#I feel like I’ve grown a lot more than I did in year(s) and changed

[bunnwich]

Same anon about the Leona bf Hcs....I'm also curious, do you have any ICKS when it comes to how people portray Leona romantically? plspls, I wanna get controversial.

My Leona Boyfriend HC Icks

(This is subjective, but you asked! Idk why I wanted to answer this ask before your other one… I guess I felt some type of way. It's a bit more ranty/bitchy so be forewarned. I’ve been in the fandom since the ENG release, so I've seen a lot of stuff that personally icks me. Dw I’ll get to your other ask!!)

Btw, I know some ppl won't like some of these opinions, but it's just my personal preferences at the end of the day! Friendly reminder: I am not the authority on Leona Kingscholar nor do I claim to be!!!

STINKY (But not metaphorically)

Why? He is an athlete and a prince? All the athletes I know bathe MORE than other ppl bc they get sweaty.  Besides…we all have bad hygiene when we aren't doing well mentally? So, this HC at best is just gross, and at WORST is offensive.  Also, just a question for ppl who do STILL this: Why would you WANT him to stink??? I never understood this mindset, even if he WAS that lazy. I simply wouldn’t wanna HC that he stinks. I love myself. GFBHNJM (Idia seems to get this stinky boy treatment too WHYY??? Sorry, I choose to believe my man smells good.)

HERBIVORE. (The H-Word)

I think where people lose me fast in Leona fics is hitting me over the head with the word “herbivore.” Honestly…he doesn't use the word as much as people think?? And I don’t think he would call his S/O at all. I find it mean? Because of the Japanese context of this word, and just the literal meaning. I think of it as more akin to the word “whimp” or “weakling.” It's not…cute to me? He doesn’t even use it for the MC later in the game as much. So, unless you're a lion beastman or fellow carnivore, I’d expect prey nicknames. Kitten, mouse, bird, bunny, etc. He even likens the MC to a “kitten” in a few voicelines. Just makes more sense to me, idk. Think of the silly nicknames he has for the canon cast. That or you know…he’d just use your name.

BRUTE BOYFRIEND

He's rude, sure. But no…Leona is NOT beating anyone up for looking/flirting with you. Would he be annoyed, maybe even secretly furious? Sure. But, he's not a “brute strength" kinda guy who uses his fists. (It’s almost like it's his main battle line!) If someone truly hurt you or did something off-color, he’d probably send someone else to do the dirty work to intimidate or deal with them.  In a real fight, OFC he'd defend you, but fighting cause some guy winked at you? NO. I don’t personally believe so. He’s a grown man with high intelligence, so I think high school like beef would be a bit beneath him?? At least he'd have one of his goons go do it.

ALOOF BOYFRIEND

I think where a lot of ppl lose me is the “aloof/stoic” bf thing.  No doubt he would keep his distance at the first instance of catching feelings because he doesn't wanna be hurt. At first, he’s only batting at you to gauge how you feel for him. But if he becomes seriously interested, and then you begin dating, I just don’t believe he would care what other people think. Or try to downplay your relationship. He’d wait for you to make the first real move, sure…but YOU’D KNOW. I just think about how he acted toward Sally in the last Halloween event and how he was almost “uncharacteristically” sweet to her. I think because Leona isn't super close to anyone in NRC—beyond a few of his frosh or respect-based relationships (like he has with Vil), we don’t see this side of him often, and so it comes as a shock.  Without spoiling anything, let’s just say…he was VERY unbothered at everyone's reaction to his soft side. He was focused on Sally and being nice to her. And if we apply this to “bf status Leona,” I think he’d be too focused on YOU to worry about what other ppl think of him. I’ve been preaching for years that this part of him always existed, and that now he just chooses who sees it. He saves his softness for very specific people he deems worthy of his time. Period. You’ll have to play a bit of a game to get on his good side, but like the motto of Savanaclaw: PERSISTENTLY proving to Leona that you care for him despite his flaws, he’ll come around. And when you're together, well- (I'll save that for the other ask) Especially if you are in an established relationship. He clearly thinks the world of you. He doesn’t have many close relationships, so you think he’s wasting his time with someone he wouldn’t even bother to be nice to??? Besides, Leona later in the main story becomes quite self-aware of his inability to reach out to others, despite craving affection desperately. He knows it's his blind spot, SO he's putting effort into being a good bf to you!

HE'S 20 (45)

To further my above point, I think people forget he is a few years older than even the other 3 years, and…was raised by an old man? I think when ppl write him with low emotional maturity...it loses me. I get it, he's a brat. And often he CHOOSES to act like a petulant prince when it suits him. But, I think deep down esp in more serious situations, we’ve seen that he's wise, calm, and level-headed. Just some nuance, please.

“USING YOU AS A PILLOW”

Napping/cuddling together is no doubt one of the nicest things you can do with a partner. And I’ve even implemented this kinda thing in my writing. HOWEVER, there is a certain flavor of this I dislike. Esp when it’s “forced” on the reader/OC. Sometimes I find this is ALL ppl write about him in those HC posts, esp ones that aren’t Leona focused. That or “Leona dragging you off to be his pillow.”  (A bit of my life is taken every time I read this sentence now…) I know there are new folks coming into the fandom who may repeat old tropes, and that's fine! But, I STILL see this from people who have been here for yearssssssss. It's just cliche to me. I do believe he's a cuddly guy, EXTREMELY SO. It's just that specific phrase that icks me. Maybe it’s the implication that he does it against your will and is aggressive about it?? Just, no thanks.

"I CAN FIX HIM”

Okay maybe now we’re getting into the more controversial ones?? I think the idea of “tru wuv” fixing someone’s flaws is just unappealing as a concept to me and completely against what I think love is about. The “dragging him to class”, “making him dress up more,” or “forcing him to get along with his family” is not something I think he’d put up with. He’s grown, he's extremely stubborn, he knows he’s failing school. He doesn't need another person to nag him! Ruggie already does that! Plus, family relations are complicated. Idk…if someone I started dating tried to get me to talk with a family member who I felt genuinely hurt/neglected me, I’d be annoyed af??   I think he would find it all patronizing coming from a romantic partner. It's one thing if he chooses to be better himself or for his mental health to improve gradually, but forcing things on him and “nagging” him constantly about his behavior at school and at home is just what his family does so- He's flawed, VERY MUCH SO. But, I think when it comes to relationships…everyone has flaws they deal with easier in a partner than others. Like you can maybe deal better with someone being socially awkward, but can't stand your S/O having a messy room. Like if your “hard nos” are lazy people, your S/O dressing “sloppy,” or someone who can be petty and rude to others- Well, you get my point.  It's like....if you hate playing video games and wanna ship with Idia. My question is why?? I’m genuinely curious why you even like this character in the first place?? Hot take, (I guess) this is the reason I don't really ship LeoVil. It just rubs me the wrong way how it turns Leona into a “fix me” project thing. And not to mention how Vil talks to Leona canonically in a demeaning way. (I love you Vil, but you’re wrong.) Leona needs a kick in the ass for sure, all the twst boys do, but personally when a fic/ship leans too heavy on the dynamic of “I can fix/change him” it turns me off. As someone who's been in a long-term relationship… if your day-to-day lifestyles don’t align when living together…ya’ll are gonna be at each other's throats over the small stuff. That’s just how it works irl. And...I understand if everyone doesn't want to apply this logic to fictional ships.  I just personally am not fond of this dynamic. And with Leona being a beastman AND a POC, it often feels like a loaded trope to apply to him.

DISPOSABLE LION BOYFRIEND

Last one! (Maybe most controversial idk) I just think Leona is not good at being a romance rival, (assuming we're not talking about poly situation) despite him being competitive. While ofc I think it's possible for an MC or OC to have multiple crushes and things, I think Leona is someone who wouldn’t handle this well? Like, if Leona feels like he’s gotta compete for scraps of your attention, at a certain point...I'd think he’d just give up, or at least give you your space to come to him. He’s had to compete for attention his whole life, and I feel like he's too emotionally mature and ego-driven to put up with these kinds of games for too long? I DO think it's interesting to explore the dynamic of having multiple love interests!! I even do it for a lil drama! But…in gen I don’t prefer when it feels like Leona is just there to be the "the disposable love interest" considering all of his insecurities of being second. Honestly, in that case, I can see him giving an ultimatum? He's a grown man among...mostly teens, I PERSONALLY just can't see him being a love rival with a child. FGHJK

Anyways, I could go one. that's all I can think of for now!

AGAIN I WANNA STRESS THAT THESE ARE MY ICKS. And if you don’t agree or do any of these, that's okay! Everyone can play dolls how they choose, I’m not the HC or character police. ✌️✌️✌️

[the-most-humble-blog]

The Predator’s Size Reveal: My WTF Moment as a Kid

When My Kid Brain Realized the Yautja Is a Walking, Hulking “Holy S--t!”

Alright, let me set the stage for you. I was just a kid when I first watched Predator, sitting way too close to the TV, probably eating something I wasn’t supposed to. The movie had me hooked from the jump: explosions, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura chewing scenery (and probably tobacco), and this mysterious alien stalking them like it had beef with their entire gene pool.

But then the climax hit. And I saw it. The Predator. The full Predator. And let me tell you, my brain short-circuited.

My Reaction: “WAIT. HOLD UP. THIS THING IS HOW BIG?!”

1. They Didn’t Warn Me About This

For most of the movie, the Predator was just... there.

It was cloaked, hiding in trees, making creepy-ass clicking noises. You didn’t think about its size because it didn’t need size. It was scary enough as a shadow.

Every time it killed someone, it was quick and surgical. Boom—someone’s gone. No need for brute force.

And then, just when I thought I had the Predator figured out, it dropped its weapons, took off its mask, and stood up. And all I could say was, “WTF.”

2. The WTF Realization

You know that feeling when something goes from scary to “oh, we’re all doomed”? That was me.

The Cloaking Lies: This thing had been sneaking around the jungle like a ghost, and suddenly it’s towering over Arnold like a damn tree.

Arnold Looks Tiny: Let’s be real—when you make Arnold Schwarzenegger look small, you’re not just big. You’re stupid big.

The Mask Drop: I was already freaked out by the size, but then the Predator’s face entered the chat, and I was done. Those mandibles? That growl? NOPE.

WTF?: “How the hell did this thing fit in the trees? Was it doing yoga up there?”

3. Why It Was So Effective

Even now, as a grown adult with bills and existential crises, that size reveal still sticks with me. Why? Because the movie played me like a fiddle.

It Hid the Truth: For 90% of the movie, the Predator is more of an idea than a physical thing. It’s all about fear, stealth, and mystery.

The Payoff Was Huge (Literally): By holding back its size until the end, the movie made the reveal hit like a brick to the face.

4. My Inner Monologue: A Play-by-Play

Watching that final battle felt like running through the stages of grief—but with extra WTF energy.

Denial: “Nah, it’s not that big. The angle’s just weird.”

Anger: “WHY DIDN’T THEY WARN US ABOUT THIS?!”

Bargaining: “Maybe Arnold can still win, right? Right?!”

Acceptance: “Okay, we’re all screwed.”

Kid Thought: This thing could bench-press Arnold and the entire squad without breaking a sweat. And here I was, barely able to carry my school backpack.

5. The Real WTF Moment

Here’s the part that really messed me up:

The Predator wasn’t just a brute. It was smart. Like, scary smart.

It dropped its weapons and went hand-to-hand with Arnold, as if to say, “I don’t just kill—I dominate.”

Kid Logic: “Wait, so it’s huge and it knows kung fu? Who signed me up for this nightmare?!”

6. Why This Moment Stuck With Me

Years later, I’ve watched a lot of monster movies, but Predator still holds up. And it’s not just because of the size reveal—it’s because of the way it’s delivered.

The Build-Up: You spend the whole movie fearing what you can’t see.

The Payoff: When you finally see it, it’s bigger, badder, and more terrifying than you imagined.

I Wasn’t Ready

Let me be clear: when I watched Predator for the first time, I wasn’t ready. The Yautja’s size, its intelligence, and that final showdown completely blindsided me. And even now, every time I rewatch it, I feel like that same kid, sitting too close to the TV, whispering, “WTF.”

So, if you’ve ever felt the same way—like the Predator just punked you with its sheer size and power—you’re not alone. It’s not just a movie moment. It’s a WTF moment.

Still reeling from the Predator’s WTF size reveal? Follow The Most Humble Blog for more unapologetic movie takes and hilariously sharp nostalgia dives.

[yvesssssssss]

A simple gesture

It had been years since Yoichi Nagumo had last visited his childhood home. The old neighborhood was quieter now, the streets lined with unfamiliar faces. Yet, some things never changed—the familiar scent of the old bakery, the rustling of leaves in the breeze, and, of course, the spot where he used to meet her.

(Name).

She had been his best friend since they were little. They’d run through the streets, played in the park, and shared countless memories. But Yoichi had never been able to tell her how he felt—not then, and not now, even after all these years.

Yoichi hadn’t changed much on the outside—his serious demeanor, sharp eyes, and the reputation he’d built as an assassin—but inside, things were different. The brutal world he had grown accustomed to felt distant in this quiet place, and all he could think of was (name).

He had promised her once, back when they were young, that they’d always be there for each other. He never expected their paths to diverge so dramatically, with him taking on such a dangerous life. But still, here he was, trying to hold onto those old promises.

The park was empty when he arrived, except for one person sitting on the same old bench under the large oak tree—the tree they used to climb together. (Name) was looking up at the sky, her brown hair falling gently around her face, lost in thought. She looked the same, and yet, different.

She turned when she heard his footsteps, her eyes brightening as she recognized him instantly.

"Yoichi!" Her voice was like a breath of fresh air, full of warmth. "I didn’t expect to see you today. You look... different, but still the same."

