#true peak romance imo

[skania]

OnK Chapter 151

Me two weeks ago:

Me reading this chapter:

The fact that Aka did parallel Chapter 30 makes me feel like we're definitely going to see some Tokyo Blade & Private parallels as the anime covers those arcs. For the better or for the worse.

But we'll get there in due time. For now, time to laugh at the writing again 😂

I have to hand it to Aka. I mentioned that last chapter highlighted like half the reasons why I find romantic Aqua/Kana so poorly written, and this chapter right here did a fine job at highlighting the rest 😂

I want to be an actress! Well... Aqua wants me to be an idol and it may not be so bad actually, I want to be Aqua's Oshi no Ko! Aqua is ignoring me! Being an idol sucks, I quit! I'm going to be a great actress! I may have a chance with Aqua actually. I just want to be his Oshi no Ko!

It's wild to me that Aka had Kana say that her current dream is just to be Aqua's Oshi no Ko. Absolutely wild. This girl was so desperate to become a well-known actress that she was willing to be casting-couched for it, yet suddenly now it's actually it's fine that I peaked when I was five tee hee!

She's obviously lying to herself and settling for the level she is in now because she thinks that reaching that level of notoriety is out of her reach, but...

Not gonna lie, as someone who has seen Akane be called everything from obsessed to emotionally dependant to simp, it is hilarious to witness Kana's writing right now.

But I guess it couldn't have been any other way, because what Kana asks out of Aqua this chapter is a reflection of what she has wanted all along:

I mentioned it before that Kana started fixating on Aqua as being that person for her, and this chapter shows that's still the case. There's nothing inherently wrong with that IMO, in fact it could be empowering to know that as long as this one person is in your corner, you can take on the world.

The problem is that so far, Aka hasn't quite written it that way. The secret behind Kana's acting is that she wants people to look at her, she wants people to acknowledge her, to love her. But when that desire is centered on Aqua and Aqua alone, she gets so hung-up on him that it's debilitating. She literally became a shell of herself during that year Aqua was no longer a part of her life.

Last time I felt Kana was acting pathetic, Aka confirmed that she was indeed meant to be perceived that way, and Kana gave herself a reality-check:

I thought Kana's moment of self-awareness was going to lead her to be emotionally independent from Aqua, but it seems that the fact that Aqua wound up saving her either way undid that progress. Now that she has hope that he may date her if she makes a move, she's taking it so far that she's ranking her romance with him over her lifelong dreams.

All this to say that since Aka once deliberately wrote Kana being overly dependant on Aqua to show that it's not how she is meant to be, I can't help but hope we may see something similar later.

Granted, Kana being written like a shounen love-interest whose entire purpose is just to get with the MC has always been a risk, so I guess this is par for that course lol

As for Aqua, I mentioned before that I believe Kana is everything he liked about both, Ai and Sarina and thus, the perfect Oshi... and this chapter has Kana declaring out-loud that she wants to be his one true Oshi No Ko.

Moreover, this is happening right after Ruby told Aqua this:

And while Sarina is undoubtedly Goro's Oshi, Kana wants to be Aqua's. The issue with that however... is that Kana wants to be the only person Aqua looks at, his Number One.

Meanwhile, Aqua kind of has his hand full in that regard already, so it's no wonder that through his shock, he isn't able to "catch" the ball symbolizing that particular part of Kana's dream 😂

There's his eyes, too. Last chapter I said that Aka seems to want us to compare the Aqua-Ruby chapters we got in this volume with Kana's, and the way Kana's confession was structured seems to confirm this is the case. So following that comparison, it stands out to me that Ruby's words brought out Aqua's white star and Kana's didn't. Especially because just a few chapters ago we saw Kana bring out Aqua's white star just by being Kana:

In this chapter Kana praises him, validates him, confirms that she is into him (which he has likely known since, coincidentally, at least Chapter 30), yet Aqua’s star remains black all throughout.

Why is that? Is it just his self-hatred and his guilt-complex keeping him from accepting that he’s the object of Kana’s straight gaze?

Or could Aka be hinting at something else?

Aqua has a lot of issues. Some have been with him since he was Goro, and others he has developed during his current life. We saw that Ruby's words pacified the "Goro" within him, but Aqua dismissed Ruby's affection as being aimed at him because he once was Goro. It's not something he feels he has earned in his current life. Kana is the other side of that complex equation. Everything she knows about him are things he has been willing to show her, but what about everything else? What about his trauma and his dark impulses? What about his past? Aqua likely thinks her view of him is skewed, and he is not wrong in that regard. But I'll stop there before I bring Akane into the mess lmao

All in all, for the time being, I feel like what we saw this chapter tracks with my thoughts here:

Aqua, Kana, Ai and Aka's concept of Oshi

Kana is the Ultimate Oshi (parallels to Sarina and Ai) + 1

Even more parallels and a theory about their purpose

Considering how lousy Aka's writing has been lately, I feel like this is still the most interesting route he could take. After all, if we abide by the values he preached in Kaguya, then Oshi is meant to be a platonic concept. So following Aka's logic, for Aqua and Kana to end up together, Aqua would need to tell her that he doesn't want her to be his Oshi, but his lover.

Of course, it's entirely possible that Aka is going to walk back on all of that. Oshi no Ko is supposed to be its own manga, after all. Maybe it's his attempt at writing tropes in the most straight-forward way possible and Aka's new idea of a big love declaration is Aqua finally waving the white lightstick at Kana's graduation concert.

If the curtains truly are just blue, I hope the writing will remain as hilarious as it has been these past few chapters 😂

In the meantime, the other thing that stood out to me this chapter was Aqua himself. We all know that being a surgeon was Goro's dream, so it makes sense for Goro to chase that dream in this new life as Aqua. I was even happy for him when he first brought it up because this life is his chance to do everything he wanted but couldn't in his first life!

But last chapter we had a big showing of "Goro" telling "Aqua" that he is free to live his own life now. In other words, instead of trying to do what Goro would have done if he had a second chance, he can focus on doing the things that he wants to do as the individual he has become during his life as Aqua Hoshino.

So, I feel like this begs the question: is being a surgeon truly Aqua Hoshino's dream? Like not even something he wants to do alongside other things, but his outright dream?

I can't help but wonder. Particularly because, in my opinion, the TB arc did a good job at foreshadowing that Aqua Hoshino is made to be an actor.

In this chapter Kana seems to be fooling herself into giving up on her childhood dream because she thinks it's out of her reach. It would fit, then, for the Aqua in this chapter to be fooling himself as well.

If we entertain the thought of wanting to be a surgeon being a vestige of his old life rather than something Aqua truly dreams of in his current life, then his reaction in these pages becomes more interesting:

Kana assumes Aqua is just embarrassed, but these panels to me read like something more than that - for more reasons than one.

Just like Goro guided him to Kana last chapter possibly based on his own wants, in this chapter Kana unknowingly guides him to Goro's.

She is completely right. Every word she says rings true.

But I'd argue that everything she said was already accomplished by Goro in his previous life. He did save lives (although not as many as he would've wanted, and not the ones that counted the most for him), he was a light to Sarina, etc. etc. He was a good doctor.

Everything Kana says about Aqua was already true of Goro. On the other hand, Kana's description of Aqua paints nothing but virtues, and we know for a fact Aqua isn't only just light. More than that, we know for a fact that Aqua doesn't see himself that way.

Much like how in Chapter 149 we got Kana giving a very positive but very one-sided description of Akane that leaves out her negative traits, Kana more or less does the same thing with Aqua here.

In Chapter 149, Akane first got flustered (her idol Kana-chan was praising her, after all) and then sobered up; possibly because for her it's the opposite (she isn't a goody-two-shoes nor normal nor decent, and men would prefer women who are - like Kana).

I feel like in this Chapter, we may or may not have seen a repeat of this with Aqua. It's his Oshi no Kana praising him, but does he really believe the things she's saying of him? Or are they just a reminder of what he is not (according to himself)?

I can't help but wonder, because last time we saw Aqua blushing to the point that he had to hide his face, Mengo and Aka made sure we could see his blush.

The way he is drawn here is very obviously meant to be paralleled to this chapter, he shields his face in the same way and all. So why not simply show his blush, just like they did in Chapter 29?

Granted, this is just me naturally going for the most interesting possibility lol It is entirely possible and even likely that this is all as simple as it seems. But to be fair, in Chapter 30 he throws the ball at Kana in the same way and it wasn't because Kana was right. At the contrary: it was because he was having a moment and Kana drew the most basic conclusion out of it, one that embarrassed him lmao

Geez it's kind of sad how this manga lends itself to two completely different readings and the most basic one is the one with the highest chances of being true 😂

[luckydicekirby]

finished haruspex route and here are my notes

hbomb video does become so funny in retrospect. bro you don't have to kill the kid the game also rewards you for not killing the kid...

on the other hand you also have to kill like five dogheads for the signal fire quest. it's child murder all the way down

the extreme dadification of artemy in patho2 was a big improvement imo. me talking to murky like i can't even invite her to come live in my house what is this...

artemy/aglaya sooooo real and true. honestly even realer and truer than in patho2 and i was already crazy about them!

like you know. the romance of loving someone because they believe they can be free even when being manipulated and controlled. and you're ultimately trapped, both in a death sentence and a sandbox and a video game, and you meet someone who shows you how that can be bearable as long as you make your choices out of love.

the fact that aglaya Doesn't Have To Die in this one is ALSO so crazy. that's my wife and she isn't even dead!

the explicit framing of her as one of the potential sacrifices. Pretty Sexy! big fan!

also all the dialogue with aglaya about the powers that be.............girl. you belonged to their mom??? plague real maybe??

stay tuned for my fanned fiction where aglaya talks to nina-as-maria

toy convo with bachelor Obviously Peak. i hope my side wins !

i thought that the powers that be saying the bachelor is always the bad guy when they're playing was like, a dig at him specifically, so it was very funny that they said the exact same thing about haruspex. you're always covered in blood!

whole situation with oyun kind of anticlimactic. after i had to punch him 25 times. makes one really appreciate the agonies (patho2 abattoir)

going to need to chew more on the ending here vs the patho2 endings...feels like they're getting at the same thing but differently. the choice to understand the udurgh as the polyhedron/simon felt very notable bc all the souls in the polyhedron stuff is just like, not in patho2 at all. or i completely missed it lmfao but it's impossible to miss it here even in haruspex route! here I thought that was going to be a bachelor special.

(crying) can't believe i'm going to have to play patho2 again after this.

