#Danger Street 4 Preview

[dispatchdcu]

Danger Street #4 Preview

Danger Street #4 Preview #dangerstreet #DCEU #dccomics #comics #comicbooks #news #dcu #dcuuniverse #art #info #NCBD #amazon #comicbooknews #previews #reviews

  Danger Street #4 Preview: The hunt for the murderers continues as Lady Cop prepares herself to take down some superhero suspects. But as the case develops, a true killer, Manhunter, emerges as a faithful servant to the Green Team and their quest for power. Only the Creeper seems to be on to these “innocent” kids and starts to uncover a conspiracy. It all begins with a single question: Who are…

[luvscrazy]

"I can save you." Part-2

Katsuki Bakugo x Fem reader

Summary: (Preview if you wanna overlook the series idea, the quirk, and the timelines that will occur.) You were born with a medical quirk called Life-Link, which means you can transfer your vitality to others at any time. You decide to take it upon yourself to apply at U.A. What will happen with your non "Heroic" quirk, at this school? Will you achieve your dream of becoming a hero? or are you just useless, like you've been thinking?

Warnings: Minor Language. Mentions of slight death, nothing gory though. (For future reference.)

Parts: Part1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Awakening of the Quirk: A Hero's Journey Begins.

Waking up that morning was dreadful and hopeful. How could you feel both emotions at the same time? Don’t know, but I was. I put on the ironed uniform. I didn’t know how to tie, so I asked my mom if she could help me. Luckily she didn’t leave for work so she had time to help me. The world is a crazy place. Parents who have quirks can have kids who don’t have quirks. Some parents don’t have quirks, but they have kids who do have them. That's my case. I never knew where I got my quirk from, it was a shock to my parents when I manifested it at just 4 years old. An incident happened that day. We were walking on the streets after shopping and a massive villain came out and started attacking civilians. Hero’s jumped in, so many at the time. Even all might himself. I like all might. The symbol of peace. I wish it was always like that. My parents and I hid because what could we have done besides getting killed? I watched since it was my first time seeing heroes and villains up close. Instead, I put my father's life in danger. Since the villain could see me peeking out from the corner, which I hadn’t noticed, she dashed towards us, and using her poisonous quirk, vines with thorns and poison ivy on them, circled my dad. I can’t lie when I say that was the first time I was scared or intimidated. Me and my mother ran. Tears seeped down my and her face. Come on heroes. I kept relapsing the same thought in my head. The heroes will save my dad, it's gonna be alright. Those thoughts lead to my tears and breath being controlled. I watched as police and ambulances came towards the injured. Did that mean the fight was over?, yeah it was, Thank god. Me and my mother rushed over to my dad's body which was lying on the ground. I got on my knees put my hands on my dad's chest and lay my forehead too. My tears seeped through his shirt. He wasn’t alive. Then I felt this tingling throughout my body like it was being evaporated out of mine and into someone else. My hands were glowing like green, and the aura my dad's body had was the same color. I looked up and was scared. WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME?. My dad was soon then breathing. The tingling stopped. The feeling of my body being evaporated stopped. I latched off of him scared, and my eyes widened. Was I dead? Was I seeing a ghost? Maybe. He sits up and looks over at me. “Sweetheart.. You saved my life..”. I guess I did. The ambulances and other pro heroes around us, saw it as it happened. Impressed with my quirk of bringing the dead or injured back to life and healthy. After that day, I got a bunch of letters from medical agencies or top-notch hospitals or medical facilities who desperately wanted me. That made me feel good about myself and my quirk. I got praised, for being a “life saver”, just like a hero would. I was a hero. And the beginnings of being a hero, are about to start as right now I am walking into the U.A. entrance. Here we go.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[chalkrevelations]

Rolling into part 4/4 of this week's Dangerous Romance, and I have done a superhuman job of maintaining my emotional equilibrium so far, first repeating grimly to myself through gritted teeth that Kanghan is a teenaged boy who has some fear and grief to process when he turned on Sailom immediately after promising that they would get through this together, and only threatening once to reach into the screen to strangle him when he pulled out that completely noxious little speech about "poor people" and what they'll do for money, because yeah, fuck you and the coddled little gremlin that's rearing its ugly head back up again. That's actually something I might be going back to at some later point, because I think it's maybe related to one of the deeper themes of the show, but for right now, just let me tell you, it's not looking good in the preview for 4/4, because no, Kanghan, you don't get to turn him out into the street like an abandoned dog and then have a single. fucking. word. to say about what he does to survive after that. You may be allowed to have his back by rescuing him from dangerous situations, but you do not get to say a single. fucking. thing. about how he ended up in those situations in the first place, particularly if it's in anything even approaching an accusatory tone or a raised voice. (I know what's coming, and I'm breathing. I'm breathing. I'm breathing.)

Three days ago, you wouldn't have given a rat's ass if your dad got shot, and the only reason you do now is because of Sailom. Who was also - let us not forget - the one person out of everybody who didn't want Saifah in the Sukprasert house in the first place.

Also, I'm assuming there's a gigantic puzzle piece we don't know about yet that's going to come to light whenever we get a flashback to the conversation that Name and Saifah had after Name said he'd need Saifah's help for his last job for his hardcase boss. I guess we'll get the flashback when we find out that Grandma Ging was right about Saifah all along. How she can so consistently be right and still manage to raise two perfectly horrible boys in two generations who picked up zero skills from her on how to avoid being a rich prick is something that has me throwing my hands in the air.

Speaking of which, I think this explanation for Kanghan's dad's behavior was ... unsatisfying, Show. First he's Papa Bear, then he's Mama Bear, and Sailom has to come along and play Baby Bear to get Expectations For Kanghan (tm) Just Right? Come on.

Two thumbs up, though, on proving me right to have some faith in you when I said weeks ago that everything was NOT solved and that you were going to circle back around to Kanghan's bad behavior and worst impulses. I have not wanted to put this brat through a wall so bad since Ep 2.

On to 4/4, I guess.

[monsieuroverlord]

Bleeding Cool released the solicits early this month!

source here

We even have a quick preview of Marvel Voices: Pride this year!

Mystique and Destiny Wedding!

(renewing their vows, perhaps? It would be cute having their son officiate a vow renewal)

Marvel Voices: Pride #1 (2024 oneshot)

written by Kieron Gillen, Yoon Ha Lee, M. Louis & more to be announced, artists to be announced, main cover by Jan Bazaldua, variant cover by Russell Dauterman, and two more variants to be announced

"WEDDING EXTRAVAGANZA! Mystique and Destiny are one of the most beloved – and longest running – gay couples in history. Somewhere in their 100+ years together, the pair married, but we've never seen the event on the page. This year MARVEL'S VOICES: PRIDE makes history with Marvel's first woman-to-woman wedding in a story by superstar X-Men scribe Kieron Gillen! And with a couple as complex as these two, you know there's a lot more to the story. We promise party crashing! Villainy! Romance! In the classic tradition of FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #3 and X-MEN #30, this anthology will be a must-read for every comics fan. Featuring the Marvel debuts of award-winning writers Yoon Ha Lee (Ninefox Gambit, Machineries of Empire) and M. Louis (Agents of the Realm), and much more talent to be announced!"

Ultimate X-Men #3

written, art, and main cover by Peach Momoko

"• Maystorm's origin! Mei Igarashi was a regular girl until she discovered her unusual abilities and her hair changed from brown to white… • And how she came to idolize a mysterious freedom fighter in Africa who also harnesses the power of the storm!"

X-Men '97 #3 (of 4)

written by Steve Foxe, art by Salva Espin, cover by Todd Nauck

"DANGER ABLAZE! Powerful new foes descend on the X-Men, endangering not just our merry mutants – but any innocent civilians caught in the crossfire! Will humanity's improved opinion of mutants survive the chaos – and will one member of the team find herself pushed past her limits? Find out in the penultimate installment of the official prelude to the hit new Disney+ TV show!"

AND they're releasing a NYX Gallery Edition Hardcover (a.k.a. Laura Kinney's introduction to the comic book world)

written by Jose Quesada & Marjorie Liu, art by Josh Middleton, Robert Teranishi, Kalman Andrasofszky & Sara Pichelli, cover by Josh Middleton

"Headline! Meet a pack of New York City gutterpunks – including the girl destined to one day become the All-New, All-Different Wolverine! Yes, X-23's journey of hardship begins in NYC, where Xavier's dream has failed a group of young mutants. These wayward angels with dirty faces must rely on themselves for everything from food to shelter to love. Just as the X-Men battle for their lives against super villains, these kids face their own fight for survival in the cold, harsh city that never sleeps against the backdrop of their species' nigh extinction. The world of the X-Men hits the streets in this gritty and offbeat different series – now looking better than ever before on the oversized pages of a Gallery Edition! Collecting NYX #1-7 and NYX: NO WAY HOME #1-6."

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Lucien's Through Thousands of Mirrors event translation (Day 6 - Tuesday)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️

This post contains a HEAVY SPOILER for the event that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Through Thousands of Mirrors Event | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 (You're here!) | Day 7 | HS/Uni SSR Story: Monochrome Scenery

special thanks to @/ivioivioivi and @/endless-season for providing some insight and helping me translating this one 🫶

-

[MATH]

Even Lucien occasionally struggles to get out of bed in the morning after compressing too much sleep time.

Especially on rainy, overcast days with gloomy lighting.

On mornings like this, rather than going to class, shouldn't he stay snugly under the cover and entertain himself by reading a few interesting research papers?

-

[MATH/BIOCHEMISTRY]

To be honest, these mathematical concepts are a bit too basic for Lucien.

However, the logic and beauty he experiences from mathematics still make him choose to follow the professor's lectures, revisit the interconnected logic and the joy of establishing inference.

-

[BIOCHEMISTRY]

The weather and scenery are particularly nice in autumn.

