#{out of breath}

[bigbellybelle]

Out of breath tummy play?? WITH BURPS???

Yes this might be the hottest fucking video I've ever taken. Something about watching my tummy move like that where I look like a giant pile of fat,,,, fuck it's perfect~

[justallmyfantasies]

out of words

oh god, i’m gonna marry him if he keeps this shit up.

contains: 18+ smut! (unprotected piv, oral (f receiving) kinda praise. prequel to out of breath.)

word count: 4.5k

based on this request! (tysm!

time had passed and honestly, the thought of having a ring on your finger had went over your head. it didn’t happen and although you knew one day it would, you just wanted it to happen now and then.

your kitchen was steaming up from the food cooking in front of you. you offered to cook tonight’s dinner, usually on fridays you’d get a takeout or something but this time you wanted to cook. not for any particular reason just because you liked cooking and it was one of your hobbies.. it wasn’t, you just wanted alex to try this new recipe you’d found.

you held the wooden spoon in your hands, slowly moving the food in the frying pan around, making it sizzle each time you pressed down on it.

the kitchen was mostly quiet, save for the sound of the food cooking in front of you and the occasional clanging of pots and pans on the stove. the warm, homely scent filled the air, making the room feel cozy and intimate.

you were so focused on the food you were cooking that you didn't notice alex arrive home from his studio session until he cleared his throat, leaned up against the doorframe.

you jumped slightly in surprise, turning to look at him. "oh, you're home." you said, your heart rate slowly returning to normal. "i thought you'd be at the studio for a bit longer."

he gave you a small smile, pushing off the doorframe and taking a few steps into the kitchen. "yeah, we got done a little earlier than expected." he replied, coming to stand next to you. he looked at the food on the stove, his eyes scanning over it curiously.

"i'm trying out a new recipe." you explained, stirring the food in the pan with the wooden spoon. "i found it online and i thought it looked interesting.. thought i'd give it a try."

he hummed in response, watching you cook for a moment before speaking again. "it smells really good.” he complimented, a note of genuine interest in his voice. "i can't wait to try it."

you felt a small sense of pleasure at his compliment. you enjoyed cooking for him, especially when he seemed to appreciate the effort you put into it. you continued to move the food in the pan, the sizzle and pop of the meat and vegetables filling the silence.

alex leaned against the counter, his arms folded across his chest as he watched you work. he seemed content to just watch you, his eyes following every movement of your hands. the room was filled with a comfortable quiet, the only sounds the bubbling of the food and your own breathing.

you could feel his gaze on you, studying you. it wasn’t in a malicious way, more like he was mentally cataloguing the way you moved and the different expressions that flitted across your face as you concentrated on the task at hand.

after a few minutes, the food was done, and you set the spoon aside and turned off the heat. you plated the food, dividing it equally between two plates and carrying them over to the small dining table that sat in the corner of the kitchen.

alex followed you, pulling out a chair and sitting down at the table. he looked at the food on his plate, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "this looks amazing." he said, picking up his fork.

"i hope it tastes as good as it looks." you responded, sitting down across from him. you felt a flutter of nerves, suddenly nervous about whether or not he would like the dinner you had made.

he took a bite, and you anxiously watched his expression, looking for any hint of enjoyment or disappointment. his eyes widened slightly, and he let out a soft hum of pleasure. "this is really good." he said after he swallowed, looking up at you with a genuine smile.

you let out a small sigh of relief, your shoulders relaxing slightly. "i'm glad you like it." you said, feeling a wave of pride wash over you. you picked up your own fork and took a bite, savoring the flavors as they exploded on your tongue.

the dinner continued in comfortable silence, save for the sounds of forks clinking against the plates. you found yourself stealing glances at alex as he ate, watching the way his mouth moved and the small expressions that flickered across his face.

you both finished eating the food you prepared. you stood up and gathered all the dishes, piling them onto each other to take into the kitchen to clean.

alex looked up at you from where he was sitting at the table, a smile on his face. “you want me to clean up?” his voice was soft.

you shook your head, balancing the plates in your arms. "no, it's fine," you said. "i can handle it. you go ahead and relax, you must be tired after your session."

he stood up anyway, gently taking the plates from your arms. "it's no trouble," he said, heading towards the kitchen. "besides, i don't want you to have to do everything yourself."

you couldn't help but feel a pang of affection at his gesture. it was little things like this, the small acts of consideration, that made you fall in love with him all over again each day. so whilst he did that, you took the clean laundry upstairs to sort out.

you carried the basket of clothes up the stairs, the familiar scent of laundry detergent filling your nose. the upstairs hallway was lit by soft evening light, the shadows stretching across the wooden floor.

you entered your bedroom, setting the laundry down on the bed and sorting through the clothes. you could hear alex moving around in the kitchen downstairs, the sounds of running water and dishes clinking together drifting up from below.

as you folded the clothes into alex’s drawer, you spotted something. a box, like it was for jewellery. you paused for a moment, feeling a pang of curiosity. the box was small and inconspicuous, but something about it made your heart flutter with anticipation. you picked it up, carefully running your fingers over the smooth surface.

you knew you probably shouldn’t look. it was alex’s property, after all, and it was wrong to snoop. but the temptation was too strong. you carefully lifted the lid of the box, peeking inside.

your heart stopped. inside the box was a ring, a beautiful diamond sparkling in the low light of the room. your breath caught in your throat, and you froze, your eyes fixed on the ring in the box.

the ring was a simple but elegant design, the diamond set in a delicate gold band. it was beautiful, and your mind immediately went to the one conclusion any woman’s mind would jump to upon seeing a ring like this.

you felt a flood of emotions wash over you. joy, shock, hope, all swirling together in a chaotic tangle inside your chest. was this what you thought it was? was alex really going to propose?

closing the box, you walked downstairs. stopping in front of alex as he sat on the couch, his expression confused now.

