#I will admit this post was inspired by thinking about odd squad

[nymphoutofwater]

suddenly longing to be somebody’s partner, but not necessarily in the romantic sense. more like a matched set. more like everybody assumes you know exactly where the other is in the moment. more like of course we’re going to tackle this problem together. not really in the ‘officially a couple’ sense. more in the ‘we work so well together why would we ever not’ sense. you know?

[postmodernbeing]

Shingeki no Kyojin Headcanons: Paradis Soldiers, drunk edition

Hello, Postmodernbeing here. So, I have been re-reading SnK manga due its 4th and final season. And chapter 123 really inspired me into writing this headcanons. I wrote them thinking in some Morden AU, but I believe that they could easily work for the canon universe. I hope you like this as much as I did. 

IMPORTANT: I kept some canon elements that I read in a few posts from interviews to Isayama. //  For obvious reasons, all the characters are 18+. // I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin. // This post does not exhorts the abuse of harmful substances such as alcohol. // English is not my first language, so I appreciate your patience.

Eren Jaeger

Isayama himself has mentioned that Eren has a high tolerance to alcohol. I'd like to respect that fact (although I'm not 100% sure about that since I read it somewhere around internet). I do imagine that Eren is the friend that ends up taking care of everyone when they're totally wasted, but he also finds the time to have fun and drink because he doesn’t really like watching over every single one of his friends or counting all the shots that they take.

His behavior doesn’t really change a lot when wasted. I picture that he might speak a bit higher than usual due the deafening effect of music and alcohol. Also, he takes a bit of time before replying a question, etc.

Apart from that, do not expect him to dance like crazy over some table. He would agree to some karaoke, though. Or even to compete in a videogame/party game if Jean challenges him enough. Usually, Eren likes to keep his cool and watch everyone have a good time. Eren’s a simple man.

In some AU, he would be the designated driver if no one else offers (cough Armin cough), or in case that all his friends are totally wasted. Eren also makes sure that his pals arrive home safely before turning the engine again (so thoughtful, aw). In case that everyone takes a taxi or some uber, Eren would ask them to send a message to their group chat before going to bed just so he’s sure everyone is safe. Even if he knows some of them will forget or fall asleep immediately after arriving home.

Mikasa Ackerman

This girl rarely gets drunk, let me tell you. And not because she doesn’t drink, she drinks a lot. Mostly because she follows Sasha into all she dares her: beerpong, shots, you name it. Even though, Mikasa prefers traditional beer, she’s into trying new things such as different tastes and alcohol levels (she’s fearless). I do imagine that Mikasa realizes she’s drunk when tries to stand from anywhere she was sitting, rather for going to the kitchen for a glass of water or to the toilet (she knows  drinking water is important in order to keep her body hydrated and avoid hangover).

First thing she notices, besides the dizziness, is her face utterly blushed. She smiles almost immediately, Mikasa is more open with her body language albeit her use of words remains limited. She knows how to stay rational.

She’ll never admit how much she enjoys being invited by Sasha to have some drinks. Mikasa’s happy that she’s able to be her partner in beerpong, even if Sasha makes her lose from time to time. Her favorite game secretly is “Never have I ever…” because all her friends end up sharing too much, or some truly funny anecdotes that feed her little laugh (please, protect smiley Mikasa).

Mikasa has been designated driver only a couple of times since she keeps falling asleep after getting wasted. Nevertheless, she never fails into leaving a good night message to her friends when arriving home. Mikasa thinks that’s the perfect way to thank the squad for the great moments they shared.

Like Eren, she prefers casual reunions or stay-in-home parties. But if she’s noticed that the rest will attend to some bar/club she’d rather be there, protecting them (just a little before passing out too).

Armin Arlert

How do I say this politely? Please, keep him away from alcohol. He gets so drunk, so fast it’s almost funny. Definitely, he starts feeling a bit sleepy because he feels so relaxed. But if Armin keeps drinking sure thing, he’ll start feeling more energetic and perky. He’s the first one that gets into the karaoke thing, although he likes to share stories from the books he reads too, Eren is the one that listens to him with the most attention (and soberness).

Armin also laughs a lot being drunk, you could tell him any nonsense and he’ll burst out laughing. Sometimes he also tries to make jokes but fails funnily enough, he can’t make one coherent sentence. That’s a good sign most of the times, for he’s reaching his limits and his friends cut his consumption (which it’s really not that much).

That’s why it’s common that Armin offers himself as designated driver those nights that he might had a beer or two. He’s very responsible when he acknowledges there won’t be a chance to stay the night (for they are partying at a club or a stranger’s house). Armin is used to take his friends till their front door, he might be small, but he wants to be sure everyone will be alright and safe.

Against all odds, he enjoys a bit more of pubs since he became with time, less aloof than his childhood friends. Although, he’s not that meticulous with the remedies against hangover. Giving him the result of headaches for the next 24 hours at least.

Jean Kirstein

Jean has a higher alcohol tolerance, and he even tries to avoid excess of said substances. However, he always fails colossally 80% of occasions. He’s not precisely awkward or a bad drinker, but it’s definitely hard to keep up with his energy and enthusiasm when he’s drunk. Jean’s not the most responsible drinker neither but he manages to stay rational enough. One could say that he becomes more reckless with what he does and says.

…Such as climbing up a table and dancing like crazy. He would absolutely spend most of the night dancing and he’s not bad actually. The thing is, that his ability comes from the drunk effect rather than actual skill. When there’s no music to be heard, he likes to organize the games with Sasha and Connie. Jean also yells a lot more, and he doesn’t admit it but he runs out of patience faster if his friends aren’t excited to follow the flow of the games (we know he refers to Eren most of the times).

Therewith, he keeps his cool and sincere attitude. His friends know that Jean doesn’t need to be drunk to be open and honest, so they trust in his drunken words too. Which leads us to the next point, Jean loves bigger and more elaborated parties. But only because he knows all his friends could engage in activities that they actually enjoy. From screaming and running to keeping it quiet in a sofa.

He doesn’t worry easily, but if someone asks him to take care of them, he will offer his help without trouble (those are the 20% remaining of occasions in which he doesn’t get that drunk). Jean got the designated driver role only one time, for his friends decided that he sucked at following the GPS and spend too much time taking ‘shortcuts’ every three blocks. It would take the rest of the night trying to get to their homes.

Sasha Braus

Like Jean, Sasha has a medium tolerance to alcoholic beverages, but she tends to mess that up when stuffing her mouth with snacks and junk food. She insists in eating before drinking (and after too), so it’s not unusual to watch her running into the bathroom at the middle of the night because of nausea. To everyone's surprise, she has a wide knowledge of different drinks. From the best wines and its respective cuts of meats, to the strangest (and cheapest) mixtures for the sole purpose of getting wasted.

Even in sober state Sasha isn’t shy at all. So, beware for she’s the mastermind behind the party games. Sasha always promises tranquil reunions but deep down everyone knows shit’s getting down every-single-time. She knows the basic games such as beerpong, “never have I ever”, “truth or dare”, and she has a talent at asking the most awkward questions. But her real potential reveals when she dares her friends into weird and dangerous challenges.

Sasha definitely becomes more direct and energetic. She has let her real accent show a few times before and even if she gets a bit embarrassed she’s too drunk to care (Mikasa is the first one that shuts their mouths if they try to make fun of her, canon of they being the best friends ever, yay).

She loves to dance and sing, making a disaster of the house/club they’re partying at. Connie tries to calm her down before anyone else, but fails because just like her, he’s delighted with the jokes and pranks they pull together. Sasha knows that Connie stays close to her in case she’s feeling more dizzy than usual and she’s forever thankful for that. Lastly, she has never offered herself into that designated driver role, and that’s what her friends are thankful for. So, everything’s reciprocal, one could say.

Connie Springer

Connie has just a bit more of tolerance to alcohol. It’s common that Sasha, Jean, and Connie end up drunk at the same time. They laugh when they realize this. The first signal into Connie’s drunk state is him talking about everything that passes through his mind, from conspiracy theories to the most absurd yet profound questions. And finishes his quasi rational speech with bad jokes, although he doesn’t really need alcohol to tell them.

He promises himself every single time that he’ll take care of Sasha but ends up following her into all her dares and extreme games (some of them almost illegal). Connie is the first person than anyone runs to if they want to throw a bigger party. He feels flattered to this, he’s truly popular and a great company to anyone. Seems obvious at this point, but I'll say it anyway: Connie really enjoys club parties.

I already mentioned that Connie gets along with anything that Sasha comes up with. But Connie himself has a repertoire of anecdotes and pranks. He can recommend you the best pubs and the cheapest (and interesting) clubs. He doesn’t admit it, but this also strokes his ego. Maybe he does have some genius in him, at least for these topics.

Connie is also the most chaotic drunk, all he does (or tries to) is funny. He has the craziest anecdotes. Like that time when his friends found him asking for directions to a public trash can, or that one night when he had a fight with Jean because he didn’t accede to shave his head to match with Connie’s. Or Sasha’s favorite, she’d dared him into smelling Eren’s arse for some bet they had about his smell. Mikasa was not happy.

Sincerely, this boy brings life into the parties if he desires so. Howbeit, he got his friends’ backs if they have a problem with aggressive drunken guys. Connie has jumped into fights just so he protects his friends (Armin, more than anyone else due his big-smart mouth). Truth to be told, Connie fights quite good when drunk. His protective side is a wonder, y’all give him lots of love.

[precuredaily]

Precure Day 198

Episode: Yes! Precure 5 49 - “The Dreams and Hopes of Precure 5!” Date watched: 17 June 2020 Original air date: 27 January 2008 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/qlReFMY Transformation Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/6k6SzS0 Project info and master list of posts: http://tinyurl.com/PCDabout

the end is nigh

It’s been an adventure these last few episodes! The team found the 45th Pinky and filled the Dream Collet, defeated Bloody, and then had the Collet stolen from them. They went to Nightmare’s dimension and fought Kawarino, where he tossed them around and Despariah used the Collet to restore her youth. Then, despite all odds, they found hope where there was none and pulled themselves out of despair, managing to defeat Kawarino and rescue the lost citizens of the Palmier Kingdom! Then and only then did Despariah finally stand up and begin her own attack on the girls. They’ve overcome every obstacle placed in front of them up to now, but how will they fare against the literal incarnation of despair?

The Plot

The cold opening is a quick recap of the previous episode and the final scene, with Despariah finally making her stand. After the opening theme, the girls proceed to take on Despariah’s kowainas, and the action cuts quickly from girl to girl as they kick, punch, and chop their way through the ranks. Lemonade remembers that they were able to defeat them previously by separating them from the ground, but when Aqua knocks them off their feet, they land right back on the ground no worse for the wear. Despariah taunts them, but Dream insists they’ll pull through, and they proceed to kick more ass. They do dispel some of the monsters, but just as quickly as they do, more pop up. Nonetheless, Despariah grows concerned, and she confronts Dream to personally push her into despair. She restrains Dream while a group of Kowaina attack the citizens of Palmier, but Mint blocks them, so she sets the squad on the other four cures, throwing them in the air. She hypnotizes Dream as she taunts that their power came from the now-useless Dream Collet, and Dream falls into a dream.

She awakens in Coco’s arms as he tells her to give up, as he doesn’t want to see her get hurt anymore, and reaches for the Pinky Catch. The real Coco, Nuts, and Milk watch from afar but Coco isn’t worried about Dream at all, he’s sure she’ll overcome this. Sure enough, inside the illusion, Dream recognizes Coco as a fake because he would never tell her to quit. Her Pinky Catch glows with the light of hope and several Kowaina in her immediate vicinity are destroyed. Coco proclaims that Dream is always optimistic and striving for a better future. She turns to him and says that his kindness to everyone is what gives her the strength to keep going, and that’s why she loves him. Then she faces Despariah herself and declares that she will make Coco’s dream come true, no matter what, and the other girls line up with her.

Now here’s where it starts to get juicy. Despariah starts to crack under the pressure. Rather than being intimidating, she sounds afraid. She asks the girls why they aren’t afraid of aging or their power waning, and she begins to admit that her new eternal youth hasn’t helped her the way she thought it would. Cure Dream, seeing her opponent breaking down with anxiety, does what she does best: she empathizes. She bravely steps forward and cancels her transformation, facing Despariah not as Cure Dream, but as Nozomi. Nozomi kindly and gently tells Despariah she just wants to talk, because she can tell the villainess is scared, which means she has a heart. Nozomi’s sheer kindness causes the kowaina to begin to disperse as she repels even Despariah’s despair, and the other cures decide to follow her lead and detransform. Thus they stand in front of their archenemy, vulnerable and powerless but happy.

The girls reaffirm their willingness to go along with Nozomi’s reckless abandon and Despariah realizes that their friendship is what keeps them from being afraid. Nozomi invites Despariah to really talk things out, but suddenly Kawarino reappears, alive but on his last legs. He insists that Despariah doesn’t need them, and begins to attack Nozomi, but Despariah blasts him away. She confesses that her newfound immortality has still not brought her peace and she wants to hear what the girls have to say. Kawarino can’t handle this, and begins to despair at the idea that everything he’s done for her was pointless. The Darkness of Despair opens beneath his feet and suddenly a giant hand grabs him. He recognizes the deformed figure beneath the black surface as Bloody and he gets slowly dragged down into the abyss, begging Despariah for help, but all she can do is watch in fear.

Seeing what became of her subordinates shatters Despariah’s already fragile mental state, and the entire Nightmare world begins to crumble as she loses control of her power. She orders Nozomi and co to seal away the Nightmare world with their powers, trapping her in it forever, because if they don’t then her unchecked power of destruction will tear their world apart, too. Despariah and Nozomi share sad looks with each other as they both understand what must be done, and the girls transform again, using the Symphony Set to seal away the Nightmare world. Despariah approaches Coco, Nuts, and the citizens of Palmier, returning the exhausted Dream Collet and apologizing for her actions before she turns away and walks back into Nightmare HQ. Despariah genuinely smiles and thanks the girls as the building is encased in butterfly wings and implodes.

When the light fades, the girls are back in the plaza in their world, at twilight, silent and sad. Dream in particular can’t even look at the others for a while and we don’t see her face, an indirect way of showing how upset she is by the events that have just taken place. No words are exchanged in this beautiful, tragic scene.

The scene fades to night at Karen’s mansion. An idle comment about Jiiya’s absence explains why they’re free to let all the Palmier citizens wander around the facility. Everyone is trying to unwind and catch up and make plans for rebuilding the Palmier Kingdom. Papaya, Coco and Nuts’s teacher, finally asks which of them will become king, and they’re visibly uncomfortable, but Milk explains how they’ve worked so hard together to survive in this world and get to this point, they should become kings together. Everyone agrees and the two princes seem happy.

Later in the evening as festivities have wound down, Komachi and Nuts are talking. She thanks him for pushing her further with her writing and supporting her, and he thanks her for her kindness and perseverance and saving him from his own self-loathing. Both of them have inspired the other to go farther and achieve the previously unthinkable. Nuts even gives Komachi his key to the kingdom for her to remember him by.

Meanwhile, Nozomi and Coco are having a much-needed heart to heart. Nozomi says she thinks him and Nuts as dual kings is a good deal, because they can compensate for each other’s weaknesses, and then the conversation shifts to the promise he made to show Nozomi the Palmier Kingdom. He reaffirms that vow, as she says that she looks forward to seeing the restored kingdom and he wants to build a kingdom worth showing to her.

In both of these cases, the words of love go unspoken, but not unheard.

As dawn breaks, the girls and all the fairies gather on the lawn to say their final goodbyes. Karen and Milk wish each other good luck in the future, rounding off our shipping pairs, and then all the girls begin to cry.  However, Nozomi reminds them all that it’s not farewell, and as long as their hearts stay connected, they’ll surely meet again.

Then Nozomi reveals to Coco that she’s finally found her dream: she wants to be a teacher like he was. He inspired her by telling her she was full of potential (a callback to episode 11) and gave her a lot of knowledge, drive, and motivation, and she wants to inspire the next generation in the same way. He responds in kind by saying he wants himself and Nuts to instill hope in his citizens the same way Nozomi instilled hope in him. With that, the girls relinquish their Pinky Catches, which turn back into the butterflies that are the Five Lights of the Palmier Kingdom. They form a ring, which absorbs all the fairies into it before transforming into a giant rainbow butterfly and flying away into the sunrise.

fly away now, fly away now, fly awaaaaaay

To wrap the episode up, we fast forward an indeterminate amount of time to check in on the girls post-Precure. In voiceover, they each express their difficulties in achieving their dreams: Nozomi still struggles academically, Urara still fails auditions sometimes, Komachi gets writer’s block, Rin has trouble coming up with designs, and Karen has doubts about working in medicine. Nonetheless, they all find comfort in turning to each other for help, and their friendship runs deeper than any obstacles. The final scene is the five of them posing together in a still frame.

The Analysis

At this point, Precure final episodes have established a pattern. The first half resolves the battle with the villain, while the second half wraps up any other loose ends in their civilian lives. Such is the case here, but it plays a bit differently from the finales of the Futari wa era. The peril never quite reaches the same depths of intensity, largely due to the immutable optimism of Nozomi and the team and Despariah’s growing uncertainty with her own cause. Comparatively, a longer time seems to be spent tying up loose ends, which I suppose, as with many elements of this series that seem more drawn out, is tied into there being five main characters instead of two. This is NOT a criticism, by any means. I think the story beats covered by the conclusion are appropriate and well-paced and properly wrap up everyone’s story arcs without rushing or overstaying the welcome. Accordingly, I’m going to subdivide this review into two halves, one for the conclusion to both the battle with Despariah and Nightmare, and the other for the girls’ duties to the Palmier Kingdom and the epilogue.

