#Romantic Valentines Day Messages 2018

[kanmom51]

Jungkook 3 (or 4) Wlives on 14 March 2023

A Jikook filled event, with and without JM even being there (physically or virtually).

Let's talk about JK, the non conformist, the rebel with a cause, who decided to give us a 3 part date on White day.

And yes, I'm 100% sure most army believe he was on a date with them. Question, my friends, is which 'army' that was exactly...

One thing for sure, JK showed up on white day, and right through all three lives, scratch that, all 4 lives, he weaved in JM. JM, their relationship, was inserted into every single one of those lives, one way or another.

White day

A significant day for couples in SK (Japan and China as well). The loved one that received the gift on Valentine's day is on the giving side on White day.

White day 2022 JM posted this pic on his IG

We also know they went out to a restaurant with friends, a restaurant they used to frequent and ever since the photo of them there leaked they stopped visiting.

Oh, and yes, lest forget JK's cover to Only then was gifted to 'army' on White day 2018.

Yeah, this wasn't a song for army, unless it was JM 'army', that is.

So, white day is meaningful to couples and is meaningful to JM and JK as well.

8/11

I know that there are many that don't believe in the Jikook number theories. Think it is a coincidence. Think that 8 November has no significance to them and that they don't seem to conveniently keep coincidently mentioning these numbers or seemingly mention numbers that have to do with said date. All a coincidence.

So, my friends, let's talk about the 8/11 coincidences during these three lives, why don't we?

Live 1

14.3.2023 - starting time: 8:11 PM.

1+4+3+2+2+3=15

8/11/15

Some might say a coincidence.

I say hell no.

Just like this was no coincidence:

No math, no calculating needed. It's right there for all of us to see.

Live 2

14.3.2023 live starting at 21:20 or 9:20 pm.

So yeah, did he do the 8:11 again???

9+2=11

1+4+3=8

8/11

Live 3

14.3.2023 live starting at 22:44 or 10:44 pm.

4+4=8

2+2+4+3=11

and yet again we get

8/11

Now, although there could be discussion, legitimately, about the second and third lives and the 8/11 - you either believe they do the math or you don't - but there can be no discussion as to the first live. Nope. Spin it around as much as you will, the numbers still land on 8/11, no surprise what so ever.

JK's outfits:

Live 1

We get the black and white combo sweatshirt (jersey).

Were we symbolising the black and white couple?

All I'm saying is that it's an interesting choice.

Live 2

Wearing the white airy loose fitting collared button up shirt. White day obviously comes to mind.

White shirt black pants. Again the black and white.

What also comes to mind is his JM birthday message to JM way back in 2022. Same vibe.

The playing with the hair, the showing of the tattoos, the glasses at one point. Couldn't help but think of that JK created clip. Especially after JK tells us he could actually see properly and only brought the glasses because he thought he'd look good in them, lol.

Live 3

Purple jacket (nothing underneath, ahm...) and white beanie, for the winter, ski lodge, vibe.

Purple a colour we know they both revert to many times. It's army, it's JK and JM (purple and yellow).

And the white, well white day again?

JK's special necklace

Looks like that showed up for us in the first 2 lives (third one he was all covered up, so no telling if he still had it on).

It's a little hard to tell if it's the same chain. Especially because it's a plain silver chain with no pendant. But it definitely looks similar. 🤷‍♀️

Timing, outfits, accessories, all good and well, just more brush strokes to that big ass neon coloured sign JK was painting for us telling us this was no coincidence. The lives on white day, a date with 'army' when 'army' was far far away.

But if those were the brush strokes to the sign, where is the sign itself, you ask.

So what else did JK do? Say? Play? Show?

Soundtrack

Live 1

First, let me mention that JK knit picked his playlist in this live. He was sitting there just passing song after song choosing the songs he wanted to listen to, was in the mood to listen to (within a playlist he had already going).

There for you

talking about the tokyo trip, soundtrack for gcft that happened to be uploaded 8/11/2017.

And do we talk about the amount of times either he or JM have mentioned that trip? Must have been some heck of a brotherly trip for the mates to remember it and talk about it non stop.

And do I mention this specific time that comes to mind?

Edited but cute, lol.

Btw, he sat there listening to almost the full song, only to say it's not the right vibe for the live towards the end part ("running just to keep my hands on you" part).

Christmas day

Bruno major Nothing

Question: If a documentary about yourself was produced, which song would you like to use for ending credit?

 🐥: Bruno Major's "Nothing". I think the mood of the song suits me well.

Live 2

Hate everything

JK, out of no where says there's a song he never sang for us live, and goes looking for this song (it didn't come up on his playlist, he went looking for it).

It felt to me like JK doesn't frequently listen to this song. It's not on his playlist, he didn't know the lyrics (unlike other songs he did know the lyrics to).

Remember this cover of his?

You know, the one he posted when JM just got released from hospital Feb 2022. Same cover that he timed at 1:18 min.

Felt it was an interesting choice of song, given it just come up on his playlist, nor seemingly, is it one he listens to too much (the second part is my conclusion).

Live 3

Falling

Singing Falling, knowing the lyrics kind of proves my previous point. A song listened to a lot as opposed to one that probably isn't but suited a point JK wanted to make or suited a mood JK was in at the time.

This is a song liked by JM and JK, we got to hear JM singing it during Festa 2020.

Anyway, JK released this song on the 4th anniversary of his and JM's trip to Tokyo.

Another coincidence? I don't think so.

JM

Well, obviously we got JK mentioning JM in the first live when There for you came up.

In live 2 JM actually shows up. And JK finds the need to explain to him about how this is part two and how he changed outfits for this part, lol.

Nice use of honorifics there JK.

NOT.

Well, not at first. He rectifies it by opening the next sentence with hyung, lol.

First instance JK rectified. But when JK thought JM left the live he got all commando on him, this time leaving the honorifics behind completely, calling him to come back.

@KMFACT summed the whole interaction so well in her 2 minute clip:

Live 3

Foreshadowing?

Fly away butterfly.

Live 4

Let's talk about live 4. Because JK wasn't going to come back for another part 4. Given, he ended part 3 while crying (yes, he was crying) and I'm assuming forgot to convey the message he wanted to and for which he came back with live 4, which was around 5 minutes long.

In live 4 he tells us he wanted to say goodbye properly. It's not that he didn't say goodbye at the end of part 3. Just saying.

He continues to say that he wants us to be happy. Be happy even if they aren't there. The translation here is a little different on Weverse than it was from the translation accounts. Weverse translation being happy even if they aren't "here", while the accounts were translating it as be happy "even without us". Kind of rings differently.

Him bringing it up then and there made me think that perhaps that's what was one of the things on his mind when he was pensive prior to the tears forming in live 3.

Anyways, JK came back to also (or perhaps to mainly) convey another message:

So yeah, JK telling us to look forward to midnight, something amazing is coming, "please look forward to that".

He meant this amazing thing, btw:

Hyping up the boyfie.

All while knowing what's coming is truly amazing.

And were we forshadowing here

The tears

Fake tears, not the real ones that came at the end.

Pause for a second, I'm over here ugly crying a little.

Throughout the 3 lives JK makes use of those fake tears.

Funny story he tells us, that he actually bought a whole lot of them for Bam, who was having issues with his eyes. Laughing at how similar the two are, eye problems, skin problems...

It does look like he's having issues with dry eyes.

But, when seeing it, every single time he pulled out those eye drops, I couldn't help but think about this:

Lol, even more so in the second live.

Showing us the hand tatts.

Ok, so this, to me, is a big one, and as usual kind of overlooked.

As opposed to many that think so, I really really don't think this was about showing us his ARMY tattoo, or being proud of his ARMY tattoo.

Why don't I think it's the army tattoo he's showing us?

Maybe because of everything going on? Maybe because he told us he wasn't too happy with the army tattoo itself.

Maybe because he picks the song, Golden hour by JVKE (when showing us the hand).

Maybe because he sits and listens to it, lingering on.

Maybe because he plays around with the candle, placing it just in the right place to showcase the tattoos he was planning to show us and when he was done he pulls it back towards himself.

Maybe because he clearly knew the song, and the lyrics as well.

Maybe because of how he timed it, showing us the tattoos at the exact timing that he did.

Maybe because of the way he showed them to us, the way he wiggled his fingers.

And maybe, just maybe because just as he finished showing us those tattoos, the JM clearly darker and thicker than the other letters, he also sang specific lyrics from the song he knew, complimenting showing us the tattoos with:

"... the love of my life..."

humming the continuation, omitting the lyrics which are female directed.

Maybe.

[mrs-monaghan]

Hello, you know i was actually just doing some thinking and i wonder why Tkkrs call Jkkrs delusional or Jokers. They are are so quick to call Jkkrs delusional when we are actually the only ones who have legitimate reason to suspect Jikook are more than friends.

. GCF’s: This was literally the thing that put Jikook ship on the map! B4 this not many pple saw Jikook as a thing! Many pple in the fandom actually thought Jk didn’t like Jimin. . Tokyo Trip: Jk didn’t only take Jimin to Japan for his birthday but also made a very beautiful video which Jimin wasn’t even aware of! He could have literally used any song but he chose to use “There 4 u” by Troye Sivan! And Jk paid for everything too for the trip! Also they were in a hotel room that had a glass separating the bathroom😏

.Jk only giving Jimin a gift .

.Members telling us Jk always goes to sleep in Jimin’s bed.

Watching the first snow together, matching clothes on Valentines day, Jk’s birthday messages/tweets to Jimin, Tae telling us on more than one occasion that Jk was with Jimin at ungodly hours of the night and Jk was stopping Jimin from coming to him(Tae). The only two members who happen to alway know each others hotel rooms even when the other members (including Tae) don’t know! Let’s not forget the fact that we all saw Jimin literally almost obsess over Jk, asking himself why he liked Jk so much!

.Rainy day story! Even the members teased about how romantic the story sounded (and again it seemed like the members were not even aware of this fight)

.MAMA 2018: That whole night was something else for Jikook! Even non shippers could see there was definitely something happening there! NOBODY looks at their bros/friend the way Jk looked at Jimin that night!

.Rosebowl: Till date, there is still huge debate on whether there was an earsuck moment or not, but either way, there was absolutely NOTHING platonic about that moment! Not the I Love u’s which they were clearly saying to each other, or the way Jk encompassed Jimin and gave him that little kiss on the side of his head! Whether u think there was an ear suck or not, that moment wasn’t platonic! Let’s not forget how Jimin only started crying when Jk started screaming "I Love You” without the “you guys”.

.Hickeygate: Now this is also another huge moment! Jk and Jm claimed it was a bite, but unless u are telling me Jm has some weird ass teeth, I don’t see how any of that looked like a bite mark! And if indeed it wasn’t a bite (as i suspect it wasn’t) do you know how long Jm’s lips would have had to be on Jk’s neck to leave that mark? So Jk just let Jm have his lips on his neck for that long and they are just bros?😒

Jk climbing a mountain and getting snow for Jm cuz he knows Jm loves snow! Now i know JK is super sweet to all his hyungs! I’ve seen him cook for Tae, cook for Hobi and he had done many sweet things for all his hyungs, but waking up, going to a mountain to get snow for someone cuz u know they love snow, now that is extra!

Making a huge pancake for JM cuz he had to do penalties! Let’s not also forget how they were always glued to each other in and outside of work and the staff even mentioned they had never seen them apart backstage! Let’s not forget the members asking them on more than one occasion if they are a couple, cuz they just kept doing couply things. Let’s not also forget how the members (especially Joon) act around them! RM is always on his feet when it comes to those two.

Them alway being with each other on important days! Eg, Valentines day, watching the first snow, Jimin flew from paris just to be with Jk for a few hours on his bday, JM was with Jk at 4am on his bday in 2020, JM doing his bday Live in Jk’s studio in 2021 and Jk getting him a cake with "you are my park filter" written on it, Jm going to see Jk on his bday in 2022, Jikook spotted together on white day 2022, Jikook being together on Chuseok, JM getting back to korea on valentines day 2018 and being spotted out with Jk and sungwon on feb 15 etc.

Jk going to Jimin’s room 3 times a day and at odd times like 1:50am, and let’s not forget that position we saw them in at Jhope’s JITB party last year, Jikook leaving PTD vegas last year together in the same car, after Jk slow danced with Tae and Sat on his laps at the concert (talk about fanservice)

Jk’s mom making seaweed soup for Jimin’s bday which Jk proudly told us about, Jimin saying what makes him happy is waking up and seeing Jk in the morning! Jikook sharing a car for the longest time! Let’s also not forget the fact that two of were are always there cheering and watchinv eo during their solo rehearsals! Also, the whole YOU ARE ME I AM YOU. Also, the fact that they are known as the Sun and moon duo and Jm has a moon tattoo and Jk has a sun tattoo🤔

Jk going Live for almost two hours to promote Jimin, something he has never done b4, let’s not forget how his eyes lit up everytime Jimin commented on his Lives! I could go on but I can’t remember everything!

So after all of these, why are Jikookers called delusional or Jokers when we have REAL reason to believe Jikook are more than friends? None of the things i’ ve listed above are theories! Everything is a fact! Things that have happened b4 our very eyes so we are we the delusional ones?

