knight Paintings according to Alicole-ness

Top Tier

These paintings include plot-points and details specifically tailored to Alicent and Criston. All it would take to make it Alicole fanart is slightly reworking the facial features to better resemble the actors.

The Dedication (1908) by Edmund Blair Leighton They're in the chapel praying together. She's wearing a green dress. What more could you ask for?

St George and Princess Sabra (1862) by Dante Gabriel Rossetti This is literally exactly Alicent: green dress; chestnut curls; crown; looking just so exhausted, so done. Very sweet how she's leaning on him in her weariness, and how he looks like he's about to try to handle things for her.

Paolo and Francesca (1894) by Frank Dicksee Another green dress. The position — kissing the final phalanges of her hand — looks like he's saying, "oh your poor cuticles."

Lancelot and Guinevere (c. 1895) by Herbert James Draper He just won a tourney and he's crowning her.

High Tier

These are less specific to our couple — they're a lady and a knight, but they're not outright our two. The details are a bit off, but it has excellent vibes; it feels like them.

The Meeting on the Turret Stairs (1864) by Frederic William Burton The elbow kissing is chaste and ravenous, and it makes me insane.

The Accolade (1901) by Edmund Blair Leighton A straightforward, formal depiction of their power dynamic: a knight kneeling at his lady's feet, and her the clement queen bestowing status upon him.

La Belle Dame sans Merci (c. 1901) by Frank Dicksee A more kinky depiction of their dynamic. This feels like The Knight of the Cart, Guinevere jerking Lancelot around. (One time she asks him to loose a tourney just as a test, just because she enjoys watching him submit to her.)

Mid Tier

Nothing wrong with them, but they don't stand out. They contain neither specific details, nor vibes that particularly speak to me.

God Speed (1900) by Edmund Blair Leighton A lady giving a knight her favor is always good, but it doesn't stand out to me.

My Fair Lady (1914) by Edmund Blair Leighton The "loyal waiting attendant" thing is good, but it doesn't stand out to me.

Nah Tier

These are too overtly sexual. It's not the right vibe.

These two are both iterations on "knight rescues lady who was sexually victimized by someone else." That notion is not wrong for our couple per se, but this feels off. The painter viewed it with horny eyes, and that's all I'm getting. It doesn't communicate how our characters would approach that same situation.

Chivalry (1885) by Frank Dicksee

The Knight Errant (1870) by John Everett Millais

These three are iterations on "lady tries to seduce knight in a forward, overt way." That's not our pair.

Lamia (1905) by John William Waterhouse This is the closest one from this tier. The "I'm begging you" pose has vibes I could almost see with Alicent assigning Criston a task. She's half actually desperate, half just trying to make him feel like she is so that he'll be all protective and loyal. But the horny shoulder is Not Them™.

La Belle Dame sans Merci (1893) by John William Waterhouse

Knight and Maiden (c. 1860s) by George Frederic Watts

[rweiser]

Hi...if you don't mind me asking, who are your favorite romantic relationship's couples in books/ manga/ anime/movies/tv series (can be canon or non-canon)? Why do you love them? Sorry if you've answered this question before......Thanks....

Y'all I never get asks i'm so excited omg

I could talk forever about my fave ships but I'm gonna try and keep this short by just doing my current fave ships.

Satoru Gojo/Suguru Geto (Jujutsu Kaisen)

I will always be a fan of enemies to lovers, but lovers to enemies who still at the end of the day love each other is just next tier. Satoru and Suguru are a fantastic duo and compliment each other super well, while also managing to share only one brain cell between them. They both have similar goals, but very different views on how to achieve them, and it's in this difference that their tragic conflict arises. Even still, they both deeply care about each other and trust one another until the very end, and I think that's one of the most beautiful aspects of their relationship.