In this case, the fight with Despariah feels especially bittersweet, because for the very first time in a Precure series, the final boss was actually won over by the girls’ ideals instead of just outright blown to bits, but it was too late for her to redeem herself as her power was out of control. Compared to the Star Twinkle finale from early this year (at the time of this writing), which I found rather underwhelming with regard to Ophiuchus just walking away after enslaving half the galaxy, this episode properly redeems its villain without absolving her of the weight and consequence of her actions. Did she deserve her fate? That’s hard to say, it would be interesting to see her use her newfound immortality to walk the Earth, trying to find hope and peace and pay for her sins. On the other hand, it’s a beautiful tragedy for her to gain immortality and eternal youth only to immediately shut herself away forever because her own power has grown out of control and threatens the world she wants to be a part of. It’s similar in concept to the death of Dark Dream in the movie, although that one was much more of a gut punch than this for a few reasons. The redemption deaths are similar, however, in the catalyst for their transformations: Nozomi, the eternal optimist. She has set the bar for team leaders that will be hard to surpass (although I have a few other favorites). She constantly strives to better herself, refuses to bow to negative pressure, and has pulled herself and her friends out of the pits of despair. She turns enemies into friends with the strength of her hope and dreams, but her greatest power is her ability to know when to stop the fight and sympathize with someone in pain. She saw Despariah was losing her grip and instead of seizing an easy victory, she detransformed and approached her as a person. I can’t begin to describe how powerful of a gesture this is, but it’s the absolute best thing Nozomi could do and it perfectly embodies her best qualities.

Regardless of her poor wish, though, it was a good narrative choice to have her steal the wish, whatever she chose to do with it. Since the series was all about hope and despair, throwing all the characters into very despairing situations and then still having them defeat their demons with hope is extraordinary and perfectly encapsulates the message of the show. Coco and Nuts lose their wish and can’t use magic to rebuild the Palmier Kingdom? Fine, they’ll do it by hand! The lost citizens of Palmier Kingdom are actually Nightmare’s members? Thank goodness, they’re still alive and well after all! The Precures are all being forced into despair? But wait, we haven’t even realized our dreams yet, let’s talk about them! At every turn, the series and the climax in particular has been about hope overcoming despair, so subjecting the protagonists to the ultimate despair lets their hopes shine brighter than ever, really driving the message home, and that wouldn’t have been possible if Coco and Nuts had used the wish a little sooner.

While it’s not a particularly deep message, Despariah’s realization that eternal youth has not made her happy is still very important. Who among us hasn’t wished for some grand change in our lives? Now would that change actually make you happier, in the long run? I’m not suggesting there’s nothing you could have or do that would improve your demeanor, but it’s easy to see why Despariah wished for the wrong thing. She misattributed the cause of her depression, rather than trying to make the most of her life, and consequently she damned herself to an even worse fate. She could have wished for help, for companionship, or for the capacity to better understand people. Instead she wished for eternal youth and power, and then learned too late that this wasn’t what she needed.

The only thing that didn’t really work for me was Kawarino coming back, as that didn’t make sense. It was a catalyst to really throw Despariah into despair again after she was starting to make some headway with the girls, and cause her to lose control of her power. If they had at least hinted in the previous episode that he had an ace up his sleeve and wasn’t completely gone, it would have been more acceptable to me. However, it was good to see him react to Despariah embracing the message of hope, and see her assert herself over him. It was also very satisfying, though also horrifying, to see him get dragged down into the pits of despair by Bloody. Seeing how frightful Nightmare is from the outside was important to her development, but it also showed she was beyond salvation and it made her choice to self-isolate for eternity more tragic.

I like the symbolism behind her returning the Collet to Coco and Nuts, though. She knows it’s a hollow gesture and it doesn’t begin to make up for what she’s done, but it is about the only thing she really can do to show her remorse. You can also see that the citizens of Palmier aren’t exactly ready to forgive her for imprisoning them, but they appreciate the gesture. The whole farewell is full of bittersweetness like this.

I gotta hand it to the writers for this, making her repent but still be condemned to eternal solitude by her own hand instantly makes this finale twice as emotional as it would be if she just got beaten normally, and it’s more meaningful, speaking to the complexities of the good vs evil fight and of course the season writ large.

Now, for the cleanup. The second half of the episode is all tying up loose ends and putting the final notes on the subplots. How do they settle the issue of who gets to be king? Make both Coco and Nuts the co-kings! It’s honestly the only way they could do it, since they compensate so well for each other’s shortcomings. It’s a conflict that’s been present throughout the show, but never really dwelled upon until more recent episodes, notably 45. Coco is better with people, but Nuts is more studious and knowledgeable. Both of them bring important leadership qualities to the table. Honestly I always had Coco as the better ruler, with Nuts as his advisor, but making them equals really speaks to the theme of the franchise, that everyone brings different skills that complement each other, and it’s a callback to the first three seasons with the two-person teams.

The thanks and farewells between Komachi and Nuts, Nozomi and Coco, and Karen and Milk are all very moving. They demonstrate the growth they’ve all achieved since the start of the show. Nuts pushed Komachi to be a better writer, Coco inspired Nozomi to be a better learner, and Milk allowed Karen to be a better protector. Capping off their growth throughout the season with these heart-to-heart conversations really resonates and serves as a nice bow on top of their arcs. And as I said earlier, although they don’t say “I love you” out loud, you can tell they mean it. Some may criticize me for including Milk and Karen on that list, because their relationship isn’t as romantic as the other two, being more or a platonic friendship, but nonetheless there’s a deep compassion between them and as I’ve pointed out, they have a close bond that Milk doesn’t share with any of the others. Karen taught her to step back and smell the roses, Karen nursed her when she was sick, Karen has been instrumental in Milk adjusting to life in the human world and Milk helped Karen find her life’s passion. I’ve written a lot about NozoCoco and KomaNuts before, but Karen and Milk have a distinct closeness as well, and their farewell is important too. In fact I wish they’d gotten a true closing scene like the other couples got, but I can understand why they didn’t. They had a lot to cram into this episode. And let’s briefly recount all the other important friendships that were seen throughout the show. Urara and Komachi deepened their friendship over their mutual interest in art and storytelling. Rin and Karen bonded over their shared lack of ambition, and then found goals to strive towards. I really love that even within the circle of friends, they each found specific partnerships and reasons to bond with certain others.

So let’s talk about Nozomi. When the show started, she was presented as a bit of an airhead. She was more than happy to cheer on her friend Rin but she was introduced in the classic “late for school” sequence and we were told she didn’t have much in the way of dreams or a capacity for learning. Boy was she optimistic though.

After meeting Coco and making his wish to revive Palmier Kingdom into her dream, she really changed. Obviously her earnest perusal of that objective is what drew the other girls to her, but helping Coco allowed Coco to help her, and he gave her a genuine passion for learning. He helped her challenge her learning difficulties, and at the end of the series she has internalized that by making it her dream to pass on his teachings as a teacher herself.

This is the perfect capstone to her growth and development throughout the show. I keep coming back to her line from the movie:

“I’m better than I was yesterday! I’m better than I was an hour ago, a minute or even a second ago!” Well she sure improved, and now she’s found something she can pour herself into that will help her keep improving. From the girl with no dream to the girl whose dream is to help everyone reach their potential, surrounded by supportive friends. I just love to see it.

Finally, I really, really love the epilogue. It is perfectly staged and framed and composed. Each girl briefly talking about her struggles as she works towards her dream, the small everyday hardships they face is a reminder that they’re not perfect. They’re ordinary girls just trying to make their way in life. Their greatest strength, whether as Precure or as students, is their friendship and encouragement for each other. The way they each sit down at the table one by one, silently reaching out to their support network, is so encouraging. And the final sequence has a couple of callbacks to earlier in the show, like Urara’s unusual food choices and both Rin and Karen bringing their preferred juice (orange and grape.) It’s a small reminder of where they started to show how much they’ve changed.

Now they could end their development here, and I’d be happy, but fortunately we get an entire season that shows where they all go after this that I get to dive into after this, the last such time we’ll have that opportunity in Precure. So look forward to that!

Also, I want to note that the art for the final still frames is gorgeous.

I wish I could say that about the whole episode but unfortunately Kawano Hiroyuki is the key animator and animation director for the finale, and his weaknesses are on full display: flat faces with wide eyes and strangely drawn noses, minimal shading, oddly placed heads, and sometimes weird body proportions as well. When he’s good, he’s good, but when he’s bad, it’s visible. I wish the finale could have had some higher quality artwork but I guess the budget was stretched a bit thin by this point, or they were focusing all their attention on the next series. I don’t have a lot of insight into how this process works behind the scenes. Here’s a few examples of the art that I found a bit lacking.

On the other hand, there are some gorgeous visuals here as well, don’t let me make it sound like it’s all bad either. There’s a few symbolic shots I really like, such as the mirroring of the girls’ feet in and out of transformation, as they face Despariah first as enemies, then as friends.

There’s also the reflection of Despariah in Dream’s eyes that gets an A+ from me for shot composition.

As well as the Kowaina mask superimposed over the fake Coco in Nozomi’s illusion.

And of course, all the fairies of the Pamier Kingdom returning home in a giant butterfly, to cap off our symbolism.

Rewatching Yes! Precure 5 has been a wonderful journey. It’s a great ride from start to finish and an all new direction for the Pretty Cure franchise. It was filled with great characters to follow and I was extremely invested in seeing them grow and develop. This finale truly stands out in the franchise for its discussion of depression and immortality, dreams and hopes, and what’s important in life. It was the perfect conclusion to a fantastic series and I couldn’t ask for a better ending. However, our journey isn’t quite over! The adventures of Nozomi, Rin, Urara, Komachi, Karen, Coco, Nuts, and Milk will continue in Yes! Precure 5 GoGo!

Next time, on Precure Daily, we catch up with everyone after a few months when Nozomi receives a mysterious message, and they get caught up in another battle for the fate of the world. Look forward to it!

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 1 kettei! (in the preview)

[snarkwriteswrasslin]

FFT: The Story of Tonight

Ahhh. And here is the final part! parts [ one - two - three ] can be found by clicking on the links. And surprise? This turned out really fluffy? I mean.... almost teeth-rotting in how fluffy it is, but I just... Listen... after the other night, I couldn’t have this ending angsty, so I purposely held off until a day I thought I could end this fluffy like I wanted.

Again, huuuuuge hugs to you, bb. Because you definitely inspired all of this with our talk about the idea.. And the titles you sent, bless you so much for all of them.

MAJOR FLUFF ALERT. AND FOR ONCE, THE KIDS CAN STAY LMAO.

Tag Squad:

@kyleoreillysknee @rampagewriting @writertoo18 @thatnerdwriter @wrestlingismyguiltypleasure @chasingeverybreakingwave @unabashedwrestlefics @wardl0w @missjenniferb @adampage @cabotcoves @cowboyshit @dietwrestling

[ tag list doc ] [ masterlist ] [ keep ‘em coming - they’re super fun ] - I mean that, as of now, my drafts are almost empty. I have like... one headcanon left to post (sorry it’s taking forever to the anon who asked, I’m trying to get a feel for the person you asked for, tbh) and no fake fic titles.. so yeah.

“Are you absolutely sure this is a good idea? Because I don’t think it is.” I stopped mid-walk, staring at the ticket line with wide eyes, trying to take a few deep breaths and pull myself together.

Cordelia paused her walk and looked back at me. “Oh no. Uh-uh. We drove 5 and a half hours. You’re doing this. You’re getting your closure.”

I felt more uneasy than anything. And if you were to ask me?

I knew deep down that I hadn’t come to the show tonight to get closure. I’d come because I was so desperate to see Adam again that I couldn’t take it. Everything felt empty. I tried moving on, I tried pushing my feelings and the pain under the rug, but I just couldn’t anymore. 

The fact still remained though, I was the one who was adamant that I would never settle for second best in a relationship again. And given what Adam’s friends said about this ex girlfriend of his, I just… I didn’t know what that meant for him and I as a couple. Because I certainly hadn’t just been able to ignore my feelings when they surfaced a few months back… Why would I be able to now?

It just made no sense to me.

“Fine. Okay, you’re right. What am I supposed to do when I see him though? I have no idea what to say but there’s… So much I wanted to say. You know, that last night.”

Cordelia nodded in agreement. I swallowed hard and started to walk towards the ticket line out front of the arena again, my breath catching in my throat when he walked right past me, flanked on either side by Matt and Nick Jackson. They seemed to be arguing about something. I got so caught up in staring at him, this odd sense of calm settling over me at the sight of him… Like I was coming home.

I almost didn’t call out to him, but Cordelia gave me a hard nudge in my side and I grumbled, looking at her. She nodded towards where they stood, just a few feet away and I took a deep breath, my mouth opening and…

Nothing came, naturally.

But in the time that I did that, Kenny Omega walked past, heading towards them and he saw me. Nodding towards Adam, who yes, I was staring intently at all over again, he gave me a thumbs up and as soon as he stood with the others, he tapped Adam’s shoulder.

Adam turned and we both froze. After a few heavy tension filled seconds, I finally managed to raise a hand and give a small and friendly wave. He bit his lip, staring at me almost as if he weren’t sure I was actually here or if he was imagining it.

And then I was moving. Running, shoving through the lingering crowd between us. We wound up meeting halfway and he stood there a second as if he were deciding what to do. 

Then I was being lifted off the ground an inch or two and squeezed tight. 

“Darlin?” that soft and heavy accent was music to my ears. I took a deep breath and tried to focus… To remind myself that I’d come here with a very specific purpose in mind.

A purpose that was rapidly being forgotten in the depths of those baby blue eyes… Or the honest to god actual smile on his face. He looked so happy to see me, I almost questioned whether I’d ended things first or he had. His forehead rested against mine as he set me back down on my own feet again, a hand raising, resting against the side of my neck as his fingertips grazed against my cheeks lightly. 

“I have to say this. I came all this way.” I pleaded, biting my lip as I met his gaze. His face fell a little, but for once, rather than just go quiet, he spoke up first.

“Not until I have my say.”

,, or that works too..” my brain reasoned and I went silent, giving a nod to indicate I was waiting. 

“The past few months have been hell on me, okay? I dunno what I was thinkin exactly,” Adam stopped, going silent and looking down. That sliver of hope I didn’t even realize I still had started to grow before I could stop it. I reached up, lightly gripping his chin and guiding his eyes to mine. 

“And?” I asked, my voice shaky. 

“I was wrong. Breakin up with you is the last thing I wanted… I… It took a while, okay? But I realized somethin…”

I raised a brow, waiting. My breath caught in my throat and mostly to have something to do with my hands, I twisted a strand around my finger. “Yeah?”

“My friends were all wrong. I love you. Took me bein’ away to see that. Then I came to tell ya as soon as I realized and I saw you out with some guy.”

I knit my brows together, trying to remember who he could’ve seen me with and I bit my lip, expression going a little sour. “Yeah, that asshat and I didn’t work out.” I admitted as I shook my head.

His eyes lit up and he asked quietly, “What about now?”

“Well… if he’s being serious and he can assure me that I am not his second choice… There is a guy…” I hinted, staring up at him, waiting on it to sink in.

As soon as he did, I got lifted off my feet again, noisy kisses settling clumsily against my face and lips. I gave a soft laugh but pulled back, searching his eyes. 

“I mean it, Adam. I can’t just be the one you pick because the one you want moved on.”

“You’re not, darlin’. You never have been, okay? Matt put that idea in your head or somethin?” he asked as he eyed me in concern, setting me back onto my own feet and then turning to glare at Matt Jackson who stood nearby. I turned his gaze back to me and shook my head as it suddenly sank in for me…

I’d taken it upon myself to let all the stories about his ex get to me. I’d let myself believe that if his friends talked about her so much then he had to still feel something deep down… The fact of the matter was now that I thought back, Adam hadn’t really mentioned her all that much.

Suddenly, I felt like the world’s biggest idiot.

“I’m so sorry.” my hand raised to my mouth and I stood there, staring up at him. “I’m the one who needs to apologize. I had it all wrong and instead of telling you, I did what I always do and I buried it…” my gaze dropped to my feet as I trailed off, going  quiet as the full reality of just how miserable I’d allowed me to make myself really sank in for me.

Cordelia was right, I needed to start dealing with pretty much everything better than I did. Starting now.

“Darlin, you’re not the one who ended things?” Adam eyed me, a little confused until I explained why I’d been on edge so much towards the end. He clenched his fists, glaring back at Matt and I directed his gaze back to me yet again.

“All they were doing was telling stories, okay? They never really did anything with bad intentions. It was me and my own fucked up line of thinking… Because of that stuff I told you about when we first got together.”

“About Sean and your daddy.”

“Mhm.. I just… started to freak out a little. And obviously, it was dumb. But honestly, Adam… Tell me the truth when I ask this, okay?” I paused, waiting on him to indicate that he understood.

“You know me, darlin.”

“If this hadn’t gotten to me… If you hadn’t panicked too and we would have just kept going.. Things wouldn’t have a chance of being better now… Right?” I finished, stepping closer to him and staring up, busying myself by toying with the front of his shirt.

And then it hit him what I was getting at, that I wanted to be with him and I wanted to try again and his face lit up. He stepped closer, mulling over what I asked. After a few seconds, he nodded thoughtfully. “Was still the worst few months I’ve had in a while, darlin.”

“But.. we made it and we’re here.. What we do going forward won’t be filled with doubts or fears, either… At least.. Not on my end.” I promised, taking a deep breath and waiting. Adam nodded and smiling, he caressed the side of my face, lowering his mouth to mine. “Mine either, darlin. I promise. If anything is botherin me, I’ll talk to ya.”

“And I promise I’ll do the same instead of going into retreat and just letting it brew.” I promised, nipping hungrily at his lower lip. His fingers dug into my lower back and he pulled me closer, chuckling quietly against my mouth. “I am curious, though..”

“Yeah?” I asked as I worked on  catching my breath when we broke the kiss and pulled away from each other just the smallest bit.

“What’d that guy I saw ya with do to ya that had you scowlin like that?”

“The guy was an actual fucking douchebag, okay? Just… ugh.” I shook my head and he laughed, pulling me against him a little. “Let me go get you a ticket.”

“Adam, no. I’ve got it.”

