#I also have the entire plot of The Star of the City but this post is so long already

[arechanga]

Where did Puig learn the song he sang in the finale? In theatre, or is it something that’s popular in-universe or is it something to do with his ex-wife?

The story behind this is so funny, actually!

When I first thought of the scene, I was hoping to make him sing a Broadway love song, but those are copyrighted to hell and back so I thought "maybe I should commission a lyricist to write me like a verse or two of an original broadway styled song"

Ankari [@ankariisme ] and Lluvia [@ / rainpuddles on twitter] (the musician and lyricist who helped me, respectively) imagined a whole Golden Era Styled Broadway Musical around the song, and even gave it a place in-universe!

In Akari's own words:

OK so let me tell you about this musical, it's called The Star of the City like a pretty standard early 30s musical but it's not one of the most well-known from this composer, only a couple of numbers became famous later on when some crooner made them popular with overblown orchestral arrangements on the radio but no one remembers the musical itself, you'll only see it played at musical theater schools because they have to pay low copyright fees for it

As for Puig's relationship with the song, well... Puig is a man dedicated to his work. As you can see, he currently has no life outside of it! The moment he shared with Alex, however, brought him back to who he once was for a moment-- in this case, to the student full of theater dreams he once used to be. I wont go too deep into it because there will be more focus on Puig's past during season 2!

[oh-obrien]

GRID ACE 0.3

GAMER READER X Lestappen SMAU

Summary: Reader is a Red Bull e-sports athlete who happens to catch the attention of two particular drivers with her streams

PART THREE and things are getting Suspicious 👀

And my requests for these are open!!

All pictures are from Pinterest!!!

Reader has various face claims!

Masterlist / Previous Part / Next Part

Xx.y/n.xX just posted

Tagged @ yourteammate1 , @ yourteammate2, @ yourteammate3, @ yourteammate4, @ yourteammate5

Liked by Maxverstappen1, yourbestfriend, and 12,348 others

Xx.y/n.xX contrary to popular belief I am still a professional, thank you Champs for having us! Fight’s not over, you know?

-> Yourteammate3 she stopped playing with cars long enough to help us win champions!!

-> Xx.y/n.xX 😌 Champs MVP even.

-> Yourteammate5 she stopped playing with boys who drive cars long enough to help us win champions*

Liked by @ Maxverstappen1, @ Charles_leclerc

-> Xx.y/n.xX hey woah! Let's keep it PG in here

-> Yourteammate3 GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER, I mean queuing with them!

-> Landonorris 👀

Redbullgaming that’s OUR MVP!

-> Xx.y/n.xX admin you’re gonna make me blush!

Liked by @ Maxverstappen1, @ Charles_leclerc

-> Danielricciardo bet there's better people to make her blush

-> Xx.y/n.xX EXCUSE ME DANIEL

-> Danielricciardo I said what I said

Yourbestfriend Celebrating THE MVP!!

Liked by @ Xx.y/n.xX

Georgerussell63 The true Red Bull World Champion @ Maxverstappen1 you've got some competition

-> Xx.y/n.xX Thank you Mr. Russell 🫡

-> Xx.y/n.xX I've unlocked another Vroom Vroom character btw for all of those following my journey.

Charles_leclerc So glad to be there to support you 🎉🥳

-> Xx.y/n.xX aww shucks, thanks Char! 🤭

-> User1 CHARLES WAS THERE???? The plot thickens

-> User2 They are stuck to each other like they're glued together or something.

-> User3 the real question is if Max was also there or not.

-> User2 I feel like he had to be, especially if CHAR was there.

Maxverstappen1 our world champion! Way to go schatje

Liked by @ charles_leclerc

User4 Someone BETTER HAVE GOTTEN MAX'S COMMENT BEFORE HE DELETED IT

-> User5 WHAT WAS IT?

-> User4 He called her schatje!

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Rebullgaming and Redbullracing just posted

Tagged @ Xx.y/n.xX and @ Maxverstappen1

Liked by Charles_leclerc, Landonorris and 24,768 others

Redbullgaming Two of Red Bull's world champs take on laser tag following @ Xx.y/n.xX Valorant Champions win in Paris!

Xx.y/n.xX @ maxverstappen1 they made us look like movie stars!

-> Maxverstappen1 😎

-> Danielricciardo MAIN CHARACTERS

-> Redbullracing OUR main characters

-> Xx.y/n.xX dropping 30 bombs in laser tag and at champions in the same weekend!!

-> Redbullracing Move, or get zapped!

User4 MAX WAS THERE!

-> User5 IT'S CONFIRMED Max AND Charles went to support y/n at champions!

-> User4 she has to be more than friends with one of them I just can't tell which.

-> User6 I personally think both of them

-> User5 I feel like F1 wouldn’t be too happy about that

-> User6 the FIA stands no chance against our community service king, he WOULD NOT care

-> User4 Y/N and Charles are both so babygirl coded they’d let him take on the FIA for them

-> User5 counterpoint, Y/N would burn down an entire city for the people she cares about, Charles and Max are both also babygirl coded in her mind.

Landonorris Max and y/n make a deadly laser tag duo, @ charles_leclerc we stood no chance

-> Charles_leclerc don't mess with two world champions

Liked by @ maxverstappen1, @ Xx.y/n.xX

Scuderiaferrari Hope Charles put up a fight worthy of earning P2

-> Charles_leclerc 💪

-> McLaren this is slander @ Landonorris was P2

-> Xx.y/n.xX Sorry admin, Charles might bottom frag in Val but he's a beast at laser tag, @ landonorris stays at the bottom of the scoreboard this time

-> Landonorris I'm hurt

-> Xx.y/n.xX cry about it, loser.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Maxverstappen1 just posted

Tagged @ Xx.y/n.xX and @ charles_leclerc

Liked by Redbullracing, Carlossainz55 and 32,234 others

Maxverstappen1 Thank you Paris!

-> Yourbestfriend my favorite trio!

-> Xx.y/n.xX the only trio that actually matters 🫡

User7 HELLO THE PICTURE OF Y/N AT THE CLUB??

-> User8 soft launch?

-> User7 this gets more and more sus with each day that passes

-> User9 if anything this is such a hard launch it isn't even believable

Redbullracing Excited to have out favorite Redbull duo (and Charles I guess) back at COTA next week!

-> User10 EXCUSE ME ADMIN

-> User11 Admin knows something we don’t 🧐

Alex_albon you can keep them Paris, more podiums for us with both of them gone

-> Landonorris I second this, take another week off

-> Charles_leclerc no.

-> Maxverstappen1 no.

-> Xx.y/n.xX you used to get velcroed to your car you don’t get a say right now

-> Landonorris I’m so hurt right now, WHO TOLD YOU THAT

-> Xx.y/n.xX and it was all too much for little Lando Norris

Liked by @ DanielRicciardo and @ Georgerussell63

-> Xx.y/n.xX sorry @ alex_albon I like watching them race too much, and Ferrari gives me good lattes

-> Scuderiaferrari the only Red Bull athlete we’ll take care of in our motorhome

Liked by @ charles_leclerc

-> Xx.y/n.xX omg admin what are we? 🥹 👉🏻👈🏻

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

User12 PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS TRIO

-> User13 Like you would think after Paris Y/N would’ve gone home with her team to celebrate their win

-> User14 Her team posted photos on the plane on the way home with their trophy and she definitely wasn’t there with them

F1forthegirls Y/N was seen leaving Max’s Monaco residence this morning with the Red Bull and Ferrari driver in tow all three had bags with them and were picked up by a driver to take them to the airport

-> F1forthegirls It was reported by airport staff that Y/N and Charles seemed particularly close while waiting to board Verstappen’s private plane, the two were reportedly leaning on each other and sharing whispers

-> F1forthegirls It was also said Verstappen was also brought in on the affection when Y/N leaned up to whisper something in his ear before kissing his cheek

User15 WHAT IS HAPPENING

-> User14 We need more updates on this trio we need to be FED

-> User15 I’m starting to think they’re all actually together, or at least Y/N is with both boys and they’re happy to share

-> F1forthegirls while we’re happy to share updates we will not be speculating on any driver’s personal relationships!

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Xx.y/n.xX just added to their story

Landonorris I fear she is going to break the internet

Xx.y/n.xX my true intentions have been revealed

Landonorris enjoy the shit storm this is going to cause

Xx.y/n.xX and it was all too much for little Lando Norris

Danielricciardo This is such a hard launch they’re not going to believe it

Xx.y/n.xX 😉

Yourbestfriend 👀👀👀

Xx.y/n.xX Oops my fingers slipped

Tag list : @that-one-little-soybean

Leave me a comment to be added 😊

[amourcheol]

paris (teaser)

❝You and Jeonghan, jazz-filled corners, hidden history, and the city of love.❞

historical! au | exes to lovers! au | angst, fluff, smut | approx. 45k words (teaser wc. 1.4k words)

s u m m a r y : disgraced by hollywood for the last time, you, a once superstar-turned-alcoholic, escape to the city of love to seek sanctuary from the ruthless tabloids. your sanctuary comes in the form of film noir superstar yoon jeonghan, the enigmatic man who taught you the art of acting, lust and love before your fame. when he asks to meet you once, just like old times, you cannot refuse. what is meant to be a simple date turns into a path of passion, pain and everything that comes with fooling around with your ex in the jazz-filled corners of paris.

c o n t e n t s : actor! mc, actor! jeonghan, mc is incredibly bitter and makes bad decisions, agent! seungkwan who is tired of fixing them, jeonghan is the suavest, sultriest mf, mentions of parisian landmarks in this fic, also a bit of french peppered throughout, greek mythology art references, tons of fluff which is also layered with angst, this will be very hurt-comfort, hella ansgty but will have a happy ending mature warnings -> alcohol consumption and abuse, smoking, this is basically sexual tension with plot, slightly drunk making out, oral sex (f. receiving) unprotected sex (refer point to bad decisions), very soft angsty sex, body worshipping, petnames (chérie, mon ange, darling, angel), overall emotional rollercoaster, more tba!

p l a y l i s t : here!

t a g l i s t : @hyuckworld​ @sysymei @alaypsy23 @belladaises @jjeongddol @sparklyshuji @forcoups @ilovesungjun @wonwoo24 @scandal-in-bohemia @hopefulchick @superbbananananana @onedumbho3 @fragmentof-indifference @cuntycheol @rubywonu @if-i-like-i-reblog @yoonzinoooo @jungwoos-luvr @crookedwolfruins @leclercloverbot​ @alexai (let me know if y’all want to be tagged!)

a u t h o r ’ s  n o t e : after three years ... four rewritings later... she may finally see the light ... i am releasing the teaser now but will post the fic when i’m back from holiday! i hope you all enjoy the lil extract <3

read this fic here!

SHIT. YOU COULD NOT DO THIS TODAY.

Suddenly, you wished he was a mere figment of your imagination, because then he would not have to see you in your drunken, disordered state, looking for art that was not there, looking for the past in the present.

But then he began to move.

This very real presence walked closer to you, and you felt your entire body constricting, because Yoon Jeonghan was in front of you, the greatest star in the world was approaching you, the man of your distant memories was coming too close.

“Wait,” he then said, and your throat was closing up, you were blinking rapidly, chest growing heavy, and you needed him to get away. He came closer, and you knew then and there you were going to die on the cold floor of the Louvre, marble eyes on you—

And then your own gaze was glistening, and when he noticed it became harder to contain yourself. “_____, are you all right?”

“Yes!” you got out, but then you proved yourself wrong when a few tears slipped out, staining your cheeks.

The man wasted no time, closing the last space between the two of you as he reached out. Instantly, you repelled from his touch, almost flinching from his surprise. “No!” you rasped out, bringing out your own hands to create distance, taking a step back. “No, you don’t need to do that…I’m fine.” 

You breathed sharply through your nose. “I am fine.”

Hastily you turned to the empty space where he last was, before you followed him like a madwoman around the hall. He watched you, your back almost to him. “What…what are you…” you paused, trying to normalise your shaking voice. “What are you doing here?”

You could feel his inquisitive stare upon you. “I could ask you the same thing.”

That question was not being answered. “I asked you first.”

Because you could not see him, you were not aware of his reaction. Still, it was enough for him to answer, “Well, in the Louvre, or in Paris?”