What do Taekookers have? Theories, eye contact, made up hangouts and hickeys, hangouts with friends, Jk calling V handsome, Jk and Tae breathing the same air, Jk and Tae standing close to eo, Jk and Tae knowing something about eo, lies lies lies and more lies! What REAL reason can they bring to show that they are not the delusional ones? Skinship, the same skinship that they do with everyone? I don’t get it! How are we the delusional ones when it’s been proven that Jk spends most of his nights with Jimin? If Taekook are a thing, when exactly do they have couple cuddle time when Jikook are almost always together at nights? Even now that we see alot of Jk and Tae hangouts, it is proven that they always go back to their own houses after hangouts! Even on white day when Taekook were both in Korea but Jimin was not, Jk went live for hours! So when exactly does he spend alone time with Tae? Cuz even when we see them, they are never alone! So why are Jkkrs the delusional ones? I don’t get it!

Now everyone is desperately trying to prove Jikook are not together or never were, or have broken up or ar distanced just because of lack of content and the fact that Tae and Jk have hungout a few times! How do their hangouts cancel Jikook? They hangout a few times with friends and go back to their respective homes, so how does that cancel Jikook? Jikook hangouts cancel Taekook because, why will Jk be together with JM at 4am on his bday instead if being with Tae? Why would Jk be spotted out on white day with Jm instead of Tae? Why are Jk and Jimin always together at night (all nighter friends) why does Jk go to Jimin’s room at 1:50 am to hangout when he should be cuddling his boyfriend Tae? Why is Jimin always trying to Kiss Tae’s boyfriend, we have never seen Tae try to do something like that with Jk, but we have seen Jimin try to kiss Jk several times! Why would he do that knowing that Jk and Tae are together? We have never seen Taekook do anything with eo they haven’t done with some other member at some point, but we have seen Jikook do alot to eo they haven’t done with anyone else! Jimin has never tried to kiss anyone else, Jk has never put his hand into anyone else’s shirt to touch their skin, Jk has never sucked anyone else’s ear, (atleast not the way he did it to Jimin) Jk has never been caught going into his hotel room with another member when they didn’t know there were cameras! Jk has never been caught standing in a dark corner with another member with hands touching and heads close together! Jk has looked at all members with heart eyes but he has never looked at any other member for the suspiciously long amounts of time he looks at Jimin sometimes, Jk has also never pretended to whisper to any other member just to touch faces ( and this didn’t happen just once)! So again i ask, why are Jikookers the delusional ones? When our moments do not need analysis cuz they are right there in your face or the members tell us themselves so why are we the Jokers?

The fact that the fandom is filled with so many Tkkrs will always baffle me! I mean if you are a tkkr because Tae and Jk are your biases and not because you ship them, i get that, but for all those die hard Tkkrs who continuously hate on Jimin, twist members words, call members liars, attack the company and call Jikook fanservice just to prove ur ship is real, I honestly don’t have words for you! Read this and tell me realistically who the delusional ones are!

Anon when u put it like that....

That's ALOT! And it's not even everything.

Its strange to me because atp it does seem like people ship tkk for the sake of it. U know what I mean? Like whats the point of fighting for something so hard without looking at all angles? All possibilities? Jimin is my fav i looked into all his ships. So if V is your fav look into all his ships too. Don't just decide- oh V is my bias so I wanna ship him and no one else. Fuck evidence, fuck logic, I'm doing this and I dont care. You go to YouTube and see what happens when u correct them. They say "who cares"

(And if u must ship V it would make more sense to do it with Jin. Not JK. Otherwise you will never stop complaining about it being one sided AND you will have content!)

So yes, they're the dillusional ones because they don't care. They just wanna ship for the sake of it.

What i wish is, if only they could stay in their lane and stop coming to our spaces. Just be dillusional over there. It would be so nice and lovely and peaceful and there would be no wars. Because jkkrs only fight with them because of the hate they give to Jimin and sometimes even JK. Coz they're insecure.

Anyway, I agree anon. Its a great question why we are the dillusional ones when we have mountains of evidence. Even this video by a none shipper gets it. Why is it that we have the most content?

Because Jikook are together all the damn time! If I were JK's partner I'd have serious issues with how much time he spends with Jimin. Fr fr

[jikookuntold]

The Mystery of 1108

When I first became a Jikooker, I started to watch and read different theories on Jikook channels and blogs, and the 1108 theory was one of those theories that all Jikookers collectively agreed on. Based on this theory, the 8th day of November is a special anniversary for Jikook because they started dating on that day. We know Jikook care so much about special days and anniversaries, because they have posted several times on Valentine's days, and Korean romantic dates, and they never miss spending a birthday together. So, after learning this theory, I started to expect them to do something on this special day, but it never happened. In 2018, the Jimin t-shirt thing happened, and no one expected him or the other members to do anything anytime soon. One year later, JK had a car accident at the beginning of November, and again, appearing on social media or going out was too much to ask for. Then in 2020 and the years after that, when Jikook didn't post or do anything special, I started to question this theory. Of course, this theory was fully based on facts. JK had released GCF in Tokyo on this very day after all, but could all this be just a coincidence? I mean, he might have finished the editing that day, or maybe he was just matching the numbers with the hotel room as a special message for Jimin? It's not impossible. What was the truth?

To see things more clearly, let's review all the facts; Where the 1108 theory comes from? The truth is, the 1108 theory never existed until JK posted the GCF in Tokyo on the Bangtan TV channel on November 8th, 2017. This was definitely a turning point in the history of Jikookers, and they started to dig into the numbers and dates to find some links and connections that could help them to know more about Jikook:

The first ever jikook video on Twitter was posted on November 8th, 2015, right after the Melon awards.

100 days later, on February 15th, JK posted the cover of "Nothing like us" by Justin Bieber.

On November 8th, 2016, BTS was leaving for Japan, and Jimin posted a Jikook video on the plane. 

1000 days later, JK posted a selca at Malta at 10:13 local time, which is Jimin hour. 

If you ask me, there is a high possibility for these four incidents to be just coincidences, and Jikook might never mean to share any secrets by posting them. Don't get me wrong, I'm only looking at this theory in a different way and not denying it because first, several other theories indicate Jikook started dating around the same era (late 2015), and second, the evidence is not limited to those four incidents I mentioned.

Let's look at the second part of evidence; Jimin approved the 1108 theory by using the number 2315 at the Soul concert ment when exactly 2315 days had passed from 151108, or by posting a selca with glasses at 1:50 AM when 1500 days had passed. And JK also made it clear several times that 1108 has a special meaning for him by using 1:18 as the timestamp or posting at 23:08. If you look at the second part of the evidence, you will see that they are more recent and started at the end of 2018. But why? We will come back to this later. 

Let me ask another question first: Do Jikook celebrate the anniversary of GCF in Tokyo?

Imagine you got married, and your partner is making a video of your wedding/honeymoon footage to publish on social media. Will you celebrate the actual trip/ceremony anniversary or the anniversary of the day you posted the video? The answer is clear. I know Jikook are not common people, and this comparison might not be 100% accurate, but at least it gives us a pretty good insight into how Jikook might see these dates and anniversaries. Jikook celebrate their Tokyo trip anniversary, and they have been loud about it several times, here are some examples: 

1. They were super loud at Soul SYS concerts on October 29th. 

2. Exactly 1000 days after 171031, JK covered "10000 hours" by Justin Bieber. 

3. On the 4th anniversary of their trip, JK covered "Falling" by Harry Styles. 

Let's make the post short and have the conclusion already. In my opinion, 1108 is not an anniversary for Jikook, it is a code.

We know JK loves to use codes to convey his hidden messages, and he tried it with 123 or 13 before, but other shippers and OT7s sabotaged the message (you know how). So he chose something with more clear meaning for his target audience. This code (whether it refers to a special date or not) is directly connected to Jikook, and they both have been using it since 2019.

[adelaidedrubman]

and also! “Let me take care of you, yeah? I’ll do the work.” and/or “Patience, love. We’re getting there.” for faith/jenna?👀👀👀

HI VERBS thank you for sending and sorry that 1) this particular prompt took me so long to get to, and 2) it ended up being the sacrificial lamb for the bad head fic valentine’s day event. whoops. 

summary: faith gives jenna a valentine’s day surprise after work that may or may not actually be self-serving. ( “let me take care of you, yeah? i’ll do the work.” + “patience, love. we’re getting there.” + faith x jenna | set pre-reaping | bad head valentine’s day event ) 

wordcount: 4k 

warnings: explicit nsfw. some mild passive aggressiveness and manipulation. bad head! disparity in partner satisfaction. jenna does at least get to nut as decided by the voters, but it’s kind of mid and faith doesn’t actually help much.

Jenna believed that what constituted ‘romantic’ was — as almost all things in life — a subjective matter, with no real right or wrong answers. 

Hegemonic culture established messages about what was or wasn’t labeled ‘romantic,’ communicated in the microsocializations of its members to shape personal expectations, individual psychology making cultural messages a reality in internal perceptions, therefore feeding back into larger society and culture to reinforce shared definitions of romance. 

There was no such thing as ‘inherent romance.’ If a culture, or person, decided something was romantic, well, then it was. Simple as that. 

All this to say that Jenna herself had never particularly considered flowers to be romantic. 

Now, they weren’t unromantic to her either. They were certainly pleasant. A day spent gardening together with a lover or taking a long stroll to identify wildflowers ranked among her preferred date activities. For that matter, she thought a freshly filled vase sitting on the kitchen table added an undeniable level of  cozy charm. Her own home was filled with plant life, much of it flowering.

But flowers as tokens, flowers commodified. Mass clipped bouquets, flowers bundled to be handed out as a symbol of romantic love on special occasions. Well, flowers in that context had never really been Jenna’s thing — even before her endeavors in chemistry had gained a prominent botanical component, so that bouquets equated ‘work’ in her mind. 

Yes, even before there were constantly flowers filling her lab — which she said a not-so-romantic goodbye to now, flipping off the light switch and placing a hand against the railing as she descended the steps of the Jessop Conservatory — she had always found flowers to be, well…

She reached the bottom of the steps to find thick floral perfume assaulting her nose even more relentlessly than in the lab she’d left behind, casting her gaze around the room to search for the source — finding it completely surrounding her, in a room packed and overflowing with bunches of pink and red tone bouquets.

Not particularly romantic, she finished the thought, just in time to see Faith excitedly prancing towards her from her place fluffing petals. She’d always found flowers to be not particularly romantic. 

“Do you like it?” she questioned brightly, pulling an additional handful of petals seemingly from thin air to toss over her head, raining like confetti to land in Jenna’s hair. “Isn’t it romantic?”

“Subjectively,” Jenna answered judiciously, shaking the petals from her hair. “What inspired the redecorating?”

Faith’s shoulders rose, as if pushing up laughter even as she made a show of muffling it behind slender fingers. “You don’t know?” she giggled, tilting her head as Jenna shook hers. “It’s Valentine’s Day.”

Jenna blinked, patted the front pocket of her lab coat to pull out her phone and press in the button at its side to illuminate the screen and display the date. 

So it was. February 14, 2018.

Well, that explained the color choice. Jenna belatedly noted the flowers scattered about seemed to be arranged in the rough shapes of hearts, paired with rows of candles lined against the wall, a pile of pillows and plush scarlet blanket sprawled on the ground at the alcove of the window.

“You certainly put a lot of work into this,” Jenna said, quirking an eyebrow. “Is Valentine’s Day even a holiday the Project at Eden’s celebrates?”

Faith lowered her eyelids as she let out a sigh, feathery lashes kissing the swell of her cheeks. “You’ve been a member for years now, Jenna,” she said, shaking her head. “When are you going to stop talking about our family in the third person?”

“Of course,” Jenna replied, holding up a palm. “Do we even celebrate Valentine’s Day, then?” she revised. “Joseph’s sermons on the evils of consumerism would have lead me to believe ‘no.’”

“There’s no reason we can’t celebrate Valentine’s Day,” Faith answered, reaching out to hold Jenna’s outstretched hand with both of hers to indicate the ‘we’ she referred to meant just the two of them, expertly evading the substance of Jenna’s question in that airy, appeasing way of hers. “The flowers are all homegrown and handpicked,” she added with a rise. “No consumerism to it.”

Jenna nodded with a relaxed smile, finding no purpose in pointing out she hadn’t answered the question. Instead she swept her gaze around the room once again, allowing the added context to help her view it with more appreciativeness. 

A room filled with flowers was generally considered romantic, it wasn’t Faith’s fault it had never matched with Jenna’s definition of romance. And it had been rather thoughtful of Faith to gather the spectrum of festive pinks and reds that filled the place rather than just use bliss flowers from failed potency strains as she usually did for decoration — she at least knew Jenna did like to compartmentalize enough to not deal with the bliss crop off the clock. 

“I would have rather set the surprise up at your home,” Faith added, eyes meeting Jenna’s as they trailed along the room. “But I was worried you would work so late you’d miss the sunset by the time you got there.”

Jenna hummed in understanding, taking note of the way the sunlight filtering through the window began to grow saturated with heavy orange. “Smart judgment. The way we’ve been ratcheting up bliss production lately, I’m beginning to wonder if we shouldn’t both just move in here,” she said with an understated laugh. “It would certainly make finding time in our schedules to spend together easier.”

It was offered as a joke, but Jenna didn’t miss the way the sparkle in green eyes dulled to sorrow at the statement — their being perpetually busy in different spheres of the Project has caused their relationship to run dormant more than once, the timing of which must be why this was the first year she realized Faith cared about Valentine’s Day. 

“But for now, let’s just enjoy it for the evening, hm?” Jenna said, shifting the hand Faith held to fold around the fingers of her own, pulling it to her lips to press a kiss. “You went to so much thoughtful effort.”

