#Got a new iPad recently and this was the FIRST thing I did
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seralica · 7 months ago
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For anyone looking to minimize their ads on iPhone (because saying “just get android” is not an actual answer for some people)
AdGuard DNS can be installed directly into your phone so all your traffic is routed through there. Blocks ads on web and all your apps like mail apps etc. Does not block YouTube ads.
if you want to block video ads, the best way I’ve found is to use Brave and YouTube web.
To install AdGuard DNS:
Go to the link above IN SAFARI BROWSER ONLY (it doesn’t install if you use Firefox) and scroll down to option 2
you do NOT need to install their app
under option 2 open the Apple toggle
Download the link it sends you it will pop up “do you want to install profile” hit yes
switch to Settings, New Profile Added should be right at the top
install that sucker
enjoy your minimal ads experience 😊
i hate seeing people now making fun of those who care about privacy online. i've seen people saying things like "well they already have your data. what are companies going to do with it" and it's like, that's not the point. it's that companies /shouldn't/ be able to have my data and sell it. am i aware they probably already have my data? yes, absolutely. but i'm still going to try and keep them from monetizing it any further, why are we defending companies selling data they shouldn't have to begin with though?
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art · 2 years ago
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Creator Spotlight: @jdebbiel
Deb JJ Lee is a non-binary Korean artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They have appeared in the New Yorker, New York Times, NPR, Google, Radiolab, and more. Their award-winning graphic memoir, IN LIMBO, about mental illness and difficult relationships with trauma, released in March 2023 from First Second.
Below is our interview with Deb!
Have you ever had an art block? If so, how did you overcome it?
That implies I am over my art block, but I’m still in it! I think about Kiki’s Delivery Service a lot and how she had to stop doing a thing, and that you can’t really force it, and you have to let it come back to you. It’s a pretty humbling moment, realizing there is more to life than just drawing. I’ve been trying to consume other content like reading or watching movies—anything that is not drawing-related—and to trust that it will come back to me. I think not being afraid to do the small pieces before committing to the big pieces is helpful. Because big pieces are what I am known for, I dig myself into a deeper hole, thinking that each piece has to be bigger than the last one. So yeah! Relaxing and doing the small things before overcommitting to a big piece is the best way to go about it for me.
Which 3 famous artists (dead or alive) would you invite to your dinner party?
I feel like these are all artists that I have second-degree connections with! Jillian Tamaki, Victo Ngai, and Tillie Walden would be my picks!
What are your file name conventions?
…What file name conventions? I mean, I don’t have specific file name conventions, but I actually have a public Google Drive archive! But I usually put “djjl_whatever-the-title-is_final,” and I would always know it’s the final and legit version.
What is a recent creative project that you are proud of?
I did an illustration for the whiskey brand Johnnie Walker. It’s so wild because I only had four days to finish it, and it usually takes me a week and a half if I rush. And honestly, it’s probably one of my best pieces from this year, which is funny. It was for the Mid-Autumn festival, so I made it as Korean as possible.
How has technology changed the way you approach your work?
I only use my iPad to draw everything now, and if I want to pretend that I have a steady workstation, I’ll use my Cintiq. I still am not as comfortable on the Cintiq as I am on Procreate, but it’s still pretty solid and nice. That’s the good part about technology. The bad part about technology is how AI art has been messing things up for me. I’m currently in a lawsuit about AI art as a class rep. Some of my stuff got turned into AI art late last year, so I have to give a deposition at some point. 
What is a convention experience that has stuck with you?
Honestly, they’re all good! I feel like Lightbox Expo has been really nice because it’s truly been a convention for artists. I feel like that’s where most of my audience is, and they’re all around because their purpose is to be better at art. That’s where a lot of original artists do well because they’re getting art they’re inspired by, not so much fanart. I like the Lightbox Expo because it encompasses the pure love of art very well. 
Top tips on setting up an Artist Alley booth?
Use a Y axis, not just your X axis! Take advantage of it! Branding is also something to think about. It is definitely something I’m getting better at. Having an assistant is also very important. I’ve also heard that 8.5x11 to 12x18 inches is usually a good size for prints, but I also provide postcard-sized prints because sometimes people don’t want to commit to a larger size. 
Who on Tumblr inspires you and why?
You know this is so funny. I’ve been following @alicexz for over a decade on Tumblr and other platforms. I’ve followed her work since high school, and we’ve only recently become peers. I found her, and we met for the first time in real life, and she recognized me. And then I found all my drawings from when I was in my Alice phase, back in high school, and I was like, “Yo, this is when I was trying to be you so badly!” and she was cracking up and was like “Wow, this is so good!” It was such a sweet moment. I wanted to take a picture of her holding my drawing up. It’s really nice because now we’re peers.
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing, Deb! Be sure to check out their Tumblr blog over at @jdebbiel.
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disneyprincemuke · 1 year ago
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how you get the girl * fem!driver
and when logan comes in with a girl on his arm, then what?
pairings: logan sargeant x fem!driver, liam lawson x fem!driver, oscar piastri x fem!driver
notes: hi it was only a kiss was the beginning of the end for my locky soldiers i fear and here u go lOLSIE OXOXOXOOXOOXOXO
(series masterlist) | (📂 the sophomore year)
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“did you see?”
she tilts her head, turning around with her eyebrows furrowed. liam has walked around the barrier of their garages, sauntering in with his hands behind his back. “seen what?”
liam blinks at her. he purses his lips and shakes his head, scrunching his nose. “nothing.”
“what do you mean?” she laughs, putting her ipad down. “was i supposed to see something? why are you being weird?”
“i think he means logan and his girlfriend walking into the paddocks together.”
just like that, she can almost hear the glass around her shattering. there’s a ringing in her ears and she turns to sebastian with wide eyes and puffy cheeks. “what?”
sebastian blinks at her, his clipboard of data in his hands. “you didn’t know? don’t you guys live together?”
she blinks rapidly, trying to come up with an excuse. truthfully, only 2 people ever found out about the events of new year’s day. one of those was by default, logan’s brother, and she’d pulled liam aside during their team trip to new york to confess and vent about the events of her stay in miami.
liam’s been sworn to the highest level of secrecy, and she’s appreciated the fact that he’s kept his word. he never brings it up unless she does it first.
which isn’t a lot.
“we uh,” she drops her head and turns back to her ipad as she sucks in a deep breath, “we’ve been kinda busy lately. i didn’t know he was seeing somebody now. i was in los angeles for a while during the break.”
“that’s,” sebastian trails off, “odd. is it still weird after what happened in montreal? i thought everything was okay.”
she looks up. “it is! everything is okay! we’ve just been super busy,” she rambles, “you know… i’ve flown around for d&g and a couple of fenty events. haven’t really had the time to sit down and have a chat recently.”
sebastian hums, unsure if he’s fully buying her excuse yet. “i see. have you guys not gone to get ice cream lately?”
she shrugs and points at liam, “our schedules never really line up. sometimes logan is there, but not often. even then, there’s always something more important to talk about than our dating lives.”
liam finally clears his throat, making her eyes snap over to him. “let’s go? we’ve got an interview in a couple of minutes.”
she grins, turning to sebastian. she gives him a quick hug and hangs her head low before she follows liam back into the paddocks. “seriously? i didn’t know logan had a new girlfriend.”
“have you seriously not seen each other that you didn’t know about his new girlfriend?” liam whispers, looking around cautiously to ensure that nobody’s got the chance to eavesdrop on their conversation. he takes a step forward towards her and drops his head. “how do you feel?”
she pouts her bottom lip out with a shrug. “good for him, i guess.”
there’s no way that’s the only thing she has to say, right? “really? you’re okay with this?”
her eyes trail off to the crowd surrounding them, as if to really think over her answer, then turns back to him. “yeah, why wouldn’t i be?”
“you’re totally over the fact that you kissed on new year’s?”
“liam,” she scolds through gritted teeth, smacking his arm lightly. “you were sworn to secrecy.”
“i haven’t told anyone,” he throws his arms into the air, “but are you seriously okay with this? it’s just me — you can tell me if it bothers you.”
she tilts her head with a small grin. it’s endearing how liam is double-checking. but it’s been 7 months since they kissed. she’s kind of well over the fact by now. “i’m really okay. i’ve just been super busy. i flew in from los angeles right before touching down here. we haven’t really crossed paths in the apartment lately.”
liam pats her on the shoulder. “okay. but you can tell me anything, okay? don’t keep it in, mate.”
she smiles, “promise.”
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max lifts his eyebrows, following the pair that’s just walked past him nonchalantly. his lips part in confusion as he then furrows his eyebrows and turns to the girl now approaching him. “was that logan holding hands with a girl?”
she follows his stare, tilting her head slightly. “yeah. i heard he brought his girlfriend to the race today.”
“you heard?” max scowls. “you didn’t know he had a girlfriend? aren’t you best friends who live together?”
she shrugs, “we haven’t seen each other a ton lately. we’ve been busy in our own right.” she puffs her cheeks out. “why is everyone so baffled that i didn’t know he has a girlfriend? he is a grown man!”
max puts his hands in the air as a small smile stretches his lips. “mate, relax. i was just curious. cause i thought you guys liked each other?”
“that’s crazy. where did you get that from?” she almost wants to laugh if it weren’t for the fact that max hit the jackpot with that guess. she only hoped that her wide eyes and racing heart didn’t give too much away. “he’s my best friend. with a girlfriend or not.”
max gives her a stare, one that tells her that he definitely isn’t buying her bullshit excuse. he lifts an eyebrow at her and sighs audibly. “really? you’re going to keep lying about you guys just being friends?”
she rolls her eyes. “your late-night gaming is taking a toll on you, i believe. you’re seeing things that aren’t there, max.”
“sure,” he snorts. “everyone can tell, by the way. alex, george… we know.”
she tilts her head and bats her eyelashes at him innocently. “i don’t seem to know what you mean.”
“that you and logan, at some point or another, liked each other,” max explains. “it’s only so obvious. mark my words, andretti racing driver, you guys are going to end up together someday be it in the near future or even it takes you years to figure things out.”
“you belong in a mental hospital.”
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“rocky!” she feels a hand around her elbow pulling her back immediately, stumbling back a couple of steps with a soft yelp before she feels a hand on her back that steadies her. she knows that hand.
“why did you have to yank me like i’m an animal?” she whines, shaking away logan’s grip on her. “what do you want? i have a team meeting i’m gonna be late for.”
“i want you to meet somebody,” logan grins, stepping aside hesitantly. “ylona — my girlfriend.”
she tilts her head and into focus comes a slightly smaller girl compared to logan. slightly taller than her, tanned skin and the prettiest brown eyes she thinks she’s ever seen. ylona has her hands clasped in front of her shyly with a small and polite smile.
“oh, hi!” she squeals as her arm immediately darts out towards the girl. “i’m so sorry i just only got the chance to meet you now. i’ve been so busy — i’ve been out of the country lately.”
“yeah, i,” ylona laughs sheepishly and takes her hand, “i love your apartment, by the way. there’s no way you’re not an interior designer or something.”
she scrunches her nose. now, how is she supposed to hate someone as soft-spoken and lovely as ylona? she takes a deep breath, subtly looking ylona up and down. she’s just so pretty. “my younger sister actually helped with the apartment. i’d love to hang out with you after the day ends if you guys are joining us for ice cream?”
logan nods, his stare lingering on her in a way that she’s unsure what he’s trying to say to her. “of course. i’m not missing another ice cream night again in my life.”
“good!” she grins, patting his shoulder. “i’ll see you guys around. i’ve got to run.”
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“who the hell is that!” alex barges into her room, george following suit as she takes sips from the drink in his hand. “when did logan get a girlfriend?”
she looks up from her phone, baffled at the comfortability that the older drivers have found in her hospitality home. especially her driver’s room. “you know, just because sebastian gives you guys immunity in the andretti hospitality doesn’t mean you should take advantage of it.”
“who is that girl? how did they even meet?”
george points at her beanbag, looking at her innocently as if to ask for permission. she nods and beckons him towards it before turning to alex. “i don’t know. i only just met her today.”
“like it’s so– what? you just met her today?”
“you also just met her today?” george pouts his bottom lip out, unsure if he should be concerned or impressed at logan’s success in hiding a secret from her. “how weird.”
“it’s seriously not that weird! we’re adults with our own lives!” she scoffs, returning her attention to her phone. “she seems lovely if you ask me. very pretty, very polite.”
she’s just opened her phone to send a message when it disappears abruptly, alex taking it into his hands and slipping it into his back pocket. “you’ve got to tell us more. there is no way you found out today like the rest of us peasants.”
she shrugs with a soft laugh. “i really have got no idea when or how they met. i’ve barely hung out with logan since we were in barcelona for the spanish gp. i’ve been frequenting los angeles a lot recently.”
“what are you doing in america instead of oxford with your family?” george scowls. “the fame’s gotten to you, mate.”
she rolls her eyes. “i’ve got sponsorships i need to show up for. seriously, it’s not that serious. logan’s 23 — let him have his girlfriend.”
“she is very quiet too, actually,” alex hums, dropping himself on the bean bag, and squeezing in with george, who scowls and pushes him away slightly to regain his space. “i don’t know. do i like her?”
george furrows his eyebrows. “logan isn’t your best friend. why are you speaking like that about his girlfriend?”
“hey, she’s going to be in the garage for a while. i have to make sure it’s an environment that i feel comfortable in.” alex looks to her for some support. “you get what i mean, right?”
she shrugs. “i guess you have a point. but you know… you can just ignore her if you don’t like her, alex.”
“it’s not the same though,” alex sighs, dropping his hands in his lap. “promise you’ll tell me when you find out more about her?”
“why don’t you just ask logan yourself?” george asks.
“he keeps running away when he sees me,” alex frowns. “i think it’s because i keep asking him if he likes rocky. i guess it’s not a good look if i keep asking that when his girlfriend is around.”
“you twat, why would you ask him that at all?” she scolds, hurling the small stuffed animal next to her towards alex. “such a stupid question to ask!”
alex catches the stuffed animal and chucks it right back at her. “i’m curious! for the record,” he rolls his eyes, “he avoids that question too!”
“that’s just stirring up the pot when you don’t have to, alex!” she hops off her massage table and runs over to where the 2 men are, arm wound back to hit the thai driver. “you’re so annoying! what is your problem?”
“i was curious!” alex screams to defend himself. “if you hit me, i’m telling james and he’ll never let you into our building to see logan.”
“i won’t have to. he’s got ylona now,” she points out before turning on her heel. “do you guys wanna go grab some coffee?”
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“i know, i know,” oscar whispers, “it’s a bit sudden, isn’t it? i can’t believe he didn’t tell us.”
lily nods, leaning on the wall of the mclaren’s racing home as they await their friends so they can leave to get some ice cream. “i can’t believe even rocky didn’t know.”
oscar raises his eyebrows in shock. for him to now know, is one thing, but for logan’s literal roommate to not know of ylona’s existence until today? that’s just weird and even borderline off.
from the corner of his eye, he sees the young driver approaching them, typing away on her phone with a small grin on her face. he furrows his eyebrows and hits her gently on the shoulder as she comes to stop in front of them.
“what?”
“you and logan are being so weird lately,” oscar confesses. “seriously. what happened between both of you in the united states?”
she blinks at him. “nothing. we were just busy.”
“not spending valentine’s day together is one thing. but you didn’t even know about his girlfriend? you usually know everything,” oscar whispers, looking over his shoulder to make sure that logan’s not anywhere close to them. “what’s going on?”
“i’ve just been very caught up with my own things lately,” she laughs, putting a hand on oscar and lily’s shoulder. “relax. nothing happened between us.”
but she swears that there are some nights that she can feel logan’s lips on hers. it drives her crazy, actually. “relax. let’s just get ice cream and get to know her. it doesn’t have to be weird.”
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taglist: @wcnorris @treehouse-mouse @laura-naruto-fan1998 @mindless-rock @vellicora @leilanixx @ironmaiden1313 @angsthology @cherry-piee @christianpulisic10 @elliegrey2803 @33-81 @darleneslane @nikfigueiredo @happy-nico @namgification @localwhoore @notawc @sadg3 @kazuha-pista-badam @mellowarcadefun @megatrilss1885 @peqch-pie @woozarts @meadhbhcavanagh @2bormaybenot @a-disturbing-self-reflection @inejismywife @love4lando @louvrepool
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dr-spectre · 2 months ago
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Splatoon & Me.
A discussion about my personal history with Splatoon.