He eyed me but Cordelia made her way back over, slipping me a ticket. I bit my lip and looked at her. “You’re not saying?”

“Hell no! They’re doing a Magic Mike type thing at one of the casinos. Mommy got paid tonight. Mommy’s gonna go stuff her money down some lucky guy’s waistband.”

“Jesus Christ, Cordie.”

“You two have a lot of catching up to do. Actual talking.” Cordelia reminded me solemnly and I nodded. “Meet you back at our hotel room after then?”

“Or you could just take your sweet time… I intend to take mine.” she gave a teasing wink as she waved goodbye to us and made a beeline for the exit.

“So… I should go grab my seat.” I muttered, reluctant to leave him just yet. It felt so fucking good, his arms wrapped around of me. The scent of his cologne filling my nose. He tilted my chin, giving me another deep kiss to leave me breathless and then asked me with a gentle smile, “We’ll meet up out here after the show, right?”

“Definitely. It’s like you said.. We have a lot of catching up to do.”

“Yes we do, darlin.” Adam agreed, doubling back for one more kiss and a lingering hug before finally realizing he had to get to the back to get ready for the night.

And I smiled to myself as I watched him walking away.

This time, things will be different. I can feel it.

[cohentm]

✮     ∷     ╰  𝖚𝖕𝖉𝖆𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖎𝖓𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖉𝖚𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓 .

             I FEEL LIKE i just ran away from home and then realized i’m five and, unfortunately, cannot survive without my parents. LMDFLKDFGM i missed u all and had to return… we hate to see it. anyway! whew. i figured i’d post a refreshed lil intro for cohen to make sure i hit on some key changes before i hop back into the game! the most important / group-related part is right at the top, so if u read nothing else, read that! ily all and i’m excited to jump back in like i never left. i’ll be sliding in dms and makin’ starters asap, so if u wanna make some connection changes my door’s always open! x

✮     ∷     ╰  𝖈𝖔𝖍𝖊𝖓 𝖘𝖊𝖌𝖚𝖗𝖆 : 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 .

cohen currently lives in a glorified, raggedy frat-esque house ( he is NOT a fratboy but he might as well be huh ) of his own right off campus, about a five minute drive / ten minute walk from the stadium ( it’s about four bedrooms large with three bathrooms, all on one floor. think david dobrik’s house–click here to see–except much uglier and CHEAP MVDFLG ). 

he’s fiscally very protective of his savings. he’s been working since he was 12 with his dad, and never ever spent his money, despite some repetitive near-misses where his parents tried ( and failed, bc cohen’s slick ) to steal money from him. basically he now pays for his share of the house using the money he saves/has always saved working for factories, farms, & fixing people’s junk cars. 

his only current roommate is foster, meaning he has two spare rooms he’s not really doing anything with. beer pong table’s outside, the kitchen is the alcohol hot spot, there’s a pool table instead of a dining room table, u know how it goes. 

regardless, he throws open invite house parties literally every weekend. they take place every friday night up until the sun rises on sunday morning–whether he’s around the house for all of five seconds or all night doesn’t matter, because they’re always a-go. 

you’re all 100% free to use his house entirely at your leisure for character fun / development / a place for ur thread to take place / etc! you don’t even need to get my okay beforehand! just do it! think of it as a known dillon fact that cohen’s having a house party every weekend NFKDFNDFKJG. 

no matter who you are, whether cohen likes you or not, he will not care if you show up with some randos or familiar faces and party it out. he’s socially bored 24/7 and full of apathy and alcohol at all times so mans probably will be plastered drunk out doing donuts in the parking lot and fighting someone he doesn’t have beef with anyway. ur muse probably won’t even see him there. LMKGDFLG if you’ve ever seen burlesque? literally him showing up to his OWN house for a visit / to get plastered and then wander off during the weekend party is…. real. so yeah! use his house like it’s ur own. just be out by sunday afternoon bc he likes to pretend none of it ever happened as soon as he wakes up and has to be sober for school. x KMVFBLFG love u all.

✮     ∷     ╰  𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬  &  𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐬 .

tw: eating disorder mentions ( food & lifestyle ), drug addiction / recovery, alcoholism, & mentions of past steroid use.

full name.    cohen anthony segura.

aka.    co, jet.

character inspiration.    adam parrish ( the raven cycle ), vince howard & tim riggins lovechild ( if y’all watched fnl…. let’s cry together ), a much more problematic  &  asshole-ish david dobrik ( the vlog squad ), nathan scott ( oth ), steven hyde ( that ‘70s show ), emily prentiss & aaron hotchner lovechild ( criminal minds ), & noel miller ( tmg ).

age & d.o.b.    twenty-two. birthdate tbd.

zodiac.    virgo sun, aries moon, & aquarius rising.

pronouns.    he / him.

orientation.    openly bisexual.

this has never presented as too large of an issue for cohen, despite living in dillon. he isn’t afraid of being talked about, and has a history of making sure people know he can hold his own if anyone has anything to say about his personal life.

university major.    architecture  &  architectural technology.

after living in a trailer for the duration of his life, the idea that he would be invested in architecture is astounding. however, here he is. his passion for home creation stemmed from growing up and envisioning a real home to live in. his parents are both into self-taught carpentry, and his dad was shoving tools and measuring tape into his hands from the time he was young in an effort to instill in him a firm “get it done yourself” mindset. he spends his time studying structure  &  building planning, and secretly has a journal full of dream house mark-ups.

occupation.    wide receiver for the dillon panthers, full time student, & prospective architect / carpenter post-college.

tattoos.    many riddled throughout his body. brandon arreaga’s tattoos are cohen’s.

face claim.    brandon arreaga.

alignment.    neutral evil.

hogwarts.    slytherin.

positive & negative traits.    ( if u’ve already read this do not read it again i promise u nothing here changed LSMFLD )

hardworking–he works himself to the bone and is entirely unapologetic about it. you’ll rarely catch him slipping, but if he does, he’s the first to get ear-splittingly angry with himself over it. he’s way too hard on himself & he knows it, but he’ll never admit it. 

he nitpicks at the flaws of others in an effort to feel superior, and always acts unaffected when he’s called out for bringing the team down when he’s not taking care of himself ( cue vince howard from fnl or nathan scott from oth scenes where they’re bragging about how good they are on the field even though he’s apt to get himself hurt because of how desperate he is for some kind of validation–cohen had a huge issue with restricting and abusing stimulants / testing steroids throughout high school and college in an attempt to boost his football persona. he was always incredibly fast and beat literal ODDS to maintain his wide receiver position, but especially thanks to his small build he’s used to being underestimated / downplayed, which puts a really heavy weight on his shoulders. today, he’s eating healthily, he’s off drugs, and he’s taking care of himself better than he ever has before, but it’s still incredibly hard and he still reaches out for ways to overcompensate, which is where alcohol usually comes into play ). 

transparent–sure, he can turn into a stressed out & irritable jerk within a fraction of a second, but at least he’s upfront about when he switches lanes. LDFGLMKFG

he’s incredibly focused, which means he’s never going to linger in uncertainty for too long before he admits that he’s just not down to be around you / to be there / to talk / etc. he’s no bullshitter by any means. he’d rather hurt your feelings and keep his environment stable and tactile than stick around and put his easily shaken emotions at risk just to make you comfy. 

he’s also accountable. he knows when he’s causing shit to fuck up & hit the fan, and he’s always quick to right wrongs when things are on him. ofc he’s bred from a family full of blame-givers, so he unhealthily picked up a bad habit of being really good at sounding like he’s apologizing sincerely when he’s really just trying to end a fight because he’s annoyed. LDCLDKMFDFG. 

he’s blunt, temperamental, & incredibly selfish when it comes to his own lifelines / vices, but wholeheartedly selfless when it comes to doing anything to protect or lift up the people he loves.

mental diagnoses.    anorexia nervosa ( in recovery ), alcoholism ( ongoing ), an addiction to various stimulants ( in recovery ), & frequent past attempts at steroid use.

physical diagnoses.    n / a.

phobias.    has an irrational fear of accidentally burning down his house. will get immensely stressed–to the point where he’s absolutely annoying and intolerable to put up with / be around–if someone’s cooking or baking “irresponsibly.” will probably yell at you and hover-cook until you let him take over so he can make sure nothing goes wrong. LMSDFKLFG

scars.   an appendix scar on his lower left side.

drug use.    frequently.

alcohol use.    frequently.

diet.    very decently rounded. he loves to cook, despite being self-taught. growing up the way he did, he settles for making simple dishes very well. he’s not the type to go all out for dinner. he meal preps like it’s his job. he usually just settles with some kind of pan-friend chicken and pasta dish at home.

birth place.    dillon, texas.

parents.    "jude" judith & anthony segura. 

two lower class parents with deep-rooted anger issues. they currently live in the same trailer park together, in separate trailers, and fight with each other constantly. they claim they’re divorced, and are seeing other people, but they’ve never actually filed for anything, since anthony segura thinks it’s just a ploy for judith to take “half [his] shit.” cohen visits them often, and acts as a middle ground child who hates but loves both of them equally. his dad enjoys / tolerates his son’s presence more than his mother does, but only marginally. his mother’s much less concerned with the fact that she has children, since, in her mind, her relationship issues are the most important things in her life. cohen spent many nights as a kid with his drugged up mom in his lap while she cried about not being loved by anyone. his dad, even though he’s rough with cohen, at least spends time with him every now and again. as a kid, his dad was handing him beers to drink and tools to learn to use to prove he was a man ( despite being a ten y/o child bfkjgk oh well! ). regardless, today cohen lives on his own but is still the financial backbone for his parents–since his mom is unemployed and his dad is a seasonal construction worker–and has been since he was fifteen. they ask him for money every chance they get, and cohen never says no.

siblings.    a younger sister ( by two years ). loves her to death. would protect her with his life.

pets.    he’s notorious for letting a certain set of strays run amuck in his house. he feeds the neighborhood cat, is a-okay with people bringing their animals to his parties, etc. but he’s too scared of permanence and obsessed with independence to ever follow through with getting his own animal.

education.    current senior at dillon university. 

he has always been a decent student. he got into architectural honors college his sophomore year of college. however, he’s still not by any means incredibly intelligent. he’s decent grade-wise, but only because he tries really hard and puts in the effort it takes to keep up in a field like architecture. he’s also a chronic cheater, but c’est la vie! lmfgdflkg he spends the vast majority of his time either studying or practicing, and gets very irritable very quick doing either activity because he doesn’t know how to manage stress, so he drinks in the evenings in an attempt to make up for his tense demeanor, but he’s an angry drunk so… whomst are we really kidding here. LMDFKLG

languages.    english & american sign language.

[mexcine]

Trials of an Okinawan Village (1971) review: This film is known under several English titles: perhaps most prevalent is Trials of an Okinawan Village, but this doesn't seem to be a literal translation of Nippon Jokyȏ-den: Gekitȏ Himeyuri-misaki (note: the Nippon Jokyȏ-den part of the title refers to the series "Tales of Chivalrous Women"), so perhaps Battle at Cape Himeyuri is more accurate.  There's not much information available in English (the most complete I’ve found is http://www.weirdwildrealm.com/f-trials-okinawa-village.html) and my Japanese language skills are nonexistent, so I guess we'll never know. 

One odd and mildly annoying aspect of the film is its indefinite chronological setting.  Although the United States ended its occupation of the main islands of Japan early in the 1950s, it didn't turn over control of Okinawa until 1971 (possibly an inspiration for this film's production).  However, the film's script strongly indicates the story is taking place within no more than a decade after the end of World War Two: Junko Fuji and Bunta Sugawara are shown in wartime flashbacks and do not look that much different in the contemporary scenes.  Other characters refer to their wartime service, and a teenage girl says she was injured during the war when she was "very young," so a reasonably good guess would be that the film's main action takes place no more than about a decade after the war's end.  And yet the clothing, hairstyles, and--most noticeably--the motor vehicles are definitely much newer than that.  This was probably a Catch-22 for the filmmakers: the script had Fuji and Sugawara meet in 1945, and it wasn't feasible for them to be 25 years' older for the bulk of the movie, and yet recreating 1955 Okinawa was either too expensive or simply not considered important enough to attempt. 

Trials of an Okinawan Village begins with World War Two footage and printed titles which read (in translation): "April 1937; U.S. troops advance on to Okinawan soil."  This is clearly erroneous: the battle of Okinawa did begin in April, but it was 1945, not 1937.  I don't know if this is a translation error or if the original titles also contained this misinformation.  The footage changes to colour, with images of the U.S. flag, airplanes, and military bases; the titles read "Okinawa in state of recovery under U.S. Occupation."  

Yuri Yonamine (Junko Fuji) runs a trucking company in post-war Okinawa, taking over from her late parents; she has vowed not to consider herself a "woman" (i.e., not get married or assume a traditional female role) until the company is rebuilt.  Yuri and her employees visit a restaurant to celebrate the purchase of a new truck, and clash with yakuza from the "mainland" (according to the titles--this means the main Japanese islands) who are hassling Sachiko, a teenage girl selling flowers.  Boss Iwamatsu calls off his thugs.  Yuri drives Sachiko--who uses a crutch due to a war injury--to her village the next day; coincidentally, it's the home village of Yuri's late mother.  Asada, the mayor, tells Yuri the village is very poor; they've planted sugar cane but had to borrow a large sum of money against the crop.

When Yuri learns a lot of wartime scrap has been unearthed near the village, she sees this as a chance to earn money to retire the debt.  However, Iwamatsu's gang has the sole right to sell such scrap to the U.S. government, and is also shipping scrap illegally to Hong Kong.  Asada threatens to report the yakuza to the U.S. authorities, but is killed by a hit-and-run driver.  The villagers are put to work loading the scrap for Iwamatsu, but a bomb explodes and kills 3 women.  Iwamatsu refuses to accept responsibility or pay an indemnity.

Tetsu Nakagami (Bunta Sugawara), a yakuza fleeing from Tokyo police, arrives on Okinawa and discovers his wartime friend Asada is dead.  Yuri asks him to delay his revenge on Iwamatsu--whose men clearly murdered Asada--until they earn enough money to pay the dead women's families.  Nakagami, stationed on Okinawa during the war, knows where a large cache of artillery shells is stored.  As it develops (shown earlier in flashback), Nakagami met the young Yuri (who was serving as a nurse) in a cave during the final battle for Okinawa: he gave her a wristwatch and urged her not to sacrifice herself.

Iwamatsu orders his men, including Okinawa native Iba, to stop Yuri and the villagers at all costs.  They blow up a truck loaded with scrap, killing two of Yuri's employees.  Iba and Nakagami fight; Yuri convinces Nakagami to spare the other man's life.  Iwamatsu's men force the villagers to retrieve the scrap from the hidden cave.  However, when they bring Sachiko to the site--intending to rape her--Iba intervenes.  He's mortally wounded, but takes the girl to Yuri's office before he dies.  Nakagami sets off for the cave site, and Yuri follows.  

Nakagami and Yuri wipe out Iwamatsu's entire gang, including the boss (who is savagely hacked to death by a sword-wielding Yuri), but they are then both arrested by U.S military police. Yuri is acquitted but Nakagami is convicted of murder and shot to death by a firing squad.   

Junko Fuji, daughter of a film producer, began acting in the early 1960s, and appeared in a number of yakuza films in this era.  She had her own yakuza series, "Red Peony Gambler," but retired when she got married in 1972.  She came back a decade later and has continued to work to the present day, sometimes under the name "Sumiko Fuji."  As Yuri, Fuji repeatedly declares her desire to postpone being a "woman" until her business goals have been reached; nonetheless, she is depicted as caring and responsible, in contrast with the violent Nakagami.  At the conclusion, of course, Yuri and Nakagami are pushed too far, and Yuri more than holds up her part of the final battle, firing a rifle, tossing a grenade, and wielding a sword with deadly effectiveness, her face distorted by rage. 

The "romance" between Yuri and Nakagami that standard film conventions would seem to demand never progresses, even to the point of a kiss, despite the obvious attraction between the two.  [This could be (a) a Japanese cultural convention, (b) a yakuza film convention (this is what Wild Realm Reviews suggests), or (c) something deliberately done by the filmmakers in this particular instance.  Western viewers will likely have their expectations confounded, in any case.]  As Nakagami is being led away to his execution, a weeping Yuri repeatedly shouts "Don't die!" (the same thing he'd told her in 1945 during the battle for Okinawa), and the film concludes with Yuri honouring Nakagami's memory with a ceremony next to (presumably) his grave marker on an Okinawan cliff. 

Nakagami is a "noble yakuza" (a Sixties trend that was largely replaced by more negative, realistic depictions of gangsters in the Seventies, represented by Iwamatsu and his gang here): in one scene he even says his gang "never harmed commoners!" [Presumably meaning non-yakuza; “civilians” might be a better word.] He arrives in Okinawa illegally (fleeing, as we later learn, an unjust accusation from a rival crime family), but has the ulterior motive of visiting the island where he fought during World War II (he later tells Yuri that he came back to find her, although this seems like an afterthought).  Iwamatsu asks him to collaborate, but Nakagami demurs (he doesn't refuse outright, and even borrows a car from the gang boss!).  When Iwamatsu won't pay an indemnity for the woman killed in his employ, Nakagami prepares to go into action, but Yuri asks him to wait, hoping she can get money for the women's families without violence.  She later convinces Nakagami not to kill Iba, an Okinawan native working as a yakuza for Iwamatsu, apparently feeling the man has a good side (possibly just because he's Okinawan--the film makes a point several times of highlighting the differences between Okinawans and Japanese from the "mainland," even including a comedy scene in which one of Nakagami's aides arrives on the island and is perplexed by the Okinawan dialect). 

In a somewhat contrived scene, one of Yuri’s men is trapped when a stack of old artillery shells shifts suddenly.  One of the shells starts to tick--it’s a delayed action bomb!  Fortunately, Nakagami (who was an artillery officer during the war) has the know-how to defuse it.  The scene is tense even though the audience knows that Nakagami (and Yuri, who runs back into the building to be with Nakagami and her employee) aren’t going to get blown up with half the film left to go!

