#then it was the literal brain surgery in starstruck | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

utilitycaster · 9 months

Note

thoughts re: skip/norman (also on the aso discourse the d20 fandom went through and also as a big skip/norman fan)

The ultimate problem that I see with the pc concept of skip/norman is that aso had heavy heavy themes of autonomy and "owning yourself", whether that's literally, through gunnie, or figuratively, through syd, margaret, etc. the leading question that was prompted by having one of the pcs literally being something that takes over a body and removes the original owner's control of it was just, WILD to me to tee up and then not explore.

norman was an asshole, for sure, but brennan and zac put just enough effort into making him a realistic person that the way doing brain surgery on him without consent was played straight for comedy felt a little strange. it is fascinating to me to discuss skip's position as a literal parasite in the galaxy and how he still deserves the right to exist and live, and how that intersects with norman's same rights, but aso just didn't have time for that.

and aso is a comedy, and one of my favorite seasons, so it's a pretty small issue that this is kind of shrugged off (that's where I disagree with the people who discoursed about it). like, I don't think that was what the season needed to be about. but, d20 in general is so committed to themes and philosophy uniting the pcs that the glaring hole that is the skip/norman of it all duct-taped over with "ahhh symbiosis is a thing" stands out. skip as a pc concept in the sense of his backstory isn't wildly dark to me (I mean, gunnie's is already pretty awful lmao), but in the sense of what he says in terms of the larger story, he feels a bit out of place.

there's a lot more to say here about how the Wurst crew's actions play into that given that he was their asshole boss, etc etc, but essentially: I thought skip/norman just kind of incidentally brought up some points via backstory/pc concept that were a little too complex for a 18 episode comedy season of dnd.

ps. pib fits perfectly into neverafter imo and I adore him completely

I'm going to be totally honest: I learned about this discourse re: Skip and autonomy long after it happened and my gut reaction was "well that's fucking stupid." I also haven't rewatched it and my memory for D20 seasons is often nowhere near as strong as for Critical Role.

I did not blink once at the concept for two reasons:

I'm familiar with sci fi and "creature that takes over the bodies of others" is a pretty standard trope, and not only that but one that has been played for both extreme horror and comedy. Which isn't to say you can't explore the concerns about autonomy but like...I do not find this to be remotely obligatory, which sort of removes all the concerns raised above. "Oh yeah, brain slugs, I know about those, one took over my cousin for a few years" is to me an entirely valid way in-universe of dealing with it. Cannot stress enough that at no point did this seem weird or horrifying to me. Which doesn't mean that it's not valid for others to feel that way, but it just...did not even register as a thought people would have, because it felt so utterly organic to the genre and universe.

I'm also familiar with actual play and Zac and Brennan were quite careful not to abuse the possession mechanic (to the point of creating Norm so that Zac would essentially have his own PC to possess as his real PC) so I have autonomy concerns re: the metagame.

I will also admit that I found the theme to much more be a case of finding one's place within the tough universe in which the characters must live, rather than autonomy and self-ownership, which puts Skip's story well in step with the rest of the group as he fights against his father's wishes. I should also add that I don't see any disjoint in Starstruck being a comedy. All D20 seasons are comedic; even the more serious ones are still comedic in tone and choice. They've also gone extremely dark at points, and that's a choice one can make in comedy, and in my opinion, a valid one.

#answered #thespoonisvictory

13 notes · View notes

bonesstiel · 1 year

Note

Hi!! i'm asking a bunch of people but do you have any destiel au best friend to lovers fic recs???? pleaseeeeee (no abo) thank youuuuu!!!! or just any destiel AU (no abo) if you don't have any best friend to lovers fics? thank you so much!!

you bet your ass i have au recs!! i love to put those guys in situations. i tend to read longer fics because im insane, so most of these are over 100k. i feel like i have more best friends to lovers fics that are hiding in my bookmarks, so this might get updated later

Friends to Lovers

More Than Kisses - epistolary, two-person love triangle where dean and cas have been friends since they were teens. my Ao3 notes: "the penpal one!! book nerds!!! baltimore!!!"

alone together - quarantine fic, dean and cas are roommates, now forced to be around each other 24/7. cas pines, thinking that dean is straight

Carry You Home - non-linearish baseball AU, starting when dean and cas are in college. also: secret relationship! my AO3 notes: "i don’t understand baseball but OH FUCK I LOVED THIS SO MUCH"

Starstruck - dean and cas were childhood best friends, and now cas is a single father to claire and jack and dean is a movie star. dean comes out, and in the process references a childhood crush that sounds a lot like cas.

