#Ginkgo-Colored First Love

[welcometoteyvat]

 xingqiu, gold accents, ginkgo leaves, the light golden color tea gets in sunlight

hu tao, also gold accents, mahogany wood, smoky things, spider lilies unfurling in the dark. but it would be cool to edit her art so it’s more high contrast (darker outfit and hair) with stark black plum branches against winter snow 

chongyun, white, clouds, wisps of chill wind. fluffy things and a big fur coat

majority red palette ningguang would also be cool

and of course, zhongli with gold orange. old man can’t beat the geo lord cor lapis soulmates (ambiguous relationship) with azhdaha allegations

[therealbarombunny]

The JingHeng brainrot is getting to me so, hears my explanation on why it's canon.(Kinda of a joke lol)

First and foremost;

The obvious color matching palettes, especially when you invert any images of them. And how they both equally work together and mix well together.

Secondly;

The dragon and lion (+phoenix) symbolization, it's obvious by now that Dan Heng is a dragon and Jing Yuan has some sort of lion resemblance. And yada, yada and whatever. But it should also be known that both technically have phoenix symbolism, like how Dan Heng's waist wrap looks to be representing the tail feathers of a fenghuang(phoenix ), and how Jing Yuan in the final beta trailer was shown in the Palace of Astrum with a back drop of Phoenix. And in Chinese coupling mythology/symbolism dragon- Phoenix imagery represents, complementary wedded bliss between spouses.

Thirdly;

In mainly official arts, these two are often usually paired,

(countdown day official art, which oddly when put together, looks like a heart/yin yang. It also has the numbers 5 and 2, in which, some Chinese players have noted a slang number “520” which phonetically resembles “Wo Ai Ni” or in English, “I love you.”) (cited from the JingHeng fandom shipping wiki. Art made by someone on the hoyo art team idk.)

( Official promo art of Ver 1.2.) (Again, cited from the JingHeng wiki.) (made by whatever hoyo art team employee.)

(And of course, the infamous Hoyofair art.) (Cited once again from the wiki, I do not remember who it was made by however. By credits to the artist.)

Now there is much more, but I don't want my phones storage to die so I will be moving on to the next topic.

Fourthly;

The leaves/plants that they are represented by, we all know Dan Heng is represented by maple leaves and how Jing Yuan is represented by ginkgo leaves. Both these leaves have themes meaning “eternal love”.

Last but not least;

Both of their characters have similar design/lore aspects that can be related to each other, like how in Dan Heng's 4★, he has a singular red marking under his eye and none on the other. And how in Jing Yuans design, he has has a mole placed under the same eye Dan Heng's red mark is. While his other eye is covered up. And how in Dan Heng's 4★, he follows the path of the hunt, while Jing Yuan is the emanator of the hunt. Also, Dan Heng's weapon also has a yin-yang like ball/sphere in it. While Jing Yuans has a circular hole in the same spot.

Anyways, this was just my insane ramblings/rantings on how I believe hoyo is subtly hinting at JingHeng being canon.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you have a nice time thinking about this. Buh-bye! (⁠＾⁠∇⁠＾⁠)⁠ﾉ⁠♪

[oopsitszuli]

"And At Last, I See The Light." -Sanemi Shinazugawa x FEM!Reader.

Authors note: And we're back!! Im so excited to be writing non-work-related content again and I hope this first fic back is an enjoyable one! I love Sanemi and I also love his little detail of having lost his ability to see color and regaining it after the events of the final arc in the manga! So I got to thinking and thought of a scenario where someone else kickstarted his heart once again. Also as always, reposts and likes are GREATLY appreciated!!

Warnings: Swearing, mentions of Sanemi's backstory.

Word Count: 3.3k words.

No mentions of skin tone, hair color, or eye color!

———————————————————————————

Training was always difficult, whether being a Mizunoto or a Hashira, but in recent weeks it seems the world was working against the demon slayer corps. Relentless training was going into every corps member despite the few results they were seeing. Everyone was on edge on top of the training, for they all had no clue when the next sign of upper moon demons would appear before them. Wake up, eat, train, try to unlock a slayer mark, sleep, and do it all again. That was all life seemed to be. Rather, that’s all life was to Sanemi. 

His day was a constant repeat, with no variation and certainly no thrill. Waking up minutes before another greyscale sunrise, ignoring breakfast in favor of squeezing in a lone training session before dealing with his newest group of bratty teenagers, and ending the day at a meeting with the other Hashira where they all continued to complain about being unable to unlock marks.  ‘How did Kamado do it?’ and ‘Maybe Tanjiro, Mitsuri, and Tokito can help unlock other marks!’ These were the only statements made in those hour-long meetings. And Sanemi would be the first to admit that it made him want to stab his eardrums out. The Kamados had some benevolent god in their corner, and the other two were freakishly powerful despite their smaller statures, yet he was the only one who seemed to notice it. 

The wind Hashira let out a disgruntled sigh as he walked down the cobblestone stairs leading to a lone Soba restaurant only a few miles from his estate. It was one of his favorite places to frequent, though he would never utter that sentiment to another being for as long as he lived. Some people liked eating in the company of others, but it seemed he wasn’t born with the right of a friend to have dinner with. He used to love eating with Masachika or Kanae, but the gods didn’t like seeing someone with the last name Shinazugawa being happy, so they took them away. They took everything away. His friends, his family, and his color were no longer his. Instead, they were playthings for a higher being who took pleasure in seeing him miserable. 

Sanemi stiffened as a crisp gust of wind brushed through his spiky hair, drawing the man from his thoughts with little effort. His eyes raised from the ground as he took in the world around him. Age-old ginkgo and wisteria trees surrounded the Hashira, their leaves swaying softly in the breeze, filling his nose with the sweet scent of the flowers belonging to the trees.  He looked to his left, shielding his eyes as he was met with the light of the current setting sun; Sanemi looked away swiftly. He was sure it was a stunning sunset just by how bright it was. Maybe tonight it would be pink, or orange, maybe even purple. But it didn’t matter; to him, it was all grey. Everything was always grey and grim, and it always would be. Sanemi had accepted that fate from the moment his mother lay limp at his feet. He would never see color again, and he would never know the peace he witnessed others gain so simply. That was his burden, and it was one he carried with no argument. 

“Shinazugawa!” A sudden voice called out from behind him, “Shinazugawa, is that you? What are you doing?” Sanemi didn’t need to turn around to know who that voice belonged to. It was a sweet voice, singsongy and perfectly pitched, and it could only belong to the one person in the demon slayer corps Sanemi had come to slightly tolerate. The flower Hashira, (Y/n) (L/n). He didn’t look over his shoulder as he heard her footsteps bounding towards him, and frankly, he couldn’t bring himself to try and shoo her off. He wondered if it was the part of him that still regretted their first meeting and how he had so brashly proclaimed that she would never take Kanae’s place and that if (L/n) knew what was good for her, she would walk into the woods and disappear forever. He was well aware that he had overstepped his lines, and despite his better judgment, he felt the need to go out of his way and allow her to hang around him. 

‘Stop lying to yourself. Give her more credit, asshole,’ He cursed internally, ‘she fought tooth and nail to try and be around me, even after I treated her so cruelly.’ He still saw everything, the first meeting, the argument, everything. He remembered it like it was yesterday. 

“Who do you think you are, trying to replace her? Kanae is the only Flower Hashira, and she always will be. If you know what’s best, you will walk out now and disappear in the woods for the rest of eternity.” Sanemi bellowed as he glared at the woman standing across the yard from him. Despite his harsh words, she stood tall, unfazed by his outburst and only throwing fuel to the fire of Sanemi’s heart. His glare searched rapidly around him for support as an annoyed groan escaped Uzui. Sanemi didn’t understand. Kanae had only died three months ago, the others should be outraged at this blatant replacement, yet none of them made a move. His attention snapped to Shinobu, who only remained kneeling before the master, not an ounce of negative emotion riddling her young face. 