Nakagami learns he's free to return to Tokyo (the rival gang admitted their falsehood and cleared him with the police), but he decides to stay on Okinawa, turning over his criminal gang to his assistant.  It's implied that he is thinking about marrying Yuri and settling down, but his death puts an end to those plans.

The U.S. presence in Okinawa is overt in several scenes, although the occupation of Okinawa (and thus, its status as an island governed by the Americans rather than Japan) is referenced frequently.  Early in the film, Yuri and her assistant Isamu fleece a Military Policeman out of several barrels of much-needed gasoline: the man wagers the fuel against a date (later raising the ante to "and a kiss") with the attractive young woman, but loses a game of cards (Yuri cheats by viewing the reflection of the man's cards in Isamu's belt buckle).   Later, Iwamatsu betrays Nakagami's presence to the U.S authorities, and a large group of Military Policemen (with one Japanese-American who acts as translator), arrive at Yuri's house to arrest him.  Nakagami hides in Yuri's bedroom, and she distracts the Americans by allowing them to "catch" her with her blouse off.  "Wow!" one MP says, but then has the decency to say "Excuse me," and leave.  

Nakagami's aide Hide arrives from Tokyo and starts to run when he sees a jeep full of MPs--they hold him at gunpoint (he says "Why am I running? I didn't do anything!") and he babbles about his birthplace, etc., before he's spotted by one of Yuri's men, who takes him to Nakagami.  This scene suggests that the residents of Okinawa view the Americans with some trepidation: without recourse to their own system of laws, they're at the mercy of the occupying troops. 

At the conclusion, Yuri and Nakagami are arrested by a horde of Military Policemen (who arrive after the one-sided battle is over).  A military judge pronounces judgement (curiously he begins speaking in English then switches to Japanese): "Okinawa belongs to America!" Nakagami will be executed.  When Yuri protests, the judge says "Take her out!" and has the protesting Yuri dragged away by several MPs.   

Trials of an Okinawan Village does not go out of its way to attack the American presence on Okinawa--in none of the previously-noted scenes do the MPs actually do anything illegal or brutal (well, Nakagami is executed but it appears to have been done legally)-- but the film makes it clear that the Okinawans are under military occupation and have few legal rights of their own.  The American military is the largest "business" on the island and has a number of exclusive rights, and the native inhabitants have to accommodate these, to their own economic detriment.  

Iwamatsu and his yakuza are the overt villains: they have a license from the U.S. to collect scrap, and exploit the Okinawans because of this.  However, they're not satisfied with this, illustrating their dishonourable nature by illegally exporting scrap to Hong Kong. 

Trials of an Okinawan Village makes good use of location shooting and is generally quite slick and professional.  The script does get bogged down a bit in the middle section, as Yuri and Nakagami (and the villagers) keep finding different sources of scrap metal, Iwamatsu and his men keep taking it away, and so on.  The performances are all good, although the comic relief provided by Nakagami's aide Hide (who only appears briefly) is somewhat out of place. 

Generally entertaining overall, and of additional historical-political interest because of its setting and the depiction of the U.S. occupation of Okinawa.

[thots4daze]

My Boy - Oikawa Tooru x Reader

Hey hey heyyyyyy y’all~! guess what i started and finished tonight?! that’s right, a one shot

BOOM go me~! i did have inspiration and help from @summon-the-stars and @supern-a-vengers

aside from language - cause i use the word FUCK a lot, this is your only warning for that . . . also also i listened to billie eilish “my boy” on repeat for the ENTIRETY of writing this . . . which was like, a total of 2+ hours eeeep

soooo, enjoy y’all!

MY BOY - OIKAWA TOORU x fem!READER 

its almost gender neutral, but i think i fucked up and wrote “she/her” in some places sooooo, imma be safe and say fem! reader 

It was no secret that Oikawa Tooru, THE Oikawa Tooru, the King of the court and volleyball all-star, Oikawa Tooru, who was the bane of every guy’s existence and every girl’s wet dream; was a serial dater. If that was even a thing.

He probably went through girls faster than he does hair product. Though that didn’t seem to stop girls from throwing themselves at his feet, wishing, hoping, wanting . . . begging, to be his next victim. You were the exception. If exceptions still craved for attention from said serial dater. The only difference was, you knew better! Or at least you liked to think so.

Other members of the same sex, hell, even those of the opposite, would shoot you nasty glances anytime the king would waltz through the halls, or classes, or the court. And while everyone else around you were hurling their bodies down before him, you stood erect and just . . . watched on. With what you hoped was an indifferent stare. 

No matter what was going on, Oikawa Tooru attempted to gain your attention, if even for a short while. To have everyone else around him be so smitten and caught up in his presence definitely did a number to his ego. Iwaizumi has always made sure he was aware. And he was. He was no idiot. Not by a long shot. Though the majority of the time he couldn’t stand all the attention on him for his looks alone, he still craved to have it. And from everyone. And that meant you too. And since he wasn’t gaining it, it really burst his bubble.

So, when the Seijoh Squad was having a small gathering, there at their usual lunch table, and Makki and Mattsun brought up the ideas of completing dares for the month, Oikawa snapped his head up from his hands and looked at the meme duo with intrigue.

My boy's being sus

“Go on~” he practically purred. The others just glanced at one another before smirks of their own crawled onto their faces. And if he wasn’t so interested, he might have been a little apprehensive of the whole situation.

“We have to ask out someone, of the other’s choosing of course. And date until the end of the month. The one who can last the longest wins.”

“What do I win?”

“Who says you’re gonna win?” Makki quested pointedly at his captain.

“Psht, please. Have you seen me?” Iwaizumi just shoved his hand in his best friends face and pushed, “You can’t keep a relationship together for longer than a week, let alone a month.”

“Wahhh, Iwa-chan, so brutish. You’ll never keep a girl like that~”

“Having a relationship doesn’t sound all that difficult,” Mattsun voiced out loud, ignoring the other two completely. The others thought about it and agreed.

“Obviously, we’d have to make it public - dates, with pictures. And the occasional hand holding and kissing - that would have to be a must . . .” Makki continued to ramble on under his breath, but just loud enough for the others to hear and agree.

Oikawa was busy staring at you from across the lunch hall, chatting it up with your friends. You were quite popular among the students of Aoba Johsai. Straight marks on everything, leading position in your club. You were cute to boot. Even Oikawa could admit to that. So, when he let out a sigh, his next words trailed after without a second thought, “What about a trophy.” It was more a statement than a question.

The boys around him raised their brows in silent questioning. Snapping out of his daze, but only a fraction, Oiukawa continued, “Ya know, a trophy. Of a conquest.” When the others still didn’t speak up he rolled his eyes, “Undergarments?”

“Ohhhh.” It hit them like a truck. A deep blush crossing each of their features. And then it was settled. Of course, the “trophies” idea was thrown out immediately by Iwa, who announced that if it were to become a thing, he was going to personally kill each and every one of them. No more talk of “trophies” was ever spoken again.

The boys knew of your denial of Oikawa in the past and felt that you were the perfect target for this lil dare. One, you wouldn’t easily fall for his shit and two, that because of that he would be out first. It was a win-win in their eyes. So, at the end of the day, when Oikawa walked into your club room; sauntering the way he does, you didn’t think twice.

“Here for another victim, Oikawa?” You mused, looking up at him through long lashes. Cheeks a little flushed, hair disheveled, and your uniform top rumpled up. There was a heat wave passing through this season and it was killer - especially in the afternoons when you had club meetings in the older buildings on the outskirts of the campus where the AC was constantly on the fritz.

His tongue darted out to lick the seam of his velvet lips. The heat slowly getting to him as he took in your features. You were so much prettier in close proximity. However, your little jab at him brought him back down to earth and with a well placed smile, that everyone took for genuine, he replied, “Why, Y/N, you wound me~ I was just swinging by to see if you would like to walk home after clubs over?”

You were at a loss for words and only managed to glare at him slightly, still being wary of his intentions. But nodded anyways. You weren’t going to flat out deny a chance to spend time with the handsome captain. Are you crazy?

“Great!” He beamed, “Just swing by the gym when you’re done here and we can head out. Later, Y/N-chan~” with a blown kiss, he was out the door and around the corner outta view. The rest of the club that was there were just staring between the door way and you standing there like an idiot. Some of the members even went to work texting out to everyone the situation that just took place. Oikawa Tooru was showing interest in you. And you didn’t shoot him down. The world was coming to an end.

He walked you home, like he promised, stopping at the corner store on the way and purchasing some cold drinks for you to enjoy in the simmering heat. Granted, the sun had set by now, but the heat lingered and it was sticky. Conversations ebbed and flowed easily enough and you soon find yourself melting into his charm and charisma. He was cute and funny and smart. Who would have known? The evening ended with him walking you all the way to your door, before planting a sweet, chaste kiss to your lips and then waving goodnight with that same smile from earlier. And from that moment, you knew you were gone.

--- X ---

Over the past month, your relationship with Tooru grew. Yes, relationship. Yes, Tooru. It was strange, you couldn't get over the thought that this was happening. You were happy, he was happy and you enjoyed every minute of it.

 He was shady enough

At the beginning you were skeptical, especially when he asked you out, in front of everyone. You tentatively accepted but at the back of your mind you knew that it was only going to be for a day or two - so you didn’t do anything different than your normal routine. And so when Tooru would come around to try to be a loving boyfriend, it threw you for a loop. Once one day turned to one week and then to two - you had found yourself sliding into the relationship easier than you would have thought. 

You enjoyed it. You enjoyed him. Cute lil cafe dates - which weren’t really your scene before - somehow became something you looked forward to with him. Pictures taken together were always a must. And of course he always wanted to make sure that you both looked the most perfect you could. When you went to post the picture, he stopped you with a firm grip to your wrist, “Tooru?” You looked at him with a questioning expression.

But now he's just a shadow

“Oh, sorry, Y/N-chan~ I just don’t want my fan club to see and then flock here. Then our lovely date would have to be rushed and over waaaay too quickly.” He let go of your wrist once his plight was heard. Slowly you nodded, that made sense. So, you complied and continued on with your date. A nagging feeling presenting itself in the back of your mind.

My boy loves his friends like I love my split ends

Since the start of the relationship, you noticed that him and his friends didn’t spend too much time together - outside of practise, that is. Which struck you as odd. Thinking back on it, and looking around the lunch hall, you spotted the boys with their new relationships. It was uncanny for all of them to be in relationships at the same time. Normally it was just Oikawa, and then the occasional thought that would float around that Makki and Mattsun were a thing - but obviously not, with the way Mattsun has his tongue down some girl’s throat.

And by that I mean

But since this whole . . . thing started, he hasn’t spent any time away from you. Other than when it’s called for [i.e. home, bathroom breaks, classes etc.] and while you’re appreciative of all the attention you’re receiving from your boyfriend, something seems off.

He cuts em off

The nagging thoughts that he was just going to go through you like all the others before you flashed through your mind and didn’t seem to want to leave as you sat there on your bed. Homework was strewn across the comforter of your bed. Trying to focus on anything other than the negative thoughts of Oikawa Tooru was futile at this point. Music flowed softly from your laptop speakers on your desk to the left of you, but you were too caught up in the confusion to pay any mind to the song, let alone the lyrics. Just that it was smooth.

My boy, my boy, my boy Don't love me like he promised My boy, my boy, my boy He ain't a man and sure as hell ain't honest

Eventually, you push the thoughts to the back of your mind to deal with another time. Final exams were coming up and it wouldn’t do you any good to worry about something that’s obviously not an issue. So, after gathering up all your materials and placing them on your desk, you turn to the laptop making sure to close the music player, noticing the song as you do so. “Hmm, ‘my boy’.”

Sooner rather than later, having slipped into the sheets, sleep takes you and you dream of Tooru. The serial dater.

My boy's being sus and he don't know how to cuss

The next morning, he wasn’t there to walk you to school like he had for the past couple of weeks. You thought it was odd, but didn’t dwell too long. Spring prelims were upon you and you must have not heard him when he said extra practices. Right? Yeah, that must be it.

Making your way to school, you were early enough to stop by the corner store and grab some milk bread for Tooru. He’d be so excited that you got it for him and for breakfast no less. You couldn’t help but let the giggle that was bubbling inside out. You could just picture it now. And it was cute.

It didn’t take much longer after purchasing the food that you were on school grounds and letting your feet take you directly to the gym where you could hear the echoing of volleyballs and the screeching of sneakers on freshly polished wood planks as the team was running drills. It warmed your heart to know that your team was kicking ass and taking names - working their asses off to compete and be at the top.

“Maybe I should make some snacks next time and bring ‘em for the whole team?” Your musings were for nobody but yourself as you walked through the open gym doors. Everyone was busy and so no one took any notice of you entering. Which was fine by you. No need to interrupt their practice just to give Tooru some food.

Looking around you noticed that the other third year’s significant others were nowhere to be found and something in you vibrated. Like the kind of unsettling vibrations where when your standing on a ladder and someone comes around and shakes the base.

Scanning the gym your eyes lock onto their target of fluffy chestnut hair. Regardless of the sweat he’s probably covered in, his hair manages to stay put. For the most part at least. He’s standing off to the side with other third years, rubbing their faces with towels and taking swigs from their water bottles - just taking a small break.

The feeling in the pit of your stomach eases a tad bit as you begin making your way to him. ‘Maybe just to say hey, good morning and a kiss? Yeah, that wouldn’t be too distracting.’ With a steely resolve you continued on your way, making a beeline to get to him and the others. His back was to you and the others didn’t seem to notice your presence at first, so when you heard them talking, you decided to listen in. Curiosity and all.

He just sounds like he's tryna be his father (who are you?)

“Alright boys~” Oikawa cooed like the cat that got the cream. They all groaned in unison as if this wasn’t going to happen. “Fess up, I won.” He stood their victoriously, hands on his hips, a towel draped over his left shoulder. 

Iwa rubbed his hands over his warmed and tinted face, practice had already been brutal for the wing spiker and it was only going to get worse knowing that he, they, were going to have to admit that their captain was a winner. And he, and the others, were not thrilled with this.

So, he opted for what he normally does in these annoying Oikawa situations. He brought his fist down on the top of his head, “Shut it, Trashykawa!” Makki and Mattsun couldn’t stifle their grins, let alone their laughs.

My boy's an ugly crier 

“WAAHHHHH~! Iwa-chan! You’re so meeeeeeeean! That’s why you lost the dare! Your little cutie of an arm piece couldn’t stand your brutish ways!” Which earned him another fist to the head, and more tears to flow from his beautiful eyes. Eyes that you were now privileged to see since arriving that morning.

“Dare?”

“Uh, oh. . .” the meme duo, did everything in unison and at this moment, that didn’t change.

“Arm piece?” Every word outta your mouth just brought more and more confusion to your already fried brain. You couldn’t think properly.

But that all changed as soon as Oikawa made a move to get to you. As soon as he reached out to grab your arm, to try and touch you, to make you understand, to listen to him, it all clicked. All of it. Every little moment with you was a farce. A joke. You were a joke to him and his friends.

“Y/N, please listen.” No -chan. There wasn’t a shred of adoration nor affection in his voice like there had been just 12 hours prior to this conversation. Well, less of a conversation and more of him trying to talk to someone who has astral projected themselves outta this situation.

but he's such a pretty liar

“It’s not what you think.”

Liar.

“It wasn’t a dare, not at all . . .” he was struggling to find the right words to bring this conversation to a close as quickly and painlessly as possible. At least on his part. Liar.

“Yeah, it was more of a bet,” Makki interjected. Even though you were hurting, he was going to get his kicks in at his captain. It just happened to be at your expense.

“Makki!” Iwaizumi jumped at his friend, trying to get him to read the fucking room. 

“A bet? A fucking bet?” At the sound of your low tone rising, Oikawa had to flinch at the noise. This was not going to be pleasant.

“What? You bet that you could woo me and get in my pants? Or, or maybe that you could wrap me around your finger and then humiliate me in front of the school when you broke it off? Get me to make a scene and have me kicked from my position in club?”

“No, nothing like that. . . not exactly.”

“Then what?! What was the fucking purpose!” You were livid. Causing the very scene you accused him of making you commit and if you weren’t so pissed, you would have berated yourself for playing right into it.

At this point the other teammates had halted their practice. Coach had gone off to his office, you supposed, since he wasn’t shouting at everyone to continue and you to leave. But you honestly couldn't be bothered. There wasn't anything he could do or say - that anyone could - that would get you to calm down and leave without getting answers.

“I thought you broke it off with her yesterday?” Mattsun mused from behind them all. His towering frame above the lot of you. His eyes betraying nothing. He wasn’t asking or musing out loud to be rude, it was just who he was. But it still pissed you off.

Oikawa turned slightly away from you to be in view of everyone, “Well, I just never got around to it you know?” He finished with a small, small chuckle. Fixing you with a look that spoke to a different side of Oikawa Tooru.

“Ever the fucking showman.” With that you turned on your heel and walked out of the gym, shoulders back and squared, head high and a trembling lip.

And by that I mean he said he'd "change"

You kept going, only stopping when you got to the club room, no one there that early to bother you. Sinking to the floor, back pressed to the closed door, memories swim through your head as you thought back on the past month. All you time spent with him. How he promised, at the beginning, this was going to be different than his other relationships. You had to laugh out loud at that statement now. He wasn’t wrong.

A few stray tears left your eyes as you sniffed, rubbing them dry and pushing up off the ground. Today was going to be a shitty day.

And as if you were blessed with the clairvoyant gift of foresight, you called it. The whole rest of the day was nothing but whispers among your classmates about how Oikawa had dumped you at practice this morning. And those that didn't know about the breakup - how could you not? - put two and two together when they saw Oikawa flirting it up with the second year cheer captain.

The face you wore betrayed nothing to the masses. They speculated all they wanted, however, it was so far from the truth that you didn’t feel the need to correct them.