She bent at the waist, further evening the extra height she was granted by the bottom step and her lab shoes by tracing a finger under Faith’s jaw to tilt her chin up, leaning down to meld their lips together. A creak of the floorboard announced Faith rising to her tiptoes to wrap arms around Jenna’s neck, parting her lips to deepen the kiss; a delicate, careful manner of prying to demand more.  

It was a demand clear enough for Jenna to not waste a second’s time upon breaking the kiss, hurrying to lavish promises before Faith could even finish her complaining whine at the loss of contact. 

“Just one more thing for me to slip off to officially be out of work mode,” Jenna said, shrugging her shoulders to allow her lab coat to fall from them, tugging at the sleeves to remove it then draping it over the banister as she stepped down from the final stair to follow Faith as she skipped and motioned her towards the bay window. She held her place in front of the staircase for a moment longer, stepping on the heels of one shoe, then the other to slip off her oxfords. 

“Come on!” Faith chimed with a familiar impatience concealed as enthusiasm, holding out her arms to do a quick twirl as she reached the nest at the center of the artificial garden she had built, gracefully plopping down on its cushion at the ending arc of one of her spirals. She patted the pillow in front of her. “You’re going to miss the sunset!” 

Jenna crossed the length of the room, flicking her eyes towards the window behind Faith in gesture. “I think you’re facing the wrong direction for that.” 

“Or maybe I just want you to see it,” Faith replied, tugging at Jenna’s hand to pull her down the moment she was close enough to do so, her knees landing on cottony fluff that softened the fall.  

“That might be difficult to do,” Jenna tsked, wasting no time intertwining her legs with Faith’s atop the makeshift bed. “There’s a beautiful girl blocking my view.” 

She kissed Faith again, this time more leisurely, with a slow caress of her tongue as she savored the embrace with every sense — only briefly pausing on smell as she realized they were surrounded by a potent cloud of sharp aerosol bite; followed behind by sight as she blinked her eyes open ever so briefly to look at the arrangement surrounding them and realize that she had been mistaken about Faith having picked flowers outside the readily available crop. Aside from a few stray roses that Jenna recognized from her own personal garden, the decorations appeared to be all bliss flowers coated in spray paint. She wondered a second later if the blonde really had even added the color herself, or merely ordered a hoard of Angels to do it, but either way it really was the —

“Is something wrong?” Faith asked breathily against her lips, making Jenna realize she’d paused the kiss as she pondered. 

“Not at all,” she answered, brushing her nose against Faith’s as she shook her head in the negative. It was the thought that counted, really. “Just wanted to enjoy the view even more.” 

With that Jenna snaked a hand up Faith’s thigh, lace scratching against her knuckles as the fingers of the other tugged at the ribbon on her back to untie the bow cinching her waist, making the frock loose enough to pull over her head with ease. 

Jenna raised her eyebrows as she pulled away, gaze settling on dark blonde curls as she saw Faith hadn’t been wearing underwear with the usual ensemble. “Something tells me you had more than just watching the sunset in mind.” 

Faith caught Jenna’s hand at the wrist as she tried to reach between her legs, holding it tight before sliding it up to the bend of her elbow, the other mirroring its grip on the opposite arm. “May-be sooo,” she answered in playful sing-song. “But not for my benefit.” 

“Hm?” 

Faith applied a sudden, unexpected force to jerking Jenna’s arms to the side, then throwing her down against the mountain of pillows. 

“Well,” Jenna offered as Faith’s hands crept up her sweater, unhooking her bra before pushing the clothing up over her head. “That’s a change of pace.” 

“I thought you would have realized I’m more than what you’d expect by now,” Faith laughed, nimble fingers making quick work of the buttons of Jenna’s slacks and pulling them down her legs. 

“I do expect the unexpected,” Jenna replied, rising on her elbows to better see her. “Although I am wondering to what I owe the —” 

Faith pushed her back by the shoulders, so that she was back to laying flat. “It’s Valentine’s Day,” she said in something between laughing and singing a taunting melody, placing hands on Jenna’s knees to better part her legs. “Let me take care of you, yeah?” she added in a huskier whisper, leaning forward. “I’ll do the work.” 

Jenna sighed, bleeding into a moan as kisses were littered along her thighs. This really was a change of pace. Not that she had any complaints about their sex life, but if she did have to quantify which of them expended more energy during their encounters, it would be —

A hot gust of air fell against sensitive skin, causing Jenna to crane her neck up just enough to look down to see that Faith’s cheeks were puffed full and her lips were pursed into a perfect pink circle, confirming to herself that it wasn’t just the fumes from the spray paint making Jenna hallucinate — the blonde was, in fact, blowing between Jenna’s legs from clit to asshole, then making her way back up again, and then back down, like an oscillating fan.

Jenna fell back on her pillow, focusing on the hollow white hanging over her head (had the Victorian style home really been painted over with popcorn ceilings? she added to her befuddled musings) and assuring herself that cultural messages were hard to overcome, and everyone learned strange foreplay moves from some source or another, and Faith would run out of breath eventually. 

(Although she was a little confused why she didn’t just do what Jenna usually did to her in the first place. Going down really wasn’t that complicated.) 

Regardless, it was only a few more seconds of Jenna staring at bumpy white plaster before Faith did blessedly run out of breath, a last weak choke of air falling below Jenna’s clit before she finally had to inhale, breathed back out as a series of giggles vibrating against her hip. 

A demanding shiver rippled through Jenna with the hopeful prospect she was soon to be touched, goosebumps forming on her arms from the anticipation. 

And the reaction of her body was nothing if not accurate, her clit aching with fresh want as warm lips pressed a kiss against it. Finally. 

…Finally? 

It was one kiss, before Faith broke out into giggles again, this time pressed slightly lower, against her left lip. 

Jenna cleared her throat, opened her eyes to gaze back up at the ceiling. “Faith, my sweet?” she called out, drumming her fingertips against blanket-covered hardwood. “Just out of intellectual curiosity, were you — ah, were you planning on eating me out?” 

More laughter. Traditionally speaking, not the kind of attention one would want paid to their sexual organs. 

“Patience, love,” Faith whispered, breath steaming and making Jenna’s skin pitch hotter. “We’re getting there.”

There was another kiss placed against Jenna’s clit, although this one could at least be counted as progress — lips more firm pressed against her, and lingering for longer, not fading into air as they broke contact, instead trailing down. 

Although they paused, again, upon reaching her entrance, shifting away so that another laugh could slip between them. Again, not the ideal reaction. 

But Jenna didn’t have time to dwell on it, as lips were replaced by lively and eager tongue dipping inside her with ease, wriggling there just long enough to count as actual teasing before gliding upward, flooding Jenna with such sudden and intense pleasure she had to gasp for air in spite of herself. 

Faith had made a path to her clit before Jenna even successfully caught her breath, somehow knowing the exact right amount of pressure to apply in circling it, the steady swirl of her tongue building an eddy of pleasure inside her, swelling to what she thought would certainly be a quick peak, until — 

Until the slick, pleasurable glide of her tongue vanished abruptly — fading into bubbling laughter yet again, and a few more teasing kisses. 

Jenna untensed her muscles, shifting her hips to relax back into place. It was only fair, she supposed. She had taken her time edging the blonde on plenty of occasions before, and it wasn’t like Faith was going to — 

Faith separated completely from Jenna, the floor shaking with a thud to her right as her body landed beside her. 

“Um, Faith?” 

“Yes?” Faith replied.

“You…” she coughed. “You stopped.” 

“It’s my turn,” Faith laughed, reaching for Jenna’s hand, guiding it towards a breast. “Why? Is there a problem? I did a good job, didn’t I?” 

“You did,” Jenna responded flatly.  She really had, for the brief time she had done a job of some kind. “It just, well…” she trailed off, resuming her study of the ceiling’s texture. “Empirically speaking, it takes people with vulvas an average of fourteen minutes of stimulation to achieve orgasm.”

Oh, Faith exclaimed with the appeasing interest she usually showed when Jenna shared an extended lecture on obscure scientific facts, pressing harder against the backs of Jenna’s fingers to cause them to pinch her nipple tighter, guiding them to roll the flesh.

“Well, in that case,” Faith cooed, shoving Jenna’s hand further down to slip between her legs. “You better get started if you still want us to get to watch the sunset together.” 

Jenna sighed, bemused, shaking her head at the antics before using the hand not already shown to its place to push herself up to rise. Any disappointment she might feel at the promise of being ‘taken care of’ going unfulfilled was pushed out by awe at Faith’s ability to lure her in. 

So she didn’t waste time in slipping the fingers Faith had already guided downward inside and pumping them in practiced rhythm. “Maybe you are predictable after all?” 

“I don’t think so, Jenna,” she replied, an almost dark bite to it as she twined fingers in her curls and pushed her head down. 

“Of course not,” Jenna laughed, not bothering to retribute the drawn out teasing Faith had visited on her, instead pressing her mouth to her without delay. 

And the pleased sigh Faith gave in response was reward enough, making heat rise to Jenna’s cheeks as the salt of the woman’s dried sweat settled against her tongue, licked clean as she worked her mouth against her. 

Fourteen minutes — that was an average, and although Jenna had never properly timed it, she’d always subjectively felt she was usually able to get Faith off in slightly under that, particularly when the length of their relationship and time apart since last sexual encounter increased concurrently. 

And based on how tight she felt around her fingers now, the speed at which she bucked her hips against her, well… She expected to be on the left of the bell curve, to say the least. 

Jenna’s own ache for attention grew stronger at the thought, causing her hips to cant forward on instinct to search for friction — blessedly and unexpectedly finding it, in the form of one of the pillows Faith had piled along the floor, fitting neatly between her thighs for her to grind herself against as she worked fingers and tongue against her partner. 

The hand Faith had buried in Jenna’s hair fisted tighter, almost pulling too hard, and Jenna broke the seal of her lips around her to pull back, look up. 

“Jenna,” Faith panted, pushing herself up slightly with her free hand to look at her as she slowed the stroke of her fingers along her walls to a crawling pace. “You stopped.” 

“Is there a problem with that?” she asked, the steady drone of her voice not betraying the frantic buck of her hips against the bedding, pressure building all the more deliciously now that she’d resigned herself to it being the source of her finish. She studied the bright pink dusting Faith’s cheeks, a gorgeous blending of sunset pouring through the window and dark flush of blood gathering beneath the skin. “Not long enough?” 

Faith let out a complaining hmph, threw herself back against the pillows — all the surrender Jenna needed to resume lavishing attention, replacing the flat of her tongue with the pad of her thumb to rub tighter circles. 

Faith’s petulant huff faded quite nicely into a long, trembling moan, a sharp hum that pierced and vibrated deep into Jenna’s marrow, shaking her every fiber. 

Jenna squeezed her thighs together harder around the pillow she thrust against, pressing more firmly — feeling the slick of herself smear on it to ease her glide against the fabric, driving her towards a last hungry, tight clenching drag to send those flurrying sparks of pleasure boiling over to ignite her entire being in release; muscles of her back flexing and rippling under the warm, gentle weight of the sun’s rays streaming in, as if the pulsing wavelengths of light rolled straight through her. 

“God,” Jenna mumbled against the ample curve of Faith’s thigh as she rode it out, willing the muscles of her hands not to melt and go limp with the rest of her body and instead continue winding Faith to that same bright flaring pitch. And Faith’s pleading whimper, the clawing of her fingers to grasp the blanket that clung to her skin, the quivering of her thighs against Jenna’s lips all screamed a promise of soon, almost there. 

And perhaps, had the sun not been setting — and the prospect of watching its deep orange disappear over the horizon with Faith held tight in her arms so appealing — Jenna would have drawn it out, brought her to her finish in a slow creeping bloom of pleasure rather than a sudden flourishing burst. Maybe she would have allowed Faith to stew at the precipice, until she was squirming and hungry and the dark knell of demanding seeped into her voice. Maybe she would have pricked away those sharp as thorns pants of Jenna to calmly whisper back that if she wasn’t just going to take what she wanted, she would have to use her words, bask in the satisfaction of unraveling candied layers to reach the Faith who was merciless and devouring. 

But as it was, the prospect of allowing Faith to blaze out and fall to cooling stillness in the same fading pull as the sky was too lovely to deny — especially when her back arched, and the flushed to rose slopes of her breasts bared themselves upward to be kissed by pink rays. And all Jenna could think was gorgeous; was ethereal, magical, in the way only a sight that was in fact fundamentally natural could be. 

She savored the vision, willed the still dazed neurons of her brain to encode it into her memory as Faith tightened a final time before she collapsed, melted and sank back into the tangle of bedding with a fading flutter of breath, of herself around Jenna’s fingers. 

And she was still all airy labored breathing when Jenna felt the familiar tug at her wrist, reeling her in for more contact. She tensed against it, clicking her tongue against her teeth in chiding as she pulled back, shifted to sit upright. 

“The sunset, darling,” Jenna said, leaning forward to wrap an arm around Faith and pull her closer, slotted between her legs and facing the window, back against Jenna’s chest. “Can’t let all your careful planning go to waste.” 

Faith gave a soft trilling hum in reply, reaching back to twirl one of Jenna’s curls to spin tight around her finger. 

And as Jenna kissed away a petal clinging with sweat to Faith’s back, the paint now melted from it to leave a crimson smear along her shoulder blade, it occurred to her that perhaps flowers for Valentine’s Day could be romantic — it was, as all things, subjective, contextual. 

Her musings were interrupted by a thoughtful sigh from Faith, a tilt back of her head before she spoke. “I think you might have had a good idea.” 

Jenna craned her neck forward, admired her profile silhouetted with muted sunlight. “About what, in particular?” 