He Tian/Mo Guan Shan (19 Days)

A beautiful enemies to lovers (sort of?) that started off super rocky, but has turned into something so cute and heartwarming. I love how He Tian and Mo Guan Shan don't try to change the other, but do strive to be better for the other, if that makes sense? They accept each other where they are at (the whole idea of not being afraid of darkness), but still try to make themselves better, and work together to do so! He Tian helps Mo Guan Shan out with his school work but also in shouldering the burdens of his personal life, while Mo Guan Shan helps He Tian to open up to others and rely on them for help/comfort too. They started off pretty toxic, but they've grown to be such a good pair.

Vash/Wolfwood (Trigun)

After the whole "I can see it in his eyes" and Wolfwood's ensuing GayPanicTM, how could I not ship these two? But beyond that, these two are another dynamic duo that compliment each other super well, and while they do have similar goals of wanting to save and protect people, they have very different philosophies on how to accomplish that, which is where a lot of their conflict stems from. But in their case, I think their differences balance each other out, because regardless of what they believe personally, neither of them is necessarily right or wrong, and both of their philosophies need to coexist in order for them to survive. I also find their dynamic fascinating in that they both struggle with their humanity in different ways: Vash, striving to be human despite being something other; and Wolfwood, feeling as though he's had his humanity stripped away and forced to become a monster. Because of this, they tend to understand each other in ways that no one else would be able to, and I think they also help each other to see the good and the human in themselves in spite of their respective feelings of alienation.

Osamu Dazai/Chuuya Nakahara (Bungou Stray Dogs)

I literally only started watching this show for them. I kept seeing people posting about THAT scene from Dead Apple and wanted to check it out, and nothing could've prepared me for just how gay their relationship is. Even though they claim to hate each other, these two characters really seem to be all talk. They work so well as a duo (obsessed with how well their abilities compliment each other), and I think they also have a deeper understanding of each other than what any of the other characters would really be capable of--and similar to what I had mentioned with vashwood, this stems at least in part from their questionable relationship with humanity, and how they both need the other to maintain their grip on humanity. Despite being wholly human, Dazai appears to be alienated from his own humanity, whereas Chuuya, who actually houses some sort of god, appears to be the most human of any character in the series. Of course, Dazai needs Chuuya to help him see any value in life, while Chuuya needs Dazai to bring him back to human whenever he fully uses that god-power. Beyond that, I love how much these two still trust each other despite being part of opposing groups, and I'm convinced that these two are BFFs no matter what they or anyone else say.

Kazuki Kurusu/Rei Suwa (Buddy Daddies)

Last but not least, the daddiest buddies you'll ever meet. Again, these two balance each other out super well both personally and professionally, moreso as the series continues. I enjoy that they also seem to accept each other where they are at and have a mutual understanding and trust despite not knowing the full story behind each other's actions and behaviours ("I won't ask"/"I wouldn't tell). But even still, they work together to improve themselves for Miri's sake mostly, but perhaps for each other as well, and I love how they go from feeling trapped in their pasts, incapable of changing, to finally deciding that they're going to change no matter what, and they're going to make a better future for themselves and Mirir regardless of what it takes.

[1moreoffkeyanthem]

I wanna talk abt Cryle

Specifically, the trope of Obsessive Craig, bc I think it’s interesting as hell.

First things first: I’m a DIEHARD style shipper, like TO THE FUCKING END. And I LOVE CREEK. Canon Craig is such a sweet try hard of a guy and such a complex, endlessly elaborated upon character too, I fucking love him BUT

So much of the Cryle out there centers around Obsessive Craig, and I think that’s fascinating.

I have been rereading some fics, and the dynamic is INSANE. Quite literally. Specifically, especially since I’m such a Style gremlin,

“So Happy Together” by Jwink85

And “Something Sweet Like Honey” by bluebryy

The dynamics in those stories are god tier.

Possessive Craig is incredibly interesting, given his general characterization, and I love a Kyle ship regardless, but the way these two SPECIFICALLY tend to be portrayed is so wild and well thought out. My ace ass always skims the smut, but just the idea of the toxic relationship between the two is so heartbreaking and crazy that I get the fuckin idea, man. ESPECIALLY since Craig is one of my favorites, and this aspect of fanon him is often so well written.