My boy, my boy, my boy Don't love me like he promised My boy, my boy, my boy He ain't a man and sure as hell ain't honest

So, the rest of the year came and went without a hitch. With it the changing seasons and graduation ceremonies were taking place across the Sendai region. Once that paper was placed in your well manicured hands you were elated.

--- X ---

University started and orientation came and went in the blink of an eye. You adjusted to the life easily. There were hardly any familiar faces from high school there with you. You were able to start anew - without the curse of Oikawa following you.

Well, you had hoped.

Oikawa Tooru stood there in the doorway of your first class of the day, of the year. He looked around the room, “Probably scoping out his next prey,” you muttered to the girl next to you, a friend that lived in the same dorm as you, a door down. She giggled and stared at the volleyball player. Cause that had to be how he got here. Scholarship.

You shake your head no, you knew that wasn’t true. Tooru was a smart guy. Shifty and shady as fuck, but smart. His eyes land on your friend, who blushes like mad. You don’t blame her, you were once in her position. But you had warned her before hand, regaling in tales of old. Though, those seem to have fallen on deaf ears as you look between her and your, ahem, “ex”. Could you even call him that if he didn’t consider it a real relationship?

Internally shrugging you notice that he’s standing directly to your right, you curse yourself for choosing the aisle seat. He’s ignoring you completely; either out of habit or because he truly doesn’t recognize you, you don’t know and you don’t give a flying fuck either.

“Hello, hello, megane-chan~ mind if I sit next to you lovely ladies -” his litany voice caught in his throat as his sight snapped to your bored face. He may have only been catching your side profile, damn you for looking up at the front of the room, but he was 100000% sure that it was you.

“Y/N, I didn't know you were attending studies here~” he tried to throw on that charm. It might have worked, once upon a time. Not anymore. ‘Sorry, Tooru,’ you thought making it a point to continue your watchful bored gaze to the front, waiting on the professor to begin.

“Y/N?” He whined in that oh so Tooru fashion that just rubbed you in all the ways that matter. Wrong.

You want me to be yours well then you gotta be mine

Sighing you turn your gaze to him and his breath catches. You had only grown more beautiful since that last encounter. Minimal makeup, hair thrown into a messy bun, loose shirt with workout leggings? You were just trying to do things to him. Whether you knew it or not, you were.

He had to internally bite his lip to keep from blurting out something so embarrassing and uncool.

“What is it, Shittykawa?” Like a knife through his heart. He rebounds quickly, “Iwa-chan was such a terrible influence on you,” he makes a motion for you to scoot over so he can join you in the bench like stadium seating, but you make no such move. Just continuing to stare at him, waiting for him to get to his purpose.

When he continued to just stand there, expectant, you sighed loudly again. Blowing a strand of loose hair from your face, you gathered your belongings and stood in one fluid motion. It took Oikawa by surprise with the amount of grace you held in your movements. He wondered if you were as swift in other areas.

Shaking his head, physically, he snapped himself to be present to watch your movements. You stood there before him, books in hand, back slung over your shoulder - now exposed via over-sized shirt - and he audibly gulped. And you definitely caught it.

And if you want a good girl, then goodbye

Eyes narrowing at your ex, they didn’t hold any malicious intent. Not in the way he would have thought, at least. Shifting your weight to one foot, while hoisting your materials in your single grip, you made a move to squeeze past the petrified male.

His caramel eyes watched your every move, trying to figure out your next play. Always trying to stay ahead of everyone, by at least one move. And you were no exception. And when you invaded his personal space he was attentive. Hawk like. What were you up to?

You want me to be yours well then you gotta be mine and

It was almost too easy. You could read him like a children’s book. With pictures and everything. Having grown up with him these last 4 years has made you incredibly aware of him and his ticks. His mannerisms. How he thinks. Or, so you like to think. Based off the entire incident that sent you two into this . . . turmoil, some would think otherwise.

Regardless, shaking off those negative thoughts, you go back to the original plan. Move your seat away from him, but stay in his line of sight. Make him regret treating you like a game. Like a joke. 

But when you saw his gaze on you, trying to burn holes into your skin, you felt a heat dance across your skin that you weren’t too upset over. You couldn’t break! Not now! And not to . . him.

Steeling your nerves, and slinking past your ex, you lean into him. Ghosting your lips over his own. Those velvety lips you used to bite and kiss and lick, just months ago. His breathing hitched, you heard and the smirk that threatened to spill past you was too great. So, moving your lips to the outer shell of his ear, covered slightly by his slightly longer locks, you licked your lips ever so slightly.

Warm breath hitting your neck as he released what he was holding. His hands reaching out, trembling, to get a chance to touch you. To remember what you felt like under his fingers. To feel that bare skin that was taunting him. It looked so soft, so supple.

However, before he could come in contact with you, he froze in his spot for two reasons, the voice with which you spoke was one of soft, teasing tenancies and the motion of you brushing and cupping his growing bulge - only somewhat obscured by the long hoodie he was wearing.

And then of course the words you spoke, in that breathy, soft, teasing tone of yours that was new to him, but he was damn sure he was going to get to know, 

“if you want a good girl, then goodbye . . .”

[jaimistoryteller]

OC/Author PrideFest Question Mess Part 3

Thanks for the tag @raevenlywrites​​ ! Ended up sleeping longer than expected, here’s the last part of the set of questions.

Rules I am going with: answer the questions you know or are comfortable sharing, tag others, add a question if you feel like something is missing.

Note: I will be answering in three different posts, one per section, rather than all together because of how many questions there are.

Questions for you:

Introduce yourself! Tell us a little bit about you and what you write

Why do you write LGBT+ characters?

Have you always written LGBT+ characters? If no, what inspired you to start? Is it a deliberate representational choice?

Do you use modern labels in your work? Why or why not?

World builders: do you have any neat societal twists? (unique names for IDs, different marriage practices, etc.)

Do you write outside your own experiences? (cis writing trans, wlw writing mlm, etc.) If yes, how confident do you feel about it?

Tell us about a favorite book/character someone else wrote that inspired you (or just plain gave you a warm and fuzzy)

Any advice for someone else writing LGBT+ characters?

Would you like people to ask you more questions when this is over?

Free space! Wax poetic about something near and dear to your heart.

Questions for your Ocs (in character or out, dealer’s choice):

Say hi! Let us get to know you, you big beautiful person, you!

How do you feel about the world your author has created for you?

Are you out? To whom, why or why not, etc?

Tell us a little about your journey. Have you always IDed the way you do now? Are there parts of you you’re still figuring out?

Do you feel settled in your ID, or do you think it might change as you and your author go on?

Did your author always know you were [blank], or did you have to tell them? If yes, oh please, please tell us how! :3

Is being [blank] particularly hard in your world? How does your society treat you differently than ours might?

Tell us a little about your unique experiences with your ID. Do you experience dysphoria? Is it impossible to find a date? Just want to find that special someone for snuggles but everyone expects sex? Unload for a minute, it’s okay to struggle sometimes.

What’s the best part about being [blank] in your world?

Do you like getting fan-mail? Would you like people to ask you more questions when this is over?

Grab that mic! Drop some truth on us, something you’ve just been dying to share! Shout out to your besties!

Questions for either you or your OCs:

Going to answer these like I would a Q&A post, with the first three characters that comes to mind for each question.

What’s your orientation and gender? Wave that flag!!!

Tichina - female and pan. I’m proud of both. While I have not yet met my soulmates, I have had a variety of partners over the year that covers the spectrum of genders and sexualities. 

Quin - agender and queer. I am much more comfortable with my gender then I am my orientation. 

Stepan - male, demisexual, pan or poly romantic, never quite sure which is a better fit. I’m good with my alignments and try to always be respectful of other peoples. If my patient has one I am unfamiliar with, then I make sure to do research so I can help my patient to the best of my abilities. 

When did you realize you were LGBT+?

Jon - as a preteen. The others on the gymnastics team were talking about how cute people were and I didn’t see it.

Isa - in my mid-twenties. I’m older than I look.

Nazreen - after meeting my soulmates in my mid-twenties, prior to that I just thought there was something wrong with me.

What makes your heart melt?

Nazreen - not technically related to my orientation, but seeing Akaal with the children, particularly the smaller ones. He’s so big and yet I know he’s never going to harm them. 

Sitara *chuckles* Nazreen beat me to that one, *thoughtful look* I’m going with the way acceptance is the norm and not the unusual within the Balakhnov Building.

Tichina - any time I am able to get one of my high risk kids off the street, bonus points for the ones who find themselves and do so proudly. 

Do you have a favorite LGBT+ song? Movie? Book? Artist? (comic?)

Marie - too many books to list them all, the beauty of being an editor. I’ve always enjoyed All the Things She Said by t.A.T.u

Ioanna - Father would have been horrified if still alive to know I play games like Saints Row 2. I think that Gat, Aisha, and the main character are a triad. Since the main character can be anything the player ones, I take them to be genderfluid, so no matter how the relationship unfolds it’s bi

Sparks - Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. You know she keeps them in line and makes Bruce stop brooding so damned much. 

Do you have a secret crush outside of your own work? Some wild crossover OTP?

Aither - I spent my teenage years shipping myself with Buffy and Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer and there was that one time I wondered what it would be like to be an Aither sandwich with Squall and Seifer from FFVIII. . Of course, as an adult I have also shipped myself with Sam and Gabriel from Supernatural. 

Aaron *tries not to fidget* Q from the Craig!Bond movies is quiet adorable and I wouldn’t mind a good snuggle with him. 

Diego - I don’t know if I’d like anything more than friendship, but I’d love to get to know Stiles and Lydia from Teen Wolf. Maybe Even Scott if he could get his head out of his rump long enough to actually act like the friend he’s supposed to be. 

Tell us about your LGTB+ headcannons (I’d really love to see someone’s character answer this)

Karl - I always thought that William and Geoffrey from A Knight’s Tale were boyfriends. When Jocelyn joins them, they form a proper triad. 

Isaak - no one can convince me that Bones, Spock and Jim weren’t a space-husband triad!

Vara - I’d like to think that Nathan, Audrey, and Duke in Haven are a triad. Most of Nathan and Duke’s conflict coming from the fact neither of them wants to admit it for whatever silly reason.

What’s your favorite thing about being LGBT+?

Vasilia - I’m myself and able to accept that I am myself, rather than trying to be someone I am not because I hadn’t accepted being transgender.

Isa - there is a community of people like me.

Keywon - pride in my friends and community. 

Is there a cool place you like to hang out with your squad? Maybe an LGBT+ meet up?

Keywon - well, our team hangs out at the basketball court a lot, we also spend time in the community center where we are able to get help with any school work we need. We’re encouraged to bring others our age or orientation to hang out and what not. 

Quin - before meeting Aither, I spent a lot of my time at the queer book store, I didn’t really have a squad, but at least it was somewhere safe for me in public. Not that I like being in public too often. 

Molon - while I do spend a lot of time at the community center and at the basketball court, I also spend a lot of time at the nomyn san (Mongolian Library) where a lot of people of a similar descent hang out to share culture.

What are some things you do to keep positive?

Tichina - I help those in my community and the communities around mine. Every time I do so, I know I am helping someone else avoid the hardships that I and others before me went through. They’ll have a chance at a better life. 

Tzvia - prayer and regular worship, I am active in the both my faith and sports. 

Isaak - studying helps me keep positive because it means I can reach for the stars (literally)

Do you have any advice for young LGBT+ people?

Jon - you’re not broken, wrong, or otherwise odd. No matter what some people might claim, they’re idiots. 

Aither - own whatever space you are in, most won’t know how to take it.

Jamie - be yourself, it might require leaving what you know, but in the long run it’ll be far better for you. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Isaak - hopefully on the moon, it’s going to take a lot of hard work and study, but my Uncle and Aunt are making it possible so I’m not letting them or myself down.

Falco - retiring, I hope. I sometimes feel far too old for position within the Network that I hold. 

Ioanna - I happier and healthier me, preferably. 

Welp, that took way longer than planned because of a host of reasons. Still, have some more information on my massive world.

Tagging some peeps I am getting to know off the writer peeps spreadsheet so they can see my answers or do them as they feel fit.

@authordai @forlornraven @lagamerita @writing-at-dusk and @wordsbysarah

 Part 1 and  Part 2

[lyonsdenprojects]

Levi’s Motivations

This topic originates from an anon ask that had two parts. Both parts felt like they needed more exploration through so I’ve decided to split them up into separate posts. The first half of the ask:

Do you think Levi has dreams of his own? He seems to just stick himself to a group of people that do. First Erwin and co, now it seems as though he will stick to the kids. We all know he wants freedom, but so does everyone else that joins the Corps.

I don’t think Levi is driven by the motivation of his own dreams and think that’s largely because as a child he was never taught to dream. He was taught to survive. From every impression we’ve seen of the Underground, that’s really the only option there. Either you survive or you die. But Levi’s always been a little bit different which is why he’s one of the protagonists of this story. So what drives Levi? What are his motivations?

Firstly, I think Levi is awe-inspired by those with impressive strengths of will. And we’re given hints to that effect spanning two artists in that moment of silence in which we focus back on Levi. But that is such a core of his character. He isn’t the one making grand speeches about his beliefs, he takes in the knowledge and then adjusts his actions accordingly.

We see it with Isabel…

...and Erwin…

...in Eren…

...and finally the Shiganshina Trio.

Secondly, Levi is a protector. Time and time again, we’ve seen Levi go out of his way to protect others even before we knew that about his character such as protecting Eren from his own squad when he accidentally transformed and Mikasa from the Female Titan in the forest. Of course, he has a strange way of showing it sometimes like threatening to break Erwin’s legs but like I said, Levi’s always been a little bit different.

Does Levi himself want freedom? I’m not sure. I think he wants freedom for those he wishes to protect, for those with the strength of will to fight against all odds. I can’t remember a specific quote where Levi says he wants freedom for himself and if any readers do, please send me an ask with it. But as you can see in my examples above the people he chooses to protect frequently do seek that goal.

I think that’s why Levi is so let down when Erwin loses his drive to protect humanity (or perhaps finally admits aloud that was never the true goal to begin with. Which could be why he let Eren and Mikasa talk him into saving Armin instead.

[the-original-bookworm]

Merlin Rec list part 1

dreams for wings and wanderers

Dragons are feared and mistrusted throughout Albion, and there are very few of them left in Camelot, for Uther’s long campaign against magic also included hunting down all the dragons in the wild. Now, Camelot is recovering from the invasion of Cenred and Morgause's army. Prince Arthur is the one in charge, and Merlin finds out that his secret regular visits to the covert haven't been very secret at all. There's a great deal of manly bonding with the Knights, inquisitive dragons being inquisitive, and a record-breaking number of near-death experiences for Merlin. And this is before he gets his very own dragon. (A Merlin/Temeraire fusion.)

-little long, but extremely interesting concept. Loved the bond between Merlin and the dragons.

merlinfic: job orientation

In the not so distant future, Merlin builds a tower. That's not suspicious at all.

-short, post! Magic reveal, there is a prequel but I like this one better, love Merlin’s obliviousness. Both Arthur and Merlin felt very on point with characters, they acted exactly like themselves if that makes sense.

Touch Me (Not)

In which Merlin is reluctantly pure, Arthur is unfairly tempting, and the Great Dragon sits back with popcorn to watch.

-smut does happen. Basically Merlin thinks he can’t have sex cause he has to be “pure” for destiny to work. This doesn’t really have much of anything to do with any timeline in the series, it feels like you could stick it in between the scenes of the show and it just WORKS. Kinda short, one-shot type of thing

In Love with my Radio

Merlin listens to the radio, Arthur stalks Merlin, Morgana lives to create chaos in Arthur's life, and then everyone goes to McDonalds! Also love happens.

From the kmm prompt: Arthur has an anonymous blog/lj/twitter where he posts about his life, and Merlin follows it RELIGIOUSLY. Arthur starts posting about how he's stalking this amazingly hot guy...

-ok. This is just. HILARIOUS. And Merlin is so oblivious. Decent sized fic, there are some add on’s I would call them? Like one shots of the story continued. It’s an AU. And I just love it.

Pining for the Moon

First, there is the rage, like nothing Arthur has ever known. It’s hot, hotter than anything, hotter than the kitchen ovens and the blacksmith’s forge and dragon’s breath. It fills him to the brim and carries on, washing over him in waves that scald, and, as Arthur looks around him at the carnage, the man at its centre, he has no idea how he is ever meant to let go of it.

“I can explain,” Merlin says, his eyes still blazing as he kneels there, charred by the fires he lit, blood on his hands. So much blood. “Arthur, sire, please, I can explain.”

First, there is the rage, and then there is a knife at Merlin’s throat.

-this is. Wow. I gotta say, this is a really heavy fic. I usually go for more fluff, good plot line but happy endings type thing. This was completely not that, tho there is a happy ending. Arthur actually kills Merlin for being a sorcerer only regrets it so much and Merlin was actually - well no spoilers but there is a happy ending. Read it, but be warned it’s heavy.

Damsel in a Phone Booth

it’s the middle of the night and i’m walking home alone in the dark and there’s this guy following me and he’s starting to gain on me and i found this phone booth with a lock on the door and i tried to call my best friend but my hands were shaking so badly i accidentally dialed the wrong number and i don’t even know you but help me” au (merthur)

-so, short and sweet, a good story, good fluff after the “pining for the moon” fic.

Sort of a Tourniquet

Arthur gives Merlin a plastic ring as a joke. But what nobody knows is how much Merlin really likes wearing it. Modern AU with lots of pining.

-sweet, pure fluff. The pining almost hurt me. It’s an AU, and I wanted to kill Merlin a few times, but good story.

Evil Overlord, Inc. Official Website

Merlin is a recent graduate with a double doctorate in metaphysics and physics. Arthur is a low-level paper pusher with a desk in the sub-basement of MI5. They live in a world with ridiculous laws and restrictions against anyone who might be supernatural in any way, shape, or design.