“That we should both just move in here,” Faith answered, lips curving at the prospect. “It would make spending time together easier.” 

Ah. Jenna nuzzled against the crook of her neck, a single impressed laugh vibrating against its column. The notion had the gentle ease of a foregone conclusion she’d been carefully strung along to, all the meticulous trappings of romance suddenly making sense. 

“You know,” Jenna pulled back the curtain of fine-spun gold to kiss against Faith’s jaw. “You could have just suggested it yourself.” 

“What do you mean?” Faith asked, breathy with laughter. “You’re the one who mentioned it. But if you don’t think it’s a good idea anymore…” 

“I stand by it,” Jenna sighed, shaking her head in defeat. “Very creative thinking, on my part.” 

Faith nodded against her cheek in agreement. “We can even make this our first night here,” she offered with an excited rise. “Don’t you think that would be romantic? Our first night living together being Valentine’s Day?” 

Jenna shifted back to better view her with daylight officially faded — the soft orange glow of the candlelight flickering warmth along her features, the lingering flush of pink, the warm gold of her hair framing her face all seeming to replicate the now passed sunset. 

“Contextually,” she answered with that same generous neutrality. “Under the circumstances,” she added matter-of-factly. “Very romantic.” 

She pressed a kiss to the top of Faith’s head, cradling to her chest. 

Romance was, after all, subjective. 

[softtau]

वैलेंटाइन्स डे: वो फिल्मी सीन जिन्होंने हमें इश्क़ करना सिखाया

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फरवरी यानी प्रेम का महीना. इसलिए भी कि इसमें वैलेंटाइन डे पड़ता है, इसलिए भी कि इसमें बसंत भी पड़ता है. भारतीय पंचांग का सबसे बहकाने वाला महीना फागु�� भी कमोबेश फरवरी ही है.

इसी फरवरी की शुरुआत में हम सब अंकित सक्सेना की बात कर रहे थे. जिसे प्रेम करने की सजा मिली. अभी हम नेशनल क्रश…

[ratingtheframe]

10 Films to watch this Valentine’s Day if you’re single as hell.

If anyone or anything is making you feel worthless on the Capitalist Holiday that is Valentine’s Day because you’re single AF, then don’t fret because it means one of two things;

You’re happy enough with yourself to not need anyone else.

You’re allergic to people.

Though mine is both the former and the latter, I can still get down to a good romance movie now and again. Now I’m not talking about those horrendous rom coms that Netflix seems to be churning out every damn minute, but those emotionally invested, earthy and well written dramas that has you ugly crying into your bathrobe for 17 minutes straight (me at the end of Her.). Here is a compiled list of some of the best romance films I’ve seen over the years and how each one doesn’t showcase an abundance of clichés and brands them as “acts of love”.

A Star is Born (2018 or 1953, take your pick)

I’ve found that both the 1953 version of A Star is Born with Judy Garland and the 2018 newer version to be a perfect and well rounded love story. What makes this love story so fierce is the vulnerabilities and downfall of its characters, which even though there are many sad moments, it perpetuates and strengthens the acts of love shown in the film. Both versions are similar in that they follow a woman who’s rise to fame as a performer becomes overshadowed by her jealous partner, who is also a notable celebrity. In the 2018 version starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, Gaga’s character Ally is helped by a country singer, Jackson Maine to become a successful singer and icon amongst the music industry. As she rises, Jackson falls and the character dynamics and intensity between them is a fitting love story. I was thoroughly bawling at the end and I guarantee you will too as Lady Gaga’s rendition of Love Again was the true scene stealer of the film. 

Call me by your name (2017)

I have an incredible bias towards this film and it has nothing to do with the film’s context or characters or even Timothée Chalamet The reason why I feel so connected to this film and proclaim it as my favourite film of all time is because of when I watched the film. It’s almost like seeing a film about a political event right after it's happened; you have this rush and connection towards something that’s actually affected you in the real world. I had the same feeling with Call me by your name after going through a rough and confusing patch whilst trying to get over someone I thought I truly loved. Turns out I didn’t (thank god) and yet Call me your name was almost like a shoulder to cry on. It’s a film that’s taught me to love and love hard but most importantly, not beat yourself up or try to distinguish the pain felt by true love. If you haven’t been fortunate to catch this beauty of a film, it follows two men, Elio (Timothée Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) and their brief relationship in the summer of 1983 in Northern Italy. 17 year old Elio lives with his parents and his father (Michael Stuhlbarg) is a scholar who invites students from outside the country for the summer in hope of passing on his wisdom to them. This is when Oliver arrives, a handsome twenty something American who becomes the infatuation of Elio. 

I’ll never forget the first time I heard the monologue that Elio’s father gave his son at the end, explaining to Elio why he shouldn’t feel embarrassed by the pain he felt after loving Oliver:

“We rip out so much of ourselves to be cured of things faster, that we go bankrupt by the age of thirty and have less to offer each time we start with someone new. But to make yourself feel nothing so as not to feel anything - what a waste”

That, ladies and gentlemen and all in between, is what love is.

Her. (2013)

Once again, another film about love that had a profound effect on me because of when I watched it. Her. follows the story of Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) and his search for a story using an A.I to help him write. However, after getting to know this A.I named Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) and hearing the way she adapts and shows emotions, he soon falls in love with it. Some may deem this as rather sad (which it is) but I think it speaks to bigger constructs like internet dating and letting go of people you loved thus diminishing the fantasy and world you created for the two of you. This part of the film got to me a stark way as I felt the pain of letting go of not only a person, but a fantasy, just like Theodore had to do in letting his past partners go. Her. is truly beautiful, with some great production design, cinematography and acting.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)

The absolute queen of love stories would be Céline Sciamma’s Portrait of a Lady on Fire, a film about the romance between two women in the late 18th Century. Definitely not a narrative you see every day or one that’s been painted in such a way (pun intended). Marianne (Noémie Merlant) is commissioned to paint the beautiful and stubborn Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) and the portrait is to be gifted to a suitor of Héloïse’s from Milan. But instead of getting the painting done and sending it off, Marianne and Héloïse unexpectedly fall for one another at a subtle and well timed pace that had me gawping at the screen the entire way through. Slow, sensual and moving is Portrait of a Lady on Fire and I would definitely say is one of the best LGBTQ plus films ever made to date.

Broke Back Mountain (2005)

Ang Lee scooped up a BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar for his direction on his adapted screenplay of Brokeback Mountain. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) form a romantic bond after shepherding alone together on the side of a mountain. Once their time herding sheep comes to a close and they return back to their respective lives, it's clear that their bond is stronger than they had anticipated. They live in constant fear of their relationship becoming apparent to those around them, which leaves one of them taking matters into their own hands. A controversial yet extremely successful film of its time, Brokeback Mountain does a fabulous job of showcasing the consequences and despair of love using two of Hollywood’s finest actors.

Carol (2013)

It’s difficult to fully appreciate LGBTQ plus films set in the past as they mostly focus on the persecution of homosexuals as opposed to the love they wish to express. However, this was pretty accurate of the time and it's only very recently that we have begun to accept one another’s sexualities and genders fully so much that we play these stories out on screen without the persecution part. Carol is a film directed by Todd Haynes and stars Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett. I found them to be an extremely intense pairing whilst they unravelled as their characters on screen. Therese (Rooney Mara) works in the toy department of a department store when one day she lays eyes upon Carol Aird, a beautiful and elegant married woman who becomes the infatuation of Therese. Therese throws all caution to the wind in order to be closer to Carol and because of this and the 1950s society they live in, their relationship is doomed from the beginning. I was in complete awe of the way Carol had been shot and created into this sensual and rich drama set in the 1950s. From the costumes, to the lighting to the acting, everything about Carol held weight to it showcasing the devotion of a truly talented director.

Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)

Usually I’d pass on a Charlie Kaufman film, seeing as they make no sense, however I felt that it was time I delved into this cult classic starring Kate Winslet, Jim Carrey, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo and Elijah Wood. It’s a really well made film with a clear and distinct message to it that’s represented in some phenomenal filmmaking techniques. The plot line of this film follows a man trying to erase a past lover and his memories of her get wiped away physically before your eyes on screen. It made me wish that I could do the same with people I’ve liked in the past, but the contradictory of this would be the trauma of eventually ending up with someone you had already met in another life. I haven’t experienced a break up nor felt the pain of one, though I could judge that this film tells that experience really well.

Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight is one of few films that I would genuinely worship if it were a religion. It's also one of the films that I outwardly shame people for not having seen, as it is truly a masterpiece and film lover’s film. Deep, emotionally connected, colourful, harsh, moving and eye opening, this film takes you on an emotional rollercoaster through the eyes of Chiron and the three stages of his life that have carved out his essence as a human being. Not only that, but he falls in love with another boy at his school, and when he does, he’s hurt rather badly. Literally. Moonlight is the definition of profundity and was awarded the top prize of Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards. 

Loving (2016)

When I think of a truthful and honest testament of love, the film Loving comes to mind which is a fitting title for such a delicate yet strong story. The film is based on a true story of an interracial couple, Richard and Mildred (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga) being banned from Virginia in the 1950s for choosing to be together. If that ain’t a true sacrifice of love, then I don’t know what is. Choosing someone you love over your own home is an unfathomable thing and certainly shows the strength that this couple had in facing the judgements of others whilst remaining emotionally truthful to themselves. 

The Shape of Water (2017)

The Shape of Water is a strange yet enlightening love story between Eliza, a deaf woman (Sally Hawkins) and a creature being tested on in a laboratory. Awards season went mental for this back in 2018, winning four of the THIRTEEN Oscars it was nominated for. I would categorize it as quite the niche film and wouldn’t usually think that such a film could be garnered with Oscar success. However everyone who worked on this film really pulled out the stops in creating an entire new world and perspective that has many layers to it, as well as an abundance of conflict and dynamics for audiences to lull over. The relationship between Eliza and the feared swamp monster that’s being cruelly tested in the laboratories where she works, is heartfelt and honest, which is strange seeing as Eliza’s virtually in love with a monster. The casting in this was outlandish yet it really worked as all actors in this melded well into the story as their prospective characters. It also has one of the most touching endings to a film I’ve ever seen.

And there you have it, ten Romance films for you to enjoy this Valentine’s Day. Watch them all at once, or maybe just watch one. Whether you watch it alone or with someone, it doesn’t really matter!

Lots of love

Ang x

[beevean]

SEGA and its most recent Sonamy side – more canon than ever

[Translator’s note: this article was originally written in Spanish by @latin-dr-robotnik​]

Hello again! Today we’d like to discuss about something that’s been happening recently, and probably taking Sonic fans by surprise: what is going on with SEGA and its stance about Sonamy?

At the beginning of this year, to celebrate the 200 articles on Seaside Hill Paradise, I finished what I call “the Sonamy trilogy” of articles that I started in 2018 and which cover different themes, such as:

SEGA and the eternal issue of the Sonic-Amy dynamic

“I love you” – Forbidden words in Sonic

SEGA and the eternal issue of “Sonic’s girlfriend”

The idea was to offer a more-or-less complete analysis about the many facets of their dynamic in the last 27 years; a dynamic that, you may have noticed, is not that easy to pin down, and that we’ve been updating almost regularly (although I also intended to investigate on other dynamics, like Knuckles and Rouge’s for example, and write about them). Generally speaking, in these articles I don’t draw objective conclusions about the status of the ship in canon (despite the fact that the available information tends to confirm it in various occasions). I also like to repeat myself and say that shipping is supposed to be for fun, not for tearing each other’s hair in that black hole of misery that is Twitter, but recent events left us slightly perplexed, and this is why we’re here once again.

We left the status of the Sonamy canonicity with these two peculiar instances back in August: Sonic mentioning his “girlfriend” in the Japanese version of Sonic Battle, and the Twitter account of SEGA of Europe saying Sonamy is their “favorite videogame romance”. Now, let’s recap a bit…

Sonamy in Sonic IDW... Round 3

[SPOILERS ALERT FOR IDW SONIC #14-#35]

In 2018, when IDW just started, I decided to study a little how the Sonamy dynamic worked in this new universe. To our surprise, the comic didn’t waste time in dropping its biggest bomb, in one of the cutest scenes we had seen in ages. Since the very beginning, IDW proved that it didn’t intend to deceive those fans that looked for a bit of development of both characters.

I wrote an article about it in June 2019, and it coincided with the beginning of one of the most infamous arc I’ve seen in a Sonic comic for a long time: the Metal Virus Saga. The question is, what has happened since then?

Well, in 2019, with the same accuracy of an aimbot, I said “We’ll probably see some new interactions between Sonic and Amy sometime around IDW #20”. And wouldn’t you know, as misery and tragedy settled in that arc, it was exactly around IDW #20 that we saw some Sonamy interactions: both exhausted, to their limit, with a Sonic that couldn’t even touch Amy to soothe her pain, due to him being infected with the virus.

The arc developed like this in what felt like an eternity, to finally conclude in one the most absurd ways in Sonic history. But it wasn’t a complete disappointment, as, after months and months of asking and discussing on the internet about how much Sonic and Amy deserved a hug at the end of the arc… it actually happened.

Since that moment in IDW #32, we shippers thought that it was what both of them deserved after so much time spent separated and pushed to their limit to survive, but also that after the end of the arc everything would go back to normal. However, what we didn’t know was that the Sonamy train had no intention of stopping, not in IDW, nor anywhere else.

A recurring detail in IDW Sonic is that Amy’s tail starts wagging every time she sees Sonic, as if she was a happy dog. I swear, it happens every time.