"is everything alright?" he asked, noticing the look on your face. your heart was pounding in your chest as you sat down next to him, the small box hidden safely in your hand.

"is this yours?” you asked, showing him the box.

his eyes widened as he saw the box, recognizing it immediately. surprise and a hint of nervousness flickered across his face. "i.. uh.. i don’t know what that is." he said, his voice suddenly quieter than it had been before.

you didn’t miss the hint of nervousness in his voice, or the way his eyes darted away from yours. it was obvious he was lying, but he was doing a terrible job of covering it up.

you couldn’t help but feel a little amused at his attempt to play dumb. placing the box in your lap, you turned to face him, a small smile playing on your lips. “you’re a terrible liar, you know that?”

he winced at your words, a sheepish expression on his face. "i... i was trying to keep it a surprise." he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

your heart skipped a beat. he was trying to keep it a surprise. that confirmed your suspicions. the ring in the box was meant for you, and he had intended to propose to you.

a sense of giddy excitement filled your chest, and you could feel your heart rate speeding up. you looked down at the box in your lap, then back up at him. "so i take it this ring is for me?" you asked, a note of teasing in your voice.

he let out a nervous laugh, his gaze flickering between the box and your face. "yeah... i was planning on proposing to you.” he said, his voice soft and hesitant. "i had it all planned out.. a nice dinner, a night walk.. but then you found it so.”

you couldn’t help but smile at his explanation. as sweet as it would’ve been to have a elaborate proposal, this was so much more genuine and real. you held up the box, your eyes glittering with unshed tears. "so does this mean you're asking me to marry you?”

he nodded, a nervous but hopeful look in his eyes. "yeah, i am," he said, his voice steady. "i know it's not exactly how i planned, but... yes. i want to marry you. i want to spend the rest of my life with you."

your heart felt like it might burst out of your chest. tears prickled at the corners of your eyes, but you managed to keep them at bay. you placed the box down on the table, throwing your arms around his neck and pulling him into a fierce hug.

he wrapped his arms around you, embracing you tightly as if he was afraid you'd disappear if he let go. you could feel the rapid beat of his heart against your chest, his breath warm against your neck.

you held each other for a few moments, enjoying the feel of each other's embrace. finally, you pulled back slightly so that you could look at him, your eyes meeting his. "yes," you said, your voice shaky with emotion. "yes, i will marry you."

his face lit up, a beautiful smile spreading across it. "yeah?" he asked, his eyes searching yours as if he couldn’t quite believe what you’d just said. "you’re serious?"

you nodded, your own smile growing wider to match his. "yes, i'm serious." you said, reaching up to cup his face in your hands. you leaned in closer, kissing him gently.

he pulled you closer, his hands sliding up your back to hold you against him. he deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of your lips. it was a mixture of tenderness and desperation, the relief and joy at your answer fueling the intense passion between you.

the air around you felt electric, the heat between you both increasing with every passing second. you were both clinging to each other, your fingers grasping at fabric and skin, needing to feel as much of each other as possible.

suddenly, he picked you up and stood up from the couch, wrapping your legs around his waist whilst you giggled. he walked with you in his arms towards the stairs, his lips leaving a trail of kisses down your neck.

the walk up the stairs was a blur, the only thing that mattered was the feeling of his body against yours. he carried you into the bedroom, setting you down on the bed and pinning you beneath him.

he kissed you again, his body covering yours completely. his hands roamed over your skin, leaving a trail of fire wherever they touched. you could feel the hard press of him against you, a subtle yet powerful reminder of how much he wanted you.

he broke the kiss, but his lips didn’t wander far. he moved down towards your neck, kissing and biting gently at the sensitive skin there. you arched into him, your fingers tangling in his hair needingly.

his hands went to the hem of your shirt, pushing it up and over your head. his eyes darkened as he took in the sight of you laid out beneath him. he let his hands wander across your exposed skin, tracing over your curves and dips. it was almost reverent, the way his touch glided over you, as if he was worshipping every inch of your body.

you could feel a shiver of pleasure course through you under his touch. every nerve in your body was on fire, wanting and needy for more of him. you reached up and started unbuttoning his shirt, pulling it off of him and discarding it on the floor.

his skin was hot and smooth under your touch, his body firm and strong. you ran your fingers over his chest and stomach, feeling the ripple of muscles beneath your palms. he shivered at the sensation, his hands coming down to grasp at your hips and pull you closer.

his lips found yours again, the kiss deeper this time, hungrier. he nipped at your lower lip before pulling away, his breath coming in short gasps. "i need you," he whispered, his voice thick with desire. "now."

the urgency in his voice sent a wave of heat through you, pooling low in your stomach. you could feel the same frantic need building inside you, a desperate craving for him that couldn’t be ignored. "then take me," you breathed, your fingers digging into his back.

he didn't need any more encouragement. he hooked his fingers in the waistband of your pants, pulling them down your legs and throwing them aside. his hands slid back up your thighs, his touch setting your skin on fire.

he positioned himself between your legs, his mouth finding your neck again as he began to kiss and suck at the sensitive skin there. his hands roamed over you, caressing and exploring every inch of you. you could feel the hard press of his arousal against you, the heat and need rolling off of him in waves.

you wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him closer and arching into him. his hands went to your hips, holding you in place as he rocked against you, the friction causing a sharp gasp to escape your lips.

his lips left your neck, moving down to your collarbone, then further still to your chest. his tongue traced a line down your sternum, stopping at the valley between your breasts. he looked up at you, the fire in his eyes almost burning with intensity.

you bit your lip as his gaze met yours, feeling even more heat pooling in your core. he moved lower, his lips and hands continuing their exploration of your body. his tongue flicked over your nipple, causing you to gasp and arch into him.

he smiled against your skin, then continued his journey downwards. his mouth traced a trail of kisses down your stomach, his hands moving to spread your thighs wider. you could feel his breath against your skin, the heat and intensity of his gaze making you shiver with anticipation.