[seriousbrat]

the implication that james never changed and/or tricked lily into marrying him pisses me off, not for james but for lily.

we have so much evidence that this girl was stubborn and headstrong and not afraid to call james out on his shit. what you’re saying about her when you say she married james despite him not maturing is you implying that she’s a silly woman who prioritizes romance and attraction over morals and would gladly go against something she is firm in her stance about for a man.

or that he tricked lily into marrying him- what does that even mean? lily isn’t stupid, how exactly would he trick her? at this point you’re putting more work into creating these nonsensical theories just to validate your dislike for a character when you can just dislike him because you can. you don’t kneed to grasp for straws trying to justify why you hate james, you’re allowed to just not like him.

but these weird theories are just silly and make no sense. and they really do lily’s character a disservice.

for real!!! I agree. We dont know much about Lily but what we do know is she wasn't shy about telling James exactly what she thought of him. For her to do a total 180 on that makes no sense and is completely out of character for her, which is impressive given there's relatively little character to be out of when it comes to Lily.

to be blunt the idea that James manipulated Lily into a relationship, based on what we know, is objectively so... so. unlikely in terms of just the base text and authorial intent. and in my opinion, a pretty overdramatic reading; purposefully backflipping into the worst most dire explanation based on very flimsy non-evidence. people are free to have their headcanons obv but that's what they are in the end.

also, like you said, it does feel unnecessary because there's already so much to hate about james (or love, if ur galaxy brained and enjoy a good character flaw) in canon so what is the point. the exact same goes for snape. idgi personally.

the "he tricked her" thing is utterly absurd on many levels imo, peak jamespiracy thinking, but also funny because personally my hc is that's what Sev believed at first, or wanted to believe anyway. He was the original jamespiracy theorist but I think he was smart enough to eventually realise that this was massive cope and untrue in the end. It's just so much more likely that jily were simply 2 young people who liked each other.

I understand relating to Snape and that it's hard to be objective about something you personally feel very emotionally invested in; but I think it's helpful to try, especially when dealing with others who may have differing viewpoints. It does seem like ppl are automatically determined to believe the very worst of James no matter what, and refusing to hold my poor flawed fucked up Sev to anything even remotely close to the same standards; it's perhaps worth being aware of that. the same is def true of many james stans/snaters i'm sure but anyway, the jamespiracy lives on!

edit to add: its not that I dont believe that strong/smart people can be manipulated. it's that it's (imo) out of character for lily to suddenly decide that she's okay with james's behaviour, implying there was a change of some sort. and I think it's more likely for him to have just matured but still been imperfect than it is for there to be some horrible dynamic of manipulation and abuse going on the entire time, which we would have seen evidence for.

[moonchopsticks-old]

mostly i think 'eh im just not really interested in romance and sex in fiction, i just tend to find platonic relationships more interesting and fulfilling' but sometimes you just have to read peaks and valleys in one go and feel emotions

[tossawary]

A concept I have jotted down for a potential different pre-canon Moshang fic is one in which Airplane transmigrates into a “Freeform” version of Proud Immortal Demon Way, in which he has no System limits on meddling. 

This was inspired by several paragraphs in Chapter 2 of “pride is not the word I’m looking for”, in which Shang Qinghua thinks over how the System refused to let him meddle in Tianlang-Jun and Su Xiyan’s romance, due to the potential risk of causing a canon divergence that might prevent the existence of the protagonist. 

So, the background for this fic is that Airplane tried to follow the route of the canonical Shang Qinghua, but ultimately gave up on becoming the Peak Lord of An Ding because it was “too much work”. Only, he ended up stumbling into Tianlang-Jun and Su Xiyan’s romance instead, and somehow ended up saving their asses from their canonical fates and helping them thwart all their enemies. Airplane ended up leaving Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and working for Demon Emperor Tianlang-Jun (and new Demon Empress Su Xiyan) instead, an honored servant and honorary family member. 

Against his original intentions of running away to live a simple life, Airplane is now essentially the third-highest ranking person in the Demon Realm. (Tianlang-Jun is first, Su Xiyan is second, Binghe is still a baby, and Zhuzhi-Lang would be third except the family all agrees that Airplane is “better” at paperwork and logistics.) Cang Qiong Mountain Sect is still confused by and slightly bitter about this development. Airplane isn’t totally sure how this happened either, but it’s not so bad to essentially be part of the imperial family and be able to boss lots of powerful demons around. 

The problem is that the imperial family is now dealing with some sort of political issue that involves the northern kingdoms of the Demon Realm, and the son of the current Northern King has come to court. And Airplane hasn’t seen Mobei-Jun since he was an outer disciple of An Ding Peak and a) didn’t kill Mobei-Jun when he had the opportunity, b) dragged an unconscious Mobei-Jun to a safe location, and c) left without telling Mobei-Jun his name or what he wanted in exchange for sparing Mobei-Jun’s life. 

Mobei-Jun is very surprised to find out that one of the Demon Emperor’s pet humans, his “most trusted advisor” and “the minister of all imperial affairs”, is the mysterious human boy who saved his life several years ago. 

Because, tbh, I would love to see a Moshang fic in which a) Shang Qinghua is someone else’s servant, b) Shang Qinghua’s other master could kick Mobei-Jun’s ass, and c) Shang Qinghua outranks Mobei-Jun. Any of those concepts is good, imo, but I want to combine all of them. Concept: spoiled demon prince MBJ falls head over heels for the Demon Emperor’s right-hand man SQH, who is completely untouchable and utterly oblivious. 

Tianlang-Jun: *slaps MBJ on the shoulder* “I’ll be honest with you, I could help and put you out of your misery! I could offer a pitiful young man like you some advice here, it’s true, or have you married to my advisor with a snap of my fingers! But... look, this is just really fucking funny. Nephew! What’s that phrase my dear advisor likes to say sometimes?” 

Zhuzhi-Lang: “Would that be ‘sucks to be you, bro’, Junshang?” 

Tianlang-Jun: “That’s the one!” *slaps MBJ on the shoulder again* “Sucks to be you, bro! Also, we’ll be watching, so don’t fuck up. I like him.” 

[soup-du-silence]

i generally find the concept of soulmates pretty awful; the idea that there is One Person For You is dangerous and detrimental to real life relationships, imo, humans grow and change and a relationship that worked in your 20s may not work in your 30s and that doesnt mean that that first relationship wasnt meaningful or was a waste, or that the next one is the True One. the idea that theres a Perfect Match implies that any relationship that requires work or effort isnt Pure is pretty fucked....idk i just think its a gross concept. i dont find it enjoyable in fiction.

but on god whatever ryan and min gi have happening is the peak of romance to me. damn.

[obligatorilypretentious]

queer classic book recs!!

Image description under the cut! Please tell me if I did something wrong and I will gladly change it!

The other recs will be in the reblog!

[Each slide excluding the title screen includes 3 photos relating to the book, largely alternative covers of each in a small grid format.]

Slide One: In the center is a box with interior text reading "13 lgbtq classics and 1 “modern” classic. Recs in the comments welcome!" The top left corner includes an image of a calligraphy quill. Underneath this is text that reads "Disclaimer! The beginning of this list is.. Very White, but don't worry it gets more diverse as the books get more recent!!" In the top right corner is a text box reading "Look up trigger warnings or I’ll steal your gender! … or give it back!!" under this is a picture of an open book displayed in the foreground and another stack of books in the background.

Slide Two: Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu.

1872

Lesbian/wlw but written by a man

vampires!

“Following a near-fatal carriage collision, the beautiful young Carmilla is taken in by the narrator Laura and her father.”

While this book plays into the stereotype of the “monteress, seductive lesbian,” it is one of the oldest and most famous classical texts depicting a lesbian relationship. Toxic AF.

Slide Three: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

1890

not explicitly queer (subtext)

but gay (mlm) tho

“Enthralled by his own exquisite portrait, Dorian Gray exchanges his soul for eternal youth and beauty. Influenced by his friend Lord Henry Wotton, he is drawn into a corrupt double life, indulging his desires in secret while remaining a gentleman in the eyes of polite society. Only his portrait bears the traces of his decadence.”

This book contains Anti-semitism, Racism, Sexism and is honestly a product of its time. Oscar Wilde is certainly a character.

Slide Four: Orlando by Virginia Woolf

1928

sapphic/gender exploration

“The novel opens as Orlando, a young nobleman in Elizabeth's England, awaits a visit from the Queen and traces his experience with first love as England under James I lies locked in the embrace of the Great Frost.”

Main Character is racist and anti-Semitic. While her writing is incredibly important and impactful as a queer figure, she will always be white before she is queer.

Slide Five: The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall

1928

lesbian/wlw

originally banned

“Stephen is an ideal child of aristocratic parents—a fencer, a horse rider, and a keen scholar. Stephen grows to be a war hero, a bestselling writer, and a loyal, protective lover. But Stephen is a woman, and her lovers are women. As her ambitions drive her, and society confines her, Stephen is forced into desperate actions.”

This book contains racism, use of the N-word, sexism, homophobia & lots of outdated ideas in general.

Slide Six: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

1956

gay/mlm

“In a 1950s Paris swarming with expatriates and characterized by dangerous liaisons and hidden violence, an American finds himself unable to repress his impulses, despite his determination to live the conventional life he envisions for himself. After meeting and proposing to a young woman, he falls into a lengthy affair with an Italian bartender and is confounded and tortured by his sexual identity as he oscillates between the two.”

OMG! A classic on this list in which I can't find any evidence of racism or antisemitism! /srs. Imagine that- it's almost like POC classical authors are important to teach about! /hj

Slide Seven: Maurice by E.M. Forster

1971

gay/mlm

fluffy, but homophobia exists in the story as well.

“Maurice is heartbroken over unrequited love, which opened his heart and mind to his own sexual identity. In order to be true to himself, he goes against the grain of society’s often unspoken rules of class, wealth, and politics.”

This book contains the use of the g slur. Please tell me if I missed something!

Slide Eight: HERmione by H.D.

1981

queer/sapphic woman author

poetry

so mf sad bro I mean look at that blurb

“An interior self-portrait of the poet H.D. (1886-1961) is what can best be described as a 'find', a posthumous treasure. ‘I am Hermione Gart, a failure' -she cried in her dementia, 'I am Her, Her, Her.”

To my knowledge, this book isn't problematic- please tell me if it is though!!

Slide Nine: Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde

1982

lesbian/wlw

A staple of lesbian lit from before the peak of an activist’s career. Great read.

“From the author's vivid childhood memories in Harlem to her coming of age in the late 1950s, the nature of Audre Lorde's work is cyclical. It especially relates the linkage of women who have shaped her.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic

Slide Ten: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

1982

features queer women

has a movie adaptation!

“Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance, and silence. Through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then the sisters to each other despite the unknown, the novel draws readers into its rich and memorable portrayals of Celie, Nettie, Shug Avery, and Sofia and their experience.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic

Slide Eleven: Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

1985

lesbian/wlw

“This is the story of Jeanette, adopted and brought up by her mother as one of God's elect. Zealous and passionate, she seems destined for life as a missionary, but then she falls for one of her converts. At sixteen, Jeanette decides to leave the church, her home, and her family, for the young woman she loves. Innovative, punchy, and tender.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic- but warning, there are quite heavy themes!

