I enjoy reading, watching (TV shows), and listening (to awesome bands) and am 500% sure these fandoms are leading me to insanity if they haven't already
(the asterisk on has done nothing wrong (is a war criminal) is to clarify that the war crime in question is doing accelerationist terrorism against the world remembers gang. i will not take seriously people who pretend not to know why thua said what he did about akkayan 🥰)
anyway he's my special little perfect angel loml xoxo
I’ve been prompted by @kittyann to give my opinion on the KanThua relationship but little did she know that she’ll hearing from the ‘Thua has never done any wrong’ club vice president (the president being one Sir Kanlong who’s been nothing but whipped boyfriend for the last 10 episodes). So consider this your warning lol.
But here is why I think Thua and Kanlong have been set up by the narrative to act/react in exactly the way they did. Let’s start with the easy bit: Kanlong accepting Thua for all that he did and proudly declaring them as boyfriends.
Kanlong and Thua have a special bond, it’s been established multiple times in the show. Their friendship isn’t particularly physical or suspicious so the narrative implies that all the teasing they face from the very get go comes particularly from this close bond they already share that everyone is aware of from before the show starts.
Kanlong next sets himself up as Thua’s caretaker by becoming Bruce Wayne [almost directly as a result of realizing that Ayan was starting to take that place when he spies on them at the Cafe For All] and his primary concern with this curse coming back has always been the way it will affect Thua. He is seen on multiple occasions to warn Thua against gaining the wrath of the curse [don’t hang out with Ayan, don’t go to the protests! Don’t join World Remembers!].
And then there is:
1) Kanlong has once already chosen Thua over everyone else. He says fuck it to BOTH the Prefect Club who were collecting names of protesters AND to the curse which we know he genuinely believed in and chooses to stand by Thua.
2) The way he inadvertently sets up this challenge for himself by saying this and Thua’s realization that Kanlong will one day find out Thua's true nature and will have to ask himself the exact same question:
So, I feel like going into Ep.11 we know that Kanlong’s love for Thua would be tested and STRONG evidence suggesting that Kanlong’s love will prevail, that he will see Thua for all he is and still find someone worth loving.
But what about Thua? How could he betray his friends? How could he out Akk so publicly while knowing what that struggle is like, while being bullied for it himself. [Thua defense squad firing away under the cut]
Well I think we should take his words for face value in this and if you sit with a little, in a way that the editing for ep.11 didn’t allow then you can realize two things:
1) He was betrayed first. Can you believe the audacity of this bitch to come out here and threaten Thua like this? Ayan knows what he's doing here. He's telling Thua that he won't stand by him if Thua continues with this line of questioning. He's telling Thua he's choosing Akk.
AYAN - the boy who lives in light, who is passionate and believes in justice in such a compelling way that has stirred even Thua who believes in keeping his head down, the boy Thua let in, the boy he confided in about his mental health - is saying this to him.
Thua was second to shout 'release the students', Ayan was the first - Thua is following Ayan, Ayan is the reason he cares so much, that he feels so much responsibility. All that whispering they did in the beginning was more than just posturing for Akk and Kanlong to feel jealous over. They're partners and exposing the crimes of the prefect club was their shared goal.
How is he supposed to take this?
Thua KNEW that Kanlong was Bruce Wayne and STILL gives Kanlong that ultimatum - come to the protest to see me (or don't and stick with the prefect club). I repeat Thua was ready to sacrifice his ride or die, the guy who helped him get through his father’s death, the guy he was in love with over the protest.
And Ayan has the audacity to choose Akk.
[Who is Akk even to Ayan? Is there any evidence that Thua has seen that suggests that Akk is anything but a hot piece of ass to Ayan?]
How is he supposed to interpret Ayan holding his pin in support of Akk while Akk was getting the award other than as a betrayal to their cause? How is he supposed to interpret Ayan falling for Akk as anything but his moral demise?
[And isn't Thua right? Hasn't Akk corrupted Ayan? Hasn't Ayan given up on making Akk tell the truth the second they become boyfriends?]
And it's powerful that he doesn't hold himself to a different standard than he does Akk and Ayan. In fact, he insists that Kanlong should abandon him because it's what he believes Ayan should have done to Akk.
2) Outing Akk was not on his agenda and Akk’s sexuality and his crisis over it came second to Thua’s real agenda: protecting The World Remembers gang. He says as much and I have no reason not to believe him
People who say Akk and Thua had stooped to the same levels has really lost sight of the fact that Akk almost runs the protestors over with a car. He endangers their lives time and time again and suggesting that Head Boy Thua did the same thing is an insult to everyone's intelligence.
Thua has thrown red ink over their heads and a sinister looking banner. He has taken their doll outside and lit it on fire. Thua is flashy for sure and he’s so good at it that he’s managed to scare the gang more than Akk ever has.