he settled himself between your legs, his fingers tracing small circles around your inner thighs, coming teasingly close to where you wanted him most. he looked up at you, his eyes dark with desire. "you're so beautiful." he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

his words sent a ripple of pleasure through you, your body responding instantly to the sound of his voice. you reached down and tangled your fingers in his hair, trying to bring him closer, wanting to feel his touch where you needed it most.

he obliged, his tongue flicking out to taste you. your head fell back against the pillow, your breath catching in your throat at the sensation. he took his time, pleasuring you in slow, languid strokes until you were a quivering mess.

your body was on fire, the pleasure building quickly as he continued to lavish you with attention. your grip on his hair tightened, your hips arching against his mouth, begging without words for more. he hummed against you, the vibration sending another wave of pleasure through you.

his hands moved to your hips, holding you in place as he continued his ministrations. you were teetering on the edge, the pressure inside you building to a point where you were sure you would shatter at any moment.

he could sense how close you were, his pace and pressure increasing until you were whimpering and writhing beneath him, your body desperate for release. he lifted his head slightly, his lips grazing your skin. "look at me." he instructed, his voice deep and commanding.

you forced your eyes open, your vision slightly hazy from the pleasure coursing through you. you met his gaze, the raw hunger and desire you saw there making your heart skip a beat.

he held your gaze as he continued to pleasure you, his eyes locked onto yours. his lips curved into a small smile, as if he was enjoying the effect he was having on you. the intensity and intimacy of the moment was overwhelming, the connection between you stronger than ever.

the heat and tension in your body coiled tighter and tighter, building to a crescendo that you knew would be your undoing. you gripped onto him, your thighs trembling on either side of him as you felt yourself teetering on the brink.

he seemed to sense how close you were, his movements becoming more focused and intense. his grip on your hips tightened, holding you in place as he brought you closer and closer to the edge. "please," you gasped, your voice shaky with need, "i can't take it anymore."

he didn’t let up, his tongue and mouth continuing to work you until you were trembling and breathless. "just let go," he murmured, his voice soft and reassuring. "i’ve got you. i’m here."

his words were like a trigger, pushing you over the edge. your body convulsed, your vision going white as the most intense orgasm of your life ripped through you. your legs clamped around him, your fingers grasping at whatever they could find.

he stayed with you, holding you through the waves of pleasure that rolled over you. he didn’t let go, his hands gently rubbing your hips and thighs as you slowly came back down. his lips brushed against your skin, soft and tender, a stark contrast to the intensity of moments before.

you felt like you were floating, your body and mind blissfully adrift in a sea of pleasure. you could feel his body pressed against yours, his weight a comforting, anchoring presence. you reached down, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him up towards you, needing to feel his body closer to yours.

he was more than happy to oblige, his body covering yours once more as his lips met yours in a gentle, almost chaste kiss. he was still hard against you, the evidence of his own need for release pressing hot and heavy between you.

you felt a pang of guilt at the thought of him being left unsatisfied. you pushed against his shoulders, rolling him over and pinning him to the bed.

he looked at you with surprise and a hint of amusement, his hands coming up to rest on your hips. "what are you doing?" he asked, a lazy grin on his face.

you didn’t answer him, instead trailing kisses down his chest and stomach, your hands roaming over his skin. you were determined to return the favor, to bring him the same pleasure he had just given you.

his breathing grew heavier as you continued your journey downwards, your mouth moving over his abs and down to the sharp angle of his hipbones. you could feel his muscles tensing beneath your touch, the anticipation and arousal rolling off of him in waves.

you unbuckled his belt, fumbling with it as you did so. he reached down and helped you with the belt, his eyes dark as he watched you work the buttons of his pants open. he lifted his hips up, allowing you to pull his pants and underwear down, freeing him from the constraints of the fabric. he was hard and leaking pre-cum, the sight of him enough to make your mouth water. you looked up at him, your lips curving into a sly smile.

he chuckled, his hands moving to grip the sheets tightly as if he was bracing himself. "i want you to ride me.” he said, his voice strained with need. you hummed in agreement, positioning yourself over him. you braced your hands on his chest, lifting up slightly so that you were hovering above him.

he reached down, his hands going to your hips and guiding you down onto him. you both let out a moan as he filled you, the sensation almost overwhelming. you started to move, riding him slowly at first, getting used to the feel of him inside you again. his eyes were glued to you, his hands holding onto your hips as you rode him, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

you could feel the tension in his body, his muscles taut and tense as he fought to hold back his own release, wanting to stay with you as long as possible. he shifted himself up slightly, propping himself up on his elbows so that he could watch you more closely. his eyes roamed all over your body, taking in every detail, every shiver and twitch.

you could feel his gaze on you, and it only served to heighten the pleasure building inside you. you rode him harder, your hands grabbing onto his shoulders.

his fingers dug into the flesh of your hips, his grip almost painful as he struggled to maintain control. the sounds he was making were sinful, the low moans and gasps escaping his lips spurring you on. you could feel the pleasure building inside you, the friction and pressure almost too much.

he cursed under his breath, his head dropping back as the sensations overwhelmed him. "i can't hold on much longer," he panted out, his voice almost a growl.

you didn’t stop, riding him harder and faster, wanting to push him over the edge right along with you. his breathing was coming in harsh, ragged gasps, his body tensing beneath you as he was pushed closer and closer to the edge. he reached up, one hand gripping your hair and pulling you down to him, his lips finding yours in a rough, desperate kiss.

his movements became jerky and erratic, the kiss turning into more of a messy clash of teeth and tongue. you could feel him on the brink, the tension coiling tight inside him.

he pulled away from the kiss, his voice was ragged, "i’m gonna-" he didn't get to finish his sentence, his back arching off the bed as he finally let go, his release washing over him in powerful waves. you felt him shudder beneath you, his body trembling with the force of it as he came undone.

you rode him through it, your own body on the brink of release but not quite there yet. his eyes were closed, his head thrown back as he gasped for breath. he looked beautiful, completely undone by pleasure.

you slowed your movements, letting him come down from his orgasm. but you were still on the edge, your body aching for release. he must have realized this because his eyes fluttered open, meeting yours. his hands moved to your hips, his grip tight. "keep going," he commanded, his voice gruff.