Merlin has huge debts looming over this head, a few quid left in his bank account, and no job prospects. Arthur is pushing thirty, in a dead-end job with no chances of promotion to fieldwork agent, and is thoroughly bored with his life.

One ill-advised Craigslist advert, five pushy mates, one nosy all-knowing sister, and a hacked email account later, Merlin and Arthur take the world by storm.

(Or, more precisely, they take over the world.)

-love love l0ve love. Even in an AU, Arthur can’t stand not running everything. Must read.

The History of Two Conversations (On Paper)

This is a very useful spell, Merlin wrote. He formed the letters carefully, small so he could write more later, if he needed to, and did not at all wonder if he was going to get in trouble or be cursed or something for writing in the margins of an ancient spell book.

He told the book (in case it had an opinion on the matter), "I am just imparting my knowledge to future generations. I'm sure they will find my comments helpful."

The book made no reply, so Merlin decided it was fine and leaned over the tome again adding, You can clean almost anything with it, even though in this book it refers to badgers alone. Don't believe that for a second. Just yesterday I cleaned out the extraordinarily vile bottom of Arthur's miscellaneous chest using this spell and it worked a treat. He thought for a moment before finishing, One downside: Leaves an odd sulphurous odour after use. Better not to use on clothing and/or self.

-so completely recommend, Arthur finds Merlin’s magic book with merlin’s handwriting in it. Wish we could have seen Arthur’s thoughts but that’s my only complaint

Radioman

The reason SAS Captain Arthur Pendragon can't keep a communications specialist in Team Excalibur because none of them are good enough. And then Lieutenant Merlin Emrys gets assigned to his squad, and Arthur does everything he can to prove that Merlin isn't good enough, either. Except he is.

-ok so this is a series, EXTREMELY long. I gotta admit I haven’t finished it yet but everything I read has been downright amazing.

The Crown of the Summer Court

The king sent me to get you," Merlin said, with a tone that implied strongly that he wasn't rolling his eyes where Arthur could see, but just wait until his back was turned. "He said you're to get changed into formal clothes and meet him in the Great Hall, there's a delegation coming from the Summer Court."

-right, so I am not only recommending this fic, I recommend any and all Merlin fics written by the author. She is downright AMAZING. Like, one of the best fics I’ve read amazing. Maybe THE best.

Three Tasks

Arthur is the Royal Arbiter for Suitable Suitors' Disputes. He (and his trusty companion, the golden-dragon-tasselled hat) alone can determine who is fit to woo royal servants and other assorted courtiers in Uther's court.

(In light of the sentence above, the following may not appear to be a truthful statement, but: not as cracky as that makes it sound. Really.)

This time: Arthur arbitrates a dispute (with heretofore unforeseen wisdom); Merlin observes.

-weird concept, but very good. I could really imagine being in Arthur’s head, it sounded just like him. And it kinda humanizes Uther, which is really hard to do.

The Pendragon Guide to How Not to Date

Modern day student AU. Still set in Britain. Morgana sends Arthur on some blind dates that don’t go quite according to plan

-warning. Smut. Liked it, was more fluff then plot, but seriously adorable

The student prince

A Modern day Merlin AU set at the University of St Andrews, featuring teetotal kickboxers, secret wizards, magnificent bodyguards of various genders, irate fairies, imprisoned dragons, crumbling gothic architecture, arrogant princes, adorable engineering students, stolen gold, magical doorways, attempted assassination, drunken students, shaving foam fights, embarrassing mornings after, The Hammer Dance, duty, responsibility, friendship and true love...

This story was inspired by the thought of Prince William of Wales (and indeed the current Max von Hapsburg) studying at the University of St Andrews; it is also, as the title suggests, at least a little inspired by the operetta 'The Student Prince'.

-so I don’t really go for modern day royalty much, but this was really good. There is a plot, though it revolves mostly around the merthur romance. Reads like a romance novel.

Two Weeks Notice

Arthur is a prattish Executive VP of the Pendragon Corporation with a disturbingly non-ironic love of Demotivational posters. Merlin is a tree-hugging barista with a "magic" tongue. Morgana's a peeping Tom and her breasts have superpowers. Gwen and Lancelot get married. Owain is the company bicycle. Arthur attempts to steal Merlin's affections from Will through epic DDR combat. Merlin gets drunk a lot. There is a pillow fight, and a helicopter ride, and rooftop confessions, and Arthur decides Merlin really is his destiny, whether he likes it or not.

-it’s like if you took the Merlin story and set it in modern times. Like, almost exactly. There are plot differences of course but it just feels like Merlin. well, if it was ‘stop killing the planet’ instead of ‘stop killing sorcerers’ and Arthur was prince of a company instead of a kingdom.

Harmonia Mundiais

Music has always been the centre of Merlin’s reality, and the idea of silence is unimaginable. But when Camelot is deafening, Arthur is distracting and the dragon is utterly unhelpful, will his gift turn out to be a blessing or a curse?

-the ultimate concept , takes the music instead of magic idea and makes it music is magic, like literally. Amazing. It does do this thing where Merlin gives off this kind of innocent thought process? It’s not a bad thing, it just gives this idea that Merlin prioritizes this music in his head and on a subconscious level he can’t understand how others can’t hear it, though he knows they just don’t.

Stars Above, Stones Below

After the disastrous end of his betrothal to Gwen and the regret of his offer to Princess Mithian, Arthur swears off finding a wife until he's ready to wed. When Merlin offers himself to Arthur as bedmate, Arthur suggests they hand-fast in secret for a single year of mutual pleasure without obligation. As their year together unfolds, and secrets and betrayals unravel around them, Arthur and Merlin learn there is no such thing as uncomplicated pleasure. Everything they thought they knew can change in the span of a single year.

-smuuuuuut happens. Magic reveal is good, lobe how it handled the Gwen banishment thing

send me any awesome merthur fics not on the list!

[sunjaesol]

Thoughts whilst watching 6x12

- I actually feel sorry for Theo. He has no one. He came back from the dead, was forced to help the pack, bonded with Liam, but then got neglected again. He does have a really fancy Jeep so idk how that worked out but okay.  - It’s the spiders again. Rats, bugs in wolves, spiders. Odd.  - Can someone try out Scott’s number and see what happens?  - Hunters?  - Oh, come on why you gotta shoot him? he just pulled a spider out of his back. - I wonder why Scott hallucinated. It has, as far as I remember, never happened before. Was it the shock that the bullet was Argent’s, thinking he’s killing the supernatural again with stronger, more dangerous weapons? Perhaps. Or it has something to do with the aftermath of the Wild Hunt. Liam can’t control himself sometimes, and Scott wolfed out in front of an entire squad of police officers.  - The Sheriff is just not impressed anymore lol. Like “wop, there I go again, attacked by something I don’t know the name of.”  - Also why is Malia running behind him? For Lydia, it’s logical, but Malia is a were-coyote. Use that super speed girl.  - Ugh, why are they all so pretty?  - Pack feels in the car ayyye.  - Liam and Mason are so cute, it’s all just parallels of Stiles and Scott.  - Those kids are so cute. I remember being hopeful in Freshmen Year that highschool would be awesome and full of dreams. (Spoiler Alert: it is filled with homework and tears) - “Go lacrosse!” “yay sports” I CAN’T XD - Bitch if he doesn’t make an appointment than you can’t force him.  - “Opportunities Multiply as They Are Seized.” True.  - lol and then Mason happily walking in nearly fangirling over his favourite peot or something.  - that knife though. threat from the argent’s?  - aw come on, why do the black people always get hurt here. First the black orderly, now him. He’s just fourteen, leave him alone.  - Thank the Gods that Parrish is finally useful. You were shit in season five and 6A. Thank the Gods for making him go and not Lydia.  - I want Lydia’s top.  - Please, Scott should’ve known from the beginning the passport was Allison. His own passport for everything in sophomore year was Allison.  - Oh and thank you Teen Wolf for not forgetting one of your greatest characters. Allison Argent will be forever missed. I really, fucking miss her.  - Malia’s humour is on point btw.  - So the name of the dead hellhound is Halwyn. Halwyn Hellhound, nice to meet you.  - So the white haired dude is a doctor ohhhhh. - bitch even if you do lock him up Parrish can still burn down the gate he’s literal fire.  - BRETT - Wait since when does Corey play lacrosse? And do girls still play in the team? Because you had Kira and then later on Gwen in 6A. Now it seems like there are none. CONSISTENCY, TEEN WOLF! - Liam hold your wolf in, please.  - Aye it’s that relative of Brett that I always forget the name of. No hard feelings, girlie.  - Keep it in, Liam.  - “That’s the IED I remember.” dude. not cool. wait, doesn’t Brett know that Liam is a werewolf? Isn’t Brett one himself? Or did I just read that in fanfiction? I’m so confused.  - oh yeah he knows nevermind.  - fuck he’s hot - well hello Samarah from The Ring.  - oh wait fuck is everyone dead?  - ah, a doctor is evil. what a surprise.  - Come on, Liam. Don’t lose it. Also, where is the black freshman?  - ayyyye Argent please don’t be the bad guy, thank you.  - he’s so not impressed I love him. Him and Melissa are also, clealry, not together, so why did they kiss in 6A if it had no meaning?  - Oh, Malia.  - “Bitch you think im getting out there? hell no.” MALIA I LOVE HER THIS SEASON SHELLEY IS DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.  - For a man like Argent, it’s odd he even used “Allison”, as hackers often opt first for things that are familiar to the ones they are wanting to hack. Like family names, pets, dates, et cetera.  - Fuck, man, he’s also part human. You’re a murderer. Well, he’s a hunter, actually. Now it’s just not an organised party, everyone is just killing. It’s basically season 4 only without the money.  - wop, guess Jordan will go in hibernation then.  - This woman fucking stayed at school for hours just to give him back that ball and threathen him or something. Jesus get a life.  - oh fuck you. using wolfsbane is a dick move. - Lydia fucking register for MIT odwn throw that away please. You have a little less than two hours so do something.  - I love her ring. Very minimalistic. (gets sudden thoughts of married stydia and starts crying. trash ophelia has arrived) - oh my God, Lydia, how much has Stiles influenced you. Like “Woopsie she caught me just pretend you’re really interested in this pack of post its yep totally not suspicious yep perfect perfect plan amazing awesome.” - Also her banshee powers are on point.  - Bitch he has never even terrified anyone. You have nothing to him personally but you’re acting like he did.  - oh sure just stick a pole in his body.  - “That’s incredible”, oh so now she’s a sadist, great.  - oh cry cry you bitch be fucking afraid. what a dumb bitch.  - no no no don’t go to the counsellor - How did Liam not smell blood? Or just the stench of a body? Anyway, good job Mason.  - Holy fucking shit. I get why the call it the most gory season yet. I’m fascinated though.  - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LYDIA STAY AWAY sTILES WOULD MURDER EVERYONE IF HE KNEW lYDIA WENT I ALONE;  - Her booties... I want them.  - nononononono don’t lock Lydia up, please let her go she doesn’t deserve this.  - great she’s probabaly having some sort of PTSD attack. great great great. -_- - LYDIA - Even though I’m still against Lydia being there, her having her warrior “overcoming fears” Mulan-esque moment is so badass and inspiring. I’m here for it.  - But you can’t just kill a hellhound. It should be a special kind of bullet. So, if the doctor puts a bullet against Parrish’ head, it shouldn’t kill him. Something’s off.  - YESSS LYDIA - Even though I don’t ship Parrish and Lydia, it’s like now they’re even. he saved her in Eichen, now she saved him. It’s cool :) - “I’m worried about you”, and in that moment, the whole scolia fandom died.  - Scott’s look though, I’m even shipping it. He’s probably thinking of kissing her and then snaps out of it.  - “cutesy looking down afraid of admitting feelings that have been developing since 3B” trope. - Scott’s smile - Yep. This is exactly how Stydia has been built up and I like it. I like Scolia. I’m here for it. -  awww, bonding over almost being killed many times. cute. -  cockblock!Argent - okay even I fangirled over that “Scott is looking while she isn’t”-look. That’s a parallel to this right here motherfuckers

- oh no they found the boy - wait, what was the flesh thing then?  - Wait but Liam hasn’t done anything to the pupils. Or have I forgotten something?  - oh fucking hell Gerard.  - ah, so Gerard is going to recruit a new batch of hunters, as the Argent’s basically stopped. 

[hickorycreekrp-blog]

Out of Character:

Name/Alias: Rosa

Pronouns: She/Her

Age: 25 years old

Timezone: GMT -3

Face Claim Preferences: Melissa Benoist

Character Basics:

Full Name: Sarah Elizabeth Lincoln

Nicknames/Prefers: Sarah

Age: 28 years old

Occupation: English Teacher (High School)

Pronouns: She/Her

Gender: Female

Hometown: Hickory Creek

Current Neighborhood: Hickory Square

Highest Education: Masters Degree

Religion: Catholic

Family and Relationships:

Parents: Marie Lincoln (mother, deceased), Anthony Lincoln (father, deceased).

Siblings: Jennifer Lincoln (older sister), James Lincoln (older brother), Katie Lincoln (younger sister).

Children: N/A.

Other: N/A.

Pets: Teacup Maltese named Snow.

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual.

Romantic Orientation: Heteroromantic.

Marital Status: Single.

Personality:

Favorite Film: The Shining (or anything horror).

Favorite TV Show: Friends and How I met your mother.

Favorite Book: The Surgeon by Tess Gerritsen.

Favorite Song: Hey Jude by The Beatles.

Favorite Color: Blue.

Likes: Flowers, Disney, Paranormal, Books, Coffee, Tea, Astronomy, Puzzles, Cupcakes, Salt Water Toffee, Hot Chocolate, Animals, Photography, Rain and Painting.

Dislikes: Germs, Drama, Being Alone, Thunder Storms, Funerals, Cars, Mac and Cheese, Small Spaces, Nutella and Dolls.

History:

Growing up in a wealthy family might be what most people wish in life, however when it came to Sarah, that wasn’t exactly the case. Hardly fitting in the way young girls her age who went to the prestigious boarding school thirty minutes away from her hometown behaved, Sarah found herself wanting to constantly get out of the box she was unwillingly put in where certain expectations should be met and certain things should be said which made most of it all almost robotic to her.

Naturally, she was the odd one out, nearly a walking cliche as her older sister (who really did fit in truly with the way life was led there) would say. As a walking cliche, Sarah found that being the odd one out was hard and messed with her confidence (and a little bit with her mind). It wasn’t without much effort that she managed to convince her father (and prime confident) to convince her mother (and prime nemesis) to allow her to attend public school. What a scandal to the Lincoln family who resided in a large home and owned acres of land, what a scandal to the society who cared about it, and the fact that her mother was worried about her social status was something illogical for the girl, in the very least. However, then again, perhaps she cared so deeply because her older son, James, was quick to follow his younger sister. Both of her older daughters, through, stood quiet in their spot (which could only be considered as the main reason why Marie didn’t pass of a heart attack that year).

Public school didn’t quite manage to be the escape of the world she lived in. While some students thought nicely of her for coming from a well-funded family, there were plenty of others who thought quite less than that and quite less of her, which caused Sarah to only rely on her brother for some security and spend as many hours as she could in the library, studying her way out of there (perhaps another cliche of the rich girl who wanted to get out of her home on her own merit and not on the merit of her parents’ money). She wasn’t exactly the most well coordinated person in the world, so, although having received invitations to join the cheerleading squad and other squads, it was impossible not to walk away injured from any other sports, which made Sarah focus on what she really liked, the academia.

Being curious was her deal. Nestled in books ever since she figured out what they could bring her, Sarah could say that she found herself in every other subject, there wasn’t really something she didn’t like and it was a passion she shared with her father. Something that bonded them together besides blood. The man, in his infinite wisdom of ways to give his children birthday presents, built a book wall in their home for Sarah in her first birthday after being admitted to university. It was the only thing besides her brand new little sister (who was born just before the end of the senior year), her brother and her father that kept her chained and rooted to Hickory Creek and Rose Acres.

Yale was a breath of fresh air and a slap on the face at the same time. Although constantly thinking she didn’t fit in the life she led, Sarah would admit that she had it all easy so far and there was nothing that truly pushed her to the edge or made her feel challenged. That’s it, until she moved to a big city and encountered people who were far beyond anything she had ever been in her life. It was astounding at the same time it was just plain scary. To say it took weeks before she could even adjust to the cars honking on her window at night or her roommate who often brought people back to their dorms regardless of her being there or not, was a complete understatement. Sarah suffered of loneliness, anxiety and was very sleep deprived, nevertheless, she persisted.

It was a dream and she didn’t believe in easy things, but she did believe in her words, her voice, her inspiration and her passion to make something of hers. It was easy to persist when every time she came back home she listened to her mother explicitly saying that she could not make it, it was easy to want to stay away from criticism and focus on her entire life ahead of her. It was hard to keep a positive attitude, but she tried. It was especially hard before coming home for Christmas, two years into the college life, especially because she had been robbed close to her dorm, beaten and left. She only ever came home because James told her to and while her father was worried, her mother was trying to convince her to come back home and take part of the family business. It was ludicrous in her mind — she returned to Yale on Christmas morning and didn’t come back for another eight years.

Visits were received in New York, her father came to visit her constantly and accompany her progress. Her brother, who often made their little sister tag along when she was old enough and even her older sisters who took a wonky kind of pride in her sister living in a big city (maybe something they wanted for themselves, but never could quite make it). Family was often seen, not her mother. After the spat they had that Christmas morning, they proved to be equal in their pride and kept their distance from one another.

Sarah did thrive. She graduated with honors and an English Literature diploma, worked as a teacher while in her post-graduation program and had some experience as an editor while working on her Masters Degree. Years in New York did not suck her spirit and her rather cheerful persona, maybe it was her sweetness, kindness and gentleness that took her to great places, more places than she thought she would be in her life. Alas, home called her again, but this time it was different from all the others. There was an accident with no survivors that took both of her parents while they were coming back from one of the parties subsided by them and now it’s the first time in eight years that Sarah steps back into the town she grew up in. It’s been years since she spoke to her old friends and foes, maybe it’s a bit lucky that it’s in the same year that marks ten years since she graduated high school. She isn’t exactly eager to be back, but she knows that at least for now, it’s goodbye New York, because Hickory Creek is the place where she needs to be.

