I like Snape. He's like one of my favorite characters of all time. I will always defend Snape.
Harry should not have named his kid Albus Severus though. Not for any ideological reasons, but because it sounds fucking stupid.
Can you imagine having to yell that name on a playground? "James ✨️! Lily 🌼! ALBUS SEVERUS! Time to go!" Good gravy, to have your siblings be given normal names like James and Lily and you're stuck with Albus Severus. Not only that, but it's a double-barrel name. His full first name is Albus Severus. This kid is supposed to be in the Harry Potter universe, not Petticoat Junction.
Yeah, yeah, the Wizarding world has weird names, but "Severus Snape" "Draco Malfoy" "Sirius Black" "Albus Dumbledore" all have a beautiful rhythm. Albus Severus Potter does not. It's clunky. It's unappealing.
Dumbledore has like 12 different middle names, Brian being one of them. Harry could have picked one of those to honor him and make "Severus" a proper middle name like "Sirius" for James and "Luna" for Lily. Brian Severus Potter sounds so much better imo. James, Brian, and Lily makes more sense.
I used to think people that hated a character sm that it affected their enjoyment of a show were exaggerating and annoying.
But now I'm watching a multi-seasons show and there's that one character that always makes me grind my teeth when he comes on screen and I don't think I ever hated a character as much as I do now like bro gtfo stop talking, stop being part of the plot
Omg, yes, the funniest thing about this character is that Joss Whedon based him on himself. Like, his direct quote is something like, "yeah I was the guy that girls only wanted to be best friends with and a complete loser, and that's Xander except he's funnier." And if Whedon thinks Xander is FUNNIER than himself then that really explains all the bad humor in the Justice League movie. Whedon's behavior towards his female actresses really explains Xander's behavior towards women (like, even in his dream sequence in Season 4, all the women are either reduced to sex objects who are attracted to him -- including his lesbian best friend and her girlfriend and Buffy's mom! -- or they are infantilized like Buffy and Anya, his actual girlfriend at the time!) The fact that the actor also turned out to be shitty is really just the cherry on top for this character.
I can understand villains who seek immortality if they're from pseudo-medieval inspired time periods or villains from universes that clearly operate on physics completely divorced from our own, but Voldie was raised Muggle in the 20th century. And it's not like our real-world physics don't operate in the HP universe; they clearly do, there just also happens to be a form of magic that Muggles cannot access.
My point being is that the theory of Heat Death was conceived in 1851. Voldie was born in the 1920s. He had to have known that one day the planet would be subsumed by the sun, that the stars would twinkle out, that the universe would reach maximum entropy until it imploded and this dude still thought he wanted to live forever. Forever includes getting your atoms shredded, my friend.
I doubt his pureblood followers would have any knowledge of Muggle science, but Snape must have been like, "... Have you *really* thought this plan through?"
Nobody is obligated to write femslash as "activism." Actual feminism doesn't involve policing what women choose to create in their leisure time. That is actual misogyny.
Wrong writing femslash is actually mandatory and the only way society can progress forward
The barbarians are at the door. There's only one thing I can do. I finish typing my last paragraph. Rei and Usagi kiss. With tongues. Everyone in the Moon Kingdom cheers. I feel light start to pour in from the window outside. The sounds of the angry horde quiet. Femslash has saved us all.
I don't know if Severus and Lily would've stayed friends if there was never a war. I like to believe that he would've never called her a mudblood, but I still think they would've drifted apart. Especially if Lily had eventually shown interest in James. Severus doesn't need to be in love with Lily to still dislike her boyfriend. Many people don't like their best friend's partner.
Maybe they stopped seeing each other often after graduating from Hogwarts but came back together to celebrate the big milestones: weddings, births, promotions, etc. There are childhood best friends that stay close to each other forever, but I don't think that would be Severus and Lily.
Whoops, haha, I accidentally posted this the first time on my Sims 4 account. My bad.