"i want you to come." he said, his eyes locking onto yours, the intensity in them enough to make your toes curl. hearing those words from him was like fuel to the fire already burning inside you. you nodded, a small whimper escaping your lips.

you began to move again, riding him harder and faster. he held onto your hips, guiding your movements. his eyes were dark, his gaze smoldering as he watched you. the muscles in his jawline were tense, his expression one of pure desire.

you could feel yourself on the very edge now, the pleasure so intense it was almost painful. you were whimpering and shaking, your body taut like a bowstring. he could see how close you were and it only seemed to fuel him on. "come for me," he said, his voice little more than a growl.

those words were all you needed. the pleasure exploded inside you, rippling through your body in powerful waves. your back arched, your hands grabbing onto his wrists tightly as you rode out your orgasm. he held onto you, his eyes never leaving your face as he watched you come apart. his grip on your hips was firm, guiding you through the aftershocks until you collapsed on top of him.

both of you were panting and trembling, your bodies slick with sweat. he pulled you closer, his arms wrapping around you in a tight embrace. you buried your face into his chest, your body feeling boneless and sated.

he stroked your hair, his other hand tracing lazy paths up and down your spine. he held you like that for a few moments, both of you basking in the afterglow. "you're incredible," he murmured, his lips brushing against the top of your head.

you hummed in agreement, your eyelids feeling heavy as exhaustion started to set in. you were blissfully relaxed, every muscle in your body feeling like it had melted into his.

he shifted beneath you, rolling over so that he was lying on his side and pulling you along with him. he tucked you close against him, his body molding around yours like it was made to fit.

you were cradled in his embrace, your head resting on his chest. you could hear the steady thump of his heart beneath your ear, the sound soothing and calming. his hand continued to stroke your hair, fingers gentle and soothing.

he was quiet for a moment, just holding you, until he spoke again, his voice a quiet rumble. "i love you," he said, his lips pressing a gentle kiss against the top of your head.

hearing him say those words sent a rush of warmth through your chest, filling you with a sense of contentment. "i love you too." you replied, your voice soft and genuine.

he smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. he pulled you closer, wrapping his arms around you in a tight embrace. you snuggled into his chest, feeling warm and safe and utterly at peace.

you both lay like that for a while, content to just be close to each other. his breathing was steady and deep, the rise and fall of his chest lulling you into a sense of security. you could feel the last remnants of arousal ebbing away, replaced by a sense of comfort and closeness.

[beaverpooeatstrash-blog]

I look so silly exercising. Wish I could just never move again~ grow and grow, fatter and fatter~ but for now, here I am. Jumping jacks.

[jokingluna]

[girlsloveupdates]

Hi, I just started watching GL, have only watched GAP. Can you recommend anything? I'd really appreciate it.

Hello! Although there are not that many right now, I will include a list of shows that have already aired that you can watch. Make sure you also see this list to keep updated on which GL will be coming out soon — because there will be a lot! 2024 is the year, trust me! The GL renaissance is upon us. But while we wait here’s some others:

Main characters/main couple:

- She Makes My Heart Flutter (2022)

I love this one. Basically all the characters are lesbians and in a friendship group. It’s so sweet and endearing and I really recommend it! Kinda short but so sweet. One of my favourites for sure <3

- She Loves To Cook and She Loves to Eat (2022)

The characters are a perfect match. This show will make your heart warm and you will say ‘Me and who’ every five seconds.

- Sleep with Me (2022)

The chemistry is so good. It feels so raw and real. Sexuality isn’t really an issue at all. I really enjoyed watching, my heart 🥹

- Out of Breath (2019)

Both painful and heartwarming, it can be relatable to viewers who have experienced break-ups and finding new love. This series is fun and I like it.

- Couple of Mirrors (2021)

Because of censorship, their relationship isn’t ~specifically stated but they are canonically together by the person who created them. I mean, they literally live together, sleep in the same bed, raise a child together etc. The vibes are gayyyy, it’s safe to say they have romantic feelings for each other. If you love action and badass women, this is for you!

- Legend of Yunze (2022)

Lovers reunite after centuries apart. It’s so beautiful and I rewatch this quite a lot.

- Girlfriend Project Day 1 (2022)

Super short, but still really cute. The characters are forced to work together and things ensue. I wish they’d make more episodes 🥹

- Show Me Love (2023)

It’s not made/edited the best but it’s still cute and easy to watch, nice elements of comedy :D

!!!!! Here is a link to other mini web dramas !!!!!

https://legendofyunze.carrd.co

Side characters/side couple:

- Bad Buddy (2021)

My sweetest Ink and Pa. I love them very much :) The actresses have their own GL together called ‘23.5’ which will air next year!

+ they also feature in Zero Photography

- Nevertheless (2021)

Watch this for Soljiwan, Nabi, and Han Sohee. The straight couples are questionable, but Sol & Jiwan, although a side couple, have the most beautiful story and amazing chemistry. 🥰

- Friend Zone S2 (2021)

Cris and Amm are a beautiful couple. They help each other with their situations, maybe they’re not perfect, but they are everything :D

Special mentions:

- Fragrance of the First Flower (2021)

- Love of Secret (2022)

- Wedding Plan (2023)

- Sweet Kaaram Coffee (2023)

I’ve definitely missed ones but these are just the ones I could think of off the top of my head. The only main GL airing right now is Lucky My Love & Love Senior!