Nagumo couldn’t help but smile at her teasing tone, even though his heart was pounding. "I’ve changed a lot, (name)," he said, sitting down beside her. "But I guess some things don’t change."

(Name) raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Nagumo hesitated. The words he had rehearsed in his mind so many times were stuck in his throat. But he couldn’t keep running from it anymore. Not here. Not with her.

"Like how I’ve always looked out for you," nagumo began, his voice quieter than usual. "I’ve always wanted to protect you. But lately… I’ve been wondering if I’m protecting you because it’s what I think I should do—or because I… care about you more than just as a friend."

(Name) blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes. Her expression softened as she turned to face him fully.

"You've always been there for me, Yoichi. I’ve never doubted that," she said gently. "But… you’re right. Things are different now, aren't they?"

Nagumo nodded, his heart racing. "I don’t want to keep pretending that I’m just your friend when I know I feel something more. I don’t know how to say it, but… I think I’ve been in love with you for a long time."

(Name)'s eyes widened, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still. Nagumo was sure he had said too much. He had always been the quiet, serious one. Not the type to open up. But (name) just smiled, a soft, understanding smile.

"You’ve always been so serious," she said, her voice tender. "I’m glad you said it. Because… I’ve felt the same way for a while now."

Nagumo's eyes searched hers, trying to process her words. Could it really be true? Did she… feel the same?

(Name) took his hand, her fingers brushing against his, and the warmth of her touch sent a wave of calm over him. "You’re not the only one who’s been hiding something."

Nagumo's chest tightened with a mixture of relief and happiness. The weight that had been on his shoulders for so long lifted, and for the first time in years, he allowed himself to smile freely, his eyes softening as he looked at her.

"I guess I’ve been an idiot, huh?" he said with a small, sheepish grin. "I didn’t know how to say it, but I think I finally got it right."

(Name) laughed lightly, the sound filling the air around them like music. "You weren’t an idiot, Yoichi. You were just waiting for the right moment. And I’m glad you did."

The two of them sat there, hand in hand, as the sun began to set behind the trees, casting a warm glow over the park. There was no need for words anymore. The simple gesture of holding hands, of finally acknowledging the feelings they had both kept hidden for so long, was enough.

In that quiet moment, Nagumo realized that, despite the battles he had fought, the enemies he had faced, and the dangerous life he had lived, this was the true victory. Being here with (name), sharing this peaceful moment, was all he had ever needed.

And maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something beautiful.

[secretswiftymarvelfan]

Run Free - Alpha!Ari Levinson x Omega!Reader (Part 5: Out Of The Woods)

Summary: With the full moon you and Ari spend time together in your wolf forms.

Word Count: 5.7k

Warnings: Angst! Fluff! Mention of Captive Situation! A/B/O dynamics!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Series Masterlist / Masterlist

Chapter 5: Out Of The Woods

You were in your room making your bed when you happened to glance outside to see the night sky. You stopped what you were doing and walked over to the window to admire the view. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky allowing you to see every star in brilliant detail.

Not satisfied with the restricted view your window gave you, you made your way down the stairs and onto the back porch. A smile grew on your face as you looked up at the endless sky, watching the stars twinkle and listening to the sounds of the forest around you. 

You sat down on the steps wrapping your arms around your knees as you just stargazed. You were so lost in the stars that you barely noticed Ari coming out to join you. Your only sign was the feeling of warmth that you always felt when he was nearby.

“This is the most beautiful sky I’ve ever seen,” you said as he sat down beside you.

“It is amazing, I don’t think I could ever live in a big city, the light pollution would ruin it all” Ari agreed nodding his head “Did you used to live in the city?”

“No, just close to one, I never really was allowed out much after dark anyway” you admitted with a shrug of your shoulders.

Ari looked over at you sadly, you didn’t speak much of your time before you were taken but whenever you did it was rarely positive. Your parents seemed controlling and psychologically abusive. They kept you so sheltered that you barely knew your own biology. The fact that in the years you were gone they didn’t look for you didn’t sit well with Ari at all. It did spur him on to make sure the life you lived now was full of freedoms and everything else you deserved.

“You know it’ll be a full moon in a couple of days and Sammy said you're more than strong enough to shift now so why don’t you join all of us for a run” Ari suggested as he glanced up at the moon.

“People still do that?” You asked surprised. 

“Yeah it's not as common nowadays, like a lot of things where the world has grown more modern, people have less time to do what our ancestors did. Not everyone is free to do it, like emergency services and other essential businesses” Ari explained “If the full moon falls on a weekend then I can’t go on a run because of the bar”

“Guess that makes sense, kinda like the pack thing, people rely on it less because the world is more open,” you said making Ari smile as he nodded his head.

“Exactly like that, so you up for joining us?” Ari smiled nudging your shoulder.

“Yeah sounds like fun, it’ll be nice to stretch my legs and get out, feels like i’m only ever here or at the bar but even that’s rare,” you said as you looked back up at the stars.

“Do you wanna get out more?” Ari asked as he watched your eyes search the stars.

“I dunno, maybe, I feel like getting out and I dunno having a job or something seems like the next logical step but then I know I still get nervous around unknown alphas which is kinda stupid” you sighed shaking your head.

“It's not stupid” Ari interrupted putting his hand on your shoulder getting you to look at him.

“After everything you’ve been through no one would blame you for being wary around Alphas and not wanting to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Maybe we can find you a job in admin or something where the only people you’ll have to interact with are people you know and then go from there?” Ari suggested squeezing your shoulder reassuringly making a small smile pull at your lips “And I know for a fact that it’s absolutely something you can do, in the past couple of months I’ve watched as you’ve come out of your shell into this much more confident and amazing woman, the fact that you now so openly trust me when before you ran at the sight of me shows how much you’ve grown” Ari continued, when he looks back over at you he sees tears collecting in the corner of your eyes.

“Shit, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you cry, fuck” Ari apologised scolding himself for bringing up your past.

“No, no,” you said grabbing his hand and squeezing it “These are happy tears I promise” 

Ari looked back over at you uncertainly “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you, yeah alphas still kinda make me nervous but you’ve made me feel safer than I ever have before in my entire life, you’ve given me freedom and a second chance of life, none of this growth would have been possible without you” you told him a couple of tears rolling down your cheek.

Ari reached out to cup your cheek gently wiping away your tears. The both of you smiled gently when you leaned into his touch. Ari wanted nothing more than to close the distance and kiss you, and unbeknownst to him you wanted the same. Instead, he cleared his throat and let his hand drop from your cheek.

“It’s late we should probably head inside” he said, not really wanting to.

“I know but just another few minutes? Please?” You asked with a small hopeful smile and puppy dog eyes that made Ari want to bend over backwards for you.

“Of course ‘Mega” he smiled.

You smiled back over at him, the pet name he used making your insides feel all warm and mushy. You shuffled closer to him resting your head against his shoulder as you looked up at the sky. 

Ari kept his eyes on you the entire time, the stars were pretty but you were spectacular. The feeling of your head resting on his shoulder made his heart skip a beat. Unable to stop himself he nuzzled his nose into your hair breathing in your scent. He felt every worry he had about you, the bar and everything in between melt away and a sense of calm washed over him. 

Much more than a few minutes later you lifted your head from Ari’s shoulder. You nodded sleepily as he asked if you were ready to head inside. Ari stood he offered you his hand expecting you to drop it once stood up but you didn’t. You held onto him as you both walked inside and up the stairs. Only dropping your hand once outside your room, just to lean up and kiss his cheek as you said goodnight and slipped into your room.

Ari stood outside your room unsure as to what to do. Part of him wanted to knock on your door, even going as far as raising his hand to do so. The other part of him held him back, reminding him to let you make all the decisions. Flexing the hand you held he turned and walked back to his own room. 

A couple of days later was the full moon you’d been waiting for. You could feel the excited energy in the air as everyone arrived. Rachel who normally gave a playful roll of the eyes at the boy's antics was even laughing along with them.

“You ready for the run?” Sammy asked walking over to you.

“I think so, just a little nervous it's been forever since I last shifted” you admitted fiddling with your shirt.

“You’ll be fine it’s like riding a bike you never truly forget” Jake reassured you with a smile.

“It's been years since I’ve done that too” you pointed out with a chuckle.

“Hey, maybe Ari should take you on a little bike ride date through the park” Max grinned earning a slap around the back of the head from Ari.

“What these boneheads are trying to say is that it's a natural part of you, nobody can take it away permanently” Rachel assured you.

“We’ll all head out and shift and give you time and space to do it when you’re ready” Jake offered, everyone nodding in agreement.

You watched as they all headed towards the back door that led out to the porch. As Ari passed you to also leave you reached out and took his hand halting him.

“Do you mind staying?” You asked nervously.

“Yeah of course” he agreed waiting with you as everyone else headed out.

Once they were gone you could hear the howls of your friends outside as they shifted. Looking in their direction Ari could see the hesitancy in your eyes.

“You’ll be fine, just gotta take a couple of deep breaths and let it happen, don’t overthink it” Ari reassured you.

“What if I can’t?” You asked quietly, voice barely above a whisper.

“Then it’s something we’ll work on, you don’t have to come with us tonight and if you want I’ll stay back here with you too” Ari said but you shook your head.

“No, no you go it's fine,” you told him with a smile.

Ari nodded “Okay, but look if it helps I’ll show you” he offered as he took a step back from you dropping your hand.

You watched as he closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. His body begins to change, his shirt melting away and being replaced by dark brown fur. Once fully in his wolf form, he sat down in front of you allowing you to get a good look. 

His fur was the same dark brown as his hair, as well as being slightly longer and thicker than the usual wolf. He was already immensely big and muscular but his fun only added to that. Your favourite part though was his eyes, the strikingly light blue a direct contrast to his dark fur. 

He stood back up and walked over to you. Brushing his head against your leg making you chuckle. Your hand fell to the top of his head, fingers running through his thick, soft fur. You couldn't help but smile at the blissed-out look on his face as you stroked his head. He went as far as thumping his hind leg when you scratched behind his ear. He nuzzled up into your hand before pulling away slightly to give it a gentle lick.

You watched as he padded out of the cabin to join his friends who you could all hear playing outside. You could feel the pull to go join them, join him so you leant into it. Closing your eyes you took a couple of deep breaths, stretching out your back as you felt something shift. 

When you opened your eyes you were no longer at the same height as you were before. You were much lower to the ground, glancing over your shoulder you saw your tail wagging back and forth and you realised you had done it. You let out a victorious yip before stretching out your back and shaking out your fur.

Ari was sat on the back porch watching his friends play with one another. Tackling each other to the ground or chasing each other. The sound of a playful yip behind him made him turn, standing when he saw you in your wolf form trot out of the house.

Ari’s ears instantly perked up and his tail started wagging as he admired your wolf. You were much smaller and skinnier than him, but perfectly streamlined. He could already tell he would struggle to keep up with you when you hit full speed. Your fur looked silky smooth, almost like the moonlight was bouncing off of it.

As you walked over to him you lowered your head bowing in submission to him. Ari tilted his head slightly before walking over and nudging his snout against yours making you raise your head. He could see the surprise in your eyes so he nuzzled against you to reassure you. There was no need for submission here/

You began to wag your tail before jumping away down the stairs to go join his friends. Ari remained stood on the porch watching you run rings around Jake and Max, at one point using Max as a springboard to tackle Jake. 

As much as Ari wanted to watch you play and interact with his friends he knew they should start the run soon. Throwing his head back he let out a long howl that made everyone stop and join with him. The sound of your howl perfectly harmonised with the group like it had always been there. 

Once he stopped he shook out his fur before jumping down the stairs and beginning the run. You and his friends followed closely behind. He had expected you to stay near the back of the pack but instead, you closely flanked him.

You couldn’t believe how free you felt. Even the moment you escaped didn’t feel like this. You weaved in and out of trees, feeling the wind whip through your fur, whistling past your ears. 

You easily matched pace with the rest of the pack but you wanted to go faster. See just what speed you could get up to, but you could feel the unspoken rule to stay behind Ari. You knew that Ari wouldn’t mind if you pushed ahead, he wasn’t like other Alphas. This pack wasn’t like other packs, while they all saw Ari as their unofficial leader, they didn’t care about hierarchy. So you waited until Ari signalled for the pack to break.

Ari glanced over his shoulder and could see you were itching to break away. Wanting to run just with you he let out a short bark and broke away from the pack. He turned to the side you were on nudging you to run faster. He could see the sparkle in your eyes before you darted off.

Ari could tell you were gonna be fast but he was surprised at how quickly you had gotten away from him. He could barely keep up, every time he felt like he was gaining you’d dart between trees making him slam on the breaks so he wouldn’t crash into them. 

At one point you had completely disappeared from sight and Ari had no clue where you were or what direction you’d gone in. He slowed down to a trot and lifted his nose into the air to try and track your scent. However he could smell you in every direction he turned, he tried to listen for you, his ear twitching in different directions but he couldn’t work it out. 

You were crouched close to the ground as you circled him, making sure to stay out of his line of sight. You slowly began to stalk towards him, keeping yourself low, carefully placing your paws so as not to disturb the leaves. You had to fight the urge to wag your tail as you got closer and closer. 

Once you were close enough you pounced using your speed and the element of surprise to tackle Ari to the floor. He let out a huff of surprise at the impact before the two of you play fought on the ground. You stood over Ari playfully snapping at him as he twisted underneath you. He managed to get his paw on your chest pushing you off. 

You bounced backwards as he got back to his feet. Your tail was wagging furiously back and forth as you performed a play bow. Ari mirrored you watching happily as you bounced side to side enticing him to play. You were like a like a coiled spring waiting to snap, Ari was just waiting for the perfect moment. 