The jealousy, the history, truly one of the best rare pairs of all time. I love platonic Cryle too, I’ve definitely written it, but DEFENDER STAN coming in in the fics I mentioned is just so!!!

There are also some softer Cryle stories I’ve read, and I think the way this fandom regards every character in different ways is so interesting and incredible. I do love happy, wholesome fics, and that’s always what I gravitate towards, but creepy Craig is a characterization that’s so intriguing.

[thebluestbluewords]

Blue’s Descendants Fic Rec Roundup: personal faves

this list is not all-inclusive, just some of the highlights that live in my brain absolutely rent-free after three years and a Lot of obsessively reading through everything in the ao3 tag.

The Lady Is A Vamp by objectlesson

Jaylos, 13k. 

The genderqueer fic that absolutely wrecked me a few weeks ago when I ran across it for the first time. It’s got confused teenagers who don’t know how to sort out their feelings for each other, fashion descriptions that make me want to sell my soul to the writing gods, and a brilliant Jay POV that captures so much of what I like about teenage love stories. It’s a great fic that’s just long enough to get really invested in, and the eventual payoff of the get-together is great. 

(Note that the image links in this fic are broken, but the descriptions of the fashion are still great!) 

Redemancy by PorcelainAlice

Polyamory, Mal/Evie/Jay/Carlos/Ben and Jay/Doug, 11k, unfinished. (but I promise you it’s worth the read anyway) 

This fic has been living in my head rent-free since I first started reading, and even though it’s not a pairing I would usually go for, it’s one of the most interesting Auradon worldbuilding fics that I’ve read for this fandom. I love the deep dive into Doug as a character, and the ways that this fic delves into dwarf culture and how being part of that magical world makes Doug an outsider at Auradon Prep is absolutely brilliant. There’s a few really lovely scenes with giving food as a way of giving affection, but the fic also goes into food as a means of expressing culture, and it’s so well done that I would love this fic even if it were only those scenes. (But seriously, the whole fic is lovely and the worldbuilding is top tier, please read this and scream about it with me) 

Long Live, Havin’ Some Fun by WorkingChemistry

Mal & Evie & Jay & Carlos, 8k, unfinished. 

I’m always a slut for omegaverse, and this fic is one of my absolute favorites. It has all of the casual violence and terrified affection that I love from this fandom, and it hits basically all of my personal omageverse trope buttons with the scent marking, pack dynamics, and non-sexual relationships. The relationship between the core 4 is left somewhat ambiguous, but I think it reads super well as queerplatonic. Reading this fic inspired me to write uhhh like 200k of my own omegaverse fic, which in turn is why I started this blog, so this is TRULY the most influential of my personal Descendants fic rec roundup.

Dog-Eared Page by objectlesson

Jaylos, minor Benlos, 23k 

Mostly-canon, this fic hits a lot of the awkward teenage crush feelings that I adore in descendants fics. I came for the Ben/Carlos, but stayed because it’s such a well-written look at the Auradon Prep dating landscape. Also, hot. Fair warning that this one is quite NSFW, so if that’s not your jam maybe give this one a pass. 

you’ve left your ghost until tomorrow by paperclipbitch

Malvie, 5k. 

Halloween fic! There’s knives and petty rivalry that’s maybe not so petty after all, because sometimes your teenage rivalry with the princess whose mother got your mother exiled forever IS the most important thing in your lives, and there’s some really lovely details about Mal’s art that make the world feel so much more whole, and Evie is a badass as she always should be, and it’s a joy and a delight to reread this fic every year. 

while the getting is good by Walutahanga

Gen, 34k, unfinished. 