[batfambrainrotbeloved]

I am- dying

I was studying on the first floor, but then it got busy and theres no seating on the 2nd floor, so I went to the third floor- found good seating

but THEN I found two people stressing over a printer- and having been there I was like "Oh whats up" turns out they needed to print in color and that printer COULDNT

So I was like "Oh we have a printing lab-" but they didn't know where it was and I couldnt describe where it was so I had to run BACK down to the 2nd floor, down the hall- show them the lab, run back down to the FIRST floor for my stuff then all the way back to the third to set up in the avaliable seating-

[sassypiglet86]

I love when you talk about how out of shape youre getting

any other stories?

Definitely. My most recent one was when I just recently visited Istanbul, Turkey. That place has wayyyyy to many stairs. I had to stop and take breaks so many times and was EXTREMELY out of breath. I was with my boyfriends family and I was so embarrassed. They are all speed walkers and fit. I obviously am not. The stairs were absolutely insane, I kid you not there were like 200 of them if not more. I thought I was gonna die. Every time you’d make it up some there’d be more that came into view.

Worst night of my life.

It’s so much higher than this looks and we had already gone up some at this point and this was a different day than my story above. #i-hate-stairs

At least there were cats I could pet along the way

[secretbigboylover]

Big sweaty day

[ql-of-all-time-bracket]

QL of All Time - Round 1: Out of Breath (2019) vs A Boss and a Babe (2023)

[bazcomic]

Baz #71 - Free Climb

Written by: Forrest Langley

Art by: Mary Langley

[evilhorse]

Don’t puff so! She’s laughing at us!

(Dell Four Color #656)

[stuffnonsenseandotherthings]

January Drama Wrap Up

January was a month of ups and downs (and some very big let downs) but over all I enjoyed what I watched. I tried out a new country's dramas and discovered some classics at the same time and I've built myself a pretty solid Currently Watching List to take me into February.

📊 The Stats

Total Dramas: 12

Currently Watching: 3

Completed: 4

Dropped: 2

On Hold: 3

My To Watch List: 60

🎭 The Dramas

🤼💰 Like Flowers in the Sand - Currently Watching

Like Flowers in the Sand is going to be another one of those k-dramas I am never going to be able to explain to my non k-drama watching friends without sounding like I've lost the plot a little.

"It's a small town drama about a minor league ssireum team and a wrestler who's been in a years long slump. There's also an investigation into a murder linked to match-fixing but that's kind of a side plot and it's linked to the wrestler's childhood friend who's reappeared incognito after disappearing mysteriously many years ago ... I promise it's good!"

It's probably not the drama for everyone but as someone who has historically loved sports centered k-dramas and who loved When Camilla Blooms this drama ticks so many of my boxes. I'm very excited to watch the complex relationships and politics of small town life be put under a microscope and dissected and I can already tell I'm going to love how morally grey all the characters are.

It also doesn't hurt that the ML is the biggest himbo to ever ever himbo and I love him and his empty brain to bits.

Prediction: I become a ssireum fan.

🕹️💌 Love For Love's Sake - Currently Watching

I've been staying away from K-BL these past few months because I've been struggling with their short run time but Love for Love' Sake lured me back in like a moth to the flame and I have no regrets.

Is Love For Love's Sake Perfect? No, there are definitely some pacing issues that are leaving me feeling very temporally confused about how quickly or slowly events are unfolding and the lower than average k-drama budget does show at certain points but, do you what?

I don't care.

I wholeheartedly love this drama and it's going to have to mess up its last 2 episodes Last Twilight style to change that.

The relationship between the main couple? Adorable. The openly gay leader of the school delinquents? We stan. The oddball friendship group forming because they're all slightly crushing on the ML? Sign me up! The addition of a glitch in the game that's starting to mess everything up? Horrifying and I love it.

Prediction: A new favourite K-BL is born and it's all thanks to this mf

🩺😭 Doctor Slump - Currently Watching

I'm watching this because it's on my Plan To Watch list and Netflix started playing the trailer after I'd finished watching an episode of The Way of the Househusband.

I won't lie, this is definitely the drama, out of all the dramas I'm currently watching, that I'm least certain I'll finish but, at the same time, I was pleasantly surprised by the first two episodes. Yes, it does do that typical comedy k-drama thing of mixing ridiculous over the top laughs with some incredibly difficult topics (because who doesn't want to be laughing hysterically one minute and then doing some deep self-reflection the next?) but so far the balance and the boundaries between the two moods has been relatively well struck and only time will tell if it manages to stay that way.

I appreciate tackling the topic of burn out and depression in a country that still champions overwork and mental fortitude above all else and I'm interested to see where it goes with that part of its arc. The "being framed for murder" I am a little less certain about, but it has definitely added a layer of intrigue to a story that would otherwise be relatively mundane and by the books.

As I said, time will tell if I continue to enjoy Doctor Slump but I'd say my only quibble with the drama so far is that I'm not sure "accused of (and potentially framed for) murder" and "suffering from depression due to burn out and work place abuse" quite fit what is normally meant by the word slump.

Prediction: Maybe I won't drop this half way through like I thought I would.

👨‍❤️‍💋‍���🎥 BL Drama no Shuen ni Narimashita - Completed

My first Japanese BL ever and it was a good one. Yes, it was 3 episodes long, but it used its runtime perfectly. All of the main characters felt properly fleshed out (and the side characters were caricature enough that you only really needed one scene to know who they were and what they stood for), the pacing was great (it couldn't afford to drag but it didn't speed through scenes either), and it found the right balance between BL shenanigans and forrays into deeper messages. This was exactly what I needed at the time and, for someone who doesn't normally like mini-dramas that much, I enjoyed myself immensely.

Verdict: 8/10, I also want a life-size cardboard cutout of Aoyanagi to cuddle and hide behind when I open the door.

✒️💕 Cherry Magic, Japan - Completed

I'm planning to buy the manga.

I plan to watch the film next month (I never watch films).