I don't know if Lily would have ever gotten together with James if there was never a war. Lily married and got pregnant at the age of nineteen, and while that wasn't necessarily uncommon in the 70s, having a "I might die at any moment because of my blood status" is definitely going to push people into taking huge risks like marrying boy right out of school that she had been dating for what? Less than a year? They only got together their seventh year right? And that’s after at least five years of hating him.
I’ve got headcanons about James and Lily lol, and I think part of Lily’s initial attraction to him is, yes, he’s hot and a Quidditch star, she’s a teenage girl haha, but also because James presents himself as this anti-Dark fighter, a pureblood who champions Muggleborns. The schoolyard has become a reflection of the battles taking place outside Hogwarts. If there was no war, if James couldn’t make the people around him buy into this narrative that the weird, loner kid is secretly an evil wizard who wants to kill all Muggles, and only he, James Potter, is willing to do something about it, then what else is there? Just a run-of-the-mill bully, and that’s probably less appealing to Lily, especially a Lily who doesn’t grow up in a climate of war and fear and is afraid for her own life.
So, I can see them drifting apart as Lily is pulled more into the popular crowd, but I can also see them coming back together as they go on to pursue higher education, maybe sharing a flat together as roommates, Severus finding his people among serious academics, Lily wearing Wizarding robes with 1980s shoulder pads, and them just having fun. But I can never see a war-free Lily dating James, a boy who threatened to blackmail her into going out with him, unless she literally thought she was going to die at any moment, knew that the moment she stepped off the Hogwarts Express for the last time she would be entering a warzone, and decided “What the hell? What have I got to lose?” at the one boy who has been pestering her since first year and who had seemingly stopped being a bully (seemingly, of course, since we know he hadn’t really changed and just made an effort of hiding his bullying from Lily).
I love shipping Severus with the marauders. My favorite is Severus and Sirius and my least favorite is Severus and Remus.
I didn't know why I don't like Severus/Remus as much as Severus/Sirius, and Severus/James, until recently. It's because Remus feels indifferent to Severus. He was polite to him, but his actions felt false and like he was just the peacemaker. He made no effort to befriend Severus or apologize.
While Sirius and James never apologized (in canon), they were both obsessed with Severus. And that can work in any fic. Where there is hatred there is love. Indifference does not lead to strong feelings. I need that spark of passion and obsession, but Severus/Remus never gives me that.
Same. I think there could be some common ground: both of them got swept up in their respective groups (Death Eaters/Marauders) and acted as bystanders to cruelty, but Sev changed while Remus was happy to throw himself back into his old role when Sirius returned, making the same old excuses to cover up their actions to Harry as he did as a teen. Remus is desperate for friendship that he's willing to throw away whatever overtures of friendship he made to Sev during PoA for Sirius, whereas Sev was in self-imposed isolation for years to make up what he'd done. I think Sev would be too disgusted by Remus to ever consider a relationship with him.
Sometimes I think about what it must have been like for Snape's first years teaching at Hogwarts, this traumatized kid barely out of school himself, the youngest person on staff and having conversations like this daily with his elderly colleagues.
Minerva: "I don't really like Muggle music but I kind of like that one song, 'Like a Prayer.'
Severus: "'Like a Prayer'... By Madonna?"
Minerva: "Yes, that's her name. It's so wholesome, especially compared to some other Muggle songs. I heard 'Baby Got Back' the other day and my word, this is what Muggles listen to?"
Severus: "Minerva... 'Like a Prayer' is about giving a blowjob."
I love history and Superman, and I like to imagine all the weird (but historically accurate!) things I would include in a Superman comic where he starts his superhero career the same year of his publication debut:
Forging Clark's identity would have been much easier. Birth certificates wouldn't be a requirement until WW2. He could have spent his entire life up until that point without one, and when the gov started its push to get birth certificates for all its citizens, Clark would probably only need to show up with his mother to declare she did give birth to him and that it was a rural home birth.
Estimating that Clark was born about 1915, he would have gone to a one-room schoolhouse for most of his school career, and not experiencing what a modern school is like until he hit high school when a lot of the old prairie schoolhouses were being replaced.