Come IDW #35, once again we have some hugs and bits of dialogue between our hedgehogs. For sure, the question here isn’t their relationship itself, as it was for IDW #2, but rather the issues this arc is slowly dealing with. But it’s really nice to see them again, sharing that closeness that they’ve had in the comic since the beginning– be it with some gestures of affection, a wink, a gesture, a private joke.

My favorite image is the first one, Belle’s reaction to seeing Amy hugging Sonic. It’s like she’s thinking “oh, is she his girlfriend?”, and she wouldn’t even be wrong in thinking that.

It can’t be denied that IDW Sonic provided us the conversations and the emotions that the games seldom do. Certainly, the comic has its share of issues and it’s not really a story that I personally follow for its own merits (it’s more because it’s still Sonic, for my interest for things like this, and Belle’s existence… whom I already ship with Tails, sorry not sorry), but what it does well it does really well.

For now, we have to see how IDW Sonic will follow the development of the characters, especially in view of the closure of the current story and beyond. And we may be done with this part of the article, but there is still a lot left.

Sonamy in merchandise

Taking us completely by surprise, recently SEGA launched, in collaboration with Hot Topic, a series of Sonamy-themed t-shirts. No, seriously.

So many people told me this as soon as the voice spread (you know who you are, thank you guys for thinking about me <3), and I can’t help being still surprised that this is actually a thing. T-shirts with lines like “You’re my favorite”, “Love in the fast lane”, and my personal favorite, “S&A Forever”, with drawings of Classic Sonic and Amy… in SEGA-approved products. I don’t know if you realize how much of a big deal this is, even more than “Celebrate the 25 years of Sonic’s girlfriend” from 2018.

One of the things that surprised me the most (aside from how explicit they are in officializing the relationship, and the fact that there are still 2 months left before Valentine’s Day 2021), was the decision to use Classic Sonic and Classic Amy. I tried to understand this decision by analyzing the simplicity and easiness with which the Classic designs convey a message (let’s not forget that Classic Sonic was so iconic because it was specifically designed to convey his expressions without words), besides the fact that they’re inherently cuter than their modern designs. There’s also the controversial aspect of post-Adventure Sonamy, with all the dubbing and weird interpretations that the fandom made over the years… By comparison, the Classic design are a much simpler choice.

What is actually going on?

Well, let’s take a step back and think about what we just saw. The way SEGA has been recently trying to push Sonic and Amy in front view (and for the entirety of 2020, based on the articles I mentioned in the beginning) tells us the harsh truth we all have to accept sooner or later: Sonamy sells, and it sells a lot.

From a strictly business point of view, the ship is so iconic and popular, with fans and detractors alike, that it would be absurd for SEGA to ignore the chance to print these two characters and get a load of money. As I said in my 2018 article, despite the fact that in Japan Sonic isn’t as big of an icon as it is elsewhere, they know pretty well that Sonic + Amy = love, and they have huge amounts of merchandise to back it up. It’s in the West that because of different cultural values, of which we’ve already talked about, along with some internal resistance, left this aspect of the franchise a little on the side. But they’ve been trying to fix it… and how…

Let’s not forget that a decade and a half ago Sonic Team seriously favored Sonamy. They officially said it, Sonic X was their purest view of Sonic they had at the time.

Outside of the business perspective, I believe we’re facing the moment that we’ve been waiting for: it’s time they’ll establish once and for all the dynamic of these two characters, following more closely the original Japanese vision of Sonic. I said many times that, in trying to change canon, the West, especially SEGA of America, did nothing but confuse fans and generate more discussions than needed, by introducing different data and portrayals that contradict the canon established by Sonic Team.

We’ve talked about Unleashed and emotional support, about Sonic X, about the major moments that opened the door to interpreting this dynamic as something more. We don’t threaten at gunpoint those who would rather stay away, but we respond to those declarations that still try to violently discredit the simple fact that Sonic and Amy, who are most of all close friends, form in some measure a couple that, even with its imposed limitations, manages to captivate fans and not fans everywhere in the world. Even the Simpsons used it as a joke, and that says a lot.

What the future has in store for us.

Unless something else happens in this last month of 2020, this is the most complete compilation I can offer at the moment about the status of Sonamy in the fandom and in the official canon. Yes, canon.

It’s impossible to ignore the signals. As you may have noticed, I’ve been considering Sonic and Amy as an official couple, with its clarifications (for example, that at the end it’s more of a friendship, that it’s not a romantic relationship in the most explicit way, that it’s more of a personal perspective to justify a more mature vision of the relationship in the future, not right now), but nowadays I think that SEGA has spoken loud and clear. I think canon is ready to negotiate the idea that Sonic and Amy, apart from being excellent friends who would risk their lives for each other in a heartbeat, have something else on their hands (probably the other’s hand). This won’t automatically translate into a kiss, or a complete love declaration (although Sonic X came close…), or a commitment to a formal relationship like we know them in real life. SEGA canon affirms that Amy is “Sonic’s girlfriend” and nothing more. Outside of that detail, they still pretty much function as friends interacting with a little flirting here, and a little Sonic running away there. It’s the basis of their dynamic, now enhanced by the fact that SEGA is giving us a clearer message.

I think that this all may culminate in a game or an animated series, but I wouldn’t completely count on that. It is good to recognize how far the official position goes on this issue, but at the same time I want to reaffirm that there are things that are better left in the hands of the fandom, and in the meantime that IDW or any other continuity gives us hugs, winks, gestures and words of encouragement, we as the fandom will take care of exploring other avenues and hypothetical scenarios.

This is all I have to say on the matter for now, and I hope you’re happy with this wonderful Sonamy experience we’re going through – I certainly am. See you next time!

[sapphorarelyreads]

I posted 189 times in 2021

90 posts created (48%)

99 posts reblogged (52%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 1.1 posts.

I added 90 tags in 2021

#gaya sa pelikula - 10 posts

#bl memes - 9 posts

#gea - 9 posts

#gun attaphan - 9 posts

#thai bl - 9 posts

#gl series - 9 posts

#lgbt memes - 9 posts

#lgbtq memes - 9 posts

#ppkrit - 9 posts

#nadao music - 8 posts

Longest Tag: 126 characters

#this is very vague but i can't think anymore like if i do i'll have to end up writing more and more and im pretty busy so yeah

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

Fragrance of The First Flower - Taiwanese GL - Lesbian Drama

Fragrance of the First Flower - Taiwanese GL

Director: Angel I-Han Teng

Cast: ZaiZai Li (Bisexual irl), Lyan Chen, Lee Yi

"Fragrance of the First Flower" reveals the love and lust between two women, the conflicts between gay family and traditional stereotypes. It finds back the forgotten love with a romantic touch.

Yi-Ming, whose husband works outside of town, lives alone with her son. After years apart, she reconnects with Ting-Ting at a wedding, a girl she was intimate with back in high school. The encounter with Ting-Ting not only sets Yi-Ming free from her oppressive marriage but also reawakens her feelings for Ting-Ting. Now that Taiwan has finally legalized same-sex marriage, will Yi-Ming have the courage to change her life ?

Teng also wanted to add some non-gender related elements from her personal life into the film to further break stereotypes — Yi-ming’s son has some autistic tendencies, but Teng draws from her educational background to create a character that differs greatly from most people’s impressions of an autistic child.

The six-episode mini-drama series made headlines earlier as Taiwan’s first title to be officially selected to the prestigious French Series Mania International Festival.

@ahxu-laowen @disaster-j @raiko101 tag others too guys :)

207 notes • Posted 2021-10-26 14:28:54 GMT

#4

Indian WLW Short Films/Videos

1. FilterCopy | Signs That She Is The One | Ft. Alisha Chopra and Lauren Robinson

2. Coming Out Short Film | LGBTQ Short Films | Lesbian Short Film Award Winning 2020 | Content Ka Keeda

3. Love is Love | YouTube Creators For Change | Girliyapa M.O.M.S

4. Gays Vs Gharwale | Indian Parents on Gay Children | Funny Short Film | Valentine's Day Special

5. Kavavukkai Negilaa | Award Winning LGBT Tamil Short Film

6. IT ADHU BUT AANAAL short film (It That But Still)

7. Thiyagathin Parisu | Chennai Memes (The Gift Of Sacrifice)

8. IVIDE Malayalam Short Film 2018 |Reshma Sivakumar | Deepa Esther | Mithila Venugopal

9. ഹറാം Haraam | Two Minutes Malayalam Short Film | LGBTQ Pride | College of Engineering Trivandrum

10. Phir Milenge Chalte Chalte | LGBT Short Film | With English Subtitles

I'll post mlm and trans rep videos and short films too. There are a lot of films and its hard for me to compile them all.

sorry for the frequent tagging y'all T-T

@disaster-j @ahxu-laowen @raiko101 @liyazaki @jiang-yanlis @badbudddy @non-binarypal7 @laowen @jenniepanhan @piningbisexuals @tantawans @smittenskitten @patrooclus @musicdramalove @lesbwheein

218 notes • Posted 2021-10-16 09:37:52 GMT

#3

Upcoming GL series

TERFs DON'T INTERACT

1. BetCin - Starting October 15, Every Friday, 8 PM on WeTv

Online couple Beth and Cindy, aka BetCin, is on the verge of breaking up. As they cook up their plan on how to best to say goodbye to their followers the UMAMI'S - they receive an oddly- timed message: You have been selected as one of the semi-finalists for our search for #RelationshipGoals of #RelationshipGoals. What is at stake? 10 million pesos cash and a lot of other prizes! They both need the money, but can they pretend that they are the ideal couple in front of every Umami liking, sharing, and commenting on their every social media content? Can they still tolerate each other's crazy? What chaos will this contest bring to their already chaotic relationship?

2. GAPYuri - GAP the series

The plot is about newly graduated student from uni who start working in a big company cause she admire this super rich girl since young age but when she met her again her image of her completely crashed cause she wasn't like what the media show her and they will ofc fall in love. Mon has just graduated and gets a job in the same company as her idol, sam, who she has admired since she was young. however when she meets Sam her image of her completely changes as she realises that sam is nothing like how the media portrays her.

Starring Becky and Freen

See the full post

279 notes • Posted 2021-10-15 11:12:48 GMT

#2

TRANS/ENBY MEMES FOR ALL MY NON CIS FOLKSSS

See the full post

305 notes • Posted 2021-08-21 05:14:19 GMT

#1

Indian WLW/NBLW movies/series

Let's start with the oldest wlw indian movie (i know of)

1. FIRE (Movie - 1996) : By Deepa Mehta; Sita and Radha are young Indian women whose husbands choose celibacy or mistresses over their wives. This leads them to form an intimate, passionate relationship amidst a close-minded society.

2. The Married Woman (Series - 2021- Zee5 and AltBalaji) : Astha sets out on a journey of self-discovery and meets Peeplika on the route. Astha sets herself free from the society pressures and boundaries when she finds an intense connection with Peeplika, something that she always longed for.

See the full post

842 notes • Posted 2021-08-29 08:30:10 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[zhansww]

I decided to switch to an ask, hope that's okay. So one big reason why I commented in the first place because I thought of you as some crazy shipper, but after talking to you for a while I saw it's not really true. That was purely me being wrong and I apologise. I just went through your whole pinned post and a lot of it was stuff that I already expected and I still don't think I can change you mind but really, a lot of that stuff is things that friends could do. 1/?

Getting dinner together, giving somebody a necklace etc. friends can do that too. Some might even see it as an elaborate marketing strategy. You see it as romantic, because you want to. And most of the stuff, like posting something at a certain date or time of the day or changing song lyrics is just pure speculation. They might be coincidence. Some things might not even have anything to do with them together but something completely else. 2/? You say that you try to not see hints where there are none, but stuff like that, analyzing dates and looking for clues in what exact time of the day a certain thing was posted in sm is just that.You see those things as romance because you want to see them as such, not because they objectively are. That's exactly it, seeing things where there are none. 3/3

I said this more than once already but I am open to having my mind changed. If I didn't, I wouldn't ask for discussions in my pinned post. To have a proper discussion, though, both parties should 1) have the same amount of knowledge on the subject, 2) leave their emotions out of it and 3) be open to the possibility of being wrong. So again; I am open to having a rational discussion about this. If you aren’t, please let me know.

Getting dinner together, giving somebody a necklace etc. friends can do that too.

Of course they can. But do friends feel the need to be secretive about it? When it comes to their dates in June 2018 and December 2019, they spent the night together. Not to mention, they went out of their way to spend 520 - Lunar Valentine's Day - together. Would friends do that? Right after the date in Dec 2019, Yibo wore a pink hoodie to the airport, which as far as we know was the first time he wore pink of his own volition. In his interview with Cosmo two months later, he got asked "what's the first thing that comes to your mind when hearing the word romance?" and his reply was "pink pink". Cp fans think this means that gg was the one who gave him that hoodie since dd himself doesn't like pink. But even if he didn't receive it from gg, Yibo must have been in a romantic mood to be wearing pink - and that, after being with XZ, his “friend”. Regarding the necklace, if it was given by a friend, then why does Yibo constantly wear it yet hide it? To compare, he wears the necklace and ring Han-ge gave him at any event/recording and he wears those openly, too, the way you're supposed to wear jewelry, right? He wears the ox head necklace at events and also in private, in selfies, in between schedules, during rehearsals etc and he started hiding it, i.e. wearing it under his shirts, after fans started fighting about it. Surely, you know that Yibo is an honest/straightforward/blunt person. If we cp fans were wrong with our theory, he would definitely call us out and simultaneously please his solo fans by telling them they're right, thus putting an end to drama among his fans - but he hasn't. The only thing that explains this is assuming he received it from a romantic partner cuz being involved is something that Yibo’s company would not allow him to go public with so instead, he has to hide the necklace as well as his relationship. Likewise, he surely wouldn’t be wearing the necklace all the time if the one who gave it to him wasn’t even closer to his heart than Han-ge is.