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So... 10 years huh? We did it, 10 whole years of this franchise being a thing. I honestly can't believe it's been this long since it began, i was in primary school when i first laid my eyes on Splatoon and now I'M A GOD DAMN ADULT! That's.... really scary to think about...
Basically, in this blog post I'm going to be talking about where i was during each Splatoon game and it's respective dlcs, this won't be a retrospective review sort of thing where i review each game, but rather I'm just gonna ramble about each game and dlc and just... talk. It is sort of a retrospective but it's more of a personal one.
I highly encourage you guys to chat and just ramble away about your relationship with the franchise.
So, without further ado, let's talk about where it all began...
Splatoon 1.
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So, to give some context, i did not own a Wii U during it's run, i only got one in 2025. However, around 2014 to 2015 is when i first started actually following Nintendo news, i was around 10 years old and i had an iPad where i got to see news and updates on different Nintendo things.
I still remember my initial reaction to Splatoon somewhat, even after all of these years, i remember seeing the orange ink and the squid swimming around and my brain immediately went "OH IS THIS SUPER MARIO SUNSHINE 2?!?!?!" And then... She popped out of the ink. And it showed the gameplay and i was very, perplexed yet, curious... I saw some of the E3 footage of people trying out the game and it intrigued me so much. The bright colours, the character designs, it was something i wanted to get my hands on, yet i didn't have a Wii U and i didn't want to explain what a Wii U was to my parents. We already had a Wii so... yeahhh it would have been a mess you know? (Wii 2 was right there Nintendo...)
I looked at Splatoon from the outside, seeing all the content, seeing the idols. I didn't think much of Callie and Marie at first but... Well... In years time that would change, dramatically... I saw all of the ancient memes and people talking about white ink and i barely knew what that even meant at the time. Back then we just barely talked about sex ed so white ink was a weird thing to me LMAO!
I remember watching Etika talk about the game and the apparent rumour that Nintendo invited Playboy bunny girls to play the game early as a promotion, i swear to god that was a thing but i barely remember it. I remember seeing all the creepy shit within the story mode, the friggen screams and odd sounds in the boss rooms.
I talked about Splatoon with my friends at primary school, discussing how it would feel like, what weapons we wanna try out... Man... They were simple times. Snack time and lunch time were just friends and i discussing on a table what we thought about recent gaming stuff.
But now, i have a Wii U and it's basically my Splatoon 1 machine. Sure, i played some Bayonetta 1 and 2, some Wii games, but my Wii U is my Splatoon 1 machine, and let me tell you, Splatoon 1.... It's.... It's PEAK!!!!!
THE STAGE DESIGN? THE BEST OF THE BEST! It feels like you're going around a playground, so many paths, so much verticality, so many little details and things to see. it's really really dense and i love it. I love the way the weapons look in Splatoon 1, they are so cartoony and colourful and... yummy looking? That's the best way i can describe them. Callie and Marie greet you when you boot up the game so it's automatically the best Splatoon game by default /j
The hero mode? Octo Valley? It's really fun and cute. Seeing where the series began is very neat. It's just a simple tutorial with some interesting ideas and bosses. It's actually good and tells it's simple story in the most Nintendo way possible, unlike a certain canyon of the octopus variety....
DJ Octavio is really funny and his boss fight in Splatoon 1 is my favourite boss fight in the entire series. The music across the board be banging, Octo Valley is really cool and a good single player experience. It knows what it tries to be, it has a simple story that's neat, it's just nice, nothing crazy but it's just nice.
Splatoon 1 still holds up in my eyes, if you have a Wii U and you somehow don't have Splatoon 1 then what the fuck are you doing!!! IT'S LIKE 10 BUCKS ON EBAY! YOU CAN PLAY THE GAME ONLINE WITH PRETENDO! GO DO IT!!! IT'S MORE ACTIVE THAN SPLATOON 2! GO! IT'S REALLY FUN!
"B-but i don't wanna mod my console!" YOU'LL BE FINE!!! IT'S OKAY! TRUST ME YOU'LL BE OKAY! Go play Splatoon 1, you'll have a really good time!
Speaking of having a good time... NOT! It's time to talk about... IT. You know the game... The game i give a lot of shit, for legit and... well.. petty reasons but, if we are gonna talk about Splatoon and celebrate it's 10th anniversary, we have to talk about-
Splatoon 2.
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Oh Splatoon 2... i have... mixed feelings about you. What you gave me was access to a series i would fall in love with, you gave me these amazing memories and make me look back on a time where i can look fondly on. but you also gave me pain... anger... stress.... sadness... you gave me these sharp stinging pains in my chest when i saw... her. What you did to... her. Cause me genuine chest pains and it would get so bad that i couldn't do things i wanted to, you ruined a holiday break for me because my brain became obsessed with... her. The echoed singing ringing in my head, the stinging, i couldn't handle it, i couldn't even look at... her. Anymore, without getting the stinging and tingles in my chest. I couldn't stop thinking about those awful events that your story mode told me happened, the fucking vile events that are so engrained within the community that it has taken years to get out, yet it's still there... It won't go away... The god damn pain was so strong and i couldn't figure out why it was even happening in the first place. Why, why... her. Why did i feel so strongly about this character that everyone treats poorly? Why...
Your story mode, I will NEVER forgive, I can't do it, i can't sit beside and listen to the loudest voices say things i so strongly disagree with, i can't watch lore videos anymore, i cant....
But i can't hate you anymore man, i just don't have the energy within me to continue to bash you down and treat you poorly. I wanna love, not destroy. So i will, for a brief moment in time, say wonderful things about you.
I remember before i got this game, i got the Nintendo Switch 4 days prior on Christmas, i got the console, Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and... Sonic Forces... Hey i didn't pick the game okay? I wanted Sonic Mania but my dad and i had no idea it was a digital only title.
But even after all that, my dad gave me a question, one simple question. "What would you like for your birthday?"
I only had two choices in my mind, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, or Splatoon 2.
I chose, Splatoon 2, i badly wanted to play Splatoon since it came out and when i finally had that damn case in my hands... Oh i fell in love. It felt like fate... The game so smooth, it was so fast, so fun, it was a shooter the likes of which I've never played before, i loved the way the game looked, the way it felt, the Inklings, just, oh my god it was like everything clicked in my brain. The music, the visuals, it was so gooodddddd.
Splatoon 2 as a multiplayer game is really really good, not AS good as Splatoon 1 but its very close. The stage design is fantastic and continues off of what Splatoon 1 did, the new weapons like the dualies are so bloody good and the weapon is now my main weapon that i use along with the roller. The music in stages is fantastic too, the visuals for a Switch 1 launch title is really really GOOD! I can give the game it's praises because it does have some really great shit in it. It's not all bad.
And how can we forget, Salmon Run, oh my god i LOVEEEE Salmon Run. One of the best things Splatoon ever introduced and it got it's start in Splatoon 2. I love the salmonids, i love some of the maps and i still miss Ruins of Ark Polaris, one of the most interesting stages that has been designed in the series.
And you know what? The story mode has some cool shit, I love the vibe of Octo Canyon and the background music. I love all the decorations Callie put up. Tidal Rush is a banger and anyone who disagrees I'll just look at you funny.
I played the story mode on an airplane ride and then finished off the final area in my hotel. It was a really cool experience... for a time.... I enjoyed it. At the time i didn't make much of Callie and the shades. I just thought they were direct mind control glasses or some shit. Man.... funny how things change...
And speaking of Callie, this is when uh... the Idol obsession began... this is when the seed was first planted.... I want y'all to remember, I was 13 to 14 when Splatoon 2 was a thing... What do you think happened when i saw a bunch of cute girls WHEN I WAS A TEEN BOY!?!? YEAH! YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT! I wasn't as obsessed with them as i am currently, but i was interested by them, i liked seeing them. Marina captured my heart and definitely uh... influenced me on the type of women that i like... I'm not gonna elaborate on that point...
I so badly wanted the Pearl and Marina amiibo back then but i couldn't get the courage to ask my parents to buy it or ask any EB Games employees if they had stock left.
And this leads me to another thing that i wanna talk about Splatoon 2, this is when i started interacting with other fans online, some of the interactions were fine, but most... i regret... I made a lot of mistakes, did a lot of cringey shit, when i think back to those times, there are little diamonds in the rough but it was mainly a lot of bad shit and i did things i just hate thinking about. I remember being in some call on the bloody NINTENDO SWITCH APP and there was this girl who pretended to be Callie and she would speak in this high pitched voice, and we did uh, roleplaying, i barely remember much but i would rather not talk about it and the other things my brain barely remembers.
I was a teenager, i did stupid teenager things, I'm a better person because I'm not a dumb stupid fucking moron teen anymore and i never wanna think about the shit i did and saw during my teen years.
I think because of that, my thoughts on the game have soured because of the stuff i did as a teenager. Although i can't remember it well, i still remember myself being very cringey.
I don't hate this game, in fact it does a lot of things better than Splatoon 3. But i hate how this game gets praised just to shit on Splatoon 3 because people have rose tinted glasses and forgotten how bad this game can truly be at points. The non story parts of this game are fairly solid, i can admit to that and i wanna celebrate those parts.
Splatoon 2 i fucking LOVE you and HATEEEEE you!!
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion.
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I mean, what is there to talk about that hasn't been talked about already? It's Octo Expansion, the widely beloved single player mode, the number 1 thing Splatoon 2 has over the other two games, the single player mode that everyone has come to agreement is the best in the series, and you know what? I agree too! Shocker i know!
Octo Expansion is fantastic, the atmosphere is brilliant, the ost is probably my favourite in the series, Agent 8 is a cut above the other protagonists because of the memcakes and how much mystery surrounds them. The chat logs which gave Off the Hook so much development it's insane, the difficulty, the final boss, oh my god i LOVE this campaign!
I think the main reason on why this mode is celebrated so much is because it appeals to Splatoon fans the most. It's challenging and doesn't hold back. You WILL die a lot in your first playthrough. But it's not unfair, most of the time, it is challenging but fair... MOST of it.
Like genuinely i will never, EVER forget my first experience playing through the finale of Octo Expansion, the twist of Tartar trying to blend you up and Agent 3 coming in with the SPLATOON 1 MUSIC! THE METAL GEAR SOLID LIKE STEALTH SECTION! NASTY MAJASTY! SHARK BYTES AND USING THE INK JET?!? OH MY GODDDD! It's so fun and hype.
Sanitized Agent 3? The only mind control plot in a piece of Splatoon media that i ACTUALLY LIKE and don't find it incredibly disgusting, vile, stupid, poorly written or wasted potential. The fucked up remix of Splattack, seeing your Splatoon 1 character FIGHT YOU? The first time in the series where the games celebrate the past and try to remix it in a unique spin is so fucking cool.
And... Fly Octo Fly... brother. Oh my god. I listened to that song over and over and over and OVER AND OVER AGAIN! It is probably the best final boss song within the entire series and i don't think I'll never get tired of it.
Octo Expansion is a god damn treasure, it is a miracle that it came out as well as it did. Sure, it is short and it does suck that the really cool development for Off the Hook is pretty much skippable, but i don't care. Octo Expansion is like the dessert that saves a mid meal you just ate. And speaking of saving the best things for last...
Splatoon 2: Final Fest.
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I wanna say my final words about Splatoon 2 and briefly talk about the Final Fest because i did play it when it was happening.
I remember the build up to this last Splatfest being really intense considering how the previous final Splatfest influenced things and it brought up a lot of interesting debates within the community. Is a world of chaos truly better than a world of order? A world of order would keep everyone safe, but it would be very strict. A world of chaos would allow anyone to do whatever they want, but it would also have a lot of violence and no rules to govern what is right and wrong.
However... What really influenced me to pick the team that i ended up picking was down to a YouTuber's words about the matter.
"Its kill or BE killed, the strong survive!" And who said that? Well... It was Etika. I fucking loved that man's content, so one of his last streams stating that he was on Team Chaos and his tragic passing made the choice obvious. I still miss that man today, it feels like there is this hole that he left and i don't think it will ever be filled ever.
I joined Team Chaos and i fought HARD to make sure Chaos would win. And seeing MC. Princess Diaries and fucking PEARL COMING IN TO USE HER PRINCESS CANON!! OH MY GOD THAT WAS HYPE AS FUCK!!!!
Ultimately, after all the battling and war... Chaos won, and the dialogue that Pearl and Marina said to each other was just... Oh my god it was so fucking CUTEEEE!!! It was a great end to a game that allowed me to join the fandom.
Although Splatoon 2 gives me a lot of... anger, there's still a lot that i love and cherish about it. Everything to do with Off the Hook, Octo Expansion, the stages, the new weapons, oh my god this game did a lot of good things, and i would rather remember Splatoon 2 that way, over the feelings of distain and pure rage i have over the writing that hero mode provided.
Splatoon 3.
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I mean, i don't have to say much about Splatoon 3, i made a whole ass blog post about it in the past just before the Grand Fest happened, but i wanna still wanna talk about it.
Splatoon 3 is my favorite game out of the trilogy and I'm gonna defend it no matter what. It feels like Splatoon at it's most polished gameplay wise, it feels somehow smoother and faster, the new movement options while at first being nothing too crazy, actually transform how you move around the stages and are a MASSIVE game changer. You cannot go back to older Splatoon games after experiencing Squid Roll, it's just so hard.
The new weapons like the Splatana, S-Blast, Stringer, Douser Dualies, etc, are really unique and introduce interesting ways and playstyles. I love the god damn Decavitator dude. What an incredible weapon with a funny concept and brutal name.
Salmon Run gets some massive improvements and it's so so so FUN! I love the King Salmonids so god damn much dude holy hell. And once we got to fight ALL THREE OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME!?!? PEAK! PEAK PEAK PEAK!!!
I remember when i got this game at launch, i had to go get a haircut after school finished for the day and let me tell you, it was fucking unbearable, i knew that my copy of Splatoon 3 was waiting for me at home yet i could not play it. I think the funniest part of that day was explaining to my dad what the fuck a Splatoon is, he never really gave it much thought when he got me Splatoon 2 so he must have forgotten what it was and my brother and i just stared at each other when he asked "what's Splatoon?"
But let me tell you... when i got home... Holy mother of god i grinded out ROTM like no tomorrow dude. I had so much fun and i was completely hooked. Sure i got spoiled that Deep Cut were gonna be boss fights and Mr. Grizz was the true antagonist thanks to leaks running rampant before the game came out, but it was still so cool, plus i was sharing my thoughts with my friends on discord and we were all freaking out and shit.
I really adore The Crater and how it fools you into thinking it's gonna be yet another standard hero mode, but then it drops the back to back surprise of DJ Octavio being the first boss fight and then being dragged into Alterna. You can criticize ROTM for any reason you want, but you can't deny, that intro is fucking awesome and a great way to subvert expectations.
And Alterna as a whole has this really cool vibe and aesthetic to it. The snowy, abandoned yet clean areas and the stages themselves invoke this weird sensation in my brain. The stages reach this... nostalgic part of my brain, it's so odd yet i love it. I don't really like the stage design itself because it feels like Octo Expansion diet lite edition with barely any of the difficulty or replay value of Octo Expansion, aside from some levels.
The boss fights are pretty neat and yes, the Big Man fight is awesome and a cool reference to Super Mario Sunshine, yes i did soyjack at it, we all did, moving onnnnn!!
The finale of Splatoon 3 ROTM is truly special, although i think Octo Expansion is better, ROTM still slaps so hard when it comes to an epic finale. Calamari Inkantation 3mix is a banger, your little buddy that's been helping you throughout the entire campaign becomes a FUCKING KAIJU TO BEAT UP A GIANT BEAR THAT WANTS TO COMMITT MASS GENOCIDE AND TURN EVERYONE INTO FURRIES!!! DJ Octavio redeeming himself and you having to pilot his mech when in the previous games you were fighting against it. It feels like everything has come full circle to give a satisfying finale to the Splatoon saga.
Splatoon 3 did a lot of things right, but it has some issues that i HOPE get addressed in the eventual Splatoon 4. Such as the catalogue system and how long it took to get updates and content additions, 3 months for patches is a death sentence for modern online games, that needs to change. The lack of third kits, the stage design being significantly more watered down compared to the previous games, despite there being new movement tools, the stages feel more restrictive which is such a massive shame.
Splatoon 3 is cool but it for sure suffers the issue of death by a thousand paper cuts, it has all these minor issues that some people can handle while some can't, and that's perfectly fine.