Slide Twelve: Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel

1986

lesbian/wlw

a classic comedy comic + a really good insight & look into lesbian culture

“Grin, giggle, and guffaw your way through this celebrated cartoonist's graphic commentary of contemporary lesbian life.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic*

*contains d-slur used by lesbians in a non-offensive way

Slide Thirteen: Stone Butch Blues by Leslie Feinberg

1993

lesbian/gender identity around lesbianism

“Woman or man? This internationally acclaimed novel looks at the world through the eyes of Jess Goldberg, a masculine girl growing up in the "Ozzie and Harriet" McCarthy era and coming out as a young butch lesbian in the pre-Stonewall gay drag bars of a blue-collar town. Stone Butch Blues traces a propulsive journey, powerfully evoking history and politics while portraying an extraordinary protagonist full of longing, vulnerability, and working-class grit.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic

Slide Fourteen: Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters

1998

lesbian/wlw

historical romance

“Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to visit all her shows and finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser, and the two head for the bright lights of Leicester Square where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing and dancing double act. At the same time, behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic

Slide Fifteen: Under the Udala Trees By Chinelo Okparanta

2015

lesbian/wlw

modern classic imo, look into the coexistence of native Nigerian culture & queerness

“Ijeoma comes of age as her nation does; born before independence, she is eleven when civil war breaks out in the young republic of Nigeria. Sent away to safety, she meets another displaced child, and they, star-crossed, fall in love. They are from different ethnic communities. They are also both girls. When their love is discovered, Ijeoma learns that she will have to hide this part of herself. But there is a cost to living inside a lie.”

Once again to my knowledge, this book isn't problematic

[mermaidsirennikita]

What are your favorite Sarah MacLean books?

!

Nine Rules To Break When Romancing A Rake--imo a definitive ballroom book, so good, kinda light but also... kinda dark at points on an emotional level? Like Ralston is the ULTIMATE himbo but he's also at one point literally on his knees asking Callie to be with him while also saying that he's like. Incapable of true romantic love lol.

A Rogue By Any Other Name--All all time top romance novel. PENELOPE AND BOURNE!!!! One of my favorite tropes (childhood friends to enemies to lovers) combined with another great trope (forced marriage). Sarah MacLean is so good at writing like... legit bad men. But you also feel kinda horrible for them. Perfect angst.

One Good Earl Deserves A Lover--Maybe her hottest book? The dirty talk in this is INSANE. The Chair Scene. Such a good "innocent nerdy girl drives experienced man wild" book. It's sweet, it's sexy, it's very romantic.

The Day of The Duchess--Actually the first MacLean I read, which is bad because you should definitely read The Rogue Not Taken (also very good) first in order to get the full context of this one. I re-read it and fell in love. This is Peak angsty married couple energy, and it's so intense, and there's so much pain, and it's delicious.

Daring and The Duke--I actually was not that into the Bareknuckle Bastards series compared to her first three series; it's good, and you should read it, but Wicked and The Wallflower and Brazen and The Beast weren't my top favorite MacLeans. But you do get the backstory of Ewan, and you know that he's hunting Grace and obsessed with her, so there's a fantastic buildup to them colliding in this one. Another childhood friends to enemies to lovers book, but uhhhhh a little more intense than what went down in Rogue. Again, a lot of angst and tension and agony.

[rose-tinted-juls]

juliana's fav tv shows updated: 26.07.2021.

la casa de papel / money heist (2017-) nationality: spanish created by: álex pina main actors: úrsula corberó, álvaro morte, itziar ituño, pedro alonso, miguel herrán, jaime lorente, esther acebo, alba flores short summary (imdb): "an unusual group of robbers attempt to carry out the most perfect robbery in spanish history - stealing 2.4 billion euros from the royal mint of spain." seasons: 4 - (season 5 is coming in september + december 2021) why i love it (in a few words): it's thrilling, all the characters are perfectly written, i love listening to spanish speech, the actors are awesome, SO INCREDIBLE PLOT, uncountable twists, i got attached so fast, i binge watched it, it never feels forced

band of brothers (2001) nationality: american created by: tom hanks, steven spielberg main actors: damian lewis, ron livingston, ross mccall, rick gomez, james madio, kirk acevedo, neal mcdonough, scott grimes, dexter fletcher, donnie wahlberg short summary (imdb): "the story of easy company of the u.s. army 101st airborne division, and their mission in world war ii europe, from operation overlord, through v-j day." - based on the book band of brothers by stephen e. ambrose seasons: 1 why i love it (in a few words): it's ww2 and i'm a huge ww2 enthusiast, i love hbo war, it shows the good and the bad, we follow the whole journey of these soldiers and it's amazing, the actors are absolutely incredible, their friendships are 100/10, the cinematography is beautiful, it's based on a true story

downton abbey (2010-) nationality: english created by: julian fellowes main actors: hugh bonneville, maggie smith, michelle dockery, dan stevens, robert james-collier, allen leech, penelope wilton, matthew goode, lily james short summary (imdb): "a chronicle of the lives of the british aristocratic crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century." seasons: 6 + 1 movie (the second movie comes in december 2021) why i love it (in a few words): it has phenomenal actors, the plot is exciting-thrilling, there are twists you don't expect, so many love stories and i love them, fantastic characters, it's often so funny i can't stop laughing, dame maggie smith and her performance as the dowager is just incredible and i love her, costumes on point, tom branson o.o

broadchurch (2013-2017) nationality: british created by: chris chibnall main actors: david tennant, olivia colman, jodie whittaker, arthur darvill short summary (imdb): "the murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart." seasons: 3 why i love it (in a few words): david tennant, his scottish accent i can't-, olivia colman, their duo oh my god these two together are something extraordinary, it's such a thrilling show wow, SO MANY PLOT TWISTS, cinematography is phenomenal and gorgeous, it's so funny at times oh lord (especially david), it's impossible to stop watching

the pacific (2010) nationality: american created by: tom hanks, steven spielberg main actors: joe mazzello, jon seda, james badge dale, rami malek, ashton holmes short summary (imdb): "the pacific theatre of world war ii, as seen through the eyes of several young marines." seasons: 1 why i love it (in a few words): hbo war, it's ww2 and i'm such an enthusiast of it, joe mazzello is incredible oh my, it's a bit graphic (for some people it's too graphic and i can see why) but i love it, it makes you feel you're there fighting and like wow, actually all the actors are amazing in it, we see three different story lines so we get to know different aspects of the whole thing

the crown (2016-) nationality: british created by: peter morgan main actors: claire foy, matt smith, olivia colman, tobias menzies, vanessa kirby, helena bonham carter, josh o'connor, emma corrin short summary (imdb): "follows the political rivalries and romance of queen elizabeth ii's reign and the events that shaped the second half of the twentieth century." seasons: 4 - (season 5 and 6 are in the making) why i love it (in a few words): i've always been interested in queen elizabeth's life, this is a look inside the royal family that you don't often have, the actors are SO AMAZING, honestly sometimes it's so funny and then the next minute it's heartbreaking, it teaches me more about them than anything else, i guess it gives you their point of view so you can understand them a lil bit better, as a child i loved the british royal family so baby me is happy inside when i watch it

the falcon and the winter soldier (2021) nationality: american created by: malcolm spellman - stan lee main actors: anthony mackie, sebastian stan, wyatt russell, daniel brühl short summary (imdb): "following the events of 'avengers: endgame', sam wilson / falcon and bucky barnes / winter soldier team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities - and their patience." seasons: 1 why i love it (in a few words): i'm a huge marvel fan, my fav characters are sam and bucky, SEBASTIAN STAN, it's funny (honestly which marvel movie/series isn't?), the cinematography is gorgeous, the plot is great, fight scenes on point

biohackers (2020-) nationality: german created by: christian ditter main actors: luna wedler, jessica schwarz, adrian julius tillmann short summary (imdb): "a fast-paced thriller following medical student mia akerlund who discovers the use of highly advanced biohacking technology in her university town." seasons: 2 why i love it (in a few words): exciting, plays in a city i know, plot twists, the cinematography is amazing, a beautiful show honestly, the plot is interesting and one of a kind imo, the actors are pretty great

the mandalorian (2019-) nationality: american created by: jon favreau main actors: pedro pascal short summary (imdb): "the travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the new republic." seasons: 2 - (season 3 is coming) why i love it (in a few words): i love star wars and the star wars universe, pedro pascal is amazing, honestly i fell in love with pedro just by his voice literally without even knowing his face, BABY YODA, the character development, exciting plot, pretty awesome fight scenes, great actors

the queen's gambit (2020) nationality: american created by: scott frank, allan scott main actors: anya taylor joy, thomas brodie-sangster, harry melling, jacob fortune-lloyd short summary (imdb): "orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert beth harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s usa. but child stardom comes at a price." seasons: 1 why i love it (in a few words): cinematography is beautiful, anya taylor joy is gorgeous, and she's such a talent oh my, i love chess, the plot, TBS is in it, it's a show you can't not binge watch it just pulls you in

( +1 )

peaky blinders (2013-) nationality: british created by: steven knight main actors: cillian murphy, paul anderson, helen mccrory, joe cole, finn cole short summary (imdb): "a gangster family epic set in 1900s england, centering on a gang who sew razor blades in the peaks of their caps, and their fierce boss tommy shelby." seasons: 5 - (season 6 is coming) why i love it (in a few words): i love mob stuff in general, so amazing actors oh my, cillian murphy, helen mccrory, it's so dark i love it, plot plot plot, the soundtrack is phenomenal (especially when it's arctic monkeys shhh), it's british (yay)

[eurydicees]

You gave us amazing theater associations for the Hosts, but what about films??? Are there certain movies you feel vibe for the hosts or they would like?? For me, for whatever reason, "In the Mood for Love" makes me think of Kaoru

oooh okay lemme think about this. i’ve never seen “in the mood for love” but i just googled it and it looks like a cool movie! 

under the cut bc wow i am incapable of being concise, but after much, much thinking, here are my thoughts: 

*just a note, these are gonna be super america-centric, because i am american and do not have the emotional capacity to research japanese movies right now. maybe i’ll come back to this one day and do it with more accurate movies that the hosts would like, but for now this is just movies that make me think of the hosts. 

tamaki: 

“let it snow:” god i’m exposing my terrible taste in movies in sentence #1 but here we go. this is based on a series of short stories, including a story by john green, and it’s just. sweet romances about a group of teenagers. visually, it’s a really beautiful movie. plotwise, debatable. i also watched it with some of my best friends during winter vacation, so i definitely just associate it with good memories, so that might be part of it. but tamaki is a hopeless romantic, and i think he would like a super cheesy romance. it is a christmas movie, so maybe not, but even if it’s not true to like. japan, i personally associate it with him. 

kyoya: 

“kiki’s delivery service:” genuinely one of my all time favorite movies, i love it so much. i tend think of it as a movie about learning to let yourself relax and step back from your work; making your way in the world when you don’t really know what you’re doing; letting yourself recover from burnout; and learning to let yourself love. that feels a lil kyoya. 

haruhi: 

