#I do gotta admit that I haven’t read a dc comic in a bit lol

[camelliasblooming]

good ol babs

[eorzeasntm]

Cycle 7 - WEEK 6 Results

Here we are, we have come to the end of Cycle 7 of Eorzea’s Next Top Model! That said, look for information about Cycle 8, in August!! I will leak one thing about it, ex-model or new – everyone can apply for Cycle 8, so be on the look out! :3

If you have not yet, you’re welcome to join the ENTM community on our discord server: https://discord.gg/Bdf9cWD

First a few thank you’s!

Model’s: Thank you for the awesome job y’all did this cycle! It’s not easy to put yourself out there and be judged, even for fun, and all of you did an amazing job this cycle! No matter who wins (cuz I don’t even know at this point lol – math time!) I hope you are all proud of the job you did, because I am! Congrats to all of my Cycle 7 models for being wonderful!

Judges: Just as it’s not easy to put yourself out there to be judged, it’s not easy to be the one doing the judging. I’ve been a model and a judge, so I know both are hard in different ways. To have to be fair, and analyze each image, sometimes having to nitpick because all of them are just so good! Y’all have a hard job and I thank you for doing it and making it look so easy! Thank you, Cycle 7 judges, you’re amazing!

Community: Thank you to all of you as well, if we didn’t have you spreading the word and voting, ENTM wouldn’t even exist! I am the 3rd person to take up this mantel and run ENTM, and I’m still amazing by the kindness and support that we get cycle after cycle. Thank you all of you!

That said – let’s see who this week’s top model is, remember this is this WEEKS top model and not the overall winner. That will be in a separate post once I’ve got the math done. Yes, you gotta wait just a little longer!

The top model for Week #6 is:

Kusuh Valentione

Congratulations for having the top score for week 6, but is it enough to make you the overall champion?

EVERYONE WILL FIND OUT SOON!

Judges Reviews:

Flare

Kusuh Valentione: This is a pretty spot on take of Takaya. The color filter and screen effect work nicely together and the pose and angle do work in your favor. The background looks wonderful in this picture and actually sets the mood for your whole entire set. All in all this looks like in belongs in the world of Persona. I've really enjoyed looking at your photos this cycle and have seen how much you have grown and you took the judge critiques and used them to your advantage.  

Doki Kodoki: I remember being a teen when the first .hack// game came out and I loved every minute of it. Sadly that's my only really knowledge of the franchise but I've always been drawn to the art style and overall feel of the series. Without even glancing at who you were cosplaying, your picture instantly reminded me of .hack and I was happy you brought two "MMO" worlds together. I wouldn't have thought of this outfit and it works so well! The background and the staff give me a stronger vibe more than anything else.

Rivienne Cotrlaint: I have to admit I haven't ever heard of this character nor the anime. But you worked it out and made the picture your own. The songbird outfit works well for the outfit your trying to capture in the picture and the dark background gives that extra eeriness. I think my favorite part of the whole picture would have to be the lanterns in the background. I'm instantly drawn to them and the background.

Noesis Phobos: So while this was not trying to be an exact replica, you make it your own and it looks totally awesome! I love the shadows and the mystery of the picture. The brightly lite background complements the red shade and the shadowy figure rushing off. This is creating a unique but also staying true to the original type of work.

Stephen Fairbrook: It's a case of who wore it better, but I have to say you both rocked these photos. The Joker pictures were two of my favorite because while they are both of the same character, the bring their own unique looks and feels to them. I'm loving the ledge shot with all the people down on the lower floor. Makes the photo look busy with minimal effort on your part.

WoW Wie: Harley is one of my favorite DC comic characters. While at first, I didn't like this photo that much it grew on me and you can see Harley and Joker's dysfunctional relationship in this picture.  I really like the outfit and thought you did a wonderful job.

Nadede Lasalle: Nice to see a King of Fighter fan. This is a really accurate depiction of Leona and I'm glad this hairstyle just came out so you could use it for her. The Miqo starting top looks really nice as well. Awesome fighting pose and background to tie the photo in with.  

