the cloud I'm in is playing different tunes

After the success of my TOS episode bracket (where Amok Time won, because of course it did), I launched a TOS ship bracket! Now, nearly 2 months after I first came up with the idea, here’s the final bracket!

Some ships won in an (expected) landslide victory — looking at you Spones vs Kuhura — but others were much closer. As most of us probably expected, McSpirk took the crown from top-seeded Spones. Its victory, however, would soon be challenged by the ultimate ship… Spirk.

Despite a fierce fight by the McSpirkers (that made my poll get over 2000 votes!), the Spirk shippers came out on top. I do need to give a shout-out to the McSpirkers though, since they came back from a 74/26 trail to briefly lead the poll before concluding at a respectable 47%. Solid work guys!

Now, with both brackets concluded, what sort of bracket should I do next? A favorite character bracket (even though we already know Spock is gonna win)? A Kirk-love-interest bracket? Or shall I give up on the bracket idea altogether and simply post polls according to whatever I or my friends come up with? Let me know in the tags!

I miss this era soooo much, 2019 just squeeing in giddy delight to know that the actors felt the way we did, that it didn't have to be explicitly laid out for it to be a love story, looking at all the crumbs of romance and turning that into a full cake (okay I lost the metaphor there). But it was so great -- we thought the show was done but our creativity couldn't have been bigger. 20k fics in one year; that was the record, you know, til THIS YEAR with Heated Rivalry.

Like. Did you read the book? Did you watch the show? Warlock was a genuine menace and Crowley was all too happy to suggest Aziraphale kill him lmao. And he wasn't just saying that to hide his big mushy feelings about the subject. He genuinely could not gaf about Warlock.

Crowley likes kids, in a distant "oh, this one's cute" sort of way. Yk, the same way that the average person might look at a baby exotic animal and swoon over it. Doesn't mean we desperately want said baby exotic animal in our house or have an uncanny knack for raising it (well. some of us do I'm sure. but I'm talking averages here. Most ppl would have no idea what to do with a strange baby creature that's a different species than them other than to coo at it when it's acting cute.)

The point is dolphins Crowley is not out here like Jo Frost being Supernanny to all the kids in the world lol. He's marginally more fond of kids than he is adults, but we're still the weird creatures he doesn't quite understand.

(Not to yuck anyone's yum tho. If you enjoy it, then happy for you! My only issue is when people treat their headcanon/fanon interpretation of Crowley & Warlock/children in general, as canon)

Like yeah. It's cute. "Look at you, you're gorgeous" is funny. Angel!Crowley being a silly cutie compared to Aziraphale's innocent sweetness is very nice.

But at the same time, I think it's so much more poignant that Aziraphale shielded a complete stranger on the Wall of Eden. He didn't do it because he knew who the angel Crowley was, but because... Aziraphale is fundamentally a good, trusting person. He didn't smite Crowley since he doesn't *want* to smite anyone -- he doesn't actually hate demons even though he should. And Crowley, simultaneously, reassured Aziraphale not because he was remembering the sweet worrier of an angel he met before the Beginning, but because *Crowley* is also a good person.

I like the idea that these two strangers who have no reason to trust each other, who have nothing in common on the face of it, just decide to trust each other anyway, because they can, because they see a kindred goodness and love for humanity in each other right from the start. And I somehow feel like this notion that Aziraphale loved Crowley before he was a demon, or that Crowley knew how notorious Aziraphale was as a hunter during the war, really cheapens that.

Because he didn't want to. You can't tell me he wasn't absolutely devastated. But he did it, not even because it was the right thing to do, but because he wanted Crowley to be happy. Even at the end, even for a brief moment. He wanted Crowley to finally get what he's always wanted...

First, Crowley’s burning question being about humanity and their free will when he didn’t fall because of that, he fell because of not understanding why things are created just to end.

Second God just insulting Az for no reason, calling him lazy, gluttonous, and prideful, with Crowley giving 0 reaction or a single word of defense?!

Or, When Az confesses that Crowley completes him, all Crowley has to say is “you won’t get an answer”?? When God says Aziraphale’s love is the silliest most predictable thing in the universe, Crowley has nothing to say?? No reaction to the explicit confirmation that the being he loves more than the world loves him back, after all this time?

So, what, now that choice actually meant nothing? Now he didn't have free will after all, simply because Heaven/Hell/God exists? The only way to have "free will" is if you wipe away the entire universe Noah's Ark style and start anew?

Crowley instantly being willing to give away his Bentley to save Aziraphale's bookshop

Aziraphale giving fallen!Crowley a bandage during the great war

"How fast did you say this goes" after "you go too fast for me" in S1

"I already have everything I want" and "The best is Crowley"

Crowley just being so impressed by Aziraphale solving the crossword

Aziraphale trying to amuse Crowley by not knowing "bebop"

Crowley ordering good food and wine for Aziraphale

Throwback to the time I was in Turkey and saw this "English study" where all the example words are perfectly normal (apple, orange, zebra) except then I'm flashbanged by NIGHTINGALE and all I can think of is