Splatoon 3: Side Order.
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Side Order... my baby... Oh i love you, but i also think you could have done better. To me Side Order feels like vanilla ice cream, like sure, vanilla ice cream is good on it's own, but MANNNN i want MORE! There's so much shit to love, yet it still needed way more shit and an actual good post game to keep players interested.
This dlc felt like an experiment, to see how the gameplay of Splatoon can adapt to different game genres and go out of it's comfort zone. I really do hope it gets a proper sequel in terms of gameplay and they go even more in-depth. More enemies, more bosses, more variety within bosses, more missions, more post game content including story content, more variety in the environments, etc. etc.
Side Order nails it's OST and environments and it's the most experimental sounding thing within the series. These songs will make people scratch their heads and go "what the fuck am i listening to?" And i LOVE THAT! They could have done Octo Expansion again but they actually wanted to do something unique and I respect the devs for that.
I now wanna talk about my personal experience with this dlc.
I wanna tell you guys something, Side Order came out during the height of my Splatoon fixation, i monitored it's build up to release like a fucking hawk, i saw so many theories and people going crazy on what could happen. I remember when that poster came out and people were screaming that AGENT 4 WAS THERE! AND HOW IT MIRRORED CALLIE IN THE SPLATOON 2 HERO MODE POSTER! IT WAS SO HYPE!! I remember reacting to early impressions of Side Order and all of the people who talked about it kept mentioning that something happens within the tutorial and i was so insanely curious on what it was... And what they were hiding... Where was Marina? Why is Inkopolis Sqaure bleached? So many questions and i wanted to learn it all...
And bro... When it came out... I hooked up my Switch to the main TV in my house, i got READY! And even then, i wasn't ready dude. I fucking gasped, i screamed, i squealed, i was crying, i was going OFF DUDE! I was stimming like a mother fucker, i was losing my god damn mind every 10 minutes.
The build up to Marina Agitando was so intense for me, i knew what was going to happen when Marina's dialogue got cut off and it turned into something sinister... The flashes of the past were in my brain and i was saying "not again... NOT AGAIN!!!"
And once i got to the 10th floor... And i saw her... I gasped so fucking loud and i was in shock for like a solid minute, time froze in that minute, realizing "oh... oh they did it... they actually did it... they did it again..." Once i beat the boss and i got up to the title card i was literally screaming and freaking out on WHAT THE HELL I JUST WITNESSED!!!
Throughout the entire DLC i was just going insane, seeing the first dev diary literally made me ACTUALLY CRY!!!!!! Parallel Canon made me yell, like, i could go on but I'm just gonna talk about the final boss. The final boss of Side Order dude... I... I won't forgot the finale of Side Order, it was so, emotional for me, and i don't exactly know why. I think the remix of Ebb and Flow with elements from the live version, the focus on embracing the chaos of the present, it just... reached to a deep part of my soul. I was trying to sing along, i was swaying with the music, just, bawling my fucking eyes out.
And... the cherry on top... UNLOCKING INKOPOLIS SQUARE?!?! I FUCKING FELL TO THE FLOOR! MY HOME TOWN! MY TURF! IT CAME BACK!!!
Side Order is something special to me, it came out at the perfect time and it's a experience i will cherish until the end of time. But there is... one more thing that tops Side Order in my eyes... Something that really destroyed me in both good and bad ways.
The Grand Finale.
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The Grand Fest... Man, just thinking back to it makes me feel teary eyed. Funny how my biggest worry was taking pictures of the Idols... I ended up taking at least over 2k photos if i wanna make a very rough estimate. Yeah... I uh... i went overboard but, i loved every second of it.
At first it was difficult to pick a team because i do love the Squid Sisters but, i didn't wanna think about my past, when i think about my past, it makes me feel sad, lost, depressed, knowing that those past locations, the people I've seen, the vibes, the feelings, the senses.... i would never get them back... Thinking about the future too just makes me feeling so scared and anxious. Am i gonna be forgotten about? Will i be in the same spot for the rest of my life? Will i find success? Will i get a partner? Will i die tomorrow? Will my family get killed? Ultimately, i realised that i felt my most happy when i was in the present, that is where i think we are truly the most happy. You ever think about a birthday from your childhood you went to? You remember how the most fun you had from that party was the part where you were hanging out with friends, laughing it up, playing games, whatever right? Being in the moment, the present. And you were at your most unhappiest when the party was wrapping up and you were reflecting on the past? Realising that those fun times are over now... Or maybe you were really worried about how the party was gonna be like? You were worried about the future.
Plus, Off the Hook mean a lot to me, i think they taught me a lot of things, they showed me what a happy relationship between two people could look like, they showed me that just because someone is so vastly different from you, it doesn't mean that they don't deserve love, they still do. I yearn for the kind of partnership Pearl and Marina have.... My choice was obvious in that moment and i went with Team Present.
The hub was truly special, it was so big and complex that it would literally tank the performance which is so funny. Seeing DJ Octavio with his boyfriend, right next to the Squid Sisters stand felt like my heart was healing, it felt, good, to see him like this. Seeing him so silly and ridiculous, how he always was before... Well... Splatoon 2.... Ugh...
The plushies, the jellyfish, the lights, the sounds, nearly every single Idol song in one place, BLUSHING TIDE OH MY GOD I WON'T FORGET HEARING THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME! THE SQUID SISTERS DEFENDER NEURONS IN MY BRAIN WERE JUMPING AROUND I TELL YOU THAT! The performances of the past live concerts being fully preserved into a digital form that can be accessed anytime. Like... Oh my god they put in so much fucking effort into this.
I won't lie, i tried to dance along to some of the songs, yes i did try to sing along to the lyrics out loud, yes i did cry over Three Wishes, yes i did literally sob my eyes out really hard when the credits music from all the games played in the hub. I was a literal mess by the time that it ended. My face was so wet and i couldn't stop crying during that final hour, my eyes were actually hurting I'm not even fucking joking. The only other time i really cried hard over a video game were Red Dead Redemption 2, Super Mario Galaxy and Persona 3 Reload. Even thinking back to how i was i get a little teary eyed. In that moment i thought "oh god... Is this it? Is this the last time i will get to see them again? Is this... the end? I don't want it to end! I don't want them to go!!" Man... I was so fucking sad dude. I think it was the first time that Daybreaker Anthem got to me as well, never thought that Deep Cut could make me cry but hey, they did it. It was a really magical experience. It really was.
And that final day man... That fucking final day with Rainbow Color Inkantation was just... OH MY GOD MY HEART WAS POUNDING! I WAS GOING CRAZY! I never felt so much adrenaline hearing those final 10 seconds. It might actually be my favourite Calamari Inkantation I'm not even kidding. 3mix is a banger and Splatoon 1's inkantation is iconic, but Rainbow Color Inkantation feels climatic, it feels like everyone coming together for one last song, and the idols trying to fight for dominance on that song. Rainbow Calamari Inkantation might be a contender for the magnum opus of the Splatoon OST I'm not even kidding.
The Grand Festival was.... everything. It was the best way to end Splatoon 3 and i don't think they could have done it any better.
Conclusion.
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I wanna say, thank you for reading, it means a lot to me, truly it does. Like you spent time out of your day to read the personal ramblings of a random ass autistic man who likes squids and octopuses a bit too muchhhh...
This franchise means a lot to me and countless other people too. From the outside it might seem a bit weird or cringe to be so obsessed with a franchise like this, to cry and sob at some of it despite it's silly and girly appearance. But i do not give a shit about the people who find it weird. To be free is to embrace the cringe, to embrace the shit that makes you feel whole inside. We all need that thing that makes us feel whole and happy in life.
What this franchise gave me is something literally irreplicable.
Although, as of me writing this segment, my interest in the series is for sure fading away, and that is to be expected. I can't hold onto the interest forever. It must be put to rest. I have other things i wish to experience, i have other games to play, tv shows to watch, things to write, so much to do.
But Splatoon will always be in my heart, I will always keep my things on display, I will never give up my love for this franchise and throw it all away. I will never do that.
So remember everyone, i want you all to stay fresh, make sure you don't get cooked and that you stay off the hook.
Catch ya later!!!
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shegatsby · 4 months ago
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Hiii I wanted to ask if you can do like a sexting story between hannibal and reader where they met online or are in a long distance relationship and reader is desperate for him? If you feel comfortable with that! :)
A/N: Hi!!! Sorry to keep you waiting, I'm getting to the requests one by one. I enjoyed writing this and I hope you guys will enjoy reading it. Lots of love. xxx
Warnings; Sexting!
“Why did I even decide to take on the position in the first place?!” She said complaining to her boyfriend on the phone. Hannibal sighed, “Because you’re a brilliant woman who is a professor and your skills are needed in Italy’s most prestigious university.” He reminded her which made her smile, he loved giving her compliments and she loved receiving. “Thank you darling. I just… I miss you so much.” She confessed sadly, dropping herself on the bed of her rental. Hannibal noticed the change in her voice, he wanted to just drop everything and get a ticket but he had responsibilities in Baltimore, Maryland. He had patients to attend and also he was helping the FBI. “How was your day?” She asked, due to the tme difference which was 5 hours they had different daly routines. Hannibal started to tell her about his day, As you know I had my patient Mason Verger.” She could sense that Hannibal didn’t like his patient, “He is rich so.. use him.” She commented which earned a chuckle from him. “When in doubt eat the rich.” He replied back and made her laugh. She loved hearing his calm and direct voice, she was laying on the bed, missing the one she shared with her boyfriend. “Later, I had to join a meeting at the FBI Quarters you know, there is a new serial killer.” As he was telling her his day Y/N had an idea. It had been so long since they had been together and she was desperate for him, his touch, his voice…
Her hand started to travel to her breast, squeezing and playing with it under her shirt, she hummed silently over the phone which went unnoticed by him, and then her hand travelled down to her shorts, she got rid of them quickly. “Can you give me more details honey?” She asked softly, she was the only one Hannibal shared these things with so he obliged.
Well, we know that he is a male in his middle ages, white, most likely belongs to a wealthy family.” He said, Hannibal was in his study room at home, his Ipad open and going over the details, “Why do you think so?” She asked curiously her hand went to her already dripping core. “His killings are in very luxurious and high societal places, the last one was at the opera house. He thinks he can get away with, I believe he has done this so many times and thanks to his family connections and money he didn’t get caught..” her fingers were soaked, she gently rubbed herself, she was amazed that even his voice could get her this wet and ready, she inserted a finger and couldn’t keep her mouth shut. There was a pause on Hannibal’s side, and after a few seconds of silence he spoke, “Did you just moan?” He could feel his member waking up. “What if I did?” She teased.
''You naught girl..'' he teased with a low growl, his breath sent shiver down her spine, Hannibal got excited that his beloved got aroused by talking about murder, could that mean that he could reveal his true color? Only time would tell. His hand went to his rock hard cock, rubbing himself trhough the fabric of his pants, ''Were you touching yourself like a whore when I was telling you about the recent killings?'' he asked slowly, ''Yes, yes I was..'' she admitted, ''How wet are you?'' he asked keep rubbing himself, ''Wanna see?'' she teased.
''I would love to see how wet I got you sweetheart.'' he teased back, this was the first time they had to do something like this and it was new for both of them, however, Hannibal liked the thrill of it.
Y/N sent a picture of her wet folds, ''That much.'' she said as the photo was sent. Hannibal exhaled sharply, ''Darling, you're killing me overe here.'' and he pulled down his pants and boxers to free himself, and he took a picture of his hard cock, sent it to her. ''Someone missed you.'' he said, ''I've missed both of you too.'' she said when she saw how hard he was.
''Wait..'' Hannibal said and hung up the phone which made her whine in annoyance, did he have to do something important? As she was thinkinh Hannibal FaceTimed her. She answered eagerly, ''That's better, now I can see your pretty face and pretty cunt.'' she loved it when he spoke dirty to her, to see a highly respected psyciatrist to use such words got her even wetter because she was the only one who got to experience that behind closed doors. Hannibal was hers and hers only.
She placed the phone in an angle where he could see her open legs and wet folds.
''That's my girl, touch yourself for me sweetheart.''
She complied, touching her self, ''Now insert a finger.'' he loved the way she put on a show for him. To see her wet cunt and to hear the wet sounds and her citten like whimpers made him spit on his palm and stroke himself, ''I wish I was there..'' he found himself whisper and she heard him. ''Wish you were here, touching me..'' her soft voice and wimpers made him stroke himself harder and faster, ''Insert another one.'' he ordered with a harsh and impatient tone, she followed his command. As she inserted a second finger she screamed in pleasure, ''That's it love, that's it, keep going for me..''
His encouraging words made her movements fast, they were both desperate and in need for each other that it drove them crazy.
''Hannibal..'' she moaned his name, hips moving like a snake, ''Yes sweetheart?'' he was close, ''I'm coming.'' she whimpered, she could feel the waves in her core, something was brewing and she knew she was about to gush.
''Good girl, come for me sweetheart.'' he encouraged her with his stern and yet passionate voice, ''Keep fingering that sweet spot and imagine it was me darling.''
Her eyes were closed shut, she kept pressuring that sweet spot in her which Hannibal knew like the back of his hand, he also put pressure on his tip as he stroke himself imagining the feeling of her soft and slick folds.
''Hannibal!'' she screamed as she came, the sheets under her got damp, to see that pushed Hannibal over the edge too. He came on his hand, covering it with the thick cum.
''Fuck darling,'' he panted, leaning on his chair, ''I'm getting a ticket.''
Thank you for reading. :)
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honeyhotteoks · 5 months ago
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i never thought i'd be alive to see my man yunho show this much skin...
how are we doing miss chai? was your day memorable? your coffee warm enough? was this yunho treat enough to pull you through the week? i need thoughts on his UNBELIVABLE acting out bc im clearly not coping well
✨anon
ohhhhh ✨ anon you know me so well.
so how am i doing….. i’m actually amazing - my skin is clear, my bed was warm, my coffee is perfectly delicious. i’m in eastern time usa for those who don’t already know, so i was settling down on my couch with my coffee and my ipad, ready to scroll the news and twitter and then i got the notification…. and i could see in the thumbnail yunho was shirtless, and the rest, as they say, was a totalfuckingblackout i freaked out and threw my phone.
this yunho was definitely enough to pull me through the week though, i’m absolutely going to watch this every time work tests my patience because he’s seriously setting my monday up and my week up for something good.
but i actually do have so many thoughts about this as your resident yunho analyzer…. so if anyone’s interested:
During this Europe tour, three interesting things happened where it came to Yunho showing more skin. First, he did not go to the pool but did joke around with atiny on live who said he should have gone / were joking around about pool pics. Second, he showed up on that live in a tank top and was a little embarrassed about showing too much skin, but then when atiny assured him they’ve seen the same from other members, he said he’d remember that and to be more comfortable with atiny. Third…. his costumes for Europe tour have increasingly started to show more chest which is something he’s always been a little shy about, but especially since the Guerrilla wardrobe malfunction a while back. There’s the lace up white shirt of course, but his Silver Light white shirt is more unbuttoned than I’ve ever seen, and he’s no longer wearing a black turtleneck underneath the purple crushed velvet jacket that had the malfunction.
Next, I’ll mention in the recent voice live he was talking about skincare and his shower routine / hair routine because he had a break out, and was just kind of rambling about it and answering questions. At some point in this live he was like…. ah is this too much / not interesting? and apologized, but atiny encouraged him to keep sharing, they like that kind of thing etc. and were curious about what products he uses and his routine.
NOW take all of that information, and remember that Yunho historically does not show a lot of skin but does occasionally like to be a little extra (whether it’s the booty work tiktok, some of his cheekier boyfriend content etc., sometimes he just gets in the mood to show off)
So whenever he’s feeling like this he usually posts something boyfriendy or hiphop dance content, but I genuinely think he’s been live a ton lately and communicating with atiny a lot, and this was kind of swirling around - the idea that he has quite a modest persona combined with atiny pushing him to be himself more / be more comfortable.
I genuinely, genuinely believe he got a little jealous that everyone was talking about other members. We know he’s probably the most jealous one in ateez, the most possessive over his fans, and while yes…. that’s fanservice and he’s very good at it, I always see a nugget of truth in it when you watch his expressions on lives and stuff.
HOWEVER - Yunho is also not the type to post an outward thirst trap where like…. skin is showing. I think it makes him uncomfortable full stop, which is why people have been very respectful of him not showing too much skin / not circulating the wardrobe malfunction video etc. I think he likes the teasing elements (like when he checked if he had abs after Mingi’s photo shoot) but a lot of that reads slightly impulsive because he’s a little jealous and a little attention starved when his fans eyes start to wander.