“I think you misunderstand why I���m here.” The woman began, unmoving despite Sanemi’s glare returning to her. “Kanae was a phenomenal Hashira, and her death hurt everyone-"“Don’t act like you knew her!” Sanemi interrupted, his teeth bared. (Y/n) sighed softly, completely calm despite the raging man across from her. He hated it. She stood so sure, completely unaffected by his words, and worse, she wore a gentle smile. A sympathetic smile, like she knew the pain everyone was going through, and as if she knew he had lost another person he cared about. 

“I didn’t know her, and I won’t claim to have known her. But what I do know is that from everything I’ve heard, she was the epitome of goodness. And I can only attempt to follow in her footsteps as the next Flower Hashira.” (Y/n’s) hand reached for her chest, placing itself atop her heart, “I can only begin to hope I leave a legacy as powerful as hers and that my joining is not seen as a rushed replacement.” Her head lowered as she finished her statement. She was bowing. Not to the master or the other Hashira, but to him. To Sanemi. He took a step back, his eyes widening slightly as he attempted to fend off the shock trying to make itself known. 

“Death sticks with us all, Sanemi, but it also allows us the chance to grow.” Oyakata spoke up from the pavilion he rested on. “And in order for us to stay strong, we must grow. I hope you can come to understand this decision.” Sanemi snapped his attention to the Master. Like always, he stood proudly, his smile riddled with a saccharine sympathy. The wind Hashira couldn’t bring himself to argue against the master. If it were anyone else, he’d have a string of words for them, but it had to be the man Sanemi couldn’t bring himself to argue with. 

“I understand, sir. And I apologize for my outburst.” Sanemi rushed before turning on his heel, dismissing himself from the meeting before the master got another word in. He couldn’t believe it, the audacity of that woman, to stand there where Kanae should be and act as though she knew the pain they were feeling. The pain he was feeling. It was insulting, and Sanemi wanted nothing to do with her, for better or worse. 

She apparently had different plans. 

It was less than two hours before Sanemi noticed her intruding on his training. He held back a laugh of disbelief as she walked by him, drawing her sword and quickly beginning her own training regiment. 

“I don’t want to be around you, and I was here first. So, fuck off.” Sanemi argued as he watched her effortlessly destroy a few training dummies the Kakushi had set up. She only laughed at his statement and swung her sword once more. 

“I don’t care! We have to work together, so get used to it.” She claimed, a satisfied smile dawning on her lips as she noticed the rage bubbling up on Sanemi’s face. With another swing of her sword and another destroyed dummy, she turned on her heel to face him, wearing a wide smile. Sanemi seethed at her blatant disregard for his anger. 

“Who do you think you are?” He asked through gritted teeth, his fists clenched and his sword shaking in his hold. She sheathed her katana swiftly before she slowly dragged her eyes over his figure. Her eyes moved slowly as if she were studying him, easily committing every inch of his body to memory. 

“I’m (Y/n) (L/n), the newest Hashira and a demon slayer who has worked my ass off for years to be here. And who are you, other than your miserable jackass persona?” Her question was so simple, yet so irking. Sanemi tossed his Katana to the side, figuring it best not to have a weapon in his hands while his emotions were being tested. His hands ran through his hair as he stole a deep breath from the world around him. His hands fell to his side, returning to fists as he glared at the still-smiling woman. 

“I’m Sanemi Shinazugawa, the wind Hashira.” He declared proudly. He was the wind Hashira, one of the strongest members of the demon slayer corps and someone people feared, and Sanemi reveled in the idea of her finally backing down and acknowledging his strength. Instead, (Y/n) shook her head softly, her arms crossing over her chest as she did. Sanemi felt his glare deepen as he watched her arms fold over each other. 

“No. I don’t think you are.” Another pass of her eyes over his figure, “I think you’re just an angry man. That’s all you are, Isolated anger.” She decided. Sanemi felt his jaw drop with her statement. He stood frozen in place, staring at the woman. Her eyebrow raised under his unwavering gaze.

“What gives you the right to say something like that to me?" He challenged, his voice shaking with rage. She sighed softly, and finally, her smile faltered. 

“Because I’ve been in the same position, and if you ignore your rage, it will kill you. It seems as though it’s already doing a number on you.” She deducted, slowly walking toward the man. Her stride was sure, unwavering with each step. If anything, it made Sanemi a little unsure, despite his flurry of anger. 

“Oh, shut up.” He barked, attempting to seem more sure of himself than he truly was. 

“No. Shun people all you want. It’s not going to keep you from getting hurt. If anything, it will just make it worse.” She challenged, her finger poking at his scarred chest as she leaned close to him. Their eyes met, and Sanemi felt his breath hitch. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes, that was expected, but this close, he saw something more. Swirling behind the expanse of colors unknown to Sanemi, there was hope; he knew it was hope. He had seen that look in his eyes one too many times when looking at reflective surfaces. A yearning for something better, for a future free of demons and a life of peace with the family they had remaining, it was the same hope that was continuously torn away from people like them.  

“You don’t know anything about me.” He brushed off the look, pulling away from her before she continued her way out from the training arena. Sanemi watched as she walked off, his eyes glued to her figure. She stopped, turning over her shoulder with a vibrant smile plastered across her face.

“That’s why I am going to do everything in my power to learn about you. Even if you hate it.” She winked at him, giggling softly before completely disappearing. Sanemi stood frozen in place, disbelief at the interaction snaking through his veins. 

He rolled his eyes before going to retrieve his sword. 

“Shinazugawa!” Her voice cut through his thoughts, forcing his feet to stop as he turned over his shoulder. She joined him at his side seconds later, wearing her favorite smile as she came to a halt. She always wore that same smile, even when she was in the midst of arguments. Sanemi swore he had only seen her smile drop twice, and neither time ended well. The better part of him screamed at him to be concerned; someone who wore a smile that pure had to be masking something, especially in this profession. Yet he couldn’t gather the courage to ask, no matter what he did. He could look man-eating demons in the eyes and laugh… But ask her something personal? Sanemi rather feed himself to upper moon one. 

“Hello, (L/n). What brings you out this way?” He spoke softly, probably too softly, but he would worry about that later. The woman beside him bounced slightly on her toes, excitement radiating off her every inch. His head tilted slightly to the side as she looked around at their surroundings as if she were making sure no one was listening to them. 

“You’re not going to believe this!" she began, “But my newest batch of students for training are all graduating a week early! They’ve absolutely mastered stealth training! One of them was so good at it that he snuck up on me!” Her hands clapped together excitedly. Sanemi gave an approving ‘hmm’ at her information, a smile tugging on the corners of his lips despite his better judgment. Despite their rocky introduction, he had always appreciated how proud she was of everyone around her. Some people were proud to the point of arrogance, but she had always been a perfect mix of awareness and pride. That fact had been a reason for Sanemi’s eventual reconciliation with her. 

“That is great to hear, (L/n). The sooner we get them through training, the more time they have to practice summoning a mark.” He nodded slightly, his arms crossing over his chest a moment later. 

“You know, you don’t have to call me by my last name.” Her head tilted slightly to the side, a smug smirk dawning across her face. “Or have you forgotten my first name? You are quite forgetful.” She teased, earning an eye roll from Sanemi. 

“I leave my sword at a meeting one time….” He groaned, earning a soft chuckle from her. Sanemi forced back the ever-growing smile fighting its way onto his face. He hated how effortlessly she could make him smile, and he despised the look she gave him every time she succeeded in drawing a smile onto his face. It wasn’t a smug look nor a look of confusion; it was always one resting on the border of adoration. Although, Sanemi knew he would never let himself believe it. Very few people adored him, and he was sure someone as amazing as (Y/n) would never feel that way about him. 