You gritted your teeth at that. “I think everyone knows why you’re in Paris at the moment.”

“Do they, now?”

You could not help it.

Casting a momentary glance at him, you were taken aback to find his gaze upon you. “Are you aware, at least?” he asked you.

Despite his simple questions, your impending headache, you had to clamp down on your remarks. “Of course I’m aware,” you muttered. “The papers are all over the press tours you’ve been doing.”

A perfectly groomed brow arched at your comment. “I’m surprised you follow the papers at the moment.” 

You knew exactly what he meant. “One must keep check of the stories they gossip about,” you only said, focusing back on the empty space. “Those journalists cannot be trusted.”

“Hmm…” you heard shuffling amongst his clothes—no doubt crossing his arms. “I have read the stories.”

A scoff. “I suppose you believe them, don’t you?”

He noted the cruelty in your response. The actor did not take it to heart.

“I have always believed in the stories you told me, chérie.”

This time, curiosity controlled your movement.

Curiosity had you turning back, forcing you to observe his expression, catch his lie. 

But you found no deception.

No, there was only sincerity—pure as the moonlight shining on the two of you.

Chérie.

The last time someone had called you such a sweet name was too long ago.

How ironic, that it was the same man beside you who had bestowed you this very endearment.

A shuddered breath left you. 

You could not do this now.

You were going to say as much when Jeonghan interrupted you.

“Were you looking for something in here?”

Your furrowed brows had him humming. “I thought as much.” Gently, he jerked his head beyond your figure. “Strangely enough, I was looking for it as well.”

Confused, you glanced back at the empty space, where that certain, mysterious sculpture was supposed to be. “That is why I came to the Louvre,” you heard him say.

There was still suspicion laced in your features. “How do you know that we are thinking of the same piece?”

That ghost of a smile crept up again. “You act as if you don’t remember.”

Your sigh was a little sheepish. “I do,” you said, reminiscing on the memories. “But the name…”

No matter how hard you endeavoured, your memory of the sculpture was too hazy for your half-drunk mind. 

You searched him for an answer. “I’m sure you have not forgotten.”

“No…I have not.”

You waited. His silence had you insisting, “Well?”

When you saw a slight glimmer in his whimsical gaze, you knew that he had something else in mind. The implications had you biting your lower lip, anxiety blooming.

The nerves grew when Jeonghan spoke.

“I will tell you if you see me tomorrow.”

You blinked back.

“There’s an exhibition opening here tomorrow afternoon,” he continued, taking a step towards you, careful not to startle you again. “It’s centred on the sculpture we both wanted to see, but it’s been moved to another hall.”

He confused you a great amount. “How do you know that?”

His stare went beyond you, to the wall. “It says on the plaque.”

Sure enough—when you looked back, there was the notice. Because your French was adequate at best, you did not understand it fully. You simply had to trust his linguistic abilities.

That you could do—you were aware of Jeonghan’s fluency in the language of love. 

He cocked his head, a few strays cascading the side of his face. “You and I could see it there.”

The offer had shaken you. “Why?”

“Why?”

You knitted your brows suspiciously. “Why do you want to go with me?”

The film noir star watched you then, you shuffling uncomfortably under his scrutiny. God, you forgot how intense his eyes were—in fairness, you had not been the subject of his stares for a few years. 

He locked his gloved hands behind his back. “Because you need a break, _____. From everything.”

He offered you a smile. “Let me be the one to give you that. If only for the day.”

You could have crumbled before him.

It was at this stage you cursed yourself for being in such a state. Perhaps if you were sober, you would have carried on this conversation in a more respectable manner, taken more caution.

It was incredibly difficult, composing yourself around the man.

“I can’t…” you inhaled sharply, trying to form the words. “I cannot do midday…too many people, you know…staring, judging…”

“Ah.” He nodded, parting his mouth in thought. “Then tomorrow night?”

Stretching your mouth, unsure, he assured, “They will not follow you here at this hour.”

“How are you so sure of that?”

This time, he sighed, surprised at your anxiousness. “I see you’ve not changed, then.”

You narrowed your gaze. “What is that supposed to mean?”

But the actor did not seem like he was going to elaborate. 

He instead took another step towards you, a mere two feet left. 

“Do you trust me?”

You tilted your head back. 

What kind of question was that?

Do you trust me?

You did not trust anyone. Not after this whole debacle back home, when almost all your friends within the industry had contributed to your downfall. Hollywood was filled with traitors, the worst being the people who haunted the journey of your disgrace at every moment.

It was impossible to place any ounce of faith in another.

As you watched his eyes settle on you, you noticed an emotion you had not witnessed in forever.

Tenderness.

Tenderness with no ulterior motive—gentle acceptance, as if he recognised your position. As if he recognised your change, the apprehensive nature of your questions, your pauses. It physically hurt being stained with such compassion, when you had been begging for it from the world all those weeks ago.

It hurt, having someone who understood you.

You, however, should not have been surprised.

Yoon Jeonghan had always been like this. Especially when you both were together.

You could have smiled. 

What a time that was.

As if he could read your mind, the film noir star began, “You remember, don’t you? That I’ve never let you down?”

You decided to let yourself slip—you could always blame it on the alcohol. 

“What time do you want me here tomorrow?”

[forevamark]

time lapse | 1. dreams and all

remember when i said ‘would be posted tomorrow.’..? 

... and that was like... 2 years ago? well i lied. LOL life has been rough lately but alas my pride and joy is finished.

Pairing: mark lee x fem!reader

Tags: pre idol debut to idol au, christmas and new years time line, slice of life moments, college student reader, substantial plot leading to smut, very dialogue heavy, angsty moments, slow burn, relationship struggle, lovers to exes to lovers

Intended for 18+ readers, minors do not interact.

masterlist for time lapse

ᥫ᭡.next

Word Count : 6.1k+

Summary: Mark has always had the dream of becoming a big music star, meanwhile your aspirations lied with academics and coexisting with Mark. Mark struggles with telling reader that he will be leaving for Korea to pursue his music career very soon, in fear of losing what they have.

warnings are under the tab for chapters that apply.

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

“What do you think about this?” Mark asked as he sat above you strumming on his guitar. You were sitting on the floor between his legs focused on your eight-page paper.

“In a sec,” you reply while wrapping up the sentence you were on.

“Take a break…” Mark whined trying to pry the laptop from your speedy fingers.

“Mark, it’s due in two days. I will listen in a sec.”

“Mhmm.” He sulked, leaning back into the sofa and continuing his chord progression.

Days like this were stressful- due to the plethora of assignments that piled on- but soothing in a way. Your schedules never aligned this often, but Mark was so entirely enamored with you that he’d do anything to spend his free time just being with you. 

“I can’t believe it’s been three hours and I only have my thesis done,” you sighed while resting your head on his knee.

“You got this,” he replies while running a hand soothingly through your hair while the other writes something down on the notepad next to him, “I believe in you.”

“Do you need anything to help you focus? Am I being too loud?” he asks while going to the kitchen and lighting your favorite candle, “I can make you a snack?”

“Do you mind getting me some fruit? I feel like I need some brain food.” You asked while cracking your knuckles and continuing to type away.

Mark nods and walks back over, handing you a cut persimmon with the skin peeled off. He always knew what you needed before even saying it out loud.

Humming in appreciation you immediately start chewing on the sliced fruit.

Eyeing him from the corner you see him looking out of your apartment window. It was raining hard outside, Mark’s favorite. 

“Anything else you need to work on?” you ask. He shrugs his shoulders. 

“Not much else, I want your opinion on what I have then I’ll see what I can add from there. Don’t worry though,” he turns to look at you with a small smile, “I can wait.”

Mark has always been supportive of your dreams and aspirations. It was a shock when he told you he wouldn’t be joining you at university, but rather pursuing music instead. Although an adjustment, you supported him and he rooted for you. It seemed to be working out, he passed the first two rounds of auditions for a big music company and it looked like things were finally looking up for him. 

Some days you wouldn’t see him at all, and some days he picked you up from class and would stay glued to your side. He claims that he ‘soaked up inspiration from you’ hence the constant quality time and skinship. He knew you were working hard, pursuing a higher education was so important to you and your family, and he wanted to be present every step of the way. 

Unbeknownst to you, Mark also had a dark cloud overlooking him just like the city in front of him. He hasn’t yet told you that he passed the third and final round of auditions for his company and would be slated to move to Korea before the end of the year to begin his training. He couldn’t bear to break the news to you, not yet. Not when you were so close to finishing one of your hardest semesters yet.

“I think I can pull you away from that screen now y/n,” he says while tugging you away from the black-and-white screen.

“Hey! I’m not finished yet! I thought you said you could wait” you pouted trying to get loose.

“You’ve been working nonstop, you aren’t being as productive anymore.” He chuckles while slotting you to the seat across from him.

“Hi.” he smiles at you.

“Hi,” you respond.

There’s a moment of silence shared between you two. The only sound was the soft pitter-patter from outside hitting the patio. Mark stares at you lovingly, you can tell something is wrong but you can’t find the words to ask him just yet, too entranced by the current hold he has on you.

“So, the song, yeah?” you finally whisper aloud. 

“Hold on,” he replies, licking his lips and searching every inch of your face, memorizing this very moment to inspire him for what he’s about to play.

“What’s the holdup? Don’t get stage fright in front of me now Lee,” you lightly say while giggling.

“I, I just want to make you proud, okay?” he finally says with sad eyes.

“You always will, Mark.”

Guilt washed over Mark. Things were great, perfect even. But he just had to aspire for more. He should be satisfied with what he has now, he’s close to home, has a stable music career here in Canada, and most importantly, you. But just like you, he had the moon but he wanted every damn star in the galaxy. He didn’t want change, but nothing could satiate the hunger for something more. He was leaving, because he knew that this life, now, isn’t enough.

“Okay.” he takes a moment to gather himself, taking in some deep breaks and shaking his nerves out through his hands.

“Let’s hear it!” you shuffle sitting up straight in your chair.

Mark lets out one final breath before starting a low strum on his guitar. Flashes of memories throughout your relationship flash before his eyes. Your first snow day in Canada when you couldn’t get the ice off of your windshield, to the countless nights of watching reruns of Glee in your small shared apartment. 

He hits the chorus for the first time, opening his eyes to look around the room, unable to look at you just yet. Pictures of you two littered the walls, filled with your smiling and laughing faces. 

Mark mumbles small noises of nonsense to fill in the parts he doesn’t know what to put in between, sometimes trying out some lyrics at the top of his head. He shakes his head and chuckles when words don’t rhyme or quite fit, in return you share a smile enjoying him delving into his craft.

There’s something about the way that Mark can lose himself completely, in his little world and for brief moments you’re able to enter his mind, envisioning every note in a flow of synesthesia. He’s able to create color and landscape through sound, and what’s crazier is that he doesn’t even realize the extent of his art.

“And… I guess that’s it. What’d you think?” He asks as he lets out a final strum. The warmness of his music is still palpable in the room, despite the cold and dark weather that demands to be let inside. 

You take another moment staring at the man in front of you. Mark bit his fingers in anticipation. His large white tee hung loosely on his shoulders, his ripped jeans bounced waiting for your feedback.

Everything is perfect.

Nothing can take this moment away from you two. 

No words could exactly encapsulate how you felt so you decide to throw your arm around him. 

Mark lets out a sigh of relief as he sets his guitar to the side, “So I guess you liked it?” then reciprocates by pulling you into his lap.

“I loved it, Mark. I can’t wait to hear it all together, I liked that chord progression, I can hear it on the radio one day,” you mutter into his shirt.

The pitter-patter of rain outside was accompanied by the soft whimpers from the man whose chin sat upon your head.

“I’m always going to be here for you y/n,” he jaggedly says.

You two sat in each other's embrace for what seemed like an eternity. 

“Let me show you something,” he says, breaking the silence and adjusting your position to where your back is flush against him.

Mark sat the guitar in your hands, “Let’s start from the top, yeah?”

That night Mark taught you the song on his guitar, sometimes you filled in lyrics that felt right.

“They know we got the chemistry…” Mark sings.

“Love how your body feels on me, when you get back let me get that…” you finish with a small laugh.

“Yo!” he jumps up, lifting your laughing frame into the air, “That’s a bar!”

“Are you jealous that I may be a better rapper than you?” you giggle back.