So this video is the perfect middle. It’s boyfriend content, it’s soft content, it’s arguably not sexual in nature AT ALL and yet it’s the first time we’ve really seen his chest to this degree. He’s giving fans something they were asking for while sating his own desire for some amount of attention, and doing it in a way that I can only presume he’s way more comfortable with versus like…. shirtless bathroom pics / gym pics / dancing in something revealing etc.
He’s somehow struck the modest and showing off line so perfectly
I guess this is all to say….. Yunho is so fucking good at his job. He’s extremely attentive to what fans are saying and asking for, and he always leans into those things. Part of that is fan service and engagement, that would be natural for anyone making money off their persona or social media, but I also think some of this is just Yunho. It’s clear he enjoys connections with fans, showing off to them and being there for them, and some of his true personality is bound to bleed into that content.
I’ve also heard from him and other members that he’s one of the more “persona-less” members of Ateez. He’s not that different off camera, and I think that says something about these moments of content.
I think we can safely assume Yunho is that guy… he’s kinda dorky, kinda goofy, super fucking sweet, thoughtful, and LISTENS, and he also understands that appeal. He knows the boyfriend content is something he’s personally okay with and his fans love, because he understands it. He understands that some level of sexiness and skin is both appealing and effective, and he uses it sparingly and at the right times, often without being overtly sexual and more just being himself, which is the ultimate form of boyfriend content after all.
Anyways…. that’s my brain rot on yunho for the day. I’m here to say, this man knows what his fans want and knows how to deliver within boundaries HE is comfortable with and I think that’s really commendable. I’m also just further and further convinced that he’s a good guy who’s only real “fault” is an aries jealous streak and good lord we aren’t complaining out here about that when he shows up doing shit like this.
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rc-catalog · 1 month ago
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It’s that time again—our Creator Of The Month celebration is back, and this month’s spotlight is glowing brighter than ever!
Please join us in welcoming the endlessly talented Lola, @malbontesmrs, to the COTM hall of fame! 💗
From Procreate to her keyboard, Lola is a true architect of imagination—and we’re thrilled to celebrate her work all month long! To help you get to know the magic behind the masterpieces, we’ve put together a short interview where she shares her inspirations, her process, and more! 🌸
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💬 1) INTRODUCE YOURSELF! 
Hi, I’m Lola. And to be honest, I’m terribly boring.
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💬 2) WHEN AND HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER ROMANCE CLUB! What drew you in, and what made you stay? Were there any particular characters, stories, or moments that left a mark on you?
I discovered RC in April 2021, and played enough that when I re-downloaded the app after deleting it, I still had a profile. I actually more or less forgot about it, HS1 JUST finished fully releasing, and I remember reading up to where Vicky gave Bont the food from the school kitchens at least. I think I may have deleted the app shortly after that because of the CY Alexander scene . It’s also entirely possible that I just got too busy and didn’t put it on my new phone. When I redownloaded it in 2023, it was because an acquaintance suggested it, but even then I barely touched it until HS2 started releasing (though I did love SoS and probably played it like 3-4 times before then). I didn’t remember playing HS1 at all until after I played it again, so when I started HS2, and encountered Malbonte and Lucifer for the first time, all I could think was “omg, how could anyone like these jerks”. …anyway, that’s my husband and my other husband now, so I guess I figured that out. I guess all that is to say Alice’s HS brought me, kept me, and continues to keep me on this app.
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💬 3) HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING? Can be both RC related and in general! What first sparked your passion for it?
I’ve been creating (in general) for a long time. I won’t say how long, but I’m probably older than most of those who know me realize 😂. But for RC, I only started in early 2024. I also only somewhat recently started working with digital painting (late 2023). I’ve been writing since forever, but I only recently started publicly posting my work as well. I’m generally not very social 😅
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💬 4) DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST EVER CREATION? Again, can be RC related or in general! What was it, how did it feel to bring it to life, and looking back now, how do you feel about it?
The first creative thing I did for RC was the first three chapters of my long fic, Lux in Tenebris. I’ll talk about it in question 7 though, because I don’t want to get too repetitive. The first piece of art I posted in the RC fandom was a picture of Bont that I posted from an old account. I loved, and still love that piece. It was the first time I moved out of a more cartoony style, and inspired the HS2 portrait series I ended up doing later. link
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💬 5) DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR HABITS WHEN YOU CREATE? A playlist you always put on, a time of day you prefer, snacks or specific tools/software?
I’m still working on my HS long fics, and I have a playlist I use for those (mostly Rok Nardin songs because they feel very applicable and they’re instrumental, so random words I’m hearing don’t end up in my writing). I write on my iPad with the keyboard attachment because I’m more likely to carry it around than a laptop. I use Word (bleh) because I need it for work anyway, but Word isn’t really friendly for HTML markup and that’s how I write my fics, so I have been considering other options (Rok Nardin Spotify playlist for those who might be curious). I also keep my fics in the cloud so I can access them on my phone in case inspiration hits while I’m at the doctor’s office or something. I save each chapter as an individual file, and for these fics I’ve been posting them as I write them. If I ever do another series like this again though, I may consider a different course of action because it does get a little stressful when writers block hits. My fics are long, and I try to post chapters every week or two, so I’m writing a looooot these days. If I have writer’s block (which has been happening more and more lately), I use different strategies. My bestie isn’t a RC fan, but she’s happy to let me run thoughts by her (which has come to some entertaining results from time to time). Sometimes I’ll just put on that same Rok Nardin playlist I use when writing and go for a walk, because it helps keep me in the mind of it so I can brainstorm. If that doesn’t work… I step away. Close my iPad and don’t even think about it for a bit, or move onto a drawing for a while. For art: No rituals, no things I do every time. I draw when the inspiration hits, and draw until I’m bored of drawing 😂. I have surprisingly very few abandoned WIPs despite this though. I use Procreate, iPad and Apple Pencil. Sometimes I listen to audiobooks while drawing. Sometimes I don’t. Drawing is a very, very casual thing I do. Fun fact: most of my art only uses two brushes and a heck-ton of smudging. Any additional brushes are stamps. I wish I could tell you which brushes they are, but “Brush 4” probably doesn’t help 🤷🏼‍♀️
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💬 6) IS THERE A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO YOUR YOUNGER CREATIVE SELF? Or readers in general?
1000% it’s that practice makes perfect. My art feels like a huge testament to that statement because (I think anyway) you can see the major improvements I’ve made in the last year alone. I have one CG that I like to practice new techniques by redrawing it, and I keep them in a row in my procreate folder so I can see the progression and my own improvement. It helps with motivation, but I find it also helps because I can take things I like from different versions to incorporate them into my style. I picked up a lot of technical skills and techniques by doing that. As for writing, I know it’s the most cliché advice ever, but write for yourself. Write what you want to read; chances are there’s someone else who wants to too. The nice thing about doing that, is that you can do whatever you want. And for both, don’t value your work based on its engagement. That was a tough lesson for me to learn, especially with my art, which hasn’t been getting very much engagement at all these days, and my new fic, which isn’t getting nearly as much in the way of comments as Lux in Tenebris did. What I’ve found though, is that every time I start to get bummed about the lack of engagement on BO&BR, someone pops up out of nowhere to tell me they’ve loved my stories and have been reading them for a while. The point is, just because I’m not seeing engagement, doesn’t mean it’s not there; sometimes people just don’t know what to say, sometimes they’re too shy to say anything, sometimes they mean to say something and it slips their minds. Either way, if you work on something you love, it doesn’t matter what other people think.
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💬 7) CHOOSE 3-5 OF YOUR FAVOURITE WORKS AND RAMBLE AWAY! We want all the behind-the-scenes thoughts: What do these pieces mean to you? What inspired them? Were there any struggles you faced while creating them? What emotions or memories are tied to them now?
Lux in Tenebris – Malbonte x MC HS1 (long) fanfiction (Posted on AO3, rated E for occasional smut and canon-typical descriptions of violence / death)
I chose this one first for a reason, because it is by far the most meaningful project I’ve ever done (and to be honest, hopefully the most meaningful I’ll ever do). Lux in Tenebris is my entire 2024; I started it in January, and finished it in December— it’s over 255,000 words (1100 pages). I was (am? but it’s much better managed now) very sick in 2024, and I ended up in the hospital for over a month. Lux was my main project through the year, and it helped me get through the harder times; it is a tangible representation of my struggles that year. I love Lux, and I hope I always will. I know it’s not perfect, there were a lot of chapters I wrote when I was extremely unwell and could definitely use some editing, but I’m not perfect either. It was the first long fic that I ever fully completed, and it was the first project I’ve ever done that I legitimately made for myself and my own enjoyment; other people liking it was a very unexpected, and pleasant, bonus. (Though admittedly, I did at one point think how nice it would be if a non-Malbonte fan read it and became a Malbonte fan 😂. That didn’t happen to my knowledge, but I had a non-HS1 fan read it and enthusiastically love it, so I’m counting that 😄). It also wasn’t the story I planned in the beginning (I completely changed course around chapter 3, then totally committed to that change by chapter 7). I’m happy with the direction it took though. I poured my whole life into that fic, and I’m still working on the sequel. So yeah, it’s pretty important to me. I loved writing it, I love reading it, and I love talking about it. This fic is my baby.
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2. The HS2 LI series
Similar to Lux in Tenebris, I worked on these portraits to distract me from being sick, and I wanted to work with a bit more variety of people. HS2 is (probably obviously) my favourite story on the app, and I wanted to honour it somehow, I guess. I actually want to do the series over, because I feel like I’ve learned a lot of new techniques and improved my art since then, but we’ll see. I have to finish the ABH series first. I actually find Dino and Lucifer to be two of the most difficult people I’ve drawn to get “right”, and those two portraits took the longest by quite a bit to do (Luci with his tattoos especially. Tbh, the more I look at it, the more I reeeeeally want to redo War and Astaroth too…) Anyway, yeah, it was a fun project that I did because I love HS2, and it was a lot of fun to work on. Of course with practice, as I’ve improved, I can see a lot more issues with these pictures than I could when I did them, but I’ll always love the project itself because it was a nice distraction from the things going on at the time. Dino / Lucifer / Mimi / Astaroth / War / Hunger / Malbonte
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3. Black Obelisks & Blood Roses (Malbonte x MC HS2 fanfiction) – in progress sequel to Lux in Tenebris (Posted on AO3, rated E for occasional smut and canon-typical descriptions of violence / death)
I debated choosing this, but decided I can’t promote Lux without promoting the sequel I’m currently writing, Black Obelisks & Blood Roses. It’s only about 1/3 of the way done, but it’s already over 164,000 words (650 pages). I’m actively updating at least twice a month, but often more than that (and never less). I grieved Lux in Tenebris when it was finished. It literally felt like a piece of me died or something. I had started planning BO&BR very early into writing Lux, so I knew I was going to write a sequel, but I had every intention of taking a month or two between the two. I did not. I started this one earlier than I planned because I was so sad about finishing Lux that I had to. It’s been a lot more of a struggle to write, especially lately. I’ve got a lot going on in my life, and honestly, the subject matter is kind of a bummer sometimes. I’m only JUST coming out of Season 1 now in the fic. BUT, I still love writing it, and going back to my little world with Malbonte and Antigone. I just revealed my first major divergence from canon (and not-so-secret crossover), and I’m simultaneously nervous and excited. I’ve been planning this for months and I’m kind of freaking out that it’s already here. Anyway, my fics take a lot more of my time, so I tend to have a lot more feelings around them. I plot and plan constantly, readjust and rework plans as needed. Even still, I go with the flow while I write, and sometimes things happen that even I didn’t expect but they feel right, so it becomes part of the story. That’s my favourite part to be honest, when I write something and I’m like “damn, that wasn’t supposed to happen yet but it’s SO GOOD here”.
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4. Raphael Portrait
I’m two characters (David and 🥰Cassiel🥰) away from finishing the ABH LI portrait series, but Raphael is the latest art piece I’ve completed, and definitely in my top 3 best pieces ever, I think (it could be #1, but I’m biased so clearly my best piece is Malbonte 😂). I’ve started experimenting more with open mouth smiles, which has been fun. I love Raphael’s smile, it’s just… ugh, so cute. I started working on pictures recently where I do the parts I don’t enjoy doing first, so that I don’t just kinda say “eh, it’s done enough”, aaaaand I’m pretty happy with that decision looking at this final piece. I’m really happy with how he turned out (especially his hair, haha and the light fixture in the background 😅). Unfortunately I’ve also been finding him a bit intimidating because I feel like he’s pushed the bar up. I haven’t even started the next portrait in the series (though I probably will the second I put this down because I’m suddenly feeling inspired) (update: I did in fact start it, but I’m still feeling intimidated by Raphael, so it didn’t get done by time of writing 😅).
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5. Malbonte Portrait, CG Redraw
Last one! I wasn’t going to add this piece, but I think I’d be remiss if I didn’t because this is my practice CG! I have many, many, versions of this CG in my procreate folder, because I use it to practice, play with brushes, and teach myself new techniques. I keep them in a row at the bottom of my folder so I can see my progress, and refer back to things I like and don’t like about the ones I’ve done. This one is my favourite so far. I love Malbonte, so I’m always happy to complete Malbonte fan art. I think when practicing, especially if you’re going to do the same drawing over and over again like I do, it’s important to draw something that you enjoy doing. This CG is one of my favourites, and it’s a fantastic face-front portrait for practicing faces. I love it.
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A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read Lola's feature and celebrate her incredible work with us! And of course, thank you to all the amazing creators who submitted this month—we’re constantly in awe of your talent and passion.
Here’s to you, Lola—you paint stories we can’t stop reading and write pictures we can’t stop staring at. Congratulations, and thank you for sharing your gift with us! 🩷
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ao3wasntenough · 6 months ago
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So I'm new to the bot!Sam au stuff and I was wondering did he get turned into a bot because of the all spark??? And what did his parents think after he became a bot, I just want to know all about it because I like the concept of the au!!!!
HI!! Bot Sam is such a hot pot for me there’s so many ways to go about it and I’m sure I’ve got something to suit any taste you have for ways he’s transformed or handled!!
I’m assuming your talking about jet Sam first, cause he’s just who I’ve talked about a lot recently ?
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I consider his creation both allspark and control pillar/matrix induced, where in an alternate time line in the dark side of the moon, unaware hes been infused with allspark remains down to his very dna an explosion he’s caught in beside a control pillar (the things sentienel uses to create the portals) the allspark power is supercharged with energy and adrenaline and transforms him. And if they thought the original destruction of the allspark used all its power they double assume it with his transformation due to how much energy it would take surely.
His parents were likely told their son was to close to the explosion and given the alien nature was beyond recognition, so the government tried to sell them that their son died a hero. Witwickies never to do things the easy way can’t really accept it. How could their baby die and that just be the end of it? They both have their own ways of breaking down, both trying to live like their their the perfect clean image of a family who’s son simply isn’t home. Judy probably feels like her son is still out there, people talk around her like it’s just some mothers grief blinding her. Ron looses a lot of steam, the joy he would have felt living a “my child just moved out” lifestyle gone to just a deflated what is there to do? He’s not angry, can barely start yelling at any government agent or officer who tries to engage with them before he’s just exhausted.
They are very dejected and Sam always hoped something would bring them back together, that they’d meet again, but once he starts flying and reality keeps going he realises he wouldn’t know how to hug them anymore, and meeting them in this new body would make them feel more distant despite the physical closeness, better to keep each other alive in memories.
However! Never to doom him in all time lines (just most) A happier bot Sam is the minicon!Sam
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He’s smaller and more closer to his human body then the jet him, completely allspark made. His soul Converted when he tries to jam it into Megatron, kinda ment to look like a shell of the allspark but definitely doesn’t turn into the allspark despite what others wish. Like the allspark didn’t want to destroy more then it had to so turning Sam into a spark and then providing a shell was its happy compromise before destruction
He is small enough to handle human tools and stuff like iPads and phones, more confident to harass anyone into letting him contact his parents, who are told he is hired and is working for the autobots and is doing remote work, he calls them and sends messages, he tried using some government grade green screen to face time them so they could see “him” and bullies humans into editing him as a human into photos to send to his parents in the name of keeping his cover, less anyone be spying on his family to figure out what he’s doing. His dad is very proud, never says it, but his son went from scraping together eBay listings, mowing lawns and botching grades to make money for deals to getting a full time job! And Judy loves telling everyone how hard he’s working and how harsh the government is for not letting its workers come home for Christmas like really you control the whole country but you can’t let one mothers son home for thanksgiving? Damn them!