The sentiment isn't limited to the students, even the biochemistry professor teaching the class thinks the same way.

The professor, who has a touch of romanticism, watches as another autumn leaf falls, and then suggests that everyone take their textbooks. He declares that the remainder of the class will be conducted outdoors.

-

[PREVIEW/COMPUTER SCIENCE]

Lucien, who is prepping in the library, looks at the stack of books next to him that almost toppling over, and begins to contemplate that he should perhaps minor in architecture.

After all, the notion of book piles collapsing and causing accidents sounds quite dangerous.

Especially when the books around him are getting higher and higher.

-

[COMPUTER SCIENCE]

Software knowledge is inevitably required in experiments.

Hence, it is essential to study some programming-related courses for future research purposes.

Lucien diligently takes notes, absorbed in the ocean of code.

And then he reflects that there's more than one ocean in the world; shallowly dipping into this one for a brief taste will suffice, while the ocean of neuroscience next door is more suitable for deep dives and exploration.

-

[BIOMED-LAB]

Cultivating cells requires extreme care and meticulousness.

Any tiny mistake could cause all kinds of issues such as contamination.

The other students stare at Lucien’s pretty much perfect substrate with admiration and come up to ask for tips.

What tips? It’s just that back in the days when he was at BS’ labs, he'd been through this process where anything he tried to raise or cultivate eventually died*, that's all.

[*: This is a bit hard to translate, it is something like; whatever you raise, it will eventually die, it can be by accident or purpose.]

[...Probably in his eyes back then, life is just so fragile. There are no tips, just try your best to survive. Not exactly nihilism, just the reality he used to see 🫠]

[Anything might refer to cells, plants, lab animals, and... well, anything. There's no limit of ethics in BS labs.]

-

[BIOMED-LAB]

On the way to the laboratory, Lucien notices that there is another long queue forming at the doughnut shop on the street corner.

From the perspective of quickly replenishing sugar, he thought maybe he should add a side dish to his lunch.

But considering the queue length... the cafeteria's burgers are more efficient.

-

[LAB]

With a few hours of rare free time, Lucien decides to attend the film screening event currently being held at the school.

The student besides him quietly complains about how to write an analytical paper on such a popular movie, and Lucien feels a bit lucky to be just an ordinary audience member.

[A bit amusing how he ended up to be program consultant who does more than analyze movies content so he can provide some insight and knowledge for MC's program haha🤣]

[graphicpolicy]

Preview: Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons #3 (of 4)

Rivers of London: Here Be Dragons #3 preview. A dangerous monster is at large above the streets of London. And its name… Wyvern! #comics #comicbooks

[felassan]

Thoughts/wonderings on the plot synopsis of Dragon Age: The Missing #4 (spoilers at link), under a cut due to spoilers:

This plot synopsis feels like it further implicates the Venatori as being involved in the kidnappings. What are they up to? probably something involving red lyrium and/or the Blight + power, right? thinking about the 'gardening' of red lyrium, how it grows in Red Templars and of Ambrose Forfex feeding it to people to create red lyrium-infused wigs, perhaps they've been taking people to grow red lyrium in or to create red lyrium soldiers or monsters from or something? to create lots of a power source, and/or an army? perhaps this kinda stuff is the origin of the red lyrium darkspawn we've seen in concept art?

As for a Venatori stalking them.. could that be who the figure at the end of the Missing #1 preview pages was? what's the Venatori's interest in following Varric & Harding - because they know they're potentially investigating their latest nefarious deeds, or because they know they're trying to find Solas and the Venatori also want to find him?

Solas in Minrathous... (°ロ°) 'haha, we in danger' is my main thought about that. he's bold. my second is, since this is the last issue of this comic, and the comic is a direct tie-in to DA:D, perhaps the in-game story in DA:D kicks off in Minrathous. the third is what could he be up to there? something down in the Catacombs (down there he wouldn't be walking about the streets of Minrathous, so he'd be out of sight)? there is that powerful demon still sealed in a prison underneath Minrathous, said to be so powerful that only a god could summon it.. there are also bound to be lots of powerful ancient artifacts and obscure arcane texts in the possession of the Magisters.. maybe something that could help him with his plans.

though, with his network of spies and people, it would probably be a simple thing for a Solas agent to 'share' information of a false Solas sighting or lead to mislead the Inquisition, waste their time and resources, throw them off his trail and spread them thin on goose chases back and forth across Thedas.. from Marnas Pell east to Vyrantium, then east to Arlathan Forest, Varric & Harding are now backtracking all the way back west to Minrathous (which is directly north of Marnas Pell).

Is the trusted informant an old friend of Varric's such as Dorian or Maevaris, or one of the characters in TN who was in Minrathous (following the possible trend of Evka&Antoine in #1, possibly Teia&Viago in #2, etc, if that's a thing), like Neve Gallus from The Streets of Minrathous? the Venatori and their plots also had a presence in that short story, Neve is based in Minrathous and the plot thread of that demon is still there.

[neonponders]

When Coal Turns Into Pearls - Harringrove x Hunger Games!au - ch. 4!

• • • Preview • • •

Claudia Henderson waved him out with her dishrag. Her cheeks burned pink with the July afternoon heat, but the sunlight glowed in her auburn hair. It reminded Steve of that Barbara Holland girl’s hair. “Go on to work, honey. The city can’t drink itself into a hangover without you.”

Steve kissed his mom’s dry cheek and checked on his collar as he wondered, “Does Dustin need to be walked home?”

“That’s sweet of you to offer but he’s staying the night with his friend Will. And Jonathan is always kind enough to offer. Between the two a’you boys, my Dusty has the best brothers in the world.”

“If that changes, you’ve got the club’s number,” Steve insisted. It’s not like the trek between neighborhoods was particularly dangerous, but it didn’t take a genius to warn against a lone kid walking through the chaotic Games revelry in the streets. Steve didn’t have the heart to tell her that Jonathan might be preoccupied with keeping Nancy distracted tonight. Plus, he didn’t know how much about the Games he was allowed to share. “It’s not supposed to rain tonight, so just leave everything where it is.”

Mrs. Henderson made a sound like, Yeah right. “Morning dew starts as soon as the sun goes down and the temperature drops. A heavy rain might actually wash your clothes, but anything else will mold—Steve!”

“What?” he exclaimed, almost out the door.

“Posture, honey. I keep telling you. You’ll be curled over like a turtle at this rate when you’re my age. And tuck in that tail!”

“Aye! Aye…” he whined, jerkily leaning his shoulders back and shoving the back of his shirt into his jeans.

[ianarovoices]

Pearce's Plumped Prey (Vore Audio & Story)

You bumped into the wrong pred on your way home…now he wants to fatten up & eat you…

I was really vibing with my new sona, Pearce! And I thought…"what if I wrote a vore story with him?" So I did. Then I said, "what if I, a vore audio creator, narrated that story?" So…I did!

The full story is narrated on my Patreon for the Debauched tier & up. You can read the story yourself past the line break. Enjoy!

It’s been a while since you walked home alone so late at night. But you decided to this fine evening. Partially because it is a fine evening. The moon is full, and the stars shine brightly, so it feels less dangerous than most nights. It’s lulled you into a sense of security.

A false sense of security.

Suddenly, you bump into someone. You start as you collide with them. “Sorry!” you say, snapping out of your haze and looking up.

It’s a young man, Pearce, with a strange appearance. On his head is a…hat?...with cute ears and a pair of monstrous eyes. You absentmindedly wonder where he bought it.

But then, you notice the pair of floppy ears on his head, & realize this person isn’t human—& something is very wrong.

Right as you notice this—

—his hand shoots out, clamping over your mouth.

But it’s not a hand. It’s a black paw, with 4 pink claws…

…and a eye upon its palm.

You look down at it in terror. And the eye looks back.

There’s something relaxing about the gaze of the eye, & you relax instantly.

“That’s it,” the young man says. But you don’t look up at him. You’re too busy looking at the eye. The calming, soothing eye.

Then, a word escapes the young man’s lips.

“Eat, prey.”

The word penetrates all your defenses as soon as he utters it, & as you continue gazing into the eye, you realize…that sounds like a good idea. Granted, you just had dinner, but you’re still hungry, right? You could eat more.

Then, another order:

“Eat until you’ve gorged yourself.”

You don’t remember what happens after that. Only brief flashes. Going from one restaurant to another, eating everything you possibly can with rigorous abandon. Your stomach, expanding out of you, first as small lump of fat against your flat chest, then growing larger, into a large, jiggling gut that sways whenever you move. Your belly grows, your thighs thicken, your chest softens into a pool of fat boobs. And all the while the gaze of the eye keeps you calm & silent.

Finally, after a long while, the gaze of the eye goes away. And you become aware again.

You…don’t look like you did before. Oh, not at all. Looking down at yourself, you’re as round as a ball, every inch of your body covered with fat, so much fat that you’ve become a plump sphere of adipose. And you don’t just look like a ball. You’re being rolled along the ground like one too. But by who…?

You look around, trying to see who’s moving you. And you see…

…the young man from before—Pearce.

But something’s different. Before, there was an air of polite indifference when he bumped into you. Now that you’ve fattened up, he looks excited, almost like he’s drooling. Drooling over you.

He meets your eyes. Then, he beams. “Back with me? Good. Good, prey.”

A word escapes your dry lips. “Prey…?”

He smirks. “Oh yes,” he says as he continues rolling you along. “As soon as I saw you, I knew you’d fatten up nicely. It was only a matter of making you more…willing to do what I asked.”

“What did you do to me?!”

“Oh hush, hush,” he says with a low chuckle. “Just a bit of hypnosis. It worked well. You’re plump. Very plump.”

“Where are you taking me?!”

“No need to ask that when we’re here.”

You look up…

…& see that you’re the back alley of an abandoned street.

“Huh. Why…here…?”

