I don’t know about anyone else, but I think a lot of cis straight women who write mlm typically write mlm because it’s nice to write a love story with out the inherent power inbalance that all straight relationships have.
YES !!! 100% yes, this is a point i make in this video !!!
i mean,,, i'm coming at it from a different perspective as someone who read only mlm prior to coming out as trans, but it's the same concept - wanting to disconnect from your own identity and fall head over heels into something else.
it's nice to read stories where your inferiority isn't part of it, where you aren't subjected to patriarchial values or situations, and you can just,,, enjoy the story, you know? and i think mlm ships, more so than wlw ships, provide that escapism more.
i think i also talk a bit in that video about mainstream media and the effects that has, especially in a fandom space. marauders for example, the core four are men and the people they are connected to *canonically* are mostly men - we know more about them and how they navigate the world, and that makes for more interesting stories. (see here: "but regulus has barely any cano-" he does but also,,, he's the brother of a core character, hence why he's developed a lot)
we can also get messy with the men, you know? we see it a lot in mainstream media *and* fandom where a "messy" woman (a human being with flaws and mistakes) is criticised for being misogynistic etc etc, and we lose complexity through that (i'm looking at you, platonic snily deniers /hj but fr, that is the most central part of her character imo)
but marlene and dorcas for example? we only know about two facts, including how they died, and we don't even know if they were in the same year as the marauders, so it's more of a gradual development than taking developed male characters - mainstream media sucks man :/ god forbid we get developed women.
so yes !!! i stronglyyy dislike the fetishisation argument because whilst there is 100% the chance that that is why people write and engage in those stories, 99.9% of the time it isn't and people either (1) like that escapism that comes from reading without your inferiority as a woman coming into play (2) like reading more complex stories that we typically get with men, especially since we allow them to get more "messy" and (3) they just,,, like the characters.
there's a big gap between the consumption of mlm media and the consumption of wlw, but i don't think demonising mlm and reducing it to just sexual fantasies and fetish desires is progressive at all,,, less so even.
remus lupin with social anxiety who everytime his friends talk to someone else he just stands there like 🧍♂️
sirius with an enchanted moon phase tattoo. he doesn't really need it, he memorised the cycles ages ago and even if he hadn't, the smallest tell from remus gives it away. a certain scrunch of his eyebrows and sirius knows that the full is six days away, the pop of his back and sirius knows they're at the middle point now - just as far to the next as they are from the last.
he doesn't need the tattoo, but he got it.
sirius in azkaban with an enchanted moon tattoo, clinging to it in the first few weeks as he waits for remus to come and get him out. mourning, the first time it turns to full. mourning the fact that he isn't there with remus, mourning himself becaue remus hasn't come to get him.
sirius, years into azkaban, looking at a moon on his wrist that hasn't changed in a while. his magic barely working, the ink still and for some reason, it makes his chest ache. if he were given water, maybe he'd cry. maybe he'd shed a tear about the fact he doesn't remember why he has it, or maybe he'll look out the window and see the moon. full. and he'll remember that one full moon in fifth year, one of the only ones left.
and then he's dragging nails along the tattoo to get rid of it and UGH SIRIUS WITH AN ENCHANTED MOON TATTOO IN AZKABAN
Whilst we're talking about the new HP show and the authors evident involvement, it's important to remember that the marketing team and likely others will know that Wolfstar and Drarry are the most popular aspects of this fandom.
They'll probably know about All the Young Dudes [David Thewlis and Andrew Garfield have been asked about it in random interviews, so any marketing team capable of basic research will know about it]. They will know that there is an entire community surrounding the Marauders (because there has been for like 20 years, it's not new)
And this information can be used in marketing. The focus has been so much on the author won't make them Canon (true), people are missing that that's not the only way to manipulate an audience into watching.
And it really wouldn't take much.
