The simplest way I can explain it is that Perfect Nothing is *Mopiness of Doom* with extra steps, after all the AU was born thanks to that episode. They miss the other, they actively supress the thought before giving in

Once Zim realizes what is really happening thanks to Gaz after she came to see him (to question his dissapearence, to explain him what has happend and then force him to help her with her brother), it becomes a situation where Zim is left with the "forced" task of reconnecting with Dib while Gaz searchs for an explanation by investigating the hospital, and a treatmeant for Dib if possible. Hence why Zim decides to infiltrate the Membrane Labs as an apprentice in order to live with Dib, decipher what goes through his head and an attempt to make up for the time lost

Little extra concept art that I did about this, Zim got sad that his previous attempts at trying to expose Dib didn't work out and at how Dib truly didn't want to aknowledge him ↓

I believe Zim feels both curiosity and guilt at knowing that his presence meant so much for Dib, after all Dib got depressed, went into an asylum and later realized that he had to be tortured so he could forget about him and move on, since otherwise he would refuse to do so.

As much as he tries to supress this feeling and convince himself that he's only doing this for Gaz, that he never cared this deep for his enemy, he can't deny that he misses him; Dib was the only constant in his life as an invader in earth, one that gave him a motive to conquer or even turn against the Irken system; a frienemy that understood him. Of course, Zim is unused to be treated with such peace and politeness from Dib, what is normal for him is fights or at least some form of friendly rivalry, so he spends his time trying to get a reaction out of Dib ("un-cooperative colleagues" doodle), get his attention by showing off or trying to help him in an obnoxious way; overall trying to de-brainwash him by doing things that the old Dib would have enjoyed or get angry at because he knows him that much. All in hopes that someday, he can get his Dib back, as rejects of society.

Dib on the other hand, is complicated. He first has to face the idea that his "childhood friend" didn't dissapear into thin air to never come back, he was already accepting a life where he would never see him return; the more quickly he forgot about him, the better. He's avoidant, he's polite yet not really wanting to tell Zim anything; he has this mess occurring inside him, like a scar that has been opened before it fully "healed". He reluctantly accepts his presence in the laboratories with a rather sanitized explanation from Zim and because he has no choice.

But he can't act like he doesn't know Zim so well. He keeps warning Zim about certain food options given in the cafeteria because of his specific tastes, he defends himself with memorized movements when fighting or arguing; it brings a weird sensation of normality when he is supposed to be normal already, and that slowly rediscovers those unresolved feelings he had for Zim (a friend, and it hurts).

They slowly re-build a weird form of friendship in the labs, going through horrible hours, heavy work, strict supervisors, and awkward social gatherings. They help each other with proyects, Zim learns some of Dib's health difficulties and how to aid them (at least as much as Dib will allow), Dib unconsciously searches for Zim's presence by glancing around; it's the heavy setting of lab work that makes their bond get stronger again.

This friendship grows in Dib, being the only thing that feels genuine in a life where the people that interact with him is out of pure interest or just coorporate bussines, and a job that although he does well, makes him feel deeply empty and unhappy. He realizes that he wants to keep Zim by his side, but not in the way he is. Speaking in weird ways, trying to convince him that he is indeed an alien and that their misadventures were real, no, he can't let Zim keep digging a hole of denial.

So, in an act of compasion towards him, and maybe even a love confession that is still surrounded by confused thoughts, he decides that he's going to cure Zim, so he can keep him by his side and live a healthy life as "perfect people of society". So you could say that Dib is the one to fall first, in a very twisted way. He doesn't want to risk losing Zim again because of him not fiting in society. ("Disaster date" drawing)

After that I'm still figuring out the following events to get through the disastrous climax and the healing arc, so this is all I can offer (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡ I hope my long yapping satisfied your curiosity

Also like the idea of Dib passing along his generational trauma to Zim.

Yayayayayay, first ZaDr pic posted here!!! We were planning to post one earlier but we realized we hadn't signed it yet so we'll probably do that sometime soon and post that one as well!!

Don't repost my stuff on other websites without permission!! If you see someone doing so please let me know!! Thank you!! Love you all ❤️❤️❤️

One w/ heart under the cut ↓

"Analysisslop" could be a broader term that includes theoryslop, but can also include;

Video essays claiming to analyze something when it's really just a summary.

Pointing out minor technical mistakes, tropes and cliches, or lapses in realism as if it constitutes meaningful criticism while not actually engaging with the narrative or the motives behind certain choices.

Essays or reviews that have nothing unique or original to say or where the author clearly had no passionate desire to talk or think deeply about the subject and only did so because they felt obliged to, or they were trying to capitalize on a hot topic.

Plagerism.

Bad faith interpretation following the same methodology as theoryslop in order to shoe-horn in a negative reading of a character being the worst, a ship being "toxic", a message being immoral, and/or an artist being lazy or stupid or having whatever politics you disagree with.

So some fanartist drew a “sexy” (read: booby) version of a (cartoon) character who is traditionally very non-sexualised. Fans of the character got mad about it because it’s kind of groundbreaking how that character is written and portrayed and this art totally ignores the entire point of the character. They demanded the art be deleted. In response to that other people said, well what the fanartist did may be distateful but they have every right to draw what they’re into. The two sides fight for days and each starts a harassment campaign and even report their “opponents’” accounts.

So far so typical. But things eventually come to a head and they decide that this will be settled by votes - not through a poll. Through donations to a children’s education charity via each side’s portal. Whoever can get the highest amount of donation wins.

It wasn't close I beat the pants off that man, and others like him. I did it more than once. Some guys got humble and stayed. One guy got angry and stormed out.

And I think about that every fuck damn time I hear that bullshit, which seems to be all the fuck over the place these days. Oh, women are just fragile little soft delicate flower creatures who can't do ANYTHING and could NEVER compete with big strong manly muscular strong MEN.

I think about driving that dude into the mats and seeing the brutal reality of this big dude's misogany meet the realization that a woman was beating his ass literally that second, that none of his strength could stop the fact that I'd just hip thrown him facefirst into the mats and that had I actually connected with the axe kick to his neck I would have crushed a bunch of important shit and he could not stop me, and his whole psyche collapsing like a dying star in that moment.

This is 100% the gay supervillain music video I’ve been waiting for.