You circled him barking and whining for him to play but he was just watching you. You were mid-bounce when he finally pounced hoping to tackle you, however, your reaction speed was much better than he anticipated and you’d dodged his attack and had taken off again.

This time however you allowed Ari to match pace with you. The two of you nudging each other as you ran. As you broke into a clearing in the woods Ari made his move finally tackling you to the ground. You twisted underneath him but he kept you pinned standing tall over you. 

Once you had stopped wiggling underneath him, submitting to him, he dropped his snout down to yours gently nuzzling it against yours. A sentiment you quietly reciprocated, even going as far as licking his face. 

He gave you one last nudge before moving off you so you could stand up. As you stood you moved to stand side by side nuzzling your head into the thick fur of his neck. You then let out a large yawn and Ari could tell you were clearly ready for bed. He could hear the sounds of his friends still playing and enjoying the full moon, but he didn’t want to leave your side. 

The two of you slowly made your way through the woods back to his cabin. You walked side by side brushing shoulders as you walked. You however slowed down as you approached the cabin. Ari stopped on the porch turning round to see you stood a few meters away. He tilted his head not sure why you had stopped. It was only when you let out a low whine, one he always heard pups give out, one he used to do when he was a pup. 

You didn’t want to shift back yet. 

So instead of heading inside the cabin Ari moved to the corner of the porch and settled down. He then called you over watching as you pad over and settle down beside him.

Ari watched over you as you fell asleep. He kept watch as his friends came back, growling quietly at them so they wouldn’t wake you. Once they were gone he allowed himself to relax. Especially when you moved in your sleep to lie closer to him. He let out a quiet yawn before gently resting his head on your shoulders and allowing himself to fall asleep. 

The first couple of days after the full moon run you could feel the relaxed atmosphere in the cabin. However, a few days later you could feel Ari’s stress levels rising. If he was at home he’d spend the majority of the day in the office, where you could hear him pace back and forth. If he went to the bar he’d come home visibly tired. 

Whenever you could sense his stress you felt the urge to do something to help him relax. So you’d make him dinner, leaving the leftovers in the fridge for when he returned late at night. If you woke before him, or before he was back from his morning run you’d make sure there was a cup of coffee waiting for him. 

Today he was working away upstairs in his office, he’d been there all day. Not even going out for his morning run. It had gone lunchtime and Ari had yet to come downstairs for lunch. All you could hear was him occasionally pacing back and forth.

Not wanting him to go hungry you made him some lunch and a fresh cup of coffee. When you opened the door you found Ari sat at his desk, elbows resting on the desk hands running through his hair.

“Hey I thought you might be hungry” you said grabbing his attention.

He quickly looked up having not heard you walk in, he looked down at his watch eyebrows raising slightly.

“I didn’t realise the time, thank you” Ari smiled as you put the plate down on his desk.

“Everything okay you looked really stressed when I walked in” you asked him as he started eating.

“Just work stuff, it's fine,” Ari said shaking his head.

“Is it the same work stuff that’s been stressing you out the last few days?” You asked making him raise a brow at you.

“Yeah, just got a problem I’m trying to solve” Ari sighed glancing down at the paperwork on his desk.

“What kind of problem?” You asked him.

“The bar isn’t making enough money, if I don’t find a way to reduce costs and boost sales I’ll have to sell” he explained sitting back in his chair as he looked up at you.

“You can’t sell, you worked so hard on getting that bar,” you said shaking your head at the idea.

Ari gave you a small smile before shrugging his shoulders “I don’t want to but if I don’t do something quick then it might be my only option” He explained.

“Let me help, look over this see if I can find something, you’ve been looking at it for so long that you might be overlooking something” you suggested pointing to the paperwork.

“You don’t have to,” Ari said shaking his head.

“Please Ari, we spoke out finding me something to do maybe this could be it? I’m good at maths too, my parents didn’t let me go out much so I spent a lot of my time doing extra school work” You told him.

Ari sighed sadly at your admission. You were slowly telling him more and more about your past. The more you did the more he hated the way you used to live. The more he wanted to make sure you had the best life possible now.

“Okay, but I won’t blame you if you get bored” Ari said with a lopsided grin making you chuckle.

“Oh I won’t” you smiled grabbing a pencil from the pot on his desk and the paperwork.

Ari smiled as he watched you go sit down on the couch in the corner and start reading through it all. Almost instantly you started circling stuff and making annotations.

Ari continued eating taking a small break as you worked before returning to his work. Doing the things he hadn’t been able to get to yet.

“Have you thought about doing themed nights?” You asked grabbing his attention.

“Themed nights?” He asked as he looked over at you.

“Yeah I can remember my parents telling me how they met at an open mic night, you could do something like that getting local musicians in, or maybe even an omega only night” you suggested.

Ari hummed in thought as he leant back in his chair, rolling his pen between his fingers.

“Is that something you’d be interested in, an Omega only night?” He asked.

“Yeah, I mean I know not all Alpha’s are bad, you, Max and Rachel have shown me that, but I think there’s still a guard that goes up, and to be able to have a safe space to do that and have fun would be appealing to the Omegas in town” you explained making a smile grow on Ari’s face.

“That’s a good idea, i’ll do it, on one condition though” he smiled making your head tilt in question.

“You have to help me organise it,” he said.

“Oh no, I don’t think I’d be good at all that, you’re the expert with all the bar stuff,” you said shaking your head as he stood up from his chair.

“Yeah, but I’m not an omega” he pointed out as he walked over to sit beside you on the couch.

“I can guess at what an omega wants but I wouldn’t know from experience, so getting your insight would be valuable” he explained as you turned to face him “You tell me what needs to happen to make omegas completely comfortable and safe while also having fun, whatever you feel is right because if you feel safe after everything you’ve gone through,” Ari said reaching out to take your hand in his “then other omegas will too” 

You bit your lower lip slightly as you gazed down at your hand in his. It looked so tiny compared to his large strong hands, it felt comforting and safe being held by him. Your heart fluttering at his touch. Your gaze meets his, his bright blue eyes shining with reassurance.

“Okay” you agreed.

“So we have a deal?” Ari asked with a lopsided grin.

“We have a deal” you smiled nodding in agreement. 

“Great, now I saw you scribbling away so tell me how screwed I am,” Ari said nodding down to the paperwork.

You chuckled gently and shook your head as you grabbed the paperwork “You’re not screwed, I think if the themed nights go well and a couple easy changes are made you’ll be rolling in it in no time” you told him.

“You sound very optimistic” Ari grinned.

“I am” you smiled.

You started explaining all the different things you noticed. Where the margin could be increased and what supplies could be swapped out for cheaper ones. You’d even found deals he could take advantage of so he could get some of the more expensive alcohol for a fraction of the price.

“Wow” Ari muttered sitting back “I have been scouring that for solutions for weeks and you’ve come in and solved it in less than an hour” he said shaking his head in disbelief.

A bashful smile appeared on your face as you looked down at your lap shaking your head.

“Seriously, you’re amazing at this sort of stuff, I hate this side of owning and running a bar, I’d much rather spend my time actually working behind the bar than in the office, if you want you could help me out full time, work at the bar doing this sort of stuff” Ari suggested.

“Really?” You asked glancing over at him.

“Yeah of course, only if you want to though don’t feel like you have to,” Ari said.

“Yeah I want to, you’ll have to show me how to do all of it but yeah I’d love to” you smiled nodding your head.

“Great, I’ll add you onto the payroll” Ari smiled standing back up.

“Oh you don’t have to do that,” you said shaking your head.

“I wouldn’t be a very good boss if I didn’t pay my employees, especially one as important as you” he grinned as he walked back over to his desk.

“I don’t need the money though,” you said shaking your head, Ari’s reminder that you didn’t need to pay rent or anything while you stayed with him fresh in your mind.

“Use it for stuff you want then, treat yourself” Ari smiled as he scribbled something down.

“I haven’t even got a bank account and you should be saving not adding costs” you pointed out.

“We’ll sort that, if you’re working for me then you’re getting paid for it especially when you’re saving my business,” Ari told you.

“Fine but will you let me pay rent or something?” You offered as Ari walked back over to you.

“We can discuss that at a later date” he smirked making you roll your eyes.

“It really is your way or the highway isn’t it” you sighed smiling up at him.

“You know me so well omega” Ari grinned “Now let's go take a break we’ve done some good work and we deserve to relax” he said offering you his hand.

“What are you thinking?” You asked taking his hand and allowing him to pull you to your feet.

“Why don’t we go on little run just the two of us?” Ari suggested a wide grin growing on your face.

“I’d like that a lot” you smiled.

Ari led you down the stairs and out onto the back porch only dropping your hand as he shifted into his wolf form. You chuckled as he leapt down the steps, turning to face you wagging his tail encouraging you to join him. You smile as you shift jumping down the stairs, nuzzling your snout into his scruff.

Ari then trotted away a short distance and called for you to follow. You trotted after him the both of you heading deeper into the forest. Unlike the full moon run, you and Ari took your time strolling through the forest. Your shoulders occasionally brushed each other.

Eventually, Ari led you to a stream that ran through the forest. You wagged your tail in excitement quickly running towards it splashing through the stream. Ari smiled as he watched you play in the stream chasing the splashing water. 

You turned spotting Ari watching you on the side of the shore not stepping into the stream. Deciding that wasn’t good enough you turn your back to him kicking your hind legs out towards him, splashing him with water.

He huffed in annoyance giving you a playful snarl as you looked back over at him. You do a play bow inviting him to come play with you. He charged into the stream after you, chasing you through the water. 

The two of you continued to play, splashing each other, trying to tackling each other into the water. When you stepped out of the stream you shook your fur out causing water to spray over Ari. He playfully snarls at you before shaking his own fur out and spraying you back. 

You huffed in annoyance barging Ari with your shoulder before dashing further into the forest. You heard Ari howl before running after you. You could hear his paws hitting the ground behind you, never getting close enough to actually catch you. 

You find a small cave darting inside hoping Ari hadn’t spotted you run inside. You crouch down to keep a low profile, staying silent waiting to see him.  You heard leaves rustling and twigs snapping as he approached. He appeared near the entrance of the cave, snout pointed upwards as he tried to sense where you were. 

Excitement got the better of you and your tail began to wag, it didn’t create much noise but Ari instantly looked over in your direction. You saw the excitement on his face as he stalked closer to you. 

He blocked your escape his tail wagging victoriously as you rolled onto your back. He stood over you as you submitted pawing at his chest. He lowers his head brushing his snout against you.

He then stepped back enough for you to stand up, as you do so a clap of thunder rips through the air. You instantly cowered further into the cave. Ari walked closer to the entrance seeing the heavy rainfall and lightning flash through the sky. As he glanced back at you he saw you pushed as far back into the cave as possible, shaking with fear, tail between your legs. 

He padded back over to you nuzzling his snout against you soothingly. He felt you relax slightly but you flinched once more when another clap of thunder rumbles through the air. As you whimpered he rests his head on top of you, gently licking your face to calm you.

Knowing that you’d have to wait the storm out Ari got you to lie down. Once you were settled he lay down beside you resting his head over your shoulders. You shift besides him move closer into his side, feeling his calming woodsy scent wash over you.

As the storm rolled on Ari kept comforting you. Nuzzling his snout against you whenever you’d flinch. Gently licking your fur like his mother would do when he was a pup. As the sky grew darker and the night drew in Ari encouraged you to fall asleep and curled up next to him, his head resting on top of you as you slowly dozed off. 

Ari tried to keep himself awake until the storm passed so he could comfort you if and when he needed to. But as he lay so close to you all he could smell was your lavender scent. He felt his entire body completely relaxing as he too fell asleep inside the cave.

When morning broke the storm had passed. Ari was the first to wake, gently getting up and stretching out his back with a wide yawn. He then padded over to the entrance of the cave, looking up to see the bright blue sky, no cloud in sight.

He glanced back over at you, seeing you curled up still fast asleep. He didn’t want to disturb you but he knew you’d most likely be hungry and would be far more comfortable back in the cabin. Walking over he nudged his snout against yours, gently waking you with the occasional lick. 

You blinked a couple of times as you woke lifting your head tiredly looking up at Ari. He nudged you again but you dropped your head, rubbing your paws over your face as you tried to get comfortable and fall back asleep. Ari gave you a light warning growl as he nudged you again getting you to stand, you huffed in annoyance snarling slightly to show your displeasure at being woken up.

The two of you slowly made your way back to the cabin. You tiredly leaned against Ari as you walked, Ari didn’t mind though knowing you didn’t sleep well last night. He would just gently encourage you onwards, choosing the easiest route home possible.

Once you got back to the cabin you both shifted back to your human forms. You let out a large yawn as you stretched upwards.

“Are you hungry, we haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday?” Ari asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“No, just tired, I think I should just go lie down,” you said shaking your head.

“You should try and eat something it’ll get your energy levels back up, just toast or something?” Ari pressed gently.

“You can go lie down afterwards I promise” he added when he saw your hesitancy.

“Okay” you yawned moving to sit down at the kitchen table.

“Thank you” Ari smiled as he set about making the both of you some toast.

Once you’d eaten you trudged upstairs to your room to go lie down. Ari cleaned up the plates, making himself a cup of coffee before heading upstairs to his office. Planning on setting in motion some of the changes you suggested. 

After a couple hours Ari had yet to hear you resurface. So he carefully and quietly poked his head into your room. He smiled when he sae you fast asleep, hands curled around his shirt that he’d given you on your first day. He doubted it smelt much like him anymore so he made a mental note to leave another out for you.

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This series has no schedule, please don’t ask when it will be updated! Same goes for Masterlists, AO3 and Wattpad!

Series Masterlist / Masterlist

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[beestriker015]

Mipha x male Hylian s/o

(Non-calamity AU)

Mipha’s feelings for s/o go all the way back to when she was young, having been introduced to him by her childhood friend Link.