[izziemvcnair-blog]

*pushes lips against microphone* hi wassup im luna ( like the moon )  and im gonna be your new resident bisexual brit. i really like dogs and bees and sad songs apparently. all time low are my f*vourite band but you probably guessed that on account of the whole tag thing. i’m high-key bored of talking about myself so lets learn about izzie instead!! also, i've done some stalking because jen made me, and i really love you all already and i’m not just being the dickhead that says that, i’m being 100% heart attack.

if you didn’t already know by the iconic last name, she’s jamie’s sister. twin sister. fifty-eight minute younger sister. i won’t bore you with all the like... previous history stuff because a) kiki did a really good job of being super informed and i’m still learning so it’s better to just ask her unless you’ve something specific to izzie. b) i’m really tired and high-key don’t want to. c) i didn’t have a third reason, but it looked a little lacklustre with just two.       ✧ her name is izzie. not isobel. never isobel. unless you’re family, it’s izzie. she’ll introduce herself as izzie, and will remain to be izzie until further notice. thank you !!       ✧ is a model!! though she admits her foot got into the door due to her family name and their stance, izzie is actually really passionate about modelling and it’s something she really likes. it’s a form of art, and izzie thoroughly enjoys art. she’s more into commercial modelling, as well as editorial modelling, but she isn’t opposed to catwalk modelling. it’s just not #1 on her list.       ✧ very, very outspoken. she’s opposed to the ‘family values’, and doesn’t hesitate for that fact to be known. though she appreciates all that her father has done for her, and continues to do for her, izzie can’t agree with a lot of his stances on certain issues. honestly if it wasn’t for jamie, they probably wouldn’t be talking at all. though she won’t necessarily judge you for doing something, she won’t be bothered by letting her opinion be known. whether you asked for it, or not.       ✧ as briefly mentioned before, izzie adores art. creating art, admiring art, being art; she loves every part of it. though her role is mainly in front of the camera, she’s intrigued by the things behind the camera as well. her apartment certainly contains some less than safe-for-work pictures of herself, as well as art she’s collected from her travels over the years ( think lily van der woodsen )       ✧ she’s partial to the odd drink, and perhaps a cigarette or a spliff every now and then, but izzie is by no means the leader of the party culture. she’ll go out and have a good time, and certainly get up to mischief, but there’s something about being totally out of control and unaccountable for her actions that terrifies her slightly.       ✧ to a degree, she’s a totally spoilt princess. she certainly does like to have the finer things, and beliefs in the “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” ethos, which isn’t always the best ( her instagram pictures may have been taken down one or two times )      ✧ when it comes to her friends ( of which she has many, but i’m talking like true friends here, the ones that you trust with your life ) izzie would lay down her life for them. her number one best friend will ultimately and forever be jamie, but the other friends she has? if they’re close enough, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for them.       ✧ doesn’t take kindly to the word “no” or being told she “can’t” do something. such language makes her simply act out of spite, and do something just to prove you wrong.       ✧ is inspired by in terms of my muse for her ;           ▷ cher horowitz ( clueless )            ▷ haley dunphy ( modern family )           ▷ alex alvarez ( one day at a time )            ▷ charlotte york ( sex and the city )

wanted plots. 

✧ fame friends ; they’re not not friends. these are the people that izzie simply knows due to her job, and often only sees them because of her job. they don’t really hang out otherwise, but follow each other on social media and are generally cordial towards one another.  ✧ activist friends ; people who share the same views as izzie, and don’t mind if it pisses off her parents. they’ll go to rallies together, or otherwise support causes. these are the people whom she can text and be like “hey, i’m in [ insert country ] right now, and there’s this super cool cause that could use some help!!” ✧ sex and the city ; everybody needs their little squad, even if it consists of people who have nothing in common with anybody but that one person. you need people to turn to during the break-ups, the make-ups, the pregnancy scares and the post-breakup-glow-up. people who izzie can count on, and can count on her. ( aka, her carrie, miranda & sam )  ✧ tinder dates ; as a bisexual twenty-something, there’s every reason for izzie to be on tinder, and thus she utilises the app to her very advantage. she isn’t the hook-up girl, allow me to make that clear, but perhaps our characters went on one date or have been on three. it might not have worked out, and it might be in the process of working out; whatever it is, they met because they both swiped right.  ✧ work friends ; similar to fame friends these would be people that izzie has worked with, or will worked with. this really only works best with models/photographers and musicians, as izzie has worked on a few music videos ( not blurred lines, but thanks anyway em ) and has been in many an editorial shoot. it’d be really cool if these were also people that she got along quite well with, and perhaps have worked with multiple times!!  ✧ anything you like ; honestly i’m really big on chemistry, which is why there’s not more options out here. if you have any plots that you’d like fulfilling, and you think that izzie could fit in with it, then surely hit me up and we can hash something out!!

[trulycertain]

The Great Big Masterpost

A post for pretty much everything I’ve ever written. Since I started writing fic. Yes, the scroll-bar really is that size. I know. I’m sorry too.

F!Amell/Alistair, Dragon Age Origins to post-Inquisition. Began 2011. Protag: Morgana Amell. If you want later, better writing, avoid ff.net links. Look, just… do that unless you’re a completionist, honestly. Stories marked with * will eventually be chapters in the rewritten Armour. I hope.

Pre-Blight

She Dreams Of Paradise: ff.net, 2011. Pre-Blight, character study. Morgana and growing up in the Tower.

Blight

Armour: ff.net, 2011. 81k-ish. Series of linked shorts. Morgana Amell and her companions all have their own personal battles - whether it’s finding your family, betrayal, or learning to trust. What you don’t see in the game, or a different perspective on what you do.(Armour was my first, somewhat shoddily-written fanfic, and it gave me Morgana, who I still have a terrible soft spot for. Eventually there will be a proper, revised, rewritten and finished version of Armour on AO3, but until then, I’ve just kept writing fics in this ‘verse.)

Beginning: Tumblr drabble. She has blood in her hair. Alistair tries not to stare but, you know. Blood. In her hair.

Control: ff.net, 2011. In all the ways that matter, templars have as little freedom as mages. Morgana, Alistair and an argument at camp.

things you said when you were crying*: Morgana stumbles on Alistair shortly after Ostagar, and admits that he might just be human after all.

Sweetheart: ff.net, 2011. History ultimately repeats itself. A tale of mages, templars and memories. Morgana/Alistair UST.

Scars: He thinks she’s staring at his scars. The truth is a little more complicated than that.

the heart is hard to translate*: Sometimes it’s not the first kiss that’s the problem.

Dark*: Morgana Amell really, really hates the Deep Roads. Alistair makes things less awful.

Admission: AU. Near-death experiences and love confessions.

A Blessing*: Morgana is really, really glad to be out of the Deep Roads. Wet shirts, sad Chantry pasts and near love confessions.

Right*: Morgana, Alistair and their first time, or: awkward virgins panicking about being awkward virgins. Far safer for work than you’d think.

This: An NSFW “deleted scene.” Morgana, Alistair and their first time - with the actual first time included rather than just implied.

things you never said at all: He nearly said it so many times, the words at the tip of his tongue. (Fluffier than it sounds.)

Hate: She called it hate at first, because hate was simpler. Or: a templar-phobic mage finds herself falling in love and panics.

Morgana attempts to give a squirmy Alistair a massage

Superstition*: So fluffy it’s been banned in several countries for causing tooth decay. Leliana says that you can tell a lot about a person from how they sleep. Morgana and Alistair confirm her theory completely, and yet neither of them is aware of it.

Sweet Dreams*: Leliana, Morgana, friendship and nightmares.

Shades of Red: Written for #sexlaughterhonesty Week 2015, though as safe for work as you can get when you’re writing about implied, er, intimate mishaps. As Morgana says: “It worked in The Rose of Orlais!”

Youth: ff.net, 2011. Teagan and observing Morgana/Alistair.

things you said when you thought i was asleep: What it says on the tin, pretty much.

Hindsight: Miserable Ultimate Sacrifice AU drabble for a prompt. Alistair reflecting on grief.

An unsent letter: Sort-of AU. More miserable Ultimate Sacrifice AU.

Post-Blight

Epic: ff.net, 2011. In which Morgana and Alistair discover bad fanfic about themselves. Yup, really.

Post-Awakening

Subtlety: Do the Wardens actually have rules about “caboodling”? Well, neither Morgana nor Alistair knows. A reunion at Vigil’s Keep, and trying to keep their relationship quiet.

Nearly: A close call and some tears. For the prompt: “Person A, the more stoic/serious of the two, treating a severe injury that Person B sustained. Person B notices A’s hands shaking and tries to crack a joke, which only serves to send Person A bursting into tears over nearly losing B.”

Fresh Meat: A Vigil’s Keep Warden lays down the ground rules.

Crossroads:  She finds her phylactery in Denerim.

First Edition: “What do you mean you dropped my signed copy of Harry Potter in the bathtub” AU

Inquisition and onwards

Endings: An old piece, rewritten. What could have been and what could be. Morgana, Alistair and nine endings to their story.

things you said when you were scared: Post-Inquisition, Alistair remembers the Nightmare.

AUs

Me too: AU. For the prompt: “I can’t do this anymore.” In which two lonely escapee kids meet.

perchance to dream: The Sleeping Beauty AU no-one asked for. Where the sleeping beauty is a six-foot-something man. Yup.

Square One: AU. Amnesia promptfic drabble for “Who are you? Where am I? What is this? WHAT IS GOING ON?!”

A Moment: AU.Written for an OTP Prompt: “Person A has died. Person B gets sent on an adventure that sends them a few years back in the past. Once their mission is complete they are about to go back to the present. But right before they go, they see their past self meeting person A and they stay a little longer to watch.” Morgana and a meeting at Ostagar.

Give & Take: AU. The Bookworm Amell Squad returns, i.e., I steal @nanahuatli’s Sayanee Amell and let her torment Morgana.

Lost & Found: AU. Dragon Age 2. A fix-it fic for the drunk!Alistair ending. Amell turns up at The Hanged Man.

on the underground: Modern AU. The “I had to take the bus to comic con dressed in full knight regalia please stop laughing at me” AU, with a few changes.

this is my truth, now tell me yours (WIP): An AU in which, rather than being the Warden, Morgana is the grumpiest companion ever. She still ends up falling in love with Alistair. No-one is surprised. Part 1 | 2 | 3

Misunderstanding: Alternate take/deleted scene from this is my truth. Awkward, quiet love confessions, because these two can never seem to Spit It Out.

the weight of water: AU oneshot. Someone asked me to write Morgana and Alistair in an AU where he was crowned and there was a sort of semi-tragic reunion. Lots of duty and angst, so on. (There’s a happy ending. It just takes a while.)

F!Trevelyan/Cullen, Dragon Age Inquisition onwards. Began 2015. The adventures of Yvaine Trevelyan: good mage, awful comedian, bane of Cullen Rutherford’s life. Stories about my dorky purple Cullen-mancing Inquisitor.

An Unquenchable Flame

The main fic, on AO3. 43k+.  

She winces and tries desperately to correct people when they call her “Herald”. If he were a crueller man, he’d find it amusing.

A cynical, awkward mage who lost her faith a long time ago, a worn-down ex-templar and an unlikely friendship. The Inquisitor and her commander, through each other’s eyes and those of the Inquisition.

Accompanying drabbles:

Pre-Inquisition

Pink: Tiny pre-Inquisition drabble. Yvaine and her first love.

Haven

Notes on “the Herald”: Cullen’s observations about Yvaine.

Skyhold

Tradition: AU. Christmas/”Satinalia” drabble. Yvaine, Cullen and a mistletoe kiss. Before they got together. Well, this will be awkward/fun.

“Oh, just digging myself a nice grave, you?” Promptfic. AU. Yvaine, Cullen and accidentally overheard love confessions.

Birdsong: Yvaine, Cullen, and an episode of sparrows. Also some pining, and thoughts on finding your home.

Light: The Inquisitor has nightmares, too.

“I think I may have found a song that accurately describes how I feel toward you.” - Fluff.

Thud: Very silly modern AU written for an AU prompt of “we always run into each other on the stairs but we’ve never said more than hello but when we found out that we both hate the other neighbours, we became friends”.

we are full of stories to be told - Or: Yvaine and the tales that don’t go into her reports.

Of Gifts: Someone’s leaving Cullen flowers.

Five minutes: Yvaine’s thoughts on Skyhold. For a flash fic challenge

”You’re awful. I love it.” Prompt drabble. Yvaine, Cullen and bitching about nobles.

Post-Inquisition

“I love you” - said in a way I can’t return: Bleak AU where the Mark killed Yvaine in Trespasser. Look, I did say bleak.

Sunset/Hats: Prompt drabbles.

Post-Trespasser

There Are Days: Post-Trespasser.Yvaine tries to deal with the loss of the Mark and her arm. Cullen helps.

The Canticle of Shartan: Post-Trespasser. “But what do we call him? Not Dog. Dog is a function, not a name.”

Satinalia (Unfinished): AKA: “An Unquenchable Flame, The Christmas Special.”

“I love you" - Broken, as you clutch the sleeve of my jacket and beg me not to leave: Speculative post-Trespasser/DA4 angst.

AUs

Six Things That Never Happened: A set of AUs for what could have happened instead of Inquisition.

no sea left for me: Vaguely mermaid-inspired first meeting AU. With no actual mermaids.

M!Trevelyan/Dorian, Dragon Age Inquisition onwards. Began 2016. Shield Raised is a series of drabbles about my stoic, awkward Trevelyan, Gal, and his romance with Dorian. a.k.a., “A Marcher nearly-templar, a Tevinter altus, and a slow understanding.” The Inquisition-era ones (though not the pre- and post-game ones) are collected on AO3 here.

Pre-Inquisition

sans peur et sans reproche: Basically, Gal’s angsty backstory. Chantries, angry young men and controlling mothers.

Haven

Rejection:The Herald has barely spoken since he arrived. (Josephine, Gal and the beginning of a tentative friendship.)

Futures: Dorian thinks the supposed Herald of Andraste is rather… odd.

The Measure: Dorian, Gal and a slow understanding. Also Dorian working out. Because apparently that’s important?

Drinking with the Tevinter: The Inquisition isn’t happy having someone from the Imperium in its ranks. Gal feels rather differently.

Questions and Answers: Gal gets upset and a bit drunk and finally opens up about his past. That’s pretty much it.

pictures in the snow: The attack on Haven and Gal’s apparent death.

Skyhold

Crossing: Turns out Gal’s alive. Cue Skyhold, UST and a step forwards.

Sweet Nothing: The companions attempt to be helpful because the UST is getting painful to watch. Gal and Dorian do not appreciate it, but it gives them food for thought.

Liminal: Dorian tries to deal with being chucked into the Fade, and then with his father, and lines are crossed. Angsty as hell, even by Shield Raised standards.

Out Of My Head: Post-Last Resort Of Good Men. Dorian gets drunk, tries not to snog Gal and is homesick.

Answers: In which they finally spit it out. Only took them 21k.

Attachment: Some fluff, some angst, some snogging. In the aftermath of That Kiss, Gal and Dorian try to work out what this thing between them is.

Truths: Homesickness, making out, and Dorian playing the “what, of course I’m not falling for him, what do you mean I called him amatus, I don’t even know what that means” game.

Promises: “Wishing but wondering, wounded and wistful. What if he doesn’t want me after?” A seduction, and Dorian waiting to get his heart broken. As usual.

the light of day: In which all the companions have an opinion. Of course.

Chess: Gal gets trounced at chess by a twelve-year-old. Oh, and he and Irene talk about happiness.

Pretexts:  SFW, despite subject matter. Gal attempts to find time to do some “paperwork.” Said paperwork has a moustache.

Gifts, and surprises: Two short drabbles for the prompts “Did you do this?” and “So uh. I noticed you’re kinda naked. Is that intentional, or… ?” Gal and Dorian attempt to be spontaneous, with varying levels of success.

Sers: SFW, but written for #sexlaughterhonesty Week and the theme “coitus interruptus”. In which a messenger is privy to too much.

A Request: Short snippet. Josephine and Gal, pre-Winter Palace.

Formality: Why they got scruffy!Gal at Halamshiral, despite Josephine’s wishes.

A letter found on the Inquisitor’s desk: For the Dragon Age 100 prompt “Family.” Gal and an old friend from the Chantry days.

The Golden Floor: Halamshiral fluff, and why dancing can sometimes be an act of bravery.

Kohl: The adventures of Gal and Dorian and their battles with eyeliner. Does a little bit of timeline-hopping.

Mornings: On waking up together and Gal’s ridiculously large bed.

Mutual Domesticity: “You didn’t think I lived in leathers, did you?”

Dignity: Gal's battles with the Helm of the Inquisitor and the right of  prima sandwicha. Rampant plotless fluff.

Ironically, Zombie Spider: Pretty much what it says on the tin. Dorian really, really needs to stop with the idle magic experiments... Argyle's debut in canon.

“So if Gal’s ‘amatus’, what does he call you?” Very short headcanon drabble thing.

Post-game

A Problem: Spans from shortly after their meeting to post-game. About 7k. Dorian and his struggles with The Dreaded L Word.

“I love you” - said loudly, so everyone can hear

The Trespasser hair: Short, silly headcanon drabble.

Post-Trespasser

Depth Over Distance: Gal, Dorian and managing the long-distance thing. Partly epistolary. Also, the return of Erren.

The Trespasser hair, part two: Gal has opinions on long-haired Dorian.

“I love you” - said as a thank you

Pain: Gal gets another tattoo. Dorian has… thoughts on it. Written for a Dragon Age 100 Challenge prompt.

A Question: What it says on the tin.