Some might even see it as an elaborate marketing strategy.

Marketing what exactly? CQL is over and done with and they don't have other projects together. Not to mention that their connection has brought more harm to their reputations than good and they have way more solo fans than cp fans. Thinking ggdd would go through so much or any trouble just to give credibility to a lie implies that they do it for clout (which neither of them needs or wants) or that they think that queer relationships is something to make fun of or else, that they have no integrity. What exactly is it about them that makes you think they would be such people? They both starred in a BL. Yibo even insisted on trying for that role although he got rejected twice. XZ has shown his support of the lgbt community before. Given Yibo’s entire attitude and e.g. his song lyrics in WuGan, he doesn’t care about fame/clout. He does what he’s passionate about because he’s passionate about it and for money, according to himself. And I don’t think I even need to point out why XZ has clearly no need for more attention. (In fact, his studio asked fans in a recent statement to stop their fan support and voting etc - as a result, his supertopic dropped several spots from the #1, after having been there for months).

And most of the stuff, like posting something at a certain date or time of the day or changing song lyrics is just pure speculation. They might be coincidence.

So what is the limit? How many coincidences do there need to be exactly for them to stop being coincidences? How can posting something at precisely minute 3 or minute 8 always be a coincidence? Especially when XZ wrote in an older weibo post that he uses kadian. He posted at 13:28 in two of his latest updates. On TTXS, Yibo got asked what romantic things he’d do for his partner and he literally said he’d remember certain dates and times and do something surprising. In a more recent weibo, Yibo made a post in support of Han-ge at precisely 21:00 - the kadian of which means "ai ni", love you. He once posted an ad for his mobile game at 18:21 which means "Yi Bo ai ni" and which could have been directed at his fans. Some of their kadian might be but not all of them are reaching and the sheer quantity of all the kadian they've been using proves that those are not coincidences either. Regarding the changing of song lyrics, yes those are speculation. Gg never actually said he'd do that. But the circumstances around those is what makes it seem meaningful. And that time when he changed the lyrics to have the letters ybxz in the beginnings of lines seems meaningful and obvious enough as is.

Some things might not even have anything to do with them together but something completely else.

Of course that is a possibility and one that I am well aware of. I can and do obviously only base my judgement on what we see and know. If there’s something I don’t know that would somehow make my pov wrong, I would be willing to admit that and change my mind. When it comes to things like XZ, changing lyrics to ybxz or Yibo, posting at 10:05 (gg’s birthday) or talking about ordering clothes home to share and then seeing gg in those clothes or gg posting at times that have Yibo’s name or dd, posting at times that have XZ’s name - make it unmistakable to me that they are each other’s special someone and not anyone else’s. Since those things only fit each other.

You see those things as romance because you want to see them as such, not because they objectively are. That's exactly it, seeing things where there are none.

At the beginning of your message, you apologized for assuming I’m a crazy shipper but you end the message with this. “Seeing things where there are none” is what I’d consider crazy shipping so that last sentence sounds like an insult to me. I don’t know what to make of this, lol. Your assumption that I want to see those things as romance is wrong. They’d have it soooo much easier if they were just friends, why in God’s name would I want them to have it more difficult? They wouldn’t feel the need to hide so much, to be so distant in public. We’d probably get fanservice and selfies and joined endorsements. The scandal from February may not have ever happened cuz they’d definitely have fewer cp fans. It’d be awesome if they were nothing more than friends. Not to mention that making wrong claims about a relationship between two real people, solely based on what my desires are, is selfish - it’s about what I want instead of what is. I do not have that attitude. The fact that I wanted to believe they’re just friends is precisely why it took me several months to concede that I must be wrong. I kept dismissing all that I saw as coincidences or as platonic. I do not want ggdd to be lovers but I also don’t want to deny reality. I know that my perception may be fallible, though, so of course I am open to discussing this. I would welcome being proven wrong about this. You don’t properly back up your claims and your arguments don’t take all that we know into consideration. Which is why so far, at least, you haven’t made me see differently.

[tokomaruweek]

Tokomaru Week 2021

Disclaimer/Warning: This event/prompts may or may not contain spoilers for Danganronpa Another Episode: Ultra Despair Girls (DRAE: UDG), Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (DR: THH), and Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope’s Peak High School anime. Please proceed with caution, ESPECIALLY if you haven’t played the games and/or watched a walkthrough.

Rules:

All Tokomaru Week artwork and fanart must be rated PG-13! Even if NSFW was used as a prompt or anytime, please be careful about posting it, especially it’s 18+ content. However, because of the new Tumblr rule took effect 2 years ago (December 2018), you must post it somewhere else! For those who want to do this and want the list of approved websites, message me!

No Tokomaru hate art at all! This week is not to post Anti-Tokomaru stuff. It is about how much we care about Toko and Komaru.

Anyone who participates in this event can do any of the chosen prompts for this year or can draw/write their own work for Tokomaru Week.

You can do the prompts at any time during the year or use/reuse them for next year.

This is optional, but you can add another Danganronpa couple if you want. Doesn’t matter if it’s canon, fanon, crack, or even OC x DR ship.

No stealing another person’s work! That includes commissions, requests, or art trades you ask for! However, you can commission or request a simple prompt day to draw/write from an artist/writer.

For artists, you can draw artwork in any type of style.

Spoiler alert! If the prompt you choose and what you draw/write contains a spoiler for a game or the anime, make sure you warn people! Especially those who are new to the Danganronpa series!

Final rule: Have fun!

Prompts:

Just like most prompt weeks from Danganronpa, this one will have three prompts to choose from. The event will run from January 10 to January 17.

January 10th: First Date/Birthdays/Memories/Warrior of Hope

First Date: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are going on their first date as a couple.

Birthdays: This prompt means that either they are celebrating Toko’s or Komaru’s birthdays.

Memories: This prompt means that they are revealing their childhoods. However, since Toko’s past is trauma, add a trigger warning if it’s needed.

Warrior of Hope: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are taking care of the Warrior of Hope members!

January 11th: Killing Game AU/Reality Game Shows/Talent Swap and/or AU Talents

Killing Game AU: This prompt means it’s an alternate universe where Komaru Naegi is a participant of the Killing School Life featured in Trigger Happy Havoc or both Toko and Komaru are participants of the Killing School Trip in Goodbye Despair or Killing School Semester in V3: Killing Harmony.

Reality Game Shows: This prompts means that Toko and Komaru are contestants on a reality game show, regardless if this is an AU (where the Danganronpa characters compete in reality game shows) or in the canon universe. For example, the two are a team in The Amazing Race (or in Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous Race) or competing against each other in Survivor.

Talent Swap/AU Talents: This prompt is fun: let the girls get talent swaps and/or give Komaru a talent, doesn’t matter if the talent is used from the games/anime or a fan-made one.

January 12th: Beach/Having Pride/Sweets

Beach: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are enjoying their day at the beach or having a summer vacation involving the beach.

Having Pride: This prompt means that the two girls are celebrating the Pride events.

Sweets: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are enjoying sweets or desserts.

January 13th: Shopping/Reacting to COVID-19/Binge-Watching/Towa Arc

(Four prompts, with the fourth one being exclusive to artists!)

Shopping: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are shopping. It can be grocery shopping, clothes shopping, anything.

Reacting to COVID-19: This prompts means that Toko and Komaru react to the pandemic. They can either quarantine themselves, stock up on food, spend more time outdoors or even be in the events of the Diamond Princess cruise pandemic. Or Toko and/or Komaru caught the virus and are now trying to get better.

Night Out: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are enjoying a night out with each other.

Towa Arc: Artists can do this prompt. This prompt means to draw a moment from Towa Arc in Danganronpa 3: Distrust, which the story can be found on Archive Of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/27237316/chapters/66536032

January 14th: Weddings/Valentine’s Day/After Ultra Despair Girls

Weddings: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are getting married in their own wedding ceremony or attending their friends’ weddings.

Valentine’s Day: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are celebrating the romantic holiday, Valentine’s Day.

After Ultra Despair Girls: This prompt means that what will happen to Toko and Komaru now that the events of Ultra Despair Girls are over.

January 15th: Non-Despair AU/Crossover/Despair AU

Non-Despair AU: This prompt means that this takes place in an alternate universe where the killing game didn’t happen at all. So do anything with them!

Crossover: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are in a crossover event. It can be anime, video games, cartoons, etc,. For example, they can be in a crossover with Pokemon.

Despair AU: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru had either fallen in despair for some reason, masterminds of the killing game or are part of the Remnants of Despair.

January 16th: Cooking/Soulmates/Insecurities

Cooking: This prompt means that Toko and Komaru are cooking either for each other, for their friends, or for a special gathering.

Soulmates: This prompt means that Toko and/or Komaru have a soulmate involving each other.

Insecurities: This prompt means that either Toko, Komaru or both of them has self-doubts, such as if Toko feels that she isn’t a good friend/lover to Komaru.

January 17th: Future Arc/Despair Arc AU/Spa Day/Free Day

Future Arc/Despair Arc AU: Final first prompt. This means that Toko and Komaru are forced to do the Final Killing Game along with the other Future Foundation members, including Makoto, Kyoko, and Hina. Or if you do Despair Arc AU, that means Toko and Komaru are part of Class-77B or even in an AU where the DR1 cast is Class-77B!

Spa Day: Final second prompt. This means that they are enjoying a day or the weekend at the spa.

Free Day: Third and final prompt. This is a free day prompt, meaning that you can do anything with this. Even add NSFW content (see Rule #1)!

If you have ANY questions, concerns, or suggestions for Tokomaru Week in the future, feel free to send asks or a message!

EDIT #1 (November 20, 2020): Two prompts (NSFW and Festivals/Events) had been replaced with Weddings and Holidays.

EDIT #2 (November 25, 2020): Two prompts (Stormy Nights and Holidays) had been replaced with Valentine’s Day and Despair AU.

EDIT #3 (November 30, 2020): Valentine’s Day got listed twice, oops. So one of them got changed to Shopping for the January 13 date. Also, added a bonus prompt for that day.

EDIT #4: (December 10, 2020): Three prompts (Animals, Cruise, and Sickness and/or Injury) had been replaced with Soulmates, Reacting to COVID-19, and Binge-Watching. A new rule has also been added!

EDIT #5 (December 20, 2020): Final update! A prompt has been added to Day 1 (Warrior of Hope) while Binge-Watching had been replaced with Night Out.

EDIT #6: Future Arc AU prompt also got a Despair Arc option as well!

[jiminieloved]

It was 2018, 17th of August ,Chinese Valentines day.. Jimin posted 3 pics of himself and 1 with jungkook with the caption "Love Ya_" with a heart exclamation emoji ! "Love Ya" was the title of a song released in May,2018 by a korean band where a lot of gay romantic moments had been shown..Jimin also for the first time put his name as the 2nd hash tag and put Jungkook's name as the first ! do you think it's all a coincidence ?

Hello! I’ve heard bits and pieces of this theory, but I never saw the thing about the song. Let’s put all of this together right here so y’all don’t have to search anything.

May 31, 2018: LOVE YA! Is released. 

It’s my first time hearing/watching it, and it’s sooo pretty. It reminds me of home, makes me nostalgic despite hearing it for the first time. The video is very, very progressive. It just showcases all different kinds of love. LGBT love, old love, young love, multiracial love, familial love, polyamorous love. A beautiful music video that humanizes often ostracized groups of people. All my support for this song and message. Sorry, I know this doesn’t have to do with your ask, but I gotta put in a word of love for this beautiful song. 

But yes, let’s be real, it’s very likely what Jimin was referencing in his tweet. So let’s move onto the tweet in question. 

August 17, 2018: Jimin tweets (ON CHINESE VALENTINES DAY?)

Caption: 

Love ya_❣️

#Kkook

#JIMIN

#LOVE_YOURSELF 結 ‘Answer’ [Jimin]

I don’t think the hashtag order was a coincidence. I also don’t think the caption was a coincidence. Even putting a #Love_Yourself there seems very intentional, to me. 

I also noticed he included a glasses picture. For those who are familiar with that theory, that is also very interesting. I won’t go full delulu on you guys but just thought I should note that, for those who are already aware of the theory. (Feel free to reblog and add on with that portion of the theory, because I’m sure people will be curious.)

But yeah. The timing is just too perfect for it to be a coincidence. Hey, maybe I am wrong, but after a certain point you just have to look at all the factors and ask yourself “How many coincidences can there be before they aren’t coincidences anymore.” 

So thats my take on it, anyway. Thanks for sending in this ask. It certainly is putting me in a delulu mood. X)

[tabloidtoc]

Star, March 8

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: George Clooney vs. Brad Pitt -- the fight that ended their friendship

Page 1: Scott Disick's mid-life makeover -- some guys buy a convertible but Scott already has a garage full of fancy rides, so what else to do when you're edging close to 40, split from the mom of your three kids and are already dating a 19-year-old model? Well, bleach your hair platinum, of course!