“You’re coming for my career, baby girl!”

—

Six more hours.

Six more hours until this paper is due, and you’re almost done with this last page. 

Six more hours until the hell that was this semester is finally done.

Six more hours until you can crawl into bed with Mark and take a long-deserved nap.

“Almost there baby,” Mark says while massaging your shoulders.

“I got this,” you say while typing furiously.

“Hell yeah, you do.”

Your train of thought was interrupted by Mark’s ringtone going off from behind you.

“I’ll be right back, when I come back you better have this paragraph done!”

Sending him a stiff salute you continued to trudge on as he stepped into your bedroom and closed the door.

“Mark! What’s going on my man? Happy holidays!” his new manager cheered into the phone.

“It’s going well, just spending some time with family and friends while I can,” he replies while lying down on your bed and grabbing a stuffed My Melody to hold against him.

“Well, I’m glad you have been enjoying your last moments of freedom while you can. Speaking of which, I do have an early Christmas present for you!”

“Awesome! What is it?” 

“Well, the company wants you to start as soon as possible. I played them your audition and they think you can finish your training in less than a year!”

“That’s amazing!” Mark shoots up and runs his hands through his hair, “when do I fly out? Next year I hope?”

“Mark, I did say Christmas present didn’t I? You’ll leave the day after the 25th. I bought you some more time to spend with your family, but you’ll be spending the new year here, in Korea!”

Mark felt his heart drop. That was in two weeks. 

Two weeks to eat all the food he can.

Two weeks to brush up on dancing.

Two weeks to say goodbye to his family.

Two weeks to erase all traces of his friend groups’ antics.

Two weeks till he has to leave you.

“Uh… two weeks… wow that’s really soon.” 

“Absolutely! Now rest up Mark, this year is going to be the craziest experience of your life!”

His manager kept going on about the potential future he had coming for him. But Mark couldn’t seem to focus on all the newfound information. Slowly feeling the aroma of you envelop him fully, being surrounded by you everywhere, it was suffocating. 

How is he going to tell you?

“I finished it!” he heard your jumps of triumph in the distance, echoing to the pits of his empty stomach, “I’m finally done with this God-awful semester! One more year till graduation!”

You burst through the door interrupting Mark’s pensive state, wrapping yourself into him.

“You okay babe?” you realize pulling away slowly, eyeing his sweating frame, “you look a bit sick, want me to make you some ramen?”

“Oh no I’m fine, just fine really,” he shallowly laughs pulling himself away from you and moving to turn on the fan, “just got a little warm is all.”

“Who called?” you asked before flopping on the bed and sighing, “was it your manager? Did you get the job?”

“Uh yeah…” he shuffled, not meeting your eyes, “It was my manager, he had some good news…”

“Oh my God, did you pass?” you pounced on him awaiting the news.

“Uh… yeah, I did.” he lied.

“Markie!” you showered him in kisses and tight squeezes, your love for him unfaltering, “When do you leave?”

“Not for another year,” he smiled, not looking at you.

“Hopefully you’ll still be here for my graduation…” you sighed, “Nonetheless I’m glad I get to keep you to myself for a bit longer.

—

December 25, 2022

“And this one's for you babe,” you smiled plopping the present into his hands. The Christmas tree behind him set the picture-perfect scene. Surrounded by your closest friends and family exchanging presents in your matching red and green pajamas, bellies full from the holiday feast, and presents waiting to be opened. 

Mark happily obliged and ripped into the small package immediately. His eyes were wide as he lifted the contents with careful fingers.

“It’s a guitar pick,” you explained, seating yourself in his lap as he closely examined it, “so when you practice, you’ll always remember that I’m with you, cheering you on.”

Mark flipped the small piece over and nearly shed a tear at the small gold embossed scrawling you had designed a tiny heart.

“But hey, just because you have this doesn’t mean you can just stop cutting your fingernails! Also, it’s a reminder of me scolding you to stop biting your nails!” he chuckled lightly.

Mark didn’t have any words, mostly scared that he was going to start choking up if he even dared to open his mouth.

His present for you sat heavy in his pocket, the box weighing him down, anchored to the floor. Or was it the guilt that sat in his chest?

“Mark!” your friend Izaiah shouted while making his way over, interrupting Mark’s contemplation, “Heard the great news! So excited for you man! Look at you, finally pursuing your passion!” 

“Thank you, man, I appreciate it,” Mark responds, reaching a hand out to dap him up.

“Say, can’t believe you’re leaving so soon, what a shame, your mom has been a mess crying every time she hears your name.”

“We will make the most of the time we have together that’s for sure,” you interject snuggling into Mark.

“Well, you two better hurry,” Izaiah says while looking at his watch, “Time's ticking…”

“Well, good thing he is leaving-”

Mark suddenly stands up meeting Izaiah before you can finish your sentence, “Yeah I mean we will make it feel like a year that’s for sure! Gotta spend as much time with my baby as possible!” While patting his shoulder rather harshly and pleading with him with his eyes.

“Uh… Dude did you not-”

“Izaiah! Did you try the cherry cheesecake that y/n made? It’s so good! Let’s go have some now!”

“But I’m allergic!”

“Be right back babe just going to get a slice!” 

Mark pulls Izaiah to the kitchen in a secluded corner.

“Did you seriously not tell her yet? You leave tomorrow! Eighteen hours to be exact!” He harshly whispers to Mark.

“I just haven’t had the right moment to tell her yet…” Mark sighs, running a hand through his hair, “It’s going to break her.” 

“You know what might break her more? She wakes up tomorrow and goes over to your house to only be told you left the country!”

“I know!” Mark yells a bit too loudly. Everyone in the house turned to the shouting two with questioning eyes.

“Sorry folks! Just talking about some music things!” 

“Mark, you are going to quite literally ruin y/n. The only thing you are accomplishing-” 

“A toast!” The pair were interrupted by Mark’s parents who asked everyone to gather around.

“We are not done here, you will tell her tonight,” Izaiah states, shoulder-checking Mark before grabbing a champagne flute and joining everyone.

Mark takes a moment to collect himself before plastering a fake smile and rejoining at your side.

“Thank you, everyone, for joining us here tonight, as you all know Christmas is such a lovely time for all of us to reunite and enjoy each other’s company,” Mark’s dad announces.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen some of you, that I almost didn’t recognize a few!” a chorus of chuckles resounded before he cleared his voice and continued, “As some of you may or may not know, God has truly blessed one of our own with the opportunity of a lifetime,�� everyone turned towards Mark with proud smiles, “And I would like to thank each and every one of you who supported and believed in our dear son. Mark, we are all so proud of you and can’t wait to see you make music for the whole world to hear!” 

“That’s my boyfriend!” You shouted from the back, also receiving a coral of laughter. 

“Though we may not see you for a while, just know we are rooting for you, all of us here at home, love you dearly,” his mom chimed in, raising her glass towards him, “to Mark.”

“To Mark!” Everyone cheered, raising their glasses in unison.

“To Mark…” you softly said confused while looking up at him. 

Mark was sweating. Puddles.

He weakly lifted his glass and downed it in one gulp, not making eye contact with your questioning eyes beneath him. 

“Baby? What does she mean for a while? You don’t leave for a long while?” you ask with lips pouted.

“Uh… I think she just means that you all won’t see me for a bit because… I uh… will be busy getting ready to leave for training is all! Yeah! I am just so excited to be diving into my craft!”

“Oh. Okay. She made it sound like you were leaving tomorrow or something,” you chuckled sipping from your glass, “So, what did you get me for Christmas?”

Already flustered, Mark was saved by his ringtone, “Not yet, lemme take this real quick, it’s my manager.”

You nodded, turning to wait for your turn for the karaoke microphone while he stepped out onto the porch in the cold.

“Merry Christmas Mark!” his manager sang to him, “How is your day going?”

“Uh…” he huffed out, a puff of visible breath leaving his mouth as he shivered, “It’s been good. Hard to say goodbye.”

“Well, it’s another Christmas miracle, Mark! Luckily for you, unlucky for the company, all the airports in Canada have been temporarily unable to send out or land any planes due to severe weather warnings so we won’t be able to fly you out for a bit. I went back and forth with the company and bought you some more time, so you’ll leave the first of the year! New year, new beginnings, am I right?”

Mark couldn’t believe his ears. 

More time with you. More time to tell you.

“Are you serious?” he choked out.

“Yes! So please, tell that girlfriend of yours, I have a feeling you haven’t been able to break the news,” he pokes.

“Pshhh… what makes you think that?” 

“Well, considering the first file you sent over to me of singing samples were painful ballads, I would guess that you haven’t told her or you two broke up. And I just know neither one of you could do that.”

Mark looks out down the street, blurry colors barely visible due to the heavy amounts of snow falling, “I’ll tell her soon. Just not on Christmas.”

The two spent a few more minutes talking about logistics and excitement before Mark went back inside.

How is he going to break the news to you?

–

Mark was able to successfully avoid you for the remainder of the party, too many aunties and uncles pulling him away to congratulate him- even sneaking a few bills and checks into his pocket- and asking way too many questions about the future that made his head spin.

From time to time he would look over and see you playing with the heaps of children with their new toys, or holding some lady’s newborn baby, or helping his mom pack people’s takeaway plates. One aunt had to quite literally snap her fingers in front of his face to redirect his attention because he couldn’t stop swooning over you holding a set of sleeping baby twins. 

“I like her,” his aunt smiled while joining him in the hallway, “She’s the type you want to lock down.”

“I love her.”

“Then don’t break her heart, Mark, soon is coming whether you like it or not.”

You were now playing hide and seek with a few of the older kids and saw your bright red socks peeking out from under the tall curtains giving your spot away immediately.

“Only a coward will let something this small get in the way.” his aunt pats his shoulder before walking away.

—

“You know you never had the chance to give me your Christmas gift…” you trail while facetiming Mark in bed.

“You’ll get it soon, don't worry,” he laughs, shuffling the sheet music on his desk.

“You know, it is customary to exchange presents on Christmas right?”

“I am aware, I’ll give it to you next time I see you. New Year’s Eve right? We’re still going over to Izaiah’s?”

“I should be back by then.”

Trying to find the right time to tell you was arduous. The day after Christmas your family surprised you with a trip to New York to visit some of your family there. Just more time wasted where he couldn’t spend his last waking moments of freedom with you. Scrolling through Instagram, it tugged at his heartstrings seeing you smile and laugh with cousins you haven’t seen in a while, unaware of the disastrous news waiting for you at home with him. 

Cheers to the end of Fall 2022! Your caption reads, a boomerang with you cheering to the camera, a pint of beer daring to spill over.

“What time is your flight tomorrow?” he asks.

“Nine pm,” you respond yawning, “a few more stops for sightseeing, then my cousin is dropping us off at the airport.

“Am I still picking you up to go back to the apartment?”

“Yes please.”

There was movement on your end of the camera due to your cousins wrestling you to the ground, trying to sneak a peek at Mark.

“Hi, hyung!” one of the younger ones shouted with a toothless smile.

“Hello hello! Please be careful with my girlfriend, she is highly valuable to me!” he chuckles, leaning back into his bed. 

“No promises! She needs to take us ice skating now and she hasn’t gotten dressed yet!” he whines back.

“Okay okay, I surrender! Please get off, I’ll get ready now!” 

Mark bids you a farewell and heads to bed. 

One more sleep until it’s time to see you.

–

December 31, 2022

“Red or blue for tonight?” you shout from your closet.

“Hmm… I am wearing baby blue tonight. How about that dark blue dress you bought the other day?” Mark replies by sporting a towel around his waist and a toothbrush in his mouth. 

 “The sparkly one or the satin one?” you walk up behind him as he spits into the sink, taking in the options through the mirror.

“Definitely sparkly, it is New Year's Eve after all.”

“I don’t even want to go out…” you whine leaning onto Mark’s back and pecking his shoulder, “Can we just stay in…?” continuing a path of open mouth kisses to his neck.

“Hell no! Izaiah will kill us if we don’t show up! He’s been planning this all month!” he says trying not to give into your feeble attempts at seduction and focus on shaving his faint mustache.

“But I don’t wanna… the new year means another day closer to you leaving and I want to spend every minute with you!”

Mark’s back tenses at the mention of his departure.