“Oh, silly human. So no one will notice when I devour you, of course.”

You start, & look at Pearce. He grins at you.

Then, he grabs you with his black paw, & somehow hoists you above his head—how can he hold your enormous weight? But you don’t have time to wonder, because then, his mouth opens wide, wider, impossibly wide.

With that, Pearce shoves you in his mouth, & begins to swallow you whole.

“Wha—What the hell?!”

But your cries of protest don’t get far, as your head gets jammed into his gullet. “What the hell?!”

You begin to scream. But he ignores it. In fact, it seems to make him swallow you even more eagerly.

More & more of you goes past his lips. You feel him slurp up your chest, stopping to enjoy the fat boobs upon it, then your stomach, where he thoroughly enjoys your jiggling stomach. Finally, those juicy thighs make it into his mouth as Pearce moans in delicious pleasure. And then—

—you’re all swallowed down.

Your body reaches his stomach, a dark, damp prison.

You continue screaming. But Pearce only smiles, rubbing his belly to feel you inside.

“How delicious,” he says. “Fattened up prey truly is the best. And you might be the fattest prey I’ve ever eaten!” Pearce tuts. “Shame you’ll make me a little fatter once you’re digested, but ah well. It’s worth gaining a little weight if I can have delicious prey.” He chuckles at your screams. “Struggling prey too! That’s right. Keep fighting. It feels quite good when you protest inside of me.~”

You continue to shout & thrash.

Meanwhile, Pearce puts his hands on his stomach so he can feel you moving inside. His front-row seat to prey trying to stay alive.

He smirks, sure to enjoy your struggles until none of you is left.

[swldx]

BBC 0430 29 Aug 2023

12095Khz 0357 29 AUG 2023 - BBC (UNITED KINGDOM) in ENGLISH from TALATA VOLONONDRY. SINPO = 55445. English, dead carrier s/on @0357z then ID@0359z pips and Newsday preview. @0401z World News anchored by Neil Nunes. A federal judge has scheduled the trial for Donald Trump's alleged effort to overturn the 2020 election for 4 March, the day before Super Tuesday, the biggest voting day in the Republican race. Florida and Cuba are bracing for Tropical Storm Idalia, which is expected to intensify into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane, forecasters say. The United States on Monday accused Moscow of attempting to intimidate and harass U.S. employees after Russian state media reported that a former U.S. consulate worker had been charged by security services with collecting information on the war in Ukraine and other issues for Washington. Workers at two large liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in Australia, operated by US energy giant Chevron, are set to go on strike from 7 September, in a move that could drive up global prices. A live 8cm parasitic worm, that usual resides in pythons, has been found inside the brain of a 64-year-old Australian woman, marking the first case of the infection in humans. Thousands of protesters on cars and motorbikes took to the streets of Colombia’s main cities on Monday to reject recent hikes in gasoline prices that have drastically increased the price of fuel in the South American country. Protesters say that the monthly price hikes set by Colombia’s first leftist government are making it harder for small businesses to operate, and could push up the price of food. Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Monday declared progressive Bernardo Arévalo the winner of the country’s presidential election, shortly after another government body suspended his Seed Movement party. @0406z Newsday begins. 250ft unterminated BoG antenna pointed E/W w/MFJ-1020C active antenna (used as a preamplifier/preselector), Etón e1XM. 250kW, beamAz 315°, bearing 63°. Received at Plymouth, United States, 15359KM from transmitter at Talata Volonondry. Local time: 2257.

[doiefy]

shadow // lee taeyong // preview

PART 2 of SEOUL 2463

genre: fluff, angst, sci-fi, dystopia, screenplay pairing: taeyong x f. reader (oc self-insert) word count: expected 20k warnings: language, slighty graphic depictions of violence and blood, mentions of alcohol, mentions of death, arranged marriages release: june 2021 

featuring @jisungiest​ <3

tag list:  @ncttboo @yongflm @sprngfeverr @sungchanscult @neonun-au​ reply, message or Ask to be added! :) 

Taeyong is supposed to be perfect: the perfect son, a perfect prodigy, a perfectly poised figure manipulated into what the world wants him to be. His life is crystal glasses of aged wine and blood splattered gloves, prestige social gatherings and nights alone in the city. It’s on one of those nights that he meets you, the bored bartender who refuses to serve him drinks until he talks to her. You are his exact opposite: perfectly carefree, perfectly flawed, perfectly normal. And the one person his world doesn’t want him to be with.

Light should cast no shadow, but his hovers dangerously close behind him, threatening to swallow him up in darkness.

Important Notes:

Since this fic is in the format of a script, I decided against constantly using "Y/N" or "____" for the purposes of a more cohesive appearance. I've given the female lead a name, but if you'd like to self-insert, the idea is that you're starring in a movie alongside Taeyong and playing the role of the main character. 

The events of this fic take place right after the events of 5 minutes. It can be read on its own, but will contain spoilers as to what happens to Yuta and the reader in his story. For the purposes of this fic, Yuta's readers is female, and has also been given a name.

This work will not be published on Tumblr.

I’ve decided to write the story as a screenplay script and since Tumblr is a horrible place for formatting and fun things, I’ll be publishing the full thing on Google Sites. 

the site is here, and i’ve already posted a cast page and short preview.  note: i’m not quite sure why, but the site hasn’t been loading for me on safari. chrome seems to be fine though! 

NOW POSTED: READ HERE

small preview below the cut! full preview is on the site. fair warning, format’s horrible on tumblr :) 

EXT. SEOUL - SECTOR 4 - NIGHT

We open on a burning building.

Flashes of golden light, white flames that rage too violently for this to be an accidental fire. Subsequent EXPLOSIONS shower the streets with glass and metal; distant sirens accompany an ominous rumbling.

          NEWS REPORTER (V.O., muted , distorted by static)          A deadly blast in Sector 4 has reportedly killed eight workers and injured fifteen.

CUT TO:

Silence.

The same facility now sits in a pile of rubble, and the fire has been put out. Someone’s standing on a rooftop across the street: LEE TAEYONG (27). Bold, charismatic, a whole badass in his black tactical gear with twin blades strapped to his sides--yet somehow in a way that’s unassuming enough. He’s watching a group of ANDROIDS cleaning up below.

All around him is SEOUL: an endless metropolis of flashing colours, criss-crossing highways and skyscrapers. Jagged shapes and smooth curves mesh together harmoniously, in ways that seem to defy gravity.

          NEWS REPORTER (V.O.)           The source of the explosion has not yet been confirmed, but police suspect that the incident is connected to an attempted hijacking carried out by members of the Resistance…

CUT TO:

A dark ALLEY. Scrappy. Damp. The voice of the news reporter continues in the background, almost inaudibly. Taeyong is chasing someone: two shadowy figures stumble around ahead of him, injured.

A sharp crackle of noise and flash of blue light sends both of them crashing. Still, someone is mumbling an indistinct string of numbers, passing a hand over the brick wall as he struggles to pull himself to his feet. Suddenly, a section of the wall lights up, rippling like a mirage, and the tips of the man’s fingers dip into it.

CUT TO:

Silence again. Taeyong on the rooftop. A wry grimace is starting to form on his lips as he surveys the route he took earlier.

CUT TO:

Faces. NAKAMOTO YUTA (27) and YOO JISOO (26). He hurriedly grabs her by the wrist, and both pass into the wall with ease. The brick solidifies mere moments before Taeyong arrives. He approaches, haphazardly upturns pieces of junk strewn around the alleyway, only to find his targets gone.

One final shot of him in the alley, then in a similar stance on the roof.

SMASH TO BLACK

TITLE CARD: SHADOW

[prettywordsyouleft]

The Cowboy - Part 4

Summary: Leaving the city for a rural area called Blayne seemed simple enough. Your task was to convince the people to agree with selling their land for a resort redevelopment. But once there, you soon realise that your city ways are entirely different to theirs. Winning their trust was going to take some effort, and when you start to fall for a local cowboy, you wonder if you really needed Blayne more than the city life after all.

Pairing: Jung Jaehyun x female reader

Genre: cowboy au / drama / romance / if you squint there’s some enemies to lovers up in here.

Warnings: Jung Jaehyun is a cowboy, need I say more? (a bit of angst and drama, and it sometimes might feel like you’re reading a Nicolas Sparks book, so I’m told lol) --- there’s a bit of angst in this part

Word count: 2078

This series will be updated every Thursday and Friday.

Preview | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

“That was delicious, thank you!”

“I hope you have room in your stomach for apple crumble,” Mr Jung said, leaning across the table towards you. “June is a mighty fine cook but an even greater baker.”

“The reason he married me, so he says.”

You smiled warmly, enjoying the banter between the pair. Their love for one another was evident. You hadn’t seen such a genuine display of affection in years. The city had jaded your parents and kept them looking for the next big project instead of cosy nights curled up together.

They’re professionals, you reminded yourself when you felt a sense of sadness for your parents. They don’t have time like they do out here.

“Were the heifers put into the bottom field?”

You had almost forgotten Jaehyun was sitting at your side until he cleared his throat then, wiping his mouth with a napkin. “Yeah, I moved them this morning.”

“By yourself?”

“You had Caleb up in the high fields with you and Avery was otherwise preoccupied with someone,” he continued, and you felt eyes boring into the side of your head on the latter half of the conversation.

You smiled brightly. “It must take a lot of people to run such a big ranch like yours, Mr Jung.”

“We make do with the help we have.”

“We could do with three more men,” Jaehyun muttered, and you looked at him, pausing in saying anything in response when you noticed the dark look within the elder’s eyes.

Blayne was under-populated. You already knew this from the basic land per capita estimates online and in the business proposal for Blayne’s development. If more jobs were created here, then the farms that were struggling would be able to hire more help.

But Blayne also lacked housing. It would need to supply appropriate accommodation for new workers. You stewed over the thought of how many changes would be needed to not only make Blayne easily accessible but also improve the existing community until a dessert plate was placed in front of you.