Page 2: Contents, Leighton Meester and Adam Brody celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary with a couple's surf session

Page 3: Star Shots -- John Legend wore an eye-catching sweater to a photoshoot in West Hollywood, Anya Taylor-Joy stunned in a crimson gown on the set of an untitled David O. Russell-directed period film, Jason Sudeikis grabbed a bite during a break from filming Ted Lasso's second season in London

Page 4: After hosting countless rose ceremonies over nearly two decades of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Chris Harrison is now in the hot seat himself and facing backlash for defending current Bachelor frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell who's been accused of racist behavior -- the next day, Chris apologized and said he was stepping aside as host of the dating reality series but the damage was done as Rachel Lindsay who is the first Black lead in the franchise's history revealed she won't renew her Bachelor contract and current Bachelor Matt James supported her -- as for Chris, the fallout continues as Crest are considering pulling down ads featuring him but with critics calling for his ouster Chris wants his job back and no one at ABC wants to see him replaced but those conversations are happening

Page 5: Miley Cyrus has an idea how to help Britney Spears in her legal battle to replace dad Jamie Spears as her conservator -- Miley is hoping she and Britney can record a classic song together like an anthem like Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves or Enough Is Enough and she's hoping to get Britney on board but that may be a challenge with the legal restrictions in place

* Mom-of-eight Kate Gosselin didn't get what she was asking for on her house in Pennsylvania -- it's upsetting that she got less than she paid for it but her hand was forced; it costs a lot to keep up a house like that on 20-plus acres and with years of roughhousing, it needs a lot of work -- with twins Mady and Cara already in college and the sextuplets growing up, Kate hopes to jump-start her career and she's dying to leave Pennsylvania and head to Hollywood

* Paris Hilton's boyfriend of just over a year Carter Reum dropped to one knee on a gorgeous private beach and offered Paris his heart and a sparkler from Cartier and she said yes -- close family was on hand to celebrate the couple who have been friends for 15 years and the party went on well into the evening -- now Paris is already making wedding plans for something simple and elegant with a gorgeous dinner and the couple is ready to start a family sooner rather than later and she's hinted she's already started IVF and if she gets pregnant they'll just push up the wedding

Page 6: Ryan Gosling needed some time off after 2018's moon-landing biopic First Man because he really became Neil Armstrong during the six months of shooting and he was absolutely drained after finishing it and he spent the next two years with wife Eva Mendes being a full-time dad to their two young kids -- now he's back and with three movies lined up, he's looking at a $75 million paycheck this year -- in addition to The Gray Man, he's gearing up for a Wolfman update and another space adventure called Project Hail Mary -- he wants to be a popcorn-movie star and he's going full-blown buff-and-shirtless action hero

* Allen v. Farrow is a new investigation into 1992 allegations about Woody Allen by his adopted daughter Dylan Farrow and her mother Mia Farrow that digs up damning new evidence against the director -- one harrowing home video shows the then-7-year-old Dylan saying her dad touched her privates and later a doorman and a building manager and a maid at Allen's NYC residence raise questions about when Woody began his shocking relationship with Mia's teen daughter Soon-Yi -- Mia also expresses fear in the doc, saying she worries that when the documentary comes out he'll be on the attack again and he'll do whatever he has to do to save himself

* Star Spots the Stars -- Julia Roberts, Joe Jonas, Luann de Lesseps, Christina Aguilera, Kaia Gerber, Tarek El Moussa and Heather Rae Young

Page 8: Star Shots -- With balloons and a box of chocolate in hand lifestyle expert Gretta Monahan arrived at The View, Melissa Gorga snacked on a huge box of sweets between Zoom interviews to promote the 11 season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, Vanessa Lachey prepared to host a Galentine's Day celebration with macarons and wine

Page 10: Jenna Dewan making a plant-based meal, Selling Sunset's Christine Quinn and her husband Christian Richard sipped juice bar drinks while running errands in Beverly Hills, Hugh Grant stopped to tend to his laces while out for a walk in Chelsea in West London, Carrie Underwood prepped for her daily workout session in pieces from her Calia fitness apparel line

Page 12: After a stop at the Kidding Around children's store Bradley Cooper had his hands full walking with his daughter Lea in NYC, Sofia Vergara chic in a blowout and patterned top in Beverly Hills, Justin Bieber looked comfy in a message tee and pajama bottoms in L.A.

Page 13: Thandie Newton looked tense while Chris Pine hit the ground running as the two filmed the spy thriller All the Old Knives in London, Jon Bernthal braved the frigid water while Gretchen Mol bundled up on the set of American Gigolo in L.A.

Page 14: Think Pink -- Jennifer Lopez hoisted an oversized customized bubble-gum hued Coach satchel in a promo shot in NYC, Cardi B slipped on neon sneakers from her Reebok collaboration to shop on Rodeo Drive in L.A., Hilary Duff showing off a peek of her growing baby bump on the set of Younger in NYC

Page 16: In town to film The Hills: New Beginnings with their castmates Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag played in the snow with their son Gunner in Lake Tahoe

Page 17: Mandy Moore and husband Taylor Goldsmith celebrated their last Valentine's Day before parenthood with a romantic stroll in Pasadena, Michelle Obama on her new children's show Waffles + Mochi

Page 18: Chris Meloni and Mariska Hargitay in NYC, hiding her locks in a cute newsboy cap Brooke Burke grabbed dinner at Nobu in Malibu, Krysten Ritter brought her son Bruce to meet some farm animals at the Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita

Page 20: Normal or Not? Farrah Abraham suffered a serious wardrobe malfunction while hitting the sand in Malibu -- not normal, Nikki Reed gushing over her therapy chicken -- normal, Property Brothers' Drew Scott booty bumpin' with wife Linda Phan -- not normal, Lucy Hale lovingly held onto her new dog Ethel while fueling up her ride in L.A. -- normal

Page 22: Fashion -- stars in pastel frocks -- Heidi Klum, Sophia Bush, Chrissy Teigen

Page 23: Rihanna, Kirsten Dunst

Page 26: Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker are having sexy slumber parties at Kourtney's $8.5 million Calabasas pad and they are spending so much time together and she loves having him sleep over and he'll stay the whole weekend -- Travis who has lived nearby in the gated community for years is already making himself at home and not only has he moved a bunch of stuff into Kourtney's property but she leaves him to chill out and enjoy his space if she has to run errands -- even if it seems the couple is moving and moving in fast, their respective broods are on board with the new arrangement and Kourtney's kids Mason, Penelope and Reign love having Travis around and meanwhile the door is always open for Travis' kids Alabama and Landon, and Travis and Kourtney do a lot of fun stuff with their kids together -- there's already speculation that the move-in will be permanent because Kourtney knows a good thing when she sees it and Travis checks all the boxes

Page 27: Meeting the in-laws might be a little complicated for newly engaged Shailene Woodley and Aaron Rodgers because the Green Bay Packers QB is famously estranged from his Chico, California-based family -- in 2016 Aaron's younger brother Jordan Rodgers exposed the rift while competing on The Bachelorette and at the time, fans blamed Aaron's then-girlfriend Olivia Munn for turning him Hollywood but the trouble continued after their 2017 split -- now that he's with Shailene, Aaron doesn't want to bring her into that toxic atmosphere but Shailene who once called her own folks super f**ked up is not deterred and she is encouraging Aaron to let bygones be bygones but he's not ready

* Melissa and Joe Gorga's marriage troubles will play out on the new season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey but their issues are even worse behind the scenes and they've been butting heads as Melissa's career continues to skyrocket so she's distracted with work and doesn't have time for Joe and he feels neglected and he isn't one to hold back -- it doesn't help that the Envy boutique owner was rumored to be getting close to another man -- the couple is trying to work out their issues for the sake of their three kids but Melissa may be done

Page 28: Cover Story -- George Clooney and Brad Pitt: The Breaking Point -- fights, jealousy and other women -- the former besties had a major falling out and now mutual friend Sandra Bullock is desperate to reunite them -- George and Brad have barely spoken in eight years and they've definitely gone their separate ways and Brad's ex-wife Angelina Jolie played a big part in the demise of their friendship because Angie felt George took Brad away from her and their kids -- Amal Clooney found Angie unbearable and that was kind of the point of no return for Brad and George -- George is struggling to regain his luster as a director while Brad is out there winning Oscars

Page 32: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle: Interview Shockers -- as they prep for baby number two, Harry and Meghan announce a no-holds-barred interview, leaving the palace on edge

Page 34: Celebs in Wheel Trouble -- don't drink (or drug) and drive; these stars got caught making some very bad decisions -- Bruce Springsteen, mug shots of Justin Bieber

Page 35: Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Lindsay Lohan, Michael Phelps, Khloe Kardashian, Henry Thomas, Heather Locklear, Jesse Luken, Mel Gibson

Page 36: Beauty -- curl care -- strengthen every type of wave and coil with cool new miracle workers

Page 48: Parting Shot -- Bill Murray teamed up with NFL player Larry Fitzgerald for the AT&T Every Shot Counts Charity Challenge in Pebble Beach -- despite landing in third place, Bill and Larry made a great pair, earning an impressive $209,000 for local charities

[amaranthinerose42]

As Pertaining to Twin Flames

Blah blah blah, letting go, blah blah, I get it. I also recently heard an important lesson about work. Sometimes we find ourselves fighting and fighting for the same thing even if it’s hard Because it was so hard. Giving up would mean all that time and effort would amount to nothing, right? Nah, all that work was also inner work. You’ve done “Work” “Effort” and that energy spent is not lost, it’s been used to strengthen yourself. So that relationship you’ve had to work So hard on that just isn’t working out, is not lost time. It was necessary. 

I’m letting go of this guy because I essentially don’t have a choice. It’s the obvious choice to let him go. I could say it was because I projected an idea of who he was onto him, because tarot lead me to believe he’s the one so that I could stand up for myself and say, that’s cool but I don’t really need it, physically 3-D speaking. Because we’re not ready, because he isn’t the one, blah blah blah. 

Doesn’t matter why. Can’t read the future. Not like that. Time doesn’t work like that. Whatever. Anyway, with all this back and forth of me being obsessed, not obsessed, annoyed, in love, not in love, This walk away will be significant. I wanted to make a few posts about it because he played a big part in my spiritual awakening.  

The summer of 2018, I was paying attention to signs as I had been all my life. I was working out at the gym listening to music when I got a message. A song came on called Love is Blue. The melody reminded me of another song called Instrumental Incident. I re-listen to both of them and find that neither have similar melodies. I don’t know why my brain connected them. When something feels important to me, I hold onto that in my memory. Love is Blue, so I kept my eyes peeled for blue. 

I was also under the impression I was going to come to face to face with something soon. I was going to study abroad and I just had this image I was going to come face to face with a giant snake. Metaphorically. Don’t know, just had a vision about it. Also had a dream a few days before leaving about being on a train with a bunch of friends and entering a land that had giant snake statues. Like the ones in Harry Potter 2. In the basilisk chamber. 

Sep 2018- June 2019

I studied abroad in England. Lived in a flat with 13 other people. 14 people, two showers, two fridges. We miraculously made it work and there was little to no drama between us all. Whenever there was it was drunken stupidity and misunderstandings. As a person with little friends and lots of social anxiety, being able to get totally wasted and bond with so many people who get along was basically like dying and going to heaven. And on day three one of the guys I lived with I found made me extremely nervous to talk to and couldn’t shake the way he looked at me. Striking blue eyes. He also mentioned snakes on that first night. Anyway, I couldn’t shake the way he talked to me, to others, just talked. The way he’d be so kind and go out of his way to do a small favor. The way he’d offer to let me borrow a pair of his earrings because I forgot mine. The way he offered the shirt off his back so I could finish a look. The way he went all out and dressed up for a funeral we had for a caterpillar and read my poem I made for it. The way he made witty comments. Would laugh at my comments. 

I had dreams. Strange dreams. Not really romantic ones. There would be moments. Feelings. Things I hadn’t had with other people before. The kind of feelings where a split moment I felt like he was so close, like I could just be comfortable with being physically close to him. Then other times he’d just feel distant. Not emotionally, not physically, just far away. That feeling or vibe of closeness would feel far away. Writing about this is difficult, I just had never felt that way before and it hurts to write about. I’m not sure why this loss hurts. I never had him. Physically. Emotionally. 

Honestly if he had been paying attention he’d see by how I acted how I felt. The gifts, the stuttering, the awkwardness. Few months pass and finally when I stood in front of him and confessed my feelings he told me he never knew. Maybe he was lying. Of course, he was on his way to a date that very moment. Timing was hilariously off. I do remembering him saying “That’s hilarious” when he realized how I finally confess my feelings as he’s on his way to a date. Perhaps an asshole-ish thing to say, but I agreed. It was hilarious. It was like this all the time. Just missing each other in the halls, I’d come back as he’s leaving, visa versa. All. The. Time. 

The universe would not let it happen. But I was so alive that year. I set up events and group activities hoping he’d finally have time to join or if things would align to let him join us. Either by his own will or busy schedule, he would never. I’d give up. Then try again. Poems, confession letters, romantic ideas consumed me. Kept me alive. I made him a music playlist before winter break, for valentines day I gave him a rose and a poem, on his birthday a regrettably risky message in his birthday card, drunk text. All of them as real, friendly, honest, and respectful to his boundaries as possible. I was always very careful, acted chill around him Too chill to avoid embarrassment. 

These emotions felt So strong to me that I was terrified of scaring him. He’s bigger and stronger than me, but I was so afraid of him thinking I’m a creep. I admitted this to him in that drunk text. All of his responses were similar to all of my offerings. “Thank you so much, this is so amazing and I’m flattered, but I am sort of with someone/dont feel the same way. This isn’t creepy at all so don’t worry.” 