“Wow! I’ve never met a Zora before! My name is s/o, what’s yours?”

Being the shy and timid girl she is, Mipha responds to him with a voice barely above a whisper.

“I-it’s nice to meet you s/o. My name is Mipha.”

“Same here Mipha!”

He flashes her a smile that makes the young Zora blush a little before she begins playing tag with him and Link, kicking off a long lasting friendship.

As the years have passed, Mipha and s/o have grown continually closer to the point that they started to see each other as more than just friends.

Mipha of course was the first to realize her feelings, and not knowing what to do, went to her friend Princess Zelda for help.

“I see. While I’m not much of an expert on romance, my advice is to tell s/o how you feel Mipha.”

“B-but what if he doesn’t feel the same way? Revealing my feelings to s/o could ruin our friendship, and I….I could bare it if that happened.”

She says sadly as the Hylian princess places her hand on the Zora girl’s shoulder.

“You’re assuming the worst Mipha. S/o cares about you greatly, and I doubt anything will change that. In fact, I happen to know that he has feelings for you as well.”

Mipha’s eyes widen slightly at this revelation.

“R-really? He does? Are you certain?”

She asks as Zelda nods with a small smile.

“Yes. Link told me that s/o confided in him that he is in love with you. Now that you know this, there isn’t a reason for you not to confess Mipha.”

“H-he loves me?”

The beautiful Zora blushes while holding her hands over her heart.

“Yes, and you love him too don’t you?”

“I…I do! Please excuse me Princess, but I must find s/o. I cannot contain my feelings for him any longer!”

She bids Zelda farewell before rushing off to find s/o, whom she runs into after he finished doing some sword training with Link.

“Hey Mipha! Link and I were just talking about you! There’s uh…something I wanted to say to you.”

“Oh? I was looking for you for the exact same reason s/o. M-may I go first?”

He nods as she looks at him with a flustered expression.

“S/o…you mean a lot to me, and through our time as friends I became developing…feelings for you. What I’m trying to say is that I’m in love with you s/o.”

When she finishes speaking, s/o blushes profusely before moving closer to her.

“Mipha, I love you too! In fact, that’s what I was going to tell you, but you beat me to the punch.”

A brief moment of silence follows as the two lean in and share a kiss as Link smiles at his two close friends finally getting together, thus marking the beginning of their relationship.

Naturally a very sweet and caring girl, Mipha is an amazing girlfriend to s/o, who is equally as great to her.

“How is your day s/o? Did you sleep alright? Have you eaten enough? Is your family doing well?”

She bombards him with questions thanks to her motherly nature when it comes to those she cares about, which s/o finds quite adorable.

“Yes, to everything Mipha. How about you?”

“My answers are the same as yours s/o, thank you for asking.”

Needless to say Mipha and s/o have a very cute and wholesome relationship, which Princess Zelda secretly gushes about to Link, who she has recently gotten into a relationship with thanks to some help from her two friends.

Despite s/o being a careful person who rarely does anything reckless, he still gets hurt on occasion, to which Mipha wastes no time healing his wounds.

“Ahh, that feels so much better. Thanks for taking care of my injuries Mipha.”

“Of course. I will always tend to your wounds whenever you get hurt. Just promise me you’ll be more careful s/o.”

Jealousy does exist between the two, but it’s never anything major.

Due to being different races, Mipha and s/o often worry about their significant other finding another Zora/Hylian they like better.

Luckily, they always communicate these fears to each other, leading to constant reassurance.

“Mipha, I love you for you, and I would never leave you anyone. My heart is yours, and it always will be.”

He says while gently taking her hands into his as she smiles softly at him.

“T-thank you my dear. You never have to worry about me doing such a thing either. The only person I want by my side is you.”

Dates can take place anywhere, but Mipha’s and s/o’s favorite location is Lake Hylia, where they often take a late night swim together.

“This is nice. The way the moonlight shines on the water is a beautiful sight isn’t it s/o?”

“Yeah, but it pales in comparison to how breathtaking you are Mipha.”

He tells her as she blushes deeply and chuckles.

“That’s so sweet of you s/o. I must say that you are quite breathtaking yourself.

Now it’s his turn to blush as the two hold each other close and lay down on the grass together after finally leaving the water.

Should any Hylian or Zora say something negative about them being together, the two will firmly yet politely tell them off, and luckily they also have Link and Princess Zelda to openly support their relationship if anyone were to take issue with it.

Mipha loves so many things about s/o, but the thing that makes her heart flutter the most is how well he gets along with her little brother Sidon.

Watching her boyfriend play with Sidon so happy just makes her fall in love with him even more.

“Catch me if you can s/o!”’

“Ok! Careful not to trip Sidon!”

S/o says while running after the little Zora near the base of Lake Hylia.

“Thank you for spending time with my brother s/o, it means a lot to me.”

Mipha tells her boyfriend with sincerity and gratitude in her voice.

“No problem Mipha! I absolutely love this little guy!”

Hearing that just cements her belief that s/o is the one she wants to be with forever.

Some time later, Mipha brings her boyfriend to Lake Hylia as she has several times before, but this time being extremely special.

“Ok Mipha, you said this was really important. Is something wrong?”

“No, not at all s/o. In fact I have something for you.”

She hands him a set of beautifully crafted armor.

“Woah. This is for me? Mipha, I don’t know what to say. Thank you so much. I-”

Realization sets in as s/o remembers what this armor represents, his face going red as he looks at his girlfriend.

“Y-you want to marry me? A-are you sure I’m the one you want Mipha?”

Shaking off her own blush, she nods and cups her beloved’s cheeks.

“Yes s/o, there is not a single doubt in my mind that I want you as my husband. You are the love of my life, and should you accept this armor, I want to be with you forever.”

“I feel the same way Mipha. That’s why I’ll gladly take this armor. I love you so much.”

“That makes me so happy! I love you too s/o!”

Mipha exclaims with glee before kissing s/o passionately.

Watching him slowly put on the armor, Mipha smiles warmly knowing that the Hylian she loves with all her heart will soon be her husband, and there isn’t a single thing that makes her happier.

[wendylianmartin]

I remember once you said that when you create Kappa you were around the same age as him but now you are like... 7 or 9 years older than him? (I can't remember and I cannot find the question on you tumblr, maybe I dreamed it haha)

I can't help to notice that your new characters with the Bird boys are older as well (Which I really love btw). Sorry if it"s a little invasive question but, do you find easier yo write characters around the same age as you? If so, have you had any problem with CS because of this? Like, did you ever struggled to think like a 20/19 year old whose brain isn't done cooking yet now that you are older?

If you started creating CS today, how different would it go?

Hope you have a great day! I admire you so much. Sorry for any mistakes. English is not my first language ..

I do like to create characters that are older and it’s cool to have characters closer to my age but I mainly just want to write characters who are adults or young adults.

I feel like a lot of old shows and anime the main characters would be about 15-17 years old and when I became an adult I wanted to see more stories where the characters were allowed to be a bit older and still be main characters who had a lot of growing to do.

Idk it might just be a personal preference thing. But I’ve learned you actually change so so much from age 19-25 so I think it’s interesting to examine characters around that age and also to examine characters who are older because you can still grow and change even in your 40s and 60s.

Nothing wrong with younger characters of course but those are just my random thoughts lol.

And to answer your question, if I were to re-write the story today I think the characters would be the same however there would be general changes in the structure of the story and dialogue just because I’ve grown and changed a lot as a writer.

[letstalkpuck]

https://www.tumblr.com/letstalkpuck/780001370480754688/do-you-know-what-happened-to-puckingtea

It appears that she deleted her blog. But if memory serves she does this. She had a blog before then deleted it for whatever reason and then came back with that one and now that one is also deleted. So who knows maybe she'll reappear in the future?

Okay, so this is the only time im going to say anything about this. I’ve been nice to everyone, but like I did some research amongst some other blogs tags and through tumblr hockey tags on here, so here you go. As it’s been a hot topic today in my ask box I went deep diving and found some tea. It can all be found on tumblr if you’re willing to dig through a few years worth of bullshit and drama. I personally feel like I wasted possibly more than an hour of my life.

I’ve never followed this blog personally (I actually don’t follow many blogs on here.) so idk what’s really going on in this situation but here is some stuff I’ve dug up so we can just lay it to rest.

From what I’ve learned she’s done this every time shes been called out for causing drama or being a bully which is a lot concerning.

One blog who shall remain anonymous sent me a private message (I’m sharing this info with consent without a screen shot for the blogs privacy) saying she once claimed on an older blog of hers to be from old tumblr which should make her somewhere around early 30’s, but then came back with a new blog claiming to be the youngest or second youngest Hughes age (I have no idea if Jack or Luke are younger) which is concerning because he was barely a whole human when old tumblr existed. So there isn’t a lot of consistency here with what’s being said from the jump. I was also here during old tumblr and never once saw heard of anything like that happening over 10 years ago so I have my doubts about many things.

It’s amazing what you can find in other blogs tags on here really. I was surprised. But, also not surprised at the same time. It’s amazing what comes to light when you dig a little deeper on hockey gossip tumblr.

Idk what’s going on but it seems like it’s been a few pretty fucked up years on here since all of us old tumblr folk left and came back. It used to be such an open community on here and we could all share without judgement and the only doxxing that happened came about when people accidentally (on purpose) outed themselves more successfully than other people. 😂. Or when a WAG found you and had someone make you delete.(allegedly)😉.

I hope everyone in this situation learns from whatever it is that happened, heals internally and only comes back when they’ve grown from whatever’s going on because there’s a lot of fucked up shit out there on here about other blogs.

The funny thing is that none of us really know each other outside of what anonymous people share about us. Which is why when I’ve sent in asks to other blogs I don’t go anon. Like, yeah I said it, it’s out there.

Again, I won’t say anything else about this as all of this info is free floating around on tumblr if you dig and it’s apparently repeat behaviour so who the hell knows.

If I see any more asks about it respectfully, I will not reply.

❤️

[koorminii]

SHOW ME HOW | hwang hyunjin (m)

When you were young, you were friends with a neighborhood boy who liked the same things as you. Both of you were dirt poor, but it didn't seem to matter; as long as you had each other, there was always a make-believe adventure right around the corner. He grew up to be a star actor and, now that he's wealthy beyond imagination, seems to have forgotten where he came from. You haven't talked to him in years, but now he’s back, for reasons unknown to you, where you reconnect and reintroduce him to the life he left behind. (original prompt)

This is a little something I started writing last year, it’s actually the last thing I wrote and actually liked, before I seemed to forget how to. I’ve tried and tried to make it into something more but maybe it’s time for me to let go of it so I can let something new make it’s way in.

pairing: hyunjin x f!reader

genre: romance? very pg. childhood friends to strangers to one-sided enemies to lovers

word count: 1.5k

warnings: just feels; small towns, old friends, mentions of heartbreak, angsty, childhood friends to strangers (??) to one sided enemies (??), idk. a lot of secrecy.

missed u guys <3

p.s listen to it almost worked by tv girl for a better reading experience !

You never understood Hyunjin. Not after all those years when you were kids and especially not now. Not when you’d seen him cry every year on his birthday, not when he’d tried and failed to be friends with every newcomer in town, not when he’d stopped talking to you for days after you made fun of his dirt-caked sneakers (I’m sorry Hyunjin, I thought I’d earned that privilege!), and especially not when he’d left you, nineteen years old with not even a look back as he left to be something great while you were stuck being the younger version of your parents— a nobody.

You’d watched him grow up. You watched him mature from the young boy he was and into a man, and in turn he’d watched you as well. You were there when his voice deepened, when his mole started to fade— you were there when his eyebrows thickened and he lost all his baby fat. You were there when he had a huge growth spurt that left him hovering over you more often than not, even when you had always been the tallest. And in turn, he’d watched you. He was there when you decided to grow your hair out and also when you’d decided to cut it— he was there when you’d started to grow in your body and boys and girls started to take notice— he was there when you’d found something you loved, and he was there when your heart broke for the first time.

You were there to watch him bloom— standing by his side all the while as he did— knowing somewhere deep in your heart that he was meant for much more than the shoddy town you both had grown up in. It wasn’t horrible, no, you’d had a lot of fun growing up there. You never lacked fun, or something to do, or friends to make, but it wasn’t a place for flourishing.

It was a place where everyone knew everyone, where everyone went to the same spot to get alcohol, where everyone knew the best spot to get a fake ID; it was a place where the older generation couldn’t fathom why anyone would want a place in the city, where the docks still held old boats from the 70’s and the houses still held the same structure from years ago. It was a great town, one that held memories, but one that lacked growth.

You were there when Hyunjin flourished, when he grew so tall and bloomed so wide that he could no longer fit in your shoddy little town. When his wings spread so far that if he stayed he’d have to slouch a little— crouch down just to fit in. You were there when he found something he loved, when he found the one thing that made him happiest, when he found a dream to chase after.

You were there through his firsts— when he’d gotten his first job, his first rejection, when he’d gotten his first bad grade and his first perfect grade. You were there when the first argument with his parents turned into frequent ones. You were there during his drama lessons, during his practices, you were there when people would tell him he would never amount to anything— when people said he’d be a failure just like his parents— and you were also the one to stand up for him, throwing your first punch in his honor.

You never understood Hyunjin but you knew him. How he’d pick holes into his jeans when he was nervous, and dye his hair when he was really angry— how he’d sometimes just give you a hug, no warning and no words, just his warm embrace and for seemingly no reason at all, but you knew. You knew how he laughed when he was really happy, when he was being fake, when he laughed something small and sad. You knew what every twitch of his brows meant. You knew what he was trying to say when he’d look at you and his lips would quirk up for a split second— that was all you needed to know what he was trying to say without really saying it. You never understood your best friend, but you knew him. He was yours, and you were his. You didn’t need to understand because you knew. You were there.