“You were so distracted that day…I still remember the look on your face when I handed you your katana.” She tapped at her lips as her eyebrow raised, “Makes me wonder what had you so distracted.” She leaned forward, silently prompting Sanemi to share his side of the story. The wind Hashira fought back a chuckle at her prodding. He knew full well why he was so distracted and knew further that he would never dare to utter a word about it in her presence. It was embarrassing to him alone and mortifying to think about others knowing. The wind Hashira, the scariest Hashira the corps had to offer, Sanemi Shinazugawa was distracted by her.  He knew she would always capture his attention with her intricate haori and overall eye-catching demeanor. But in recent weeks, no, in recent months, she had become his favorite distraction. Bad day? Talk to (Y/n). Bored before a mission? Exchange Kasugai crow messages with (Y/n). He truly needed no excuse to talk to her, yet he continued to find them, mainly to save his pride. His eyes flickered down to hers as he formulated another excuse to feed her. 

“The idea of dinner was distracting me.” He lied. She rolled her eyes at his statement, seeing through his fib effortlessly. Sanemi knew he couldn’t keep lying to her, but for something like this, he deemed it better than admitting that he could not shake the woman from his thoughts. 

“Speaking of which…Did you already eat dinner?” She asked, her hands clasping as she looked up at Sanemi. He nodded quickly, attempting to avoid the question of being invited to dinner. He couldn’t allow her to eat dinner with him, not after what happened to everyone who had before. 

“I did, but thank you for asking.” He responded, his sentence fading out quickly. Sanemi turned on his heel, beginning to walk away, only to be followed by (Y/n). She took in their surroundings as they walked. 

“Shame, I was going to invite you over for dinner! I’m thinking of making some hiyashi chuka and maybe some ohagi for dessert.” She looked up at Sanemi, who visibly perked up at the mention of his favorite sweet treat. His hand brushed through his hair as he murmured a soft ‘sounds good’ in response, trying to hide his intrigue. Another sigh from (Y/n), and her head tilted back. 

“You’re so difficult, Sanemi.” She lamented, earning a chuckle from the white-haired man. He looked at her, committing her exasperated expression to memory. His hand found itself atop her head as he rustled her hair, drawing a laugh from her. 

“That’s my specialty.” He said through her fit of giggles. Swiftly she swatted his hands away, stepping in front of him and pointing at his chest. Sanemi stopped short, unmoving under her playful gaze. 

“One day, mark my words, we will have dinner together, and you’ll love it.” She promised, her finger digging into his chest as she poked at him. Sanemi prepared to respond, a witty remark waiting desperately on the tip of his tongue, but when his eyes met hers, the wind Hashira froze. Any word he prepared was immediately gone as he noticed the hues of her face shift slowly. Grey’s were replaced without hesitation, giving way to the stunning shades that made up the appearance of (Y/n) (L/n). He stepped back, unable to process the colors flooding his world. Sanemi’s head snapped up, looking at the flowering trees around them. Grey and white were no more in favor of vibrant purples and greens. The sky was a shade of shimmering orange as the sun set, the remaining blue turning darker by the moment. Sanemi returned his sights to (Y/n’s) eyes. They were stunning. Sparkling and shimmering in the evening light, unblinking as they stared at him. His hands found their place on her arms, holding her gently as he stared at her. 

“Sanemi?” Her eyebrow was raised, and her voice laced with concern. Sanemi attempted to stomp out his excitement to no avail. Years of seeing nothing but white, grey, and black were suddenly thrown out of the window. It didn’t make sense, Sanemi had suffered so much, but in this moment, with her, his life was reignited with a sudden vibrancy he didn’t know he had missed. He didn’t know what to say or do. How do you explain to someone that you just regained the ability to see color after years of being colorblind? The world was silent, full of vibrant colors and an overwhelming peace Sanemi didn’t know was possible. He was at a loss for words, so he said the first thing that came to mind. 

“Have I ever told you that your eyes are striking- no, dazzling… no, that’s not enough.” Sanemi thought for a moment, “You are absolutely captivating.” 

Part 2

[aquagirl1978]

Undressed - Kicho x Reader (Ikemen Sengoku)

A/N: My first entry for Ikemen Prompts Week 1 hosted by @ikemenprompts. Also part of Falling For You Content Creator Challenge hosted by @judejazza and @nightghoul381.

Pairing: Kicho x Reader

Prompt: Mirror/Love/Color Palette (Ikemen Prompts Week 1) and Coloured in Fire (falling4uccc)

Word Count: 628

Tags: fluff with some spice

“Kicho…it’s beautiful.”

Beautiful was an inadequate word for the fabric that rested in your hands. Exquisite. Luxurious. Opulent. But even those words couldn’t fully describe the beauty of this material. The rich rouge silk was thick yet soft, perfect for the cooler weather. Embroidered gingko leaves were sparsely scattered in shades of rose pink and peachy orange. 

Smiling like a kid in a candy store, you held the fabric in outstretched arms, admiring how the smooth silk draped over your fingers, the colors of autumn dancing before your eyes.

He cupped your cheek in his hand, his pleased smile crinkling his hazel-green eyes. “I thought you could use this to make a dress for the party.”

Your eyes widened in a panic. The party. His party. That he was hosting.

“But that’s only in a few days!”

Kicho’s green eyes glittered as he offered you a sly smirk. “Then you better get started.”

******

Standing before the mirror, you preened yourself like a parrot as you fixed your hair. It was definitely a rush to finish, but you completed your task just in the nick of time. 

Gazing into the mirror, you admired your finished product - an exquisite kimono in all the shades of autumn. The thick fabric draped elegantly over your body, the soft silk caressing your curves.

You were thrilled to have found some leftover fabric in a rose pink shade that complemented the kimono to make the perfect obi. Picking up a delicate gold and garnet hairpin, another gift from Kicho, you tucked the finishing touch behind your ear.

Kicho was silent as he entered the room, his steps as quiet as a cat’s. You didn’t notice him until you felt his arms around your waist, his warm lips brushing against your cheek in a chaste kiss.

“You look radiant,” he whispered, his breath warm against your ear. “Like you’re coloured in fire.”

Your face flushed with heat at his words. And Kicho was right – the overlapping fan-shaped leaves flickered like flames across your body.

“I knew as soon as I saw this fabric that it was perfect for you.”  He ran his palms down your sides as he gazed adoringly at your reflection in the mirror. “Do you know what ginkgo leaves symbolize?” he murmured as he guided you towards the bed.

You shook your head, his body leaning over yours, words escaping you as he lightly traced the outline of a leaf right above your beating heart. “Longevity. Endurance.” As he placed his palm over your heart, his lidded eyes sultry as he gazed into yours. “That is my love for you,” he whispered before his lips met yours in a passionate kiss.

Wrapping your arms around his shoulders, you deepened the kiss, a muffled sigh leaving your lips as he pulled your hips tight against his. His hands left your waist, a soft groan filled the air as his palm slid down your thigh. 

Forget the party, your body wanted to scream. Take me now. 

But you had to attend. You both did, as it wasn’t just any party, but a  celebration for Kicho’s birthday.

Pressing your hands upon his chest, his heart pounding in his chest, you broke the kiss with a quiet whimper, knowing full well that if you kissed any longer, you would both soon end up undressed. 

Not now, not yet, he said with his eyes, his soft smile stoking the fire inside you.

“I nearly forgot…” Turning back to the vanity, you picked up a small square of fabric. “I made this for you,” you said, handing Kicho the handkerchief you made of the same silk of your kimono. 