I may have even checked out the fanfic scene in a bout of withdrawal.

Anyway, what I mean to say is that I get the hype, I really really do. This drama is fantastic.

Cherry Magic is one of those classics that you watch as a newbie and go "oh yeah I get why everyone is obsessed with this". The premise is novel and well executed, the characters are oh so easy to love, the main romance is so incredibly shippable, and the friendships are just as endearing.

I personally love the role Adachi's mind reading plays in shaping his relationship with Kurosawa and how the way it's handled means the audience feels what Adachi is feeling right alongside him. How can you not be charmed by the inner monologue of someone so sweetly and respectfully head over heels for you? But at the same time just because you're charmed, does that mean you like them back or is it just because you can see them at their most vulnerable? And what about once you're in the relationship? Do you give up the thing you know made it possible? Or do you pull back so you can't mess up once the crutch you rely on is gone?

There was so much quiet nuance to Adachi's and Kurosawa's relationship to each other and those around them and, when I one day sit down for a rewatch, I'm looking forward to unpicking them all.

Verdict: 8.5/10, Adachi and Kurosawa are going to be one of those couples that's impossible to leave behind. This is going to stick with me for a while, and once it's unstuck I'll just watch it again.

📸🌦️ Welcome to Samdal-Ri - Completed

I know some people thought the premise of Welcome to Sandal-Ri was unrealistic but, personally, I found it hard not to draw parallels between what happened to Cho Sam Dal in the drama and what happened to Kim Seon Ho in real life. Yes, the situations may differ somewhat (Sam Dal faces false accusations of work-place bullying by an employee while Seon Ho was accused of coercing his girlfriend into getting an abortion) but there were enough similarities (the media frenzy and the sheer intensity of the backlash, the scandals happening just as their careers peaked, the gradual revelation of what actually transpired) that I would be very surprised if there was no link at all.

For that alone, Welcome To Samdal-Ri had my attention from the get go. If this story were from a Western perspective, I would certainly have been much more wary of a story tackling false accusations (looking at you Euphoria) but from a Korean perspective, where celebrity culture is far more intense and volatile and in which false accusations have happened before and cancel culture can indeed end a career for even minor infractions (like dating), I wanted to see how it would be handled.

Ultimately I was satisfied, not wowed, not disappointed, satisfied. The show didn't dig that deep into the subject (personally I would have appreciated Sam Dal's case juxtaposed against another case in which the accusations turned out to be true) but it handled it deftly enough and felt "case-by-case" enough that I didn't feel as though it inadvertently gave off the message of "not believe anyone bringing accusations against celebrities".

Other than my own personal interest in the premise, Welcome to Sandal-Ri did a good job of holding my interest. In terms of overall vibe, it felt like a mix between (perhaps unsurprisingly) Hometown Cha Cha Cha (the idyllic small-town community filled with friends and loveable elders) and Our Beloved Summer (childhood lovers unfairly broken up but still pining for each other after years apart). The pacing was good, the characters loveable (I am now in love with Cho Hae In), and each episode felt like sinking into a warm bath for an hour.

Verdict: 8/10, it tackled an interesting topic while providing its audience with plenty of comfort and heart. It could have done without the love triangle though, just saying.

📃👩‍❤️‍👩 Out of Breath - Completed

I don't have too much to say about Out of Breath given it was 3 episodes long and less than an hour run time in total but I'm glad I watched it. Firstly, because it was nice to watch a (rare) Korean GL and secondly, because it managed to fit a lot into its short run time. Two break ups, a love triangle/unrequited love, cute dates, commentary on living queer in Korea, commentary on being out in Korea.... This show really had it all.

It was short, it was sweet, and it had a lot to say. I can't say I'd watch it again in a hurry, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a realistic portrayal of queer (and specifically) lesbian life in Korea.

Verdict: 7.5/10, it unpacked a lot in a short amount of time, the couple was extra cute too.

🫂💕 Cherry Magic Thailand - On Hold

I realised very early on into watching Cherry Magic Thailand that I'd probably get a lot more out of it if I watched the original first. I'm not normally someone who says watching the OG is necessary to watch the adaptation (in fact I normally rebel against that idea with a whole lot of passion) but in this case it became very clear that without watching Cherry Magic Japan first, I was missing important reference points and comparisons that were pretty key to understanding and appreciating that plot fully.

Anyway, I've now watched and loved Cherry Magic Japan so Cherry Magic Thailand is back on the menu, I just want to give myself enough time away that when I go back to it, it's with completely new eyes (and I'm excited for when that moment comes).

Verdict: On Hold until I can give it a proper fresh start.

🩺🍲 Cooking Crush - On Hold

I watched this at completely the wrong time. I struggle with rom-com dramas at the best of times but by now I should know that I absolutely should not try to watch one when I am going through a period of high stress.

I am not kind to rom-coms when I am stressed, even the ones I might otherwise enjoyed.

As it is, I initially dropped Cooking Crush because I was struggling to stay focussed enough to finish an episode and the characters were grating on me. Looking back, part of me thinks that my lack of focus and general irritability may have had less to do with the drama itself and much more to do with the fact I could barely focus on anything during that time period and that I had barely any spoons left to give people in my actual life, let alone fictional ones.

So...

Anyway, Cooking Crush has continued to come across my dash in gif, meme, and analysis form and I've realised that I actually really like what I'm seeing, enough so that I've moved it out of the "dropped" pile and into my "on hold" list so as to give it a second shot in the not so distant future (something that doesn't normally happen).

I genuinely think I might like this drama, I just need to make sure I'm in the right mindset for it first to give it a fair shot 💪

Verdict: On Hold until my next holiday.

🐍🦅 The Sign - On Hold

On paper The Sign sounds like it's right up my street, after all what's not to love about star-crossed lovers doomed by the threads of fate and history to lose each other?