The VKs take a different route to escape their parents. The barrier breaks anyway. Mal has more magic than she can handle, Jay has magic too, and there’s a lot of really nice moments where we get a glimpse into the inner workings of the Auradon adults and how they manage the politics of the situation while trying to help. It’s a really great worldbuilding fic that delves into the logistics of running a mashed-up fairy tale kingdom that’s actually more like twelve smaller kingdoms in a trenchcoat, and there’s also some AMAZING good-guy coach moments that made me adore him even more. I’m a sucker for fics that show the adults trying to help, and this is one of the best. 

you find yourself down the hall again (the lights gone dim) by soldiersummonersaint

Jay & Coach, 3k 

I’ve already talked about how much I adore fic where the Auradon adults are really genuinely doing their best, and this is one of the PEAK good-guy Coach fics for me. It’s got some really evocative moments that make my heart ache for Jay, and it’s just a lovely fic overall. 

How To Love You Today by sparrowmoth

Jaylos, 2k. (I believe this one is archive-locked, so you’ll need an ao3 account to read)

Adorable werewolf!Carlos fic. The first fic set in this verse is one of my all-time faves, and this sequel is equally delightful. 

Short Skirt (Long Jacket) by Butyoucancallmemeg

multi, 13k. 

This fic is one of the best Evie characterizations I’ve ever read, full stop. Grifter!Evie is canon in my heart now, and the relationship with her mother is exquisite. I also love the emphasis on Jay and Evie as friends in this fic. They both know how to perform, how to flirt and make a good show of things and charm their audience, and it’s such a great read. The whole series is fabulous.

Like Riding A Bike by Glitter_Lisp

Harry/Uma, 2k 

Kidfic! I’m not always one for kids in fic, but this series consistently blows me away with how good the parent-child relationship between Harry and CJ is. The perfect level of precocious child and well-meaning protective parent. The series is focused more on the parent-child relationship than the Harry/Uma relationship, but it works so well. I love a hot pirate (or tattoo artist) parent who is so incredibly dedicated to keeping his kid as happy and healthy as possible even when other things are falling apart. Also, I would die for cool uncle Gil. 

[qulizalfos]

bestie I know what tsad and acswy are but what are the other fics in ur bio 👀

hiiiii elli <333 hehe im so glad i can share these because theyre all SO FUCKING GOOD when i say brainrot i mean my brain is decaying over these /pos i am ghrfjhgjfhjnfsnhjfvbdbhfvbdhv

(and i am laughing very much rn because one of them is yours lol!)

oki so excluding the amazing tsad by @willelmikes and acswy by @campbyler both of which i could rant about for ages <3333 we have:

yaptm: your apparition passes through me by arian @callmetheidiot(hope you dont mind me tagging you<3) i am on chapter 3 also WHAHHTGRJRSFGHJNSDFGVHNJSDFGV okay okay im so normal sooo normal i am a Normal person 👍 jk AAAAAAAAAA im so invested in the plot, and the writing itself is so so masterful and the mystery elements of it are SO compelling arian i am obsessed with you and ur writing hope this helps!!!!!!! <333333

iwaftwth: is it was a flood that wrecked this Home by you <33 which btw i am literally thinking about always btw!!!!!!!! you have such an understanding of the characters its insane ITS THEM and such a good take on post vecna also FJNHESJVNHJNFSDNJFSNJVFSJNHVFS its just so heartwreching and beautifulllll and youre a really good writer!!!!!!! also i am yelling so loud over the i thought we were a team i thought i was ur best friend line :) in your walls even MWAH

ikte: is the i know the end series by @bookinit02(again i hope u dont mind if i tag you here!) which i believe you are reading or have read(?) but god when i say i am invested i am SOOO ghnfnhjsvfnjhfvnhjfg i loved the rewrite it was so so cool and also very fun to see inside their heads :DD and the s5 fic is perfect in every way and i love how in character everyone is, youve captured the dynamics so well! basically uh HJFRJHNFERJNHFE DEAD DEAD DEAD KILLED GAHHH <3 ty!