[Which is I think why he was so shaken up after lighting the dolls on fire – I don’t think up until that point he’d realized that there are unintended negative consequences to his actions. I think he’s had to contend with the fact that the things he’s doing is compromising him and his own values and he still chooses to go through with it because it was the only path he saw to justice]
But my dudes, Thua lit a bonfire while Akk was about to commit arson [lighting a HUGE fire INSIDE an occupied building?? He was endangering himself, Ayan, the guards, TEACHER SANI]. Thua’s actions by design came with 0 chances of bodily harm to the gang or anybody else.
Is it possible now to understand the righteous anger that Thua must have felt when he had his little outburst? They were going to end the day with the protesters being silence AGAIN, with Akk who’s avoided being charged with voluntary manslaughter by the skin of his teeth being rewarded by not JUST the corrupt system BUT ALSO the one who was supposed to fight against it.
Does his hostility towards Akk not make sense? Does his bitterness towards Akk and Ayan's relationship not make sense? When Akk can look so determined and shamelessly ask him this question - do you not feel Thua's anger a little bit?
[Answer: It's YOU! and your stupid BOYFRIEND! That's why Head Boy Thuaphu is in this mess!]
How does he NOT bring up Akk and Ayan’s relationship? When it’s the direct cause of Thua losing his biggest ally. When it’s the reason why he’s hurting, why he was abandoned, why justice was abandoned. How can Thua see Akk as anything but a cunning siren, not worthy of sympathy?
I'm glad everyone sees that it was wrong of Thua to forcefully out Akk but what about the other gay dudes? The visible ones that were being bullied and targetted BY Akk and the administration. Or have we forgotten WHY he outs them:
But here’s the thing, he does see Akk’s pain and even as he’s ready to metaphorically set everything on fire he takes the out Wat gives him and he backs down.
Thua was never out to get revenge on Akk even though he had every right to do so – we really need to keep in perspective that Akk almost ran over the protesters with a car and no amount of mental breakdowns and being repressed will change the absolute horror of those series of actions. So when Wat appeals to that side of him: let Akk go and we’ll back you up on helping the protestors - a particularly skillful negotiation that Wat does in the fly of the moment - Thua takes it and leaves.
Thua to me is an incredibly compassionate individual, wicked smart and a very effective activist and his dedication to the cause transcends personal desire and gain. Thua put his ideals, his own view of himself, his position at the school, his love - everything - on the line to protect the World Remembers Gang. This is how strongly he believed in the protestor’s rights and their cause. Ayan wishes he could be half the revolutionary that Thuaphu is.
At the end of ep.11 we as the audience are posed with the same conundrum that the narrative poses to Sir Kanlong: Can you really see Thua for all he is and still not find someone worth loving?
Sirius:You’ve been buried in this Prison of books, paper, dust and not-really-pleasant smells for hours….. what are you doing?!
Remus:I don’t know, Padfoot, what kind of activity so mysterious and complex do you think I’m doing in the library? Try to guess.
Sirius:Oh please, Don’t tell me you’re Studying… WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SO STRICT, DWEEB, PREFECT-TO-BE, BOOKWORM?
Remus: Do you mean “diligent”?
Sirius:Yeah, whatever! And no, don’t smile, it wasn’t a compliment.
(a special thanks to my friend @hiyokoven, who was so helpful in writing this! :) )
James: So I'm thinking we all need to dye our hair red and gold.
Remus: You're not serious.
Sirius: No, but I am!
2nd year:
James: Peter, the joke's gotten pretty old, don't you think it's time to stop?
Peter: Oh come on James, don't be so serious, that's this one's job! *points to Sirius*
3rd year:
James: (polyjuiced to look like Sirius) Ok, so you're sure you can ace my Astrology exam?
Sirius: (polyjuiced to look like James) As sure as you are about my Potions exam!
Remus: I can't believe you're actually going through with this. I thought you were joking.
James: Moony, I have never been this Sirius in my life.
Remus: I hate you all.
4th year:
Sirius: Hey Moony, I don't think I've ever heard you make a joke about my name.
Remus: Puns are the lowest form of humor.
Peter: Bullshit! You make other puns all the time!
Remus: Maybe I just don't like going for the low-hanging fruit.
James: Hey now, I'll have you know I take my puns very seriously!
Sirius: I do everything Sirius-ly.
Remus: *sighs*
5th year:
Lily: Why don't any of you ever use the word "serious?"
Sirius: They can't say it with a straight face anymore. It's a Sirius problem.
Remus: *rolls his eyes, smiling* You're awful.
6th year:
Lily: *storms in, glaring at James* Singing roses? Delivered in class? Are you fucking serious?
Remus: No, I'm fucking Sirius.
Sirius: ...Wait, that's what you meant when you said you wanted to wait until the right moment to tell them? You were letting me mope about keeping a secret from our friends for weeks, just so you could make that joke?
You have a thing at 2:00 PM so you set a reminder for 1:00 PM because you don’t want to be late, but you should eat by 12:00 PM. That means you should start preparing food by 11:30 AM, but you want to double check or confirm the appointment before 11:00 AM before everyone goes to lunch. So if you want to finish your other tasks by 10:00 AM, you ought to start at 8:00 AM, which means you’ve got to wake up at 7:30 AM and you may as well get ready to go out then ahead of time, and that’s how something that starts at 2:00 PM effectively starts at 7:30 AM and lasts the entire day.