The first high school prom didn't take place until 1928, and I like to imagine that Clark and his friends, after reading about in magazines, would have put on Smallville's first prom themselves.
Clark would have been 20 years old when the "Black Sunday" dust storm hit Kansas.
There is a good chance Clark wouldn't have gone to college. It wasn't expected back then, nor was a degree required to get a good job, and in the middle of the Great Depression it probably wouldn't have been feasible for him and his parents.
As a teen boy, Clark might have seen friends become paralyzed, be placed in an iron lung, or even die during the 1930 Kansas polio epidemic.
By 1930, only half of all US states required a driver's license, and hardly any required a driving test, which I think would explain a lot about Lois's driving in the animated series.
I found the "Dolores Listens to Bruno's Rat Telenovelas" tag on A03 and I am obsessed with the idea that Dolores helps him write these stories. The whole Encanto is her telenovela. I'm just imagining her standing on the outside the painting and giving Bruno a rundown on Encanto gossip, like, "You remember Manuela, Julio's wife? Well, she's blaming Julio for their lack of children so she's seduced Julio's best friend Diego in order to conceive a baby but Diego has always been in love with her and thinks she's actually in love with him."
Bruno, on the other side, writing everything down: "That is so fucked up tell me everything."
I finally saw Encanto, and I wonder if perhaps one of the reasons Isabela resents Mirabel is because Bruno "left" right after her failed ceremony. Yeah, Isabela's part in the song is to highlight her golden status but she doesn't say anything bad about Bruno which makes me wonder if she and him were close.
You know, I have written a lot of fanfics for a lot of different fandoms, and most of time I'll get over a hundred kudos for one fic but only like two comments. But the Gravity Falls fandom is the exception. You guys are so wonderful about leaving comments, and being supportive, especially for a ten year old show, and I just want to say thanks for that.
Don’t understand how people portrayal Elthina as trying to trap Sebastian in the Chantry or use his religion to twist his arm when she literally refuses to let him rejoin as a brother (even though he’s still living at the chantry) because she can tell he’s just making another emotional, impulse decision and isn’t wholly committed
I don’t know what the argument about trapping him in the Chantry, but there is something weird going on that’s made me side-eye Elthina and her relationship with Sebastian (it could be just a case of Bioware Not Thinking Things Through and Forgetting That Three Years is a Long Ass Time, but it’s canon now and it still makes things super weird)
Sebastian’s codex for “The Past Three Years” for Act III says this- “Trusting Starkhaven's fate to the Maker, he returned to the Chantry, but was turned away by Grand Cleric Elthina, who believed he had not yet committed fully to either course. Though he has not renewed his vows or returned to his duties as a brother, Sebastian proved a faithful servant to the grand cleric over the past three years. As Kirkwall grows ever-more turbulent, the grand cleric relies on Sebastian to be her eyes and ears in the often-dangerous secular world.”
Sebastian has been trying to return to the Chantry since the fight with Allure, which means he’s been asking Elthina for over three years at this point. Three years is a long time. That’s not a rash decision, that’s a commitment. He wants to return, and Elthina has been saying “you’re impulsive, you’re being rash, keeping thinking it over” for three years. So, she won’t let him return as a brother, but she is okay with using him as a spy. It feels too much like “if you do x/y/z for me I might let you return to the Chantry” for me.
Dragon Age: Inquisition (Updated) Fancast
The Inquisition
Blackwall - Nick Offerman (American actor, b. 1970)
Cole - Rupert Grint (English actor, b. 1988)
Cullen - Dan Stevens (English actor, b. 1982)
Iron Bull - Jason Momoa (American actor, b. 1979)
Josephine - Vidya Balan (Indian actor, b. 1979)
This is a fancast, not a faceclaim, so I’ve chosen only actors (no models) that are within the range of the characters’ age and background.
Summary: Stan's eyes were cloudy with pain. He looked small, which was wrong. Grunkle Stan was larger than life. Mabel sat in the chair and waited.
