Not Entirely Sure How To Explain In Words, But A Beloved Character Who You Feel Great Attachment To And

Hopping on the alliance trend, I just thinks these would be so interesting (Specifically joel, scott, tango)

impulsesv they could never make me hate you

joel left the series spamming ender pearls and zipping around, mad about his trap not working? guess he went out... fast and furious

WHOA!!!!! i love my friends' ocs

It's the finale of the next life series. There are only a handful of people left. The Winners Soulmate theory must be true, right? Etho takes a deep breath and catalogues his opponents. He sharpens his sword and reads the death messages in the chat. Something rustles behind him. Etho turns around. It's LDShadowLady with a gun. She shoots him off the edge of the cliff and his body falls dramatically and gracefully over the edge, hitting the last two people left and killing them on impact. Lizzie cheers. Shen then immediately falls off the same cliff by complete accident. She wakes up in the Winners realm, inside a car, and blinks. "Lizzie," Joel tears up next too her in the drivers seat. "Do you want to run the other Winners over in a car for all eternity with me?" Lizzie tears up and says yes. They drive off into the sunset and immediately hit Scott Smajor

I need another life series after Wild Life where Scott and Etho team up from the beginning and I need it viscerally

SAME I need to study the way Etho behaves around Scott. He rarely talks to Scott on camera, and yet he’s so comfortable around him. He’s always looking to make Scott laugh. Scott is always looking to make sure Etho is as comfortable as possible. Etho calling Scott “handsome” when Scott was disguised as Etho even though this was not the first time we’ve seen Scott in Etho’s clothes.

I want them in a lab. I want to put them through scenarios. I want a whole season of them being allies. I want to see them make each other laugh. They rarely talk, and yet Etho can make Scott laugh so hard he can’t breathe without even trying that hard. I want Etho to team up with Scott and realize that he doesn’t have to sneak out and make secret alliances with other teams because Scott ALSO wants to make alliances with other teams. I want Scott to be on a team with only people who don’t pick fights with other teams, and by “team with only people” I mean “team that is just Etho”. I need them isolated. There cannot be unaccounted factors within the immediate faction.

I want Etho to say “You know first hand that I’m not a great teammate” and for Scott to say “I don’t need a great teammate. I need a good friend. I need someone who hears me. I need someone who looks out for me.” I want Etho to feel so much thoughtfulness and earnestly from Scott. I need them either to make it to the final two and for Scott to sacrifice himself in some dramatic way or for them to go out together, each one rushing to protect the other.

I have so many delusional ideas for them. I want them to have languid mornings together, and I want Scott to paint Etho’s nails. I want Scott to teach Etho how to dance, and I want Etho to show Scott quiet affection. I need them to be soft and safe and secure.

After the Wild Life finale? I need a fic where Etho shows up to Scott’s door, sweating and panting, with a bouquet of blue hydrangeas - meaning “deep remorse/apology”. I need him to explain that it was an accident, and he would’ve never let that arrow fly had he known.

Spoilers for Simple Life SMP and the Winner of Simple Life SMP.

SCOTT YOU DID IT OMG. HE’S A REPEAT WINNER. I’M SO PROUD AND HAPPY AND AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaAAAAAAA

I was watching his video, and I could tell you the exact moment I knew he was going to win. I mean, it was quite clear the whole time, but when Joel died I knew he would win. I could feel it in my bones, and it was clear that there would be a repeat winner for even longer than that. I knew for sure that there would be a repeat winner when Gem, (who was the biggest competitor) died. (Gonna state this just in case) I’m not trying to come off as rude, or smart, or condescending, or anything else, I’m just super happy that my favourite YouTuber won, and wanted to share with the few people in the world who will see this.

Tips for writing flawed but lovable characters.

Flawed characters are the ones we root for, cry over, and remember long after the story ends. But creating a character who’s both imperfect and likable can feel like a tightrope walk. 

1. Flaws That Stem From Their Strengths

When a character’s greatest strength is also their Achilles' heel, it creates depth.

Strength: Fiercely loyal.

Flaw: Blind to betrayal or willing to go to dangerous extremes for loved ones.

“She’d burn the whole world down to save her sister—even if it killed her.”

2. Let Their Flaws Cause Problems

Flaws should have consequences—messy, believable ones.

Flaw: Impatience.

Result: They rush into action, ruining carefully laid plans.

“I thought I could handle it myself,” he muttered, staring at the smoking wreckage. “Guess not.”

3. Show Self-Awareness—or Lack Thereof

Characters who know they’re flawed (but struggle to change) are relatable. Characters who don’t realize their flaws can create dramatic tension.

A self-aware flaw: “I know I talk too much. It’s just… silence makes me feel like I’m disappearing.” A blind spot: “What do you mean I always have to be right? I’m just better at solving problems than most people!”

