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do they know it’s legal yet

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Kumamoto,Japan | takaphilography

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"ᴵ ⁿᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᴵ'ᵈ ᵐⁱˢˢ ᵗʰᵉ ⁱˢˡᵃⁿᵈ ʷⁱⁿᵈˢ ˢᵒ ᵐᵘᶜʰ… ᶠᵘⁿⁿʸ—ᵗʰᵉʳᵉ ʷᵃˢ ᵃ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᴵ ᶜᵒᵘˡᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃⁱᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵗʰⁱˢ ʳᵒᶜᵏ."

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Happy Valentine's Day!

This is my Heishin Exchange piece (event hosted by @heishinvalentineexchange2025) for oreganocactus on Ao3! The prompt I used was: "heishin yuri would be awesome…i love explorations of how gender would affect how characters behave/change so that would be cool :)"

Thoughts and process under the cut!

And also an NSFW sketch at the very bottom btw. as a treat for clicking on the readmore

So originally I had wanted to do a comic retelling the Murdered Diplomat Case Except They're Both Girls This Time AKA Heiji's debut case, but I got about 8 pages into the storyboards before I realized it would be impossible within the exchange's time frame. The Murdered Diplomat case is really really long, even if I cut everything about the case out LMAO... here's what I had if anyone is curious!

It was already sprawling by my standards here. We're on page 8 and Heiji has nary shown her face in the Mouri Detective Agency (also boy Kazuha is there? The part with the details of the case was supposed to be sort of timelapsed through a bunch of texts Kazuha sent Heiji because he was worried about where she was) So in my desperation I tried redoing it from page 7 to be more concise:

This was the point where I was officially like yeah this is not happening this is going to take one william pages at this rate and I just am not going to have the time to do that!! So I scrapped it and started working on the final product you see up there.

(BTW IT'S REAL!! about 80-90% of the comic actually exists in the real world!! I actually drew and inked it physically this time!)

I had really WANTED to retell the Murdered Diplomat Case because I would have been able to totally recontextualize Heiji and Shinichi's relationship, because I do think it would have been kind of different.

For one, I think Heiji's adoration of Shinichi would have had a more desperate quality to it. Between the two of them, Shinichi is definitely the more self-assured one of the two. With her laissez-faire parents who just does whatever they want, I'm sure they would have been fine with letting Shinichi pursue her detective dreams (though I'm sure Yukiko's even more sad about Shinichi not being a child actress </3 whatever though who cares about that), and so she's more confident that it's something she can be.

Heiji on the other hand comes from a more traditional family. I think her parents would highly disapprove of her detective pursuits, and as a result she becomes a more rebellious child-- but one who harbors a deep insecurity about whether she's doing the right thing or not, even if she knows she wants it.

When Shinichi vanishes off the radar, it's more than just a person that Heiji's developed an intense parasocial relationship with going off the grid, it's an entire nail in the coffin of the idea that being a female high school detective is something that's possible at all. That's why she's so desperate to find Shinichi-- she needs assurance that this hiatus that Shinichi is taking is not because society or the world put her into her place and made her quit doing this, but because of... something else. It has to be something else.

This I think would really bleed into how Heiji ends up treating Conan. In canon Heiji's super dismissive of Conan, initially only treating his as a nuisance on the crime scene before he figures out that he's Shinichi, despite the fact he no doubt was in those shoes a decade ago. But because of the continual pushback from her parents, the officers on the scene, and friends (cough boy kazuha), the struggle of being treated like she isn't supposed to be there on the crime scene is much fresher in her mind. She sees herself in Conan much more than he does in canon.

So I guess all I'm saying is that I think Heiji would have been nicer to Conan in my retelling LOLLL

As for what's going on in the comic I actually posted... well, you know, this wasn't my first choice precisely because I don't think it's necessarily gendered as much? Like, I can see this playing out if they were both still guys as well, maybe even more. After all, girls in general are more able to be physically affectionate with each other while suffering fewer consequences.

At the same time though I think Shinichi has an intense "not like other girls" thing going on. This whole thing is actually a subset of my genderbend universe where the whole teenage cast gets swapped and actually it was originally me just wanting girl Shinichi to comfort boy Ran (but badly because she's lowkey kinda autistic and not great at that...) as his parents got divorced LMAOOO. But anyways it would mean that Shinichi's closest friends are... Sonoko and Ran? Who are both guys...

So I think she would intentionally distance herself from that physical affection girls are able to have. She feels like if she indulges in that, then everyone else will take her less seriously and think "oh she's just a girl after all" and all the negative connotations of not being as capable or as smart as she actually is. In my head, she associates physical affection with being manhandled as a kid.

Another thing I kind of waffled on was... what should Heiji and Shinichi call each other? And maybe it's a bit of a weird choice for them to still refer to each other by last name but like. Hear me out.