“Yeah… me too baby,” he says, shrugging you off and heading towards the dresser to grab some boxers, “but let’s celebrate rather than think about that!”

The fresh hot shower couldn’t ease the nervousness that Mark felt. He was keeping this a secret.

Again.

From the moment he picked you up at the airport he tried, he really tried, to confess to you about his early departure. But the way you kept talking about your fun adventures from New York, he couldn’t just rain on your sunshine just quite yet. Then he decided he would tell you when you two got back to the apartment, after dinner. But you obviously had other plans as you decided to immediately jump his bones upon unlocking the front door. He even tried to disconnect your needy lips from his own, but alas he wasn’t just a man with needs- he was a simp with needs. And who was he to deny you of anything you wanted?

He decided now, as he was putting on his socks, that he was going to have to tell you before you two left for the party. Especially with how much of a loudmouth Izaiah is, everybody in attendance probably already heard of the news and his send-off the next morning. 

Mustering up the courage to approach you, he eyed your frame standing at the mirror near the door, just putting the last of your lip gloss on for the night.

It’s now or never.

“Hey baby, I have something to tell you,” he said shakily, standing with knees that felt like they were going to give out any second. 

“What’s up,” you respond, walking past him to grab your purse and then meeting him in the hallway.

“Just know, that I know that this is very last minute, and I probably should have told you sooner but I didn’t want to make the moment super emotional. I love you. You mean so entirely much to me, and I’m scared I would push you away,” he admits.

“Mark,” you start, taking his hand in yours to shut down his insecure thoughts, “It’s okay. I already know.”

“Wait you do?” he shouts incredulously, “who told you? Was it Izaiah? Oh my God, it was my mom wasn’t it? I told her not to say anything…”

“Baby no none of them told me, I was just waiting for you to show me?”

Mark cocked an eyebrow, “Show you…?”

“My Christmas present, right?” you chuckle shoving him lightly, “I don’t mind if you forgot, I know you’ve had a lot on your mind recently. So what, did it just come in or something? I’m sure the snowstorm probably delayed whatever it was.”

“Oh! Yeah… Right! Your Christmas present that’s what this is all about haha,” he says fumbling around then heads into the room to find the small box. The little angel on Mark’s shoulder was shouting at him to turn back around that instant to tell you the truth, meanwhile, the little insecure Mark on the other side sighed a breath he’d been holding in, glad to take a moment to collect himself. Mark reached into his bedside drawer and reappeared in the hallway to meet you.

“Merry belated Christmas, y/n,” he whispers, presenting the box.

“You’re not proposing to me, right?” you eye him breaking the palpable tension in the air, “because there is usually a part where you get on one knee and then there’s the speech.”

“No, no,” he laughs, “not yet at least,” he says with a wink, “gotta chase our dreams first.”

You open the tiny black box to be met with a small silver ring without a gemstone, but rather small engravings. 

Forever it read on the outside

♡ Mark, it read on the inside.

“It’s a promise,” he starts, “a promise to forever be yours.”

He steps closer with every word, “a promise to forever be supporting you, near or far. A promise to love you even when you don’t love yourself.”

“And lastly,” tears pricked your eyes as you stared down at the ring, Mark so close that his breath fanned across your skin, “It’s a reminder that no matter how much of a dream this opportunity is, that you, you y/n, are my dream.”

He slots the ring on your manicured pinky before sliding his to intertwine with yours, “I promise, that I love you.”

Time stood still at that moment. Nothing could pull you two apart. Standing together with pinkies interlocked.

“I love you Mark, dream and all.”

“I love you forever.”

“Dream and all.”

–

“Finally they’re here!” 

Izaiah did outdo himself with this party. Lights were strung up along the ceiling and banisters, bottles of alcohol lined the kitchen tables, and so many people there that they had to park around the block.

As Mark's heart sank with the weight of his secret, the party continued in the background. The music was loud, and people were dancing and laughing, unaware of the turmoil that was unfolding between you and Mark.

Confetti rained down from the ceiling, and balloons bounced around the room, adding to the festive atmosphere, but Mark couldn't bring himself to enjoy any of it. All he could think about was the fact that he was leaving and that he had hurt the one person he cared about more than anything.

As the night wore on, Mark felt himself becoming more and more detached from the party. 

Many people came up to him with words of encouragement, pride beaming on their faces as he would go on to make your small town proud.

 He watched as people wrote their New Year’s hopes on small pieces of paper and then taped them to the wall, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation. A couple of hours in, he sees you being whisked every which way by friends that were visiting home from university, he smiles knowing you have been looking forward to seeing them all year. Mark's heart was heavy as he looked around the festive New Year's Eve party. The excitement of the countdown to midnight, the laughter, and the clinking of glasses all seemed to fade into the background as he thought about what he had to do.

But Mark couldn't join in their celebration.

 He knew that when the clock struck midnight, his world would be completely different.

“Tick-tock, Cinderella,” Izaiah whispers into Mark’s ear while passing by and then pointing at the clock above. 

One more hour till midnight.

“Wanna dance for a bit?” he heard your voice from next to him, “or are you too busy being broody in the corner?”

Much to his dismay, you pulled Mark onto the dance floor. He couldn’t ignore the gnawing feeling in his chest as your hips melted into the rhythm of the song, your arms snaking up to his neck. He felt multiple sets of eyes land on you two, some filled with love, others in sadness, and some people even raised their cups in solemn of what’s to become of you two.

 In just a few short hours, Mark would be leaving for Korea, pursuing the dream that you both talked so highly of. It was an opportunity that would change his life, but it also meant leaving behind everything he knew and loved.

Mark looked around the room, friends he grew up with, family that supported him through everything, you, you being his world. Was he really ready to leave this life?

“Girl, if I were you I’d be fucking him into the next year!” a drunk girl slurred while bumping into you two.

“I mean I plan on it!” you chuckled while trying to steady her rocking frame.

“I don’t know how you’re able to do it y/n… long distance that already sucks… him having to keep you a secret for the rest of his life? Damn, that’s even worse.”

Feeling flustered by the truth, you begin to talk down the reality, “Oh I feel secure enough in my relationship! I know Mark is just doing what he has to do for his career, but that doesn’t mean he loves me any less! We have great communication-”

“Pshh communication my ass! Did he even tell you that he leaves–”

“Okay! That’s enough! Too much to drink as always Mina, huh?” Mark shushes her while pulling her to a couch to lie down.

“Oh fuck off Mark, if you don’t want to tell her, I’ll tell her myself because you are too much of a pussy boy to do so!” she yells while being thrown onto the couch. 

Gathering his wits, he makes his way back to you. 

“What was that all about? What are you not telling me?” you ask, taking a step forward.

“Don’t worry about it babe, you know Mina gets too drunk at parties and keeps saying shit…” Mark sweats.

“Wait, you know that is weird because Riane also brought up something along the lines of “Oh wow he hasn’t told you yet?” when I was talking to her earlier… what are you hiding?” you suddenly feel the bottle of soju you had earlier. 

“Not here please, not now…” he pleads, frantically looking around as people start to be intrigued by the madness happening in front of them.

“No, tell me now. New year, no secrets!” you stomp.

When the countdown finally began, Mark felt a sense of dread wash over him. He knew that once the new year began, his life would be changed forever. 

“For fucks sake, y/n,” he says before pulling you outside.

He looked over at you, who was standing with your back turned to him. He wanted to go over to you, just hold you, to apologize, to make things right, but he knew that it was too late. 

He had to face the truth.

“You have ten seconds to tell me, Mark,” you say with crossed arms, chests pressed against each other.

As if on cue, he hears the crowd from inside the house start the countdown into the new year.

10!

“I have been keeping a secret.”

9!

“I haven’t been able to find the right words to tell you.”

8!

“I did pass my audition and I will leave for Korea soon.”

7!

“My manager called the other day to tell me I'm leaving on Christmas.”

6!

“But I got an extension.”

5!

“When do you leave Mark?” you ask with a shaky breath, eyes clouded with tears, as you stand watching the man you love break down.

4!

“I love you, y/n, don’t forget that.” he chokes out.

3!

“When do you leave Mark?!” you scream at him.

2!

Time stilled as he just stared at you with a trembling lip. 

1!

“I leave today.”

As the countdown ended, and the room erupted into cheers, fireworks went off from the backyard. Mark felt a sense of emptiness inside. 

“Happy New Year!” was ringing in his ears, the festivity inside contrasting the pit in his stomach. He knew that he was supposed to be celebrating, but he couldn't find it in himself to do so. All he could do was watch as you slowly walked backward, face twisted with pain.

You both stood there, both lost in your thoughts, as the new year began. And as the party continued around him, Mark felt more alone than ever before. 

"What? When were you going to tell me? You waited till the day of?"

"I didn't know how," he said, his voice barely audible over the sound of the cheers. "I didn't want to hurt you."

You took another step back, tears streaming down your face. "You're leaving me?"

Mark reached out to touch you, but you pulled away. "No, y/n, it's not like that. I just..."

“You didn’t what?” you whispered finally stepping forward, him retreating backwards, “You didn't do what, Mark!” finally yelled.

“You lied! You lied to my face, of all secrets to keep, you kept this. For what? Think I couldn’t take it? Couldn’t bear the fact you’d be chasing your dreams? What is it?” you screamed, pushing him with each sentence.

Mark took every beating, the punishment for his personalized brand of torture he put you through. You hit his chest as he stood taking in every blow, face and body empty, a shell of the man you’ve come to love. 

“So much for forever right?” you finally stop, “so much for dreams and all.”

“Baby,” he pleads, “baby please don’t.”

“No, because…” you lift your face, running your hands through your hair, your ring getting caught in the tangles reminding you of his promise, “fuck this Mark. This really was never going to work.”

“You don’t. You don’t mean that.” he shakes his head reaching out for you.

“I fucking mean it.” you say while staring at him and taking off the ring and throwing it on the ground, “I hope it works out for you Mark, I really do. Dreams and all.” 

You left Mark there as he fell to his knees, cradling the ring that symbolizes everything you meant to him. The real engagement ring in his pocket never felt heavier in his pocket.

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

and i hope she was worth the wait? first three chapters are posted today. next chapter released first week of 2025.

open to feedback and reactions :*

happy holidays and happy new year <3

xoxo

forevamark

[gay-disabled-characters-showdown]

LGBTQ+ Disabled Characters Showdown Round 5, Poll 7

Vs.

Please be civil in the notes. We will block people if we feel it is necessary. A character being canon LGBTQ+ and disabled was not required to be in this competition. Please check qualifications and propaganda before asking why a character is included. This is not a competition of who is better representation.

Check out the other polls in this round here.

S’chn T’gai Spock-Star Trek

Qualifications:

He is canonically dyslexic, and commonly interpreted as autistic. I do not think I have to tell you why I think he qualifies as LGBTQ+.

Propaganda:

He started it all! Spirk was the birth of slash fiction and fandom itself. Autistic, dyslexic, gay-- what can't he do?

Anything Else?:

THIS APPLIES ONLY TO THE ORIGINAL SERIES VERSION OF SPOCK. NOT THE SPOCK FROM THE JJ ABRAMS MOVIES OR THE NEW ITERATION OF SPOCK FROM STRANGE NEW WORLDS. Discovery Spock does count as TOS Spock in my mind, though. AOS & SNW Spock are some of the least gay characters I have ever seen, and it is quite sad.

Submitted by @convenient-plot-device

Check out some additional propaganda for Spock here and also here.

Harrier ‘Harry du Bois-Disco Elysium

Qualifications:

Bisexual. Struggles with addiction, post-polio syndrome, multiple kinds of mental illness, and whatever else he's accrued by living in a city with no accessible healthcare.

Propaganda:

You know who he is. Vote for him.

Kim Kitsuragi-Disco Elysium

Qualifications:

Visually impaired

Propaganda:

I dunno man. He's Kim Kitsuragi. There's nothing I can say about him that hasn't already been said. He's quiet and reserved and uncomfortable with emotions. He's a self-proclaimed Torque Dork who loves his car like a child. He listens to heavy metal music. He's a centrist. He's a homosexual. He's consistently given shit by everyone around him for his race, his sexuality, and his disability, and he's taught himself to respond to it with cold professionalism. He dresses in historical communist pilot cosplay. I love him with my entire heart.

