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Thought about how Felix might’ve hid his feelings about Glenn’s death when he was young :’((

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Just a headcanon about their childhood :’)

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comic about Hyun-Chae from the kdrama Kairos

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Slight adjustment to name

For consistency, I figured I’d add that extra ‘e’ to my username over here (to match my twitter handle) since I’m more active there overall! 

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Started watching the anime, and I had a good time! 

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Kare Kano (Manga): How inclusion of family dynamics enhances characterization

Many series often have the “ambiguously absent parent trope”—in which moms, dads, or even both parents, are away for the series' entirety. While this is often done out of convenience, it can also lead to missed opportunities. Inclusion of family dynamics can greatly enhance characterization, because it allows viewers to see characters in different contexts, providing a better understanding of why they may act the way they do. This works especially well in Kare Kano, where Yukino and Soichiro have similar outward personas, but their true selves could not be any more different partly due to their respective upbringings.  

Yukino’s and Soichiro’s Outward Personas

In the eyes of their peers, Yukino and Soichiro are model students that not only excel in academics but also in extracurriculars. Yet, despite their accomplishments and fame, both are incredibly modest. They are never condescending and constantly strive to extend a helping hand to those around them, causing them to be highly respected and admired from afar. However, unbeknownst to their classmates and teachers, both Yukino and Soichiro hide their true selves behind perfectly constructed masks.

Yukino Miyazawa’s True Self

The real Yukino is vain—she enjoys being under the spotlight and claims that praise is her life force. It’s the sole reason for why she’s maintained a perfect image over the course of her school years. Alongside that, she can also be highly competitive and petty—as she initially views Soichiro as a threat to her status and laughs in triumph when he confesses to her in chapter one. Readers witness this side of her in its entirely in a scene that takes place at her home, where she doesn’t need to worry about putting on a façade and can safely voice her true feelings and complaints.

Yukino’s family is introduced as early as the first chapter. Not only is the family dynamic hilarious, but the interactions also give context to other parts of her personality. Yukino’s father is the doting type and her mother is the care-free type. Neither parents are overbearing or overly strict towards their children. They find their daughter’s obsession with perfection amusing and ridiculous rather than praiseworthy. Yukino’s sisters also enjoy teasing her when the occasion arises, hilariously remarking that they can’t help but be in awe by how much of a fraud their sister is in public. This is likely part of the reason why Yukino doesn’t quite feel too arrogant—her family members call out her behavior without restraint, making her still self-aware and grounded. These family interactions play up the comedy, making Yukino’s more negative qualities also hilarious to watch. The Miyazawa family’s fun-loving attitude is also indicative of the ways in which they approach things in general. When they vocalize their disagreements or poke fun at each other, it comes from a place of love—never to harm or impose restrictions. Yukino can unabashedly be herself because her family ultimately loves and cares for her. Her reason for projecting a perfect image is also rather silly, which is in line with her family’s light-hearted attitude in ways. By growing up in a warm and supportive family, Yukino also has a lot of other positive qualities. She is self-assured, relatively optimistic, and unafraid of the challenges that eventually come her way when she decides to just be herself.

Souichiro Arima’s True Self

While Soichiro also makes the decision to discard his persona, his journey in doing so is more turbulent. Unlike Yukino, Soichiro tends to distance himself from those around him—mostly only really showing his true self to Yukino and eventually their mutual friend Asaba for the majority of the series. He treats others with mostly respect but doesn’t let them in. At times, Soichiro can also be rather cold and manipulative when he feels threatened. However, he doesn’t particularly like his possibly more warped side, showing signs of fear for what he may be capable of to those he loves. This can be explained by his complicated family history.

While Yukino feels comfortable to let loose at her own home, this isn’t quite the case for Soichiro. Soichiro maintains a respectable distance between him and his parents. He feels pressured to act the part of a good son, both at school and at home, due to the circumstances behind his adoption. His own birth parents are considered the “bad seeds” of the family, yet his uncle and aunt chose to raise him regardless. As a result, Soichiro believes he has an obligation to maintain their reputation and prevent disappointment, even if that is not something they have ever voiced to him personally. Alongside this, Soichiro fears that he will grow up to be like his birth parents, causing him to worry about the possibility of a more sinister side to him. With almost nowhere to express himself fully, Soichiro’s experiences in keeping up his image can be best described as suffocating. Unlike Yukino, who chooses to be put on an act out for her own gratification, Soichiro does so as a means of self-preservation. His complicated family history is vital in understanding him—his tendency to close himself off, suppress his more negative emotions, and inclination to self-destructive behavior. It explains his attraction to Yukino, whom he initially felt connected to because of their similarities, and his eventual fear of growing apart from her as her world expands and their fundamental differences become more obvious. Without providing too many spoilers, the manga delves into much more detail about his birth parents and his extended family, providing additional insight to his personality and struggles.