“parasite:” i think it would be really fucking funny if she watched this with the hosts. 

hikaru: 

“cabin in the woods:” this is a great bad movie. it’s a horror comedy, it’s got zombies, it’s got weird gods, it’s got evil scientists, it’s the source of the “we have defeated the evil” and the “who had ___ on the board” memes. iconic, truly. i have this headcanon that the twins really like horror films, but hikaru secretly gets scared really easily, so they only watch horror comedy and then talk a really big game about it— and this is like. peak horror comedy. 

kaoru: 

“eurovision song contest: the story of fire saga:” god this is such a weird fucking movie, and i could not tell you if it’s actually like. a *good* movie, but it’s definitely entertaining. i think kaoru would like the music, just because it’s so weird and fun. also he’s a romantic, and this is a cute romance. again, weird movie, and idk why, but i think kaoru would be into that. 

mori: 

“hugo:” what an iconic movie. i saw it in theaters and got yelled at for opening a thing of m&ms. but i digress. what’s really cool about it is that the first ~10 minutes are completely silent, and i Love that as part of the film, because you really never see that in modern movies, and i love it. it’s also just a sweet movie about kids helping a filmmaker via the power of art and love and clocks. idk if the rest of the movie fits, but i do like the silent film part.

honey: 

“willy wonka and the chocolate factory:” i feel like i don’t even have to explain this one. 

honorable mentions: 

tamaki and kyoya: 

“whisper of the heart:” i keep saying i’m going to write a tamakyo whisper of the heart au and i keep not doing it, which is so tragic of me. it’s genuinely such a perfect movie for them. like you’ve got a beautiful cat, you’ve got a boy whose a lil standoffish and closed off, and a girl who comes into his life by force and makes him open up, you’ve got violin x singer. also the boy goes off to study in another country (i think it’s england or france, but i forget the details) and that’s just. perfect. also i really love this movie and i want happiness for them 

tamaki: 

“carol:” this is just. such a good movie. oh, it has its issues, and there’s probably a callout post for it somewhere, but like. it’s a *beautiful* film aesthetically. it’s a love story between an older lesbian and a more newly-discovering-her-own-homosexuality woman (both full adults, dw), and it’s just a really beautiful story. tamaki is def a hopeless romantic, and i think he would love films about secret/forbidden/true love. 

“always be my maybe:” i’ve only watched this movie once, but i LOVED it. tamaki as a hopeless romantic would like really heartfelt but cheesy romance movies, and this fits the bill. it’s about a couple who keep meeting and getting together and then falling apart and then getting back together again, rinse and repeat. but not in like an unhealthy way, just in a… life does this sometimes kinda way. (it could also work as a parallel to tamakyo and i am incapable of thinking about anything else.) 

kyoya: 

“pride” (2014): i think he would like true story-based movies, and this one is iconic queer history movie, and i adore it. it is american history, though, so idk. but also, english is canonically one of his favorite subjects, so maybe so. 

hikaru: 

“pet sematary:” on the same note as hikaru liking horror movies that aren’t actually that scary (i am defining this as not scary because *i* got through it), i think he’d like this one. they watch it as a group and it makes tamaki cry, and hikaru teases him about this for ages. 

mori: 

“miracle” (2004): i don’t remember if mori liking hockey is canon or something i made up in my head and then decided was legit, but now when i think about mori and sports, i think about hockey. anyways, this is a solid sports movie about an underdog ice hockey team; it’s been a while since i’ve watched it, but i feel like mori would like sports movies, and he likes ice hockey imo, and so here we are.

anyways pls let me know your thoughts! i had so much fun with this, let me know what movies you guys think of!

[laufire]

Hi I love your opinions on shows and their structures (its just a really interesting take which I dont really see people discussing. I was curious about your opinions on shows storylines which have a weak male lead/ted. For instance tvd got stronger in the seasons where it switched from stefan to klaus and then when they tried to phase him out the storyline got a bit convulted? Then in comparison the gifted it felt it had no male lead in that sense and had no direction. (part 1)

part 2 - we know that murphy ended up being a stronger male lead in the later season (bts reasons or because without octavia bellamy just may not have been as fun to write idk) did you notice how klaus and murphy had a similar effect on the endgame. For instance klaus loved immortality so the main take over from tvd was immortality and the supernatural was the superior option (we even got the show legacies from this pov).

part 3 - murphy's choice to transcend to being a prime was A) a peak romantic moment and was framed that way and then B) also framed as correct considering season 7. Then his decision to stay with emori ended up being the endgame for the group at the very end. I don't know how much I'm just reading into it but I just felt that narratively speaking that they had similar effects in regard to the original male lead?? Just wanted to see what your thoughts were about this?? 

(oops, forgot I got these today. I’ll get on the memes next ^^U)

Thank you! I can’t take credit for the structural analysis as it all started with a user that later deleted... but it’s an interesing way of looking at narratives and I’ve found it really useful, in terms of figuring out what it makes a story tick, my own included.

In my experience, three things can happen with weak male leads: if things were so from the beginning but there are no competitors, it’s just... aimless. Directionless, like you said. It sounds like that could’ve happened with The Gifted (I only watched a few episodes back when it first aired, so idk).

Another possibility is that a competitor entered the game, like Klaus. Then it becomes a question of which is stronger, and there are a lot of factors involved. A key one is their romance (and IMO, KC was stronger than SE. I know, I know xD. But SE had structural weakness from the start, even if I could only see them in hindsight. The fact that Steferine came first is a big one, for example. Stefan falls for Elena first because she has another woman’s face. That’s sacrilege!! It makes her less ~unique).

Another is their willingness to Get Things Done, usually by acting as The Bad Guy. Although for male lead, the possibility of a last moment Hero Edit seems necessary. Writers don’t like their male leads to look back, and their standards for “look bad” are fucking ridiculous. For example, cheating on their One True Love is deathly (btw, I’m convinced this is related to what happened with Murphy and Ontari. I believe the writers didn’t intend that to come across as a rape scene, but they didn’t want Murphy to come across as a cheater. So they chipped away at Murphy’s agency until they had something that fit their requirement. And even then, they didn’t even show them touching at all, as if they couldn’t bring themselves to). Mass murder can be okay xD.

In those cases sometimes the structure becomes a contradictory mess because the writers are struggling during the transition. Or there’s a slow take over of the new victor’s values. One thing I’ll say is that, once there’s a strong enough oppositor, the original male lead doesn’t seem to be able to recover, in any of the cases I’ve seen. The new one might fail, or might take some blows by the leftover power of the first (that happened a lot to Klaus; IMO the spin-off itself was about trying to minimize his influence lol), but I don’t remember a case where the original prevailed.

The last case is when the male lead has become weak due to other factors (bts drama, the writers losing passion for him like in AOS with Ward...), and he leaves the field open for anyone else strong enough to take over.

I think the last two cases happened on The 100; first, it was Finn vs. Bellamy, then Bellamy fell and Murphy pounced xD

And yes, I do think Klaus and Murphy altered the values of their ‘verses; those always reflect the lead’s. That’s part of why those shows feel so, so different from how they started: they’re literally reflecting different, sometimes opposite priorities. In The 100 it’s even messier because it went through three guys lol, and neither of them was that well-established (Finn’s structure fell appart quickly, Bellamy had to fight and managed to sort of establish itself in late-s4 and s5 to fall apart even quicker, and Murphy’s had little time in a season with other issues).

Legacies is a good example, and so are other details in the Plecverse, like how more and more characters are happy supers instead of Stefan’s-like constant angst about it xD (even Stefan’s own mother!!). I think that’s why Damon got a better ending than he would’ve otherwise, since he aligned more with Klaus’ values.

I’ve been thinking about that regarding the finale, but I still want to rewatch it all to iron out some details... I agree on those examples, yeah. And one thing I kept thinking of was on Murphy’s fear of going to hell ending with him being seen as morally pure enough to transcend xDD.

I think it’s also why parts of the ending feel contradictory: the transcension theme vs. Memori’s romantic progression, for example (because Murphy is such, such a terrenal character *-*, and so is Memori as a ship -there’s a reason they’re accused of being too horny for each other lmao).

Memori likely contradicts what JRoth wanted the show to Be About; for one, he doesn’t seem romance-oriented at all (if anything he seems to favor brother-sister relationships, judging by a film of his I wanted to watch but fell through), but theirs clawed their way into the center of the show bit by bit. This was actually the source of my worries wrt Memori’s ending: a lot of writers end up resenting this kind of storylines, and retaliate against them any way they can, although they often can’t fully break them down (i.e. Bonkai or KC. Though there was obviously far, far more resentment towards the first lol). I’m very happy it wasn’t the case here lol.

[spones-in-my-bones]

Spones Amusement Park Date

OK SO I’ve had this in my WIPs for YEARS, and it’s an outline for a fic, so not fully written out fyi. The idea is basically: McCoy and his 5 y/o daughter Joanna going to an amusement park and on the way they meet Spock who is studying human culture and due to Reasons they invite him along. And then Romance happens ???

(The things they do (rides, games, etc) in the park in the fic are based upon going to Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland with my family as a kid, and what traditions we had when we went! It was a fun way to put that personal touch into a story, imo. Anyways, I hope you enjoy! (Also it’s like 4,600 words, full of run-on sentences bc rambling, and gets more fleshed out as it goes)

Let's just take a second to imagine Spock on Earth studying Terrans and their culture, and he bumps into McCoy, someone he met at the academy a week before. Let's just say, they did not get off on the right foot, and now are avoiding each other a bit. McCoy is with Joanna, and Joanna asks who Spock is, and McCoy introduces him.

Later on that same morning, Joanna wanders off and Spock saves her from nearly getting hit by a car (kinda dramatic but ok), and McCoy decides to give his impression of Spock another chance by inviting him to the amusement park with them. Spock declines at first, but then McCoy asks what his other plans are, and Spock say study Earth ways, to which McCoy says that an amusement park is a vital part of terran society and culture, thus convincing Spock to join them. 

The first thing Joanna does is take out her small camera and take pictures of everything, especially her father and new friend. The next, of course, is to get some cotton candy. Spock and McCoy both dislike the pure sugariness of the cotton candy, and Joanna doesn't mind since she gets it all to herself. 

Then the first ride they go on is sure to be the spinning teacups, which Spock remarks that it is illogical to sit in something designed for drinking out of, but McCoy simply rolls his eyes and pulls him into the cup before they start moving. when they get off, McCoy is a bit dizzy and thus stumbles, Spock catching his arms and straightening him. McCoy thanks him as Joanna rushes ahead and snaps another photo of the two. Then it's off to the log ride, where McCoy and Joanna get on, but Spock declines, instead going to observe the shops nearby in the meantime.