[drivingsideways]

2024 Watch List : K drama edition

Like 2023, I dropped more dramas than I finished, and I refused to watch about 90% of what's out there. Some of the big projects were absolute duds (Blood Free, anyone? ) and some dramas that seemed to have a spark at the start fizzed out pretty quickly (Frankly Speaking). I've just dropped Love Your Enemy, a rom com that stars- wait for it- Ju Ji hoon AND Jung Yu-mi- the audacity of making two such talented comedians play a script written by and for pre-teens quite takes my breath away.

Still, there were a few bright spots this year! Of the 2024 crop, it was LTNS, Love in the Big City and Jeong Nyeon : The Star is Born for me. But I've also been watching older stuff- both in movies and dramas (Asian/Western)- maybe it's just nostalgia as I get older, but I do feel that the kind of cinema or tv that I'm both familiar with and enjoy isn't out there much anymore. C'est la vie.

I've written about LTNS and The Matchmakers earlier this year, so here go the rest

Coffee Prince (2007)

This turned out to be every bit as charming and sweet as I was promised: both Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun-hye really embodied their characters in ways that I've very rarely see in this genre.

I went back and forth on how I felt about the queerness of this show- everybody is queer and nobody is- but the show itself is extremely loving and sensitive and I think it pushed the envelope on gender and sexuality- in 2007!- in ways that current shows in this genre are both unwilling and perhaps unable to do. There's a willingness to accept and celebrate that love, sexual attraction, gender and sexuality are messy and fluid ; an exploration that seems increasingly absent in our present media, where those lines are becoming increasingly rigid, much like everything else about our politics. Anyway! one of the joys of 2024 was watching a baby Gong Yoo playing a disaster bisexual and Yoon Eun-hye playing a CHAOTIC GENDER, both putting their entire hearts and souls into their characters, resulting in something that feels like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of screen magic. 

The only sour note for me was the workplace romance/ power dynamic between Han Gyeol and Eun-chan- it made the bits post the gender reveal extremely difficult for me to sit through. The writing and direction were both so sensitive on the whole, though, that I want to forgive them this.  The three most magical moments for me in this series: Eun-chan curling up to her mother on the night before she plans to tell Han-gyeol about her gender; the entire beach sequence, starting with him turning up at her gate and just- hanging there, PINING; and THE CHESTNUT TRAIL reunion after they break up over the deception/ reveal. The sub plots and the second love track weren't interesting to me at all- I ffwded through most of it. On the whole, I see why so many people hold this up as the gold standard in kdrama romance, and you know what? I think they might be right.

Queen Seondeok (2009)

I was super excited to finally be able to see this (thanks Viki and VPNs), and I binged sixty two (62) episodes in something like three weeks! Yes, it did drive me that crazy. Writer nims have really perfected the made-for-me sageuk formula, though Seondeok isn't as weighty, politcally, as Tree With Deep Roots or Six Flying Dragons. But it shares the same theatrical and political imagination and ambition, and it's so very engaging for most parts. Go hyun-jung is-not my fave, sorry- but Mi-Shil is probably one of my top ten characters of ALL time!!! What a woman!!! What a villain!!! What a hero!!! The drama tanks a bit with Mi-shil's exit- it's like without her, nothing seems important anymore- and all the other characters know it, especially Deokman. I didn't particularly care for the ending- a tad too bleak and trite-but that's not important, I think, in this story. It's just a damn good yarn.

Love in the Big City (2024)

My expectations from this drama were not very high- in fact, given the way the movie based on the same book was marketed- I was rather trepidatious about it! How lovely to be proved wrong: the drama is that rare thing in k-ent- unabashedly and explicitly queer without catering in any way to a straight audience- whether sympathetic or not. By the simple virtue of treating its queer characters seriously as whole, entire people and not unicorns, it normalizes queer life without brushing aside the joys and trials peculiar to it. This story about being young and gay in 2010s Seoul, is tender, funny, sexy, wry, poignant- cinematically shot and directed, with a career making turn from Nam Yoon su. Watch it (it's on Viki in many countries) and also read the book by Sang Young Park (Translated into English by Anton Hur)- your heart will be full.

Jeong Nyeon: The Star is Born (2024)

A miracle. That's what I keep thinking this show is- everything about its existence seems improbable. While Netflix/Disney-fication of K-drama and the general political climate has swung the pendulum far right in many ways, here is a show with a cast and main crew that is entirely female led and featuring multiple queer characters. The compromises made to get here seem obvious when you watch the show- the 12 episode speed run, for one, that left little time to sit with any emotions or character other than the lead; the less-than-fairy-tale endings to both the main lesbian love stories for another- but despite that, this show is just wonderful, start to finish. It's got a rollicking pace, beautiful cinematography and an extraordinarily talented cast. But even with a stacked cast, the true stars of the show are the art forms of pansori and gukguek. Every single performance and song moved me to tears with the sheer beauty of the poetry- delivered with real passion and skill by every actor who went above and beyond. Kim Tae ri reportedly trained in pansori for three years for this role, starting even before the show was officially off the ground- which gives you some idea of the passion that drove this improbable project to the screen. Fans of the original, beloved webtoon are probably rightfully miffed at some of the changes made, but while this show isn't perfect, it was clearly made with love and dedication, and with an eye on something other than a spreadsheet of numbers - a difference that in this day and age seems like a- sorry, but that's the only word for it- miracle.

I can't say I'm going into 2025 with any great expectations from k drama land (or indeed, most of tv) . Forgettability is feature not a bug in the 24/7 streaming "content" era- but it does not make for good art or enthuse me in the slightest. The best case scenario, I think, will be 2-3 dramas that I'll probably even consider watching - it feels like the end of a short era of my life. On the other hand, there are still a bunch of older dramas that I can get into- in fact, I'm ending this year with Secret Door (2014, 24 episodes), a sageuk on the lines of TwDR and SFD (though with far less verve and imagination so far) , featuring the irreplaceable Han Suk kyu, who's evidently been collecting Joseon kings in his filmography with the dedication and enthusiasm of an arachnologist let loose in Australia.

Anyway, here's wishing fellow k drama enthusiasts an exciting new year, and tell me in the notes/ replies what you enjoyed in 2024!

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #3

Oh, I was right- Wanda called Cosmo out for his crown still showing. That's a good way to signal to the audience that they're mystical.

Purple toe sandals! The artists were havin' FUN with colored shoes.

I'm a little surprised they went the direction of making Cosmo's design rounder and Wanda's thinner since, y'know... she's always been implied to be bigger than him, but hey! They both look great and I'm excited to see them with new body types.

I am obsessed with the fact that even in the new 3D style, the characters still default to holding their hands in that little bird-wing position. That is A+. Someone put a lot of thought into this.

Hazel, your hallway has a way cool rug.

It's a very snappy, jolty art-style. I think that works. I hope it doesn't make me motion sick, but I think it'll be fine.

SLKDFJ I'm on the floor, we're getting Hazel's parents' names straight out of the gate (Angela and Markus Wells).

AND A ROOM NUMBER? I am getting SPOILED. It's like this was made for me!

Friendship ended with Dimmsdale; my new best friend is city where we have more house numbers than 4158.

Cosmo, you are playing a dangerous game using magic in front of them. What did you need to change that you didn't know before?

Wanda too? Oh baby, we are SO back! Take me back to the days of Wanda cheering for Timmy to pour way too much liquid into his science experiment.

The welcome basket has a portrait of Cosmo and Wanda and they're gushing over it and saying "You're welcome! :)" and Angela is just like "... okay. I'mma head out."

Cosmo was about to floor me by saying Fairies have to be invited indoors, so I'm glad Wanda corrected him immediately.

Tbf, in Fairy World, "Doors are for chumps."

I'm glad Cosmo and Wanda both forgot how to sit on couches, seeing as most of the seating in Fairy World floats.

Mom's a therapist? That's never gone poorly for anyone in my fanfics before! ... Also, that's immediately gonna set up some plot tension when Hazel starts keeping secrets.

HER PICTURE ON THE BOOK IS 2D, I'm cracking up. Seriously, I think the running gag here is that all photos look like this. That is HILARIOUS.

Actually I'm on the floor; there is something so very funny about her giving Cosmo a book and him being excited about it, citing it as a "smart person present," when he's canonically a guy whose deepest, darkest secret is that he writes about astrophysics in a culture where Fairies think stars are also Fairies (alongside his children's books and blatantly 4th-wall-breaking books), so he doesn't let anyone know he writes. Ever.

I know that's not going to come up in this show because that detail is from "77 Secrets of the Fairly OddParents Revealed" (though he's confirmed the author of Astrophysics For Morons which Timmy found in the library once), so... chances are minuscule the writers for this show know he's also an author who likes "smart people books," but... I know. And I love him. Oh, there are places we can go with this!

Them...

sdl;fjk, Wanda swooping in to stop Hazel from poking Cosmo when she suspects something's up.

Oh my gosh, Angela is unpacking an entire box of her books and putting them all on a shelf. This is the best "show, don't tell" I've seen in a while.

Snack break for homemade bread.

[mimicha-arts]

Starry, Starry night

This new picture for the upcoming episode has been released, let's talk about it. Please remember, I live in delusion.

There are several posters on the wall, and the one next to Cheng Xiaoshi - 星空，refers to the film with the same title. Starry, Starry night is a 2011 Taiwanese drama based on a novel by Taiwanese author Jimmy Liao.

Hsieh Xin-Mei used to live with her grandparents up in the mountains. Then she moves to the city to live with her parents, but her family situation is not very good, and she tries to hide from reality in the world of her own imagination. One day, a new student was transferred to her school - a boy named Zhou Yu-Jie. 

Despite the misunderstanding at the beginning, both of them are lonely and feel like outsiders in their own lives, befriending one another. When reality catches up, they try to escape to a world that belongs only to them, to see the stars. Do I have to tell you that this story is about grief and sorrows, "the end of summer", journey to adulthood, love across time and distance? About an accidental meeting and fate.

I think it's worth your time to watch, this film is very heartwarming.

You can read the full plot description on Wikipedia, although it will not convey the full meaning, since the film has many artistic images and interesting decisions that convey the story sensitively. If you want to watch it yourself, read no further. 

Spoilers … And References. And some beautiful moments that make me THINK.

1. Time 

One of the themes is time, the hands of the clock often tick in the background, and at some point the numbers themselves, which indicate train departures, not just stop - freeze.

18:42 - 18:50 - 18:55

Do I believe in coincidences? No.

 2. Journey 

Their path - an escape to their dream world - passes through a tropical wild forest. On their journey, they try, despite the difficulties, to find the right path to their dream.

Since s2e1, I've been thinking about how much the forest in the back of that vision, ED/OP, is a real forest, a real tunnel, not the symbolism of the "journey". But now, if such a choice is not accidental, I have received answers to my questions, at some point.

In fact, I lost my mind at the moment when they came to a fork in the road, they had to choose their path - they took the wrong path, and were forced to face the same choice, choosing a path, for the second time. Again.

But in the end, the path to the stars ends in a life-threatening situation where they have no choice but "return". Although they both know that this is the end for them, the end of their journey, and the end of their "summer".

3. Puzzles 

This story is about art, not about photography, but about paintings and puzzles. Puzzles literally act as moments of remembrance. Although these are not burning photographs, deep in her sleep, Hsieh Xin-Mei follows the image of Zhou Yu-Jie in the night forest, and the entire world also collapses when the end comes.

When Hsieh Xin-Mei woke up from her dream, Zhou Yu-Jie was no longer here.

The search for the missing part for the puzzle based on the painting "Starry, Starry Night" - is fundamental, literally the core to the plot.

The connection of everything, through the years. It's like a promise, it's like an eternal memory of that time.

There are more things I could write about, but I don't want to make this post too long… Just. There is always something about stories with a sunshine-like person, curious, breaking boundaries, talking non-stop, and about a person who quietly looks at the first one, listening to everything with a smile. And it becomes life-changing. I would like to remind you that these are just my thoughts, I'm having fun, maybe seeing something that isn't there. We will see anyway. 

But. For real. Put a detail like that into an episode and expect me to ignore it? No. Huh. 