And then my idea for car bot Sam i will sneak out to see his family. Maybe he tries to tell them he can’t get out of the car, or he sent this super tech car to call them, but then as they become aware of the aliens Ron has a sinking feeling his son isn’t calling them from the car. A but horrified and Judy can’t even think Ron’s making sense but both at least comforted their son comes home regardless
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Sorry for rambling! Don’t know if I gave you enough of what you wanted!! Love talking ideas
Sam and his family are so weird I think their so interesting to build on
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i almost bailed on new year’s because i was sleepy and the weather was horrendous, but it was three short blocks from my apartment and i’d said i’d go so i really had no excuse; when i got there for a moment i was worried it was populated exclusively by Fashionable Gay People, but then i peered into another room and found the mutual aid contingent and was relieved even as i remembered with amusement a few parties ago, back in october, someone remarking, not harshly, on our collective habit of going to parties to talk to the same 10-20 people we already know. the first thing i did in 2025 was go see no, the gael garcia bernal movie about the campaign to vote no on the 1988 plebiscite on pinochet; the second was family brunch; the third was watching the shop around the corner and confirming i am truly jimmy stewart pilled now. thursday i got a great haircut and hung out in the mulberry street library reading js&mn (i have most recently arrived at the portion after strange comes home from the war) and met a friend for dinner before seeing teeth, my second time getting around to a michael r. jackson musical just in time for closing week; not a perfect show but a wild time and i’m very glad he gets to be out there doing his thing. friday i got pleasantly fucked up and went out dancing until 3:30 in the morning with like ten people all of whom once again know each other because we like making it possible for people to get free stuff, which i guess one day i will accept is just my life now but on some level has not yet sunk in. i thought a lot as i have been thinking a lot about how for my entire twenties and then some loneliness was the defining color in my emotional landscape and i am still awkward and neurotic and shy but that just isn’t true anymore, when i thought it would be true forever. an absurdly cool trans girl i know told me she loved my hair and i went to sleep having achieved my step count for friday and saturday mostly in the span of about four hours. saturday i thought was to be for laundry and sleep but n. said a movie was playing he remembered loving so i made it into the city (after laundry) to watch todo mudo, a 1976 political thriller with a somewhat inscrutable plot (to me, knowing nothing about italian politics after the fall of rome other than that mussolini happened) and impeccable vibes, and back at home i managed to muster up the will for full body day to hit my fifth workout of the week, because i am very tough and brave.
today i tutored for the first time in two weeks and screwed up what was supposed to by my second by forgetting my own schedule, but it’s fine. i reviewed & resolutioned & brought my mom a change of clothes at the hospital and made a little page i can duplicate in my planning app that looks just like my little notebook weekly log pages except it lives in my ipad :) i have had an extremely good staycation and already have a series of nice things to look forward to in the days ahead. i feel very lucky here at the dawn of 2025. i keep thinking that, over and over.
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celestialvoyeur · 2 years ago
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So, this time last year I was thinking about what I wanted to change in 2023.
The one thing I settled on was that I wanted to read more. I’ve always enjoyed reading but have had less time in recent years to do so, and even when I regained a bit more time to myself I was out of the habit of reaching for a book.
So I started off the year mostly listening to audio books when driving or doing things around the house and it rekindled my love of stories. I then started on e-books and would find myself reaching for my kindle or iPad during down time rather than turning on the TV.
In July I followed a random link on social media and suddenly I found myself on AO3 for the first time. I don’t even remember how it came about but suddenly I was reading my very first fan fic (‘The Promised Land’ by @gunstreet ) and learning that there was something called ‘slash fiction’ and a Star Trek sub-fandom based around the ‘Spirk’ relationship.
I’ve been a life long Trekkie, but discovering Spirk and fan fiction was like a missing piece clicking into place. Suddenly I was absolutely devouring stories, delighting in a whole new realm of Star Trek content.
Well…it changed EVERYTHING!
I did a massive TOS rewatch and for the first time ever I really, thoroughly enjoyed it, because it finally made SENSE when viewed through the lens of Spirk. I was raised in the era of TNG so I’ve never been massively fussed on TOS before. Now though I absolutely adore our boys and got so much more out of the episodes.
From there I kept exploring AO3 and finally found my way on to Tumblr and discovered this amazing community of likeminded individuals. Everyone has been so welcoming, supportive and kind, it’s been really lovely to start getting to know some of you.
As we close out 2023, the final count is as follows. I’ve read 65 novels, 88 novellas and 139 short stories. (28 of the novels were audio or e-books and everything else has been fan fiction I’ve read since July)
So I met my original goal of reading more, but as a wonderful bonus I found a new passion, a new community, discovered new talents (I’ve been loving creating my art) and have made some new friends.
Thank you so much to all of you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve been liking and reblogging, commenting or chatting with me in DMs, I really appreciate you.
And a special thanks to all the lovely writers and artists creating ever more Spirk fan fics and art for me to enjoy.
Sending you all massive hugs and very best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2024. Xx
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bangtanhoneys · 2 years ago
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SUCHWITA - Yoongi & Grace
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Bora Note: SUPRISE! I thought this was going to take a few days but it came out easier than I thought. I hope you all enjoy
As a gift to ARMY who had promised to wait for him to come back from his military career, Yoongi had scheduled a surprise episode of Suchwita to be aired the day after his enlistment. Teasers were posted just as the news came that he had entered the military, causing ARMY and the world to take to social media to shout out their excitement. Finally, Grace Chu was going to be a guest. 
“So,” Yoongi started with a clap. “This was filmed just before I go into the military and I want to give you all a little gift to say I won’t be long and that I’ll be thinking of you. And what better way to do all that than by giving you the episode you’ve waited the longest for. Are you ready?” he asked, turning to each camera. 
“Okay, my guest today is BigHit’s first female trainee, BigHit’s ace, Seokjin-hyung’s world, Namjoon’s trainer, J-Hope’s sunshine, Jimin’s comforter, Taehyung’s translator, Jungkook’s mother and my support. She’s known as Korea’s Noona, ARMY’s queen and England’s rose,” Yoongi read off his iPad, echoing the words of Seokjin all those months ago. “Please give a big welcome to my sister, Gigi.”
The video that played for ARMY was a selection of video clips from the early days of their career to the most recent, each clip with a different member to reflect Yoongi’s words and ending with Grace on stage on her own with ARMY in the background.
“You always say such lovely things,” Grace smiled as she made her way towards the small table as Yoongi stood up, arms open wide with the crew loudly clapping in the background. “You’re also very cuddly these days.”
“I’m allowed to be. I’m going into the military,” he answered as he gave her a quick tight hug then released her. “Now I know you don’t do alcohol so I’ve organised some hot chocolate. But you promised me you’d do a shot of soju so I’ve got the citrus flavour for us.”
“Ah is that the new flavour?” Grace asked, picking up the bottle with an orange top. “Fitting then for the two of us.” She accepted the shot glass with a smile and clinked it against Yoongi’s, swallowing the shot in one go. “You know, not that bad.”
A large white mug with hot chocolate was placed in front of her and Yoongi, as well as finger snacks such as nachos and the like. 
“So,” Yoongi started as he wrapped his hands around the hot mug. “I’ve been told not to talk about your solo career, well I’ve been warned. But I want to ask, for ARMY’s sake, stuff is coming right?”
“Stuff is coming. Everything is planned and ready, sort of, but it’s coming.”
Yoongi stared at her and she grinned, shrugging. “That’s all you’re getting.”
“Gigi,” he almost whined. “You need to give more than that.”
“Nope. All will be revealed in time, you just have to wait.”
She nearly pointed out that he looked like that grumpy cat that was a meme a few years ago but she said nothing, distracting herself by scooping up some nachos and putting them in her mouth. 
“Fine,” Yoongi finally said. “I did kind of have a plan in my head of what I was going to ask you that wasn’t related to your career or anything like that. And I want to start by saying thank you.”
She must have looked completely puzzled so Yoongi quickly clarified.
“Thank you for always being there for me and the guys. If it weren’t for you, I don’t think we would have succeeded. You made sure we went to bed, made sure we were fed and clothed, and looked after us when we were ill. If it wasn’t for that support, I don’t think any of us would be here today. Especially Jungkook.”
“Jungkook was too young,” Grace shrugged. “He was only fifteen when he joined BigHit. In fact, everyone was under 20 when they joined BigHit and I had been there before Namjoon about a year beforehand or whatever it was. I was only nineteen when I first joined. So I felt like I had to step up and be the guide for Namjoon at least and then it just carried on for the rest of you. And then it turned into being the nanny.”
“Mother,” Yoongi corrected with one of his grins. 
“This Mother thing,” Grace laughed and watched as Yoongi poured himself a shot of soju and then another for her, just in case. “This whole thing started on Twitter or whatever. Even Jungkook never referred to me as mother until he saw it.”
“Wasn’t that the time we saw the MILF tweet?”
“Oh god that tweet,” Grace groaned and buried her hands in her face as Yoongi all but cackled. He turned his body slightly, facing more the camera than her.
“So that story, we might as well tell these stories. It was after a performance, I can’t remember which one, but all the tweets we saw were really complimentary and praised us for a job well done. I think it was Jimin, who saw the comment first and took a screenshot, sent it to the group chat. And it was something along the lines of, ‘Grace looks amazing. She looks like a proper MILF.’”
Grace quickly butted in, pointing a finger at Yoongi. “And none of you guys were quick enough to try and shield them or me from any of that.”
Yoongi shrugged, downing the shot of alcohol. “Namjoon was the one to explain it. And ARMY took it from there.”
“I couldn’t look at any of you during that week. It was just awkward,” Grace sighed and emptied her own glass of alcohol down her throat to Yoongi’s surprise. “If we’re going to tell these stories, then I need to get somewhat tipsy.”
The rapper paused and sat back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling for a moment then towards Grace. “The news about your relationship with Seokjin-hyung is out,” he started and laughed when Grace choked on the food she had just put in her mouth. “What? We might as well discuss it.”
“Aish, are we really going there?”
“Yes, ARMY needs to know.”
“You know, Seokjin was commenting on my LIVE after the news was announced and he said there was an R-rated version,” Grace explained as she scooped some salsa onto her nacho. “And since then, that’s all they ever asked about.”
“Well, we know about PG-rating version so what’s the R-rated version?.”
“Are you really going to ask me? Are you even allowed to upload this once this has been discussed?”
Yoongi shrugged, shoving a piece of food into his mouth. “Who cares? I’m going into the military soon.”
Grace lifted her head to stare at the younger man and the subtitles read on the screen, ‘She’s wondering whether to kill him or not.’
“Fine, might as well get it over with.”
She paused and laughed when Yoongi all but perked up, resting his elbows on the table with his chin in his hands as if he were a little child waiting to hear a bedtime story. This was a story very few got to hear and it had never been fully discussed by anyone, including the boys.
“So, Seokjin & I had a discussion around WINGS or just before. I knew I had started to like him more than a member of the group and he had figured out the same, but we had discussed that it was best we didn’t do anything to jeopardise the band, the comeback, the career, etc.” Grace started, folding her arms underneath her chest. She didn’t realise Yoongi, the crew, and even the audience were on tenterhooks waiting for the big reveal. 
“Nothing was done. And nothing was ever said after that. It was just the end. We weren’t going to do anything. However,” Grace stopped and bit her lower lip, wondering if she should go any further. But then Seokjin had left her in this mess so he could clean it up when he got back. 
“However,” Grace repeated with a laugh. “We were the only ones in the dorm. I don’t know where you all were but we were the only two left behind. And we had the conversation again, you know we can’t do anything.”
“But something ended up happening,” Yoongi summarised. 
“On the couch. Twice.”
It fell out of Grace’s mouth unprompted, causing Yoongi to pause as he lifted his glass of soju. “On the couch,” he repeated as if he didn’t get what Grace was telling him. You could see the cogs working and turning until finally something clicked.
“On the couch,” he all but yelled.
Grace nodded and buried her face into her hands, hiding from everything as Yoongi stood, open mouth and a dazed look on his face.
“You and Jin-hyung, on the dorms couch.”
“It was meant to be a one-off to get it out of our system, kind of.”
“But obviously it didn’t work.”
Yoongi sat back down as Grace peeked out from around her fingers.
“You know, I always suspected something happened but not like that. Not you two. Not the father and the mother of the group. We always thought of you two as the stone-cold people who did nothing wrong and yet.”
“Well,” Grace started and stopped when she realised she couldn’t explain it. “It happened and here we are so that’s the truth about the relationship. That’s the R-rated version. The PG version was the one we told the boys which was something along the lines of ‘we like each other, it won’t affect the group and we promise to be careful.’”
“Careful in more ways than one it seemed,” Yoongi stopped and poured another glass of soju. “That took a turn.”
“You wanted to know.”
“But I wasn’t expecting that,” Yoongi laughed and drank the soju. “What’s Jungkook going to think about his adopted parents? He’s going to be horrified.”
“Horrified? He’s been singing about fucking people in his songs lately, I don’t think he would be that horrified.”
“He’ll be horrified because it’s you. His noona. That kid absolutely adores you and would do anything for you, you know that.”
Grace smiled and nodded. “I know he would. You all would.”
“I want to talk about that - you and Jungkook because I don’t think many people realise what you do for him. Well, what you’ve done for all of us really. Because you’ve been there for everyone’s shit, especially mine.”
She finished off her hot chocolate and set the mug back down, leaning back in the chair. “Is this going to get emotional?”
“I don’t do emotional.”
“Says the man who broke down on stage.”
“That,” Yoongi pointed with his chopsticks. “That’s the stuff I want to talk about.”
“So,” Yoongi set the chopsticks down on the table and turned to the camera once again. “Obviously I broke down crying on stage on the last day of the tour. Everything just came tumbling out and I knew, if I couldn’t get the words out, Gigi would be there as backup for me. Adora as well but this woman here, left the audience and ran backstage to get ready to be my backup. And you’ve done that before for me, you’ve done that for everyone.”
“With Jungkook, you became his mother and I don’t mean that in the literal sense but you did. You saw a young man, with his big doe eyes and you protected him. You got him through the worst parts of his life and stood there with him, with all of us, without any judgement. He’s got his kindness and his sense of worth from you because you made sure to teach him that no matter what happens in life, as long as you know how important you are to yourself then nothing matters. And I took that to heart as well, dealing with my own trauma. I was angry with the world, angry at everything. I was putting everything I had into BTS, into AgustD, into Suga. And you said to me but what about Yoongi? What does Yoongi get? And I had to sit back and think about what do I want for myself?”
“Only because you had gone through so much in the beginning before we had even debuted. Like your shoulder, your mental health, and your relationships. The fact you were looked down on by the underground scene because you were now an idol rather than a rapper. And I remember when I heard The Last, how you spilled it all. I remember sitting there, feeling proud because you were breaking down these barriers slowly and on your own terms,” Grace interrupted. “Because I’ve always felt that no one should tell you who you are. I’ve come to realise that. It’s nice to be known as Korea’s Noona but who am I? At the end of the day when I get home to my cat and I sit down on the couch, turn on the tv - who am I? Because at the end of the day, I need to believe in myself.”
Yoongi sat there and took a good look at the woman in front of him. There had been many times when he knew Grace struggled with her identity. She was never meant to last more than two albums but Hitman Bang took the risk and extended her contract and then she became the greatest idol there was but she never felt right. There was always something missing. And he knew she had started to work on that and work on her identity, finally finding something for her to stand in and claim as her own. 
Her solo career was going to do all that for her. 
“And I tried to do that with Jungkook since he was so young and he was going to be easily moulded by what he saw, who told him what. And I wanted to treat him like Jungkook, not JK. He needed to be treated like a fifteen year old. Not an idol. So if that meant he needed a bedtime or he needed someone to make sure he had his uniform for the day, then that’s what it was going to take. Same for Tae and Jimin, they needed that. It was a structure that needed to be placed at home, in the dorm. And if I was seen as the mother then that’s what it was going to take,” Grace finished.
“You were the mother who looked after the boy's needs, Seokjin-hyung was the father in a way he controlled and scolded and cooked and woke us all up,” Yoongi started ticking off his fingers but he was interrupted by Grace again.