 Gangly

Kusuh Valentione

Despite the differences in body size, I think you pulled Takaya off quite well! The hair (even the forehead band!) and your outfit are accurate to your reference picture, and the green lighting mimics the eerie lighting while giving your shot a different twist! I’m liking the brilliant 1 effect; it adds some texture to your background and doesn’t stand out too much. The screen tilt along with the background adds to the eeriness mentioned before, and you even captured Takaya’s smug grin! The only thing I find a bit odd is your left hand; at first, I thought it was only your right hand up with your left hand by your side, but then I noticed your other hand and it looked somewhat out of place. I still think the angle and pose of your shot is fitting for the character!

Your shots had different and unique stories being told, and I really enjoyed reading them as I looked over your shots! I still can’t stop laughing at your beach shot hahaha! (It was definitely not expected but still very fitting for the theme!)

Doki Kodoki

The background in combination with the lighting is interesting! One half of the shot is brighter than the other, but it works well because the white of your staff balances the darkness out. Everything about your outfit is spot on with your reference picture, and the lighting on you helps you stand out while creating shadow on your face, giving your shot a more serious mood. Your expression in combination with the shadows on your face give you a worried but determined look, and looking towards the darker side of your shot helps to not wash you out. While I do like the screen tilt, I don’t like how it cut off your feet. Zooming out just a bit more would make some of the creeping darkness to the right more visible, which I think would add some intensity to the more serious mood of the shot!

You consistently came out with strong shots every week, and I was excited to see what your next shot would be for each week! I was entranced by your waterfall shot!

Rivienne Cotrlaint

This is a great use of the screen tilt! While it’s not too much, it gives the viewer a sense of uneasiness, and the dark lighting makes your background ominous. The lighting on you helps you stand out very nicely in contrast to the background, and the background itself practically wraps around you to draw the viewer’s attention straight to you. I am liking the combined outfit, but it doesn’t seem to stay true to the character. I feel the Songbird dress appears a bit too carefree in comparison to the more modest outfit displayed in your reference picture. However, I think the contrast of the black and white in your outfit is quite nice, separating the darker parts of your outfit while helping you pop out!

I loved the strong, yet gentle elegance you exhibited in your shots! I think your snow themed shot was the perfect balance of such!

Noesis Phobos

This shot has some nice action going on! The saturated linework gives the shot a layer of intensity in combination with the screen tilt. The red lighting outlining your back is just like your reference picture, and that is quite impressive! No doubt you’re Joker with your outfit, and I’m loving the mosaics in the Gold Saucer mimicking the windows in your reference picture. I understand that your pose is supposed to appear as if you’re running, but it looks like you had a mega sneeze and are using your elbow to catch it. Nonetheless, I feel the shot has a fun and fast-paced vibe to it with the lights and surroundings of the Gold Saucer!

I love the aesthetic of your character and how you managed to create such interesting concepts that helped your character shine through! I adored your waterfall shot; I would love to go on an adventure like that!

Stephen Fairbrook

I love how clear this shot is! The saturated linework is just barely visible around the edges of the shot to give it a nice focusing effect while not appearing cartoony. Your location in the shot gives you a nice distance between the others on the lower level, and I feel your character is incredibly cunning perched on such a high ledge. Your outfit remains true to Joker, and the hint of your smile under the mask is just great! The screen tilt gives the shot a nice energetic feel, but I think you are too far to the right. Of course, you wouldn’t be able to see the others down below if you moved over to the left, but you’re facing down to the right which makes the shot feel unbalanced. I’m just itching to see a confident smirk directed right at the camera!

The colors of your shots are one thing I won’t forget, and the simple but meaningful concepts for each theme were executed well! I am absolutely in love with your beach shot!