4. Give Them Redeeming Traits

A mix of good and bad keeps characters balanced.

Flaw: They’re manipulative.

Redeeming Trait: They use it to protect vulnerable people.

“Yes, I lied to get him to trust me. But he would’ve died otherwise.”

Readers are more forgiving of flaws when they see the bigger picture.

5. Let Them Grow—But Slowly

Instant redemption feels cheap. Characters should stumble, fail, and backslide before they change.

Early in the story: “I don’t need anyone. I’ve got this.”

Midpoint: “Okay, fine. Maybe I could use some help. But don’t get used to it.”

End: “Thank you. For everything.”

The gradual arc makes their growth feel earned.

6. Make Them Relatable, Not Perfect

Readers connect with characters who feel human—messy emotions, bad decisions, and all.

A bad decision: Skipping their best friend’s wedding because they’re jealous of their happiness.

A messy emotion: Feeling guilty afterward but doubling down to justify their actions.

A vulnerable moment: Finally apologizing, unsure if they’ll be forgiven.

7. Use Humor as a Balancing Act

Humor softens even the most prickly characters.

Flaw: Cynicism.

Humorous side: Making snarky, self-deprecating remarks that reveal their softer side.

“Love? No thanks. I’m allergic to heartbreak—and flowers.”

8. Avoid Overdoing the Flaws

Too many flaws can make a character feel unlikable or overburdened.

Instead of: A character who’s selfish, cruel, cowardly, and rude.

Try: A character who’s selfish but occasionally shows surprising generosity.

“Don’t tell anyone I helped you. I have a reputation to maintain.”

9. Let Them Be Vulnerable

Vulnerability adds layers and makes flaws understandable.

Flaw: They’re cold and distant.

Vulnerability: They’ve been hurt before and are terrified of getting close to anyone again.

“It’s easier this way. If I don’t care about you, then you can’t leave me.”

10. Make Their Flaws Integral to the Plot

When flaws directly impact the story, they feel purposeful rather than tacked on.

Flaw: Their arrogance alienates the people they need.

Plot Impact: When their plan fails, they’re left scrambling because no one will help them.

Flawed but lovable characters are the backbone of compelling stories. They remind us that imperfection is human—and that growth is possible.

I don’t like lemons. Or black liquorice. Or raw onions.

the aquamarine au

Info about au below (or at least what i have so far)

-based on the 2006 move Aquamarine, a teen romcom about two teenage girls meeting a mermaid and helping her find love to achieve their wish of one of them not moving away (its my childhood). this au takes basic plot ideas from the movie but with major changes

Jimmy and Joel are both 17. Jimmy's family owns a small, local beach resort where he also lives. Joel lives next door and they're basically attached at the hip and spend all their time at the resort. It's tense between them because Joel is moving far away by the end of the summer.

Scar is 19. He's been working at the beach as a lifeguard since he was in high school. Local sweetheart, everybody loves him. Seems like he sucks at his job, but nothing wrong ever really happens on his shift. Known flrt.

Grian is an unknown age but closer to Scar than Jimmy and Joel. I'm still working out his part. He's a mermaid who ran away from home. The Watchers are a group who protect mermaid pods but have very strict rules and archaic views; such as there is no such thing as love and have arranged a marriage for Grian he doesn't want (The Watchers in this au are less Mega Evil and more Parents Who Don't Understand and Kind Of Suck). He runs away to prove love exists. In doing so, getting into a major fight with his sister.

Grian gets caught in a storm and washes up into the pool of the beach resort, where Jimmy and Joel find him. They are SUPER cautious at first, but immediately offer to help him find true love when Grian tells them that helping a mermaid grants them a wish. They're hoping to use the wish to make it so Joel's family doesn't move away.

Grian is a bit oblivious to the human world, but even more so to the concept of love, because it is not common in the mer world. This leads Grian to believe anyone can love you with a bat of an eyelash, which leads him to try to woo the first interesting person who catches his eyes; aka Scar. When it doesn't immediately work, he's actually quite pissed off and thinks its Scar's fault for not falling in love with him. Jimmy and Joel proceed to make a plan to match the two together because Scar is so nice and probably the only person willing to give this weird and off putting mermaid a chance.

Unlike the movie, which takes place over a couple days, this au takes place over the course of a month or two, so there is even more chemistry between the cast. Hijinks and cringey romcom shenanigans ensue.

The ending is very different from the movie (im still thinking about it i dont have a lot for this au please go watch Aquamarine tho its my childhood and i love it)

uhhhhh IDK WHO IS GOOD FOR A CECILLIA CHARACTER. ok in the movie theres a character named cecillia shes the typical mean girl trying to stop the main characters from getting together. i wanna put someone in this role bc shes iconic and has funny moments im inspired by but im having a hard time thinking of someone who fits the role. any ideas for this or any thoughts at all are welcome, this au is for fun!!!