I'm just overthinking once again, but Interesting choice :) 

[quinnfebrey]

WICKED PT. 1 REVIEW

(spoiler free*)

*spoiler free is used generously, there are no major or intentional spoilers but i make no promises for smaller things.

casting:

going into it thought the casting would be the weakest point, but i was pleasantly surprised. that said, i think jon chu’s reasoning for not casting unknowns was total bs and he just wanted a star-studded cast. i also wish they were younger. it was kind of giving movie ben platt terrorizing the teenagers of dear evan hansen. it works for the stage, but my belief was not suspended on the big screen. so while i don’t necessarily agree with how we got here, objectively they were great.

production:

honestly it looked amazing, i wish some parts were graded with a little more contrast, but the colors weren’t muted at all and i thought the cinematography was the perfect level of dramatic and interesting. the highlight was the emerald city. nothing else really stuck out to me in particular but the first 30 seconds or so of one short day looked AMAZING.

the singing:

sounded phenomenal, and this is coming from someone who heard the trailers and panicked. i don’t know what they did in post to make them sound so awful and processed in the trailers, but the movie itself sounded great.

the acting:

i wanted… more. jonathan has such an overly expressive face that worked so well, but cynthia was just the smirk emoji for 2.5 hours and ariana looked like this 🙂 the entire time. they had their moments, of course, but with all the added dialogue (and no song to carry the emotion) i wanted more of a performance.

why the fuck was it 2.5 hours?

i don’t know man. i understood (and enjoyed) some of the additions, but there were an equal number that didn’t add anything, and there were so many scenes where i was like whyyyy is this taking so long. it felt like they were trying to (unsuccessfully) justify the runtime instead of it being a natural result.

2-part split:

this is by far my biggest criticism of the movie. the ending was done BEAUTIFULLY, but the year gap will kill the momentum. i 100% believe that splitting it into two parts will take away from the viewing experience. i actually didn’t have a problem with the splitting when it was first announced, but now that i’ve seen part 1 it feels like a forced cash grab.

rewatchability:

even though i actually really liked it, i don’t think i’d ever electively put it on instead of a stage recording.

SONG BREAKDOWNS:

no one mourns the wicked

a fantastic opening. i went into the movie very skeptical, but it managed to win me over on all accounts. it had the richness and fullness you’d expect + beautiful visuals and ariana proves her doubters (me) wrong immediately.

dear old shiz

the song is nearly identical to the musical, but the changed staging was odd (but also insignificant in a way that made it even more odd).

the wizard and i

i blame the directing for why this song fell flat for me. they toned down the physical animation of elphaba but didn’t add anything else so it was sort of just her walking around and singing at us. also didn’t super love cynthia’s take on it until the last verse, which was phenomenal, probably because the directing didn’t let her do anything with it.

what is this feeling?

SOOOO GOOD!! it sounded amazing, looked amazing, the ensemble was amazing. THIS is what a movie musical is supposed to do: take what was great on stage and expand in a way that is only possible on film. it was fun and inviting and probably one of the strongest numbers in the entire movie.

something bad

i liked what they did with this in terms of the pacing, and i also like that it helped bolster the animal side plot instead of it getting swept into the songs on either side. the singing was unmemorable but the scene was very effective.

dancing through life

i have SUCH mixed feelings on this. i absolutely loved it up until the break when glinda gives elphaba the hat. jonathan sounded amazing, the dancing and cinematography was perfect, but the pacing and flow was totally ruined after what should’ve been a brief interlude for plot. the moment between elphaba and glinda is very strong and still made me cry, but the middle section was just so off-putting.

popular

sooooo good. ariana sounded amazing, and the directing was perfectly energetic. it felt like a music video in the best way. the colors, cinematography, and storytelling was great. they did manage to strip all of the homoeroticism out of it, and ariana’s yuh made a few valiant attempts to escape, but neither detracted from the final product.

i’m not that girl

same issue as wizard and i, i didn’t want just another three minutes of elphaba standing around singing to the camera. the last verse was the best because there was actually something happening visually, which i think also made cynthia sound better. the monologue style number works on stage for a variety of reasons, but felt like a waste of screen time in the movie.

one short day

first 30-60 seconds are AMAZING. took the energy of the stage and shot it to the moon. it actually made me tear up and i have no complaints. the added interlude was a little long, but i’m a sucker for nostalgia bait so i’ll allow it.

a sentimental man

ummm i hated it lol. it felt SO out of place due to some poor (in my opinion) script additions, and the singing wasn’t anything special. the jeff goldblum cameo made them give the wizard way too much emphasis at that point and it completely disrupted the flow of the movie

defying gravity

except for (another) unnecessarily long interlude, this was everything i was waiting for and more. ariana and cynthia sounded amazing together and cynthia sounded PHENOMENAL. ariana delivered the “well, where are your wings?” line perfectly, which is usually for me a weak point with a lot of glindas; and the “i hope you’re happy now that you’re choosing this” verse was perfection both visually and vocally. overall, it did what it was supposed to do: it wrapped up the first act beautifully and showcased cynthia’s voice.

[lincolnchristie]

*waves hand in the air like a beauty queen* Just Hello.*

Welcome to my professional tumblr. I’m Lincoln, and I’m a fantasy/science fiction author. I’m fond of murder mysteries, powers that come with a price, and mythology.

Most of you will probably know me already, actually, as tumblr user @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels. *jazz hands* Surprise, ‘tis I!

For a long time I resisted the idea of self-publishing. I didn’t want to start from the ground-up in building an audience because I’m not great at this whole social media thing and I hated that idea. However, I finally grew too frustrated with how the traditional publishing world treats its authors and said screw it. We’re gonna try doing this on my own.

And, uh, I’ve come to realize, I actually do have an audience. My lovely fanfiction readers.

My hope is that, since you all enjoy my fanfiction, you’ll want to check out my original writing, too. I will say up front that there are some differences such as a darker tone, heavier subjects, romance is not the main plot, etc. But, if you like my more plot-centric and serious fanfics, then I think you’ll like these original works of mine. I like to play around with themes and worlds similar to the ones found in those stories.

*vibrates with excitement* Which is why I'm launching my Patreon!!!

I have also, shocker of shockers to myself more than anyone, written a poetry collection. It's titled Manifesto of a Blossoming Supervillain and you can purchase it here on my website (I have a website!!!) in e-book with paperback coming in the next few days.

But my Patreon is where I'll be posting, chapter by chapter, my fantasy murder mystery novel A Masque of Shadows.

When the controversial regent of the city-state of Serenissima is murdered on the first night of Masquerade, Captain Matthias has to sort through spurned lovers, murderous family members, and scheming nobles to prevent war from breaking out. It's Murder on the Orient Express meets Game of Thrones starring a very tired autistic bisexual who's just trying to get through the holiday season.

What can I say, I want to see if you all can solve the mystery in real time. ;)

My Patreon is also where you'll get lots of sneak peak info about my other novels such as character art and playlists, worldbuilding info, deleted and bonus scenes, character backstory, and director's commentary.

The first novel that I plan to release in full is Pestilence, the first in my Horsemen Quartet:

When four women raised in a dead world come back to life, they find they're no longer entirely human... and the undead are no longer the worst threat they have to face in the wasteland.

It's currently with my sensitivity and beta readers, and the hope is to publish it in September (because I'm a masochist, I guess).

You also get pictures of my cats, Mr. Fluffernutter and Cuddlebug!

(They like to sit in the window and judge people.)

The audience I’ve built up with my fanfiction was rather like falling asleep. It happened slowly, and then all at once. I’m still blown away every day by the number of people who’ve read and enjoyed my stories on Ao3. I hope, if you are one of those people, that you will consider supporting me and join my Patreon to support my original work. These stories are near and dear to my heart, and I deeply love the characters in them. I hope that you all will, too.

*no I could not resist a MsScribe reference, sorry not sorry

[mostlyinthemorning]

Highlander Rewatch Episodes 1.2-1.6

I have been doing a very poor job of my rewatch summaries for Highlander, so here is a group post for:

1.2 Family Tree

1.3 The Road Not Taken

1.4 Innocent Man

1.5 Free Fall

1.6 Bay Day in Building A

1.2 Family Tree

It was a bold choice to have the second episode of the show focus entirely on Richie's backstory (a bold choice, but not necessarily a good one-where is Tessa's backstory episode?). Macleod is much smilier in this episode, which makes for a nice change from his usual Broody McBrooderson personality. And apparently, he cooks - get yourself a 400 year old man who knows his way around the kitchen!

There's a scene in the middle of this episode that is just Richie walking around the city talking to people with soundtrack music playing and this is the kind of television that 10-episode/season streaming has taken from us.

There are no sword fights in this episode but there are two very fun scenes where Macleod practically giggles with joy as he's defeating a couple of goons barehanded.

1.3 The Road Not Taken

I found the plot of this episode was a little weak - an old friend of Macleod's is developing a drug that will...bring peace? help humanity? something? Anyway, it does not do that, instead, it makes people strong and then kills them. Macleod is unhappy about this.

I think this is the first appearance of the classic Macleod trench coat, which is an important milestone. Richie ends the episode by kissing an old girlfriend...who is never seen on the show again. Are we supposed to believe Richie is some sort of teenage player? Annoyance with Richie's character is slowing increasing.

1.4 Innocent Man

I liked this episode quite a lot, although the ending tried to be a bit too cute in tying the past and present storylines together. Guest starring Vincent Schiavelli, who is one of those classic 80s character actors who is recognizable, but not known by name. One of Mac's old friends is killed and Mac sets out to discover the truth about who killed him. One of the best early themes for the show is how incompetent the police are in every episode. More police incompetence on today's TV, please!

I would also like to highlight this shot, which catapulted me directly back to my rural childhood in a way that would take far too long to explain.

1.5 Free Fall

Look, everyone! It's Joan Jett!

Joan Jett is the absolute bomb and I won't hear anything against her, but I will say that the moment she seduced Richie should have been the moment that everyone in this show realized she was up to something, because, come on.

Anyway, it's a wonder Macleod is still alive, what with the way he continually lets other immortals off the hook.

Much swordplay in this episode and a delightful scene where Tessa holds her own using a welding torch.

Side note: Everyone wears so many vests in this show. Did we really wear that many vests in the 90s? I guess we did.

1.6 Bay Day in Building A

I think this is the episode where the show is finally starting to find its feet. Interestingly, there's no flashback scene in this episode, nor is there another immortal. It's basically a hostage taking episode, with the twist that shooting hostage!Macleod is not going to get the results you expect.

That's all I have for now, I'll be back with random thoughts about the next unspecified number of episodes! Stay tuned!

[spectralsleuth]

Hey if you could do a crossover with each of your AUs with another AU what would you pick

I want to write crossovers all the tiiiime! I am blessed enough to have made friends in the fandom that I can poke awake in their inboxes and ask what-if’s about; but ACTUALLY writing a crossover is a whole other thing. There’s some AU’s I am HUGE fans of, that I don’t think a crossover would with LSoW, or Portal Panic, or Flipside. (Flipside is my nanowrimo project lmao.)

Obviously I wanted to write an Empathy is Learned crossover with @alicat54cwriting, and we did! And it was super fun and I learned a lot. If I had to pick more fandom creators to crossover with:

@amevello-blue Obviously. GiTS and LSoW would be SO FUN and heartbreaking, and we’ve already talked a lot about it and how it would work, but we’re both busy with projects at the moment. But it’s on my dream to-do list for sure if the stars can align. (Mainly me finishing a couple things to give it full attention, because Ame is an absolute beast when it comes to juggling multiple projects. Everyone go read The Mystic Forest AU.)

@tangledinink and me talk about Gemini/LSoW crossovers all the time because we have a disease lol. Anyone who knows him knows he loves playing with our characters like little dolls. Me giving Yoshi eight kids in crossovers seems to be a running theme and also very funny to me; including Venus and Jenni it would be TEN. Man’s life would turn into a SITCOM. But also Yoshi having daughters would be very funny and sweet to me he is such a helicopter Dad, and being faced with what he truly thinks would be the worst case scenario for all of his children would be uhhhhhh. VERY BAD. (And we love 'very bad' in this house.)

(I don't think Kayson would mind me posting a snippet of our convo because we are so smart and correct all the time.)

I also love @mudlarkspur's Catchyou!AU. I think xir Donnie in my AU would be very fun! She's still a kid in the fic (I love their 'assigned girl by gargoyle' Donnie it's very funny and sweet, but xir more grown designs for Donnie and the plot that's to come is super exciting to me, and I think either would be so fun to play with in an AU. Also, the science in this fic I am obsessed with.