*It should be warned, to those who may be interested in reading more about this series, that the manga includes triggering content such as rape and child abuse. As much as I love this series for the overall message it attempts to convey (and how much it means to me personally), the darker content and occasional mishandling of its problematic elements may not make it suitable for everyone.*

Final Thoughts

By including their family interactions, it is easy piece together the source of Soichiro’s and Yukino’s personalities and values. This is especially important in understanding their changing dynamic over the course of the series. They initially bond with each other through their decision to be true to themselves but have moments that drift them apart due to some fundamental differences that arise. Family dynamics in Kare Kano very much enhances its characterizations and family members need not be onscreen for a large part of the story—as is the case of Yukino Miyazawa’s family. Just seeing a small glimpse of characters in another context can give readers an extra layer of understanding that they otherwise would not have access to. As a result, I find that having family members be present (or deliberately absent as a means to explain a character’s upbringing) can greatly enrich a story and is something I thoroughly enjoy seeing.

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Big Windup Mid-Season 1 First Impressions

Technically this isn’t a first impression on the series, because I’ve watched parts of Big Windup (Ookiku Furikabutte) about 6 years ago…But since it’s been so long, it might as well be considered one. For anyone who has been considering this show, here are my thoughts on it:

Brief Summary:

Big Windup is a baseball anime centering on Mihashi. Timid yet passionate, Mihashi is a newly transferred high schooler who secretly enjoys the thrill of pitching on the mound. However, past internal conflicts with his middle school teammates has crippled his self-esteem, discouraging him from joining the baseball team at his new school, much less take on the pitcher role. As with all sports anime, he eventually plays baseball again and begins his journey to play at Koshien (the baseball equivalent of nationals) one day. The series focuses on Mihashi’s fresh start with a new team, where he experiences camaraderie for the first time and gains the confidence he’s always needed to reach his full potential. Though Mihashi and Abe, the team’s catcher, will have the most spotlight, time will also be devoted to the growth of the other players on the team—all of whom have their own distinctive personalities, character designs, and internal struggles.

Pros:

If you’ve already been watching sports anime, I think you’ll find yourself enjoying this show without much of an issue. It has a lot of elements fans of the genre love—likeable characters, strong emphasis on team dynamics, and interesting rivals. The sports play is more grounded in real life compared to more over-the-top sports anime like Eyeshield 21 and Kuroko no Basket (depending on your preferences, this could increase or decrease your enjoyment).  

With regards to having extensive knowledge of baseball rules and positions to enjoy the show, I personally think understanding the basics should be enough. The show doesn’t go out of its way to explain the rules, but I don’t think it really had to. Character dialogue and reactions are enough to signal the current circumstances of the game, and you’ll pick up some knowledge naturally along the way. For anyone on the fence because of unfamiliarity of the genre, I can vouch (as someone who has little interest in sports in real life) that this shouldn’t be a concern in becoming invested in the show.

I personally also love the battery dynamic—I found that Abe’s straightforward and stern personality contrasted yet complemented Mihashi’s well. When Mihashi undersells himself, Abe pulls him out of his toxic mindset and provides encouragement. Mihashi’s growing trust in Abe also provides major support to the latter, who has his own difficult past with pitchers. As a result, the relationship between the two is mutually beneficial, as both players help each other grow along the way.

Cons:

While I personally like Mihashi and think that Abe provides enough balance, I have seen people frustrated by the pitcher’s low self-esteem. He fits into the meek, passive protagonist trope that can be a hit or miss depending on a series’ pacing and portrayal. I personally think Big Windup does a good job handling this character type, but opinions may differ on this. As developing confidence will be one of the main ongoing conflicts in the series, it will likely be a work-in-progress throughout the show’s entirety, rather than fixed within a single arc.

I also did find the show a bit slow-paced, so just warning for those who are expecting something more fast-paced. 

Final Thoughts:

All in all, Big Windup is a solid sports anime for both experienced and inexperienced watchers of the genre. Investment and interest in the battery duo will likely play a large role in your enjoyment of the show as whole given the amount of screen time they have. The other players are also well-characterized, and the group dynamics are fun to watch. I recommend watching a few episodes to get a feel of the show, and see if this it’s for you. 

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angsty comic based on that monastery dialogue w/ felix (if you recruit him in GD/Church route) ;-;

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My fav from Ayakashi Gohan ;-; !!