“You are also the father, technically. Because you do what Seokjin does but in a different way. You’re the protector and the fixer as well."
“Well yes, I do all that. So Hobi is next, he’s the first child then?”
“Hobi’s the first son,” Grace started then suddenly laughed, almost leaning backwards. “Oh, this is going to be turned into a meme.”
“What? You, me and Jin-hyung as the parents and the rest are the kids?”
Grace nodded, still laughing.
“Sounds like some weird threesome parenting,” Yoongi laughed as well, showing off his gums as he clapped with his laughter. 
“So Hobi is the first child. He’s the cleaner as well, technically. Namjoon is the second son who is the voice of reason. Jimin is third and is the kid who is just parenting gone right. Taehyung is the middle between Jimin and Jungkook, nice but a bit naughty. And Jungkook is the baby.”
“Jungkook is the baby,” Yoongi agreed. “But also a little shit.”
“He is that. But then I can say the same thing about all of you.”
“But you and me are too alike,” Yoongi pointed out with another glass of soju.
“We are. What are we called, two cats in a pod?”
“Ironic since you’ve now got a cat.”
“Min-ji,” Grace grinned as a picture of said cat was shown up on the screen.
“Did you name him after me and Jin-hyung?”
“No, though it seems like it. I was googling Korean names and that one just happened to catch my eye and the meaning fits him well.”
“But back to you and me,” Yoongi started then laughed. “I watch YouTube videos sometimes of the relationships between the members and you and I had to stop watching ours because it was hilarious. We are two cats in a pod. We are very much alike.”
“It’s more the mannerisms than anything,” Grace agreed as she took the plate of food from him. “And me and Namjoon are kind of like that,” she added. “You, me and him have known each other the longest.”
“Well, you trained him for a year and then me and Hoseok came along so it became a natural quartet though you lived with your parents, right?”
“I did until I got told by Bang PD that I needed to move into the dorm down the corridor when they had assembled the group. He didn’t want me mixing.”
“He treats you like a daughter though. You are the favourite, even Namjoon says so.”
Grace smiled and shrugged, giving nothing but everything away. 
They talked for another hour or more, reminiscing about the past and the future. How they were all waiting to come back together in 2025 when they could be a group again even though Grace knew she would have to finish off her solo tour first. 
“There’s one thing I do want to ask though, before we finish.” Yoongi said, pouring the last of the soju into the glasses. 
Grace nodded her head as if to say go on, holding up her glass of soju like Yoongi was doing.
“When are you going to make us uncles?”
Her immediate reaction was to sigh loudly and stare at the man in front of her.
“I’m joking. I promise. But I do want to say though, I’m proud of you. And I know what’s to come is going to be amazing and ARMY is going to go mental when they see what’s coming. And even though I can’t be there, I’ll be watching and I’ll be there if I can.”
ARMY would later say Grace’s smile in return to Yoongi’s words lit up the whole room.
“And I’m proud of you. And I hope you stay safe, don’t get hurt, make sure you look after your shoulder and you come back to us in 2025 because we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
They clinked their glasses together and downed the shot, putting the empty shot glasses back onto the table. The moment was broken by Yoongi clapping his hands once.
“ARMY, I hope you’re happy now. Gigi is going to take great care of you and I hope you look after her and support her all the way. I won’t be long and I’ll come back to you all when I can.”
The last Suchwita episode ended with the two hugging, Grace’s face buried into Yoongi’s shoulder as he held on tight. Almost as if she didn’t want to let him go just yet but had to. 
However, ARMY was left with one more surprise. 
It was a black screen with the words ‘She’s coming. May 14 2024.’
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geniusphilester · 4 months ago
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all this BIG talk has me diving back into my twitter archives. initially it was because i wanted to see if i commented on dan's initial tweet (i did not, i was doing other stuff), but i'm enjoying the look back.
below the cut is a summary of how that day* went for me
*i'm a night owl, so it was june 13-the beginning of the 14th
i started off not sleeping enough (pretty common for me)
then i was nostalgic about other stuff
i thought about going back to bed and immediately abandoned that idea to scream about the actual promo tweet
i screamed about phil referencing his own coming out in his follow-up tweet
i linked something in another fandom and said "when my brain's being a little less eaten by dan and phil i need to come back to this"
i cried over olly alexander tweeting at dan
"everyone is saying his video was v contrapoints and it was my first thought too after the initial shock wore off lol"
"thanks to daniel howell for making the word 'obviously' fill me with a million emotions" and i'm still going strong with that/"more than just romantic" in 2025
the beginning of it hits different started around 8 pm local time for me: "i'm going through my #DanAndPhil tumblr tag with new eyes." there's a whole thread but "oh GOD phil's somewhat recent health scare????? how did i forget about this when there's whole new dimensions to overthink and worry about". relatable
"latest random moment i got emotional: seeing the notif email for dan's video in my inbox since i didn't check my mail all day" wow, remember email notifs for youtube videos
i did a when-the-house-was-quiet rewatch and posted a whole thread thinking about my relationship to and past with my personal queerness, in true dan howell fashion
one tweet in that thread was just "don't forget the ipad". veronica is a legend
i rewatched a bunch of other dan and phil videos including the first mukbang and giving the people what they want
i ended with why i went to the hospital (see also: the aforementioned health scare) in a failed attempt to go to bed, but i kept tweeting for a while
i said i was "stopping the videos. the emotions and thoughts are gonna keep happening for a while"
i shared hank green's positive reaction
i cried over dan's old formsprings about phil (s/o @calvinahobbes!this was the exact link i used)
i said i was going to bed at 3 am despite wanting to keep screaming about everything
but one more thing happened in my day: dan tweeted "what a great day to be gay" at 3:30 am local time so i screamed a bit more
and then i kept screaming the next day, which i won't go into but i will mention: dan called contrapoints "mum" but natalie's original tweet is gone
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tensbowl · 7 months ago
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my thoughts on beastars!
i recently finished reading beastars and honestly it’s been a WHILE since a manga had me this hooked since.. given. i used to read a shitton of manga in middle school but i gradually stopped when i entered hs (stemmed from a desire to Fit In, mayhaps..!), but i still keep up with haikyuu and given news cuz those are the ones that meant the most to me. beastars always caught my attention but because i’m frankly quite a sheep, i never read it. everyone around me told me it was ‘furry manga’ and i just didn’t care enough to do my own research LOL but here i am now, emotionally bound to legoshi. so much for defeating the furry allegations :(
i loved it btw it was a solid 8/10. there was laughter. a lot of confused laughter, but laughter. my favorite characters are legoshi, louis, and sagwan, although i think i love all of them. except for kyuu idk something about that rabbit pmo.. also completely unrelated but i’m a little scared of rabbits and when haru first showed up i was PETRIFIED. the one thing i hate most about rabbits is their black eyes (oh my god they freak me out) but there she was, standing on two legs, staring at me through my ipad pro screen with no mercy. i was shaking. but whatever i love her now and i think this made me get over my fear. so.. win/win?
i don’t remember all the arc names so i made up my own! i’ll discuss the manga in their respective story arcs and then get deep with the characters.. so i present to you my personal beastars story arcs (the way EYE saw them..)
obviously.. spoiler alert for everything..!
high school arc
this is probably my favorite arc JUST BECAUSE i’m a big sucker for high school stories. right off the bat i fw the drama club HEAVY because i do stagework at my school too! but damn these animals do it so.. difficultly? why are we not preprogramming the lights? why are we hand sewing these costumes? is there any blocking on stage? why isn’t there a stage manager to stop legoshi and bill from almost killing each other? let me loose in this drama club and i’ll have it demolished and rebuilt in 2 hours tops i’d be running it like the mf army. but whatever i guess paru did not care about the accuracy of the drama club which is all right with me (it’s not). 
my first impressions of legoshi were so strange. i know he’s not the bad guy but oh my god he’s SO AWKWARD. if i was in this universe (i’ll be saying this a lot) i would for SURE be spreading rumors about the weird wolf man in my drama club that speaks in rhymes and riddles. 
i also had no big impressions of any other characters until we get to louis. i thought jack was cool, the drama club kids were cool, and haru looked creepy but i didn’t mind her. but oh my god louis. he was driving me INSANE. i swear for every panel he showed up in i was containing all my anger. i was trying so hard not to lose my shit but this deer got on my nerves SO BAD….. HE for one spoke in rhymes and riddles and i’d be lying if i told you i understand anything of what he said in the high school arc. he got his shit together in the later arcs and got less pompous but in this arc he was losing me. and i was pissed off at him. the only thing i could think about was ‘diva syndrome’. and not in a cute ‘who is THIS diva’ way, in more like a ‘i really want to watch your ego death’ way. 
when haru tried to get freaky in the gardening club shed i lowkey was not phased. i feel like in a lot of reviews i read about beastars this was the scene that was turning people off, but i remembered my 2nd grade art teacher showing us zootopia and telling us that rabbits are very sexually active and usually have a lot of kids (why did he tell us this? idk. he got fired). so i was like ‘oh that’s just haru’s instincts!’ but also i guess.. that was kinda weird of her. but after her whole speech about how sex gets rid of the small and powerless feeling she has, we get a better understanding of her actions. though i will say, this was freaky as hell of haru. 
now i hate to admit to this (as louis is one of my skrunklies now) but i was CHEERING when he sprained his ankle. i was so happy. i thought he was going to die and i was so happy. but then a new enemy approached — bill the tiger. right off the bat i didn’t trust him. but after finding out that he drank RABBIT’S BLOOD oh it was so over. i was so over him. i was cheering for legoshi when they were fighting but when they brought that shit on stage i was done. i’m a firm believer of keeping things professional at least ON STAGE but these guys had no decorum. sigh. 
but this also got me thinking — are the animal limbs/blood being sold in the back alley market kinda like… drugs? i mean, it’s also like cannibalism (but not really..) in a way.. it’s hard to find a parallel for it. but honestly i think it’d be harder not to go to the market than to indulge in those animalistic instincts after all, so i was thinking, ‘is it really fair for me to hate bill’? and the answer was no. at least for me. i mean yeah he drank rabbit’s blood and i (and legoshi) hated him for it, but doesn’t that mean we should also be hating on like 3/4ths of the civilization in beastars? and i sure don’t. and louis says later too but i was thinking, don’t carnivores NEED to eat meat to survive? it’s kinda unfair for them, too. a double edged sword!!!! i was hooked at this point and i decided i wouldn’t hold it against bill but judge his character based on his actions later. 
i rate this arc a 9/10. one point off for strange theater etiquette. 
louis’s emo phase
this is the emo phase! basically the time frame from when louis was a mafia boss (which is so crazy). let’s talk about that because i didn’t care much about the meteor festival (apart from the fact that haru and legoshi were having some chemistry and juno’s exciting appearance). first off, louis is supposed to be a crazy big heir to a ceo’s throne.. are you telling me he has no image to protect and he can just go on and be a mafia boss to a bunch of carnivores? me personally if my son was acting like that he would never see daylight ever again. also louis was being so emo i get it he’s trying to show them that herbivores aren’t all weak and he found a place where he actually has power but oh my god this was so me in middle school. i sympathized. this was when i started liking louis because i realized that maybe i was hating earlier cuz we’re so alike. louis my son. 
it also freaked me out that legoshi was having internal conflicts about whether he likes haru in a romantic way or a predatory way, but it also only makes sense. so i was like yeah checks out! i guess these are the kind of questions you gotta have in the beastars universe. and then we explored more of the back alley market, which answered a shitton of questions i had and freaked me out a whole lot. i also will say now that haru ALSO speaks in rhymes in riddles like louis. do you think they speak in this cryptic way to each other in bed? also hi gouhin! he’s funny and kinda reminded me of my old drum teacher. 
when haru got kidnapped by the shishigumi ON SCHOOL GROUNDS (i presumed?) i was shellshocked. first off, is the mafia just allowed to roam around like that?? and there’s no protection around school? yikes!!! and legoshi’s lovestruck/extremely hungry being CHASES AFTER?? wow. legoshi and i are the same age in this arc (17) and let me tell you that if my crush got kidnapped i would stay the fuck out of that. i can’t tell if legoshi is braver or stupider than me. but i respect the grind. #forthehuzz
also when they just took out the mafia boss like that? wow. imagine being a minor and having a murder record like THAT.. jesus christ. anywho he deserved to die i love haru. i loved haru and legoshi’s interactions in the hotel after that; it was sweet but also sad cuz they’re just tryna love… but their instincts won’t let them. atp i was thinking ‘are they really MEANT to love then?’ like if their instincts are going against them. but honestly fuck your animal instincts. and maybe i misread this cuz haru is speaking in code but legoshi makes her happy and vice versa.. maybe the REAL animalistic instinct was the love we found along the way…
and a little segment on juno yayyyy! i personally love all the characters because they all feel so accurately immature in their high school ways. juno is a first year (15/16?) just craving for a cool same-species boyfriend and like.. yeah. i was thinking like that too girl. you can’t blame a girl for trying and you can’t blame a girl for loving! a lot of people seem to find juno annoying (the slander on reddit is insane) but i just think she’s a teenage girl. good for her. 
and then they also found out that riz killed tem and fought about it. riz’s backstory was kinda sad but i can’t lie to you i felt only little sympathy towards this bear. what he did was bad and he is a murderer! it seems like all these characters speak in code but this is what i got from riz’s huge monologue: even though he took strength suppressants and took on a “kind bear” persona, it didn’t stop herbivores from being scared of him. tem was the only animal that saw him in a genuinely friendly light, and that affection for tem overwhelmed riz (in a positive way but his instincts won over his logical side (sad face)) and riz ate him. he was also off his pills because taking them made him feel like more of a monster than he actually was. tbh riz was a victim of the system but that doesn’t make him any less of a killer,, but i totally get where he’s coming from. as a person who takes meds, it’s hard not to feel like some twisted thing while you’re taking them (especially if the meds are promised to ‘fix you’). and riz also created a whole twisted narrative in his own head about what happened, blurring the lines of reality and fiction.. but still he killed a dude :/ it sucks
also hold on. i went on a huge spiel about riz but i didn’t even TOUCH on the fact that legoshi went CRAZY after eating LOUIS’S LEG???? like okay damn what the FUCKK. i was laughing at first but then i saw louis’s leg all bandaged up and legoshi all crazy and my smile DROPPED. this was no joke legoshi was going primal. also makes me wonder what stopped legoshi from eating louis whole? maybe he’s just too nice for that. 
props to louis for being an amazing mafia boss. it’s the same thing as a ceo anyway but it had me kinda proud of this guy for leading an entire fleet of lions like that. also the shishigumi scared me when they were gonna kill haru but now? they’re kind of a joke. i love them though. 
overall this arc gets a 8.2/10. things were unrealistic (high schoolers nerfing a mafia boss) but also they’re all bipedal animals so what the hell. sure. mangione should spare louis. 
high school drop out arc
legoshi rightfully decides he’s had enough of this strange education system and drops out of high school! as a person who goes to boarding school though it has me wondering how he did that so easily. whatever they’re animals (what i keep telling myself). 
as a 17 year old, if i had to suddenly go fend for myself in Civilization, i would end up back on the doorsteps of cherryton sobbing. but legoshi, as i stated before, is way stronger/stupider than i am, so he did just fine. he got a shitty apartment and made friends. he also trains with gouhin to get over his predatory instincts and learn to love haru and has an acid trip involving a moth which i just filed under ‘typical shounen stuff’ in my head. it was fun but i don’t remember anything from it. also legoshi was bald in either this arc or louis’s emo arc and i liked it but EVERYONE MADE FUN OF HIM. whatever they don’t love you like i do. 
they also introduced sagwan, one of my favs! such a wise man. i love him. he’s also so kind to legoshi right off the bat which surprisingly isn’t a common feat. he also opens up the door to sea life, where they believe in a ‘life cycle’ philosophy. life isn’t too precious over there and they’re all reborn. which is cool. they talk a lot about life in this arc and it really makes you think. i might’ve shed a tear during this arc i don’t remember. at around this time though i was thinking, what happened to legoshi’s friends from high school? he doens’t have a cell phone, so does he just.. not talk to them???? i can’t lie i’d be pissed if that were me! like jack was nothing but a good friend but because legoshi is stupid and needs to Find Himself, he just kinda deserts him. but literally don’t even fret because they come back in a couple more chapters. unrelated, but jack also tries to kill himself at one point which had my jaw DROPPED. i guess yeah. dogs are engineered to be a man’s best friend (and for intelligence) which poses a lot of difficulties for them. they’re essentially genetically modified civilians. how creepy. and also his whole dynamic with being friends with his ‘ancestor’ legoshi?? wow. paru itagaki my jaw dropped a little. 