Tagging: @redheadkittys @lordsisterxotome @kissmetwicekissmedeadly @chaosangel767 @ikehoe @kpop-and-otome @kisara-16 @lucyw260 @scorchieart @yarnnerdally @crypticbibliophile @tele86 @nightfoxqueen @judejazza @xbalayage @xenokiryu @randonauticrap @oda-princess

“Happy Birthday, Kicho,” you said as your fingers lingered on his. “Let’s go now, before we’re late for your party.”

[bl-inkstone]

thinking soft childe thoughts again. this man truly does live rent free in my brain

falling in love with him, i think, would feel a lot like learning to walk with the knowledge that the space beside you is no longer empty.

there aren't any grand signs when you first meet: there is no moment of déjà vu, no sudden flurry of butterflies in your gut when you lock eyes for the first time, no hushed internal whispers of "have we met before?". there is no higher power guiding him when he approaches you and introduces himself, bright eyes and boyish grin on full display. there is no higher power guiding you when you test the feel of his name on your tongue and introduce yourself right back, cautious but curious of who and what he is. you're just two people who happened to be in the same space, at the same time, and that's how your story starts.

the days pass by like a warm reel of laughter with childe at your side. he's a wonderful friend; funny, charming, with a tendency to spoil you and insist even when you refuse because "this is what friends do! besides, i'm gonna eat your food anyway, so at least let me pay—". he's thoughtful and courteous, but he keeps your life exciting with all the mischief and stark joy he brings along with him. you know what he is, and though you don't completely know what his job entails, neither of you bring it up in the times you spend together. in the comfort of your company, he is not childe the harbinger or tartaglia, the waker of the deep. when he walks and fills the space beside you, he's just childe, your friend who raids your cupboards when he's feeling snacky and slips mora into your wallet when you're not looking. who wakes you up in the morning by knocking on the window right by your bed (instead of knocking on your door, you know, like a normal person). who goes on walks with you around the harbor to admire the sights and maybe work on his liyueren accent and vocabulary by conversing with you about anything and everything under the sun. who holds your hand like it's second nature, and matches the length of his strides to your own like he doesn't want either of you to ever be too far apart.

when your days pass like this, gradually getting to know the familiarity of his touch and presence in your life, falling in love isn't as daunting as it should be. the realization comes slowly to you though. it's when you find yourself tilting your head to whisper to the waiting ear beside you, when you stand and wait in an ever-moving crowd once you recognize the sound of his approach. it's when you set out two bowls instead of one at night and attach an assistive band to one pair of chopsticks because even after all this time, he still doesn't know how to use them.

falling in love with childe feels a lot like a gradual shift of colors in the ginkgo leaves of your homeland as the seasons pass by. he walks with you through the harbor often now, like a routine he can't give up. and while he admires the sights of liyue in the beauty of fall, you admire him.

it's in the glint of those golden leaves framing his fiery hair and blue eyes that you realize: "i've loved him for a while now, haven't i?"

i think that's how it all starts, honestly. you fall first, before you even realize, and your life suddenly becomes all the more colorful with the feelings you couldn't recognize before suddenly intermingling with the casual comfort he brings with him. it could open the door to something angsty, where you think your feelings are unreturned and try to cope, or maybe something soft and silly, where everyone can see just how much you like childe while he remains oblivious to your affections, but still sweet all the same.

in the end though, it wouldn't really matter if you really were the one who fell first. because childe, who saw you in that moment and took the first step to something bigger than he could've ever expected, would definitely be the one who fell harder.

[wickedslip]

To mirror the absolute masterpiece that mi amor has written, I couldn’t help but to write a mirroring piece that could only further reciprocate it. This is a drabble about the very first time Kol Mikaelson + Nausicaä Thorn met at Harvard, featuring dark academia vibes and heavy telepathic influences.

Draping her bag over her right shoulder, and when paired with the largest to-go cup of steaming hot Chiapas coffee, sweet and dark, she then and only then could be prepared for her set of autumn classes. The leaves that had fallen from the sugar maples and ginkgo trees of bright reds and golds blazed colors that this side of the hemisphere only saw within one season per year. If autumn was a year-round enterprise, she wouldn’t have been disgruntled over it. Living in Massachusetts, in the haunted harbor city of New Salem, it was more than just the scenery. More than her house, which ghosts had long stalked its lengthy corridors. She was able to step out of the shadows, long ostracized for being what she was. This was the city of las brujas, where they could easily be out on the streets to familiarize themselves and blend in with the rest of the civilians. And with All Saints drawing near, it was deemed to be even more so.

There was a faceted connotation to the air, steeped in the rich history of New Salem and its surrounding cities and suburbs. There was something coming, something on the rise, and she could feel it as it served to form robust horripilation along her sensitive flesh. Dressed to the nines in a button down tucked into a plaid skirt and chocolate vegan leather ankle boots, she chose to adorn her legs with floral tights to accentuate her oliveness. She was glad she didn’t dress too warmly, as it felt almost humid for this time of year. Her cheeks flushed from the elements, but possibly something else which could only prove that there was a difference here. Driving to Cambridge, she took route one, and the curving highway with forest on one side and the cliff overlooking the cresting, white-laced waves of the Atlantic on the opposite side.  

She loved this city. This school. She chose this school, and its rich, ancient history was only what could culminate in the rising dawn of witches and humanity alike. She could have gone anywhere in the world, but she chose to stay close to home. She could be introverted by nature, but not when it came to her craft. Not when it came to the overwhelming sensation of sinking in every bit of knowledge, she could get her clutches around. The thirst for knowledge was adept to an insatiable power, a power that she homed into, that she undoubtedly wanted.

She could feel the attractive smile as he entered the room, passing by the ceiling to floor marquetery of slender windows engraved into the walls and crown moldings that led to the long corridor of Harvard’s most prestigious halls. Slowly crossing one shapely, slender leg over the other, she sat regal and poised, her raven-hued French braid became loose, wisps of hair to frame her visage. She could feel tremors of conversation, the brush of so many minds in such a constricted space, but there was one mind that stood out to her. As though there was a halo of unfiltered, vivid light around it, showing the depth of his mystifying aura. She also had picked up how he thought of himself, and while she always found her own body, charm and charisma to be top notch, she had nothing on the overinflated ego that she was dealing with. She could only smile into the surge of thought that it invoked, going past her normal vision into that of her Third Eye, using another form of her aptitude for magic to home in on this one mind that seemed to want to be grasped.

She had felt him long before she saw him, and when she finally was able to connect the form to the mind, she was taken aback, all thought spiraling out of herself until she reinforced it, grasping with imperceptible hands at the pull to him. She was fascinated, seized and knifed to the hilt with fate of that which she didn’t fully understand nor comprehend. Feeling a cool brush of air akin to someone walking over her undisclosed grave, her eyes locked onto him, knowing that it was the connection that was forming. Not a red string, no. Nothing that feeble. It was a silver cord and once constructed it couldn’t be broken. She hadn’t ever felt anything like it, not had she anything to remotely compare it to. She had delved into strong minds before, even minds of supernatural entities with far more experience and prestige. But this, she had to admit, was a first. Her eyes trained to his every movement, watching as he delved into the messenger bag for a pen. She squeezed her legs more firmly together, feeling the sensation all the way to her poised hips.

She didn’t know him, but that didn’t stop the slow captivation to lend sway to the morbid fascination she had over him. His eyes bore holes into hers, and she locked onto them, instantly forgetting how to breathe. Perhaps she didn’t know this physical form, but she somehow knew him. Knew his soul, his spirit, his energy. It wasn’t so different than that of her own. She might as well have been in her room, bodies locked together, hovering over him. That was the kind of temptation that had manifested to take root.

Kol.

She whispered, yet no sound had escaped her plush lips, coated with a shade akin to crimson. She was luring him to her, without so much as meaning to. But the intent was there, all the same. Her eyes closed to half mast, heavy-lidded and full of a desire that she didn’t realize she had been showing. She wanted him to see her as she was seeing him, the connection blossomed a weaving so palpable that she almost wondered if lookers-on had picked up on it.