Wow Wie

The background you chose is perfect for Harley Quinn! The lighting gives the shot an animated quality and helps you stand out. Your outfit screams Harley Quinn with the color palette, and your friend in the back is a nice addition to the morbid theme you have going on! The lighting on the spiked rollers really catches my eye, and makes them look dangerous. I like your pose as it is playful, but your expression reads differently to me. You look too worried to be having a fun or casual conversation with your partner. I do like what the screen tilt does for the shot though; it adds to the crazy, bizarre mood of the shot!

You had such fun and playful concepts, whether alone or with friends, and each shot was something new but completely fitting for your bubbly character! I loved the confidence and playfulness of your raidin’ tombs shot!

Nadede Lasalle

Watch out, Nadede’s coming through! I’m loving the intensity of your expression, and you look like you’re not only flexing your muscles, but you’re about to beat someone up with your pose! The lighting on you is nice; I can still see some undertones of green light, but the rest of the light appears whiter which helps you stand out against your background. I think your current distance from the camera is nice, but I also would have liked to see just a bit more of your body to have a better context of the background. With that said, your proximity to the lighting creates some nice shadows, giving your body a more toned look!

Your shots were so adventurous and exciting, and I was always curious what your next one would be! Your snow themed shot was a beautiful and calming respite to your adventures!

 Katarh

When I was unfamiliar with a character, I gave them a Google image search so I could make sure I got the appropriate "mood" and feeling for the character. Because of in game limitations, I didn't judge the outfits to be exact, just that the feeling of the character seemed right.

Kusuh Valentione - One of your strongest shots yet with this cosplay.  I love how you managed to find pants with almost the exact belt!  The character is lean and powerful and the angled back shot you chose with your highlander manages to capture that mood despite being a bit heftier. I'm trying to place where the background is... the incredible use of the filters obscures it, but I think it's Gridanian?  I love it.  You've transformed the location into something else entirely.

Doki - The original MMO anime always brings a smile to my face.  I think you did a fabulous job matching the feel of the character here, especially with the clever use of make-up and that wonderful staff.  Strengthened effects and the location feel lifted straight out of the series.  The usage of the camera tilt is appropriate, and the entire composition actually made me start humming the theme song in my head.  

Wow Wie - Harley Quinn - with a bonus joker!  I really like the background choices here.  The Joker extra laughing manically in the background, her timid pose, with the extreme camera tilt and the obvious torture device, really drives home Harley's unstable mindset.  You captured the essence of Harley incredibly well, and did a pretty darn good job getting her outfit depicted within the game's limitations.

Noesis - One of our two Jokers.  I love the way you managed to get the red outline of the character shot you chose. The line work and camera tilt add the appropriate action to the shot.  The outfit is a great match as well.  I would have liked to have seen a bit more of that mask, but since I'm unfamiliar with this character... maybe he does the face hidden thing a lot?  But it definitely adds to the mystery of this character.

Riviene - Homura is one of my absolute favorite anime characters.  The embodiment of a strong, powerful female character who has grown through trials and hardships (and many redos from the save point, so to speak.) Your outfit selection is very good, and conveys her sense of elegance and pride.  You've done well matching the background to the shot, but considering who the character is and what she represents, I wonder if a more action oriented shot might have been more appropriate, especially with a colorful and ... shall we say, witchy background.

Stephen Fairbrook - One of our two Jokers. I've experimented with railing shots in the Gold Saucer myself, and I must save you pull it off far better than I managed to!  The linework and camera tilt add the appropriate action to the shot. I really love the perfect red gloves.  Even the lighting on the hair is a great match.

Nadede - Your Leona is spot on!  I really like the clever usage of the Miqo top here, to make it an outfit that no other race could even pull off as well.  Great choice for hair, too.  I think I get what you were going for with the background, since she's often depicted in front of swirling purple things, but I wonder if an explodey or actioney background might have suited the character better.