Blinking out of your reverie, you beamed up at June. “I cannot wait to try it!”

After dinner, you thanked both your hosts generously. “I’ve not had a home-cooked meal quite as tasty as that before.”

“Your mother?” June enquired.

“She’s a professor at the School of Commerce.”

“Ah, she would have been too busy to make meals a priority.”

“It’s okay! I admire her for her work ethic. She’s taught me a lot. Both my parents have always been busy, but that’s how it is in the city.”

“Busy people don’t often see the bigger picture. I can tell by how eager you were to take up the position out here,” Mr Jung mentioned gruffly and you nodded despite his expression. “A woman of marrying age coming up here all alone is usually unheard of.”

“Perhaps Blayne will leave an impression on Y/N, honey.” June offered, patting her husband’s lower arm fondly. She then smiled at you. “You seem quite confident.”

“I’m hopeful I can make a positive change here,” you stated, your own smile fading when you heard a scoff, and then feet moving across the gravel behind you. Darting your focus to the disappearing man that had been waiting nearby, you looked back at his parents. “Thank you again!”

“We’ll have you over anytime, sugar!”

Turning on your heel, you took the pathway that Jaehyun had just departed down, finding him strapping up the horse that had brought you here earlier in the evening. You stopped near his side, frowning at his efforts. “Should you be asking the horse to work again?”

Jaehyun looked in your direction before returning his gaze back to his efforts, not answering your question.

“Your mother said it was too dark to ride last night. Shouldn’t we take the truck since the moon is now up in the sky?” you prompted, shifting your eyes to the heavens. You gasped in awe. “Wow, I’ve never seen such a clear night sky before!”

“Pollution inhibits that,” Jaehyun explained curtly, yanking on a strap and tightening it into place.

“It’s so beautiful out here, though. It’s a shame not many people have experienced it outside of a postcard.”

“Why don’t you save the speech for someone who is interested?”

“Excuse me?” Staring back at the man beside you, you tilted your head to the side. “You’re awfully moody tonight, Mr Cowboy.”

“Back to that name, huh?”

“Well, since you’re feeling a little cold towards me, I don’t know if it’s my place to call you by your first name,” you explained. Jaehyun didn’t respond again, and you sighed. “What did I do wrong?”

“Are you always this self-centred? Can’t you see the bigger picture than the goal inside your head?” Jaehyun questioned, sliding his hands onto his hips and finally facing you. He looked you over again, much as he had earlier when he first saw you as he jumped down from the wagon. Instead of the kindness you had experienced then, it was laced with scrutiny this time. You lowered your gaze to your outfit and stepped back.

“Hey…” you started, and then squared your jaw.

Just who was this guy to act so blunt with you? You should have stuck with believing he was the rude and full of assumptions jerk just as you had thought of him earlier in the day. Perhaps it was the fresh air and gentleness of the wagon ride that had softened your heart to him somehow. You should have known better to trust in your instincts.

Turning on your heel, you started walking down the drive towards the field you had travelled across from your place to the main homestead on this land. You didn’t get far before a hand reached out and yanked on your forearm roughly. “What are you doing?!”

“Going home!”

“Oh, is that so? Through a darkened field? See, this is why you belong in the city, Y/N. You have no idea about the dangers of a working farm. You’re used to living in tiny apartments and navigating mazes of streets and buildings and-”

“I didn’t come here to have you tell me what you think about me, Jaehyun.”

“No, I’m sure you didn’t. But you did come out here all alone with zero understanding of how the country works. You’re here to change how we are? What a joke. You have no concept of what Blayne is about. You’ve not even stopped to take the time to listen to those around you. Instead, you’re dreaming up something big that none of us wants. Can’t you tell that? We might be showing you some country hospitality right now, but don’t go thinking people want you here.”

“That’s incredibly evident, don’t you worry,” you bit back, shaking his grip off your arm.

Jaehyun ran an agitated hand through his hair before looking at you again. “I’ll take you home. Come on.”

“I’m good with directions. I’ll take myself back.”

“What you see during the day changes at night around here. Hate me all you like, but I’ll take you home so I don’t have to worry about you falling in an open drain pipe.”

You opened your mouth to refute the offer, but the image he had painted was enough for you to silently march back over to the wagon. Jaehyun checked everything over again and jumped up into the seat, his hand reaching down to help you up.

Stubbornly, you ignored it and heaved yourself into the seat.

The ride back home was silent, and you preferred it that way. After the outburst in the field, you had little to say to the man. You were grateful he seemed compliant of such silence and didn’t offer any conversation from his behalf either. All the same, you were somewhat holding out for an apology.

You gained none, however.

Leaping down from the wagon, you merely tipped your head as Jaehyun did in farewell and then headed inside without a single word. You watched as the wagon disappeared thereafter, and finally, let out a string of incoherent cursing and annoyance.

You blew a strand of hair away from your face and glowered out the window. “God, I hate him.”

When the morning rose, you got up with a new plan in place. The night before, you had spent the first part of it packing your belongings and then unpacking several times over. You were done with Blayne. If the people didn’t want you here, then you would take heed of their warning and leave.

However, you had been too confident when your boss assigned you with this project.

“They will resist change, you know.”

You nodded. “Of course, but I’m equipped to handle it.”

“Are you?”

“You wouldn’t have pitched the proposal to me if you didn’t think I was the best to acquire the deal, Pierce.”

That, along with the fact that everyone seemingly had bets on when you’d depart played into your new resolve. You would show them just how capable you truly were.

First, however, you needed more information. “Is there a local library or archives here, May?”

“Library?”

You nodded. “Or a town hall? Surely the public can access the information there?”

“Our town hall was burned down ten years ago,” another person at the diner counter mentioned, despite May’s obvious hand swatting him off. He smiled at you. “You’ll have to go to the town over for anything like that.”

“Thank you, you’ve been a great help. Thanks for the coffee, May!”

Once in your car again, you headed back down the country highway and took the forty-five minute drive to the closet township. You cried with comforting relief when you heard the usual bleeps of your phone notification ring in succession.

“Ah, I’m back in a place of proper civilisation!”

Although this township had most amenities, you still were surprised by how small the town hall was. Having no luck there, you went next door to the equally quaint library and piled up all the documents and texts you could find on Blayne.

With a pen in hand ready to take down notes, you picked up the first journal and began to read.

You weren’t aware of how long you spent perusing the history of the area or familiarising yourself with the generations of family lines that were born and bred in Blayne. Stopping on an interesting line in the Jung family, you let out a low whistle. “June and May aren’t originally from Blayne?”

“Perhaps Blayne will leave an impression on Y/N, honey.”

June’s comment from last night pulled a smile onto your lips. At least there seemed to be one person rooting for your stay in Blayne.

It was then when you saw how late into the afternoon it was and you collected up your belongings, asking a clerk if you could take a couple of the history logs with you. After registering with the library and checking them out, you stepped into the warm air, smiling triumphantly at your discovery.

You then pulled out your phone, browsing through the messages you had received. Natalia had contacted you the most, and you pressed call instead of replying, waiting for the call to connect.

“You didn’t let me know if you got there safely!”

“I couldn’t really, the signal out in that place is something else,” you admitted with a grin as you headed to your car. You climbed inside it and then sighed. “I miss you, Natty.”

“Not enough to assure me that you’re alive!”

“Come on, it’s only been a few days, and I’m talking to you now. Isn’t that enough?” you humoured, watching a family cross the intersection up ahead. The little girl skipping across the road seemed so carefree compared to what you had been at that age.

You wondered if the city environment had made you cynical or if that was just who you naturally were.

Natalia cleared her throat and gained your attention again. “Yeah, yeah. So, any hot cowboys out there?”

The image of Jaehyun immediately appeared in your mind, and it ruined your mood entirely. “No. Not a single one.”

“Aw man, here I had you pegged for having a hot summer romance with some farm boy out there.”

“I’m here to work, Natty,” you reminded, both for hers and your sakes. “Even if there was someone handsome, he’s not going to do anything for me.”

_________________

Part 5

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[woman-loving]

I’ve been reading some articles about lesbian identities in Indonesia, from the late 80s to the 00s, and wanted to share some quotes that highlighted a couple trends that I’ve also noticed in reading about butch/femme communities in other countries.

1) There are different expectations about sexual distinctiveness and marriage to men are attached to butch and femme identities. There is a greater expectation that femmes will marry men, and femmes more often do marry men, though some butches do as well. Marriages to men seem to be for convenience or in name only, and women may continue to have female lovers.

2) Distinctions are made between real/pure/positive lesbians (butches) and other lesbians (femmes) who are “potentially normal.” This shows the flexibility of lesbian identity, where they can be gradations and contradictions in what it means to be a lesbian (e.g. a woman being a lesbian but not a “real lesbian"). The category has cores and peripheries, rather than everyone being equally lesbian or else completely outside of it.

3) There are disagreements between members, which cross butch/femme lines, about the meanings of these identities and whose lesbianism or community involvement should be taken seriously. The first passage describes femmes as engaging in a “more active appropriation of lesbianism as a core element of their subjectivity.” The boundaries of lesbianism can potentially expand or contract as people struggle to define it.

4) People don’t always meet the community expectations attached to their identity.

I think these passages help complicate the picture of what lesbian identities can look like, and some of these same tensions and debates are common features of lesbian identity in many different cultures. I also think these issues--the (differential) weight given to relationships with men, the notion of positive versus negative lesbians, and the active appropriation of lesbianism by peripheral members--are relevant to bisexual interest, since these questions also shape bi women’s engagement in lesbianism/lesbian communities. (And we can say that without claiming that any particular women in these narratives are “really bisexual.”)