You both liked to play the same video games, and every day after school you’d play before pulling out your homework. On the first day of school and every friday afterwards you’d both wear matching T-shirts— and whenever you’d manage to scrape up any money that was always what you spent it on. Something you both could match with. Weekends at the arcade in the next town over, going to the fair in the summer every single day until it closed for the year, swimming in the lake behind your house on the hottest summer days. Going to Mielle’s Diner like it was the best treat that your young minds could ever dream of. You both watched the same movies over and over again and would cry at the same exact parts. You’d read books together and yell at each other about them all the while, and watch whatever new drama was out — falling head over heels for the leads.

Now, the Hyunjin you see is a stranger. Twenty-six years to your twenty-four, he’s unrecognizable— in the way he dresses, in the way he talks, in the way he moves— even in the way he breathes. It’s clear that you no longer know Hwang Hyunjin from eight years ago. And of course that’s normal. After eight years you might not recognize what used to be your favorite song, or your childhood dog, your favorite TV show— if you hadn’t seen your parents in eight years you might not recognize them— but for you, someone who had always believed you and Hyunjin would be best friends forever— as childish as it was, looking at Hyunjin now feels like betrayal. Like heartbreak, one much worse than what made you stay all those years ago— it feels like coming home after a long day just to see your stuff thrown on the porch. It feels like going on a date expecting a proposal only to be broken up with. It feels like getting rejected from your dream school.

Seeing Hyunjin now isn’t familiar. You’ve seen him every once in a while on TV, in a magazine, in a cameo of your favorite show— but that wasn’t Hyunjin. Not your Hyunjin. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that used to throw rocks at your window and help you sneak out to go to karaoke. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that would always come to the diner where you worked and tip extra with the money he barely had. That wasn’t the Hyunjin that bought you your first pair of sneakers after fifteen years of hand-me-downs. That wasn’t the Hyunjin who’d rubbed your back and cried with you on the worst day of your life.

Yet, somehow, it is him. In the way he laughs, in the way he stands just a few inches taller than you, in the way his lips curve up and dimples form in a way you’d never seen before. It’s in the way he says “hey” and wraps you up in a hug like those eight years were really only eight seconds— as if he was just coming back from a week long vacation. It’s him in the way he brings warmth everywhere he goes, embracing you so tightly, so utterly comforting, that it feels like you’ve been rolled up inside a heated blanket on a cold, winter day. You’ve seen him every once in a while, on TV, in a magazine, and realized— that is him. It was him in an interview with dogs, cuddling and cooing at them for twenty minutes straight. It was him doing a tour of his home, books littered everywhere, canvases with the most intricate designs on his walls, it was him, when he still lit up at the sight of anything new— because those things don’t go away. Those old habits and interests that are ingrained so deep; so painfully deep, don’t just go away.

Seeing Hyunjin again is like finding a forgotten trinket in the back of your closet, like finding your favorite book or shirt after months— years, even— of thinking you’d lost it forever. It’s a sudden bout of nostalgia, a remembrance of something you used to love, something you cherished. But maybe the shirt doesn’t fit you anymore. Maybe the book doesn’t interest you. Seeing Hyunjin is like that— someone you used to love more than anyone; someone you used to cherish, but he’s a thing from the past, and eventually you’d always lose those items again. They’d lay in the darkness of the deepest corners of your closet, waiting for the chance to be found again or forgotten forever.

You don’t think seeing Hyunjin again is much different, except you’re the thing in the closet, and you’re fine with being forgotten.

It’s been eight years. You never understood Hyunjin, but you knew him. You knew each other better than anyone else could, but the Hyunjin you see today is a stranger. This is not the Hyunjin you know, and you hope he leaves as quickly as he came so your heart can’t be broken for a third time.

[vivianbernadetteaurora]

 Maddie Perez style

Maddie S Styling in euphoria , starts out really liked with cherries 🍒 and matching outfits with cherries Chanel style outfits, butterflies and things like that, it changes during the first series through the trauma that she goes through in it when she’s happy at the beginning with Nate she’s in her light to colours pink purple but mainly like patterns Louis Vuitton which I don’t know how high school students can afford Louis Vuitton, but there you go,

So in the first season, we like I said we have a lot of floral co ord outfits, when she turns up to the carnival she is in a very revealing outfit in a purple which then comes out more and season two once her Nate broken up, it is the beginning of where it comes out the most and have fair kicks in when she’s at the carnival. She really dresses to impress and is really happy and it with her she gets and he tells her she looks like a prostitute which causes her to go off the right, fairly

The next day when she comes to school after he’s sorted her acting up around his family, he sees , as a friend to his family and friends and being embarrassed, specially as she spoke to his mother, and his family expect him to be with a woman he put up with his shit like his father does, Maddie isn’t that kind of,

Cassie would never of done Cassie, constantly, to previous years of past and this happened when I was unique for having a triangle like this, but it seems in your things like this up and all the time, meant to be meant to be like teenagers I mean America you guys staying in high school  forever at it it seems I mean look at GREASe jokes lol, even though Alexa Demi was 25 my day apparently she’s my age 33 or 32 at the time.

So after this is really bad I’m done with MDMA and she’s hit it up with us sunglasses on but from where he has sorted her around the neck and his bruised her parents when press charges she doesn’t and they make her, they are however still meeting up and seeing each other they put another abusive relationship is going back-and-forth back-and-forth and meeting up in weird places where no one can see them so I don’t have time for anything else.

Like I said with Cassie Howard have a colour palette does not change as always baby blue and baby pink M possibly , too dramatic , until she gets with Nate and he basically turns her into a version of Maddie but more jules embarrassed that he fancies someone he’s transgender as well but when you see Cassie, she looks just like her make up ,.

But this is Maddie season two her colour palette seems to be a lot more grown-up. She’s wearing black with light lace around it which compliments her dark features and our pair shape body and petite frame ..

Babysitting for a lady who has a lot of money she’s trying on nice clothes and realising that she could have this all one day and her friend who is the babysitter tells her that she did exactly what she did her colour in this season seem to be black green and purple , purple represents our personality , and it’s a real spiritual , light green and some of her other outfits are very inspired and early 2000s out of everyone else in the group , I’ve put these in a collage of outfits together but like I said, she progresses a lot more than Cassie and a few of the other Ocado , because she is wanting to grow up some of them are stuck in an age .

Maddie wants to get her grow up. She doesn’t wanna be her mum, but they said there was people who had their feet done and the people who did the , represented when buys her that coat .

The clothes make her feel a certain way and confident and like she says shit she pretends to be confident and teaches Lexi. That’s the way she does it. She just pretends that they often do the colours and euphoria of what’s going on for them at the time .

Nate buys her some lingerie it’s pink and it’s not something she feels comfortable when but she likes to impress men in a certain way. We’re watching porn and doing what they think would be desirable and she pretends to like underwear when she thinks it’s awful my phone that so funny, she makes herself look pretty, characters, RUE Bennett, her doesn’t change that much because she is stuck in her 10 years and the years of when her dad was dying and she feels the safety towards her but a lot of, and only 2000, Popstar.

[heyclickadee]

My take (that no one asked for) on every single Star Wars show and non-saga movie:

The Clone Wars (movie): It’s…okay it’s rough. This wasn’t supposed to be a movie at all, putting three episodes of the show together and releasing it theatrically was part of the distribution deal with Cartoon Network, as far as I know, and it does show. It’s grown on me, though.

Clone Wars (The Tartakovsky Series): I think I’m probably in the minority here, but I actually don’t love this one. It’s fun, slick, and stylish, like everything Tartakovsky does is, and I don’t dislike it, but it just doesn’t do much for me. It’s cool. Maybe it’s a little too cool. Great art style, though.

The Clone Wars: Very high highs, very low lows. Though to be honest, I actually love a lot of the goofier episodes. They’re fun. It doesn’t have to be all drama all the time. Sometimes you can let Jar Jar be an agent of chaos. Sometimes you can have an episode about interest rates. I don’t have the nostalgia factor going with TCW the way a lot of people do—I didn’t watch it until I was in my twenties—so I do have to admit that it is tied with one other show as my least favorite of the animated shows, but that’s not a bad thing. I still love it.

Ewoks: I’ve only seen about six episodes. It’s veeerry 80’s. I think eight year old me would have gone insane for this show had I seen it. Adult me actually has a bit of a soft spot for it. I’ll watch the rest of it eventually. (Aaaand now I have the theme song stuck in my head. It’s. It’s definitely a theme song.)

Droids: I…haven’t seen it.

Resistance: I finally had a chance to get all the way through this show (I was eyeballs deep in “okay fine we’ll try this college thing AGAIN” when it was airing and just didn’t have time to check it out) and you know what? It’s actually pretty good. It’s definitely skewed even a little younger than Star Wars typically is, but it does what it does really well. Sort of feel like this one is slept on.

The Mandalorian: It’s a fantastic adventure of the week show. I actually don’t dislike the “plot” episodes, but mostly I’m just here to watch what shenanigans Din and his small green force son get into. Season three is weaker than the first two, but I don’t even really think that season is bad. There was some great stuff in it—just uneven and mixed in with some not so great stuff. Overall, good popcorn viewing, as far as I’m concerned.

Andor: Okay, yeah, Andor is fantastic. I do think some of its popularity is that it’s one of two (maybe three) Star Wars shows made for adults more than anyone else, so some people don’t quite have the same “why isn’t this making me feel like Star Wars did when I was a kid?” dissonance watching it, but it is also genuinely amazing. Probably the best thing Star Wars has ever done even if it’s not technically my favorite.

The Book of Boba Fett: Is it a mess? Yes. Do I still enjoy it? Yeah. My main problem with BoBF is that it’s got some serious structural issues. Even besides Din coming in and taking over two whole episodes, I think that the telling the story via flashbacks was a mistake, and that we should have followed Boba through the childhood bits and slowly caught up to him in the present. Maybe revealed it was all a flashback while he was in the bacta tank from there. And I…don’t love Robert Rodriguez’s directorial style all that much, never really have. That said, I do hope we eventually get more of this, though if we do I think it will be folded into something else. Still don’t love the live action pike design. (I actually have a conspiracy theory that BoBF was originally just a few episodes or even a season of The Mandalorian, and that it was made its own thing for marketing purposes.) I want more Boba, more Fennec, and more Sand People, if nothing else.

Solo: One, killing off Val Beckett was a huge mistake. It’s not story breaking or anything like that, but doing so when she’s one of very few black women in Star Wars and half of one of, like, two interracial couples in the entire franchise means that it hits in a way it wouldn’t if she was someone else. So, yeah, don’t like that. Two, the rest of this movie is a blast and audiences just hate fun. I don’t care that no one asked for this movie, it’s fun and campy and there’s a heist and I like it. Three, Enfys Nest has the sickest armor design in the whole franchise and I need more of her.

Kenobi: So…maybe unpopular opinion here, but…I really like Kenobi. Kenobi’s a delight. It’s not perfect, it’s got some problems, but I like that it’s about a guy who’s that depressed and alone slowly regaining his sense of hope, I like that we had something focus on Leia for a while (because Anakin and Padme had two kids and Leia always gets left second string), I like that you’ve got grifters like Haja and former imperials doing what little bits they can to help even though they can’t fight the whole empire. And I know that thoughts are mixed on this, but I actually thought it made a couple bits of A New Hope make more sense where Leia is concerned; kid me could never figure out how she knew who Ben Kenobi was when that was the name he only went by in exile on Tattooine (“Ben Kenobi? Where is he!?”), and it kind of made the switch from the very formal request for aid on behalf of her father to the more personal, “Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi,” a little more poignant, for me, anyway. Reva is an amazing character, she’s a perfect parallel and eventually perfect foil for Anakin, she’s a mess and a he’s in pain and I just. I love her. I have mixed feelings on the live action Grand Inquisitor’s performance (and mixed feelings on the makeup—on the one hand it could be better and on the other hand the other main live action pau’an we’ve got—the actor’s head was just shaped like that). Nevertheless, this show for me was mostly about the big emotional beats, and it hit all of those really well.

The Bad Batch: This is a magnificent show and I adore it apart from That One Thing and the fact that everything was left completely open, even going into the epilogue, apart from Omega’s coming of age and the Hunter’s and Omega’s relationship’s arc. That was resolved very well. I am mildly insane about this show. I love it. Also, it vexes me. Tied with two other shows as my favorite Star Wars show in spite of all that. Amazing soundtrack. Sidebar: If it turns out I’m right and That One Thing is an extended fake out and we’re not quite done with these characters, I’m sorry, but I’m going to be the most insufferable person alive.

The Acolyte: Everyone is very pretty and just a little stupid. Mae is very fun. The good scenes are very, very good. The writing is pretty uneven; judging from interviews I have a completely different view of writing than Leslye Headland and had a hard time picking up why a lot of the characters did anything, but when it hit, it hit. It’s…very CW drama, which isn’t a bad thing—just not always my thing. That said, Sol is a fascinating concept for a character and Lee Jung-jae did an incredible job with what he was given. Same with Qimir and Manny Jacinto. It’s honestly not my favorite Star Wars show, but I’m still disappointed that it looks like it’s not moving forward. The leftover story might end up being folded into the high republic book series, but I still hope we get some kind of on-screen continuation. I think the public needs more of Darth Babe the Jacked.

Rogue One: It’s great. Yes, the entire main cast dies, but the central message was still about hope. Vader gets to pun. I remain somewhat dismayed that the only thing a portion of the audience took away from it was that the Vader hallway scene was cool. He’s a horror movie monster there. Still a great movie. (Also, Saw, why do you have that??)