[rpf-bat]

There’s No Way I’m Kissing That Guy

Pairing: Gerard Way x Reader

Genre: Fluff

Summary: Request fic for @sleepersareweaker. “MALE!READER MEETING, LIKE, BASEMENT GEE AT COMIC CON OR SOMETHING AND IMMEDIATELY FALLING IN LOVE BUT HE'S GETTING STRAIGHT VIBES? SO HE JUST NEVER MAKES A MOVE EVEN THOUGH THEY BECOME REALLY GOOD FRIENDS AND THEN GEE MAKES AN AWKWARD HALF-ASSED MOVE.Or gerard does something very explicitly not straight and reader has to rearrange his entire life and like immediately awkwardly asks if gee wants to go for coffee and gee misunderstands so reader has to be like "A DATE" and gees face just lights up.”

Maybe you shouldn’t have cosplayed as Batman, you thought with a hint of self-doubt as you walked around the convention. There were a million dudes dressed as Batman here today, and a lot of them were more skilled at costume making than you.

Besides, you thought bitterly, I don’t even have the body for it. Batman is supposed to be this buff superhero, with six pack abs, who could throw the Joker through a fucking wall. That’s not me! I’m a fucking comic book nerd! The Joker could beat my scrawny ass!

“Maybe I should just go home….” you muttered aloud. You’d already picked up the DC merchandise you’d been hoping to score at the vendor’s booths, and the guests speaking at the panels were kind of B-list this year, anyway. Perhaps it was best to…..

“Can you at least take a picture with me before you leave?” said an unfamiliar voice, interrupting your thoughts. You looked up and saw a black-haired stranger standing before you. He was cosplaying Robin. He was cute.

Whoa, calm down there, buddy, you reminded yourself. He’s probably straight, anyway. That would be your luck.

“You want to take a picture with me?” you asked, surprised. “I’m sure there are better Batmans wandering around, if you want a good picture to post on Facebook, so….”

“No, I like your Batman costume,” the stranger insisted. “I mean, if you’re not comfortable taking pictures with people you don’t know, that’s fine. I’m sorry to bother you.”

“No, I’d love to take a picture with you,” you backtracked. “Sorry, my name’s Y/N.”

“I’m Gerard,” the man smiled. Hazel eyes sparkled from beneath his mask.

“Nice to meet you, Gerard,” you smiled.  His attention was making you feel a bit better. “So, what kind of pose would you like to do?”

“Well, I don’t know where my brother wandered off to,” Gerard sighed. “He brought his camera, and he was supposed to help me take pictures with people, but he met some girl in a Wonder Woman costume and I haven’t seen him since. Not that I blame him.”

“Oh. Yeah, uh, gotta love Wonder Woman,” you said awkwardly. If he ‘can’t blame’ his bro for being distracted by a sexy girl, he’s definitely straight, you thought, disappointed.

“Anyway, since I don’t have him to take the photo, just a simple selfie is fine,” Gerard shrugged. “If you don’t mind using your phone, that is.”

“That’s cool with me,” you replied, and opened the camera app on your smartphone.

Gerard stepped closer to you, to make sure he was in the shot. You felt yourself so warm as his shoulder and hip grazed your own.

“Smile, Y/N!” Gerard grinned, and you did, and took the picture.

“There, that’s perfect,” Gerard complimented. “If I give you my number, you’ll text me the picture, right?”

“Yeah,” you nodded. Your stomach flip-flopped at the thought of having this handsome man’s phone number.

Not that anything will come of it, you reminded yourself, frowning.

“So, what’s your favorite Batman storyline?” Gerard asked conversationally.

“Have you read Red Rain?” you wondered.

“You mean, the first part of the Batman & Dracula trilogy?” Gerard recognized.

“Yeah, the one that came out in the early 90’s,” you nodded, happy he recognized it.

“Those comic books were part of the Elseworlds imprint, right?” Gerard recalled.

“Yeah, that’s right,” you grinned, nerding out.

“Dude, I loved that storyline, too,” Gerard grinned back. “I’m a sucker for vampires, and anything horror movie-ish, though.”

“No way!” you said happily. “I love horror movies, too!”

“Oh, yeah? What’s your favorite?” Gerard wondered.

“Oh, gosh, it’s impossible to pick just one,” you confessed.

“Are you staying in this hotel for the whole con?” Gerard asked.

