#((so like i'd /prefer/ to use the icons with the right skin tone but i look at his icons and i'm like i can't do it !))

[puzzledmemories]

(To Atem, off of the meme)

What’cha Thinkin Bout?

Send “What’cha Thinkin Bout?” And my muse will tell you something that’s been on their mind lately… ((always accepting!))

"For a long time, inhabiting the puzzle and during my time sharing Yugi's body, I did not need to sleep. In the afterlife, of course, I didn't need it either. I was cast from the afterlife and given my own body as a punishment for saving Yugi against Aigami, and I suppose needing sleep is one of those things the gods view as a punishment."

"In all honesty, though, needing sleep isn't something I mind. Getting tired is still a weird feeling, just as much as hunger is. After a lifetime's worth of trials and nonstop danger, however, it's nice to be able to just rest."

[reaching-giraffes]

Ten(ish) People I'd Like to Get to Know Better

Thanks for the tag @tripably - I felt like blabbing about myself so your tag really comes in handy.

Last song: My Spotify says its Kaunis Marjaana by Scandinavian Music Group. A very enjoyable song, I don't usually listen to it intentionally but always glad when the app algorithm decides to play it for me.

Favourite colours: Deep, cold purples (or violets - somehow I have the assumption that "purple" refers to a warm/reddish hues), the ones you'd associate with midnight. I just bought second hand this lovely pinkish purple suit, which ironically will be about the only purple clothing I own.

Last book: I just finished comic book by Hanna Koljonen called Syliinvaellus Intiaan (a Hugrimage to India). It was a pretty fun one. Also very close to finishing the novel Hiljaisuuden mestari by Miki Liukkonen.

Last fic: I prefer not to expose my fic reading tastes too much in detail but my AO3 says it was a smutty How to train your dragon fic...

Last movie: Disney's Tarzan. I think I had seen it before but after the rewatch I'm not too sure??? It was good, though watching it in 2024 is like... They could've done a couple of things differently....

Last TV show: Just finished the eight episode of Only Murders in the Building. The reference to A Few Good Men... iconic.

Sweet, spicy or savoury: I used to be sweet all the way but I'm starting to gravitate towards savoury.

Relationship status: Used to be "happily destined to be a hermit" but nowadays it's more like "destined to be a hermit" in a less joyous tone.

Last thing I googled: "Prisma käsivoide" (Prisma hand cream) because it's dry hands season and Prisma will provide.

Current obsession: This is not the answer my therapist would give but right now it's fragances and poetry by Sirkka Turkka, a Finnish poet. Got my paycheck yesterday and I went to Rituals to buy a body cream of their new Alchemy collection which has me under its spell, and also a mini perfume of their perfume line (though I'd like to have the Alchemy perfumes too...) Now I feel like expanding my fragance collection and also smelling what other people's perfumes smell like on their skin (I think it might be hormonal but I get so many whiffs of perfume that make me go "WOW" when I'm out and about).

As for the poet Turkka, I also got a volume collecting all of her poetry. I read Turkka's Tule takaisin, pikku Sheba (translated as Not You, Not the Rain - not a direct translation of the Finnish title) a while ago, and was absolutely taken by it. I had not previously read anything that would give ashape for the longing I feel deep inside me, and here it was, right in Turkka's poetry. In my darkest hours I sometimes look at the screenshots of her poems on my phone. So, reading through all of her work is my next endeavour.

Looking forward to: Man, I don't even know... There isn't much I've felt like is worth "looking forward to". Maybe finishing the poetry collection. And going back to therapy after my therapist's vacation week.

I'm not tagging anyone this time, but anyone who feels like doing this, please do! I love learning things like this about other people.

[tothedarkdarkseas]

I think half of the reason it's so off-putting to us when Murdoc looks like A Man is the fact that they've been animal-izing him for years now. I'd say it fully began in Humanz (though there were moments beforehand... The internet explorer video is golden, plus pirate radio), with the mocaps, and Jamie's eccentric style during that phase as well. Just look at his artwork during that phase! He looked crazy and deranged. With the release of song machine, it's been heightened to a new level! The Muppet jokes from Aries, him emerging from the storage box in desole, all of him in Strange Timez....

He's been a gross guy since the beginning, but now everything is leading him to Creature territory. Even his character design. Phil Cornwell gets it, the storyboard artists and animators get it, even the writers get it. It's just Jamie now that's trailing behind, and giving us a shocking Man Murdoc once in a while.