I'm not sure if a CROSSOVER with @thedawningofthehour would necessarily work, but they have a lot of OC's and turtles I would love to kidnap and play with. Their world is so rich and well made I feel like I need to study them like student would, it's crazy.

And needless to say a Discord Ronin Admin AU crossover would be just. Clenches fist. So. Perfect. But @melonpalooza is singlehandedly holding the entire crossover multiverse together through sheer force of will, and if our schedules and inspiration ever aligned it would be a miracle.

OBVIOUSLY me twirling my hair and thinking of crossovers is absolutely just introspection and fantasizing, because everyone's schedules are crazy and a lot of fic authors are already (I PROMISE YOU) juggling multiple fics. So nobody go bothering them about it, because I promise you I am NOT shy about contacting people, and chances are I've already gone into their inbox like a shy cat to give them the dead mouse of my AU and already talked about crossovers.

I also have about four different works i really want to get out before more crossing over, because some things like 'The Hidden City Trial' and 'Red King' are pretty integral to understanding how the world of LSoW is going to work moving forward!

If anyone ever wanted to contact ME for a crossover I'd be perfectly fine with it! I've read a LOT of fics in the fandom so you never know what I might have read, and the worst I can say is 'no'. It's the finding time part that's really hard.

Sorry for the long answer! There's just a lot of AU's and fan creators that I'm a huge fan of. ;-;

[maironsbigboobs]

Any eol thoughts? :0

OF COURSE I HAVE THOUGHTS.

First of all, I know many people don't like him for understandable reasons. So if you are a Eöl hater (so valid) this is not the post for you.

HOWEVER I feel we are sleeping on the fact he absolutely slayed. Morgoth? No, Eöl is more goth. He wears his jet-black armour and his jet-black armour ONLY when he leaves Nan Elmoth and his face was 'noble but grim'. GOTH KING.

Personally I like that he is one of the most dubiously moral elves we have. We need more fucked up elves that are fucked up for reasons entirely unrelated to the plot - no oaths, no dooms, he's just like that.

Alright: serious and extremely lengthy thoughts under the cut because this got away from me, whoops.

Eöl is 'kin' to Thingol - I don't know if he would call himself Sindar (though the Sindar don't call themselves Sindar either, so...) but I think he's distinct from the Avari or the Nandor in that he was living among the Doriathrim until he's granted Nan Elmoth

Personally I think 'kin' here is referring to the fact that both Eöl (or perhaps his parents?) and Thingol were part of the host of the Teleri together, and quite possibly high status/close to Thingol, rather than them being literally related

Close enough that Thingol grants him Nan Elmoth for the price of one (very chatty) sword.

He invented a whole ass metal that's so freaking cool.

He was friends with Dwarves - IMO this is a point in favour of an Eöl who is capable of making friends and allies

I think he still had friends in Doriath too - I think it was Girdle and the city he was most uneasy with, I think he desired to live more like they had during the Great Journey. I don't think he visits them, though he might write.

Sometimes they visit him - but infrequently, with long gaps of time between visits, because what is time to elves - and then war comes, and leaving the Girdle becomes more and more dangerous.

I think he is generally, a stern and serious kind of man - strong-willed and proud

But he's also clever and creative and he loves the stars and the woods and wilds and forging; I don't think his life was absent of joy.

I also think he has a strong distrust of the Ainur. It's almost ironic - he thinks they are full of sorcery and trickery and malice, they are kin of the Shadow that hunted them on the Journey, one of them ensnared Thingol, who's to say what happened to their kin across the Sea, if they ever reached land?

It's unfortunate that he chose to live in Nan Elmoth. That forest is deeply entwined with Melian's power, with Song, with Shadow, with magic - it's a beautiful but dark place that only starlight reaches.

The paranoia and fear and distrust inside him festers. Perhaps he has good reason to dislike the Ainur. Perhaps he has good reason to feel paranoid. Maybe he just didn't vibe with Menegroth.

But Nan Elmoth - it takes what's inside of you and amplifies it.

For Melian and Thingol - that was love.

For Eöl? It's fear. It's hate.

Part of the appeal of Eöl for me is this. Nan Elmoth is such a gothic location (as in the literature).

The whole Aredhel/Eöl and Maeglin situation is SO extremely gothic I LOVE gothic lit and I love Sindar so JIRT actually wrote it for me personally.

As for the Noldor - well, I think his dislike of them is pretty valid. I think fanon tends to exaggerate the Noldor-Sindar divide but in Eöl's case he's stated to blame the Noldor for the coming of Morgoth. Of course it isn't actually their fault, but I think this is a pretty understandable emotional conclusion for Eöl to make.

He clearly still considers (as does Thingol) the Teleri his kin and he takes Alqualondë personally.

Now - Aredhel

I consider the Silmarillion version canon:

It is not said that Aredhel was wholly unwilling, nor that her life in Nan Elmoth was hateful to her for many years. For though at Eöl's command she must shun the sunlight, they wandered far together under the stars or by the light of the sickle moon; or she might fare alone as she would, save that Eöl forbade her to seek the sons of Fëanor, or any others of the Noldor

I think they loved each other. I think there was a period of time, in the beginning, when they were happy. They shared a love of the wilds, of wandering and a desire for freedom from authority of kings

Things start to go wrong as Eöl's fear of looming disaster deepens. He becomes more and more restrictive, quicker to anger, more paranoid and fearful

I think this coincides with Maeglin's birth

It's not foresight. It's not Nan Elmoth's Bad Vibes (though they don't help); it's the end of a path of paranoia and fear he's been on for a long time, fear he doesn't know how to deal with so he deals in the only way he knows

He fears for Aredhel as much as he fears her; if wives become of their husband's kin, would the Noldor come and slay her as readily as they might slay him?

Of course not, but he is not mentally able to recognising that

He fears her because - she is a Noldor, she may be a kinslayer herself, what if she turns on him, one day? Best keep her safe in Nan Elmoth, with Maeglin. She can't hurt him in his own house, surely, he thinks.

When they leave, he follows. By the time he catches up to them, he's wound with anger and fear and anxiety - he hasn't been anywhere other than Nan Elmoth and the Blue Mountains in a long, long time. He's in a city of Noldor, who he hates and who have good reason to dislike him

Side note but when he says: 'this land is the land of the Teleri' he's right. The Noldor don't have any more claim to it than anyone else, and until the Noldor & Morgoth came, the Teleri (or the Sindar & Nandor & Avari - but again, they just called themselves Elves) were living across Beleriand. Thingol 'allows' the Noldor to have realms of their own (because well, even if he didn't want to, the Doriathrim are out numbered and Intra-Sindar relationships are complex), they don't have magical claims to lands 99% of them have never seen.

I also don't think it's quite fair of Turgon to say Nan Elmoth would be destroyed/overrun without the Noldor. It's not as if Eol chose to have them as neighbours. He would be in Nan Elmoth whether the Noldor were there or not. They're there to defend their own lands, not Nan Elmoth, which just happens to be there.

It shares borders with Doriath too. Sindarin swords (and Melian's power) keep it safe too.

Continuing with Aredhel & Maeglin now:

I don't think he went to Gondolin with any intent to kill her, or Maeglin.

He wanted his son back (he seems willing, though reluctant, to let Aredhel remain)

It sucks that he seems to consider his wife and child some kind of property, but Turgon has to be reminded that Aredhel is his sister and not his servant so it's a zero point game here. I think this is more a reflection of patriarchy within Elven society (Watsonian) / Tolkien's own biases (Doylist) than anything particular to Eöl.

He is offered a choice: Live in Gondolin, the golden city of sunlight (that he hates) full of Noldor (whom he hates) and Sindar (who probably have little care for him either) or Die in Gondolin and the same choice is given to Maeglin.

I can't help but wonder here - if Turgon had permitted him to leave, would things have gone differently?

It's Maeglin he tries to kill, and Aredhel who steps in to save her son

This makes me insane.... accidentally killing your wife in your attempt to murder your son, after your brother in law has offered you a choice of a gilded cage vs death.

I am not sure why he doesn't say the javelin was poisoned. Was he asked? Did he believe Aredhel had died straight away, so it was a moot point? Was it out of anger? Or did he think they knew? Perhaps he customarily carried poisoned javelins, and thought Aredhel or Maeglin would mention it.

I do think he feels guilt - terrible, awful, all consuming guilt, but rage too, because who was Aredhel to deny him his right over his son? Other sons and other husbands she could have once he and Maeglin were dead. Who was Turgon to command him live in Gondolin or die? Turgon was not his king nor kin.

The Eöl who is thrown off the walls of Gondolin is a shell of the elf who granted Nan Elmoth. He is twisted and tormented by his own mind and his own actions; hate and fear darken his heart, not any curse or doom, nor any innate quality of him.

It's not a curse he yells at Maeglin. It's not a prophecy - it's what Eöl sees as the inevitable result of tangling with the Noldor. Clearly his fear and hate was justified - these Noldor are going to be his doom after all, and so will they be his son's.

Imagine being so terrible they invent the death penalty just for you.

Basically all of this is to say: Eöl is an incredible complicated and fascinating character, with insane Gothic Literature vibes that make me want to put him in a jar and study him

[forevamark]

preview! time lapse (l.mk)

remember when i said ‘would be posted tomorrow.’..? 

... and that was months ago? well i lied. LOL life has been rough lately. but here’s the preview of what i’ve been working on very very slowly.

genuinely, trying to post by next week i swear this time yall hehe

Pairing: mark lee x fem!reader

Tags: pre idol debut to idol au, christmas and new years time line, slice of life moments, college student reader, substantial plot leading to smut, very dialogue heavy, angsty moments, slow burn, relationship struggle, lovers to exes to lovers

Intended for 18+ readers, minors do not interact.

Preview Word Count : 2k+

Projected Word Count: 10k+

Summary: Mark has always had the dream of becoming a big music star, meanwhile your aspirations lied with academics and coexisting with Mark. Mark struggles with telling reader that he will be leaving for Korea to pursue his music career very soon, in fear of losing what they have.

warnings are under the tab.

Warnings: cursing/swearing, teasing, oral male receiving, unprotected sex (wrap it up ya’ll!), breeding kink, possessive domination, spanking, slight choking, praise

not really edited- so sorry.

--

“What do you think about this?” Mark asked as he sat above you strumming on his guitar. You were sat on the floor between his legs focused on your eight page paper.

“In a sec,” you reply while wrapping up the sentence you were on.

“Take a break…” Mark whined trying to pry the laptop from your speedy fingers.

“Mark, it’s due in two days. I will listen in a sec.”

“Mhmm.” He sulked, leaning back into the sofa continuing his chord progression.

Days like this were stressful- due to the plethora of assignments that piled on- but soothing in a way. Your schedules never aligned this often, but Mark was so entirely enamored with you he’d do anything to spend his free time just being with you. 

“I can’t believe it’s been three hours and I only have my thesis done,” you sighed while resting your head on his knee.

“You got this,” he replies while running a hand soothingly through your hair while the other wrote something down on the notepad next to him, “I believe in you.”

“Do you need anything to help you focus? Am I being too loud?” he asks while going to the kitchen and lighting your favorite candle, “I can make you a snack?”

“Do you mind getting me some fruit? I feel like I need some brain food.” You asked while cracking your knuckles and continuing to type away.

Mark nods and walks back over, handing you a cut persimmon with the skin peeled off. He always knew what you needed before even saying it out loud.

Humming in appreciation you immediately start chewing on the sliced fruit.

Eyeing him from the corner you see him looking out of your apartment window. It was raining hard outside, Mark’s favorite. 

“Anything else you need to work on?” you ask. He shrugs his shoulders. 

“Not much else, I want your opinion on what I have then I’ll see what I can add from there. Don’t worry though,” he turns to look at you with a small smile, “I can wait.”

Mark has always been supportive of your dreams and aspirations. It was a shock when he told you he wouldn’t be joining you at university, but rather pursuing music instead. Although an adjustment, you supported him and he rooted for you. It seemed to be working out, he passed the first two rounds of auditions for a big music company and it looked like things were finally looking up for him. 