I think to refer to each other by their last names is a token of respect, especially from Heiji to Shinichi. He keeps slipping up in canon and accidentally calling him Kudo, and while I do agree that part of it is him being careless and possibly inconsiderate to some degree, I also think... he really wants to call him Kudo? Like, this is someone he deeply respects. He wants to be professional equals to him more than he wants to be friends at the start, but never was able to actually GET that kind of relationship due to contrived circumstances of Shinichi getting shrunk. He can't call Conan "Edogawa", that's weird as fuck, so he has to wait until Conan's back to being Shinichi to even begin calling him "Kudo" for real. I think he'd really relish it, as a long-time-coming kind of thing, and I don't think it's any different as girls. In fact I'd argue it's even more intense because of that.

These two characters are both in such an intense hurry to grow up. Hell, Shinichi even dislikes it in canon when his mother calls him Shin-chan, and I think it's because he feels like this diminishes his self-perception as a "grown person". All the more since they're girls: I think this type of affectionate, diminutive name-calling would have been used against them to try to coax them away from crime scenes they wanted to be at. Like, "Oh, come on~ You're just a little girl, you shouldn't be here, Hei-chan~", something like that.

I think this is sort of an implicitly understood undercurrent that lies between them. If we have nobody else in the world who respects us we at least have each other. So when Heiji tries to push their relationship a bit, tries to become more than just friends, Shinichi sees this as a betrayal in some ways. Even if she rationally knows that Heiji isn't trying to belittle her, she can't help but conflate her recent experiences as a little girl again with how Heiji treats her now in the comic.

This whole thing could have been avoided if Heiji was more straightforward about her intentions btw but of course see above careless and possibly inconsiderate PLUS he's also kind of a tsundere character like everyone in detco when it comes to the person he likes so. inevitable... </3

Anyways thank you for reading all of this nonsense. Originally this comic was going to be longer and like, (this is a grossly incompetent summary,) they'd have a yuri makeout session in the Kudo Mansion Study. But we can't have good things in this world because there's not enough time so I only have this to show for :(((

I hope everyone likes it 👍️

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My @heishinvalentineexchange2025 gift for the immensely kind and patient @caliowl333, who graciously allowed me to participate with a video instead of fic or art! (And wrote me a 20,000+-word piece in exchange?! Oh my goodness!)

Song is the SadBois & NIO Remix of "Other Side" by ILLENIUM, featuring Vera Blue, which you can listen to in full here. Ramblings under the cut!

When I first began seriously video editing, I didn't think much about composition or how well clips flowed together—lyric sync was arguably my main goal, and anime pieces were thrown onto the timeline pretty much purely based on that.

Now, I put much more care into the very visual elements—the effects, the match cuts, the dazzle. But in the process, I fear that I'm losing what audiences found engaging about my early videos: the actual ideas.

So, for this AMV, I aimed to put the most effort into a strong concept. The titular "other side" is a world without the Black Organization, where Shinichi can freely be himself. Heiji is waiting for that world, where he no longer has to lie and pat Conan's head and pretend that they're not peers, and Shinichi is dreaming of that world because he's always dreamed of working with somebody just like him. The thought of meeting Heiji someday, when he first learns of his existence (Episode 490), fills Shinichi with excitement. He does a lot on his own, but he also loves working on a team—and doing so, being with people, sharing his enthusiasm with others—is what he wants more than anything.

(Heck, there's even a piece of official art called "Conan's Dream Vacation" where he dreams of playing beach volleyball with Heiji and Ran and Kazuha—as himself.)

Sure, you could argue that Shinichi simply enjoys working with Heiji as Conan because Heiji treats him as he truly is. But the times he spends as Shinichi with Heiji point to the fact that no, he just really likes deducting with Heiji. Eagerness, big smiles—in "The Scarlet School Trip" (Episodes 927-928), involving Heiji in the case of the day takes precedence over solving it himself, as he immediately shares what he knows and even jostles Heiji awake when he learns more, before doing anything else, because there's no way he's going to solve it alone. He doesn't want to.

But as things are, being Shinichi is pain. He takes an antidote, but it's poison. Being Conan is what's become "normal" and "comfortable," but Conan can't be what Shinichi is to Heiji. Conan isn't strong enough to catch Heiji when he's falling. Conan can't save him from bullets. Conan can't even talk to him naturally without hiding and secrets. His dreams have become nightmares.

And it can't be easy for Heiji, either. To see someone you care about suffering. To know that Shinichi is in a dangerous situation—and involving himself in it applies that same danger to himself. It'd make sense for Heiji to walk away and wash his hands of it... but Shinichi really wants him to stay. Despite everything, he wants Heiji to stay. For that someday when they can be true partners "on the other side."

I tried to say other things in here, too. Shinichi cementing himself as a precious person to Heiji by countering his insecurities with a one truth prevails and this isn't a competition and you don't have to prove yourself to me. Heiji finding Shinichi even after becoming Conan because he'll always find Shinichi, no matter what, because he's dreaming of being "on the other side," too (even if he didn't know it initially). Shinichi pushing Heiji away with coldness because maybe it's selfish to want him to stay, maybe it's cruelty to involve him, but he can't deny that he cares, that he wants Heiji with him, that he doesn't want to do this on his own.