That's an interesting perspective! See, as I read this I realize my hypocrisy, as I actually sort of feel the opposite way toward Stu-- for example, me changing straightaway to my current low-quality icon from the only scan of this Almanac artwork I can find (and if anyone has a better quality version, please oh please let me know)-- I do truly love a lot of the goofier, zombier artwork, but there's a right note that the more "human" artwork can hit. However, there's also a wrong note that the more human artwork can hit, which is why I tend to dislike certain favored Stu and Murdoc art where they look more "attractive" specifically in accordance with a particular interpretation, ie a prettier, softer-looking Stu and a more smoldering, muscular and aloof Murdoc. Neither of these gel with my interpretation of them, so they just fall into this... almost uncanny valley area for me. I think the "realistic" (I realize this is still a relative term, haha) Stu artwork is more divisive for me, meaning it can hit big and often makes my list of favorite pieces, or exactly the opposite, while the Murdocs of the same ilk are less peak-and-valley but the goofier creature-like artwork really never offends me and I can appreciate the humor of, save for the current shade of green they're making his skin. (It's too cool-toned, I just don't care for it!) It is quite funny, I think, for the outside observer to look at the incredibly ridiculous array of Murdoc artwork through the years juxtaposed against the more serious or realistic ones and understand what exactly is going on here, let alone that this character is even supposed to be the same guy.

Anyway, I'm dancing around saying it bluntly but I guess if I'm being honest with myself, I often like more realistic artwork and fanart the best... when it fits my interpretation of the characters, haha. When it's prettying them up too much, I have less taste for it. Really that's not such a horrible thing to say, I think we all feel that way a bit, we just try to be less conscious of that bias. Can I say objectively that the Jamie artwork I like is better than the Jamie artwork I don't like? It's probably 50/50 skill and character preference. It's also worth saying that I think there's a distinction between good, fun, iconic Gorillaz artwork (this is generally the goofier, more animated and creature-like art) and art of Stu or Murdoc that suits my particular fandom content, and when I'm enjoying things like Jamie's artbooks or the music videos these things feel entirely separate to me. It's nice when they meet in the middle, though.

[keiscait]

Hello!! Could I get a haikyuu living room matchup? 🥺💞

I'm 5'5 and have short, green hair, I use any pronouns, preferably they/them though and I'm bisexual! Though I'd prefer male for this matchup! I've been told I can look pretty intimidating, but I'm actually very anxious and touchstarved :') I'm only cold towards people I don't like, but I'm very protective of people I care about! after getting comfortable with someone, I'll be quite touchy since my love language is touch. I can be pretty stubborn and quite well at arguments, so I'll always stand my ground! By zodiac I'm a Sun Taurus, Moon Sagittarius and have an Aquarius rising.

In a partner I'm looking for someone who I can have fun with, joke around, but someone who knows how to be serious when it's needed. Someone who's patient, and pretty emotionally open. I'd like to be able to cuddle with them, and I have sudden bursts where I need reassurance or touch.

I'm resending mine, since reading the latest post I've taken off a portion of my last request! I hope I got everything right this time! -🌿

Hello and welcome, my darling! I’m so sorry for the crazy delay, I hope you’re still here with us. Thank you so much for being so considerate and resending your request to fit with the rules. I won’t make you wait any longer then! Let’s get right to the living room! ٩(◕‿◕｡)۶

Here in the living room, we’re joined by..

(Runner up: Sugawara Koushi)

Oikawa is one of the biggest people-pleasers ever. He’s persistent on tearing down others’ walls, and does so quite skillfully that it’s become second nature to him. While it’s expected of him to be deceptive, he keeps up his sincerity and takes great care with everything he does. 

- OIKAWA IS A FRICKING DISNEY PRINCE 

- ok i just had to get that out of my system

- anyway

- He’d totally get on your nerves at first coz that’s what he’s good at

- kidding again

- I think the fact that you’re cold and intimidating is actually what draws him to you

- Perhaps at first it’ll be for his own selfish reasons, such as wanting to prove to himself that he can get along with anyone, but eventually he’ll be in too deep

- He will succeed at winning you over, so you start opening up to him bit by bit, so he’s like fuck yea. im a god. mission accomplished 😌

- But just when he thinks it’s over, suddenly he finds himself wondering where you are, what you’re doing, why he isn’t with you righT THIS MOMENT

- Then he catches himself and he’s like “Hahahaha, pull yourself together, Tooru 😅”

- But one day, maybe when he’s really stressed out, he stomps out to get some air, and there you are! Looking as radiant as ever! Oh how comforting your presence is and wow did you change your hair he never noticed how it frames your face so wel-- shit.