Some days you wouldn’t see him at all, and some days he picked you up from class and would stay glued to your side. He claims that he ‘soaked up inspiration from you’ hence the constant quality time and skinship. He knew you were working hard, pursuing a higher education was so important to you and your family, and he wanted to be present every step of the way. 

Unbeknownst to you, Mark also had a dark cloud overlooking him just like the city in front of him. He hasn’t yet told you that he passed the third and final round of auditions for his company and would be slated to move to Korea before the end of the year to begin his training. He couldn’t bear to break the news to you, not yet. Not when you were so close to finishing one of your hardest semesters yet.

“I think I can pull you away from that screen now y/n,” he says while tugging you away from the black and white screen.

“Hey! I’m not finished yet! I thought you said you could wait” you pouted trying to get loose.

“You’ve been working non stop, you aren’t being as productive anymore.” He chuckles while slotting you to the seat across from him.

“Hi.” he smiles at you.

“Hi.” you respond back.

There’s a moment of silence shared between you two. The only sound being the soft pitter patter from outside hitting the patio. Mark stares at you lovingly, you can tell something is wrong but you can’t find the words to ask him just yet, too entranced by the current hold he has on you.

“So, the song, yeah?” you finally whisper aloud. 

“Hold on,” he replies, licking his lips and searching every inch of your face, memorizing this very moment to inspire him for what he’s about to play.

“What’s the hold up? Don’t get stage fright in front of me now Lee,” you lightly say while giggling.

“I, I just want to make you proud, okay?” he finally says with sad eyes.

“You always will, Mark.”

Guilt washed over Mark. Things were great, perfect even. But he just had to aspire for more. He should be satisfied with what he has now, he’s close to home, a stable music career here in Canada, and most importantly, you. But just like you, he had the moon but he wanted every damn star in the galaxy. He didn’t want change, but nothing could satiate the hunger for something more. He was leaving, because he knew that this life, now, isn’t enough.

“Okay.” he takes a moment to gather himself, taking in some deep breaks and shaking his nerves out through his hands.

“Let’s hear it!” you shuffle sitting up straight in your chair.

Mark lets out one final breath before starting a low strum on his guitar. Flashes of memories over the course of your relationship flashes before his eyes. Your first snow day in Canada when you couldn’t get the ice off of your windshield, to the countless nights of watching reruns of Glee in your small shared apartment. 

He hits the chorus for the first time, opening his eyes to look around the room, unable to look at you just yet. Pictures of you two littered the walls, filled with your smiling and laughing faces. 

Mark mumbles small noises of nonsense to fill in the parts he doesn’t know what to put in between, sometimes trying out some lyrics at the top of his head. He shakes his head and chuckles when words don’t rhyme or quite fit, in return you share a smile enjoying him delving into his craft.

It’s something about the way that Mark is able to lose himself completely, in his own little world and for brief moments you’re able to enter his mind, envisioning every note in a flow of synesthesia. He’s able to create color and landscape through sound, and what’s crazier is that he doesn’t even realize the extent of his art.

“And… I guess that’s it. What’d you think?” He asks as he lets out a final strum. The warmness of his music is still palpable in the room, despite the cold and dark weather that demands to be let inside. 

You take another moment staring at the man in front of you. Mark bit his fingers in anticipation. His large white tee hung loosely on his shoulders, his ripped jeans bounced waiting for your feedback.

Everything is perfect.

Nothing can take this moment away from you two. 

No words could exactly encapsulate how you felt so you decide to throw your arm around him. 

Mark lets out a sigh of relief as he sets his guitar to the side, “so I guess you liked it?” then reciprocated by pulling you into his lap.

“I loved it, Mark. I can’t wait to hear it all together, I really liked that chord progression, I can definitely hear it on the radio one day,” you mutter into his shirt.

The pitter patter of rain outside was accompanied by the soft whimpers from the man whose chin sat upon your head.

“I’m always going to be here for you y/n,” he jaggedly says.

You two sat in each other's embrace for what seemed like eternity. 

“Let me show you something,” he says, breaking the silence and adjusting your position to where your back was flush against him.

Mark sat the guitar in your hands, “Let’s start from the top, yeah?”

That night Mark taught you the song on his guitar, sometimes you filled in lyrics that felt right.

“They know we got the chemistry…” Mark sings.

“Love how your body feels on me, when you get back let me get that…” you finish with a small laugh.

“Yo!” he jumps up, lifting your laughing frame into the air, “That’s a bar!”

“Are you jealous that I may be a better rapper than you?” you giggle back.

“You’re coming for my career, babygirl!”

—

Six more hours.

Six more hours until this paper is due, and you’re almost done with this last page. 

Six more hours until the hell that was this semester is finally done.

Six more hours until you can crawl into bed with Mark and take a long deserved nap.

“Almost there baby,” Mark says while massaging your shoulders.

“I got this,” you say while typing furiously.

“Hell yeah you do.”

Your train of thought was interrupted by Mark’s ringtone going off from behind you.

“I’ll be right back, when I come back you better have this paragraph done!”

Sending him a stiff salute you continued to trudge on as he stepped into your bedroom and closed the door.

“Mark! What’s going on my man! Happy holidays!” his new manager cheered into the phone.

“It’s going well, just spending some time with family and friends while I can,” he replies while laying down on your bed and grabbing a stuffed My Melody to hold against him.

“Well, I’m glad you have been enjoying your last moments of freedom while you can. Speaking of which, I do have an early Christmas present for you!”

“Awesome! What is it?” 

“Well, the company wants you to start as soon as possible. I played them your audition and they think you can finish your training in less than a year!”

“That’s amazing!” Mark shoots up and runs his hands through his hair, “when do I fly out? Next year I hope?”

“Mark, I did say Christmas present didn’t I? You’ll leave the day after the 25th. I bought you some more time to spend with your family, but you’ll be spending the new year here, in Korea!”

Mark felt his heart drop. That was in two weeks. 

Two weeks to eat all the food he can.

Two weeks to brush up on dancing.

Two weeks to say goodbye to his family.

Two weeks to erase all traces from his friend groups’ antics.

Two weeks till he has to leave you.

“Uh… two weeks… wow that’s really soon.” 

“Absolutely! Now rest up Mark, this year is going to be the craziest experience of your life!”

His manager kept going on about the potential future he had coming for him. But Mark couldn’t seem to focus on all the new found information. Slowly feeling the aroma of you envelope him fully, being surrounded by you everywhere, it was suffocating. 

How is he going to tell you?

“I finished it!” he heard your jumps of triumph in the distance, echoing all the way to the pits of his empty stomach, “I’m finally done with this God awful semester! One more year till graduation!”

You burst through the door interrupting Mark’s pensive state, wrapping yourself into him.

“You okay babe?” you realize pulling away slowly, eyeing his sweating frame, “you look a bit sick, want me to make you some ramen?”

“Oh no I’m fine, just fine really,” he shallowly laughs pulling himself away from you and moving to turn on the fan, “just got a little warm is all.”

“Who called?” you asked before flopping on the bed and sighing, “was it your manager? Did you get the job?”

“Uh yeah…” he shuffled, not meeting your eyes, “It was my manager, he had some good news…”

“Oh my God, did you pass?” you pounced on him awaiting the news.

“Uh… yeah, I did.” he lied.

“Markie!” you showered him in kisses and tight squeezes, your love for him unfaltering, “When do you leave?”

“Not for another year,” he smiled, not looking at you.

“Hopefully you’ll still be here for my graduation…” you sighed, “but nonetheless I’m glad I get to keep you to myself for a bit longer.

---

anddd that’s it for now! see yall in a week! any and all comments appreciated, and as always, tag list is open! 

xoxo, eva <3

[sapphire-weapon]

THEY FINALLY PAY ATTENTION TO LEON AND ASHLEY'S RELATIONSHIP!!

I mean, to be clear and fair, my last post was hyperbolic LMAO my tone was exaggerated.

The reality is that most non-shippers and casual RE fans probably will point to Leon and Ashley's relationship as one of the best, if not the best in RE. And not for romantic/ship reasons (though I'm willing to bet a lot do see it that way), but simply because they:

A. Are the leading hero and heroine who

B. star in what is widely considered the best game in the series, and they

C. have shared character arcs which are tied inexorably to the overall plot itself and its themes, and

D. have a very clear beginning, middle, and end.

That last one is the most important one. People don't realize that that's why Leon and Ashley's relationship scratches a very satisfying itch in their brain that the other relationships in RE don't, but that's why. The development of their relationship has the basic structure of Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution. Their relationship feels like a story in and of itself.

This was one of the major, major benefits narratively of turning RE4 into a fairy tale. The story is the relationship, and the relationship is the story. You can't have one without the other.

No other relationship in RE plays out that way. Every other RE game deals with good guys going after big bad corporations because it is RIGHT and they are HEROES!!!. Chris and Jill didn't need each other in RE1 to escape the mansion. You could have gotten both Leon and Claire into the Umbrella lab in RE2 without them ever having met Ada or Sherry, because that was the natural endpoint for both of them trying to find the answers they wanted. Jill and Carlos absolutely do not need each other to be convinced to get out of Raccoon City. Chris does not at all need Sheva or even Jill in order to be incentivized to go after Wesker. And so on and so on.

But Leon needs Ashley in order to justify invading and slaughtering an entire community of people, and Ashley needs Leon to do that in order to escape. You can't take either Leon nor Ashley out of RE4 and have the story still work. It doesn't. Their relationship is driving the plot, and RE4make made it so that it's also driving the emotional payoff and catharsis, too (which wasn't necessarily the case in OG).

So it makes sense that that Game Rant article singles them out as unique, because they are. It's very easy to make the case that Leon and Ashley are objectively the best-written relationship on the series, because from a technical standpoint, they absolutely are.

[importantdestinydefendor]

For the WIP ask game: I'd love it if you shared more about 'Illness from Within' (I don't know whether it's fic or original, but the title intrigued me). Also, if you're up for it, choose whatever other WIP you'd most like to talk about and share something about that one too?

Oh boy! This is going to be tough to decide about which other WIP I'm going to talk about (I will make a seperate post for that and tag you).

But before that, we have the star of this ask: Illness from Within! *loud applause*

I actually already talked about this WIP once before on my block. It is this post! (aaand I also shared some older art for it as well.) But I will repeat what I have said in the first post here again.

----

Illness from Within is my original book and is sort of high fantasy. I have been writing it since 2021 and have been stuck in Chapter 6 for a year now (and have been side tracked by my fanfics and other book ideas lol).

This story takes place in a different world, where the flora and fauna is giant. In the middle of a vast forest is a tiny city surrounded by huge walls to protect it from the forest. This city is the only one for miles on this land mass and is ruled by a powerful and wise Queen, Freya. Once this kingdom was bigger, but a civial war had devided it's people thousends of years ago. Thus this tiny kingdom was left. The other half retreated to the other end of the continent but nobody really knows what they are doing but they are rumoured to be barbarians now. Our three protagonists are the head of the guards of this kingdom, Aage, the old royal doctor and merchant, Samir, and Levin, a sickly young man who is being sponsored by Aage and treated by Samir. The story takes them outside their kingdom's walls to find a cure as Samir's resources inside are getting exhausted. He makes a medicine so that Levin can travel and the three of them have a journey and meet the gods. The first one is the god of life, Celeste, who they ask to heal the youngest but even though they can't take something away after it came to life. Thus they venture on to find the other god. The three then get caught up between a war that broke out between the kingdom and the "barbarians" due to there being a moule in the kingdoms ranks. Our three protagonists accidentally get swallowed by the earth with the enemy and meet the god of death, Amon. They manage to leave (not before asking death to heal Levin, but he must die for that to happen) and the war stops as the enemy's leader stays in the realm of death as punishment. The leader wanted to bring ruin to the kingdom and take over the land mass. He wanted to spare no one. In the end, the medicine is actually enough for Levin to live quite a normal life. Samir does not acceptedthis out come and tries to find a cure for the rest of his life. He dies without achieving it. Levin is the one telling this story when he is an old man and living to the age of 80. He himself became a doctor in the end.

So, yeah! That was it. I actually just put the entire plot here but I just really really love these little guys and the themes. And I am so proud about the ending - that sometimes you have to accept that you have tried your best but couldn't fix every problem.

I will try to decide on another WIP to talk about (or even two!).