McCoy calls Spock a party pooper and Joanna does as well and they both go off to the log ride when they return, Joanna and McCoy are drenched, and thus walk around in the sun to dry off as they look for Spock, who's looking curiously at one of the many VERY old-fashioned holographic games in which you attempt to knock down stacks of bottles with a ball. Joanna sees a large stuffed Shelat (just for fun, it's a sehlat) that she wants, and McCoy says he'll give it a shot and gets four balls. He throws the first one and utterly misses, just saying that he was warming up. The second one misses as well, and Joanna says that her dad isn't very good at this. Spock then inquires if he might make an attempt, and McCoy says go for it. Spock nails it on the first try, winning the bear for joanna. Still having one more ball left, the guy behind the counter makes a wager that if Spock can hit a very difficult target, he'll get two bears, the sehalt and teddy bear instead of just one. 

McCoy asks Joanna and Joanna accepts, telling Spock that she believes in him. Spock picks up the ball, calculates as necessary, and nails the hit, winning a total of two stuffed bears for joanna. Joanna places them in her bag, the two bears sticking out of the top from just under their arms. 

After then, the three ventured into the kid's zone of the amusement park, where a lot of Joanna's favorite rides were. There was a miniature racetrack, where Joanna picked her favorite car, number 3(like the three of them!), and raced around the small, safe track as Spock and McCoy watched, McCoy taking pictures for his daughter. Then it was off to the the large spinning swings. Joanna loved them because they made her feel like she was flying. McCoy noticed that Spock was looking around the balloon animals at the time, which were still a big hit. McCoy explains them and then asks for a balloon hat for Joanna in the shape of a starship. Spock is impressed at the craftsmanship, and needless to say Joanna is elated at the sight of the hat.

Finally, it was time for the roller coaster. Joanna was tall for her age, which was 8 years old, and thus she was now able to ride the roller coaster she had been waiting literally all her life for. The Gallelio Thunder. Spock inquired about it's odd name, and McCoy explained that it was an indoor, underground rollercoaster that projected stars everywhere, so it was as if you were actually travelling through space. Though he supposed Spock had already seen space on his trip from Vulcan, so it's probably nothing like the real thing. 

Spock was going to wait outside as Joanna and McCoy went inside, but Joanna asked if Mr. Spock would please come with them. She said that the ride was three seats across, and so they had to have three people or else it wouldn't work. When Spock asks what wouldn't work, McCoy comments that Joanna is afraid she'll fall off of the coaster if there isn't a person on each side of her. But not to worry, since these are really safe. Spock says that he will join them for Joanna's sake, and follows them into the ride. 

In the long line there, Joanna gets really nervous, and thus holds her dad's hand. When they get to the front, she becomes even more nervous, and grabs Mr. Spock's sleeve, to which Spock and McCoy look at her and McCoy apologizes. Spock says that there is no need for apology, and McCoy smiles a bit. It's their turn, finally, and, after Joanna's height is checked and confirmed, they walk over, McCoy leading the way into the car and taking the farthest of the three seats. Joanna is shaking with anticipation as McCoy buckles her seatbelt and pulls the restraint over her head to her chest. Spock follows suit and then finally McCoy does his own. 

Time for liftoff. 

The roller coaster starts off slow, climbing up a great hill as panels on the walls mirror the reflections of the passengers in the car. McCoy appears very unsettled, Joanna is grinning widely, and Spock is looking around curiously at their surroundings. As they reach the top, the lights dim more and more until they are surrounded by darkness. Joanna instinctively reaches for her father's hand, squeezing much tighter than an eight year old should be able to. Then they stop as the car climaxes the peak. Surrounding them is a true work of art that is nature's universe around them. The stars twinkle in a variety of colors, and you can practically feel the heat coming off of the sun to their left. It was beautiful sight to behold. "Get ready, now." McCoy warned as the car jolted a little bit. The brakes released and the car went plummeting downwards into a multi-colored nebula. The stars stretched and flickered in their sight as the car sped by, fast as a shuttlecraft. A moment later they swirled with the track's loops and then flicked across their vision as they made sharp turns. Then, the car climbed one final hill, taller than the first, and at the peak was a view of the entire underground galaxy, all of the stars, planets, asteroids, meteors and nebulae the eyes can see. Right before you. As if you could reach out to it. But no one dared to as the gravity of the final drop was all too sudden to do so. The car raced to a slow crawl into the station, each of the passengers speechless. McCoy considered himself lucky that scared silence ran in his family rather than scared screaming. After that ride, he and Spock both surely would have lost their hearing. 

The three exited the ride, McCoy more slowly than the rest as he stomach tried to catch up with him. Joanna was jumping around saying that it was so awesome and amazing and she wanted to go again, but McCoy protested, saying that he didn't think he could handle another ride. Joanna made a sad face as she 'awwww'd, walking up the incline that led to the exit of the ride's building. Spock then suggested that he could take her on the ride, and Joanna said "yes, yes, yes! Pleeeeeease daddy, let Mr. Spock take me!" He then asked if Joanna was afraid of falling out if she wasn't surrounded, and she said that Mr. Spock would protect her, just like earlier today. How could McCoy argue with that?

(he could, but listen)

McCoy said very well and Joanna jumped around happily and gave Mr. Spock a hug around his waist, which she could just reach. McCoy and Spock are both shocked at this unexpected behavior, but McCoy just smiles as Spock stands there awkwardly. McCoy walks with them to the ride, but instead of getting on, passes through, taking joanna's bag and balloon hat for her, and says that he'll be at the restaurant at the exit when they're done. Joanna nods and says thank you to both him and Mr. Spock before the ride starts and McCoy steps back, watching them take off into the galaxy together. 

Almost fully exhausted from their energetic day, the first thing McCoy does is go into the restaurant and sit down. He notices the virtual pinball machines against one wall, and takes out a few coins for Joanna when she gets back. He sat back in the fully metal, yet oddly comfortable chair that was one of four at the table, and shut his eyes with a content sigh. Joanna and him had always had fun when they did this twice a year, but this year he felt much more, well, relaxed. What had changed? Well, sure Joanna was older, but it had to be more than that. Could it have been Spock? McCoy opened his eyes and looked to Joanna's small blue backpack that held the two plush bears Spock had won for her earlier. He noticed that one was falling out, and thus adjusted it in the bag so that the two were side by side comfortably. 

Maybe it was Spock. 

"Daddy!" The excited sounds of his daughter call out to McCoy, who set the bag holding the bears down and hugged his daughter as she ran up to him. He asked her if she enjoyed herself, and she said yes and that Mr. Spock said he did too. McCoy grinned at Spock. “Is that so?” Spock nodded. “It was a competent source of entertainment.” Bascially meaning that he had fun in Vulcan. McCoy asked Joanna if she wa hungry, which he gets a hearty reply. McCoy asks Spock if he is hungry as well, and Spock says that he is “indeed in need of nourishment”. McCoy chuckles and rolls his eyes at the Vulcan’s phrasing. 

He tells Joanna to order at the screen beside their table and then gives her the coins so she can play pinball. If he had something odd to be proud of in his daughter, it would be her skills at a pinball machine. He taught her so well that she nearly beats /him/, and she's only eight. "Dr. McCoy," Spock begins as he takes as seat across from McCoy. "Look, Spock, we're at an amusement park, not the academy. You can call me Leonard." Spock is hesitant for a moment. "Very well, Leonard." McCoy smiles at his name and orders his food, giving Spock some recommendations. He looks back over at Spock and bites his lips together in an effort to hold back a laugh.

“Well, I’ll be. You’ve got uh-” he motioned to the top of his own head-the place the hair was standing askew on Spock’s own. 

Spock piqued a brow before reaching his hand up and in one smooth motion, flattened his hair.

“I didn’t know that it could do that.”

Spock gave him a confused look.

“It’s just-you appear to be so...” McCoy gestured in the air. “Meticulous? That I didn’t think it was possible for a single hair to be out of place.”

“I assure you, the hair of Vulcans reacts very similarly to human’s. Perhaps you have mistaken me instead for a statue?”

McCoy laughed at that. “Maybe, but good to know that you’re just like the rest of us. In all the good ways, of course.” He winked at Spock, causing the Vulcan’s brow to soar higher and make McCoy let out another laugh. This time, he caught Spock eyeing him with a sort of... fondness? Maybe he’s starting to relax, finally.

Just as McCoy was about to speak, Joanna came over, exclaiming that she had gotten the third highest score on the game. McCoy says 'atta girl' and moves her bag so she can sit down beside him.

Their food arrives moments later, McCoy having a nice thin slice of meat on his plate surrounded by vegetables, Spock ordering a full fruit and vegetable plate, and Joanna ordering the kid version of what her father has."If memory serves, most Vulcans are Vegetarians. Is that right, Spock?" McCoy asks and he peeks down at Spock's salad plate. 

"Your memory is correct, doctor." 

"Leonard, please," McCoy grins up at Spock, "You are eating dinner with us, after all. So, how important would you say vegetables are?" 

Spock raises a brow at the question, but before he can say anything, he sees the doc-...Leonard motion to Joanna, who is currently picking at her vegetables. "They are incredibly important, as they are my main source of nourishment." 

Leonard makes an expression of faux surprise, turning to his daughter. "You hear that. Jo? Fruits and vegetables are /very/ important to eat. Even Mr. Spock thinks so." 

“But that's /all/ he eats," Jo whimpers, picking at her broccoli. "And Mr. Spock's not a human, so it's different.” “That may be true, but-” 

“I am half human,” Spock offers. McCoy raises both his brows at the information. “My mother is human, and it is true that a balanced diet, containing vegetables, is crucial to maintaining one's health. This applies to both you and Leonard as well.” 

McCoy smiles, mentally stumbling at the sound of his first name in Spock's voice for a second before turning back to Jo. “See? Spock may not be a doctor, but he knows his stuff.” 

Joanna frowns, simply picking at her vegetables before eating them with disdain. McCoy chuckles a bit, tilting his head towards Spock in thanks. 

When they had finished eating, it was already nighttime, meaning the park was closing soon. Spock was saying that he must be going, but Joanna protested, saying that they only had one more thing to do before they left. McCoy agreed with his daughter and said that it wouldn't be much longer. After some thought, Spock agreed and they walked down towards a giant fountain that stood in the center of the park. McCoy then left saying the he's going to a stand that they had just passed and would be back in a minute, leaving Joanna with Spock just 20 feet away. 

Joanna looked up at the stars, saying that she loved the night because she could see other worlds then. She then asked if Mr. Spock that if he was an alien, that meant he was from another planet, right? which he said he was. She followed up by asking which star was his planet in the sky. Spock said you cannot see it from here, bug pointed out the orion's belt, and said that it was the far left star there, the one that shined a bit dimmer than the rest, is where his galaxy was, and his planet was in that galaxy. Joanna spotted it and commented that she wanted to go there someday and meet more people like the kind Mr. Spock.

McCoy returned a split second later with three fresh churros, handing one to Joanna and one to Spock. Spock tried to deny the food, but McCoy insisted, saying that it was a dessert on Earth that was meant to be eaten on such an occasion as visiting an amusement park. And that he knew Vulcans well enough to ensure it didn't have any sugar. Spock then accepted the treat and Joanna said that he cannot eat it yet, and that he had to wait. Spock inquired as to why, and McCoy said that it's tradition with the two of them. 