Young Jedi Adventures: This skews very young; most Star Wars is for kids in the first place apart from Andor, the Acolyte, and mmaaaaaybe the Tales of anthology (the other live action shows are, in my opinion, solidly whole family), but this really is made for very young children. That said, I have watched it, and it’s a very well done show for very young kids. Also I would die and kill for Nubs.

The “Tales Of” anthology series: Yes, I am counting this as one, because even though there’s a shift in focus from the Jedi to the empire between seasons, it all follows the exact same format and structure. I’d argue this series is the one that’s primarily for the adults who either grew up watching Star Wars animation or got into it as adults. It’s good, lots of atmosphere, the episodes do range in quality but I generally like them, and it’s nice they get to play around with different techniques, like making miniatures and incorporating them into the animation. The Dooku and Barriss episodes are probably my favorites.

Ahsoka: I know the fandom is divided on this, like they are on most things, but I love this one, okay? It’s not perfect, but I have a good time watching it. It just happens to be this perfect blend of campy, fun, dramatic, and mystical that really feels like Star Wars for me. I like it when Star Wars gets weird, has silly little guys, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Lucky for me that this series has extragalactic travel via whale, Ahsoka being dragged to Force Therapy by Anakin, and Ezra hanging out with the space fraggles. That, and I love some of the concepts. I like the idea that force sensitivity isn’t the be all end all, that connecting to the force is something you can learn with practice even if you weren’t blessed with the genetic lottery. Peridea and the space it occupies in folklore is neat. And the music is wonderful. It is a little uneven, it’s not Andor or anything quite that amazing, but I’m eager for more.

Visions: This anthology is fantastic and you’re missing out if you haven’t seen it. I don’t love every entry, but even the weaker ones are worth seeing once, and the stronger ones are worth seeing a whole lot more than that. It’s a great blend of styles and takes from people normally not involved in creating Star Wars. This is in a three way tie for my favorite Star Wars show.

Rebels: Again, it’s not perfect, because no show is, but I also think it’s the strongest standalone show Star Wars has besides Andor. Yes, there are weaker episodes, but on the whole it’s remarkably consistent, and the second half of season four might be some of my favorite Star Wars outside of parts of the original trilogy. Also, it has some stunning backgrounds, and while the art style doesn’t always work for every character, the character animation ends up really hitting its stride towards the end of the second season, and just gets better from there. And, as always, the music is fantastic. Rebels rounds out that three way tie for my favorite Star Wars show along with TBB and Visions.

[steampunkhobo]

Two years ago to the day, I baked a chicken pot pie and sat down to watch O Brother, Where Art Thou? It was not the first time I’d seen it- more like the fifth?- and by at LEAST the second watch I’d already clocked how gay it was. I’d read all (two) of the fics at least a dozen times over and could quote the film at length with my closest friend. I was no stranger to this movie- hell, it had been a major source of comfort for me after my back surgery- and I knew full well I loved it. But for whatever reason, after watching it this time, two years ago, something just…clicked. And beyond like “oh this is cute and gay I can hyperfixate on this for a little while”- I was genuinely changed. Like- able to fully see what made this movie so magical, how special what Pete and Delmar had was, how absolutely *enchanting* Delmar was- and I can’t deny this did start in part due to my infatuation with Delmar. The earliest drafts of my Pete/Delmar fics (which have never seen the light of day) involve Pete discovering his attraction to Delmar through Delmar’s entanglement with another man. Very self indulgent. But at any rate, it was like seeing the movie with fresh eyes. It felt so special and magical to me- and that’s only grown since. And within all that excitement, there was this impulse- “dear god, I need to write fanfiction.” And I did. I’d never written fanfiction before, and I sure as hell didn’t think I would ever post it, even as I kept picking up prompts and writing little drabbles- but then another piece of serendipity popped up. Two weeks after the fact, a new fic for them popped up. It was because of that fic that actually got up the nerve to post mine. And then another one. And another. As of right now, two years on, I am responsible for 9/18, or one half, of the Delmar/Pete fics on AO3. I take pride in that (even if it’s silly), but if not for the work of other authors in the community, I would never have even posted. This is so niche that I doubt it, but if any authors, fanfic or otherwise, stumble on this, I want you to know that even if you don’t directly know about it, your work affects people. Your work will always find its audience, and that audience will be carrying a little piece of you and your work in their soul and in their own work. It’s not always glamorous. You don’t always see it. But it is there.

I say this for myself, too- what I do is not for everyone- or much of anyone, lmao. This is more of a dad and grandparent movie than a queer person on tumblr movie, and I respect that. But I love the silly thing that I love, and through that I have met so many talented artists and writers, so many people who get them like I do, and gotten to push my gay agenda commissioning the most wonderful people- all of whom you should give your business to. I want to be able to highlight the things this movie has given me, all the people I’ve gotten to talk to, the improvement of my writing, the confidence I’ve developed in myself and the things I love- but I’m realizing the movie didn’t do that for me. That was all in me already. The movie just gave me an outlet, a connection point- something I loved more than I was self conscious. Something I loved enough to let it push me out of my comfort zone. And that’s so much more meaningful to me.

I’m sure nobody’s reading this far into the ramble, but any OBWAT fans, authors, artists, or what have you, thank you. You’ve helped me find my place. Even if it’s small and hidden, it’s mine. I love what I love and I’m better for it. If you feel so inclined, check out some of the fantastic artists that have drawn for OBWAT. Read one of the fics, mine or someone else’s. (Crypid_Cryptid420’s fics are monumentally good.) Leave someone a comment on their art- maybe a fic from the silly thing you’re obsessed with. Let them know there’s others like them out there. It means a lot.

Be good to each other. More of my dumb stuff soon.

Tonight, though, I’m visiting the big rock candy mountains.

[dross-the-fish]

I saw your LO post and something stuck out to me. Most people focus on Hades as a love interest but you made the case that Persephone isn't wife material and I wondered if you could elaborate on that.

I presume you're talking about this post.

I stand by what I said.

This pink teenager isn't wife material, no adult over the age of 25 should look twice at her. This is because this character is functionally a child.

She's technically the physical equivalent of 19 but feels alarmingly younger than that because of her background and upbringing. Hades is supposedly in his 40's and has a full time job and his own assets. At my age and current life stage I'm actually a lot closer to where he's at than I am where she is and I cannot fathom what her appeal would be to anyone outside of her age group.

What is the allure? Is it the way adding her as a household driver would skyrocket someone's car insurance? Is it the way they'd pretty much be guaranteed to have to finish raising her? Instead of coming home after busting your ass at work and having another grown-up to talk to, you'd have to go through the emotional labor of having to play parent/teacher to this child who probably doesn't know how to write a resume and has never had to experience the mental, physical and financial burden of running a household. If you were to date someone like Persephone you'd have to be ok with never getting any kind of mental, emotional, or financial reciprocity because she's not equipped to function in an adult relationship as an equal partner.

That's a HUGE thing and when you get to be my age you will care about these things a lot more than you care about the frivolous "dating" elements that tend to be the focus of younger people's relationships.

Persephone would be incapable of relating to a character like Hades in any meaningful way and while it's cute, I guess, that she's "nice", nice isn't enough of a foundation to build a long term relationship. Due to her lack of age and experience she's not capable of giving advice or even actual comfort if someone had to come to her with typical adult concerns. At best she'd maybe be able to give empty sympathy and, I'll tell you right now, empty sympathy gets old fast.

A very long time ago I dated someone who was my age but at a totally different phase of life and it was a huge mistake. I'd try to talk to her about my job or an apartment I was considering renting and she'd just give me this glazed look like I was speaking another language. The only things I could talk to her about were media or college so when I needed to talk to another grown-up about the very real things I was going through (feelings of inadequacy at my job, concern over financial stability, finding affordable housing) I had NO ONE, because she had never had to worry about any of those things and couldn't comprehend how serious these concerns were. I think the last straw was when I wanted to go do something and she had to ask her parents for money and permission first.

We were both 22 and I had already had a job and my own car for 3 years and the idea of asking my parents for money or permission to do anything seemed ludicrous.

To be clear I don't blame her for that, everyone grows at a different rate and some people get to certain stages later than others, but it did really highlight that this wasn't a person I should continue to date and not someone I could ever feel like I was on equal footing with because she still lived and behaved like a teenager. We were the same age, but sometimes I felt like I was taking on a role that should have been filled by her parents and nothing kills a romantic mood like feeling like the only adult in the room is you.

So yeah, someone like Persephone shouldn't even be trying to start serious relationships, she should be learning how to navigate through life with her peers, people who are also still learning crucial life lessons. But that's not what's going to happen. There's something incredibly gross about the fact that the one who's going to have to teach her how to be a functional adult is the 40 year old man who's eventually going to marry her.

[thisaintascenereviews]

From Childish To Fully Grown Man: Donald Glover’s Music In Retrospect

It’s interesting how history can overlap, because I’ll find something because of something else. For instance, I won’t forget where I was when I first heard Childish Gambino’s Camp, but I only found it because of Donald Glover appearing on the TV show Community. The year was 2011, and I was fresh out of high school, but I was just starting to expand my music taste. I wasn’t super into rap music at the time, but I was getting sick of the same metalcore, post-hardcore, and rock albums I was listening to. The show Community premiered in 2009, and it was a really quirky, fun, and unique show that dealt with a group of community college students, but one of my favorite characters was Troy Barnes.

Played by Donald Glover, he was one of the standout characters on the show, but I found out that he made music, too. Getting the name from a Wu-Tang Clan generator, he started rapping in the late 2000s. Donald Glover got his start both writing for 30 Rock at only 23, and then being in the YouTube sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy, but it was his work in Community that got him noticed by a lot of people. He was rapping at the same time, too, and I’ve heard some of those early mixtapes, but they’re not very good. I listened to those mixtapes in retrospect, along with 2010’s Culdesac, which is the point where he got a lot better.

I wanted to write a retrospective of his work, because he released his final two albums last year, Atavista (which is a reissue / remaster of 3.15.2020), and Bando Stone & The New World, so what better way to celebrate his music than to talk about his work as a whole? Like I said, his first handful of mixtapes weren’t very good, but 2010’a Culdesac was the first sign he got better; it’s still a bit rough around the edges, but there are some great tracks on it. Really, Glover went viral because of a few different things: a remix of Adele’s Rolling In The Deep, rapping over indie songs by Sleigh Bells and Grizzly Bear, and his song “Freaks & Geeks,” which came out in early 2011 before Camp did.

I first heard of him through his debut single “Bonfire” from Camp, and I remember being at my old PC back in 2011 when the song came out. I’m pretty sure that I found out about Childish Gambino through AbsolutePunk, back when that website was still a thing. I remember being in my bedroom, and I was blown away when I heard it, because it was unlike anything I had ever heard. I wasn’t familiar with rap music, minus what was popular at the time, but Camp is the first rap album I ever listened to. I posted a big retrospective on it last year, even though it turned 10 in 2021, so if you want more of my thoughts on that album, check that out, but I can talk about it a bit here, too.

Camp is an interesting record, because it’s an album that I’m very nostalgic about, but I can acknowledge that it hasn’t aged the best in certain respects. That’s namely due to certain lyrics with language that hasn’t aged well (especially language that was more “acceptable” at the time but very problematic now), and certain pop culture references that feel very dated, because they were more relevant in 2011. There are also arguments to be made about the tone of this record, especially how Donald Glover tried to be serious and humorous at the same time; he tried to combine ideas like his credibility as a rapper, his racial identity as a Black man being into nerd culture (being a nerd was starting to get popular, too), and just his relationship woes that he was going through at the time.

The production on Camp went nuts, too, because Community composer Ludwig Göransson became his most frequent collaborator, and he’s one hell of a composer, but the tone of the album is a bit all over the place. You’ve got songs like “Bonfire” and “Backpackers” that are more straight up hip-hop cuts, but then you have pop-rap cuts like “Firefly,” “Heartbeat,” and “Kids,” and songs like “LES” and “Outside” are more cinematic and melodramatic cuts with strings. Hell, the last track of this thing is almost eight minutes, but the second half is a monologue where Glover talks about an embarrassing experience when he was 13, and the moral of the story is to be as transparent as possible with people, so no one can hold anything against you, because they already know it.

The irony of that is Donald Glover would go onto revealing less about himself with his next few albums, especially with 2013’s Because The Internet. Camp is still an album that I have a lot of fondness for, despite all of its issues, but I can look past them for various reasons. Glover would come back in 2014 with Because The Internet, and it’s a very different beast from Camp. The album is a loose concept album about the Internet, but the album has more of an alternative rap and R&B feel to it, versus the more straightforward pop-rap sound of Camp. I’m more split on Because The Internet, because it has more of an experimental sound, and I’m not crazy about all of it. I don’t think the album is bad at any point, but not every track keeps my interest, so I only really love about two-thirds of it.

We did get some mixtapes in between and after the two albums, though, including 2012’s Royalty (which I like a handful of tracks from) 2014’s STN MTN / Kauai (which I really love). The latter project is cool, too, because it consisted of a mixtape and EP, the latter of which was commercially available. Just a couple of years later, we got Awaken, My Love, and this was an album that both shocked longtime fans and got Glover more mainstream recognition. This record was almost a side quest in his sound by being a funk and R&B record, very much influenced by the 1970s, but it was a divisive album. I enjoyed it when it came out, and I still like it today, but an unpopular opinion is that it’s my least favorite of his. I love the sound, but it’s more or less another experimental record with stuff that doesn’t do much for me, minus “Redbone” or something like that. This record shot him up to the upper echelons of stardom, though, earning him Grammy nominations and more recognition from publications and blogs. The same people that didn’t take him seriously just a few years ago were now riding his coattails.