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a really good webcomic i just read!!! def recommend :DD

Like romance? You’ll LOVE what I got in store for ya(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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PLEASE REBLOG

For those who don’t know, Hurricane Florence is barreling towards the East Coast right now, directly towards The Carolinas and Virginia. If it hits as a Category 4, it will be only the second Category 4 to hit in North Carolina history, the first being Hurricane Hazel in 1954. Needless to say, we aren’t prepared. As far inland as Raleigh, my hometown, could see up to a foot of rain and just shy of 100mph winds for several days. Some people have gotten out, but others, such as myself, cannot, and are having to ride this out on our own.

If you know anyone who lives in this area, or know someone with family in this area, call them, talk to them, see if they’re okay and if there is anything that you can do.

If you live in this area and cannot get out, stock up and hunker down. Personally, I’m going to be riding it out alone. My roommates are heading home, but I can’t, as the building I am in now is safer than at home, and my home is still in the path of this storm. My roommates are leaving me their food, water, and any supplies they have that I could use. Some people aren’t so lucky. Here’s some things to consider when preparing:

There’s already a shortage on gas, bottled water, bread, soup, etc. so go out TODAY and get what you can if you haven’t already.

Make sure you know the evacuation routes and have a bag packed. Pack medications, important documents, food and water, and anything else you will need.

If you stock up today, DO NOT BUY MILK OR EGGS. These items are refrigerated and will spoil if the power goes out, so go for non-perishable food. There are supposed to be widespread power outages over half the state, so keep this in mind when stocking up.

If you live on the first floor of a building like I do, try to get as much off the floor and up off the ground as possible. That way if water does get in, your personal belongings have a better chance of surviving. THIS INCLUDES POWER STRIPS!!!

If you are in an evacuation zone and have not gotten out yet, PLEASE TRY TO NOW. Even if you don’t know where to go, just come inland as much as you can. Shelters are already set to open here in the Triangle as soon as tomorrow, I believe, but the coast is the worst place to be. You need to get out while you can.

If you have a bathtub, clean it well and fill it with water tomorrow. This will give you another source of water even if you are unable to find any at the store.

MAKE PLANS FOR PETS! My dad is worried about our dogs because they hate storms and are older, and he has no clue what to do about their bathroom habits, so try to plan for this if you can!! Make sure they will have plenty of food and water for this storm, and take into account any anxieties they may have about the storm. Don’t leave them behind.

If you have a porch, deck, or patio, clear off and put away any furniture you have to minimize what the wind can pick up.

This isn’t a full list, I’m sure, but these are things that my family and I are thinking about. Just know that this is a serious storm, possibly the worst in Carolina history, and it will be deadly. Take every precaution you can.

Lastly, please reblog this. Even if it isn’t your type of blog. Even if you don’t think anyone that follows you in from this area. Please reblog this. It could save someone’s life, and it’ll help a friend somewhere.

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Emergency Commissions~

Hey, lovelies! I am so sorry to be posting about this but I am in a bit of a rough spot right now and could really use some help so I am opening up Emergency Commissions for a time. 

PayPal │ Ko-Fi

–Here’s what I am offering!– 

1) Message in your inbox from a character! 

     ~If you buy me a coffee in Ko-Fi, put your Tumblr URL name and fav MysMe or SLBP Character in the message and you will receive a message from that character in your box! Please make sure your inbox is turned on and able to receive messages! 

2) Headcanons (up to 5 characters) –$5

3) Drabbles/One-Shots (500-1.5k words) –$10

     ~If the word count goes over you will not be charged extra

¨¨¨¨¨¨NSFW on HC’s or Drabbles will add an extra $3¨¨¨¨¨¨ 

✗ Will write for MysMe and/or SLBP 

✗ Commissions will be worked on in the order they are received once payment is received 

✗ Option to receive your commission privately if you so wish

✗  Money is going to help pay medical bills for baby jalapeno

✗ If you have questions or want to talk about a commission please don’t hesitate to DM me on here or email me @ jalapenocommissions@gmail.com

Thank you so much for reading, it means so much to me! I know so many of us are struggling right now, so even a like or a reblog to boost this would mean the world to me! 

Thank you, again xoxoxo ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ 

-Jalapeno

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Mystic phone calls

(catch these big lads and lass at Otakon!)

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alphonse elric, if you're possibly doing the the character ask thing still!

Of course! This particular character ask is something I’m always down to do! You are blessing me with my favorite cinna bun (/▽＼*)｡o○♡

How I feel about this character:

At its simplest, Al’s gentle personality is the perfect foil to Ed’s more abrasive one. He’s kindhearted, quicker to anger, and selfless, sometimes to a fault. While I personally headcanon that some of this has to do with the lost of his physical body at such a young age, I recall that in every flashback we get to their early childhood, Al was markedly calmer and more mature than his older brother. Despite his child-like innocence, it’s no argument in my book that Al is the more grown up of the Elric brothers, and the one who experiences less drastic personal growth over the course of their story. He still had a mountain to climb, but it wasn’t nearly as steep as Ed’s. I think this has a lot to do with Al’s personality type. I’ve seen much debate for the types of other characters, but fans seem to universally agree that Al’s an INFP, or an “Idealist.” (Same as me!) He tends to see, or want to see, the best in people from the get-go, whereas Ed has to overcome a persistent cynicism that settles in after their failed attempt at human transmutation. Check out this post for more details.  