McCoy then led the way to what appeared to be an old wooden house in the middle of the amusement park. When they walked around the side of it, a train was revealed to be hidden behind the old house, and Joanna immediately ran to it. Not having seen this before, Spock asked what this was, and McCoy explained that it was an antique steam-powered train that the park ran once per night. They followed Joanna to the third of the eight passenger cars and sat down across from one another. Not too many people were on the train that night, so they ended up getting that open-air car to themselves. McCoy told Spock that the side they were sitting on was better, and asked him to come over. Spock asked as to why it was better, and McCoy said that he would see soon. Spock moved and sat next to McCoy, Joanna on the Doctor's other side near the head of the car, eagerly looking out of the side waiting for the train to go. Moments later, the train jolted to start, McCoy bumping into Spock with it's force, however Spock caught him. McCoy apologized, feeling a hear rise to his cheeks, and Spock said there was no need. The train chugged steadily as it made its way around the park, passing by the teacup ride, log plunge, kid's zone, and finally the building for Gallileo's Thunder before halting to a stop at the back of the park. Spock asked why they had stopped and McCoy said to wait a minute and he'll see. Joanna said that they could eat their churros now, and the three of them unwrapped it and took a bite at the same time, all together enjoying the still warm, sugary bliss they held in their hands.

All of a sudden, just about every single light in the park went out at once, leaving a sole light from the large fountain to illuminate the center of the park. The light changed from green to yellow to red and made its way through the entire rainbow before halting on a bright, watery blue

Tiny white orbs of light flew up from the fountain, making a set formation above it.

White lines connected the orbs to one another, creating a very familiar pattern; that of Ursa Minor. As soon as they all were connected, the constellation sprung to life, dancing in an elegant manner. More white orbs floated up, creating another constellation that was known as Cassiopeia. It joined in the dance with Ursa Minor, flowing around the fountain as if they could walk on air. Soon enough, more and more constellations joined them, sharing the dance of the stars before everyone's eyes.

McCoy laid his head on his arm that was resting on the top of the bench he sat on. His eyes were calm, and his face aglow. This had to be his favorite part of the entire day. Curious, he looked over at Spock, who seemed to be fully engaged in the light show. McCoy couldn't blame him. Holograms or not, it was still a beautiful show. 

There... was something about Spock's eyes. Something that captivated McCoy as a whole. No matter how much he wished to look away, he couldn't. After today, he had a hard time believing that the stubborn Vulcan he had met before was the same one he had spent nearly the whole day with. But he was. Both of them were, he chuckled. Spock was both of these men, both stubborn and kind, blunt and gentle. And McCoy liked it. 

He liked... him. 

Spock.

After the light show had ended in an explosion of glittering stars, all of the lights slowly came back on in the park, and McCoy found himself still staring at Spock's eyes. When Spock looked to him however, he found the energy to look away and over at Joanna. She was sitting a few feet away from him on his other side, clapping for the amazing show they had just witnessed. "Mr. Spock, Mr. Spock! Did you see the lights? Did you like it?" Joanna asked, practically jumping up and down in her seat. McCoy knew that he should not have given her that sugar so late. "I did see it. It was quite... Interesting." Spock stated, unable to hide the sliver of fascination in his voice.

The train jolted to a start again, McCoy being pushed into Spock again by the force, his hand landing on top of the Vulcan's. McCoy immediately withdrew his hand and cleared his throat, apologizing for the sudden bump. Spock said there was no need to apologize and McCoy could feel his face redden.

After they got off the train, they headed straight towards the exit of the park, Joanna snapping a few more pictures along the way. Joanna halted the two of them before they could leave and walked up to a member of the park's staff, asking if she could take a picture for them. The woman accepted and set them up for a photo. Spock attempted to leave and let just McCoy and Joanna get a picture, but they pulled him back in, saying that he was with them the whole day, so he has to suffer through one last picture with them. McCoy held up Joanna on his right side so she was in the center of the two adults. Joanna smiled widely at her dad and new friend as the camera flashed with a couple of pictures. This day had been perfect for her, and she was happy to have photos to look at later on so she could remember this day.

About halfway through the parking lot, Joanna began to walk slowly and yawn. McCoy, noticing this, asked her if she was tired, to which she replied that she wasn't. She yawned again. Okay, maybe a little. McCoy picked her up and carried her, her head resting on his right shoulder. He asked Spock if he was taking the bus back to the academy's living area, and Spock said yes. McCoy commented that he is as well, though he gets off just before then in an apartment complex. The two arrive just in time to catch the bus back to where they are staying, though they are a few of the only ones on the bus. When McCoy sits down, Spock across from him, Joanna is fast asleep already. McCoy adjusts his hold on her and yawns himself. Moments later, he is asleep as well. 

About a half an hour later, McCoy is awoken by Spock, who was sitting beside him, shaking him awake with one hand. The first instinct is to ask where he is, and Spock comments that he is on the bus, and they are nearly at McCoy's stop. McCoy blinks himself awake and looks around at the bus' bright interior. He thanks Spock and looks out the window. Indeed, they are very close to his stop. He reaches up and pulls the cord, telling the bus that he wants to get off at the next stop and then wipes his face with his hand. "Thanks, Spock." He says with a slight yawn. He looks down at Joanna, who is still asleep, and thinks it best not to wake her right now. McCoy took Joanna's bag off of her back and opened it, taking the camera out. He turned it on and pressed a few buttons before a small chip came out of the side. He handed it to Spock. "Here, it's a copy of all of the pictures from today. I thought it might help your research." Spock accepted it with a nod and placed it in his pocket. 

When the bus pulls to a stop, McCoy stood up with the help of the bar beside him, and then turns to Spock. "Hey, uh, Thank you. For today. Just... well, everything today." Spock simply looks up at him and replies "It was no trouble." McCoy smirked at that. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself. “So... I'll uh, see you around, then.” Spock nodded and McCoy hesitantly exited the bus, watching as the bus ride away. 

Opening the door to the apartment, McCoy quickly walks in, as it had started raining as they were walking, and takes off both his and Joanna's shoes and places her bag on the sofa. He carries her to her room, helps her change into her pajamas, and puts her to bed. Today had been great. Joanna had been great. Spock had been great. McCoy, he... He really liked Spock. Not in the way one friend liked another, either. Was that selfish of him? After all, they had only really talked with one another today. But when he thought about him... 

McCoy pulled Joanna's camera out of her bag and scrolled through the pictures, noticing a pattern. Most of the pictures were of him and Spock, next to each other. In the teacup, at the bottle game, eating, and on the train. In all of them, McCoy is smiling. He looks to Spock, and Spock is smiling too, with his eyes. He let out a quiet sigh. He was never going to have a chance with Spock as perfect as the one he had today. 

A sudden knock on the door startled McCoy from his thoughts. Would could it be at this hour? McCoy opened the door to see Spock standing there, drenched from the rain. "Spock!" McCoy exclaimed, ushering the man inside. "It's pouring out there, why don’t you have an umbrella?" McCoy shut the door behind him and grabbed a towel from the closet. "Seriously, what are you doing here? Weren't you going back to your apartment at the Academy?" 

Spock accepted the towel and wiped the water from his slick hair. "Indeed, I had planned to return to my apartment." He stated, now drying off his arms and shoulders. "However a situation came up that required my presence here." 

McCoy was confused. "What? What situation?" Spock opened his bag and pulled out a small brown teddy bear. McCoy looked to Joanna's bag that was on the couch beside them and saw only the one teddy bear was present. "Oh... thank you." McCoy said, taking the bear and placing it beside the other. "Joanna would have been sad if she had lost either of these guys," McCoy admitted. "But you could have given them to me later. You didn’t have to come out in the pouring rain, you know." 

Spock stopped drying himself off and handed the towel to McCoy, touching his hand. Spock met McCoy's eyes. "Leonard," Spock stated, serious. "Are you aware the Vulcans are touch telepaths?" 

McCoy blinked. "No, I wasn't." He replied, confused as to where this was going. 

"I see. I noticed that, whenever we touched today, you were harboring romantic feelings towards myself, that grew more and more prominent as the day passed." Spock looked down at their hands that were still touching. "I can sense that they are currently at their strongest now." 

McCoy looked down at their hands and his face reddened. "So,” he hesitated, “what are you saying?" 

"I wanted to tell you that I reciprocate those very feelings." 

"W-what?"

Spock took the towel from McCoy and intertwined the fingers of their left hands. "I wish to attempt a relationship with you." 

McCoy couldn't speak. He really liked the guy, and Joanna liked him as well, and he felt as though he could trust him, so what was holding him back? Nothing. 

"Uh, I... I mean, I’m definitely interested but, how about we go on a few more dates first? get to know one another better." 

“Very well. Would you be interested in meeting me for lunch tomorrow?”

“Yes-well, I mean, I have Joanna with me-”

“Joanna is welcome of course. I have found myself... fond, of both of you.”

McCoy grinned at that. “That’s good, because we’re a package deal.”

“I would not have it another way, Leonard.” Spock raised up the man’s hand, and in a motion he’d seen a few times before, he placed his lips to the back of the man’s palm. “Until tomorrow, then.”

McCoy stammered at the gesture, face flushed both at how cheesy it was and how much he utterly loved it.

“Until tomorrow, Spock.”

[austennerdita2533]

ooh can you do those same top three questions but for suits and tvd :)

Sure can, nonnie! xx

*Just as a general disclaimer for anyone else who happens to read this: my ship preferences are what they are. I’m simply stating my opinion/preference and am in no way encouraging hate or fights. Discussion is always welcome, of course, but happy vibes here only!

*2020 sucks enough as it is without bringing ship drama into it, you know?

TVD

Top 3 seasons:

-1, 2, and 3 without an ounce of hesitation. This was when the show was at its peak in storytelling, characterization, ship development, magic/mythology etc.

Top 3 romantic ships:

-Klaroline. One of my highest echelon ships for reasons I do not need to enumerate; however, I will say what I love about them most is they challenge as well as complement each other in beautifully rich, convoluted ways. Their back and forth is ridiculously entertaining, too!

-Kalijah. They have spice, and angst, and forbidden love, and 500+ years of cat-and-mouse chasing and I will be over here bitter about them for eternity! 

-Forwood. *excuse me while I cry over “until we find a way” for a few hours* These two went through so much to be together! Their progressive arc in s2-s3 is still one of my favorites.

*I’m Swiss neutral when it comes to Stelena and Delena, I vacillate between both ships at different times so they’re not included in my top 3. I’m an anomalous TVD shipper, a true outlier, what can I say?

Top 3 platonic ships:

-Klelijah. Klaus and Elijah have an incredibly dense, fraught brotherly dynamic. Something about their ancient ties and 1,000-year bond is gripping. There’s so much spoken and unspoken subtext between them. So many unresolved “somethings.” Plus, it’s no secret that I adore the Originals and all they add to the TVD-verse.