He somehow got even bigger with “This Is America” in 2018, because that song swept the Grammy’s, but he dropped a couple of singles in the summertime. Those songs didn’t get too popular, but they were catchy little tunes. After “This Is America,” he kinda disappeared for a few years, quietly releasing the project 3.15.20, which came out right before the pandemic really hit. That record came and went, kind of just because of how hectic 2020 was, but in 2024, Glover announced a few different things, most importantly his retirement from music. He announced that he would have two more albums coming out — a remastered and finished version of his last album, now titled Atavista, and a soundtrack to an upcoming movie that still hasn’t come out called Bando Stone & The New World.

Atavista was one of my favorite albums of last year, while Bando Stone has some great songs, but it’s a bit of a scattershot album. It’s almost like the indirect sequel to Because The Internet, because of how it encompasses a lot of sounds and ideas, but when it works, it really works. That’s how I feel about BTI, too, but it’s fitting that he would go out with his most diverse album to date. Atavista, however, is one of my favorite R&B albums in recent memory. There’s a strong neo-soul and R&B influence to it, especially nods to Prince, Michael Jackson, Maxwell, D’Angelo, and even dare I say, Kanye. Like 2005-era Kanye, where he blended soul, R&B, and hip-hop to make for a cool and unique sound.

If that’s all we’re going to get from Glover, I suppose he went out on a high note. He’ll surely he missed, and if he wants to make music again, I’m sure people would eat it up with no questions asked. He could release music under his own name, versus the Childish Gambino moniker, but if this is all we get, I’m happy with it. His body of work is a unique one, especially from where he started and where he ended. Personally, I prefer his first two albums, but that’s kind of because I have nostalgia for them. I love Atavista, however, especially when I always loved Glover’s singing and more R&B influences, so this is where it all culminates.

I’ve been a fan of Childish Gambino for the past 14 years, so basically almost half of my life at this point, and I’ve grown up with his music. I’ve been growing up with his music, just as he’s been growing. He’s only nine years older than me, but it’s awesome that he and I have been growing and evolving at the same time. I guess that’s why I wanted to write this, because I wanted to talk about my journey with Donald Glover’s music, and how I’ve both grown up with it, and how I’ve grown with it. Donald Glover is one of my favorite artists, and even after he’s done making music, he still will be.

[jonathan-sins]

I read 50 books in 2024. Here are my reviews

Some of these are marked with either (slight spoilers) or (major spoilers!!!). All the Dungeon Meshi volumes are on this list, and all of them contain very slight spoilers along the line of “a fight happened” or “we met a new character”, as there wasn’t much else to say about such short segments. There is one volume with major spoilers, which has been marked on the list

Books read in 2024

One of us is back
3/5 
the first half is weak. The new cast is too big and it’s confusing. No proper investment in making me care about the characters means there are no stakes. The second half is good. Everything ties together neatly. The final twist is shocking and well foreshadowed at the same time. The first book is better, and works just as well as a complete story, which means the sequel struggles to justify its own existence, besides piggybacking off the success of the first book to make the author more money.
despite my complaints, I did have a lot of fun. It’s hardly Shakespeare, but if you’re looking for a beach read or something this book is great.


Red White and Royal Blue
5/5 
So much fun. A rollercoaster of emotions that had me laughing til my face hurt one minute and sobbing the next. 
Not just a fun romance with good banter and mutual pining, but also a criticism of celebrity culture, homophobia, and not respecting famous people’s privacy. It feels like fanfiction in the best way possible


If we were villains
3/5 
It was alright I guess. There’s nothing wrong with it. The banter was fun, the build up to act three was good. Three one was shockingly gruesome. After that, as everything fell apart, I just lost interest. I couldn’t finish the last fifty pages. I think comparing it to the secret history and Babel is unfair, as it doesn’t really have the same depth, and there’s nothing wrong with liking the aesthetic, but if you’re expecting something deep and meaningful it will feel like a cheap copy. If I hadn’t gone in expecting TSH but with Shakespeare I think i would’ve liked it more. 


Babel: an Arcane History
4/5 
Absolutely heartbreaking. A tragic tale of violence and oppression from beginning to end. 
there are two reasons it’s not 5 stars. One, the narration is very modern and it hurts the immersion a bit. Two, the authors notes. 
throughout the book, there are little pieces of extra information at the bottom of the page.
half of them could have been compiled in the back of the book, and the other half could have been cut. It broke the immersion what was already being tested by the modern language.
I have seen complaints that religion isn’t talked about enough, and it would have been interesting to explore Ramy’s faith more, but I didn’t notice it until it was pointed out and even then it doesn’t bother me.
Despite these nitpicks, this is an amazing story full of life, shocking-but-well-foreshadowed twists, a unique and well thought out magic system, and a world and history that feels so much bigger than this one story.
the ending could easily have felt unnecessary and contrived, but Kuang sets such a suffocating tone of inevitability that there truly feels like there was no other way.


The Night Circus
3.5/5 
a simple, entertaining tale! The main reason it doesn’t get a higher rating is because the main couple act like lovesick teenagers despite being in their late 30’s, and it tests the believability of the characters. You could argue it’s because of how sheltered they were, but it was mostly just annoying to me. The start is also a bit slow, but other than that, I loved it! 
The Man in The Gray Suit is by far my favourite character. He’s very mysterious and absolutely fascinating!


Twisted love (mild spoilers)
1/5 
possibly the most toxic romance I’ve ever seen. Alex has zero respect for Ava’s autonomy, and he never once listened to her when she asked him to literally stop stalking her.
both Alex and Josh are super mysogynistic and treat Ava, a 
22 year old GROWN ASS WOMAN, like a stupid, delicate little flower.
this would have been a 0 star book if it weren’t for the INSANE tone change like 2/3rds in. This book decided to have a thriller/batman vengeance plot out of absolutely nowhere, and then it just goes back to being a romance???
there are many, MANY mean things I could call this book, but “boring” is certainly not one of them. It’s so bad its entertaining 


The picture of Dorian Gray
5/5 
A perfect example of how to write a good corruption arc. All of the main characters are surprisingly fleshed out for being walking representatives for different philosophies, and the way Dorian is slowly being swayed to Harry’s views is very realistic. The picture itself is written almost as a character in its own right, and works as a perfect foil for Dorian. 
I love the ending, it’s so neat and fitting.


Northern Lights (His Dark Materials book 1) (slight spoilers)
5/5
this is the first of a trilogy, and as such it doesn’t have a complete arc. It is the beginning of an arc, and it sets up all the main players perfectly. It does a great job of fleshing out the world without being too exposision-heavy, and the big betrayal at the end is made all the more impactful for being as well-foreshadowed as it is.


The Subtle Knife (His Dark Materials book 2) (major spoilers!!!)
4/5 
it does a good job of introducing the new worlds, and gradual reveals give the feeling of learning how this new system works alongside the characters, helped by Will, a new deuteragonist from “our” world. That being said, it could easily have been fifty pages shorter without losing any meaningful plot. 
It sets up a lot without any of it really paying off. An example of this is John Parry. We learn that Dr. Grumman is Wills missing father, aka the lynchpin in Wills story. We know they’re related before anyone in the story does, and we’re just waiting for them to reunite. And they meet! For three seconds before John is killed. All that setup for so little payoff is frustrating. Adding to the disappointment is the fact that we already knew. Dramatic Irony can be a good tool for building tension, but when it’s overdone it just makes the characters look stupid for not realising something so obvious to the audience. Had we discovered that he’s Wills dad at the same time as Will, the tragedy would be much more impactful. It would have recontextualised all the little hints, and it would have let us feel what Will felt: shock at the discovery, followed by grief at not just the death itself, but the fact it happened before they could get to know each other. The audience knows John. We know him better than Will ever did, and that distances us from Wills grief for the relationship that could have been. 
the main reason this isn’t a 3.5 is because the side plot with Mary is so well written. It’s also more violent than the first book, and the children are believably scared. It’s great escalation of tension.


To Kill A Mockingbird 
4.5/5 
I honestly don’t have much to say. It was a good time, I especially loved the accents (written accents are always a huge plus for me) and “serious topic seen through the perspective of a child” is a really cool idea. It never dragged on too much and I had fun. Not enough fun for a five star review, but it’s still a solid book. I gasped at the plot twist and I was certainly engaged, but it just never made me very emotional. The sad scenes didn’t really affect me, and I’m usually a crier.


Dot Con
4.5/5
a highly informative, entertaining recap of the buildup and bust of the internet stock market bubble. It presents all the different factors at play in a straightforward way that is easy to keep track of as events unfold and the bubble inflates. The only reason it’s not 5 stars is because some parts got a little repetitive, especially when listing the point drops and stock prices of every major company, but I understand why it was written that way.


The Amber Spyglass. (His Dark Materials book 3)
 5/5
Great payoff for everything set up in the subtle knife. Everything is tied neatly together. The ending was sad, but fitting and satisfying. 


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 1
5/5 
does a great job establishing the cast and their dynamics. They have good chemistry and realistic conflicts they need to work on ( like Marcilles insecurity and Laois social skills). 


Part of Your World
4.5/5 
a really heartwarming story about personal choice, overcoming abuse and breaking the cycle. It has very realistic representation of emotional abuse and its consequences, both by parents and partners, and how one leads to another. It has a touch of magic realism that’s very subtle but fun when you notice it. My only complaint is that it drags on a little, and some of the miscommunication/pining got a bit annoying at certain points.

The Whisperers
4.5/5 
a very insightful look into the everyday lives of Soviet citizens. Each new segment recontextualises the previous one and naturally leads into the next one. There are families and people we follow throughout, sprinkled between the one-off anecdotes, which is a really good way of keeping people engaged. We slowly get a more fleshed-out view of the lives of one poor family of Jewish shopkeepers, contrasted with the life of a rich, upperclass writer. 


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 2 
5/5 
introduces orcs, plants the seeds of the mystery of the Kingdoms past, and introduces a food chain and other interactions between the monsters. Overall, great expansion and world building!


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 3
4.5/5 
Introduces an old party member and expands on the adventurer community. Some very fun dynamics between the party and the new group, shows how different parties can be. Also continues the parallel arc with Kabru’s party


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 4 
5/5 
the battle that’s been building since page 1 finally happened, and it was definitely worth the hype. All the characters got to show off their unique talents and really play off each other as a unit, and several Chekhov’s Guns were fired 


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 5
4/5 
Kabru and Laois parties finally meet! Interesting new character dynamics are forming, and it does a great job of setting up the new arc


The Great Gatsby
3.5/5 
It has some interesting themes about the past vs the future, dreams vs reality, and a creative twist on the rags to riches story. Overall a solid story with interesting symbolism. It was a good read, but I didn’t really connect with it. The emotions never reached me


No Longer Human 
4/5 
A truly fascinating tale full of twists and a persistent atmosphere of oppressive dread


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 6
4/5 
it’s slower than volumes 4 and 5, which is needed after so much drama. A potential new party member is excitement enough, and being able to slow down while staying engaging is a sign of good writing


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 7 
5/5 
Senshis backstory was an unexpected gut punch, and really well handled. The stakes are upped and character relationships are tested and strengthened


Project Hail Mary
5/5 
absolutely amazing! A perfectly balanced combination of funny and tragic, simple and sophisticated. The science is explained in simple terms without ever feeling patronising, and the protagonist even has a Watsonian reason to be talking like that. It kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat from page one. The protagonists intelligence is very realistic. His mistakes happen for a reason and don’t feel like they’re just there for juicy plot, which is a common problem in these types of stories. 


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 8 
4/5 
the Canaries have entered the dungeon! We also got Chilchuck and the Toudens backstory, and the changeling Arc was a good way for the cast to learn about each others race, and understand each other better. Also, we have plan to save Falin!


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 9
5/5
the stakes have been thoroughly upped! Some fun Chekhovs Guns were fired, and a huge piece of dramatic irony has been introduced! Not to mention learning why dungeons were created in the first place!


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 10
5/5 
it’s the final confrontation with Sissel! It ends on quite the cliffhanger, and it will be very interesting to see how Laios plans to get out of this one


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 11
5/5
the fight was awesome! Not only did Laios get to push his monster knowledge to the limit and win with strategy against Sissels brute force, but the final conclusion was both unexpected, foreshadowed, and scary! And that’s just the first two chapters! 
so much happens in this one and all of it kept me on the edge of my seat


Dungeon Meshi vol.12 (major spoilers!!!)
5/5
Marcille becoming the Dungeon Lord was not a twist I saw coming, but looking back it makes a lot of sense for her character. We also get to see more of the Winged Lions personality, which was really fun. The way they worked together to snap her out of it was such an awesome moment!


Dungeon Meshi Vol. 13
5/5
it’s the second to last volume! The final confrontation was epic, and we finally got to see all the different groups come together to stop the Winged Lion. The way Laios defeats the demon is so narratively fitting. 


Dungeon Meshi vol. 14
5/5
the finale! And what a finale it is. I’m weirdly glad everyone doesn’t just get a fully happy ending. Like, sure they’re content with their lives, but the consequences of their journey stayed with them. I’m a little sad that they split up, but their desires were incompatible together and I understand that. Sometimes it’s for the best.


Angels before man
5/5
such a beautiful tragedy. Even as Lucifer spirals more and more, you just can’t help but root for him. You know how this story ends, but there’s such an atmosphere of hope and change that you think they might actually do it for a bit. 


Entangled Life
5/5
an absolutely fascinating look into the lives of fungi, the many ways they effect the world, the ways they can help us in the fight against climate change. And the many, MANY unanswered questions we have about their lives and biology. The only nitpick I have is that chapter 3 was a bit of slog to get through, because it was all about lichens. While they are fascinating, they’re just not what I’m interested in. The rest of the book more than makes up for it though!


1984 
5/5
A fascinating world with great world building and deep philosophical musings, and a scathing critique of authoritarianism and inequality 


Unlocking the keto code
4/5
Very entertaining, and conveys information with easy-to-follow metaphors and an upbeat tone. The recipes in the back are a nice bonus. For being an educational book on nutrition, it is a bit outdated. It recommends several foods we now know to be unhealthy, but I still learned a lot about mitochondrial health and function. 