Reality had indeed set in that she had fallen under the influence of him, and he was bound to her now, body and soul. Two witches possessed, and nobody was safe until they set one another free. Shaking out of her reverie, the last bell chimed, indicating that class had started. Opening the textbook, she tried her best to focus on the words, but they appeared in elusive jumbles of cacophony. Every particle of her atoms craved his, with an intensity that shook her to her core. Breathing heavily, it was taking all she could to not bolt out of the room, to run some water over her visage.

Eyes focused straight ahead; she did her best to not home in on the man that would peer at her. Other eyes did, of course, do the same, but it wasn’t in any way the same kind of influence. She didn’t care about anyone else watching her. She was aware of the only person in the room that she wanted; with eyes locking onto her body, she couldn’t help but become frustrated with the thick unbridled emotion that was claiming her.   When the bell rang for departure, it was all she could do but to bolt out in a wave of students and staff alike.

[yukipri]

Today's International Tea Day!

So I wanted to share some reviews of the Star Wars-inspired teas that Friday Afternoon released on May 4th.

Friday Afternoon is one of my fav indie tea shops, and their teas are both delicious and full of fandom fun. Plus, the shop's super queer! Please give them some love if u want some tea! (no this message isn't sponsored. I just love them, and am ecstatic they finally have SW teas!)

Also wanted to show off the new Star Wars x Starbucks destination mugs too!

Descriptions, mini reviews, and links beneath cut!

First tea: Light Side!

Presented in the Coruscant destination mug.

Ingredients from their site: White tea, black tea, lemon peel, ginkgo biloba, sunflower petal, natural vegan cream flavoring

I usually don’t go for white teas, but this was a really nice floral, with a delicate aroma but surprisingly strong flavor! I enjoyed it both hot and iced.

Dark Side

Ingredients from their site: Aged dark tea, cacao nib, ginger, granulated honey, clove, natural chocolate flavoring

This one's much more the kind of tea that I usually gravitate towards! It's definitely dark, rich, and spicy, a little earthy, and it has a kick! I wouldn't necessarily call it sweet, but it tastes like the color "burned dark red so dark it's brown." I've only tried this one hot so far, but I really like it!

Both of these teas are NOT currently available on their site, but will return during their winter fandom rotation on 12/1. Here's the link anyway! They have a ton of other awesome teas currently available though, and I super recommend you check them out!

Lastly,

The Mugs

Past few years, Disney's always released 3 "destination mugs" on May 4th in collaboration with Starbucks. They're meant to look like the destination mugs at Starbucks stores sold around the world, except they're Star Wars planets! This year, they released Jakku, Coruscant, and Mustafar.

While I really liked the Jakku one too, these mugs are expensive, and I already have too many mugs. So I just got my two prequels ones! They're nice, big mugs, and I think the wrap around art and the variety of scenes depicted are very charming.

As of writing this post, Jakku and Coruscant are still available on Shop Disney, but Mustafar appears to have sold out. They're always limited edition and go fast! (hoping they do Kamino next year...!)

[bluginkgo]

OOOOOH Remastered as Animals Behind Scenes

Oh wow, Ginkgo you're actually getting somewhere with the backgrounds- not I'm not lol. Backgrounds are still a killer, not to mention I had no idea how I wanted to make their den to look like on the inside. So I just went with the general: it's a hollowed out tree.

Another thing I ran into was how I wanted J to look like. I had settled on a fox prior to even starting Sleep nuzi comic. Further solidified by @electronix-arts post on J fox (go show some love on that post, it's an amazing idea :3)

But once I got past the sketching... I hit a wall. The colors for J had to be tested. I tried going with the usual color that I depict N, based off of his merch color. But it didn't seem to fit quite right like it did with V. So I decided to switch her over to the more common red fox palette. There are some foxes that are grey! But I didn't like the way the colors mashed with my style.

A funny thing I ran into was J doing the bap bap to get N's sensor back online. First it was a thought of letting J slap him with her nanite tail, buuuut I didn't like that idea. So instead I went with J just smacking him like a cat would- foxes are dog hardware with a cat software, you cannot change my mind. Then it was an issue of how I wanted it to look like.

Went through two versions, before scrapping it and finding the perfect reference photo.

As per usual, some shots of the process. Get possessed by the absolute solver that gives you yet another insane idea. Sketch, outline and color, aaaand render!

I've been making progress on yet another project I decided to add onto myself! I really gotta stop, I have too many ideas and not enough time (proceeds to pile on another 3). It might take a little while longer because... very suddenly, a lot of exams were upon me 😅. I will try my best to still get it out by this week, but if not, then definitely next week. ^_^

Wow, you made it all the way to the bottom, you're crazy. Have a cookie! 🍪

[tsuri-chan]

Detective Conan DVD Box 17

Included episodes:

Episode 400-424

Bonus material:

Episode guide

Favorite episode:

421-422: Ginkgo-Colored First Love

Least favorite episode:

414: The Detective Boys’ Bluebird Chase

424: The Photo Mail from the Clown

Rating:

6/10 animals

There are some very good and very interesting episodes, but also many filler episodes included in this box. I still think it's worth watching, because in my opinion you can still have a lot of fun with it, but it's really not the best selection because of so many (bad) fillers.

[shiningwonderland]

Camus (All Star) Memorial

Translator: Mimi (Twitter: _mimisaurora)

Memorial 1 - Loves Japanese Sweets

The Carrot Club November Issue: Join Myu-sama! Visit Kyoto in autumn, and enjoy enchanting Japanese sweets

Camus-sama, the noble idol recognized among his fans as Myu-sama, will be the guide for this edition.

He will show us some of the Japanese confectionery shops he has recently been into while strolling through the ancient capital in autumn.

By the time our journalist arrives on location half an hour before the meeting, she realizes the Earl was already there!

“I could not allow myself to be late for our appointment, madam.”

Myu-sama smiles at our journalist, who is a little flattered.

“M-My apologies. We’ll be conducting an interview today….”

“Regardless of the interview, you are a lady first and foremost, madam. I, Camus, would be honored to escort you to the very best of my ability. Now, this way, please.”

Following Myu-sama's pace, the first stop is a long-established Zenzai shop named "Konoha", located along a side road off the main street.

The shop’s poster dog, Tanusuke, appears to be well acquainted with Myu-sama.

Their tail whips about happily.

“Do you come here often?”

“In all honesty, I would love to come every day. However, my schedule is quite busy... It's actually for this reason that I was really looking forward to today's interview (laughs).”

Myu-sama reveals a cuter side of himself; a complete departure from his typical perfect butler persona.

His first order was their most popular chilled Zenzai.

“I must say, the refined sweetness of the red bean paste is delightful. It's so delicious that I usually find myself eating more than I should. There was a time I had up to four cups, much to my kouhai’s dismay.”

“Four cups! That many!?”

“How embarrassing… I couldn't help bringing it up. I shouldn't have. May I ask you to keep this between you and I?”

“I apologize, but because this is an interview, I cannot omit any details.” 

“As you wish. I fear I may be scolded once again by my kouhai, but I shall persevere.”

“The kouhai you’re referring to is Cecil Aijima, whom you co-starred in a musical* with, correct?”

*Note 1: This August, the musical "Phantom Thief Nyan Nyaan" held its final performance to critical acclaim. There surely were many ladies thrilled to watch Myu-sama play the role of a super sadistic police dog, a complete 180 from his usual kind personality.

“Yes. You’re right.”

“It was also featured in the June issue of Carrot Club. The long dog ears and tail were so cute and a hot topic at the time.”

“Were they cute?...(laughs) This is something I'm not used to being told, it makes me a little shy. That being said, nothing makes me happier than to know that you ladies enjoyed it.”