But that's the thing, "on paper". In real life The Sign is well, messy and a bit too cop-heavy for my liking. Sure there are some great moments, Billy and Babe's chemistry is on fire, and it may have one of the best and most artistic sex scenes ever to grace the BL screens of the world but sexy times does not a good show make and I've found myself torn about whether or not I should keep going or just give up at this point.

To help me decide I've taken the "on paper" part of The Sign very literally and bought the book to read. If I like the book (the translation is a bit choppy but I can overlook that if the story is good) then I'll finish the show, if I don't then into the land of the dropped it goes.

Verdict: On Hold until I've actually experienced it on paper.

🌄🖕 Last Twilight - Dropped (episode 10)

I won't lie, this is the second time (the first time being Only Friends) that I've ended up being grateful my busy schedule got in the way of my drama watching because wow this show really took a tumble at the last hurdle. There was so much Last Twilight could have done, so many societal boundaries it could have crossed and reshaped and re-imagined but instead it went with... well a literal "fix it fic" ending that fixed nothing but instead broke all it had built up beyond repair.

I'm not going to go into detail about how Last Twilight let nearly every single one of its principal characters down, about how Mhok was never allowed screen time to process his own emotional trauma, about how the show briefly touched upon and then completely glossed over the very different social and financial circumstances of the both couples and the effects this would have on their experience of the world, of how there was so much ableist messaging around both the treatment of Dad's character which was always lurking under the surface but which only really came to light alongside the ending..... All I'm going to say is that, up until episode 9, Last Twilight had a choice about what messages it wanted it's audiences to come away with at the end, and it picked the wrong fucking ones.

It could have been a challenge to the ableist and classist mainstream norm so often portrayed in the media, instead it perpetuated harmful and hurtful rhetoric and stereotypes against the very people it claimed to champion.

Maybe one day I'll watch it again, but only because I want to properly break down what went so wrong.

Recommended reads by people who expressed it better than me:

This Discussion under "Last Twilight, episode 12: final reflections" by @waitmyturtles

"Last Twilight: Ep 12" by @wen-kexing-apologist

"Last Twilight Episode 12" by @lurkingshan

This post by @simplemindedmockingjay

Verdict: Dropped for betraying it's audience and those it claimed to champion.

👨‍⚕️⏳ Triage - Dropped (episode 10)

This one hurts me.

This one well and truly hurts me.

Because, the thing is, I loved so much about this show. It does so much right and up until episode 10 I was preparing to rank it among my favourite BLs of all time; the plot was fast moving and carried you from episode to episode in a whirlwind of anticipation, the romance (although minor compared to most other BLs) was highly shippable, the characters had depth and flaws and strengths that made you root for them, and the time loop plot device was doing things that were genuinely new and innovative.

I was hooked.

And then everything I loved just disappeared.

I don't know what possessed the creators of this show to completely change the universe of the drama for the last 2 episodes, maybe they thought the old one was getting stale (it wasn't).

All I can say is I absolutely hated the new turn of events.

Familiar characters with entirely new personalities and character arcs who I was apparently expected to root for (I don't know who they are anymore), time travel rules thrown out of the window because the plot demanded it be so (I'm sorry but the notebook time travels now? And a kiss will bring back memories?), the entire premise of the show just dropped and never even properly answered (why did Tin need to save Tol????? What about his heart murmur????)....

No.

Just no.

I'm out.

Verdict: Dropped for becoming a completely different drama in the last 2 episodes

⭐ The Awards

I fell in love with a lot of people and things this month so let's talk about them

☺️ Smile That Could Launch A Thousand Ships

Yuuichi Kurosawa (and his actor Keita Machida) is, quite frankly, a ridiculously gorgeous man in the most normal of circumstances but his smile takes it to a whole new level.

Truly a sight that could light up a room (and the whole building the room was in), this smile is filled with such genuine happiness and love that it's hard not to smile right back just as brightly, whether you be a hapless audience member beaming at your computer screen or a flustered Adachi trying desperately to hold on to your heart.

What I also love about this smile is that it only comes out when Kurosawa is properly, over the moon happy. He's got other smiles for other occasions and they're all very pretty but this one? This one sits above them all and makes them pale in comparison.

🩷 Biggest Crush

I have a type and that type is Cho Mina (and quite possibly Kang Mi Na, I clearly need to work through her filmography for... science). But seriously, this woman is STUNNING and is made all the more so by her dedication to her daughter and her refusal to let society pressure her into being ashamed of being a young single mum. She's strong, she's kind, she's independent, she's beautiful both inside and out. I don't care if she got the least screen time out of all the sisters, she stole the whole show for me and I am smitten.

📃 Line That Hit Me Like A Freight Train

"I'm used to pretending to be normal"

"pretending to be normal"

I'm going to be forever grateful to Cherry Magic for giving me positive and thoughtful Ace rep in Fujisaki, for showing her happy and confident and unbothered by society's expectations that she should one day couple up and settle down, for giving voice to the Ace experience of "pretending to be normal" in simple line that holds so much meaning and so many layers.

I know it's not canon, but in my head Fujisaki does tell Adachi out loud one day, and she gets her response of "is that so".

🛌 Plot Device That Made Me Sit Up and Go "Yes"

I may have ended up dropping Triage but credit where credit is due, it did do a lot of things right and one of those things was its ideas around time loops/ time travel. The idea that where you fall asleep at the end of the time loop directly affects how far back you travel back in time for the start of the loop?

Genius.

Why haven't I seen this done before??? It's such a clever way to provide the loop-character with the agency they need to actually make changes without breaking the established rules of the time loop and it allows for each iteration of the loop to be significantly different depending on how early or how late the changes to the timeline are made.

It literally solves almost all of my usual issues with time loop narratives.

It was genuinely intriguing watching Tin try to work out where he needed to fall asleep in order to go back as far as he needed and it was such a shame that, as the show neared its end, that aspect of the time loop experience just sort of fell away.