Anyway, without further ado... (this first one picks up right in the middle of a passage because I couldn’t get the previous page on the google preview :T)

From “Desiring Bodies or Defiant Cultures: Butch-Femme Lesbians in Jakarta and Lima,” by Saskia E. Wieringa, in Female Desires: Same-Sex Relations and Transgender Practices Across Cultures, eds. Evelyn Blackwood and Saskia E. Wieringa, 1999:

“[...]negative lesbians. We are positive lesbians. We are pure, 100% lesbian. With them you can never know. Before you know it, they are seeing a man again, and we are given the good-bye.”

Father Abraham, who had entered during her last words, took over. “Let me explain. … Take Koes. Again and again her girlfriends leave her. Soon she’ll be old and lonely. Who will help her then? For these girls it is just an adventure, while for butches like Koes it is their whole life.”“Yes, well, Abraham, … my experience is limited, of course, but it seems to me that the femmes flee the same problems that make life so hard for the butches. So they’d rather support each other.”

“In any case,” Sigit added, ‘they have become active now, that’s why they’re here, isn’t that so?” And she looked questioningly at the three dolls behind the typing machine, Roekmi and my neighbour. The most brazen femme had been nodding in a mocking manner while Sigit and I were talking.

“So we’re only supposed to be wives? We’re not suited for something serious, are we? Maybe we should set up a wives’ organization, Dharma Wanita,[23] the Dharma Wanita PERLESIN? Just like all those other organizations of the wives of civil servants and lawyers?” …

“Come on, Ari,” Sigit insisted, “why don’t you just ask them? You could at least ask them whether they want to join?” Ari found it extremely hard. Helplessly she looked at the other butches.

“Do you really mean that i should ask whether our wives would like to join / our / organization?” One of the butches nodded.

“Ok, fine.” She directed herself to the dolls.

“Well, what do you want? Do you want to join us? But in that case you shouldn’t just say yes, then you should also be involved with your whole heart.”

“You never asked that of the others,” the brazen femme pointed out, “but yes, I will definitely dedicate myself to the organization.” Roekmi and the two femmes at her side also nodded. (Wieringa 1987:89-91)

The above example is indicative of the social marginalization of the b/f community. it also captures in it one of its moments of transformation. The defiance of the femmes of the code that prescribes the division of butches and femmes into “positive” and “negative” lesbians respectively indicates a more active appropriation of lesbianism as a core element of their subjectivity. At the same time it illustrates the hegemony of the dominant heterosexual culture with its gendered principles of organization.

Yet, however much the butches conformed to male gender behavior they didn’t define themselves as male; their relation to their bodies was rather ambiguous. at times they defined themselves as a third sex, which is nonfemale[…]. [...] [Butches’] call for organization was not linked to a feminist protest against rigid gender norms. Rather they felt that nature had played a trick on them and they they had to devise ways to confront the dangers to which this situation gave rise. Jakarta’s b/f lesbians when I met them in the early eighties were not in the least interested in feminism. In fact, the butches among them were more concerned with the case of a friend of them who was undergoing a sex change operation. They clearly considered it an option, but none of them decided to follow this example. When I asked them why, all of them mentioned the health risks involved and the costs. None of them stated that they rather preferred their own bodies. Their bodies, although the source of sexual pleasure and as such the object of constant attention, didn’t make it any too easy for them to get the satisfaction they sought or, at least, to attract the partners they desired.

From "Let Them Take Ecstasy: Class and Jakarta Lesbians," by Alison J. Murray, in Female Desires: Same-Sex Relations and Transgender Practices Across Cultures, eds. Evelyn Blackwood and Saskia E. Wieringa, 1999:

Covert lesbian activities are thus an adaptation to the ideological context, where the distinction between hidden and exposed sexual behavior allows for fluidity in sexual relations (“everyone could be said to be bisexual” according to Oetomo 1995) as long as the primary presentation is heterosexual/monogamous. It is not lesbian activity that has been imported from the West, but the word lesbi used to label the Western concept of individual identity based on a fixed sexuality. I have not found that Indonesian women like to use the label to describe themselves, since it is connected to unpleasant stereotypes and the pathological view of deviance derived from Freudian psychology (cf Foucault 1978).

The concept of butch-femme also has a different meaning in Indonesia from the current Western use which implies a subversion of norms and playful use of roles and styles (cf Nestle 1992). In Indonesia (and other parts of Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines, Thailand’s tom-and-dee: Chetame 1995) the roles are quite strictly, or restrictively, defined and are related to popular, pseudo-psychological explanations of the “real” lesbian. In the simple terms of popular magazines, the butch (sentul) is more than 50% lesbian, or incurably lesbi, while the femme (kantil) is less than 50% lesbian, or potentially normal. Blackwood’s (1994) description of her secretive relationship with a butch-identified woman in Sumatra brings up some cross-cultural differences and difficulties that they experienced and could not speak about publicly. The Sumatran woman adopted masculine signifies and would not be touched sexually herself; she wanted to be called “pa” by Blackwood, who she expected to behave as a “good wife.” Meanwhile, Blackwood’s own beliefs, as well as her higher status due to class and ethnicity, made it hard to take on the passive female role.

I want to emphasize here that behavior needs to be conceptually separated from identity, as both are contextually specific and constrained by opportunity. It is common for young women socialized into a rigid heterosexual regime, in Asia or the West, to experience their sexual feelings in terms of gender confusion: “If I am attracted to women, then I must be a man trapped in a woman’s body.” Women are not socialized to seek out a sexual partner (of any kind), or to be sexual at all, so an internal “feeling” may never be expressed unless there are role models or opportunities available. If the butch-femme stereotype, as presented in the Indonesian popular media, is the only image of lesbians available outside the metropolis (e.g., in Sumatra), then this may affect how women express their feelings. However, urban lower-class lesbians engage in a range of styles and practices: some use butch style consciously to earn peer respect, while others reject the butch as out-dated. The stereotype of all lower-class lesbians whether following butch-femme roles or conforming to one subcultural pattern is far from the case and reflects the media and elite’s lack of real knowledge about street life. […]

The imagery of sickness creates powerful stigmatization and internalized homophobia: women may refer to themselves as sakit (sick). An ex-lover of mine in Jakarta is quite happy to state a preference for women while at the same time expressing disgust at the word lesbi and at the sight of a butch dyke; however, I have generally found that the stigma around lesbian labels and symbols is not translated into discrimination against individuals based on their sexual activities. I have been surprised to discover how many women in Jakarta will either admit to having sex with women or to being interested in it, but again, this is only rarely accompanied by an open lesbian (or bisexual) identity. I have found it hard to avoid the word “lesbian” to refer to female-to-female sexual relations, but it should not be taken to imply a permanent self-identity. It is very important to try and understand the social contexts of behavior, in order to avoid drawing conclusions based on inappropriate Western notions of lesbian identity, community, or “queer” culture.

From “Beyond the ‘Closet’: The Voices of Lesbian Women in Yogyakarta,” by Tracy L Wright Webster, 2004:

Most importantly a supportive community group of lesbian, bisexual and transgender women is essential, given that these sexualities are thrust together in Sektor 15. Potentially, a group comprised of women from each of these categories, that is lesbian, bisexual or transgender, may prove problematic to say the least, given that the needs and issues of each group are different. Clearly the informal communities already in existence in Yogya are indicators of this. Any formal or organized groupings would certainly benefit by modeling on current, though informal organisations. In the lesbian network, transgendered women (those who wish to become men or who consider themselves male) are not affiliated, however many ‘femme’ identified women who have been and intend to be involved in heterosexual relationships in the future, are among the group in partnership with their ‘butch’ pacar (Indo: girlfriend/boyfiend/lover).

Organisations of women questioning sexuality have existed in Yogya in the past. A butch identified respondent said she was involved in the formation of a lesbian, bisexual and transgender network in collaboration with another Indonesian woman, who also identified as butch, 20 years her senior. The group was called Opo (Javanese:what) or Opo We (Jav:whatever), the name highlighting that any issue could be discussed or entered into within the group. Members were an amalgam of both of the women’s friends and acquaintances. The underlying philosophy of the group was that “regardless of a woman’s life experience, marriage, children…it is her basic human right to live as a lesbian if she has the sexual inclination”. The elder founding member of this group, now 46, married a man and had a child. She now lives with her husband (in name only), child and female partner in the same home. Although this arrangement according to the interviewee “is rare… because the husband is there, she is spared the questions from the neighbours”. Here I must add that it is common in Java for lesbians to marry to fulfill their social role as mothers, and then to separate from their husbands to live their lives in partnership with a woman. This trend however is more common among the ‘femme’ group.

From "(Re)articulations: gender and same-sex subjectivities in Yogyakarta, Indonesia," by Tracy Wright Webster, in Intersections: Gender and Sexuality in Asia and the Pacific, Issue 18, Oct 2008:

Lesbi subjectivities Since gender, for the most part, determines sexuality in Java, sexuality and gender cannot be analysed as discrete categories.[64] For all of the self-identified butchi participants, lesbi was the term used to describe their sexuality. This is contrary to the findings of two key researchers of female same-sex sexuality in Indonesia. Alison Murray's research in Jakarta in the 1980s suggests that females of same-sex attraction did not like the term 'lesbian'[65] due to its connection with 'unpleasant stereotypes' and deviant pathologies.[66] In 1995, Gayatri found that media representations depicting lesbi as males trapped in female bodies encouraged same-sex attracted women to seek new, contemporary descriptors.[67] The participants in this research, however, embraced the term lesbi as an all-encompassing descriptor of female same-sex attraction and as Boellstorff has noted in 2000, Indonesian lesbi tend to see themselves as part of a wider international lesbian network.[68]

The term lesbi has been used in Indonesia since the 1980s, although not commonly or consistently. Lines, les, lesbian, lesbo, lesbong and L, among others, are also used. Female same-sex/lesbi subjectivities in Yogya are not strongly associated with political motivations and the subversion of heteropatriarchy as they were among the Western lesbian feminists of the 1960s. By the time most of the participants in this research were born, the term lesbi had already become infused in Indonesian discourses of sexuality among the urban elite (though with negative connotations in most cases), and has since become commonly used both by females of same-sex attraction to describe themselves, and by others. Most learnt from peers at school and through reading Indonesian magazines.