“You say your kouhai will scold you, but could it be that nothing you do will ever be good enough for him?”

“How about putting it as… I consider us to have a positive, mutually respectful relationship, regardless of positions.”

After picking up a souvenir for Cecil Aijima, we head south of town along a riverside road where Meiji-era structures remain intact.

This is Myu-sama’s favorite path.

“Despite it bearing no resemblance to the streets of my hometown, it brings me a curious sense of nostalgia. It may be a bit of a detour, but please bear with me for a while.”

“It does have a very pleasant atmosphere, making you feel as if you've been sent back through time to the Meiji Era.”

“It would have been even better if the leaves had begun to redden…. I hope to show you around again next time during the height of the season.”

The road is lined with ginkgo and maple trees, making it a popular spot among insiders.

“Speaking of, were you surprised when you first saw the autumn leaves in Japan?”

“Very much so. I was impressed by the sight of the mountains dyed in five different colors. I had wished to show it to Her Majesty, the Queen of my homeland.”

The next stop was a Western-style café named "Moonlight".

“The sign shows an advertisement for a cake set, but do they serve Japanese sweets here?”

“Yes. Surprising, isn't it? Allow me to show you what's in store.”

“Is this a coffee jelly parfait on the table?

It's covered in a yellow powder….”

“Madam, please have a bite first.”

“Then, if you'll excuse me…

It’s… brown sugar jelly!”

“You’re right. The yellow powder is soybean flour. I've been enjoying its delicate sweet taste lately. It pairs amazingly with soft-serve ice cream, too.”

“Do you also like brown sugar?”

“It’s a favorite of mine. It’s wonderfully rich.”

“I was surprised at the variety of sugars available in Japan. You have not only your traditional white sugar, but also brown sugar and sugarcane… I was especially amazed by the elegance of Wasanbon.”

Since coming to Japan, sweet-toothed Myu-sama apparently carries some Wasanbon on him every day.

“You're well known for always keeping sugar on you, but where exactly do you put it?”

“Heh. That’s a secret, even for you, madam.”

Myu-sama simply smiles and avoids the question.

“Could it be that you don't really have any?”

“Is that what you believe?”

With a snap of his fingers, he suddenly reveals a snow-shaped Wasanbon in the palm of his hand...!

“The beauty of Wasanbon is its ability to take on a multitude of shapes, like this. Of course, coarse sugars like granulated or icing sugar are great too.”

“Surely white sugar is common in Silk Palace?”

“It is very cold where I am from, so before, sugar itself was a rarity. That’s why for me, Japan seemed like a dream destination (laughs).” 

“Then are the sweets in Silk Palace not… well, sweet?”

“No, on the contrary, because of how precious it is, they're made very sweet. It may even be too strong for some ladies to eat. In moments like those, we brew a strong cup of tea together.”

“It’s similar to… matcha tea in Japan. Though not as formal as the Japanese tea ceremony, Silk Palace also has a custom of hosting guests with tea.”

Myu-sama smiles with a cup of tea in his hand.

“I would be happy to brew you a pot of tea whenever you desire.”

In the end, Myu-sama personally picks out a souvenir for the Carrot Club editorial staff.

“Hatsushimo" is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that has been in business since the Genroku era.

Upon passing through the shop’s traditional noren curtain, one is immediately hit by a brilliant shade of red.

“The wonderful thing about this place is their Nerikiri. Many of them have autumn leaf motifs** this time of year.”

**Note 2:

The selection of Jo-namagashi changes with the season.

Please inquire with the store for more details.

With a twinkle in his eye, Myu-sama began to select Namagashi from the display case.

“These, for instance, are works of art. They’re designed to resemble autumn leaves in the process of changing their color from green to red. It’s beautiful… It would be a pity to eat them.”

A sweet shaped in the form of a bird was the next one to catch our attention.

“This one here must be inspired by the Hyakunin Isshu. Long is the mountain pheasant’s tail that curves down in its flight; but longer still, it seems to me, left in my lonely plight, is this unending night. It’s a love poem about an autumn night that feels as painfully long as the tail of a mountain bird, when one sleeps alone and apart from the person they love.”

“I see… that explains why the bird is atop a backdrop made of black bean paste.”

“To even understand the Hyakunin Isshu… you are indeed well-informed on Japan, Myu-sama.

Not many Japanese people are as knowledgeable in this subject as you are.

It’s fantastic.”

“No. One can acquire all the knowledge they want later in life. The existence of this historic restaurant is proof in itself that the people of this country have long had a love of beauty and culinary delights. I believe that their passion is far more remarkable than their knowledge.”

Yokan, Higashi. The amount of souvenirs for the editorial staff quickly grew.

“By the way, what is your top pick?”

“It would be Botamochi. Only recently did I learn that the name changes from Ohagi in the fall to Botamochi in the spring.”

He speaks with a smile and buys three pieces of Ohagi for himself.

We ended the interview greatly satisfied.

“Thank you for your cooperation today.”

The December issue will feature “Join Ren-ren! Explore Hama's authentic Italian cuisine”.

- - - - - - - - - -

“So Camus-senpai loves… Japanese sweets.”

I jotted down the gist of the magazine article and then looked up.

“I wonder if he would cooperate with creating the unit song if I brought him some delicious Japanese sweets…”

I genuinely considered it, but shook my head.

No, it wouldn’t be a good idea.

Camus-senpai is someone who keeps his private and public life separate. He wouldn't help us out so easily.

“Then… A song inspired by Japanese sweets…?”

That’s just as bad. It’s not that simple.

If I don't get to know Senpai even better and write a song that only he can sing, and would  want to sing, he will never come to acknowledge me.

“In any case, I just have to keep researching.”

I drew in a small breath to get myself in the mood, and turned back toward the stacks of magazines.

[jcmarchi]

Student spotlight: Victory Yinka-Banjo

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/student-spotlight-victory-yinka-banjo/

Student spotlight: Victory Yinka-Banjo

This interview is part of a series from the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science featuring students answering questions about themselves and life at the Institute. Today’s interviewee, Victory Yinka-Banjo, is a junior majoring in MIT Course 6-7: Computer Science and Molecular Biology. Yinka-Banjo keeps a packed schedule: She is a member of the Office of Minority Education (OME) Laureates and Leaders program; a 2024 fellow in the public service-oriented BCAP program; has previously served as secretary of the African Students’ Association, and is now undergraduate president of the MIT Biotech Group; additionally, she is a SuperUROP Scholar; a member of the Ginkgo Bioworks’ Cultivate Fellowship (a program that supports students interested in synthetic biology/biotech); and an ambassador for Leadership Brainery, which equips juniors/leaders of color with the resources needed to prepare for graduate school. She recently found time to share a peek into her MIT experience.

Q: What’s your favorite building or room within MIT?

A: It has to be the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard on Ames Street in Kendall Square, where I do my SuperUROP research in Caroline Uhler’s lab. Outside of classes, you’re 90 percent likely to find me on the newest mezzanine floor (between the 11th and 12th floor), in one of the UROP [Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program] rooms I share with two other undergrads in the lab. We have standing desks, an amazing coffee/hot chocolate machine, external personal monitors, comfortable sofas — everything, really! Not only is it my favorite building, it is also my favorite study spot on campus. In fact, I am there so often that when friends recently planned a birthday surprise for me, they told me they were considering having it at the Broad, since they could count on me being there. 

I think the most beautiful thing about this building, apart from the beautiful view of Cambridge we get from being on one of the highest floors, is that when I was applying to MIT from high school, I had fantasized working at the Broad because of the groundbreaking research. To think that it is now a reality makes me appreciate every minute I spend on my floor, whether I am doing actual research or some last-minute studying for a midterm. 

Q: Tell me about one interest or hobby you’ve discovered since you came to MIT.