-Klebekah. Klaus and Rebekah sparkle, they sizzle, any time they’re on-screen together. Just the sheer depth of feeling and betrayal and angst they emanate is so entertaining to watch. Don’t get me started on the whole “I loved you more than anyone and you didn’t even care” scene because I get emotional.

-Defan. Stefan and Damon are another complex sibling relationship on the show. Throw into the mix that they find themselves in love with same woman, not once, but twice, and whew! I love the flashbacks we get of them throughout history as well.

*Gotta give shoutouts to my other favorite, though moderately less well-developed, brotps here: Carenzo, Katholine, Rebekoline, and Baroline. *chef’s kiss*

Top 3 characters:

-Caroline Forbes

-Klaus Mikaelson

-Katherine Pierce

Top 3 plotlines you’d change/erase if you could:

-THE BABY PLOTS ! ! ! BOTH OF THEM!!!!!!!!! (I’m talking Klaus/Haley and their tribrid baby and Caroline’s surrogacy/pregnancy with the Gemini twins.) I apologize for my overemphasized caps + exclamation points here, but I loathe these storylines with every fiber of my being. I can’t help it. More often than not, I like to pretend they don’t exist lololol.

-How they handled the beginning of Stefan and Caroline’s romantic relationship was...icky. Like, while Liz was dying? Really? Then she turns off her humanity because he “rejects” her. Again, REALLY? I have major issues with the overall portrayal of them as a couple - particularly with the relationship imbalances as well as the insecurities they heightened instead of tamped out in each other - but the inception of it all is what kills me. Especially because I am a huge proponent of friends-to-lovers ships...and the writers really dropped the ball with them, imo. I’m a multishipper at heart so the disappointment I harbor is PALATABLE. 

-The Cure storyline and the Travelers storyline. Didn’t like either of them. They have equal “could’ve been loads better” billing.

Top 3 episodes you’d take to a deserted island:

-3x14, Dangerous Liaisons. LISTEN. This is my favorite episode of the entire series. There’s a ball, there’s blood-tinged champagne, there’s duplicity and romance and drama. All the Mikaelsons are under the same roof, for crying out loud! It’s gold!

-2x07, Masquerade. This one because of my girl, Katherine Pierce, the biggest, baddest bitch of all. She’s a saucy little minx the entire masquerade only to end up locked in the tomb. I just...love it.

-The Klaroliner in me is screaming 4x23, Graduation because being on a deserted island without having access to Klaus’s iconic “however long it takes” declaration would be insupportable. However, a case could be made for either 3x20, Do Not Go Gentle because I am trash for the decade dances, and that one’s my favorite, OR 3x22, The Departed because that is one hell of a season finale!

Suits

Top 3 seasons:

-Season 2. Mike’s secret out of the bag? Them all working together to fight against the merger? Donna shredding evidence to protect Harvey? Daniel fucking Hardman? *thumbs up*

-Season 5. FIREWORKS. Donna’s working for Louis, Harvey’s in therapy, Mike gets arrested/goes on trial, Zane family drama. Exquisite stuff

-Season 3 or Season 1. Don’t make me choose between them, please. 🙏🏻

Top 3 romantic ships:

-Darvey. I mean, OBVIOUSLY. These two idiots had me from the pilot. I knew the moment Donna said “I also took care of that. we’ve been married for the last 7 years” that I was on the precipice of falling into another long, beautiful, up-to-their-chins-in-pining, slow sloooooow burn ships. Granted, I didn’t think it’d take 8 seasons for them to get together lololol but I don’t regret a damn thing!

-Mike and Rachel. They’re adorable together, they truly love each other. Also, can we talk about how they’re a steady couple for most-ish of the show?  They have drama, sure, but they work through most of it together. As a unit. THAT’S A BIG DEAL. It’s like going through the canon drive thru and actually getting (most) of what you ordered.

-Louis and Sheila. This is a couple who makes me laugh uproariously AND feel all the emotions. I mean, will I ever forget Louis dropping to one knee in the hospital with his ass cheeks hanging out? NO. Will I ever get over Shelia’s pregnant feet being too fat to fit into her Cinderella glass slippers? NOT ON YOUR LIFE. Will I blubber like an emo sap whenever they finally reconcile/get their happy ending? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.

Top 3 platonic ships:

-Mike and Harvey. They have a connection from the beginning but I love seeing how much they rub off on one another, how much deeper their bond grows over the course of the show. Their movie references are always a delight, too. *cries: it’s so beautiful*

-Donna and Louis. Their relationship is so important to me. Like?!?!?!? They have so many fantastic one-on-one moments together - some that make your sides ache with laughter, others that prick your eyes with emotion and tears. Even though it kills me when Donna leaves Harvey to work for Louis, I can’t help but love it too because he fanboys all over her. GIVE DONNA ALL THE LOVE AND APPRECIATION SHE DESERVES. 

-Harvey and Louis because they have a formative and/or impactful dynamic. They mostly respect each other but there’s a lot of animosity between them. Makes for such good TV!

Top 3 characters:

-Donna Paulsen aka Fashion Goddess of NYC (can I have all of her outfits? for real) and the Reigning Queen of Sass (who also happens to be the reigning queen of my heart as well). The entire firm would have fallen into collapse without her, FULL STOP.

-Harvey Specter. I have a penchant for stoic, inscrutable, emotionally constipated, on-the-borderline-of-asshole characters and boy did I hit the jackpot with this one! 

-This one was hard, but I’m going to go with Louis Litt because his character evolution is amazing! He’s so unlikable at times, what with his competitive streak and anger/jealousy issues, but then there’s this whole other side to him that’s sensitive and vulnerable and sweet. You can’t help but root for him, you know? (Even when you want to punch him right in the nose lol.)

Top 3 plotlines you’d change/erase if you could:

-Harvey giving Paula the credit for why he reconciled with his mother, when it was actually because of Donna. They retcon/fix this in the narrative in s9 but it still bugs me in the moment. I can’t let it go. So sue me.

-Pearson Hardman’s “Harvard Only” hiring law. Not only is it ridiculous and discriminatory but no way in hell would you even be able to implement such a thing in today’s world. Nor should you be able to do so. Diversity is important!

-I wasn’t crazy about the Mike prison storyline but, at the same time, he had to serve out penance for the whole fraud business??? So yeah.

Top 3 episodes you’d take to a deserted island:

-2x07, Sucker Punch. THE MOCK TRIAL, AHHHHHHH. Louis grills Donna about Harvey within an inch of her life. I can hear his inflection during his stream of “do you love Harvey Specter, do you love Harvey Specter” in my head. It is so effing tense in that conference room, I DIE. 

3x06, The Other Time. I am all about this flashback episode, okay? It opens Pandora’s box on all things past!Darvey and also shows us how Mike gets thrown out of school.

-8x16, Harvey. If you think I’d willingly retreat to a deserted island without having access to that Darvey love epiphany/love actualization scene then you are kidding yourself! I still blast “Love is Mystical” on full volume just to daydream about that swooping-through-the-apartment-door smooch sometimes. *fans self*

[unproduciblesmackdown]

also i’ve been mulling over the “we’re Living ex machina!!!!” line and like, it still doesn’t make sense Really, but here’s my Afternoon Musings i guess

i’ve only actually seen ex machina once like 3 years ago but as i remember it goes a little something like This: some rando white-collar programmer guy has like, won a contest where the prize is to go hang out for maybe a few days or a week or so with this ~visionary genius~ tech dude played by oscar isaac at oscar isaac tech dude’s off-the-grid reclusive mansion or whatever.......i thiiiink the Protag Programmer won b/c his programming submission was Really Good but also maybe there’s a [randomly selected] element to it, or maybe we Think it was partly random selection but then learn it was actually All “yeah i chose you b/c your coding was the Best,” idk. doesn’t really matter but anyway yeah protag guy gets helicoptered in to the oscar isaac genius bro’s secret mansion 

oscar isaac soon reveals he has this advanced ai android whomst he wants the Protagonist to study / turing test, and the protagonist does that, but during one Conversation Session with this android (who is named ava i think? and designed to Look Like a Woman oo) like the lights turn off and ava-i-think informs the protagonist she’s found a Weakness in the mansion’s security system and hackt it so that the power (and thus the Security / Monitoring Systems) shut down for a minute like this but could feasibly be thought of as a glitch and anyways she’s like yeah i have feelings and thoughts and i want to Not Be Trapped here, ya gotta help me out here buddy, and then yknow ooh the systems come back on, oscar isaac can Observe them again, intrigue.....tl;dr protag and ava keep having these short secret convos and Do plan to break her out, there’s this dramatic moment where oscar isaac (who’s natch been acting weirder and more erratic as the plot unfolds) confronts the protag after the protag has just like, tried to get him blackout smashed by Hanging Out With Him lmfao and oscar isaac is like “ooh i knew you were planning to break her out, i’m gonna stop you guys though haha pwned” but then oh further twist, turns out ava and protag Knew that was the case and were thinking one step ahead and idk but yeah they break her out and oscar isaac dies but ooh further twist!!! ava locks the protag (or well, just Does Not Unlock, As Planned) in some room and leaves the mansion and gets on the Helicopter meant to take the protag back to wherever after the planned end of his stay. and the protag is just stuck there b/c everyone else is dead and presumably he dies as ava gets to exist in the outside world now, idk, we don’t need ex machina 2 where he’s escaped or smthing lmao

and i do NOT get what winston is comparing their situation to lmfao. like, oh rian is like an advanced ai android??? if anything, her being the more like ~true believer in High Finance as a means of socially beneficial effect~ vs winston like, having the supposedly cutthroat and cold Math approach would make Him more of the ~oh no more a robot than a person~ (though i think it’s Ambiguous whether we wanna judge ava as more Scary Bad or Sympathetic).........you can’t even really make the connection that “oh no we’re being deliberately Replaced!!” b/c if winston is [protag programmer rando] and rian is [ava] and wendy is, i guess oscar isaac then, uhhhh oscar isaac most definitely did Not intend to ~replace~ the protag with ava, he very much wanted her trapped in his mansion still........and the protagonist Only got “replaced” by ava in the sense that she took his place on the helicopter out of the reclusive secret mansion. i really doubt she planned to, or would even be able to, like take over his identity/life beyond that.....certainly not his job lol like, coworkers are gonna notice you’re a different person, there was no implication the androids can like oh shapeshift their appearance or whatever, and no implications about what ava even intended to do in the Outside World which is kind of bemusing b/c like, what of the Practical Questions of being an android and needing whatever Fuel Source a robot does, idk that might’ve been addressed or smthing like “oh yeah they can just Eat,” also she clearly does not Trust People considering her only company was evil oscar isaac creator and she wasn’t interested in bringing the protag along, plus yknow the fact that she Did deliberately manipulate the protag into thinking that she wanted to escape into the world With him........but not like i guess she has any choice for any other world to escape into but the one with all the people where she pretends to be an organic human