- He grows quieter than usual as he realizes how taken he is with you

- He considers distancing himself from you because of his pride, but realizes that it’s useless because he just c a n n o t stay away

- SLICK AS HELL WITH HIS CONFESSION. CHANGE MY MIND

- Although this doesn’t change the fact that he was so nervous to admit it

- He is so so so so affectionate, and this will be consistent no matter how much you poke fun at him

- He embraces your stubbornness and how good you are at arguing. He’s used to Iwaizumi, who is similar, and I would go as far as saying he adores this dynamic

- Showers you with praise and affection, and makes sure you don’t ever doubt his feelings for you

- He tries to put a little extra effort into this, and at first glance, it may seem like it’s just coz that’s how he really is, but it’s also because he knows he has a lot of touchy fans who may try to get in the way of your relationship, so this is how he makes it up to you

- Does not hesitate to show you off too. I headcanon that he has a perfectly curated Instagram feed, and takes the most aesthetic couple photos (thanks as well to Takeru who you help babysit sometimes)

- ALWAYS picks you up and drops you off for dates. Non-negotiable for him

- HANDSYYYYY

~

It’s been 3 hours.

He’s been serving, spiking, tossing for 3 whole hours.

This was how he blew off steam - repetitively trying to prove to himself that it wasn’t because he’s incompetent. 

I didn’t lead my team into defeat, he tries to swallow. I didn’t fail them. These thoughts plagued him loudly, completely drowning out whatever sounds surrounded him at the moment.

Volleyballs littered the court; a billowing clap echoing through the gym from the impact of each spike. This has become a routine he has with himself when suffering a loss - he channels his restlessness into practice until he has no other but to rest. Anyway, he’s used to picking himself back up every time, realizing that some things are beyond his control, but he knows he has to let himself ride this wave of uneasiness. And what a mighty wave it was today.

He toppled over out of exhaustion. He sat on the floor of the empty gym, head bowing down, trying to catch his breath from overexertion. With palms faced up, nearly purple from all the friction, he didn’t even notice how numb they’ve gotten. He had to admit he was being a little cruel with himself today.

“Finally had enough?”

He was jolted out of his wallowing by the familiar consolation of your voice. His head whipped to look over his shoulder, and there you stood - the very subject of his affection. Somehow, even with concern pooling from your eyes, fondness still curved over your lips. Just the sight of you made the ringing in his ears stop, and he was now wrapped in a warm silence - like the heat from a fireplace after hours in a blizzard. 

You walked over to where he sat, finding a spot on the floor across him. You reached out and held his hands in yours.

“Go easy on yourself,” you pleaded as you studied his callouses, “I don’t like seeing you like this.”

He sighed as you started to trace shapes on his palms. “I don’t know how else to quiet my thoughts, dearest,” he tried to explain, “this is what I’ve always done to make myself feel better.”

You raised an eyebrow at him. “And how’s that working out for ya, Mr. Hotshot?” Your tone was playful, clearly referring to the sorry state of his hands. Even your teasing brought some slight comfort to him, like it was a reminder that everything else in his life remains the same. 

“You know, you and I are a team, right?”

He blinked at your words. His mouth was slightly parted, about to question the intent behind them, but right then, it hit him.

He was no longer alone. Years spent trying to be an icon, an image, an idea for others to project themselves on; a person who was worth looking up to, who was worthy of being put on a pedestal - these were the things he had always worked towards, carrying this weight on his shoulders by himself. But these were the same things that got him to where he is now: soaked with sweat, barely able to catch his breath, hands swelling from a numbing pain.

Now, it was different. He no longer felt the need to prove himself constantly. The fear of not being enough no longer lingers, and nothing worries him in the middle of the night when he lets his own walls down. He now knows that when his hands are grasping for relief, they don’t have to be numbed by electrifying pain. You’ll be right there, as you are now - soothing circles into his skin, quieting the voices that plague him even when there’s no one in the stands.

~

I hope you liked that, dear! Please don’t hesitate to sit and have a chat with me any day.

Thanks for stopping by! (ﾉ´ヮ`)ﾉ*: ･ﾟ