Playing With Fire - best friends to fwb in a D/s relationship. part of a larger series with other ships and there's a threesome, so watch out for that if its not your cuppa.

General AUs

Breathe Easy For A While - country musician dean starts working with producer cas. technically friends to lovers, but more of a meet-cute.

Prince Of My Heart - 400k+ words of a royalty/the bachelor AU. my AO3 notes: "red tbis entire thing in less than 24 hours while sick <3," which i consider a rave review

FROTUS (wip) - it would not be a bonesstiel rec list if i didnt include this fic it scratches my little tww and rwrb loving political science major brain right. cas is the president of the US and dean is a restaurant owner in Kansas. if u read nothing else on this list read FROTUS

The Way to a Man's Heart is Through Chlamydia - exactly what it sys on the tin. after a one night stand, dean has to track cas down to let him know he has an STD.

Let Me Come Home - the author's summary says it best: "It would be very inconvenient for Castiel to get a crush on Claire's foster parent."

Any Little Heartbreak - fwb to partners hospital AU, so so good i literally have quotes from this on sticky notes on my wall

What I Need - i love hospital AUs and i think this is my favorite. cas is a surgeon and dean is the only surgery tech he's willing to work with.

I have a million more, so just ask if you want more of a certain trope!! in going through my bookmarks for this i have discovered that i apparently hoard bdsm aus, hospital aus, kid fics, and two person love triangle fics.

#destiel #rec list #fanfic #fics #destiel rec list #recs #bones recs #lmk if any of the links lead to the wrong fic or anything i didnt double check them lol #once i get my shit together enough to make a comprehensive rec list system its all over for you bitches #asked and answered

7 notes · View notes

easymarkforevilredheads · 3 years

Text

I'm finally watching the new Grey's episode (The Great Return of One Addison Montgomery) so. Reaction time (under the cut):

- Amelia baby you look GORGEOUS please marry me.

- Bestie as an insult YES agreed

- She's already so giddy about the videocall with Kai???? No heterosexuality on sight and I for one am loving it

- The whole "is it gonna be weird" thing, I love it because she's literally all the viewers and I'm glad it's semi-addressed, indirectly lmao

- Oh l*nk showed up... please just go

- He's starting to get on my nerves as much as meredith did in s15-16

- Teddy Altman. I love you. You're a sweetheart and you deserve so much better.

- mer x hayes I SHIP YOU DAMN IT (she still gets on my nerves tho)

- HELLO ADDISON MA'AM STEP ON ME OH MY GOD

- LOVE the s1 easter egg line YES BABEEE

- Bailey looks so happy to have Addie around BESTIES I'M TELLING YOU

- Starstruck interns ((or residents, whatever, I'm lost)... mood. Intern taking pictures w their phone... MOOD.

- I love the new plastics doctor would gladly let her destroy me

- Yes Richard brag about Addie she DESERVES IT

- Helm honey i like u but stfu i will not tolerate Addison slander

- BADASS GROUNDBREAKING SURGERY BY ADDISON FORBES MONTGOMERY WE LOVE THIS FOR HER WE LOVE THIS

- yay for schmidt i do love him!!

- "get me some coffee" THE MARK SLOAN S2 VIBES IM SCREAMING I LOVE ADDIE

- we LOVE ADDISON IN THE OR and THE SCRUB CAP my heart can't take it

- I missed bailey so much actually like top 5 grey's characters ever

- ooh trouble in or paradise... "get me meredith grey" fair enough babe

- that's an interesting friendly greeting! and grey told helm to chill with the defensiveness thank GOD I was rolling my eyes ngl

- AMELIA ON THAT CALL WITH KAI I AM LOVING THIS. LOVING THIS. ALL THE LITTLE THINGS AND THE SUBTEXT I DAMN WELL HOPE THEY'RE BUILDING UP THE TENSION ON PURPOSE

- also Kai please top me

- Amelia is such a dork I love her to death

- the guided meditation....... I am looking. that's queer flirting. I will not be debating it.

- competitive Meredith/Addison banter and it is NOT about a man everyone make a wish we never thought this would happen

- ok fully honestly: I don't think i can ship current day meradd bc i have way too many issues with meredith but. That blood clot scene could make me consider it.