However, public use of the term lesbi and expression of lesbi subjectivity has its risks. Murray's research on middle to upper class lesbians suggests that females identifying as lesbi have more to lose than lower class lesbi in terms of social position and the power invested in that class positioning. This is particularly in relation to their position in the family.[69] Conversely, her work also shows that lower class lesbi 'have the freedom to play without closing off their options.'[70] As Aji suggests, young females, particularly of the priyayi class may not be in a position to resist the social stigma attached to lesbianism and the possible consequences of rejection or abuse. Yusi faced this reality despite the fact that s/he had not declared herself lesbi. Hir gendered subjectivity meant that s/he did not conform to stereotypical feminine ideals and desires.

With so much at stake, many lesbi remain invisible. Heteronormative and feminine gendered expectations for females in part explain why lesbians may indeed be the 'least known population group in Indonesia.'[71] Collusion in invisibility can be seen here as a protective strategy. The lesbi community or keluarga (family) is what Murray refers to as a 'strategic community' of the lesbian subculture.[72] The strategic nature of the community lies in its sense of protection: the community provides a safe haven for disclosure. Invisibility, however, also arises through the factors I mentioned earlier: the normative feminine representations of femme, their tendency to express lesbi subjectivity only while in partnership with a butchi, and their tendency to marry. Invisibility, as a form of discretion, however, may also be chosen.

Gender complementary butchi/femme subjectivities [...] Due to the apparently fixed nature of butchi identities and subjectivities and their reluctance to sleep with males, they are seen as 'true lesbians,'[79] lesbian sejati, an image perpetuated through the media.[80] Similar to the butchi/femme communities in Jakarta, in Yogya, butchi are identified by their strict codes of dress and behaviour which include short hair, sometimes slicked back with gel, collared button up shirts and trousers bought in menswear stores, large-faced watches and bold rings. Butchi characteristically walk with a swagger and smoke in public places. In her research in the 1980s, Wieringa noticed that within lesbi communities in Jakarta the strict 'surveillance and socialisation 'may have contributed to the fixed nature of butchi identities.[81] In Yogya, this is particularly evident in the socialisation of younger lesbi by senior lesbi (a theme I explore elsewhere in my current research).

The participants held individual perspectives on butchness. Aji's butchness is premised on hir masculine gender subjectivity and desire for a partner of complementary gender. Yusi expresses hir butchness differently and relates it to dominance in the relationship and in sex play. The participants who told of the sexual roles within the relationship emphasised their active butchi roles during sex. As Wieringa suggests, this does not necessarily imply femme passivity as femme 'stress their erotic power over their butches.'[82] It does, however, indicate one way in which the butchi I interviewed articulate their sexual agency.

Femme subjectivities, on the other hand, are generally conceived of as transient. As many of the interviews illustrate, femme are expected by their butchi partners to marry and have children: butchi see them as bisexual. In public, and indeed if they marry, they are seen as heterosexual, though their heterosexual practice may not be exclusive. In the 1980s, Wieringa observed that femme 'dressed in an exaggerated fashion, in dresses with ribbons and frills...always wore make up and high heels.'[83] In the new millennium, the femme I met were also fashion savvy though not in an exaggerated sense. Generally they wore hip-hugging, breast-accentuating tight gear, had long hair and wore lipstick and low-heeled pumps. Their feminine representations were stereotypical: it was through association with butchi with in the lesbi community that femme subjectivities become visible.

[tiannasfanfic]

Nymphetamine Fix: Chapter 1

Adrian Chase/Vigilante x Justice League Dark OC

Story Theme: “Nymphetamine Fix” by Cradle of Filth

Description: When John Constantine says the world is in danger, people know well enough by now to listen, including Amanda Waller. The small team in Evergreen, Washington is quickly pulled from the aftermath of Project Butterfly in order to confront a whole new evil.

Word Count: 1,625

Preview: (Read the full chapter on AO3! [link])

It was just a little before six in the morning when everyone was called in for an emergency meeting. The small group gathered inside of Henenlotter Video all stared at Emelia Harcourt with varying degrees of tiredness and confusion. It was a little after seven now. Chris Smith and Adrian Chase were barely awake since they’d both been physically dragged out of bed for it. Eagly had refused to come. Leota Adebayo and John Economos were used to mornings, so while they were both still waking up since this was earlier than normal, they were fine. Harcourt had just finished briefing them on a phone call she received early that morning. As in 4:42am early that morning.

“Wait, I’m lost,” John finally said, which everyone nodded in agreement with.

“I’ll be perfectly honest with you,” Harcourt said, tiredly. She had only been asleep for four hours when the call came in. “So am I. While I heard the name John Constantine a few times when I was with the DEO, his files were always kept need to know. I was never in the need to know.”

“Do we know anything about him aside from the fact that we know nothing about him?” Chris asked with a cranky tone.

Harcourt nodded. “Yes. We know that for Constantine to be involved with this in any capacity, it is going to be a strange mission. So, I’m expecting whomever he is sending to brief us on it will be just as strange as he supposedly is.”

“Can’t be any stranger than an alien butterfly inside a gorilla’s brain,” Adrian pointed out, also with a cranky tone.

They all muttered in various tones of agreement.

“Alien Butterflies would be an awesome band name.”

Everyone jumped at this new voice and turned toward the door. Reflexively, Adrian pulled one of his guns, aiming it in that direction before his eyes fully focused on who spoke.

There was a woman leaning against the wall next to the door, watching them with a politely interested expression on her face. She was carrying a cane, the silver tip of which was parked in front of her feet and both of her hands were resting on the silver ball that served as the handle. She seemed at ease in a relaxed way, like she had been there awhile, but not a one of them had heard her come in. This was amazing since there was a loud bell over the door and the hinges tended to creak.

The woman smiled at them all. “Someone really should write that down.”

Even though the 11th Street Kids were a mismatched group to begin with, this woman somehow managed to look completely out of place among them. Her dark hair was short in the back, with an undercut and shaved sides, and a few inches past chin length in the front. She wore dark gray denim pants that ended just below her knees, dark gray Converse, a black sleeveless knee length coat that was open in the front and a black heavy duty style sports bra underneath that served as a top, the kind made for long distance running and high impact sports.

What really made her standout though were her tattoos. The skin showing on her arms, upper chest, neck, and stomach were covered in strange tattoos in various stages of fading. They weren’t the popular tribal style of tattoos, nor were they Indigenous, spiritual, or religious in nature, yet looked in a way like all of them at once. The style of the designs seemed ancient, like cave paintings, but wasn’t quite that either. In all reality, their confusing nature reminded each person of something different, based on their own knowledge of history, pop culture, world religions or the occult. For example, they reminded Harcourt and Leota of hieroglyphics, whereas on the other side of that, it reminded Chris of the Deep State secret societies like the Illuminati. They reminded Adrian of artwork he’d seen in DnD books of ancient dungeons, such as The Temple of Elemental Evil. She had on a few silver necklaces, rings, and a black cuff style bracelet around one wrist.

The woman looked at each of them in turn, the polite expression still on her face. Adrian found himself unable to take his eyes off her, though he had lowered his gun into his lap.

“You’re the one Waller told me about?” Harcourt asked.

The woman nodded. “Indeed.”

Her voice was pleasant to listen to. She had a calm, even tone that could put someone at ease.

“Wait, I thought you said that guy John Constantine sent her?” John asked.

“He did,” Harcourt confirmed. “But the call saying to drop whatever the hell we’re doing and help her came from Waller.”

They were all quiet after that. The woman still didn’t speak, continuing to watch them as if politely waiting for them to finish their discussion.

“Knowing my mother, that’s not good,” Leota finally said.

The woman smiled then, her gaze passing to Leota before returning back to Harcourt.

“That’s exactly what I was thinking,” Harcourt agreed.

Full Chapter: https://archiveofourown.org/works/38627178

[blanc-et-n0ir]

MCYT Multi-chapter Fics

Hey, hey, this time it’s the multichapters :D Meaning, three chapters and above. Again, my AO3 over here

COMPLETED

Bring Me Down With You (11,145 Words) (4 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, TommyInnit, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Fundy, BadBoyHalo, Punz, Tubbo, Eret, GeorgeNotFound

No Romantic Relationships, Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit, Dream & Sapnap, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & GeorgeNotFound

Whump, Poisoning, Dueling, Bows and Arrows, L’manberg War, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Family, Compromise, Sick Fic, Sick Character, Wounds, Potions, Healing, Caves, Injury

Summary:

The terms of the deal were simple. They’d both be at their weakest, no armor and no anything and they have to shoot one shot. A single arrow. Whoever is hit, will have to resign and give the win to whoever is left standing. Those were the terms.  So when did they agree to drink poison?

--------------------

Set during the Dream SMP war.

All I Want For Chistmas Is... FLUFF (46,641 Words) (24 Chapters)

Tags:

Skeppy, Dream, BadBoyHalo, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, Tubbo, TommyInnit, Eret, Niki, AweSamDude, Punz, Ponk, Purpled, Fundy, Quackity, Schlatt, Karl Jacobs, Ant Frost, Velvet

Skeppy & BadBoyHalo, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap & Ant Frost & BadBoyHalo, Technoblade & Wilbur Soot & TommyInnit & Philza, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & Tubbo, Dream & Purpled, Dream & Technoblade, Dream & Philza, Eret & Niki & Tubbo, Ant/Velvet, Dream & Punz

Christmas Prompts, Fluff, Family Dynamics, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Family Bonding, Friendship, Rivals, Frenemies, Snowball Fight, Snow Day, Domestic Fluff, Fluff and Humor, Cuddling, Platonic Relationships, Boys Kissing, Secret Santa, Cookies

Summary:

Fluffy One shots about our MInecraft Streamers in Dream SMP. Featuring different AUs whether it's IRL or MC but IRL and more! Mostly platonic unless stated otherwise!! (but don't expect much I prefer platonic anyways)

Lots of cuddling, shenanigans, pranks and laughter!! Maybe a little hurt for the comfort to feel so much better!!