And while I maybe still went a little ham on the effects, I do hope my ideas are the strongest of all! "No effects" versus effects comparison can be found here!

Thank you again for all your hard work organizing this event, Cali!!

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I’ll never forget reading one piece for the first time, which was about the time Amazon Lily was being published. It was not long after I had realized I was aroace, and still grappling with the fact that I’d never experience romantic or sexual attraction.

And then comes Amazon Lily, where Luffy’s inability to feel those things is treated indisputably as a good thing. An awesome thing, even. An advantage!

It was amazing to my younger self. Asexuality, on page, not as something wrong with me, but something that could be cool and even useful if I chose to see it that way! I’ve never forgotten that feeling.

i'm not embarrassed to admit that like half the reason i got into one piece is because i'm aroace and i'd heard that luffy is (arguably, sort of, word of god) aroace, and i love the hc but i'm also happy that it has so much basis in canon & stuff oda has said. it feels like an intrinsic part of him and it's always depicted as a positive trait! something that makes luffy himself and it's a good thing

like, protagonists never get to be aro or ace unless the story revolves around them discovering their identity. it's really nice to have a character so full of life who knows so clearly who he is, who also knows that dating/romance/etc is not part of it at all. one piece has its misogyny issues but i get to watch it knowing that luffy is never gonna "get the girl" as a prize for anything and that his relationships with like robin and nami especially will stay platonic and important without having to become something "more"

his lack of interest isn't a tragedy because he doesn't give a shit what other people think of him, and even when it is part of a gag (like in amazon lily) the humor isn't coming from making fun of luffy for not experiencing attraction. he's not broken he's immune and i think that's so fucking based and funny. and the whole story is about friendship and found family because that's what's important to him! the aroace hc feels so correct to me and i'm so happy that one of the most popular manga characters ever is such blatant arguable rep

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lobo doodle

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BOY SIT YOUR ASS DOWN

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saw this chart and immediately thought 17 is really scary for me im surrounded on all sides and id look to my left and instead of asking to go to the bathroom id just start screaming. ou know what im going to sit next to wataru

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Spawn of Satan

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my favourite person.

[ID: a series of six digital illustrations of the Lupinrangers. the first three show Touma, Kairi, and Umika respectively, on solid black backgrounds. they are all crying and hugging black silhouettes. in the following three, spotlights are shining on each of them and the silhouettes are shown to be Aya, Shouri, and Shiho. the second set of three are notably more vibrant than the first set. /END ID.]

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oh your prestige network has a new high concept drama with slick direction, compelling screenwriting and excellent performances? well kamen rider is going to save the city

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Hello gamers I am now going to subject you to my music taste and biased character opinions by assigning Shinedown songs to the whiskey trio

Furuya/Bourbon gets Sin With A Grin (The Sound of Madness, 2008) because hello. "I never noticed/Until I focused/On everything you did, you said/You lit the fuse inside my head" and "These scars I scratch/I tear are there under my skin/Where you've always been/Thank you for reminding me to sin with a grin" ? Very Furuya @ Akai core to me, godbless

I really really want to give I'll Follow You (Amaryllis, 2012) to Morofushi/Scotch, mostly because of the chorus— "I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm/Don't worry I'll keep you warm/I'll follow you down while we're passing through space/I don't care if we fall from grace/I'll follow you down" — since I've always seen his decision to join the NPA as something stemming from his desire to always be with Zero. He'd quite literally follow him anywhere. Hehe

Akai/Rye makes me want to tear my hair out because I see him in like ten different songs and I want to pick one. Anyway he's getting Adrenaline (Amaryllis, 2012) purely because of "What part of living says you gotta die/I plan on burnin' through another nine lives/One more for measure/That′s ten for the soul/That never sleeps/So are you ready to go?"

Honorable mentions are How Did You Love? (Threat To Survival, 2015) (AkAm core to me), Through The Ghost (Amaryllis, 2012) (HiroRei coded despite alternative readings), and Monsters (ATTENTION ATTENTION, 2018) (Furuya and Akai Vs trauma. the trauma is winning)

EDIT: actually as @scratchface reminded me (ty it hit me like a sledgehammer. HOW did I forget about this one smh), you guys should also consider My Name (Wearing Me Out) (Amaryllis, 2012) <3 very Furuyacore from start to finish

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Fuck all of yall. Fuck your “genocide Joe” bullshit. Fuck your “I can’t bring myself to vote for Kamala”. Everything that happens from here out is on you.

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This is how I described Dandadan to my brother

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KEN TAKAKURA/OKARUN in Dandadan (2024) 01.05 - "Like, Where Are Your Balls?" ★ タマはどこじゃんよ