and now on to a mini that i like to call…
MINI ARC: homosexual seniors
gosha and yahya!!! i love gosha. what a kind man he is (and his story with his wife had me gasping like i was watching a soap). yahya, on the other hand, i didn’t care too much for. he was interesting, but 1) i couldn’t take him seriously because he is a horse, and 2) he’s a little fucked in the head! his carrot farm, attacking his friend’s grandson, and his strange ways of speaking all turned me off a lot. also is yahya a real herbivore if his carrots are fertilized… like that? what makes him so much better than the other animals? 
i thought gosha and yahya were good ‘two sides of the same coin’ kinda deal. also it was pissing me off how yahya was putting gosha down for choosing family. does yahya have loving parents? i’d think not from all this bitterness. also WHY was he trying to beat up legoshi like that? gosha’s better than me because i would’ve cut ties forever. 
overall i rate this arc a 6/10. not my fav! i liked it when legoshi was doing slice-of-life stuff with his new adult friends and learning more about the world, but then i was thrown off course by the homosexual horse and shounen training montages and legoshi’s crazy philosophical acid trip with the caterpillar he ate. 
melon domination
ta daaaa already the last arc. when legoshi let melon go, i was kinda pissed but i can’t blame him. legoshi spent most of his life KNOWING he was an outsider and not really knowing much about the hybrid life, and now with haru he’s almost promising to a life full of more discrimination and hate. i thought it was normal how he only wanted to connect with someone this affected by the system as his future kid/his mom will be/was, but also come on man. lock in he’s a criminal. 
also around this time i saw some arguments online that legoshi shouldn’t have a kid with haru because all hybrids will end up bad like melon. I DISAGREE HEAVILY ACTUALLY… i think melon only turned out this way because of his fucked up home life (strange predatory mother, presumed dead/deadbeat father, bullying at school) and lack of support at school or home. obviously that kind of hostile environment would raise a hostile kid. melon is not only a victim of the system but also a victim of abuse and bullying! i think that if legoshi and haru were to have a kid, that kid would be raised with love (at least in the house). and it’s not like ALL hybrids are evil — leano (legoshi’s mom) wasn’t evil, but she was ostracized by the community leading her to commit. legoshi is technically a hybrid too, but he’s not demonized because you can hardly tell he’s a hybrid. i think melon’s situation is all about his specific environmental factors.. tldr let legoshi and haru do whatever the fuck they want LMAO
legoshi communicating with the shark was SICK. people hate on the shishigumi for trying to kill louis and legoshi but like… they’re mafia! what else are they supposed to do..? lmao 
also props to melon for having a phd by the way. you could’ve been dr melon but no you wanted to pursue.. other interests, it seems..!
i’m also extremely confused about why legoshi turned white. who did that to you. he literally got whitewashed. 
the carni-herbi war was interesting to learn about (nice job jack) but the whale was SO FUNNY to me i don’t know why. and immediately cutting to yahya talking with said old-ass whale had me cracking up. the whale also had literally nothing to offer it was so underwhelming LMAO paru you lost yourself in the sauce. i respect it girl me too. 
MINI ARC: legoshi drafts himself into war
the turf war was really cool. i enjoyed this mini arc a lot it felt a lot like pokemon LMAO
the quiz was cool too! legoshi is very very knowledgeable because he makes an effort to get to know lots of different types of animals. #respect i love this guy. 
there’s a lot more that happened in this arc but honestly?! i have nothing to say about it. i thoroughly enjoyed all of it and read it with nail-biting anxiety. 8/10! two points off because of the whale thing. and kyuu oh my god that made 0 sense i’ve said this before and i’ll say it again: that whole ‘okay legoshi!’ thing could’ve been ANYONE. it could’ve been louis.  
ending
i liked the ending. i see a lot of complaints for it online but i have no qualms! i didn’t expect the world to change so suddenly (of course they’ll build another black market lol what’s a society without some crime?) and i didn’t expect for legoshi and haru to skip away into the sunset and for juno to get with louis and for everyone to make it out alive. it was realistic and the characters were lovably immature and awkward yet wise and open. i respected everyone’s vulnerability and honesty and wrongdoings. honestly this manga will squeeze right in between haikyuu and given in my heart as one of the mangas that i will never stop loving (and will love in secrecy SHH)
i still do have some lingering questions though. have they ever heard of the impossible burger? how the HELL did they evolve like this (i NEED darwin) and are there humans in this world? would it be wrong of me to say that i’m attracted to legoshi? i want to know more about that strange club yahya and legoshi went to. how did melon find time to get a phd and can i read his dissertation? why didn’t gosha just absolutely pummel melon’s dad because i totally would’ve? 
beastars, in all of its genius and strangeness, leaves us in the dark a little. but honestly i don’t mind! sometimes endings don’t have to wrap everything up nicely. though i do agree that the writing got a little messy and hard to follow towards the end, i didn’t find too many difficulties while trying to comprehend the main story. i loooved the slice of life chapters (beastrike!) and i truly think all characters are quite dimensional and there’s no true villain (you could argue melon, but i’ll argue that the real villain is… society……). 10/10 series, would totally read again. and this time, i won’t be scared of haru.
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dxmedstudent · 2 months ago
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You mentioned using CSP, I'm very new to digital art, so I was wondering, do you need a drawing tablet separately for the program? Or like... A tablet that you can connect to your laptop (with the CSP program installed on your laptop/PC) ? Sorry if this is confusing 😭 if you could share your setup that would be very helpful!
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Hey, so here is my current setup - an old 17 inch dell computer - it's seen better days, I've barely drawn for a while not only because passing postgraduate exams is a pain in the bum, but also because the computer has been becoming less functional. That said I did get it seen recently, and it's back to being able to run drawing software like CSP, which makes me happy. Before I moved in with DxDude, my setup was my laptop on a desk, with a second screen. It basically functioned like a desktop. I didn't really sit on the sofa, so a lot of my drawing time would be spent at that desk, or with the laptop in bed. However, after moving, there isn't really the space for me sit at a desk with it where we currently are - and whilst we could juggle things around to accommodate it, I dont' really want to spend my limited recreational time alone in a room at a desk, so I've been using it on my lap a lot more. Because I like to listen to things or 'watch' things or be social whilst I draw. I have a huion tablet that a good friend gave me after she upgraded her setup, I really like it (the christmas stickers are my addition) and it's nice to have a slightly bigger surface than my previous tablet. I've used it for years and whilst at times the use hasn't been heavy, I think it's held up well.
Prior to that I was using a bamboo touch pad - which is still pretty affordable I think - I got it whilst it was on sale, but it worked well. My husband has an old wacom intuos and also a bamboo tablet, and they work fine.
If you do a little reading, you may be able to get a functional enough drawing tablet for not a lot - under $50. It's also worth exploring brands like Huion or others that aren't as popular as wacom but still work. You may even be able to get something used.
Now these are separate drawing tablets that attach to your computer, and it's probably much cheaper to get one of these than it is to get an ipad or other kind of screen tablet.
I would say that with CSP you CAN use a mouse or a mouse pad to draw with it, and the program will still work. You can still get a lot of free brushes that look awesome and create some pretty neat art, I'm pretty certain. It would probably work fine for art styles where you have an even line and lots of block colour, and there are a TON of great brushes and effects to play with, I think most people would have a lot of fun with it.
BUT unlike a drawing tablet and pen, which tracks pressure, your mouse pad or mouse don't really track pressure, only position. So the lines that you would draw may be decent with a little practice, but you won't get the gradations of size or brush intensity that you would by using a tablet. Here's an example of a line using a track pad alone:
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Which could still be pretty decent for making art, even if it's not tapered. If in doubt, you can try free programs like GIMP or any of the slightly more affordable programs first - just to see if you enjoy drawing digitally. Or you could try to get a small used drawing tablet just to see if you enjoy using one - then if it's not your thing you won't feel like you invested a lot of money in it. To be clear: It's absolutely OK to invest money into a hobby and then realise you don't like it, or you prefer something else, that's fine. But I know a lot o f us are afraid of that happening - and starting off affordable is a way to get you over that fear. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer!
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90shaladriel · 11 months ago
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Writing Interview Tag Game
Thanks for tagging me @klynnvakarian !
About Me:
When did you start writing?
In my 30s I definitely made an attempt to write a "novel" and did some world building and a few pages of writing and it didn't go anywhere. Then Late 2022 after Rings of Power season 1 just joining the Haladriel fandom I read so much fic that I thought maybe I could do some as well. Got some encouragement from other haladriel writers (crucial for me)
Are there different genres or themes you enjoy reading other than the ones you write?
I love history and science non-fiction. I mostly am writing in the fantasy fan-fiction space, but I do like sci-fi as my first love.
Is there an author you want to emulate, or are compared to often?
I either consciously or unconsciously imagine I am writing in the voice that Frank Herbert used in the Dune series. Maybe mixed with some George RR Martin and a tinge of Tolkien.
Can you tell me a bit about your writing space?
Vast majority of my writing was on an iPad lying in my bed before sleep when no one needs my attention.
What’s your most effective way to muster up a muse?
I usually write a chapter per month so it's just random thoughts or reminders while reading other fics which inspire me to write a snippet here or there when I have the energy.
The other big muse I've found in recent months was actually listening to or reading Tolkien books: "The Silmarillion", "Beren and Luthien" and "Fall of Gondolin" the beautiful prose and the rich lore just sparks new ideas I want to try to play off of or emulate in my own fics.
Are there any reoccurring themes in your writing? If so do they surprise you?
I always like stories of characters that are beaten down, up against the world, maybe a little unappreciated, but not giving up. Even if they cannot win they try their best and work hard. A lot of sadness too. I don't express much of that sadness IRL so that is a bit surprising.
Characters:
Would you please tell me about your current favorite character?
Tough call - probably the Lady of Light, Galadriel based on the ROP - characterization
Which of your characters would you be friends with in real life?
Hmm, I'm not sure if I would be best friends but I think I would get along with Ereddâz, my Orc OC from A Lord and his Builder.
I think Galadriel would ignore me and Sauron would send me to his dungeons to be a thrall.
Which characters would you dislike the most if you met them?
Melkor from my First Fire in the Void fic
Do you notice any reoccurring themes/traits in your characters?
I touched on it above, I think I like writing characters that believe they are doing the right thing. I do not like writing characters that are specifically and intentionally bad. Even my villains have plausible motivations or perspectives to justify their actions.
How do you picture your characters?
Most of my writing is currently around the Rings of Power cast and that style.
I am dabbling with non-ROP fics, like First Fire in the Void and there I pictured Mairon based on a lot of fanart that basically draws him like a pretty woman with long red hair lol.
My Writing:
What’s your reason for writing?
A creative outlet. For years and years I would day dream my own stories, going back to when I was a kid, I was also a pretty decent DnD DM making up my own campaigns. I've often had dreams of telling stories by creating video games (I am a software dev professionally) but I usually get stuck on the actual technology side of creating a game and can never get to the creative side. By writing fic, I was able to just get my ideas out there without being held back by the lack of skills in other areas (game dev, art, making a story interactive and still make sense)
Is there any specific comment or type of comment from readers that you find particularly motivating?
Ive gotten a few amazing comments that say this is their favorite fic and I can't believe it since I just write one of many thousands of fics so I feel honored, and for my WIPs a little pressured, to produce more at that level.
How do you want to be thought about by your readers?
I want to write stories other people like, I do think about how can I make a story original in a way no one else does? What's a premise no one else has or could be done differently?
But really I am mostly writing stories that I like?
What do you feel is your greatest strength as a writer?
I think putting my characters through emotionally charged or traumatic events where they have realistic responses or reactions that I or I think readers might relate to emotionally.
How do you feel about your own writing?
I read other writing and it feels so polished and natural. I often feel like I am "emulating good writing" rather than being a good writer myself. I like my stories and plots but I am not always impressed by the words on the page after writing them. Sometimes I just give up during editing and just post and people seem to like it enough.
When you write are you influenced by what others might enjoy reading, do you write purely for yourself, or is it a mix of both?
AS I was saying I do think about the readers and I'm surely influenced by what I see in the community and what people respond to but every single idea is a kind of "wouldn't this be cool" idea I have myself first and then I judge how much I think other people would also find it to be cool or enjoyable. That part I sometimes guess at or things resonate with others that I didn't expect
No pressure tags!
@eowyn7023 @demonscantgothere @cliffdivingsblog @pursuitseternal @theriverwild
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justgleekout · 2 years ago
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The Purrfect Crime
Summary: Kurt and Blaine were, as you say, “partners in crime”, but like, in the opposite sense… They were a long standing duo at the CIA. Headquarters knew they worked best when they worked together, so they just always did.
On their most recent mission however, their professional partnership is being tested as they go undercover as a married couple.
Rating: T
Words: 3,625
Additional tags: Fake Dating, spies!klaine, Friends to Lovers, crack elements, I really tried to be funny, smitten!blaine, Pining, oblivious!kurt?, Or Is he?, Alternate Universe
Notes: This work is a secret santa gift to @spaceorphan18! Merry Christmas!
First of all, I know this is a little late and I'm so sorry! I was struggling (to say the least) to get this done on time. As you can see, this is chapter one, because I just couldn't finish the whole thing and I didn't want you to wait any longer. I was so busy with work it's litereally not funny. I was pulling days from 7am til 9pm at some point. Then, when I started writing my first idea, I came to the realisation that I was including a very significant trope that was the oposit of what you had written on your wish list, so I had to start over... my own stupid mistake. Then, to make matters even worse, I spilled soda all over my laptop and it broke down completely. So I had to continue writing on my phone and ipad with a broken keyboard (I do NOT reccomend). I know, excuses excuses. I'm just bummed I didn't get it done on time. Also I now have to buy a new computer...
All that aside! I hope you like what I've got so far! I got really excited when I saw you wanted spies!klaine! A trope I absolutely love! Just note that I have never really written crack before, but I tried my best to make it fun add many silly elements! And I promise there are a lot more to come in the next part!!
Chapter: 1/?
Read on Ao3
They walked up to the gates of what could only be described as a palace (if America had those). The long and broad driveway behind the gates lead to a building so large and fancy looking, Blaine instinctively straightened his bowtie and readjusted his cufflinks. He knew he looked the part. Headquarters never sent out their agents in anything less than appropriate attire, but he couldn’t help it. He then glanced over at Kurt, who looked like he was a regular at this place, clad in a striking powder blue suit that perfectly brought out the colour of his eyes- no, Blaine, you are on a mission and he is your friend. He had to remind himself more and more frequently of the fact that they were partners in the professional sense only. No matter how gorgeous Kurt looked and how kind he was and how many flirty remarks he made at Blaine. 
“Did you get any information on what we are actually attending?” Kurt asked.
“No, chief Sylvester only gave me the location and this invitation.” Blaine held up a piece of royal blue parchment with a broken red and gold wax seal. The text on it was written in golden ink and read: 
“ Dear guest, 
Recently I received some incredible news concerning someone close to me that has enriched my life. I would like to share this news with you. Therefore, I hereby invite you to attend a celebratory party to join me in my glee on the evening of the 22nd of may at my residence. I would love to share with you a grand revelation that not even I know the outcome of. All that I will say is that it will be an evening full of surprises. 
Sincerely,
Hunter Clarington”
“What do you think it means?” Kurt asked as he took the paper from Blaine to inspect it further.
“I don’t know. But he is clearly up to something. Chief Sylvester said they got a hold of this invite right after they found suspicious signals and radiation coming from the address. They tracked all the vehicles going in and out of the vicinity. All transporting materials to build some sort of weapon… a powerful one.”
Kurt worried his bottom lip between his teeth and nodded, mulling over the information.
Blaine couldn't help but stare at Kurt's mouth as he licked his lips in thought. Blaine swallowed thickly and his breath hitched for a moment.
Kurt eyed him a little suspiciously. “Are you nervous?” he asked.
“Are you?” Great save, Blaine. Clever. 
Kurt shrugged. “A little, I guess.” 
Blaine didn’t actually expect that answer. “What? Why? You’re never nervous .” 
“Well I just don’t really fit in at these kinds of events… ”
Blaine frowned at Kurt. “What makes you say that?”