AUs

it’s running you with red: A short, miserable red-templar!Gal drabble.

Birthright (AO3): Another of the not quite fairy tales: the Cinderella AU no-one asked for. In a world where things happened slightly differently, Dorian takes a masked ball as a chance to covertly investigate this Inquisition he’s heard so much about. It’s only one night. Not much can go wrong. Can it? (Spoiler: The answer is yes. Or it can go very, very right.)

“Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.” (All things change, and we change with them.) For a prompt. In which a time travel experiment goes wrong and Dorian ends up meeting a very sad eighteen-year-old stuck-in-the-Chantry Gal.

Reprise: Or “the one where Gal freaks out and breaks up with Dorian in Trespasser because he is an idiot, and they have to sort things out nearly two years later.” Guessing it'll be an eight-parter (there is a lot of mess to sort out). Over at AO3 | On Tumblr: Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Angsty extra drabble

Miniseries with recurring protagonists, multi-part fics, etc.

KOSH ADAAR/CASSANDRA

Frost: Kosh, Cassandra, scarf-knitting and UST. Just another day at the office.

Dark red: Kosh bakes for Cassandra.

Hesitation:  Cassandra notices it: sometimes there is a moment of hesitation before Kosh kisses her; a moment where he doesn’t quite pull her closer, his hand too gentle on her waist, his mouth too slow. Kosh, old scars and the perils of loving a human.

Cassandra and flower crowns

“I love you” - not said to me: Prompt drabble. Kosh Adaar, Cassandra and some accidental eavesdropping.

“Oh shit. Am I - Am I in love? That’s not supposed to be happening. That’s not right.”  Very short promptfic drabble.

Leaning: Kosh, Cassandra and stupid, stupid puns.

CROSSOVERS

Memory: Angst, AU. Prompted by this: “Oh maaan, the HoF finding the cure, marching off to find the Inquisitor. She doesn’t know about Alistair being left tho, so it’s all smiles and stuff and then, alright, enough chitchat where’s Alistair? Can you imagine the complete silence that follows. Cullen/Josie tryin’ to smooth things out maybe, Leliana bitting her lip…” Yvaine and Morgana… don’t meet in the best circumstances.

From the Underworld: The fix-it fic for Memory. Yvaine and Morgana mount a rescue mission to retrieve Alistair from the Fade. Angsty in places, disgustingly fluffy in others.

Wednesdays: Modern bookshop AU with Gal as Yvaine’s grumpy twin brother.

Selected Wednesdays: Crossover tying all the modern AU ficlets together and explaining a few gaps, spanningAn Unquenchable Flame verse, Shield Raised ‘verse, Armour ‘verse and whatever the hell Kosh’s ‘verse is. Features Yvaine/Cullen, Gal/Dorian, Morgana/Alistair and Kosh/Cassandra. Days in the life at Yvaine’s bookshop.

“Gal, what do you mean you’re marrying my best friend? I didn’t even think you were dating.”  Same AU as Wednesdays. Gal, Yvaine and a really awkward conversation. Retconned as of Selected Wednesdays, where Yvaine found out about Gal/Dorian much earlier, because her and Dorian’s friendship was too good and I couldn’t do that to them.

“Yeah uh - Yeah no, that sounds awful.” Yvaine, Dorian, Gal, and embarrassing childhood photos.

Crossovers: Some actual, ridiculous crossovers between Dragon Age and other canons. Featuring princess!Morgana, angel!Dorian and superKosh. Yeah, really. I don’t know either.

Tru’s characters go and pep-talk everyone else’s characters: Just that, really. With apologies to nanahuatli, aphreal42, withthebreezesblown and fanfoolishness.

C O R O N A

F!Tabris/Alistair, Origins AU. After the queen is killed at Ostagar, Grey Wardens Anora Mac Tir and Kallian Tabris are left to seek the widowed king’s aid in stopping the Blight.

Based on this post by the-champion-of-the-citadel: “Dragon Age AU where everything is the same except Anora is the bastard heir and the Gray Warden following you, and Alistair is the monarch’s widower.”

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Irrevocable: An extra scene. Drabble for someone who prompted Kallian/Alistair, “things I wish you hadn’t said.” Tabris says something she shouldn’t have.

Fadewalking (F!Lavellan/Cullen):  The “Oops, I accidentally walked into your dreams and saw all your vulnerabilities and your screwed-up younger self, which is awkward because I barely know you, and I keep wandering through your memories, and now we’re bonding in the Fade but I can barely look at you in real life” AU. Part 1 | 2 | 3

VAS NORMANDY (John Shepard/Tali, Mass Effect 1 - 2)

Vas Normandy: John, Tali and trying to deal with difficult fathers.

Ad astra per aspera (“To the stars, through difficulties”): Promptfic.A skinny kid in the Tenth Street Reds called John, and becoming Shepard.

EVA SHEPARD (F!Shepard/Kaidan, Mass Effect 1 - 3):

Encore: Shepard and the Lazarus Project.

counting steps: Predictions and outcomes. Introspection, angst.

Drafts: Beginning of ME2. In an unsent message, Kaidan mourns.

Oneshots. Yes, they happen too. Sorry.

Slip of the Tongue (F!Lavellan/Cullen): In the heat of an argument, Cullen makes a surprising confession.

Masquerade (F!Lavellan x Alistair, post-Inquisition): Also known as “Tru reads As the World Falls Down and thinks too much.” A masquerade ball is held at the Fereldan palace to celebrate the closing of the Breach, and there Ellana Lavellan meets a mysterious stranger…

Love (M!Trevelyan x Dorian): It’s thrown about so much, that word, as if it’s just something simple and decorative. People have the sheer bloody arrogance to think that they know what it means. Dorian used to know, once. (This one’s not nearly as sad as it sounds.)

Compassion and Joy (F!Cousland x Alistair, post-Inquisition): Written for the prompt: “Imagine if King Alistair and the Queen reunite sometime in the future and Cole is there to hear their minds…I wonder how that would end up? I just wanna hear Cole speak about them haha pain aside”

Grace (Leliana x Marjolaine): Leliana and her lover, before betrayal and Blights. Pre-Origins, inspired by Leliana’s Song.

Innocence: Cullen, Amell and the demons of Kinloch Hold. Angst. Morgana is in this one if you squint.

Grounded (F!Brosca x Alistair): She runs her hands along walls and sometimes, when she’s sitting, she’ll lay her palms flat on the floor and close her eyes. It takes Alistair a long time to ask her why, and the answer surprises him. (Part of the Nat Brosca series.)

Rules (Bethany x Alistair): There are certain things she won’t let herself think about her commanding officer. Roughly 2k of Bethany/Alistair, trapped-in-a-storm and hurt/comfort for thinkdragonage.

Minted: A newly-crowned Alistair’s thoughts.

Rapport: Aveline finds out Cullen is leaving Kirkwall and has a word with him.

That time Cullen went on the Great British Bake-Off: Yes, it completely happened. Based on an excellent piece of fanart.

Happiness (Alistair x Warden):As a manAlistair looks back on his childhood, and wonders how the hell he got here.

things you said that i wasn’t meant to hear (F!Amell x Alistair): More accidental love confessions. Solona eavesdrops, and receives a very pleasant surprise.

Truths (F!Cousland x Alistair): Those Who Wait ‘verse. Alistair overhears Patience talking to Fergus, and discovers something he probably shouldn’t have. Or shouldn’t have yet, anyway.

Snow-Dragons:  Liss Cousland and Fergus.

Constellations (F!Cousland x Alistair): More Liss. Longish drabble written for a prompt on the kink meme: Asexual!Warden is affected by something everyone figures is sex pollen. Turns out the problem can actually be solved by platonic intimacy, because curses are contrary and nonspecific that way.

Other Stories (F!Hawke x Varric): Things between Varric and Bianca have come to an end. Hawke wonders why, and the answer surprises her.

Introductions: For a prompt. Morrigan, Kieran and Alistair, trying to understand each other and the mess they’re in. Can stand in or out of Armour ‘verse due to vagueness.

“HA! Loser!” - Sayanee Amell and unsanctioned uses of Fade Step. Pre-Blight.

Doglords together (F!Hawke x Anders): Marian, Anders and a surprise pasty.

Rare and wonderful (F!Mage x Alistair): In which elf!Alistair gives a lonely, curious apprentice a rose.

A chess match:  Dorian and Cullen, older, happy and trashtalking.

And… that’s it. No, I mean, that’s really it. There’s nothing else. We made it. Phew.

[famedubaitravl]

Fitter Amar Virdi grateful for Surrey’s tough love

FITTER AND BETTER

Virdi was left out of Surrey’s Championship team for the first half of last season after failing to meet the fitness expectations © Getty

Surrey off-spinner Amar Virdi does not think he would have made England’s 30-man training squad for the series against West Indies had it not been for some tough love from Surrey’s Director of Cricket, Alec Stewart, last summer.

Virdi was left out of Surrey’s Championship team for the first half of last season after failing to meet the fitness expectations of Stewart and the rest of Surrey’s coaching staff following a stress fracture of the back. Stewart spoke publicly about Virdi’s need to get fitter and it had the desired effect as Virdi made significant progress working with Surrey’s strength and conditioning coach, Daz Veness.

“I don’t think I’d be here if that didn’t happen,” Virdi admitted. “Maybe my approach has been a lot more focused on my bowling. Cricket now includes everything…your fitness. It probably took something like that to realise how important it was. If that hadn’t have happened I might have struggled progressing to the next level.

“Obviously my fitness is a lot better and I’m a lot better than I was. I’m hitting most of those minimum standards and now it’s a case of making sure I’m fit enough to play the game and even at the end of a long day’s play I’m ready to go the next day. That’s key for me especially wanting to play Test cricket… I’ve noticed that it’s had a big impact on my bowling.”

Once restored to the Surrey team in July, Virdi picked up 14 wickets against Nottinghamshire, immediately reaffirming his credentials as one of England’s hottest young spin bowling prospects. At 22 years, there is still plenty more to learn but his attacking instincts are certainly reminiscent of Graeme Swann, one of Virdi’s heroes growing up.

“In my set up as a bowler it’s a fundamental thing,” he said. “I think you’ve got to be aggressive and looking to take wickets. Maybe the wickets are not always suited to you but even at times when you have to keep it tight my eyes are always on taking wickets regardless.

“Obviously being young I’m still getting better at my skills and I may still bowl the odd loose ball. But I think if you’re attacking you will bowl a lot more wicket-taking deliveries and that’s what makes you dangerous. It’s a tough school but I’m going to keep on driving at that to become the best possible.

“The first thing I did with a cricket ball was bowl spin. Growing up I watched Graeme Swann and Monty [Panesar] bowling and that was very inspirational to me. With Monty, he looks very similar to me, especially being from the community that I am.

“We’re in a minority in a lot of industries and to see someone progressing and doing well in the field you’re in really motivates you and shows you you can do it. My memories are of Graeme Swann ripping through them in the Ashes. They’re fond memories.”

With Moeen Ali back in Test contention after missing the winter to refresh mentally and Jack Leach now fully recovered from the health issues which dogged him on the tours to New Zealand and South Africa, there are plenty of spinners ahead of Virdi in the pecking order. Nevertheless, he hopes to push his case for a Test debut during the two week camp in Southampton.

“I’m here and I want to play Test cricket whenever that comes so I’m going to keep on trying my hardest to make sure I can play,” he said. “I don’t really try to impress as such I want to do my own thing and be who I am. That’s what I want to show people and show people what I’m capable of doing rather than doing other things or try forcefully to show my skills.

“I definitely want to be playing in the first Test and I want to be in the squad. If I didn’t want to do that I probably shouldn’t be here. I’m very proud of myself that I’ve got to this stage. The next stage is about pushing for a Test place and whenever that does happen I’m going to keep working hard.”

© Fame Dubai

RELATED STORIES

CBQueue.push(function(){ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.defer = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v6.0&appId=30119633160"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); });

The post Fitter Amar Virdi grateful for Surrey’s tough love appeared first on FameDubai Magazine | Your daily dose of Lifestyle, Shopping & Trends in UAE.

from WordPress https://famedubai.com/fitter-amar-virdi-grateful-for-surreys-tough-love/

[theconservativebrief]

We were dressed up, with ruffles on our socks and bows in our hair, and my mom was shuffling us into a fancy hotel that had invited military families to their New Year’s Eve party. My two younger sisters and I gaped at our surroundings, gibbering in Spanglish, in awe of the nicest place we’d ever been. My mamá, a Puerto Rican-Mexican woman in her early 20s, grabbed one of us and hissed in that mom voice that lets you know it isn’t a suggestion, “Mija, act like you’ve been here before!”

Her admonition didn’t come from a bad place. “Act like you’ve been here before” was a protection tactic and an assimilation tool. It was a practice from our Latino side of trying to fit in as Americans to build a better life.

Earlier this week I scrolled through my Instagram feed and watched Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — a Boricua like me with her lips painted red, her hair long and loose, and the youngest woman to be elected to the House of Representatives — discovering the “secret” tunnels under the Capitol during new member orientation on the Hill.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Instagram

I watched her call other women members-elect of color — Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib — her #Squad, compare the Hill Rotunda to Hogwarts, and share other moments of excitement and pride at the incredible privilege of being new to Congress.

As I watched her use the communal laundry before her first day of orientation, which she jokingly called “freshman orientation,” I realized how long I’d been acting. And how these newly elected Congress members, the youngest and most diverse ever, were giving me permission to stop.

Eight years ago, at age 20, I was a college intern at the State Department in Washington, DC. Through a series of odd jobs, babysitting, and scholarships, I scrimped together enough to afford the unpaid gig. I remember walking into my first day ready to wow — I had on my best polka-dot church dress, a new Steve Madden purse from Marshall’s, and a bedazzled Blackberry. And I did what my padres had taught me — put my head down and worked hard, fetching coffee, volunteering to take notes in meetings, writing drafts of memos, making friends with the Spanish-speaking secretaries and custodial staff, and trying to ensure my colleagues saw me as someone who adds value.

A few weeks in, one of the staffers I’d been working closely with, a young-ish white man, pulled me aside to give me some feedback. He praised me on the quality of my writing, thanked me for the long hours. Then he said, with what seemed like genuinely good intentions, that if I wanted to get ahead, I had to think about how my whole package “came across.” That if I wanted to be taken seriously, I couldn’t be or dress like “a personality.” He phrased it in terms of maturity and decorum, but I got that sinking feeling, the one many women of color are familiar with, that he meant something else.

I swapped out the patterned dresses for ill-fitting suits foraged on sale at the Nordstrom Rack on L Street. Stopped wearing red lipstick or the nameplate necklace Abuela gifted me for my quinceañiera, the only piece of real gold jewelry I owned. When people talked about going home to the holidays, I told them I was going to Florida, allowing them to assume it was a luxury vacation instead of eight or 10 of us crammed into a few bedrooms, my cousins sleeping on air mattresses at the foot of my bed. I nodded as people talked about “rowing crew” or finals clubs and googled the phrases later.

I could often get away with pretending — with fair skin and blue eyes, I “pass” as white, and my last name is Kissinger, a name that evokes power in Washington circles (there is no relation). But I could still feel myself recentering. In the darker moments, I told myself I wasn’t changing or hiding my identity, I was maturing. These were the markings of a professional woman in politics, and I was checking the boxes.

After graduating and working on President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, I was in disbelief when they immediately hired me as a junior staffer in the Obama White House. I had a tiny desk in the West Wing and worked tirelessly on issues I cared deeply about. I had incredible bosses, many of them fierce women of color, who I believe would have supported and valued my authentic self. But I still kept up the act. It seemed to have worked thus far.

In 2018, this inspiring freshman class of women is redefining what it means to thrive in Washington. They’re not trying to pass as something they’re not or to act like they’ve been here before. And by sharing their experiences, in real and honest ways on social media, these women, many of whom represent historic firsts, are opening doors to help ensure they aren’t the last.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is taking us along as she cooks mac and cheese and talks about politics, as she geeks out wandering the halls of Congress, an institution that feels far away to so many Americans. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, the first Muslim women elected to the House, are posting pictures together and bonding. Ayanna Pressley’s video of her sobbing after finding out she won her primary election went viral. Sharice Davids is gushing over meeting heroes like Rep. John Lewis.

And by taking us along, through Instagram stories admitting they had to look up words like “franking privilege” — meaning the privilege to send mail without a postage stamp — during a briefing, to captioning group pictures with #PeopleLikeUs, they’re showing that we don’t have to change ourselves for these institutions. It’s time the institutions changed.

I’m sure sharing this journey so publicly isn’t always easy. As they detail more of their stories, they’re opening themselves up to the unfair criticisms that crippled me — that they’re either too poor or in debt to serve, or conversely dressed too nicely to actually be poor, making their life stories somehow fake. Only four days into orientation, a journalist posted a creep shot of Ocasio-Cortez’s back, calling her a “girl” and inferring that her clothes were too nice for someone who says she’s struggling.

This came after Fox News spent weeks mocking her inability to afford rent in DC until her salary kicks in — a reality that is all too real to me, a former unpaid intern unable to ask my parents for money.

But these are real, authentic women of color dressing and talking like themselves, owning what they represent, and peeling back the curtain. Allowing us to finally see ourselves, our complexities and our differences, in our leaders.

A few weeks ago, I moved back to DC. And after unpacking, I took a huge box of those old, stuffy suits that never fit me in the first place to Goodwill. And in large part, it’s because these women, in their bravery and openness, have helped me decide that I’m done acting like we belong in these institutions. We do belong, just as we are.

Alexa Kissinger is a recent graduate of Harvard Law School and a law clerk at the Public Defender’s Service in DC. She formerly worked as a staff assistant to Valerie Jarrett in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, and as a regional field director on President Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.

First Person is Vox’s home for compelling, provocative narrative essays. Do you have a story to share? Read our submission guidelines, and pitch us at firstperson@vox.com.

Original Source -> As a young Latina staffer, I hid who I was to fit in. Ocasio-Cortez is refusing to do that.

via The Conservative Brief