A: I have become pretty involved in the performing arts since I got to MIT! I have acted in two plays run by the Black Theater Guild, which was revived during my freshman year by one of my friends. I played a supporting role in the first play called “Nkrumah’s Last Day,” which was about Ghana at a time of governance under Kwame Nkrumah, its first president. In the second play, a ghost story/comedy called “Shooting the Sheriff,” I played one of the lead roles. Both caused me to step way out of my comfort zone and I loved the experiences because of that. I also got to act with some of my close friends who were first-time stage actors as well, so that made it even more fun. 

Outside of acting, I also do spoken word/poetry. I have performed at events like the African Students Association Cultural Night, MIT Africa Innovate Conference, and Black Women’s Alliance Banquet. I try to use my pieces to share my experiences both within and beyond MIT, offering the perspective of an international Nigerian student. My favorite piece was called “Code Switch,” and I used concepts from [computer science] and biology (especially genetic code switching), to draw parallels with linguistic code-switching, and emphasize the beauty and originality of authenticity. This semester, I’m also a part of MIT Monologues and will be performing a piece called “Inheritance,” about the beauty of self-love found in affection transferred from a mother. 

Q: Are you a re-reader or a re-watcher — and if so, what are your comfort books, shows, or movies?

A: I don’t watch too many movies, although I used to be obsessed with all parts of “High School Musical;” and the only book I’ve ever reread is “Americanah.” I would actually say I am a re-podcaster! My go-to comfort-podcast is this episode, “A Breakthrough Unfolds”, by Google DeepMind. It makes me a little emotional every time I listen. It is such an exemplification of the power of science and its ability to break boundaries that humans formerly thought impossible. As a computer science and biology major, I am particularly interested in these two disciplines’ applications to relevant problems, like the protein-folding problem discussed in the episode, which DeepMind’s solution for has caused massive advances in the biotech industry. It makes me so hopeful for the future of biology, and the ways in which computation can advance human health and precision medicine.

Q: Who’s your favorite artist?

A: When I think of the word ‘artist,’ I think of music artists first. There are so many who I love; my favorites also evolve over time. I’m Christian, so I listen to a lot of gospel music. I’m also Nigerian so I listen to a lot of Afrobeats. Since last summer, I’ve been obsessed with Limoblaze, who fuses both gospel and Afrobeats music! KB, a super talented gospel rapper, is also somewhat tied in ranking with Limo for me right now. His songs are probably ~50 percent of my workout playlist.

Q: It’s time to get on the shuttle to the first Mars colony, and you can only bring one personal item. What are you going to bring?

A: Oooh, this is a tough one, but it has to be my Brass Rat. Ever since I got mine at the end of sophomore year, it’s been nearly impossible for me to take it off. If there’s ever a time I forget to wear it, my finger feels off for the entire day. 

Q: Tell me about one conversation that changed the trajectory of your life.

A: Two specific career-defining moments come to mind. They aren’t quite conversations, but they are talks/lectures that I was deeply inspired by. The first was towards the end of high school when I watched this TEDx Talk about storing data in DNA. At the time, I was getting ready to apply to colleges and I knew that biology and computer science were two things I really liked, but I didn’t really understand the possibilities that could be birthed from them coming together as an interdisciplinary field. The TEDx talk was my eureka moment for computational biology. 

The second moment was in my junior fall during an introductory lecture to “Lab Fundamentals for Bioengineering,” by Professor Jacquin Niles. I started the school year with a lot of confusion about my future post-grad, and the relevance of my planned career path to the communities that I care about. Basically, I was unsure about how computational biology fit into the context of Nigeria’s problems, especially because my interest in the field is oriented towards molecular biology/medicine, not necessarily public health. 

In the U.S., most research focuses on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s, which, while important, are not the most pressing health conditions in tropical regions like Nigeria. When Professor Niles told us about his lab’s dedication to malaria research from a molecular biology standpoint, it was yet another eureka moment. Like, Yes! Computation and molecular biology can indeed mitigate diseases that affect developing nations like Nigeria — diseases that are understudied, and whose research is underfunded. 

Since his talk, I found a renewed sense of purpose. Grad school isn’t the end goal. Using my skills to shine a light on the issues affecting my people that deserve far more attention is the goal. I’m so excited to see how I will use computational biology to possibly create the next cure to a commonly neglected tropical disease, or accelerate the diagnosis of one. Whatever it may be, I know that it will be close to home, eventually.

Q: What are you looking forward to about life after graduation? What do you think you’ll miss about MIT?

A: Thinking about graduating actually makes me sad. I’ve grown to love MIT. The biggest thing I’ll miss, though, is Independent Activities Period (IAP). It is such a unique part of the MIT experience. I’ve done a web development class/competition, research, a data science challenge, a molecular bio crash course, and a deep learning crash course over the past three IAPs. It is such an amazing time to try something low stakes, forget about grades, explore Boston, build a robot, travel abroad, do less, go slower, really rejuvenate before the spring, and embrace MIT’s motto of “mind and hand” by just being creative and explorative. It is such an exemplification of what it means to go here, and I can’t imagine it being the same anywhere else. 

That said, I look forward to graduating so I can do more research. My hours spent at the Broad thinking about my UROP are always the quickest hours of my week. I love the rabbit holes my research allows me to explore, and I hope that I find those over and over again as I apply and hopefully get into PhD programs. I look forward to exploring a new city after I graduate, too. I wouldn’t mind staying in Cambridge/Boston. I love it here. But I would welcome a chance to be somewhere new and embrace all the people and unique experiences it has to offer.

I also hope to work on more passion projects post-grad. I feel like I have this idea in my head that once I graduate from MIT, I’ll have so much more time on my hands (we’ll see how that goes). I hope that I can use that time to work on education projects in Nigeria, which is a space I care a lot about. Generally, I want to make service more integrated in my lifestyle. I hope that post-graduation, I can prioritize doing that even more: making it a norm to lift others as I continue to climb.

[doizy]

BASARA Gaiden-KATANA Rainbow Story-Ginkgo : A review (?)

When I first read the Katana Short Story in volume 26 of Yumi Tamura's Basara I had the thought that in a fair universe where Basara has the high budget anime adaptation it deserves this story would have had it's own stand alone-ish movie adaptation.

The people who adapted Basara to the stage must have had a similar idea because they chose to adapt this story for the stage.

Like all 2.5 play this play was performed for a limited time, in february 2019 (i think they were only 7 performances in total).

I was pretty curious to watch it so i ordered a dvd off yahoo auctions, and watched it yesterday.

Obviously this didn't come with subtitles, and my Japanese it still very rudimentary so this review is going to be quite superficial, but I was still able to to follow the play pretty well having read the short story it's adapting twice before.

For a refresher Katana is the story of the failed rebellion led by the generation of Sarasa's great grandparents against the cruel and sadistic Lion King, 100 years before the events of Basara.

Our protagonist Tara is a young woman who grew up as an orphan and was painfully rejected and abused by her community as they believed her to be cursed which means that she had grow up without ever feeling love or comfort. She was about to be killed in a sacrificial ritual but is rescued by the rebellion led by Gensho (Tatara and Sarasa's ancestor). She then joins the rebellion, where she for the first time find meaning and a place where she belongs, and we follow her and her companions doomed efforts in their battle against the Lion King.

The story is pretty short (about a 100 pages), which means that the stage play is able to adapt it really well without having to take big shortcuts, and it's folktale like narrative worked very well on the stage i thought. The play is even able to flesh out some bits, which was very nice, they added a lot of banter between our rebels which highlighted their relationship as brothers in arms (even if i couldn't understand most of it...).

Notably we see a lot more of the Lion King (who by the way is played by a woman, a former Takarazuka actress which i thought was neat), with little comedic scene which really show him a a despotic and cruel but also very bored ruler. By his side are two original characters and given their color coding i assume that must be the then Red and Blue Kings, which is the nice touch, they don't really do much in the story though, apart for acting as a leader of enemy troops in battle.