The Whispers in the Dark (53, 160 Words) (20 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Wilbur Soot, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Schlatt, Philza Minecraft, Eret, Sapnap, GeorgeNotFound, Quackity, Niki, Punz, Fundy, Ponk, AweSamDude, Skeppy, BadBoyHalo, Ant Frost, Ranboo, Captain Puffy, Karl Jacobs

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade & Wilbur Soot, Technoblade & Wilbur Soot & Philza & TommyInnit, Dream & Sapnap & GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap & Wilbur, Dream & Ranboo, Ranboo & Philza, Dream & Captain Puffy

Family Dynamics, Enemies to Friends, Hybrids AU, Pogtopia Arc, Villain Wilbur, Chaotic Dream, Bad Ending, Good Ending, Government, Uneasy Alliance, Hunting, Discrimination, Friends to Enemies, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Betrayal, Big Brother Technoblade, Switching Sides, Platonic Cuddling, Carrying, Panic Attacks, Found Family, Execution, Violence, Graphic Description, Ambiguous/Open Ending, Decapitation, Revolution

Summary:

They say that when you are a hybrid of a mob, you take one of two things. Their powers or their desires. Their powers, as simple as it is. A Blaze hybrid would be able to conjure flames and stay inflammable. An Enderman hybrid would be able to teleport and are harmed by water. Their desires, not as simple. A Creeper hybrid would desire to see things explode. A Wolf hybrid would desire the thrill of a hunt.  

They say that the dangerous ones were always those who got the desire- the shortest end of the stick.   

-------------------------------   Let me give Wilbur the satisfying ending he deserves please. We all wanted Manberg to b l o w and I'm going to give it to you. No Angst, promise. (I lied, there's angst)

Angst for the Angst God (19,904 Words) (14 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, Ranboo, Wilbur Soot, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Captain Puffy, Quackity, DreamXD, Karl Jacobs

NO romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade, Technoblade & Philza, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & Captain Puffy

Angst, Character Death, Deity Dream, Fluff and Angst, Betrayal, Assisted Suicide, Mercy Killing, Murder, Suicide, Dream and Techno Friendship, One Shot Collection, Time Travel, Time Loop, Insanity, Time Travelling Karl Jacobs, Prison Break, Manhunt, Immortal Technoblade, Immortal Dream, Emotional Manipulation, Exile, Abduction, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat

Summary:

A bunch of oneshots about AUs that I've written in a server that is filled with angst or fluff. Whichever strikes the mood. Hope you enjoy your stay here ;)

-------------------------

(preview)

He watched as the last obstacle in his path fell. Dream smiled, his eyes glinting with malice and power, “You should have kept an eye on your Patroclus, Achilles.”

He hummed and turned around. L’manberg was no doubt wiped out. Ranboo was firmly in his grasp. All he had to do was take care of that damned egg, Badlands and anyone who stood in his way. He chuckled.

It was almost too easy.   

ON GOING

Let’s Play A Game Called MAFIA (14,399 Words) (5/6 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, BadBoyHalo, Skeppy, Wilbur Soot, MegaPVP, Illumina, F1NN5STER

Technoblade & Wilbur Soot, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream/GeorgeNotFound

Mafia Game, Mafia AU, Character Death, Suspense, Detective AU

Summary:

A masked man leaves the apartment complex and walks off under the dim lighting of the street lights. It wasn’t long before he reached his car and opened the driver’s seat. He pushed his keys in and turned it, starting the car. He hummed to himself as he took off his mask, placing it on the car seat beside him. He waits inside his started car as he dials a phone number.

“It’s done.”

In a sick twist of fate, Skeppy dies so Sapnap and Bad have to find the murderer before they kill more people. They meet and drag more people into the case but as the days dwindle by, more deaths and incidents come alive.

Will they find the real murderer or end up living on the edge to their very end?

(Based off of the Party Game called Mafia)

Who Would Want To Be King? (10,932 Words) (5/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Wilbur Soot, TommyInnit, Tubbo, GeorgeNotFound, Philza Minecraft, Schlatt, BadBoyHalo, Quackity, Karl Jacobs, Sapnap

NO Romantic Relationships, Dream & Technoblade, TommyInnit & Tubbo, Technoblade & TommyInnit & Wilbur Soot & Philza, Dream & Wilbur Soot

Prince and the Pauper AU, Frenemies, Rivals, Family Fluff, Family Dynamics, Platonic Relationships, Prince Technoblade, Farmer Dream, Fluff and Humor, Attempted Kidnapping, Kidnapping, King Philza

Summary:

In a kingdom not so far away, lived two men. These two lived completely different lives, with one standing at the very top since birth while the other was stuck at rock bottom. Two very different boys with different experiences but they both share one similarity. They both wish to do something different. To live different lives. To get out of their bubble and grow in their own way. In this little kingdom, two men live to see another view of the world they already see.

---------------------------------------------------

Barbie Prince and the Pauper AU but everything is platonic and it's all about Dream and Techno

Reaching For Something That Isn’t There (3,676 Words) (2/3 Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, TommyInnit, Technoblade

NO Romantic Relationships

Character Study, References to Ancient Greek Mythology, Parallels, Pain, Suicidal Thoughts, Betrayal, Emotional Hurt, Hurt No Comfort, Character Death, Theseus! Tommy, Icasrus! Dream, Achilles! Technoblade, Dream centric, Technoblade centric, TommyInnit centric, Anger, Violence, Imprisonment

Summary:

History is forever doomed to repeat itself.

People ask what Theseus gained by playing the hero, what Icarus saw in the sun, what Achilles truly wanted. They ask these questions and still don't see an answer.

Why was the sun so charming enough for young Icarus to forget his father's words? Why was Theseus so confident enough that he would be welcomed home for his achievement? Why was Achilles considered a bad example?

Three tales all ending with caution and fear. Three tales to remind everyone of their humanity. Three tales to ensure no one would do the same. And what did they do?

History is forever doomed to repeat itself.

Guide Me Through Hell and Back (34,714 Words) (15/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, technoblade, Philza Minecraft, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Drista, Punz, Wilbur Soot, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Ranboo, DreamXD

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Philza, Dream & Technoblade, Drista & TommyInnit & Tubbo, Dream & Punz, Dream & DreamXD,

Blind Character, Fluff, Fluff and Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fear, Flying, Mild Hurt/Comfort, Family Dynamics, Self Confidence Issues, Trust, Platonic Cuddling, Hybrid AU, Platonic Relationships, Cuddling, Chaos, Explosions, Angst, Broken Families, Trust Issues, Protective Technoblade, Protective Phil, Blind Dream, Panic Attacks, Torture, Kidnapping, Physical Therapy, Black Markets, Forced Healing, Sad Dream, Protective Dream, Soft Dream, Prison, Pandora’s Vault

Summary:

 "I gain immeasurable amounts of stress just looking at you, Dream." 

-SUN TZU

Dream is blind but he's a bat hyrbid with good hearing. Technoblade finds out and he's concerned for his friend. He stays with him and keeps him company, he also ensures Dream doesn't go too far and hurts himself with his stupid ideas. So what if Phil adopts him along the way and Drista causes chaos with Tommy and Tubbo? Technoblade will protect his friend to the ends of the Earth, screw whoever looked at him weird if he gets all fussy.

(Basically just Technoblade and Dream being best friends fluff.)

The Lonely Guardian (59,379 Words) (14/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, TommyInnit, Schlatt, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Wilbur Soot, Quackity, Ranboo, DreamXD, Drista, Philza Minecraft

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & Everyone, Dream & Technoblade, Dream & Tubbo, Dream & TommyInnit, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & Quackity, Dream & Schlatt, Dream & Philza, Dream & Ranboo

Cottagecore AU, Soft Dream, Healing, Emotional Manipulation, Realization, Self-Exile, Self-Reflection, Domestic Fluff, Friendship, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Exile, Protective Dream, Dreamons, Potions, Minor Injuries, Serious Injuries, Betrayal, Friends to Enemies, Enemies to Friends, Long Haired Dream, Dream centric, Anarchist Technoblade, Bittersweet Ending, Sibling Tension, Arguments, Dad Schlatt, Sick fic, Sick Character, Good Friend Dream, Character Death

Summary:

Dream didn't know what came over him, he wanted some time to think. Some time turned to days and thinking turned to building a nice home. Days turned to weeks and the home is bigger and cozier now.

Weeks turned to years and it's been a while since Dream has seen his friends. Still, they're definitely living a more peaceful life now that he's gone, right?

(Or, Dream left and started a cottagecore after the L'manberg Revolution and a Dreamon took his spot and the plot continues as it does in canon. Except, we have a Dream who likes to stay in his cottage and help his injured friends without telling them who he is, exactly)

Dreaming Of Nightmares, Dee? (9,268 Words) (2/? Chapters)

Tags:

Dream, Technoblade, Philza Minecraft, DreamXD, Karl Jacobs, GeorgeNotFound, Sapnap, Foolish_Gamers, TommyInnit, Tubbo, Ranboo

No Romantic Relationships, Dream & GeorgeNotFound & Sapnap, Dream & Technoblade & Philza, Dream & Ranboo, Dream & Foolish, Dream & Karl Jacobs, Dream & DreamXD, Technoblade & Philza, Philza/Kristin

Deity Dream, Dreamon, Deity Karl Jacobs, Time Traveling Karl Jacobs, Fix-It Fic, Sad Dream, Fluff, Family Dynamics, Hurt/Comfort, Protective Dream, Crack, Crack Treated Seriously, Gods and Goddesses, Mins Manipulation, Dream centric, Comfort, Big Brother Dream

Summary:

When three gods have to deal with a world full of mortals, some things get complicated along the way. Well, Dream was hoping for the best when he left the server to his twin, Nightmare's, and older brother, Dee's, hands.