Characters: Stan Pines, Mabel Pines, Ford Pines, Dipper Pines, Soos Ramirez, Melody
Tags: Major Character Death, Death by Old Age, Grief/Mourning
AO3 Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27137243
Mabel had been lying in bed, flipping through her art history textbook and debating whether she should go ahead and start on her term paper or toss the book in favor of a night in with popcorn and cheesy vampire movies when she got the call.
Mabel scrounged around for her phone as it vibrated sonewhere underneath the blankets. "Hey, Dipping Sauce," she chirped when she finally found it.
"How soon can you come home?" Dipper asked without so much as a 'hello.' He was using his 'this is very serious and I am an adult' voice. "Can you ask your professors for a leave of absence?"
"Uhh..." Mabel jerked upright and she saw her roommate give her a concerned look from their desk. "Yeah, I don't think that'll be a problem. What's up? Is something wrong?"
"I think you better get to Gravity Falls. Sooner than later. Stan isn't doing too good. I think--" Dipper's voice hitched. "It might be time."
Mabel hadn't bothered to wait for permission from her professors, only barely remembering to send them an email from the airport. She didn't care if they failed her; her Grunkle needed her.
She was a wreck all during the flight. Three hours was such a long time. Anything could happen. Nothing was going to happen, she harshly reminded herself. Grunkle Stan had punched a pterodactyl in the face! He was going to laugh himself silly when he saw how worked up everyone was getting. Mabel sucked in a breath and let it out slowly between her teeth. She closed her eyes and felt the way his arms had wrapped around her when she was a child, safe and protected. Not as they felt now, when she was too tall and his waist and arms too thin.
Dad was waiting for her at the airport. "How are you holding up, sweetie?" He asked as they climbed into Soos's jeep. Mabel shrugged and refused to look up from the last text Dipper had sent: no change. That was good, wasn't it? At least, she didn't think it was bad.
It was still another hour before they reached Gravity Falls.
The mid-March sun was beating on the lingering hints of snow, turning the ground into a gray slush. Dad drove slowly, to keep from spinning out. The minutes added on. Mabel sucked in a breath when they finally pulled around the bend in the forest and there was the Mystery Shack. Dad drove around to the back, parking in front of the house Soos had built with Melody.
Mabel jumped out of the car and was racing up the stairs before Dad had even put the jeep in park. Mom was with Melody in the kitchen, sipping coffee and talking in low voices. "I just talked to Sherman. He's devastated that he can't come up, but he just had that surgery, and oh-- Mabel, honey, they're all in Stan's room. Go on in. Mason's been asking when you'll arrive."
Mabel nodded and looked past the staircase, down the hall that had been a guest room until Grunkle Stan moved in permanently. His memory had never been quite the same after Weirdmageddon. He knew Mabel and Dipper, could recall each and every moment he had spent with them and Mabel had felt a vicious and possessive sort of pride at that. He had loved her so much that even when everything else was gone she remained. His years as a drifter were spotty, his high school days hazy, Filbrick was almost non-existent. But not her, not Dipper.
Grunkle Ford said his recovery had "plateaued." Mabel could remember when her Grunkles had come to California for a visit. He had shuffled into the kitchen from the guest bedroom, where Mabel had been eating a bowl of Fruit Loops. "You want a glass of orange juice, pumpkin?" Stan asked as he grabbed the carton from the fridge and poured himself one.
"No thanks, I'm good!"
Stan nodded, drank his OJ, put the glass in the sink and sat at the table. After a few minutes, he got up, pulled the carton back out and got himself a new glass. "You want a glass of orange juice, pumpkin?"
"Uhh... no, still... still good."
Stan didn't answer. He just stared at the already dirty glass in the sink like he had no idea how it got there. Grunkle Ford decided they would stop sailing soon after that.
Mabel stared at the yellow door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open. It took her a moment to find her Grunkle. He looked so small in the bed. She could see a sliver of his dark eyes peeking through the half-closed lids, but they didn't move when she came in. Didn't recognize her. His breaths were wispy and rattled with each intake. He didn't move, didn't react. Just breathed. That was enough for Mabel. Ford sat by his head, his hands clutching Stan's. "It's alright," he whispered near his temple. "You can let go now. We're going to be alright."