Just the idea of casting Andrew Garfield, or Ben Barnes posting a filter, or Aaron Taylor Johnson introducing the pet shop boys cover of All The Young Dudes has people who previously had "fuck jkr" in their bio foaming at the mouth for the show. It's already working without them having to do anything
They might queer bait, they might not. But the thing with queer baiting is
you can choose not to bite.
bartylus being cool and judgy in public but jokingly wrestling and being silly when alone in their dorm, with barty head locking regulus and throwing him around and regulus bouncing on him like a feline because he’s an idiot
a whole bunch of gazan mutual aid projects and nonprofits. if the decision of which individual fundraiser to give to feels too daunting, or if you just want to help as many people as possible in one go, these are great initiatives to support.
care for gaza - focuses on providing food and essential supplies. donate here or here.
connecting humanity - securing internet access via donations of virtual sim cards (esims). if you can't afford a whole plan yourself, crips for esims is a communal pool that will use your donation to purchase and maintain esims
gaza soup kitchen - provides food, medical care, and classes for children. also has a gofundme
glia gaza medical support initiative - provides medical care through field clinics and tents at hospitals. donations can also be sent through their website.
ele elna elak - provides clean water, food, clothing, and shelter. they also have a gofundme
life for gaza - raising money for the gaza municipality to repair water and waste management infrastructure
taawon - partners with local civil organizations to provide food, water, medical care, shelter, and basic supplies
the sameer project - running various initiatives providing tents, medical care, and necessities. they have their own encampment project focused on sheltering families with children, sick and disabled members, or members in need of perinatal care
islamic relief worldwide's gaza emergency appeal - provides food, water, hygiene kits, medical supplies, and psychological support
baitulmaal - provides a variety of necessities, including food, water, shelter, and medical supplies
gaza mutual aid fund - distributes food, hygiene products, water, and other essential supplies, including financial support. run by @/el-shab-hussein's amazing friend Mona. updates can be found on her instagram.
hygiene kits for gaza - provides hygiene supplies including menstrual products, wipes, and toothbrushes/toothpaste
anera - provides a variety of necessities, including food, water, hygiene supplies, medicine, blankets and mattresses, and psychological care
palestine children's relief fund - provides supplies and support with a focus on children. also has an initiative for lebanon
dahnoun mutual aid - provides water, food, tents, baby supplies, financial support, and other necessities. updates can be found through their instagram
certainly this is not an exhaustive list, so please feel free to add on other projects or organizations that i didn't include. and as always, please take the time to donate if you can and share. it truly makes all the difference.
Sirius " well fight or flight I'd rather die than have to cry in front of you " black
Remus " well fight or flight I'd rather lie than tell you I'm in love with you " lupin
Remus on his first day as personal assistant to CEO Sirius Black, fumbling his way around the office as he grabs coffees and client files and organises his meetings, accidentally bumping into him as he comes out of his office and blushing so hard Sirius grins, he finds it adorable, and the two get on so well which pisses the other employees off bc Sirius is pretty hard on them but soft on Remus, but Remus doesn’t notice it at first. Eventually, Sirius starts getting HIM coffee, and buys his lunch for him by telling Remus to order delivery on his personal card, they spent their breaks together chatting and sometimes Sirius’ touches Remus’ arm but it’s professional, he swears, and maybe after some company drinks at a bar Remus gets a little too drunk, and his mouth starts running, and maybe he’s told Sirius how handsome and successful and funny and brilliant he is and Sirius takes him home bc his penthouse is closer, and Remus wakes up the next morning to find himself in a giant, silk sheet bed, hungover and confused, before wandering into the kitchen to see Sirius’ shirtless back as he makes breakfast and Remus has to try not to stare at his pecs and biceps as they eat and and AND—
regulus who is playing with the little curls at the nape of james' neck everytime he is stressed and james who hates being vulnerable in front of people but relaxes when he hugs regulus like a little kid until he is okay
Evan Rosier being the most ethereal boy at Hogwarts and being still objectified, despite his strong and peculiar reputation, to the point he considers himself a doll cause no one ever seemed to treat him otherwise.
Not even seeing a problem in that, not caring and seeing no wrong in that perception of himself until he realises that Barty is different.
Barty Crouch Jr loves his worst and most flawed features. He loves the imperfections and the mess. He is truly obsessed with who he is.
And Evan falls in the most brutal way for him even more.
And they live happily ever after.
homosexual couples and their murder tendencies <3333