like there is just NO point of comparison where these situations line up unless you get soooooooo like broad strokes about ex machina that you’d do better to compare your experience to Anything else lmao. like, does winston think she’s some like, ideal advanced version of him?? like you might consider a crafted AI android to be?? i don’t know but i mean i think we have a more feasible explanation for why he’s so Insistent about this totally being Ex Machina, if only b/c as a straightforward comparison i swear to god it doesn’t work lmfao None of these points line up at all with any significance that’s worth insisting on

given that winston’s Apparently Canonically meant to be crushing on rian, and we have his example of ribbing her by calling her “gal gadot’s quirky sister” which is like, okay so the dunk is “you look similar to this famous a-lister who everyone thinks is pretty” and “also you’re quirky, boom” like, i think that could easily be meant as like, a Tell that winston already ~likes~ her.............aaaand it’s also somewhat ~ambiguous~ but i mean i think it’s safe to say that in Ex Machina you may understand the protag as having Fallen For the ai android lady. so maybe we can Understand this invocation of ex machina as being like “ooh person meant to replace me is Attractive but ultimately i think this Overall Situation is a bad thing i shouldn’t feel this way i resent it” like, a bit of a Reach, but honestly it’s way more of a reach to think about applying anything else about this scenario to ex machina, so i could v much believe that the thought that went behind writing this is once again, like, “okay winston’s invoking one thing on the surface level here, but simultaneously he’s already (inadvertently probably) acknowledging like oh also i have a crush on her already”

between this episode seeming to be Setup and the [winston has a Canon crush] and the fact that it probably seems like They Will Fuck A Nonzero Number Of Times or Make Out At Least But It’s Billions So, Might Get A Humorous Cut To [Postcoital] Or A Scene Where They Arrive At Work Together Short Of Breath With Messy Hair  And Hickies And Winston’s Got A Hoodie W/ “Property Of Rian” On It Until He Goes "Oh Shit Woops” And Hands It To Her And She’s Like “Oh Btw You Forgot Your Glasses.....Uh You Left Them Here On Your Desk Yesterday I Mean Of Course” And Hands Them To Him And An Unnamed Character Stands Up And Asks “Daily Poll: Who Had Sex With A Coworker Last Night” And Rian And Winston Raise Their Hands Before Going “Oh Wait” And Lowering Them With A Shake Of The Head And A Nervous Cough and i’m exaggerating but you know, the equivalent of the billions writing saying “wwinnnk” at us. i am fine with them having an unsolemn like, quasi-rivals-to-lovers (or -And-lovers) dynamic, even with it being a bit messy in like, still an overall Fun way, where yknow it doesn’t have to be peak epic romance cuz a) that’s just Always true and yet it can still be overall an okay thing even if they don’t quite get it together / mostly just trade sparks and sometimes hook up and b) idk seems like mayybe rian’s character isn’t meant to go beyond this season, so, an inherent limit there if true

i’m like Apologetic for being like “already i like their dynamic even as Romantique and it’s kinda cute and fun and i’m willing to continue to be engaged w/ this as long as the writing doesn’t completely fuck it up” lmao like, i guess i Did inadvertently give myself time to prepare for this exact eventuality b/c of wondering if this exact character would have A Thing w/ winston whenever she showed up and even if i was like “haha the character could show up Anywhere and do Anything and what are the odds, right” i was also like “hmm but i’m going to really think about it though” like, as always, didn’t think i was cassandraing that hard, but truly did do it 4x03 style where everyone else can be like “you never [made the text post or gave any indication you were thinking about “what if whoever she plays and winston have some kind of romance thing going on”]” and i can go “i only thought it but didn’t say it....doesn’t count” but well. i did think it lmao and why would i make it up.......sorry i had such a head start on Getting More Used To This Notion.......some crimes can never be forgiven.meme.......

anyways natch “intense horrible passionate” seems a little foreboding but maybe she was talking about it relative to [any Normal show] rather than the standards we’re used to on billions, where this was all but a Meet Cute, and a kind of quasi coworker rivalry where nobody’s taking it *that* deeply seriously and they also seem to mutually like each other by the end of 5x05 already so how not-amicable can it get. and re: Intense like, maybe the writing in future episodes will totally upend this, but i’d say rian and winston in 5x05, even when “clashing,” was like damn near laidback and chill. neither of them seem at all that pressed, but maybe even a sorta-playful Friendly Rivalry is more “intense” than, say, a dynamic that involves no rivalry at all. imo “Passionate” is just like, okay, so they’ll fuck or at least make out? sure. not sure what to make of “horrible” lmfao maybe again it’s addressing like “this is a lil messy and they’re kinda rivals!!!” like, certainly not an ideal start, except by billions standards it IS weirdly great. rian seeming good-naturedly amused by winston is something we didn’t get from his longtime-coworkers until like, now, sort of, and still not to the degree that anyone has smiled at him as many times as rian did in like that course of [1 min long First Scene Together] wherein also winston always gets off to a way worse start with people lmao............like everything about this seems Way Better And More Dialed Back And Grounded than usual, actually. but it’s that like, point of reference of “what’s Usual for winston and, more broadly, Billions” that maybe explains this weirdly strong language when all in 5x05 seemed chill actually

anyways like i said Sorry For Already Liking Rian/Winston This Much with my head start and all where like, i’m even tentatively looking forward to seeing where this goes, by “tentative” i also mean going [”i’ll kill you” the office.jpg] at billions where i am fully aware that maybe where this goes *is* a mess and not in like, just kind of a fun, non-melodramatic, not-treated-like-a-total-joke-but-also-not-that-big-a-deal way, where 5x05 could seem like Those Halcyon Days b/c everything from here out just devolves into an unappealing disaster.......but this is an unexpectedly solid start imo and like. even if this doesn’t become like this epic romance where they officially date and if rian does eventually depart the show by the end of the season, it can still just be Enjoyable and Fun for the characters and, god forbid, the viewers, where like, you don’t have to demand we be desperately invested with our entire life in this deadly serious heartwrenching epic romance, they can just kind of mess around and enjoy having a mutual attraction w/ this mathy rivalry and etc and it’s neither a tragedy of “the greatest love story of all time torn asunder” Or, truly god forbid,” this is a Whole Mess In A Bad Way b/c winston’s involved and ugh who could Really like him, being at all romantically entangled is an embarrassing mistake surely, ew cringe we hate him............like, cautiously optimistic in how like i always say that a Romantic Arc is just an easy/efficient way to develop both characters and it could certainly humanize winston an ounce in a show that treats him more like a walking algorithmic plot device and the thoughts of any viewers but us are limited to “winston annoying” basically........the show doesn’t seem to treat rian as a joke, so it seems possible that their mutual Romance in whatever way it unfolds could also be Not A Joke, which means winston’s part in it isn’t a joke, so that’s Some aspect of him for people to take seriously, for once..........like, the way his apparently-already-official crush played out in 5x05 *was* funny but it also didn’t seem like oh it’s a joke b/c his feelings are a total joke......it might seem that way if this *was* totally unrequited and going nowhere, but i somewhat get the sense that the interest is mutual even by the end of the ep, that didn’t strike me as a “shove off, it could Never Happen” shutdown from rian there, just like, hold off on that for rn maybe cue to rein it in a little, not just yet........anyways lmao i’m like “oh yeah i started this post about the baffling ex machina thing” but yeah the point is i think so far it’s pretty solid and i like it and am cautiously but [relative-to-billions level of Hopeful] about whatever developments we’re surely gonna get b/c it def sounds like this has Not ended with 5x05, but seriously @ billions i swear to god. yes so far the approach to winston’s crush here and even their unfolding mutual dynamique and dare i say, romantic interest, is being handled with an encouraging level of “this is Humorous but the characters / their feelings are not what’s being treated as A Total Joke or anything,” but who knows what will come next, this is billions and you can’t predict anything. fingers crossed about it all, though

[frumfrumfroo]

If Reylo becomes canon and if it's endgame/Kylo doesn't die, do you plan to follow the SW EU content which would probably include them, in the future?

Apart from enjoying the especially good bits people bring to the fandom, not really, tbh. I’ve never been much for the EU (except games), the films were a satisfying and complete story I was content with and mostly the added stuff didn’t appeal. And for my shippy fix, I’d rather read fanfic that is full-blown romance. I’ll stay vaguely abreast and probably check out anything that peaks my interest if it comes recommended. It depends on how they approach it.

Like I’ve said before, I don’t have high expectations for Ben’s characterisation being on point in most EU content. It hasn’t been so far. It’s very possibly not only that people don’t confront his contradictions enough and really think about his reactions rather than simplifying him down to a more familiar type, but maybe that he’s one of those characters where official stuff purporting to be continuing for-realsies-canon genuinely needs the actor’s input for the whole person to ring completely true even if what’s on the page is bang on. Or someone who has studied him and writes physicality in character detail at a level that really isn’t genre typical and I wouldn’t expect from most commissioned tie-in authors.

This example is probably useless to 99% of people reading this, but I’m thinking of Malcolm Tucker from The Thick of It. There’s text-only material ‘written’ by him and there’s an in-universe book, etc. and all of it is by the same writers as the show- but he never feels quite like himself. It lacks the spark of life. There’s this ineffable missing element, a counter-intuitive warmth and nobility with which Peter Capaldi plays him (and which the writers obviously never had in mind before he was cast) that gave him unexpected humanity and tremendouscharisma. The edge that made the character iconic (imo) is partly the total, ruthless cynicism of the writing being ever-so-slightly compromised by the insuppressible loveliness of the man playing him.

[mousieta]

Review: You Raise Me Up

Year: 2021 Country: Korea Platform: Viki This was a real gem of a show. The true brilliance was in casting Yoon Shi Yoon who always elevates everything he is in. The premise of the show: Do Yong Shik is a guy who peaked in High School is struck by impotence after years of hovering just above Rock Bottom as he keeps studying for and failing the civil service exams.

The show portrays him finding that bottom and, slowly, crawling his way up from it as he reaches out for help. That help, unfortunately, is in the shape of his first love and her ex-fiance which presents a host of conflicts and problems.

Though there are laughs, the writing is always compassionate to our lead and Yoon portrays him with so much depth and pathos. His depression is rendered complexly and there are not easy fixes, but rather small steps towards healing that require a network of support, both from his medical team and his best friend, Jennifer, a trans-gender woman. Yong Shik’s healing is rooted in the core of his character which makes this story entirely character driven, which is always my preference.

I was largely lackluster about the romance as it seemed more a tool/marker for our leads success. Like, I believed it but it generally had more red-flags than positives, imo but I accepted it for what it represented. (an AU in which his rivalry with the ex-fiance of the female lead/ his therapist leads to a slowburn relationship between them would be delicious and have the bonus of pairing Yoon Shi Yoon with Park Ki Woong so win/win, because everything is better if its Gay (tm))

Really, though, this show is better than the sum of its parts and was an enjoyable, engaging, and thoughtful watch.