The scene was torn from her, blocked by Soos's body. She felt his arms wrap around her and it reminded her so much of when she was little, with Stan holding her, that she sagged and let out a choked sob.
She finally pulled back and wiped at the wet stain she had left on Soos's shirt. Soos gave a little laugh. "It's okay," he whispered. "That's not the worst stain on here."
Mabel gave a soft chuckle and looked to see Dipper sitting in a corner, wringing his hands, pale and frightened. He jumped up from the chair and gestured her towards it. "Here, take a seat."
"You two should go outside, get some fresh air while you can," Ford spoke. He didn't take his eyes off of Stan. "It'll be a while yet."
Mabel's stomach did a weird little flip. "Are you sure?" Dipper asked.
"I'm sure." There was no hesitation in his voice. "I'll come get you if there's any change. Go on."
Dipper reached out and Mabel met him half-way, clasping his hand as Soos led them back out the bedroom. He gave them a sad smile and Mabel was suddenly struck with the fact that Ford hadn't asked Soos to leave. Surely he needed a breather too. But the door closed and Dipper was pulling her outside.
The sun was too bright, too warm. She blinked away the dots dancing in front of her vision and caught just a glimpse of something red darting through the trees. "Was that a gnome?" She asked, pointing to where it had disappeared. She was still holding Dipper's hand.
"Maybe we should turn on the sprinklers, scare them off before they can get into the garbage."
Mabel tugged him toward the tree line and they spent twenty minutes picking their way through the underbrush, searching for little gnomish footprints.
They heard the screen door open and Melody stood on the porch. She said something, her voice too small to be heard. She coughed and tried again. "Kids? Come inside."
Mabel ran up the steps, Dipper close at her heels. "How is he?"
Melody's hands fluttered, and she coughed again, running her hand underneath her nose. "It's happened. Stan's gone."
Mabel froze.
Dipper shook his head. "Great Uncle Ford would have called us."
"I'm so sorry--"
Dipper pushed past her and Mabel latched onto his hand again before he could leave her behind. He stormed into the living room, towards their Grunkle's door. Ford blocked them, closing it firmly behind him. "You don't need to go in there," he said. "Soos is arranging the body. Someone from the funeral home will be here in about thirty minutes."
Dipper glared at him, his voice accusing. "You were supposed to get us."
"I didn't want you to see."
Mabel tugged on Dipper's hand. She didn't want to fight about it. It wasn't right to do that after... Dipper let her pull him away. Their parents were sitting on the couch and Mabel buried herself between them. Her Mom ran her fingers through her hair and Mabel let her head droop onto her shoulder. "Are you going to be okay, sweetheart?" She asked.
Mabel nodded her head. Soos came out a few minutes later and they all sat around, talking, waiting, eating. Mabel opened her eyes at the crinkling sounds of tires over rocks as a car pulled up the dirt driveway. There was a knock at the door and Melody left the couch to answer it. There were low voices. Soos and Ford and her parents all wandered over to where the mortician was waiting. "We still remember what he did for us," the man was saying.
Mabel glanced at the door that led to Stan's bedroom. She looked at Dipper and he nodded. He already knew what she was thinking. What she needed. Dipper stayed on the couch, keeping watch as Mabel crept toward the bedroom and stepped inside. Stan's rattled breathing was gone. He was laid out on the bed, ready to be taken somewhere dark and lonely. Where Mabel would never get to see him again. She moved closer and peered at his face.
It wasn't her Stan.
It was some other old man, someone she didn't know. His skin was yellow and hung off of his face like dripping wax. They mistook Grunkle Stan for Wax Stanley, she thought. That was when the smell hit her. Mabel burst into tears, gasping for air that wouldn't reach her lungs. She couldn't breathe. Her Grunkle was gone.
A pair of large hands -- twelve fingers, six on each hand, hard and warm -- pulled her out of the room and wrapped her up in a fierce hug, hiding her face into his coat.