The phantom of the opera
4/5
the framing of a story within a story, with the narrator researching a “real” closed case at the real Paris Opera House, is really fun! You get so sucked in that it’s a fun little reminder of the extra layer every time he addresses the reader. The plot is convoluting at times, but easy enough to follow if you’re paying attention, and I was never frustrated. My only complaint is the dialogue is very stiff, and the author often muddles things by being needlessly detailed in his descriptions, which was the norm of writing at that time, so I can’t complain too much. 


Start with why
3/5
it has some interesting ideas, but it’s very repetitive. It would have been much better if it had cut to the chase and said what it was trying to say in 150 pages. As it is, a lot of it feels like filling. I get what he was going for, with the recurring lines, but if you have a recurring line it’s meaning has to evolve with the story, and invoke multiple perspectives as the context changes around it. The expansion of the Golden Circle was well done, and it had a cool evolution, but the rest was meh


Girl in pieces
5/5
an incredibly tragic tale packed with emotional moments. I had to read the first part in small sessions to keep myself from getting too sad. It has a beautifully hopeful, bittersweet ending perfectly suited to our protagonist. I love that they didn’t act like everything was okay in the end. The whole story is made all the more impactful for how real it is. 


The Lake House
2/5
I found out after I read it that it’s a sequel, which honestly just makes it worse. I was not confused at any point because the events of the first book are summarised in the first three chapters. I imagine that would be very annoying for those who’ve read the first one, and it makes it feel like a waste of time. 
There are many reasons this book is bad. The plot is easy to follow, but it’s just straight up badly written. It reads like a Wattpad fanfic in the worst way. The characters dynamics feel flat, the romance felt shoehorned in, and the writing style itself just wasn’t fun to read. The point of view was kind of weird too. Chapters from Franny’s perspective are first person, but everyone else gets third person limited. It was jarring and unnecessary.


A good girls guide to murder (good girl series book 1)
5/5
after forcing myself through the Lake House, this was a welcome surprise. The characters are fleshed out and interesting, the mystery is complex and intriguing, and some of the reveals had me gasping out loud. The way all the clues come together in the end is very satisfying, and it’s super fun seeing all the loose threads tidied together so neatly. Every word feels intentional, and I was constantly analysing and rearranging the clues right alongside Pip. Speaking of Pip, she’s an amazingly written protagonist, and fits this kind of story perfectly. Her relationship with Ravi was super fun to read.


Boomerang
4/5
surprisingly entertaining for an economics book. A series of case study-esque looks at five different countries with five different responses to a sudden shift in world economy following the 2008 recession. 


Good girl, bad blood (good girl series book 2) (slight spoilers)
5/5
I love the idea of the first book being an in-universe podcast, and her using that to help with the case. There’s a clear escalation, from cold to active cases, and the ending was way darker than I expected. 


Animal farm
4/5
The metaphor is obvious and solid, and the point was well made. It really feels like a classic fable made to teach a lesson


This winter 
5/5
for a short Christmas story, this packs quite the emotional punch. Tori and Charlie both have their own struggles, and their sibling dynamic is very relatable 


As good as dead (good girl series book 3) (slight spoilers)
5/5
A thrilling conclusion! Pip is realistically traumatised from the events of bad blood, and she’s not coping very well, which makes for great conflict. The whole Full Circle theme is very well done, and I love the way everything ties in to the last two cases. The “everything was connected all along” reveal is always fun, and I love that we see more of Andie’s real personality and motives 


Radio silence 
5/5
such a rollercoaster of emotions! It went from sad to sweet to heartbreaking to hopeful, and all the characters are super fleshed out. I especially love Aled and Daniel’s relationship.


The boy in the striped pyjamas 
5/5
the gradual reveal is very well done, and the dramatic irony adds a great extra layer to the story. It does a good job of trusting the audience, giving us hints and details to let us figure out what is happening without ever actually saying it. You don’t need to confirm anything if you know the readers are smart enough to figure it out.


Hvordan Magnus Karlsen ble verdensmester 
3/5 
not bad for a 45kr book. Would definitely have been a lot better if I cared about chess in the slightest 


Heartstopper vol. 1
5/5
such a cute story! Had me kicking my feet and grinning at the book. I love the little speech bubbles that just have exclamation marks or hearts in them. And the playlist and diary entries at the back!!


Heartstopper Vol. 2 (major spoilers!!!)
5/5
they’re official!! Nick came out to his mum!!! I’m so happy for them! This series truly is the dopamine hit i need to survive the beginning of next term

[akgaereporter]

nct: sunflowers attacking dream over recent haechan live ☠

tldr: during haechan’s recent welive he said he permed his hair & dream "thought something was wrong" with it so he got it straightened again. some sfs/hc solos started losing their damn minds over that🤕 he also talked a lot abt music he wants to release and highkey called sm out, and all of this got the sunflower girlies real mad i guess..

so earlier haechan went live on weverse and was talking about dream's reaction to him perming his hair:

some sfs went kinda insane over this☠

like woah..? how did we go from 1 to 100☠ i cant even tell whos a solo, a unitzen, or a dream anti thats how bad it is..

and when dreamzens started ratioing these folk, this person said its hypocritical for them to say psychoanalyzing is weird when drmzens did the same to 127 with their constant coworker allegations

idk what they were tryna say here like okay..?? then yall both freaks☠

☆ my opinion

icl and say i’ve been keeping up w this 284828483 year old unitzen drama but i do remember the coworker allegations the last person was talking about, it got really bad at one point, however that doesnt excuse the INSANITY that is going on here. inserting urself into this big ole grown man’s relationships and acting like hes some kind of poor bullied people pleaser who can’t make any choices for himself is so crazy PLEASE wake up. if any of yall lewsers read past the first line of those translations youd see he agreed and said he also didn’t like the way the perm came out (bc the back was all curly and his bangs weren’t)☠️ imagine getting ur hair done and looking crazy, so u listen to ur homeboys and get it fixed but ur deranged 70 hour sceentime having ass fans start acting like they punched u unconscious, strapped u to a chair and straightened it themselves.. id smoke a pack the size of both koreas too if my stans were so insufferable like dont embarass me.. all y’all doing is exposing u have absolutely zero friends bc ive never seen a more normal interaction between groupmates☠️

but all this lowkey feels like a reaction to some of the things hc said concerning music/solo scheds during the live. its obvious that sm is in fact sabotaging him bc ur telling me 8 years in, as one of nct's strongest vocalists and a popular member, he hasn't released any proper solo music despite wanting to..??? and is still getting micromanaged this far into his career? if 2+2 is 4 um...

like i thought after a certain amount of time idols start having more of their own creative/appearance direction like with bts, seventeen etc. i guess it might be bc those groups make a lot self written music but still..? doesnt hyuck write music too? to have a star on ur hands like this and fumble is so crazy to me, theres no other explanation than they want him to stay local and not get too big for the brand since hes one of the centers in nct.

but girl bye.. if they let his fame grow, all they'd have to do is treat him properly and he wouldn't want to leave they wack ass company. they just dont want him to have a choice☠ now they got him on lock bc they dont know how to act right. im not condoning anything but i really do understand why so many haechan/nct solos in general exist.. it all starts & ends with sm's fuckassery cause if my biases got steady treated like garbage id get hostile towards ANYONE in and out of the group too like..

anyways had to wake this tea up🤕 haechan deserves better everything i fear. better company, better fans, but NOT a better group. he loves those boys down and all of them are highkey in the same boat but saying that on unitzentwt will get you SHOT. stay strapped in these streets..

[c l o s e t a b ?] ◀ ⇨ akgaepop.com

[khalewren]

He actually doesn’t know how to Whistle

So there’s been a questionaire thing going around @sonic-oc-showdown​, and since i love fucking TALKING about my little guy, i decided to take a crack at it myself!

Name: Whistle the Wolf

Species: Wolf

Type: Never really thought about it, but he would most likely be Power.

Alignment: Lawful good

Home: Spiral Hill Village

More under the cut!!! 👇

- How did you come up with the OC’s name?

I had already come up with the idea of a Whisper & Tangle fankid, but i wasn’t sure what to name him. I wanted it to match Whisper’s somewhat, so naturally, i looked up “verbs that begin with w.” And, fortunately, i realized that “Whistle” would be a perfect name. In-universe however, the background to his name is that when he was a little pup, Whisper would lull him to sleep by whistling.

- How old are they? (Or approximate age range)

14, though i’ve thought about making him just a year older, to match Tangle in canon (this AU takes place 20 years after canon).

- Do they have any love interest(s)?

Actually, yes! I’m working on the story right now, but basically, spiral hill gets a newly constructed library, and when Whistle visits it, he comes across Arvic, a lemming who works there. The two guys become friends and gradually get gay, idk i haven’t finalized the plot yet. Unfortunately, Arvic has no design as of right now.

- What is their favourite food?

I haven’t thought about that, but i wrote a fic where its mentioned that Whisper makes beef stew that Smithy taught her the recipe for. I think that might be his favourite meal.

- What do they do for a living?

I imagine he goes to school, but otherwise he doesn’t really do anything for a living. He does have a promising future in baseball though, having discovered it thanks to Sonic.

- Do they have any hobbies?

I’d say most of all, Whistle loves playing baseball. As mentioned just prior, he discovered it after he saw Sonic playing it once when the wolf was little. Since then he’s been obsessed, having grown to be a pretty good batter. Whistle also loves adventuring and being outside in general, much like his mom Tangle.

- What do they do best?

Honestly, just being a cheerful little guy. Much like Tangle, he’s super optimistic, but not blindly cheerful either.

- What do they love to do? What do they hate to do?

Well, he loves baseball, he loves hanging out with his moms & the wisps, likes being at the library (both because of a crush and because he’s into comics) and he likes helping people and being a hero! Even if he’s relatively inexperienced with the last thing.

There isn’t a lot of stuff he HATES, but the main thing would probably be involuntarily sitting still. He has no problem with it when he feels like it, but whenever he wants to, for example, go outside but the weather is bad, he becomes REALLY bored REAL quickly.

- What is one of your OC’s best memories?

Uhhhh, kinda tough question. (I guess spoilers for my fic Transcendental youth) when Tangle & Whisper gifted him his own diamond cutters mask.

- What is one of your OC’s worst memories?

Probably when Mimic disguised himself as Whistle infront of the wolf, and proceeded to gradually look more and more mutilated. Poor boy saw his own mutilated corpse taunt him, basically.

- Is their current design the first one?

Hm, that’s kind of difficult to answer. I always had a specific idea for what he would look like, but i can’t draw at all, so i could never really finalize his design. Fortunately though, @sunsetcorvid​ decided to be an absolute fuckin champ, and draw Whistle. And even though he didn’t come out exactly how i was thinking, i actually think sunsetcorvid fucking nailed the design, and i think it looks better than my original vision. So, i guess, no...? not really his first design...? but also kinda...?

- What originally inspired the OC?

Well, i think Whisper and Tangle are a really cute couple, and the aforementioned Sunsetcorvid had made their own fankid for the couple, Toon (Who is in this tournament!!!), who i really liked. Then, months later, i saw @head---ache​‘s own whispangle fankid, Aim, and i decided “okay i gotta make one myself.” I kind of went with the opposite of Aim’s main characteristics, (Looks like Tangle, but is a lot more like Whisper in personality) cause i thought it would be interesting. And it was! i love hte little guy i’ve created!!

- What genre do they belong in?

Probably like a sweet family-action movie.

- What is your OC’s gender identity and sexuality?

He’s a cis guy, and i’m relatively sure he’s gay. Haven’t given it a ton of thought, but that’s what i’m going with rn.

- How many siblings does your OC have?

None! As of right now, at least >:) (I don’t have any plans to give Whistle a sibling as of right now, but it could be fun!)

- What is the OC’s relationship with their parents like?

Whistle loves his moms, and even though he feels like they’re a bit overprotective sometimes, he appreciates them a lot. It’s overall just really sweet and healthy :)

- How often do you draw/write about the OC?

I write about him fairly often! I have one fic that’s all about him at around 10k words, and another fic that has him as a supporting character. Right now i’m writing one where he gets a boyfriend >:D

- Do you ever see yourself killing off your OC?

NEVER.

Does your OC have any specific phobias?

None that i can think of right now, but i could be misremembering.

- Who is your OC’s arch-nemesis or rival?

Mimic. To be specific, in the 20 years that took place after canon, Mimic tried to kill Tangle and Whisper a bunch of times and got his ass beat every single time, so eventually he just kinda gave up and stayed in jail, knowing he couldn’t beat them. However, he found out about Whistle’s existence, and on the wolf’s 14th birthday, escapes prison to kill the wolf, in order to make Tangle and Whisper miserable. Yeah, he’s a real ass. Whistle’s able to handle himself though.

- How long have you had your oc?

Hard to say EXACTLY how long, but the first chapter of Transcendental youth, my introduction fic to him, was uploaded on the 5th of february.

- What are your OC’s powers, if they have any?

While he doesn’t have any natural powers like Tangle’s tail, Tails makes him a special kind of baseball bat called “the shifting slugger” for Whistle’s birthday. In short, it’s basically a variable wispon but melee. It has different effects for different wisps, such as: Cyan makes him able to shoot lightning out of the bat, green makes him able to float very similarly to the wispon, blue extends the reach of the weapon, pink adds on a chainsaw-like blade, and orange adds little jet thrusters onto the bat, making it able to swing at ridiculous velocities.

Oh, and i also forgot, he has a fairly high level of chaos energy, and with some help from Amy, manages to learn how to utilize hammer space.

Anyways, i think thats it!!!