- why does Teddy always end up having to fix the men around her she deserves better

- "there was tension" ok maybe these interns/residents/whatever are gonna be shipping them and that will be FUN

- sidenote Addie you still give me bi vibes no matter how many years go by

- THE ELEVATOR SCENE I WILL C R Y i am so moved and so grateful for Kate Walsh's RANGE. I missed it. The depth she gives to her character was so necessary for the show and I will write more about this later but these kind of scenes are precisely why I tell you Meredith needs her as her counterpoint

- "Richard will understand" FUCK THAT'S A DIRECT PARALLEL TO WHEN ADDISON LEFT STOP IM GOING TO CRY

- Helm I officially don't like you

- Addison wearing a ponytail brain going brrrrr

- ADDISON HAS EAR PIERCINGS?????? I'M COMBUSTING

- love her speech about work conditions yes Addie revolutionary edition

- Teddy please give me a snowcone you're so ADORABLE

- saw Amelia and Addison in the same frame and had to pause for a minute.

- ok here we go.

- HAPPY LITTLE SCREAMS AND RUNNING TO EACH OTHER THEY ARE EVERYTHING I LOVE THEY MEAN THE WORLD RO ME OMG

- SHUT UP THAT 360 OF THE LONGEST HUG IN GA HISTORY WAS FOR US PRIVATE PRACTICE FANS I CANT I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I LITERALLY SCREA%MED

- FACE HOLDING PARALLEL I AM TEARS I AM PAIN I AM ADDIMELIA TRASH FIRST AND FOREMOST

- Amelia feeling awkward i love you baby

- (they're both so hot also like wtf)

- It feels SO GOOD to see Addison meet Derek's kids it's NECESSARY for the very foundation of the show's plot

- RAINBOWS,,,,,,, THINKING THOUGHTS OK

- guys addison/amelia/meredith is THE power trio they should be leading the show

#lou watches grey's anatomy #grey's hate-watch tag #addison montgomery #amelia shepherd #addimelia #i'm fucking CRYING how am I supposed to let Addison go again #greys anatomy spoilers

22 notes · View notes

virgilmydarkstrangeson · 5 years

Text

Trying to Survive: Chapter 32

Summary: Virgil just wants to live as himself. There are bumps in the road, but hey, life isn’t easy. Pairing: Analogical Trigger Warnings: Anxiety, panic attacks, food mention, mentions of surgery and hospitals, if you see anything else tell me! Word Count: 838

~~~

Logan sighed to himself, as he scrolled through messages on his phone and very slowly picked at a sandwich. It was his lunch break, although it would soon be over, and all around him were the sounds of chattering teenagers.

It had been four weeks. Four weeks since Virgil had sent the obviously hurried text confirming that he was okay, that his surgery two weeks prior had gone well, but he didn’t know when he would be able to leave the hospital. Logan knew this, yet he couldn’t stop himself from feeling slightly sad at Virgil’s absence from his life. He was aware that Virgil would probably be out soon, but it was the prospect of not knowing when that would be that had Logan feeling so lonely.

One of the lights on the phone on his desk flashed orange, so he pressed the button to answer the incoming call, allowing it to go to speakerphone.

“Mr Picani?” the receptionist that Logan still hadn’t learned the name of asked, her voice sounding somewhat unsure. “There’s someone here who says he has to see you right now.” Logan glanced at the clock before sighing, pinching his nose.

“Tell him that I will see him in my next free period in around an hour.”

“B-but sir, he says that this is really important.” There was a pause. “He said to give you his name, uh, Sanders?” Logan froze.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, sir, do you still want him to wait?” Logan immediately hung up the phone, grabbing his own mobile before walking as fast as he could without running. For once, his brain couldn’t process what was happening, he just knew that he had to reach the reception. He had to.

It took a couple of minutes before Logan was at the pair of glass doors leading into the reception, and Logan saw him. Virgil was there, his hair looking considerably longer with dark brown roots showing in his now faded purple hair. He was carrying a large bag, which probably had all of the personal items he had taken into hospital with him, and he was still wearing the hoodie Patton had gifted him, as well as the pendant Logan himself had given him, despite the weather now heating up. Logan was frozen, he was stuck, just looking at Virgil, who was looking around in the reception, fiddling with his fingers, until he was looking into silver eyes that were wide in surprise.

With shaky legs, Logan walked into the reception, his eyes never breaking contact with Virgil’s, and they just stood, looking at each other. Time seemed to freeze until Virgil dropped his bag and moved to hug Logan, and Logan instinctively wrapped his arms around Virgil’s shoulders, pulling him closer. It felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders and stomach, as they just stood in each other’s embrace.

“Hi,” Virgil mumbled against Logan, sounding as if he was about to cry, and Logan wouldn’t blame him as he himself was also feeling teary-eyed. He had never felt so strongly about another person before. “I know you’re working but I couldn’t wait-”

“It’s okay,” Logan cut Virgil off, before pulling away enough to properly look at Virgil’s face. He was, in fact, crying, but he also had one of the largest smiles Logan had ever seen on his face. “I missed you too, more than I could explain.” Virgil let out a small laugh, wiping his eyes on the sleeve of his hoodie.

“That’s really gay, you big nerd.” Logan couldn’t help but also let out a laugh, keeping his hands resting gently on Virgil’s shoulders.

“As two men in a relationship, we are gay, Virg.” The pair smiled at each other at that, but before Virgil could say anything else, the bell rang throughout the entire building, and Logan sighed. “I have to teach a class now, I’m so sor-”

“It’s fine Lo, I can wait. If you’re not already sick of seeing me.” Virgil joked, and Logan merely shook his head as he laughed slightly.

“I have a free period after this next class, I’ll be back as soon as I can.” In a swift movement, Logan gently kissed Virgil on the lips in goodbye before heading back through the glass doors, leaving a very starstruck Virgil frozen in the middle of the reception area.

When Logan did come back, they went off to grab coffee together, hand in hand, and Virgil talked about how his surgery had gone, and the whole while Logan couldn’t help but notice how different Virgil looked, and not in that area. As they sat and talked, Virgil’s posture was a lot straighter, and he wasn’t keeping his hands against his chest the whole time. His smile was also a lot wider than it had been before, and if Logan said that the sight didn’t at least slightly melt his heart, he would’ve been lying. Virgil was here, and happy, and that was all Logan needed.