all of these are so top tier :) of course there are so many that i have been meaning to add (looks at girl crush by @wayward-sherlock LOOKS AT GIRL CRUSH BY @wayward-sherlock The mutual pining/jealousy/angst/fluff all at the same time fic by the way hehehehe)

those are the ones i have so far!!! highly recommend :D thank you so much for the ask!!! this got rlly long lmao

[transgendervelma]

There is this weird assumption among some Bleach fans that the Soul Society operates on human esque values of judgement after Ichigo intervened in Rukia’s execution and Aizen betrayed them basically making them show their ass that they’re totally inept fools. They do not, this is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Soul Society and its established purpose is. The Soul Society changed their relationship to the human world, many important Shinigami developed either a relationship with or some degree of rapport and empathy with a human being. What Ichigo changed was their rigidity and adherence to arbitrary and immoral laws, the Soul Society is now a dynamic and changing organization. But they do not and have never existed to police right and wrong. But of course Shinigami are human at heart, so there’s always some degree of conflict between the values of the individual and the purpose of the institution, which was a huge cornerstone of the Soul Society Arc.

Their relationship with non humans (and that includes Quincy) while changed was tense at best for awhile though Ichigo and Orihime’s intervention has helped that (I could write a whole post about how Ichigo + Orihime are accidentally responsible for the stabilization of Hueco Mundo and the arrancar as a society under Tier Hallibel Grimmjow and Nel’s leadership but that’s a separate post). That’s because the Soul Society exists to maintain the balance of the universe, most Shinigami have blue and Orange morality and have lived for hundreds of years in a world where death is everywhere yet totally impermanent due to being aware of and directly experiencing the cycle of reincarnation.

Take Mayuri for example. A LOT of fans have problems with Mayuri even being allowed to be apart of the Soul Society…why? Because he’s evil despite being ostensibly on the “good” side? (although there is a degree of moral ambiguity, many Hollows are sentient after all, they can protest to being purified and killed, of course most fans don’t care about the hollows at all because they see them as ugly monsters you can’t make cute fanart of so they get ignored). When we first learn of Mayuri’s backstory we see that he thrown in the single worst prison, the Maggots Nest..and that he’s the only one with a cell. The Maggots Nest prisoners are allowed to roam free because they are not a threat to Captains…but Mayuri is locked up.

Mayuri is not some guy who just randomly became a criminal and did evil war crimes and now he has to be judged for it. He was hand picked knowing he was a criminal of the highest order because Urahara had ambitions and Mayuri had the talent to fulfill it, and now he’s beneficial to the balance of the universe so they keep him. Mayuri deciding to just wipe out thousands of souls so the universe doesn’t collapse is a show of that, he’s the ideal Shinigami, a literal God of Death who doles out destruction to preserve the universe without regard for moral quandaries or hand wringing.

The Soul Society was FOUNDED by criminals trying to make order out of chaos, in the Bleach universe everyone is a baby but there is no sitter, God is dead and morality is so grey and muddled that the good side cannot and do not attempt to even demonize their opponents in the way you would expect. We hear this first hand in the TYBW, “war happens because both sides are just,” meaning the Shinigami cannot go and just act so high and mighty because they’re defending the order of the universe, and the Quincies threatening to destroy it doesn’t make them automatically worse than the Shinigami. We hear from Yhwach himself and Quilge that the Quincy who believed in moral justifications and honor and Justice like Uryu’s grandfather were outmoded and did not survive, the only ones left were those cruel enough to behave like Shinigami or even worse.

There basically isn’t a right answer, it’s inherently muddled and the stakes are on such a high, cosmic scope that it allows the story to preserve a lot of moral ambiguity without actually offering value judgements except from the perspective of individual characters. Now without CFYOW this narrative is incomplete in the manga, BUT we see CFYOW referenced in the new canon anime adaption of Bleach so…here’s hoping that gets fixed. My hopes for Bleach Kai are high.