Speaking of battles those were really fun to watch! The choreography felt really dynamic, I loved the scenes with the lions in particular , i think they were inspired by traditional performances and used puppet and traditional sounding music with some nice drums. They were really cool to see!

Something else that was fleshed out in this adaptation is the relationship between Tanmanya and Iris, the stranded European woman he falls in love with. I think this was my favorite part of the show (maybe because i could actually understand some of it since Iris spoke english), it felt very sweet and beautiful (and you know, sad...).

Asahiko also get a flashback scene featuring his little sister that makes the scene where he's tricked into killing her all the more tragic (the flashback scene i wasn't quite able to follow but I'm a bit worried that it had some weirdly incestuous undertone since what i understood of it was Asahiko telling his sister that she's beautiful before she tells him that she wants to become a bride, doesn't seems very tamura esque though, so i might be completely off).

The finale was was very emotional with the tragedy of seing our heroes fails and their swords be scattered across the Japan, but with an added touch of hope conveyed by a cameo by Sarasa and the other heirs of the legendary swords.

If there was something i liked less it was the over reliance on pre recorded lines used for the characters inner monologues, since those are usually some very important lines and it would have been better to see the actors actually perform them in my opinion.

Other than that i thought the performance were pretty good, but without really understanding them i can't really judge, the music was great and really one of the highlights for me. The costume were simple but pretty nice (why didn't they let Asahiko wear crop tops like he does in the mnga though...), i wasn't much a fan of the costume of the King's harem (?) women though, it felt a bit to orientalist sexy costume and less like the interesting byzantine and Japanese style fusion Basara is usually going for.

It was really fun to watch and if you like Basara i can only encourage you to check it out! I think it's available on amazon Prime in japan, so if you have a subscription and a VPN you might be able to watch it there.

It left me very interested to check out the three other stage play that adapt the main story!

[3m0t10nal-cr1s1s]

Very curious about what the Mu third gen personalities are like, there designs are very cute and pretty

Hiii thanks for the question!! I worked really hard on their designs and colors so I'm really glad you like them! Personality ramble under the cut cause it's quite long. Also, spoilers ahead for the FMC storyline.

From oldest to youngest:

Mu Beiyan: In my mind, a lot of pressure has been put on Beiyan ever since he was a kid, and even more so after he became the crown prince. He feels obligated to succeed, not only for his parents and family, but for the empire as well, so he always tries to finish his assignments and solve problems as effectively and efficiently as possible. As his father would have.

Even though, deep in his heart, he doesn't want to be emperor and wants to go back to those days of playing with Lingxi and flying kites, he knows that those days are over, and he needs to grow up if he's going to inherit the throne. He's still playful and a bit childish buried deep underneath the more responsible, serious, and often sleep deprived exterior. Even though he's been praised from every direction, Beiyan still feels inadequate and feels that other officials and even Xiurong would make a better emperor than he would.

Mu Lingxi: Lingxi's Doukou redesign is what kickstarted this whole thing. I imagine she's more refined and more confident than she was as a child. A true lady that her mom would be proud of. She greatly respects Ling Ruo and Xu Rongyuan and is often torn inbetween becoming a female official and being a physician.

She still loves tanghulu and bunnies and is kind and cheerful and still a bit of a cry baby. She also misses the days when she was a child and things were simpler, but she also understands that she has grown a lot. Mostly, she misses Beiyan. He's grown so busy that they can't see each other as often as they once did. She often tries to have tea parties with he cousins but the only ones who show up consistently are Jinghua, Jingfei and Hualing.

Mu Jinghua: Jinghua is the oldest of the two twins, mostly referred to as A-hua by her mother and brother. She comes off as mean-spirited and haughty at first, using her appearance as a leverage and generally acting above many of the nobles, but it's all an act she puts on as she's wary of other palace folk. Her branch of the family is looked down upon because of the stunts her father tried to pull to take the throne.

If you get to know her, she's actually kind and clumsy. The definition of sweet, if a bit gloomy. She feels that she's stifled as a noble lady and wants to do more with her life, but she's scared of change and wonders if anyone will accept her, even if she's the daughter of Mu Lingfeng. She wants to be something, anything, other than his daughter.

Mu Jingfei: Jingfei is the younger of the two twins, mostly referred to as A-fei by his mother and sister. Jingfei doesn't put on the same mean exterior Jinghua does. He mostly spends his time at the Ginkgo institution, being mentored by Xiao Qian and Xu Rongyuan so he's not around nobles as often as his sister is. Most people coming in don't care about his parentage and just wants to be treated.

He's a giant sap and always wants the best for his patients. He often worries about them long after his shift had ended. He's definitely more sensitive than Jinghua. Even still, he resents his father greatly and refuses to address him as 'father' at all. He's seen how the burden of the throne weighs on Beiyan and questions if that was what Mu Lingfeng wanted, and if he had successfully taken the throne, would Jingfei be put in Beiyan's position? Would Jinghua be in Lingxi's?

Mu Xiurong: From a young age, Xiurong has been taught by her mother how to think critically, get out of messy situations with her words and deal with court affairs and drama. At the same time, she was being taught by her father on how to ride a horse, wield a weapon and how to defend herself. For these reasons, she's always kept to herself and put on a blank face to prevent people from predicting her next move, whether that be mental or physical. She wants to make both her parents proud, even if she's young.

She's very loving and worries about her younger brother and Beiyan often. Since she's aiming to become a court official like her mother, she's often the one by Beiyan's side during the day and deal with situations with him. Xiurong doesn't like to think of the relationship between her and her brother as a rivalry, but occasionally will give Renshu a reason to keep trying to surpass her in skill, just because it's funny. She actually can't participate in much strenuous activity since she has a bad leg.

Mu Renshu: Growing up, Renshu was given all of the same opportunities as his older sister was, but whenever his mother taught him he quickly became bored and would want to go outside to train. That quickly changed when his mother mentioned something about Xiurong being easier to teach for both her and Lingchuan and suddenly, Renshu was determined to surpass his sister in something. Even though they have a three year age difference and he'll have a lot of catching up to do.

He's stubborn and unrelenting, if a bit childish and immature. Even though he knows he wields a sword better than Xiurong, it doesn't change the fact that she can ride horses better and has better handwriting. His one sided rivalry is mostly in good fun, but sometimes, he does get discouraged that Xiurong is looked upon more favorably than he is. Still, he worries about her and often asks how her health is.

Mu Hualing: Hualing was adopted by Xu Rongyuan in an impulse decision. A patient of his had died in childbirth and her family was unwilling to take the baby, since it was illegitimate. Rongyuan and Linghao is trying to raise Hualing the best they can, asn she loves them, and recognizes them as her dads. She's unaware of her actual parentage but she knows she's adopted.

Hualing, or 'Lingling' (as in the sound of a bell) as nicknamed by her family, often follows her cousins around if she's not in school or doing homework. If she's following her cousins around, it often means she's avoiding school work. She curious and inquisitive with a love of Osmanthus cake and anything that could be made into a percussion instrument. She finds Jinghua quite fascinating, copying hairstyles in an attempt to be close to her. Jinghua things it's adorable.

Also these alignment charts I made because I thought it'd be funny

[your-faves-are-divorced]

Welcome to Your Faves Are Divorced!

This is a "Your fave is" gimmick blog for characters who are divorced! Keep reading for info about the mods, how to submit, and some general rules.

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[Header image ID: A GIF with red text on a black background. The first seconds display text that reads, "The_Lovers". Then, the GIF shows the first few stanzas of Eliza Acton's poem "Where, oh ! where, on his restless wing...". The poem's text starts to slowly get corrupted, turning into a bunch of random, jumbled-up text before finally displaying an error message. /end ID]

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