~~~

TtS Taglist: @exquisitestardust @romanamongthestars @darknightvirgil @coffee-spice @faacethefacts @ten-cent-thoughts @a-whole-lot-of-screaming @roboticpenmanship @samuelcwboslyn @sylveon-lover-crazyfangirl1415 @louvrejpeg @allycat31415 @aquilacalvitium @midnightalex12 @sinful-stars @princeanxious @randomperson0055 @snowcherri @individual-charlie @certifiedfangirlluna @lowkeyvirgilobsessed @cdragontogacotar @enderperson43 @your-username-is-unavailable @awkward-avocado-of-death @lesliealiceinwonderland @mewmewmika @whatcanisay-imafan-der @dorkanddrearykay @kingalexdreaming @queerly-anxious @logically-emotional @illogical-anxieties @hamster-corn @canadian-crofters @astraastro @ab-artist @raygelkitty @featuredfander @confinesofpersonalknowledge @kameraishere @starry-eyed-haiku-dreamer @secretlyanxiouspersona @cjcipher234 @booksandpages @thestoryofme13 @kri-marie-b-the-nb @hissesssss @they-call-me-anxiety @the-literal-fae @ravenclawunicorn1 @crownswriter123 @avvkvvardmermaid @never-the-maknae @dannerism @nightmareelmst @infinitysgrace @strongindependentcheesecake @caffeinated-casper @lucifer-in-my-head @theresneverenoughfandoms @pixiedylan @no-life-no-problem @periwinklewinter @edgykatdoesthething @aleicim @soft-boy-patton @jazensnothuman456 @band-be-boss-blog @sanders-s1des-blog @quietwords-loudthoughts @potassium-over-dose @derp-a-la-sheep @imbasicallypunklogan @theitalianalchemist @meep-meep-motherfucker @emily-in-wonderland @a-little-bit-of-ace @pastelprinceofthestars @hemooryctolagus @kiwisandsprinkles @unikornavenger @shadowsfromthesun @lotusthatexists @echomist13 @sopi-montezzz @noahlovescoffee @a-fander-named-skittles @kitthepan @podcastsandcoffee @sherlock-lives-on-bakerstreet @everyday-emo-stuff @jadekitten1 @singingjo @anxiouslogan24 @thecripplingloneliness @youridisfake @squishyturtle44 @luckybanana948 @peanut0303 @fuck-spock @sombraplayslazertag @justasadchildwithablog @a-heartbroken-patton @theunoriginaldaisy @onesmolegg @euphoni-um-no @flamingfawkes @lunalikesgamesandstuff @hitsmetheultimatetrash @why-would-i-tell-youu2 @anxiousvirgilsanderss @grey-lysander @megamysticmermaid @introverted-happiness @max-is-tired @lizziepopanime

#thomas sanders #virgil sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #analogical #trans!virgil

131 notes · View notes