I want more time loop ideas like this and I want them now.

🌄 Scene That Took My Breath Away

Last Twilight may have ended by taking this scene and its significance and flushing it down the toilet but you know what, the author is dead and I killed him. I'm taking this scene back.

Day wanting his last experience with his quickly disappearing sight to be a homage to the book that helped him come to terms with his disability and see the world anew, his description of the sunset he could see in his mind's eye that is far more brilliant and beautiful than reality could ever dream to be, his clear moment of realisation that yes, he could live without his sight and not only could he live without it, he could well and truly thrive, the last thing he sees being Mhok's face as the ultimate declaration of love....

The last twilight in episode 9 could have been a truly special moment and, taken in isolation, it still is. It's just such a shame that such a beautiful depiction of growth and healing and self-love and self-acceptance was ultimately papered over with an ending that didn't fit it at all, one that erased the positive and affirming messages this scene held.

[howloopyisthat]

From a gifset on thevelvetgoldmine

[ksodirty]

[distinguishedblizzardvoid]

Me core

(1) awkward,sad, delusional, frustrated

(2) literally going crazy

(3) can't stop being dazed because of her

(4) don't know how to act when she's around

(5) so done with this pathetic life

[kattahj]

More Asian QL reviews!

I have now watched another half dozen Asian QLs! This time, five of them are short to medium length, and only one is a full-length Thai drama (12 x 45 minutes). I have written down the lengths so you know how much time you'll be committing!

Choco Milk Shake (11 x 15ish minutes, plus one background 3 minute story)

What's it about? Jungwoo is feeling kind of down, when two handsome young men appear by his apartment. They declare that they're his childhood dog and cat, Choco and Milk, and that they have returned from the afterlife to make him happy.

Genre: dramedy

Watch if you enjoy: Actors who are very good at showing animal traits while gradually becoming more and more human. Cute and fluffy. No villains. Melancholy discussions of death. Happy-for-now ending.

Gayer version of: Minoes

Recommended? Yes! This show is like a warm hug, just so kind and compassionate. Of course you have to accept that the premise includes these former animals in (low heat) romance with humans. It helps that everyone is gorgeous. :-)

Watched on: Mostly YouTube, occasionally an episode gave me trouble and I turned to Dailymotion.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3-fUBzCQuY

Rookie (94 minute film)

What's it about? Since there's no basketball team in Ace's new school, she joins the volleyball team instead. Star player Jana isn't too happy about the new recruit... at least at first.

Genre: coming of age

Watch if you enjoy: Character-focused stories. Volleyball. Enemies to lovers. Criticism of religious hypocrisy. Girls supporting each other (eventually).

Gayer version of: My So-Called Life

Recommended? Mildly yes. It's sympathetic and well-acted, and the story is at heart an interesting one. At the same time, it takes on a lot for its short runtime – it's a coming of age story, a romance, a sports film, and also tackles issues like sexual assault and parental bereavement. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite know how to pace all of it; some things drag on, while others get resolved much too quickly. Still, I would say that on average, I liked it!

Watched on: Bilibili

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSTcOkT72J0

Out of Breath (3x15 min)

What's it about? Ha Eun's girlfriend has just broken up with her, and with the encouragement of her friend Yu Bin, Ha Eun dares to try a dating app. But meeting someone this way is awkward, and is she even ready to move on?

Genre: Slice of life

Watch if you enjoy: Realistic lesbian love troubles. Mellow and empathetic. Same director as She Makes My Heart Flutter. (There's even a character called Yu Bin in both, played by the same actress! The Soo Not Sue universe, perhaps?)

Gayer version of: a Nora Ephron movie (with fewer one-liners).

Recommended? Yes! It was a nice little miniseries. Sure, it's nothing new, and the short runtime means the love connection is a bit underdeveloped, but the story still works well.

Watched on: YouTube

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jN1V3Lh4AHc

Love from Outta Space (22 min film)

What's it about? An alien lands in Off's garden and wants to know more about life on earth.

Genre: scifi

Watch if you enjoy: More OffGun after shows like Not Me and Theory of Love. Short and cute. Fish out of water. Deadpan vs. comedic. What is love?

Gayer version of: My Stepmother is an Alien

Recommended? Not unless you're really into OffGun. But at least it's short!

Watched on: YouTube

Whole thing (instead of trailer): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JfxlGewx1s

Girlfriend Project, Day 1 (4 x 5-8 min)

What's it about? Two students get paired up for an assignment where they have to pretend to date.

Genre: university drama

Watch if you enjoy: 24 hour romance, opposites attract, bickering to lovers, fake dating turned real, amorous while drunk

Gayer version of: a John Hughes movie

Recommended? The short runtime isn't quite enough to convince me that these two would be good with each other, but if you just want to watch two messy lesbians try to sort out their feelings, then yes. I will be tuning in for season 2 if/when we get it!

Watched on: YouTube

Whole thing: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_wBhmJHUwXRco0J2M4DNNq9M-gE31Ya1&si=M5QM_n59aR5azTtn

23.5 (12 x 45-60 min)

What's it about? Clumsy and nervous Ongsa starts a new school and is immediately taken in by the lovely Sun, but can't admit her feelings. Instead, she starts chatting to Sun anonymously.

Genre: highschool romcom

Watch if you enjoy: More MilkLove after Bad Buddy and Zero Photography. Light and fluffy. Awkward situations. Dorky humour. Big happy friend groups. Implied autistic side character. Several side couples, including one with (trans!) teachers.

Gayer version of: Saved by the Bell

Recommended? It's cute, and I got attached to the characters, though more the side characters than the main ones. It has some unfortunate romcom tropes (like stalking played for laughs), and it's very loosely plotted. As in, classic children's literature loosely.

In general, I would say yes, you could have a good time with this, just don't have your expectations too high.

Watched on: YouTube

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdOlxH11WnQ