He got more than he bargained for and mortals tend to be fragile. Prime, he needs a break.

(Or, Dream is the god of luck, Nightmare is the god of chaos and Dee is the god of destiny and the three of them try and fix the SMP out of the goodness of their heart /s)

[fishylife]

Street Dance of China, Season 4, Episode 4

- I’ve had issues with Tumblr not saving my posts again v.v I’ll just save often and hope that that does the trick.

- Latrice and Ibuki reenacting HB’s performance haha. From the behind the scenes clips I’ve seen, Ibuki does speak English, so I like to think they are now friends :D

- Hilty & Bosch have known each other since they were six years old T_T That’s cuuuute. Apparently they don’t get into arguments a lot because they always keep a distance between them XD Good strategy.

- San’er’s performance was great! He definitely brings the entertainment in his creativity (including incorporating a story line), but he doesn’t forget about the technical parts of dancing (the popping).

- Bouboo cheering on Rochka when he challenged Jianyan :P

- This spinning move he did was neat

- 不咋地 is going to be the recurring inside joke between Yibo, Rochka, and Bouboo ^^;;

- Yixing singing the SDOC theme song again XD With his super low energy voice XD

- Yibo was tipping the bench which was why Yixing and Henry were like, rocking back and forth at the same pace lol.

- Admittedly George vs. C-Lil was kind of rough. George tried to include Chinese elements in his performance, but he was injured, so he couldn’t really showcase them, and the latter part of his performance became just a typical contemporary dance. C-Lil’s performance was alright, but I think the judges were expecting something more impressive. While break dancing is very impressive to watch, I am starting to see the limitations of it, because if a dancer is not impressive, they are just kind of mediocre. George and C-Lil weren’t able to bring anything superbly impressive, which I think it was difficult for them to vote. Yibo abstained, and C-Lil got two votes, so C-Lil advanced.

- Zyko was incredible as always. It fascinates me how he’s mostly performed with these ballad type songs that don’t really have a beat. Also his flexibility is insane. I’m glad he got through with four votes because we need to see him more.

- I really liked Chika’s performance! I feel like women’s dancing is sometimes a bit limited in the mainstream because people just expect them to look sexy. It isn’t as much the case on this show because all of the ladies on this show are dancers and not idols or pop stars. But anyway, I just love seeing women dance without their bodies being sexualized. Chika’s dance showcased not only control over her body, but POWER. I loved her big movements. Compare the power that she shows vs. the power that say, Ibuki shows. Ibuki is a much smaller lady and it shows in her proportions, so how she expresses power looks different from how Chika expresses power, and Chika’s is the sort of power that I’ve really looked forward to seeing.

- Rochka fanboys over everybody, I love it. Keep spreading the love, dude.

- Ok, Xiaoji’s performance was pretty entertaining. I am not kidding when I say my jaw dropped, at the same time that all the captains went OH SNAP. But this guy definitely has charisma and stage presence. His confidence made up for his lack of ability to improvise XD I was CACKLING when this guy thought the song was done and Yibo was like “bro there’s more” and Xiaoji had to come up with something to end it off lol. I wouldn’t say his challenge was as good as Xiaohai’s, mostly because he hadn’t memorized the music like Xiaohai did. In terms of technical stuff, his performance did seem more impressive than Lai Wei’er’s, but he also did less “stuff” (like, there were a lot of pauses in his dance probably because he didn’t now the music). But Xiaoji’s was definitely more entertaining, though that may just be because of who he is and not his dancing. (By the way, Xiaoji’s real name is 林森. I thought the name 林木森 was just a joke because of how much wood was in it. I never guessed that someone would name their kid 林森 X’D Guess his 八字 indicated that he had a weakness in wood or something lol)

- Have some laughing captains, it’s good for the soul.

- Acky-san acknowledged that he’s probably not going to beat the younger dancers in terms of technique, so what he brought instead was style. The “robot” style of popping is pretty old, but no one else has done it in this competition probably because it’s so old school, and he definitely delivered in a way that only he could.

- Henry singing Frere Jacques with the French contingent X’D

- Thoughts on Han Yu vs. Boris. I can imagine what Han Yu was going for in his original performance, but I don’t think it worked. I don’t have the vocabulary to explain it, but basically the way his performance was choreographed just didn’t really impress. As Yibo mentioned, Boris was impressive in his dance to Han Yu’s music, but his dancing didn’t suit the song as much as Han Yu’s did. So the original dance + challenge was a matter of impressiveness vs. whether the dancing suited the music. Han Yu shone in the battle. I think he seemed a lot more impressive when back in a hip hop sort of groove, music that has a lot of major beats, compared to the piano music that was less grand an epic. As for Boris, I think that seeing a few of his performances in succession showed that his toolbox is a little limited in comparison to Han Yu. It hate to see Boris go because I loved his battle against Zyko but alas. I also wanted him to stay because he’s one of the few non-Chinese contestants who speak Mandarin relatively well. He had no issues speaking in Mandarin with most of the Chinese people on set. The ending was hilarious, when he was asked whether he had any last words, and Boris was like “well, I’m literally going to see these guys in two seconds when I’m back in the audience, I’m not dying” lmao.

- I don’t know how I feel about how the show has decided to deal with the last 29 contestants, of which three would be chosen to join the 49 dancers advancing. They’re competing fairly with the other contestants that haven’t performed yet, but they’re at a disadvantage compared to the previous contestants that were judged individually. For example, what if the fourth best dancer was better than a dancer that had already entered the 49? It would only be fair if the judges were allowed to take out people from the 46 contestants that had passed. It would’ve been a bigger problem if there were still a lot of big names to go though. Most of the best dancers have already secured a spot for themselves, so I think that’s why I’m not like, the most perturbed.

- I was low key waiting for Xiao Jie’s performance because his audition performance during episode 1 was so amusing. I thought his individual performance was fun! He managed to add some creativity and story telling (Chinese dude getting drunk) but also showcase some of his specialty skills (locking).

- I forgot to mention this before, but it amuses me that so the editing team will so diligently put in a “don’t try this at home” warning message whenever a dancer does a dangerous move haha.

- So the captains are doing a dance battle for the reborn event, but I’m not really sure how this is all gonna work. I’m digging Yixing’s look for the battle btw.

- Anyway, pre-battle hugs for all.

- KRUMPMASTER. Also I think he did some of the routine that he did back in Season 3.

- Not gonna lie, I wasn’t super impressed with Han Geng’s first dance but his second dance was pretty hype.

- Lol Yibo feels most comfortable challenging Yixing during his battles. He did move where he dropped onto his back right after Yixing did it (i.e. being like you can do it but I can do it better). Based on what I saw of season 3, I think Yibo would call out Yixing in his performances then too.

- Yixing was definitely heavy on the krump side, though I actually thought his first performance was really interesting because there was barely any krump in that one. He mostly stuck to other elements. As we got through the other rounds, he became more krump heavy, and I think he lost a bit in terms of variety there.

- The thing about Han Geng is that he’s no longer as athletic, so he relies more on power and control, but he needs to make sure he does the right moves that showcase that.

- I think Yibo impressed me the most. He had a lot of variety in his arsenal and he was very entertaining. He is also quite athletic, so as long as he can imagine it, I think he can do it haha.

- As others mentioned, Henry was extremely creative. He used a lot of dance moves to show a certain action, like tugging a rope or playing pool and such.

- Anyway, big hugs.

- Baby needs a nap.

- Yibo won the most points in the four rounds of the battle. This hug with Han Geng is uwu. Anyway, Tony Gogo mentioned that Yibo interpreted the music very well.

- Of course, Tony Gogo as well as the Gogo brothers praised Yixing for his krumping energy

- Philip said that Han Geng had a really good ear, and that was how he was able to take advantage of the best moments to unleash certain dances.

- The five contestants that were saved were A-wei, Boris, George, JC Jun, and Kelo & Uwa. I definitely think the editors purposely showed us more clips of them so that we’d grow attached lol. The only one of these five that I don’t quite remember is A-wei though. Anyway, very pleased that Boris is back haha.

- Pouty boi

- Yibo, Henry, Han Geng, and Ibuki getting really into 煞科 lol.

- I think next episode is going to have some team performances, which I think will be fun. Some of these teams are STACKED.

- Previews for Hot pot!

- They were talking about songs they listened to in their childhood. Han Geng started singing a song about an Office Black Cat? XD I’m guessing it’s a cartoon haha. Yibo listened to Leehom Wang and Jay Chou. Henry mentioned that he looked up to Leehom because he was also an overseas Chinese, plus he played a lot of instruments (just like Henry). As expected, Yixing looked up to Jay Chou (after all, Jay Chou was one of the earliest artists to popularize using Chinese elements in pop songs). Yixing said he also liked Leehom Wang, JJ Lin, and Khalil Fong (I legit have not heard the name 方大同 in a long time so that took me by surprise lol).

- Yibo mentioned Li Ronghao and Yixing was like OH WAIT YEAH HIM TOO. We know from Idol Producer that Yixing and Li Ronghao are bros haha. The captain says “不榮藝 組合” which pronounced the same as “不容易 組合” which is something like “unlikely duo,” except the the 榮 is from Li Ronghao’s name and the 藝 is from Zhang Yixing’s name lol.

- The robot spilled all the tea! Bad bot!

- I think they later played a listening game that Henry kept losing? lol