Going hand in hand with Al’s selflessness is an insane protective streak that’s impossible to ignore. Pushing down the hardships he faces in his armor body, Al instead embraces it’s durable nature, and uses it, time and again, to protect those he cares about from harm. I can recall several times he used his body to shield Ed from harm (see above), with Mei and Riza included. He even lets Mei inside his armor to hide her from Bradley, an arrangement he said was quite uncomfortable (at least psychologically) in the past. Hell, Al even forgoes an opportunity to regain his true body back with the reasoning that it was too physically weak to protect anyone during the Promised Day. *gross sobbing* Somebody give his boy a hug! 

Let’s also not forget that Al is just as much of a snarky asshole as Ed, and enjoys roasting him on a regular basis. This sweet as sugar plums boy suggested throwing Roy to Gluttony, since the colonel was the one he was after, punched Dolcetto in the face after being told he was old enough to think for himself, and called Ed the “small alchemist” when describing him to Mei. He also had a *clutches pearls* moment when she had the audacity to say that he must look like a lot like Ed, to which he listed off multiple ways he was way handsomer and “actually a gentleman.” Get rekt Ed. Here are some other gems I didn’t mention! 

Finally, I love that fma doesn’t shy away from the inner darkness of Al’s character. I truly believe that most people in his situation would break, so showing how he struggles with the limitations and flaws of his compromised existence not only show how difficult he has it, but also how strong he is to keep moving forward. Al deals with many of these troubling emotions internally, but when he expresses the exasperation, torment, and loneliness out loud, it’s both incredibly powerful and incredibly heart wrenching. While it might’ve seemed silly on the surface for him to doubt the validity of his own existence, put yourself in his situation, you probably would’ve too. He’s so good at holding himself together, that even when he speech to Ed about not wanting to spend the nights alone anymore breaks his brother’s heart, you kind of want it to. For the most part, he suffers quietly, and letting the people around him know how awful it is never feels selfish on his part, but rightful. 

All the people I ship romantically with this character:

One of my four cardinal fma otps, Al and Mei are just damn adorable together. The respect and admiration between them is more than evident, and two learn a lot from each other over the course of their story. They obviously care deeply for one anther too; Mei being the one person Al trusts to distract his brother while he sacrifices himself in order to regain Ed’s arm. Even though she knows she may lose him forever, she does it, completely trusting him to have a plan in mind, if not at least being completely steadfast in his decision to give up his life to defeat father. Al also not only manages to convince Mei that he’s pretty much better than Ed in every way while still in his armor body, he goes on to pretty much prove all of his claims true. What. A. Savage. Ed ships it. I ship it. They’re adorable. End of story. 

My non-romantic otp for this character:

I mean, who else were you expecting??? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, but the relationship between these two in one of the most realistic, genuine, and complex I’ve come across in a story of any medium. While their relationship isn’t perfect, there isn’t anything these brothers wouldn’t do for each other. They’ve been through hell, and because of their strong relationship, made it out better on the other side. They may disagree, give each other crap, and lose hope from time to time, but they always look to the other to keep moving forward. There is no doubt in my mind that the two lowest and terrifying points in Ed’s life were the moments he considered an existence without his brother by his side. You can’t have one without the other. It is a fact that I love them more than life itself. Thanks for coming to my ted talk. 

One thing that I wished would’ve happened in canon: 

I’ve made a post about this in the past, but I think we’re missing out on what Al does in all that free time he has when the rest of the world is asleep. I headcanon that he picked up all kinds of weird skills and interesting knowledge over the years in an attempt to keep himself busy, but it would be hilarious to just have a chapter/episode on one “typical” night in the life of armor!Al. If the brothers are somewhere long enough, does he establish some kind of nightly routine? A bizarre string of errands he makes the rounds on each night? Certain people or places he visits? Maybe practicing a new skill he’s interested in? Participating in some crazy shenanigans Ed would absolutely kill him for being apart of? The sky’s the damn limit with this one guys. GIVE. IT. TO. ME. 

Send me a character!

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when my little brother was even littler my mom came up with the 小兔子 bunny game to get him to eat

(it took forever for him to finish meals)

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@yoosungweek Day 3 - Through Other’s Eyes!! (a bit of caught in the act too maybe lol)

※ Please do not delete caption or repost without my permission and source.

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a princess in love!!