“Everyone here is rich, Blaine. I don’t know any of these etiquettes and inside jokes. I’ll stick out like a sore thumb…”
“Kurt, you are a spy for the CIA You are literally trained to fit in anywhere. I’ve seen you act. You’re a natural! And your suit looks incredibly expensive.” Better than mine anyways…
Kurt smiled at the compliment. “Thank you. I tailored it myself, actually.”
“A secret agent with secret talents. Seriously, Kurt, what can’t you do?”
“It’s not “Kurt” tonight, Remember?” 
“Right. Yes. Sorry, Mr. Ralph Murray, what can’t you do?” Blaine said to Kurt with a smile.
“Some secrets I don't dare share, not even with you, Mr. George Murray, darling. ” Kurt winked at Blaine.
And there it was; the reason Blaine was nervous in the first place. Tonight Kurt and he were Ralph and George Murray, husbands of five years, millionaires, and most importantly, on the guest list. It wouldn’t be a hard part to play; Kurt’s husband. Blaine had played that part often enough in his head. But Kurt didn’t know that, and Blaine would rather eat his bowtie than have Kurt finding out and Blaine making a fool out of himself. He just couldn't help but blush at the pet name Kurt gave him. 
Then, a sharp noise pierced his ear. Blaine flinched. This damn earpiece! And then a voice, “Hey guys, I’m glad to hear you are getting into character, but you better get in there. We have no clue where the signal is coming from within that building. And we need to find it fast. 
Right. Blaine thought. The stakes were high tonight. The nation was in danger and it was their job to secure its safety. “We best get in, then.”
“Oh before you do, I have hidden some gadgets for you in that bush over there on the left side of the gate.”
“Hold up. You have hidden our top secret, highly dangerous gadgets… in a bush?” Kurt said exasperatedly into his earpiece. 
“I figured they would be easily accessible…”
“Yeah. To literally everyone , Sam,” Kurt hissed.
“Oh… yeah…”
“Look, Sam, just tell us what you got us,” Blaine said as he crouched next to the bush, pushing the branches aside to reveal a suitcase. He opened it and Sam continued, “Alright. There is of course your trusted grenade pen, anaesthetic darts-watch and bulletproof handkerchief, but I have also added a few of my newest inventions.”
To this, Kurt shot Blaine an apprehensive look. They were a little too familiar with Sam's “ inventions” to say they were always a raging success. They looked into the suitcase and saw, beside their usual gadgets, something that looked like a small beauty case, an umbrella and a pair of sunglasses. “What the…” Kurt whispered under his breath.
Blaine frowned. “Sam, the event is inside… how are we supposed to casually pull out an umbrella or sunglasses?” 
“You're worried about the sunglasses? How do you reckon we are gonna be able to pull off using a, what is this, a lipstick ?” Kurt said as he held up a small golden tube. 
“I- hadn’t really thought about that,” Sam confessed.
Kurt looked like a vein was about to pop in his forehead as he pinched the skin between his eyebrows and pursed his lips.
“What do they do, Sam?” Blaine offered.
“Right, so, the umbrella is not only completely waterproof, it is also fire resistant and creates a perfect shield once unfolded. The sunglasses have infrared night vision and the lipstick is my personal favourite. It releases a toxic fume if you press that button on the back there, but that won't affect you when you are wearing the lipstick as it neutralises the toxins as they come close to it, so when you inhale, you're totally safe,” Sam said proudly.
Blaine had to admit the inventions sounded pretty incredible had they been more practical. “Alright,” he sighed. “Thank you, Sam.”
Kurt side eyed him and Blaine offered a shrug in return. 
“Well, we’d better get going, now. We’ll tune back in when we need you, Sam,” Kurt said and tapped on his earpiece once to hang up. Blaine followed. “Honestly, I can’t with him sometimes. I know you guys are friends, but he sure gets on my nerves.”
Maybe Sam didn't always have the best ideas, but he really wasn't bad at his job. Blaine thought. “He tries his best, though. And he is actually really great once you get to know him,” 
Kurt shook his head. “You’re too kind for your own good,” he said, but there wasn't any actual judgement in his voice. 
Blaine smiled and the blush he was sporting a minute ago returned faintly to his cheeks.
They walked through the gate towards a grand wooden front door in front of which a big woman was standing behind a podium with her arms crossed. "Names?" she said as she was eyeing them up and down suspiciously.
Blaine put on his most charming smile. “George and Ralph Murray,” he responded.
She looked at the register in front of her and her expression changed. “Ah! Splendid!" Welcome to the Clarington residence. All guests are expected in the ballroom for the welcome speech at 8:00 pm sharp. In the meantime there will be beverages and appetisers served in the grand foyer. Please enjoy your evening Mr. and Mr. Murray.”
“Thank you,” Kurt said and nodded to the woman. They walked past her as the doors opened. 
“Ballroom? Really?” Blaine whispered at Kurt as they made their way up the steps leading to the front door. “What is this place? Versaille?”
Kurt sniggered and gave Blaine a pointed look. “Play the part now, Blaine,” he said as they stepped over the threshold. 
They entered an incredible marble room with two grand staircases with golden railings on each side. Large pillars reached to the high ceiling on which, in the middle, hung an enormous crystal chandelier. Blaine’s mouth fell open and he heard Kurt release a low whistle. They quickly pulled themselves together as they were approached by a young handsome waiter. “Welcome, gentlemen. Can I offer you a drink? A glass of champagne perhaps? Cocktail?”
“I’ll have an old fashioned, thank you.” Kurt said with a confident, charming smile. See? Blaine knew Kurt had nothing to worry about. He was a natural. Blaine might have come from money, but Kurt just radiated class. 
“For me a negroni, please. Let’s save the champagne for later after the great announcement, don't you think?” Blaine said with a wink.
The young man blushed. “Certainly, sir.” 
“Say, do you happen to know anything about this speech?” Blaine asked him.
The waiter's eyes grew wide for a second. “I- I’m sorry sir, but it’s supposed to be a surprise.” 
“Of course. I’m sorry,” Blaine gave the waiter an understanding smile. The young man bowed his head gratefully and dashed away to get their drinks.
Blaine leaned into Kurt’s side, “You reckon he didn't know? Or he didn’t want to say?” he asked.
“Not sure… Would you share your secrets with the waiting staff?”
“I don’t know. I never had waiting staff.” 
“Hm.” Kurt gave him a considering look that lingered a bit too long. It made Blaine feel a little hot in the face.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing.” Kurt shrugged. “I’m just trying to paint a picture of you.” When Blaine didn't respond immediately he added, “It's a good picture, don't worry.” There was something suggestive in the way Kurt spoke. Blaine looked at him as if to try figuring him out. Kurt was just good at playing his part. Blaine told himself. Though no one was looking at them at the moment so there was no direct reason for it.
“Let's ask around some more, shall we?” Kurt suggested, breaking the tension.
"Yeah. Good plan.”
The young waiter had returned with their drinks and they started moving through the crowd. They asked multiple people if they had any idea what they were doing here, but no one seemed to know or want to tell them anything. 
“This is hopeless. We are wasting valuable time.” Blaine slumped against one of the pillars. 
Kurt opened his mouth to respond but Blaine motioned for him to be quiet when he heard a woman speak; “See, I told you he was weird. Who hosts a party for their cat?” 
They turned to look where the voice came from. A latina woman with long dark hair in a fitted, red, velvet dress was talking to another woman. This one with blond hair styled in a stylishly messy updo and a mint green dress. 
“I would,” the blonde woman said solemnly. “And I have in the past.” 
“Yeah, but that’s different. You’re cute about it.” The dark haired woman flirted and the blonde one gave her a quick kiss. 
“Excuse me,” Blaine piped in.
The dark haired woman gave him a once over, clearly judging him.
“George Murray, pleasure to meet you.” He held out his hand and the woman took it with only slight reluctance. “This is my husband, Ralph Murray.” He gestured to Kurt who then also shook the woman’s hand. Blaine noticed that the look she gave him was a lot less disapproving. Though Blaine couldn't blame her when Kurt was wearing that suit. 
“Santana Lopez,” the dark haired woman introduced herself. “This is Brittany Pierce.”
The men shook Brittany's hand as well. “I’m sorry, we just couldn’t help but overhear… Do you happen to know what this event is for?”
“I’ve only heard rumours,” Santana said.
“I see. Where did you get these rumours from?” Blaine asked.
Santana crossed her arms. “Well aren’t you the little detective. What's it to you, anyways? 
“Just nosy.” Kurt’s smile turned a little more devious than polite, matching her energy.
“They say it’s his cat’s birthday, but that doesn’t explain the great announcement. Maybe his cat got nominated for an award.” Brittany said
Kurt and Blaine looked at each other in disbelief, and back at the women. “You can’t be serious,” Kurt said.
Santana crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. “Deadly.” 
“He can't be that passionate about a cat?”
“Wanna bet?” Santana challenged. “How do you think we know him?”
The men shrugged.
“We know him from cat shows.” Santana rolled her eyes. “Brittany’s cat, Lord Tubbington, often runs against his cat, Mr. Puss. So believe me when I say people are passionate about their cats. Anyways if you really wanna know, we heard it from Sebastian Smythe.”
“Who is that?” 
“He is one of Hunter's closest friends .” She grinned as if to imply something.
“Do you think Hunter told him about his plans for the night?” Blaine asked, trying to hide the eagerness in his voice.
“I’m sure he did. I overheard them talking about half an hour ago. Something about ‘getting it ready in the basement.’ ” She shrugged.
Kurt and Blaine exchanged a meaningful look. “Do you know how we can get in there?” Kurt asked.
“I'm sure Sebastian has a keycard to the elevator. But hold up, why do you want to know so bad?”
“Never mind that. What does he look like; Sebastian?” Kurt asked.
Santana smirked. “Oh you can’t miss him.” 
Brittany then took Santana's hand and whispered something in her ear. They giggled. “Look we’d love to stay and chat, but we, er, we gotta go.” Santana said before she was pulled away by Brittany. Santana managed to add a “good luck” as they disappeared into the crowd. 
“What do we do now?” Blaine sighed. “We have no clue where to find this Sebastian character,”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Kurt said and pointed over Blaine’s shoulder. 
Blaine turned to look, and there, in the middle of a group of people, stood a handsome man who was clearly the centre of attention. The people around him were laughing at his jokes and basically fawning over him. “You reckon that’s him?” Blaine asked.
“ Oh my god, Sebastian! You didn’t!” one of the guys closest to him laughed and flirtily touched the man’s arm. 
Sebastian petted the guy’s hand and smirked. “You should hear what I did with his father,” he said and winked at the woman next to him. The people around him all laughed.
Blaine snorted. “Well that answers that,” he said.
“He looks incredibly obnoxious,” Kurt said and narrowed his eyes. “He is flirting with literally everyone in his little group.” He grimaced.
“Maybe we can use that to our advantage?” Blaine thought out loud. However he didn’t really feel like watching Kurt chat up another man. He would just have to do it himself. “I will go and talk to him!” 
“Wait, maybe-” but before Kurt could protest, Blaine had stepped into the circle of people. Sebastian's eyes were immediately on him. 
“Well hello handsome,” Sebastian said and extended his hand towards Blaine. “I don’t think we’ve met. You look like someone I wouldn’t easily forget.” He grinned.
Despite his better judgement, Blaine blushed. The man was handsome, alright. And definitely charismatic, judging by the effect he had on the people around him. “We haven't. My name is George Murray. Are you Sebastian Smythe?” Blaine asked as he shook the man’s hand. 
“Matter of fact I am. To what do I owe this pleasure?”  
“I was talking to some friends of mine and you sounded… interesting” Blaine smiled a what he hoped was a seductive smile. 
Sebastian raised an eyebrow and turned away from Blaine for a second to make a dismissive gesture to his followers. “Could you give us a moment please?” 
The small crowd looked annoyed, some even jealous, but they obeyed, leaving the two men to themselves. Sebastian turned back to Blaine “Interesting, hm?” he grinned. 
Now that they were talking Blaine realised he didn’t actually have a solid plan. He couldn’t straight up ask Sebastian to give him the key. He would never just hand it over. Maybe Blaine could convince Sebastian to take him to the basement? But he needed Kurt with him. So he had to think of something else.
“They said you were close friends with the host,” Blaine said, trying to imply exactly whatever Santana was implying before. “I can see why he would like you,” he flirted. Apparently this was the right move, as Sebastian looked him up and down let his gaze rest on Blaine’s mouth. 
Sebastian leaned in closer. “You’re cute, George Murray. How come I’ve never seen you before?” 
“I- I’m usually very busy with eh- work. Don’t-“ Blaine swallowed. “Don’t often have time for parties.” Out of the corner of his eye Blaine noticed movement. He glanced over Sebastian's shoulder and saw that Kurt was miming something. “Back pocket!” He mouthed. What about his back pocket? Wait. Sebastian’s back pocket! The keycard was in sebastians back pocket!
Sebastian, who luckily didn’t seem to have noticed anything, spoke again, “Ah, so you're Mr. Professional, hm? Do you always obey the rules or are you capable of letting loose every once in a while?”
“Er, yeah sure,” Blaine said semi on auto pilot. How the hell was he supposed to get the key-card from Sebastian’s pocket? “What about you?” he asked. “Are you a rule breaker?”
“You could say that,” Sebastian quipped. 
Blaine laughed. He needed to get very close and personal with this man but whilst he was doing so, he might as well find out some more information.
“I was wondering,” Blaine said and trailed his finger over Sebastian’s chest. “As you’re such a bad boy, would you mind telling me what tonight is all about?” Blaine looked up through his eyelashes. 
Sebastian inhaled through his teeth. “Oh babe, I can’t tell you that. It’s supposed to be a surprise.” 
“I thought you didn't play by the rules.” 
“Why don’t you come upstairs with me where we can have a little more privacy and I can tell you all you want to know.” Sebastian said and slipped an arm around Blaine’s back. 
This was his chance. He could take it now and Sebastian wouldn't notice. He just didn’t know how to get out of the situation once he made his move. Blaine looked over his shoulder in search of Kurt and found him looking at them. Blaine gave him a quick pleading look, hoping Kurt would understand. Here goes nothing. He put his hand on Sebastian's back and slid it down to rest over his butt. “Sounds amazing...” Blaine felt the card in Sebastian's pocket. “...but I forgot to mention…” He slid his fingers into the pocket over the card, trying to pull it off as a caress, and as he retreated his hand he pulled the card out. Got it. “...that I'm married.” 
As if on cue, Kurt stepped in front of them. “Darling! There you are! I was looking for you.” He smiled a bit too sweetly at Blaine. “Who’s our new friend?” he asked and shot a murdering look at Sebastian. 
“Woah, what the hell?” Sebastian took a step back, letting go of Blaine. 
Blaine quickly slipped the key-card into his own pocket and stepped closer to Kurt. “Ralph, honey, this is Sebastian. He is a close friend of Hunter’s. Sebastian, this is my husband, Ralph Murray.”
“Husband? Wow,” Sebastian said. “Was not expecting that.” 
Kurt held out his hand. “Pleasure,” he said through gritted teeth.
Sebastian took Kurt’s hand and shook it once. 
Kurt turned to Blaine again. “Well it’s almost 8 o’clock. We should get going, darling.” 
“Right.” Blaine nodded. “Maybe we can talk later?” he offered innocently to Sebastian as if nothing had happened. “It was very nice meeting you.” 
“Sure was,” Sebastian said and winked at Blaine, clearly recovered from the initial shock. “I am looking forward to seeing you again, George.”
Kurt then pulled Blaine away by his hand through the crowd, leaving Sebastian behind. 
“Thank you for saving me,” Blaine said once they had found a quiet corner.
“You didn't really seem like you needed saving,” Kurt said coldly.  
“What do you mean? If you hadn’t shown up, I wouldn’t have been able to get away!” 
“I mean, ” Kurt said. “It didn't seem like you had such a terrible time with him. I know you needed to get the card, but how are we supposed to come across as a happily married couple when you are feeling up all the other guests.” He crossed his arms defensively.
Blaine stared at Kurt for a second. Then it dawned on him. “Wait, Kurt, are you jealous?”  
“No,” Kurt snapped. 
“Oh my god, you are totally jealous.”
Kurt’s cheeks turned red. “Shut up, I'm trying to take this mission seriously. Did you at least get the key?”
Blaine couldn't help but grin as he presented it. “Got it right here.”
“Great. Let's go try it out before he finds out it’s missing. We need to get to the basement before it’s 8 o’clock.” 
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