#isolatedphenomenon

anyway you're responsible for making me foam at the mouth about this rn so I've gotta return the favor

iT WOULDVE BEEN SO MUCH WORSE OMG. but its such a fun idea to play around with cause like

I’m convinced Jim was starting to see Strickler as a father figure/mentor figure of sorts before the series began, like what Blinky is now to Jim. When Toby, his best friend, was unavailable, Strickler is the next person Jim turned to for help in the beginning, and I really think that speaks volumes as to the level of trust he had in Strickler. Jim seems like a pretty private person. His only close human friend prior to the series is Toby, and he only eventually grows closer to Claire because she gets involved in his mythical mayhem, so for Jim to consider Strickler a confidante (sort of) just after Toby is, I think, huge.

Of course it goes both ways. I’m convinced Strickler also had a lot of genuine affection for Jim before Jim became the Trollhunter, affection the likes of Blinky, with the way Strickler thought of (and still thinks of) Jim as his “favorite student” and “star pupil” and all. Strickler and Blinky have a lot in common actually; both being intelligent, scholarly individuals who mentor others for a living and are absent of blood relatives, both caring about Jim to some degree, and both having a fascination with the human world.

From what we’re given in canon, if Strickler had started dating Barbara before Jim had found the amulet he and Jim would’ve grown so much closer. Jim would probably initially be kinda weirded out and embarrassed by the idea of his mom dating one of his teachers, especially a teacher he liked, but he’d get over it. He’d be happy for his mom. He’d like spending time outside of school with Strickler, and Strickler would enjoy getting to know Jim more.

I see them playing that Headbands app on their phones on the History setting the first time they’re alone together waiting for Barbara to get home. Strickler probably brings it up because Jim has a test coming up in his class and its a good way to study, as well as a nice way of concealing the fact that Strickler’s trying to bond with him. Jim’s really hesitant at first, but the game breaks the ice between them and eventually Jim’s bouncing on the balls of his feet trying to think and they’re both pointing at each other’s foreheads and shouting out answers and occasionally Strickler will get the questions wrong which makes Jim feel more comfortable because it brings Strickler down to size, makes him seem less intimidating. Barbara walks in the door and finds the two of them laughing in the living room.

Strickler would’ve been there for a lot. He would’ve been there with Jim and Barbara to celebrate Jim’s birthday. He probably would’ve offered to run Romeo and Juliet lines with Jim, would’ve offered to pick Jim up from play practice if rehearsals ran late, would’ve picked up on Jim’s anxiety over kissing Claire on stage and given sound advice to calm Jim’s nerves. He would’ve been there with Barbara to see Jim on opening night. He would’ve been proud and Jim would’ve been so happy to see him there, being there the way Jim’s father hadn’t been in over a decade.

Until Jim finds the amulet and his life, and all the happiness he was starting to have in it, is turned upside down forever. God…Strickler would probably discover Jim’s the Trollhunter first and he wouldn’t know what to say or do. He’d try to keep his identity under wraps like in canon. When Toby thinks Strickler might be one of the changelings, Jim scoffs but he also aches, so much more than in canon. Pieces start to fit together and Jim doesn’t want to see the picture. He’s rougher with Toby when Toby wants to test the horseshoe on Strickler. He notices how Strickler doesn’t pick it up off the ground, but tries to tell himself Strickler would’ve if Claire hadn’t gotten there first. Bular calls him “young Atlas” once and the ground is ripped out from beneath his feet.

Its a special nickname, given by not just a teacher but by a budding father, that Jim had found endearing until then. Its discarded along with any trust or admiration or love Jim had felt for Strickler, replaced by sharp betrayal, disgust and horror, heartbreak he was all too familiar with. Another man who had walked into their lives full of lies and had stabbed them in the back after convincing them he cared. Another man planning to abandon them for his own selfish needs as soon as the time was right. Jim’s heart would turn utterly cold toward Strickler, but it’d be that added emotion that’d make him fiercer in their fights as much as it’d make him more hesitant to cause any real damage. Because despite everything Strickler still has a place in Jim’s heart, even if that place has been blackened.

And Strickler would also be less inclined to cause Jim any harm, having also come to really care for the boy. I almost wonder if Strickler would’ve more willingly dropped the GumGum and switched sides had he spent more time with Jim and Barbara prior to Jim getting the amulet. Like when Bular and Gunmar start questioning Strickler’s loyalty, instead of trying to prove it would Strickler have just cracked during that dinner with the Lakes and given up trying to harm Jim there? I’m having a hard time picturing him really fighting Jim after starting to love both Jim and Barbara.

32. Who likes to have really long (deep) conversation?

They both like to talk. Remember how Reyna took her out on that coffee date in canon only to be interrupted by Leo blasting New Rome? RIP. I think that Reyna probably initiates conversations more but Annabeth can just go on and on and on. <3

49. Who is the driver/ Who is the passenger? 

Top 5 Concerts I've Been To:

Hell Mega Tour with Green Day and Weezer in 2021. literally THE best concert i've gone to ever. Green Day put on a fucking amazing show. I was blown away. Fall Out Boy was touring with them but they couldn't play at my show, but that was fine by me because I was going just for Green Day anyway lol.

So Much For Stardust Tour in 2023!!! look, i've been to two other fall out boy concerts. this concert was the best performance from them i've ever seen, personally.

Roger Waters in..... oh God, I don't even remember?? 2012?? I was sixteen. Anyway The Wall was fucking amazing live.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra in 2016 <333

OH I WENT TO SEE JOURNEY AND DEF LEPPARD WITH MY MOM AND MY COUSIN IN.... 2018?? LOL. that one was fun, we got rained on while waiting in line to get merch :') my cousin and i were the youngest people there but ourgh we love dad rock

Upcoming Year Fic Asks

24. By the end of this year, you want your fandom to think of you as “that author who _______.”

ooh I don’t know! I really don’t have Big Ambitions for the year, that’s sort of the point? and I feel like all of my planned fics are pretty much consistent with my Brand—various components of the ot3 having complicated emotions at each other, too many feelings about Unity family—the usual.