i think about this scene constantly. this is probably the only time they’ve both been totally genuine and honest with each other ever. and they still don’t understand each other.

charlie has always loved the idea of her more than her. arguably their most romantic moment before this occurs in jersey shore, when she’s very literally not herself.

to the waitress, charlie isn’t just saying “i love you.” he’s said that he loves her thousands of times before. to her it’s deeper than that. to her he’s saying, “i love you (for the person that you are. i know your flaws and i love you in spite of them. i always will, no matter what you do, no matter how badly you fuck up)” and to a person as chronically lonely as the waitress is, who has been rejected and humiliated by her lovers time and time again, that’s everything she needs to hear.

and of course, on some level, this is what charlie thinks he means as well. but his “i love you” carries no more weight than the other thousands of times he’s said it to her. in saves the day, charlie’s ideal world is a satirized version of the stereotypical nuclear family, because charlie genuinely believes that that’s the life he wants.

like most of the gang, charlie’s adherence to social roles and expectations are inconsistent, even as he professes to believe strongly in their value. he is a proud american when it suits him, he is willing to be a father when it benefits him, and he is interested in the waitress only when it suits him to be interested in her. the waitress isn’t anybody special; she’s an attractive woman that charlie has decided is the epitome of everything he should be.

this is why jersey shore is the peak of their romantic relationship. because ultimately, while charlie is willing to and, at times, actively wants to love her, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that he doesn’t even like her.

he puts vitamins in her shampoo. he gets her fired from jobs he doesn’t like, and protects her on jobs he approves of (most blatant example of this is when he barks at a passing stranger who might steal her bike when she’s delivering indian food vs literally trying to have her stabbed at the fair). he is constantly trying to make her into somebody he likes being around.

to charlie, this “i love you” is just a statement of fact. loving her is something he should do, so he does. it’s yet another frivolous idea that has passed through his imagination, of no more real significance to charlie’s core identity than being a patriot is. to the waitress, this “i love you” is the only one that has ever mattered, to her, this is a breakthrough moment in which she finally, finally understands and connects with this man who has been stalking her for more than a decade.

it makes it hit all the harder when she realizes, when all is said and done, that she still doesn’t understand him at all.

it's been pointed out on here before that a lot of terf arguments are actually rooted in sexist idealology that feminists fought and died to unnormalise decades ago and that's its own kettle of fish but one thing i also find very frustrating about this so called 'radical' feminism is that it's so... defeatist? like the moment you categorically label an entire section of society as Bad and Inherently Evil then there's also the implication that nothing can be done about it, and it completely takes all accountability away. saying all men are evil is just another way of saying boys will be boys. he raped her because he's a man. he hit her because he's a man. he didn't listen because he's a man - it's almost offensively oversimplified. there's no point trying to fix this issue in society because men are just Like That, okay! so now what? it's not like they're going anywhere, so you just accept that 50% of the population are evil and will forever treat you terribly and there's nothing to be done about it bc they're biologically predisposed to it? like is that fr the argument here? you're soooo radical for that

🤘🎧⚡

macden fucking in season 5 theory coupled with dennis fell first mac fell harder makes me actively suicidal LIKEEEEE they were so so touchy in that era and so comfortable with each other and glenn played dennis so thoroughly gay and the suggestion that dennis was happy w fwb bc they’re codependent losers even tho at that point mac was so damn deep in the closet AND THEN AFTER MAC CAME OUTTTTT and dennis’ reactions to the gang/frank at mac being gay and mac not even being able to accept that he’s jonny and dennis still paying rent for mac and his apartment when he’s in north dakota and the suggestion over and over again that mac wants to address their feelings but dennis wants things to stay the same even tho neither of them are as happy as they could be at least they know and if they try things could go terrible wrong and they’ve been just roommates and just friends for 20odd years why change. anyway.

dominic sessa u are a superstar 🌟

steven got them for her

"tim needs to get a new mantle he didnt steal from his siblings" wrong. Say hello to the new huntress

2024 Chinese Grand Prix - Fernando Alonso

i think the reason why im so drawn to spirit tracks and pkmn scarvi is that having the legendary/princess as a companion rather than a goal that marks the games completion makes me feel satisfied the way i would after helping a friend

my brother always teases me about how I still havent finished botw after almost 7 years bc "id rather be out picking flowers" which i wont say is untrue. and yes i know Zeldas been holding off ganon for 100 years, yes i can get some sort of idea what her relationship with link was like by recalling memories and going through her diary. ive always loved botw for its unique storytelling and setting which makes it stand out, because it lets you get to know who you're saving.

but because theyre memories, it only works if theres something for the player to investigate that already happened. its retroactive (but effective nonetheless)

on the other hand, spirit tracks does something similar but instead of having the player try to piece together memories and interpret them as a spectator, you actually have an opportunity to get to know zelda yourself by talking to her and working together. besides making it a gameplay mechanic, giving the player control over how they interact with zelda makes it so much more personable.

and I find that making the goal feel personal instead of an obligation gives me more of a reason to work towards it. I know what kind of person botw zelda was but as the player, shes still very much a stranger to me. but spirit tracks zelda? thats my friend!!!! she invited me to go to the beach after we get her body back!!! i dont want to whip her to make her move faster thats mean :(

you know how hostage negotiators are trained to introduce themselves and get to know the person theyre negotiating with because its harder to hurt someone when you know what their favorite food is? its kinda like that, because it feels like im helping a friend than being told or led to do smth

and although i havent played scarvi myself, i feel an attachment to koraidon and miraidon even just watching playthrough clips because its like!! thats my weird scaly dog!! it loves sandwiches and we're friends!!! you know!!!!!!

more keykid things!!!!!!!!!!!! The design's based on my original player character avatar i used when i was active on khux with a few swaps (mainly cause i had no idea there was a moogle headband lol)

that one arashi post about presenting her as overtly feminine in fan media but not in a "trans women are only valid if they conform to traditional femininity" kinda way and more in a "happyele are a bunch of pussies for having a trans woman imply/state she wants to be more feminine in every sense of the word and then never letting her do so beyond socially" kinda way

Literally stop using the app. Stop using it. You know how ao3 has no app because of apple store fuckery so we all just type www.archiveofourown.org into our mobile browsers. Brother. Type in www.tumblr.com in there. There is not a single advantage I can think of to the app, except the increbily niche one where its better at pulling time stamps on deleted posts for some reason. Only they borked that too recently.

Stop using the app.

sigh...

i am a whore for turtlenecks.

and cardigans.

on men.

so its no surprise that since it entered my mind, that i need Baxter in those clothes.

better yet. have you seen Crowley from Good Omens? His modern clothing?

yeah.

look im not doing great. i need this man biblically in that black turtleneck and suit ensemble

you know what else is eating at me?

40 year old Baxter with his natural grey hair, glasses that suit his sharp features, cardigan, shirt and tailored pants ensemble, smile lines and crows feet from being so happy

if anyone wants to draw this i would love you forever more, otherwise he will need to just exist in my mind eye and continue not paying rent

its kind of funny how straight people can see two characters of the same sex devote their lives to each other, have their thoughts be consumed with one another, need to be with one another for every waking moment, need to be touching each other etc but think we're crazy for shipping them and "why can't characters just be friends"

esp if they have/had a romantic partner of the opposite sex as if they conveniently forget bi/pan people exist

hey i might be controversial but im not really feeling the 12th doctor so far