Imagine when Sirius realises he's in love with Remus.
But can you just imagine? This is Sirius Black, who’s never seen love, never even really felt love, until that dork James Potter ends up in the same dorm as him. So when he falls in love with Moony, he’ll already be halfway gone when he finally realises it’s happened. Like, he’ll unconsciously be dressing himself in Remus’s clothes one morning and he’ll look over and the light will hit Moony Just Right, and fuck. He’s so fucking in love Remus Lupin he might just have a mini freak out in the bathroom. But then he’ll realise something else; how the bloody hell is he going to get Remus to love him back? He’s not really sure how ‘courting’ works but he’s at least 75% sure that shackling Remus to his side in an arranged marriage, like his parents, is not going to work. And the only other example of this kind if thing is James fucking Potter, who’s been rejected more times than anyone can bloody count. But he has to try, doesn’t he? And that’s how the flowers start. Not just any kind of flower. Fucking lupins. There’s so many flowers being delivered to Moony that Peter actually develops an allergy by just being in close proximity. And then the declarations start. At first it was kind of funny, especially when Professor McGonagall was talking about the 'delicate process of human transfiguration’ and Sirius loudly declares that 'Moony is the only delicate process for me.’ But then History of Magic happens and suddenly Moony is now a 'glorious bloodbath’ which hits a little too close for comfort. And James knows straight away wtf is going on. Sirius did steal his tactics after all. And suddenly instead of planning pranks they’re planning elaborate displays of affection, half of which end with either one if them proposing naked. But its not until Sirius belts out the lyrics, 'YOU ARE MY MOONSHINE, MY ONLY MOONSHINE! YOU MAKE ME HAPPY WHEN SKIES ARE GAY *cough* GREY!!!’ that Remus finally has enough of the whole ridiculous thing and just plants one on Sirius right their in the fucking dining room (much to the rest of the schools abject relief). And James just stand there like; a fucking KISS? that’s all it takes?!?!? It’s safe to say that for the next few months, Lily Evans’ mouth is far to occupied to be muttering hexes at James Potter.
Reality: James is a huge fucking nerd, okay. He frequently and obsessively studies obscure, difficult spells. And he masters them. He definitely pulls all nighters until he has certain potions or charms down. He probably fanboys over weird wizard pranksters. He buys zonkos clothing merch and wears it with pride. He’s a nerd.
***
Misconception: Remus is the quiet, reserved, and largely unwilling fourth marauder.
Reality: Remus is a devious little shit with a sarcastic wit that is so honed it usually flies right over people’s heads. He’s a liar, he’s been lying for his entire life. But that hasn’t made him all ‘woe is me’ sad boy aesthetic (although he can get a little edgy at times) but it has made him resourceful, ruthless and a master of 'cover story’ spinning. It’s not that he isn’t as much of a prankster as the other three, it’s that he doesn’t get caught as much.
***
Misconception: Peter is dumb.
Reality: fuck you Peter is not stupid. Man managed to play even dumbledore and the rest of the order. He may not be academically as smart as the other marauders but Peter is a twisty little bastard and that’s why they loved him. He’s the kind of person who will only really pick up something if it actually interests him and academics? Doesn’t really interest him. Prankstering and all that lovely underhanded shit? Yeah, yeah it does.
***
Misconception: Sirius is a fuck boi.
Reality: Dude. Dude. Sirius came from a strict, pureblood family. You think they even acknowledged sex? You fucking bet that when Sirius asked 'where do babies come from?’ Walburga was all 'babies are dragged onto doorsteps by dying house elves who know they have failed their masters by dying and want to make up for it’. They probably thought sex was debasing and sinful or some shit. Sirius grew up in this. Sirius was fucking immersed in this. (I fully believed that when he got to Hogwarts he was that kid who 'discovered’ swearing and then got it completely wrong like the chick in the Paul movie 'fuckaroo that was the best tittyfarting sleep I have ever had’) He blushes every single time Remus says cock. He is completely oblivious to come ons unless they are blatant af. He once squeaked when Fabian Prewett slapped his ass after a quidditch match. Sirius Black is a prude and it’s fucking beautiful.
Modern AU where Pansy’s father is some chess grandmaster who has this gorgeous daughter that many people have a crush on and a lot of them pretend to be interested in chess just to study under Pansy’s father and get closer to her, meanwhile there is Ron Weasley who’s actually there for the chess and romantically uninterested in Pansy, and Draco got all mad and indignant for Pansy like “how the hell isn’t he interested in you” and Pansy’s just baffled “why do you care so much” and Blaise is like “oh he just thinks if you two dated he’ll have a chance to cozy up to Weasley’s best friend Potter”
meanwhile once Ron accidentally mentions Harry’s apparent interest in Draco Malfoy and so Pansy tells him about her conversation with Draco and says that “we should fake-date for their sake” and Ron’s a good friend who worries about Harry never getting to know Malfoy if the only thing he does is trying to follow Malfoy subtly so he agrees to Pansy’s plan
at this point there are multiple ways things can go lol