“Yeah,” you replied. “Why?”

“I packed a bunch of horror DVDs with me,” Gerard confessed. “We should totally hang out in my room and watch some of them, if you’re going to be in town all weekend.”

You hadn’t originally planned on sticking around for the whole convention. But now, you thought you just might have to.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Gerard had to leave to go to a signing with Grant Morrison (you would have loved to have gotten his autograph, too, but tickets to that particular event were extra, and you didn’t have the cash), so you went back up to your room to eat some dinner.

A few hours later, your phone buzzed.

Hey, it’s Gerard, the text said, and your heart skipped a beat. Mikey’s sexiling me lol. Can I bring one of my DVDs to your room?

Sure, you replied, happy for the chance to see him again.

Even if he wasn’t interested in you (or guys, in general), it was still nice to be able to make friends with him, right?

I guess I’m satisfied with that, you told yourself.

When he knocked on your door a few minutes later, you noticed that he had changed out of his Robin costume. His face was even more handsome without the mask. Fuck.

He was wearing a pair of black, skinny jeans, and a baggy concert tee. You read the lettering on his shirt: Smashing Pumpkins – The Infinite Sadness Tour.

“Dude, Mellon Collie and The Infinite Sadness is one of my favorite albums ever,” you gaped fanboyishly.

“Mine, too!” Gerard said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “Dude, when my brother and I got to see them live, it was fucking amazing.”

“Oh, you saw them in concert? I’m so jealous,” you groaned.

“Smashing Pumpkins, horror, Red Rain……you and I have a lot in common, man,” Gerard noticed.

“Wow, we really do,” you agreed, a bit surprised. You found yourself daydreaming about going to a concert with Gerard, kissing him while Billy Corgan sang ‘Tonight, Tonight’…….

No, you shook your head. Stop. Gerard doesn’t like you that way. I bet he has a girlfriend. Damnit.

“Anyway, what movie do you want to watch?” you asked, changing the subject.

“I brought Nightmare On Elm Street, and Carrie,” Gerard said, holding up the DVDs.

“Ooh, classics,” you smiled, complimenting his taste. “Let’s start with Nightmare. I love Freddy Krueger.”

“Same,” Gerard nodded, and popped the disc into your DVD player before sitting beside you on your bed. You flushed, trying not to think about how close he was.

For a while, you were silent as the film began to play.

“Oh, I forgot Johnny Depp was in this,” you commented when his character came on screen.

“Yeah, he was pretty hot, even back then,” Gerard said casually.

“Wait, what?!” You whipped around to face Gerard, staring at him, shocked. You were rewriting everything you knew about him in your head.

He said a guy is hot, you realized, asking yourself if this had really just happened. That would mean he likes guys. But, earlier he said he was attracted to Wonder Woman, so…..

“Oh…..um, I’m bi,” Gerard confessed, looking embarrassed. “If you have…..a problem with hanging out with a guy who isn’t straight, I can leave……”

“No, no, I’m not straight either!” you admitted. “I’m gay!”

“……Oh,” Gerard said meekly, like he was reevaluating a lot of stuff, suddenly, too.

If Gerard was attracted to men, then maybe you had a chance. You had to say it before you lost your nerve.

“Would you like to go get coffee with me?” you blurted.

“Oh…..uh, yeah, if you want to have something to drink while we watch the movie, I can go with you to buy it,” Gerard said with a confused look.

“No,” you facepalmed, feeling awkward as hell. “I mean…..would you like to go on a date with me sometime, Gerard?”

“…..Oh,” Gerard’s whole expression changed as the penny finally dropped for him. “…..Oh!”

You buried your face in your hands, horrifically embarrassed. What if, even if he did like guys, he didn’t like you? What if you’d completely fucked up a perfectly good new friendship?

“……Yes,” Gerard said softly, gentling removing your hand from your face. “Yes, I’d love to go out with you, Y/N.”

“Really?” you gaped in surprise as Gerard continued to hold your hand.

“Really,” Gerard grinned, and kissed you on your still-surprised mouth.