Then when we see each other in person he acts as though nothing happened. I should’ve given up but it’s hard to get over someone you hear every day in the hallway outside your door. My friends eventually hated him for not hanging out with us and for being the reason I hurt so much. (Really it was my self worth issues)

So much happened that year. So much crazy shit. I want to write a book about it. Going to. Eventually. I sent him, and everyone, off by writing everyone a letter. His was the longest. Said thank you for essentially existing, apologizing for myself again, talked about missed opportunities, threw in some nice compliments. He actually replied to it with a “That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said” followed by a “Missed opportunities maybe, who knows, good luck with life” kind of message. The end of his message gave a possible nod to one of my dreams. Maybe I imagined it. 

And that was it. 

[bearingwater]

February Forecast for Aquarius

Happy birthday season, Aquarius! Your Water Bearer’s urn runneth over as the month begins. Not only is the Sun in your sign until February 18 but your “personal new year” arrives on February 4, when the Aquarius new moon kicks off a six-month cycle that’s all about YOU. Haven’t set any inspired 2019 resolutions yet? Pssshhhhhttt. The first full week of February cosmically aligns you with your personal passions and desires. When you craft your intentions from that headspace, you’ll be much more motivated to follow them.

As the zodiac’s rebel, you hate rules (at least, ones that other people invent). So why follow an outworn convention of January 1 as the arbitrary date for planning your entire year? You’re at most distracted during Capricorn season, when the Sun is in your foggy twelfth house. Here’s permission to wait until the annual Aquarius new moon, which will always fall at some point between January 21 and February 18. This year, February 4 is the true start of your calendar year!

Even better? The Aquarius new moon marks the Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve, doubling your reasons to celebrate. On February 5, the official Year of the Earth Pig begins, a 12-month cycle that’s devoted to pleasure and play.

You won’t be sorry to see the Earth Dog depart, after a year of territory-guarding and hierarchy that are SO not aligned with your communal style. The “more the merrier” Pig is all about shared indulgences. In the sensual Earth element, celebrations could get downright hedonistic. But Earth energy is also grounding and sensible. This will be a work hard/play hard Chinese Year, when your flair for teamwork comes in really handy!

Those diplomatic skills are already in demand because from January 1 to February 14, excitable Mars is in Aries, activating your third house of communication and kindred spirits. Your message feeds are #lit with invitations and fast-paced conversations, and your social calendar is packed. Energizer Mars can tempt us to overdo it, however, so go easy on the multitasking and try not to overbook yourself. The third house rules local events, and your community could become a hub of action—and activism. Scout out ways you can make an impact practically in your own backyard.

Looking for a new neighborhood? Yearning to connect with a like-minded crew? Until March 6, your co-ruler, changemaker Uranus, is also in Aries. Explore and experiment! You might take a road trip to check out new possibilities or rent an Airbnb in a happening ‘hood to see if you would really enjoy living there. When Mars and Uranus make a rare conjunction (meetup) on February 13, you could suddenly pick up and move. This is also a powerful day for a no-holds-barred conversation or to pitch an innovative idea. A sibling, colleague or neighbor could be involved in events today. Perhaps one of them will become a key collaborator on an avant-garde idea. After March 6, Uranus will leave Aries and won’t return here again in this lifetime. You’ll never again experience a Mars-Uranus connection in your communication house. Speak now or forever hold your peace!

Love is in the air on Valentine’s Day since the moon will spend the holiday in Gemini and your passionate, playful fifth house. Set aside your cynicism and get decadent, whether you indulge with friends or a romantic plus-one. But watch your budget before you order wine flights to pair with every dish. A tricky T-square to Neptune in your money house and generous Jupiter in your friend zone could leave you with a sticker-shock-inducing tab. If you go out with a crew, agree ahead of time on a budget or how you’ll split the bill so you don’t end up paying for everyone’s drinks and oyster samplers. You could also be pulled between a date night and tempting plans with your squad. Can you squeeze in both without exhausting yourself or hurting anyone’s feelings? If yes, give it a try…but remember that you can’t please everyone, so prioritize to keep your FOMO in check.

Home becomes a hotspot from February 14 to March 31 as Mars moves into Taurus and your domesticity zone. You could ignite a cottage industry or see a rotating cast of characters under your roof. If you’ve been hankering to move or redecorate, the red planet will happily play realtor and interior designer with you. (Check out our new Feng Shui section for ideas!)

Things move quickly with Mars at the helm, and you’ll need to act fast. If you put your house on the market, you could have a stampede of showings, which could get intense. If you’re home-hunting, be prepared with your paperwork to beat the competition. Mars can add motivation and stress in equal measures. Try to step away from any family drama, especially with a child or female relative. Get out of the house at the first hint of cabin fever because tension can boil over while Mars is here. Ramping up self-care will help you manage mood swings, which can easily spike now.

On February 18, “wounded healer” Chiron will move into Aries, staying until April 2027. Chiron made a brief pit stop here from April to September 2018, then receded back into Pisces. While Chiron is in Aries, we’ll collectively mend old scars around visibility, self-esteem and identity. According to mythology, Chiron was a healer who couldn’t heal himself. Under his influence, we evolve by helping others overcome struggles that we’ve dealt with (and may still be muddling through). It’s the ultimate act of service, where the giver ends up receiving an unexpected karmic gift.

Chiron will exit your money and work house and enter your communications zone. From your neighborhood to your social scene to your friendships, Chiron will “act locally” and cause you to rethink the people and conversations you invest energy in. Finding your voice through writing, teaching and other outlets could become a new mission, and you might be inspired to help others do the same. Words have the power to heal or harm, and you’ll become acutely aware of the impact of your thoughts and dialogues. You may drift away from certain friendships that don’t affirm or uplift you.

These themes won’t be entirely new because radical Uranus has been in Aries since 2011, shaking up the status quo in this zone of your chart for years. On March 6, Uranus will permanently exit, passing the transformational baton to Chiron for the next nine years.

Practical matters prevail starting February 18, when the Sun moves into Pisces and your second house of work and money. Sweep up those birthday cake crumbs and get down to business. But don’t shut your emotions off just yet. On February 19, the Virgo full supermoon beams into your eighth house of sex, shared finances and merging. A sizzling soulmate attraction might consummate, and longtime couples might make things permanent (or, in some cases, part ways). A joint venture could become official, and you might close an important deal related to real estate or other investments. This spotlight on your long-term finances also gives an unflinching look at where you need to better manage your money.

Strong, unprocessed feelings can surge up at this full moon, especially ones you’ve been trying to hide. Floodgates: down! From jealousy to resentment to questions about trust, the intrigue ratchets up. In the light of this moon, you might issue a heartfelt confession only to feel excruciatingly exposed right after (a “vulnerability hangover,” as Brene Brown calls it). Anger might boil up from feeling so raw, so catch yourself before you’re tempted to lash out.

Aquarius is the sign of emotional detachment, and while you’ve got plenty of feelings, you don’t enjoy having them on public display. This full moon could upend your sense of control and composure. Try to embrace it instead of getting embarrassed. Your humanity is not only attractive; it’s the only way that other people can truly connect with you. Being perfect is overrated!

Love & Romance

With amorous Venus floating through Capricorn and your dreamy twelfth house from February 3 to March 1, your visions of romance may border on fantasy (sweet!) but they’ll also be tinged with delusion and confusion (oops!). Pinch yourself and try to keep it real, Water Bearer. There could be high stakes attached to something you’re considering, and you definitely want to be of “sound mind” when you make your decision. If you find yourself pining for a past love, conjure the most difficult and painful chapters as well as the happy times. It’ll be easy for you to see things through rose-colored lenses this month.

Meanwhile, the other love planet, fiery Mars, splits the month between two signs on Valentine’s Day. The first half of February, he’ll be revving his engines in Aries and your self-expressive sector, inspiring you to share your feelings or confess a secret desire.

On February 13, Mars makes a rare (once-every-other-year) conjunction with capricious Uranus in this communication center. Given Uranus’ allergy to commitment, you might be wildly attracted to someone one minute only to have the flame of desire go out the next. And on the other hand… Mars in this media-friendly zone could be making online dating extra-hot, especially when he unites with tech-savvy Uranus.

Then, on February 14, the red planet downshifts into steadier Taurus and your domestic quarters until March 31, which could keep you planted at Chateau Aquarius for a big chunk of the next six weeks. This can turn up the dial on your already tender emotions—especially with Venus in your imagination zone. You might also be inspired to be more upfront about your feelings. Mars can quicken the pace of plans to move in together, babymaking or meeting each other’s families. For longtime couples, it’s a time to talk about a real estate investment, family plans or to entertain together at home. Stressful Mars can turn up the tension at home, so if you find yourself fighting and bickering more than usual, call a wingwoman and get out of the house!

Key Dates

February 2: Venus-Uranus Trine An attraction could heat up fast and unexpectedly—and the most surprising part is who with. Suspend your judgment, Aquarius: If your heart is saying yes and your head isn’t disagreeing, there’s no reason not to give it a go. Attached? Be sure to put “spicy pillow talk” on tonight’s romantic menu.

Money & Career

It’s your time to shine, Aquarius! The Sun is in your sign until February 18, and your birthday brings the motivation to make a fresh start. What new experiences do you want to build into your next year of life—and what habits, obligations and dynamics do you want to leave behind? The February 4 Aquarius new moon is YOUR personal new year (you get one new moon in your sign each year), so use it or lose it. Set intentions and make sure they come from what you want to do, rather than what you think you “should” do.

That doesn’t mean you can’t run ideas past your tribe, especially while energizer Mars is in Aries and your third house of communication until February 14. But you’re likely to get a different opinion from everyone you ask, so go easy on the crowdsourcing or you’ll end up even more confused. Give yourself a chance to play with different options. A life-changing conversation or aha moment could arrive at the February 13 conjunction between Mars and your co-ruler, innovative Uranus. Think (and act) outside the box!

On February 14, Mars enters Taurus and your fourth house of home until March 31. You’ll feel a renewed ambition to set up a solid, supportive foundation at Chateau Aquarius. Make sure you have a space to dream, plan and get creative. Working from home could be surprisingly fruitful if you can swing a remote gig, but letting the work/life balance blur will only heap on added stress.

When the Sun enters Pisces on February 18 for a month, it illuminates your second house, helping you solidify a plan to turn birthday wishes into concrete actions. Use the Virgo full supermoon on February 19 in your eighth house of resources to look at long-term financial plans. Talk to an adviser: How can your money work harder for you? An investment, possibly related to real estate, could pay off. Get a jump-start on your taxes and research which debt repayment strategy will help you reach financial freedom this year.

Key Dates

February 1: Mars-Pluto Square Negotiations might come to a screeching halt under this passive-aggressive face-off between these power-thirsty planets. Worse: Someone may not be telling the whole story. Stand your ground, but if you can’t come to a reasonable consensus, table it for another, more agreeable day.

Love Days: 15, 19 Money Days: 25, 7 Luck Days: 23, 5 Off Days: 17, 21, 2

[robronsecretvalentine]

to @miss-bookworm , happy valentines day! love always, your secret valentines xxx

Admittedly, Robert was having a pretty shitty day.

He’d been awoken by the sound of his alarm piercing through the stillness of the house at the arse-crack dawn.

If he could’ve had it his own way, he’d of cocooned himself back around Aaron. Finding warmth and comfort in the crook of his neck, kissing gently at Aaron’s weak spot, in the hope he could convince him for a quickie before work.

But time doesn’t stop for the likes of Robert Sugden. Not even on the most romantic day of the year - Valentines Day.

He’d left Aaron with a kiss to the forehead and the promise of wining and dining him tonight.

—-

Pushing the doors to his home, Robert was a little more than surprised to see the hall lights dimmed and a strong sense of burning candles filling the air.

“Aaron?” Robert echoed through the room.

“Oh shit - ow - fuck you’re not supposed to be home yet.” Aaron said frustrated, boiling hot pasta sauce spilling over his hand.  

“Sorry,” Robert said, ensuring to sound genuinely apologetic. For what he wasn’t sure though. “What’s all this?” He questions.  

“Well, it was supposed to be a surprise!” Aaron says exasperatedly.

“I thought we said no fuss this year remember?”

“Yeah well - it’s the least I can do,” he hesitates “after everything you did for me last year. When we weren’t even - you know”  

“Hey,” Robert says softly “I’m here now. And this, this is perfect”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. Everything about you is perfect” Robert says, crowding himself in Aaron’s space. He lifts his chin with capable fingers, searches Aaron’s eyes for disbelief, and when he doesn’t find any he kisses him hard. Pouring all his love and appreciation into that one kiss.

He leaves Aaron breathless with a promise of later.

—

After they’ve eaten, what Robert must admit, was a delicious meal, Aaron sneaks off upstairs. Robert would follow him, corner him in the bedroom and have his way with him, but he’s under strict instructions to stay exactly where he is.

Aaron returns a few minutes later with a large, rectangular object in tow. It’s wrapped in blue and silver paper, a bow stuck haphazardly in the middle. Robert knows Aarons wrapped it himself because it looks atrocious.

But Roberts in awe isn’t he? Because it shows love and commitment.

And Aaron, well he looks more than pleased with himself.

“Please don’t tell me that’s for me.” Robert says, feeling the guilt seep in already.

“Well it’s not for me is it?” Aaron replies, voice laced with sarcasm. There’s no room for and hostility behind his words when his smile is lighting up the dim room.

“Aaron we said no presents! I thought we agreed we were saving the money for the surrogacy fund?”

“We did.” Aaron says, and to reassure Robert he adds, “And don’t worry - I didn’t expect you to get me anything. I just saw this online and I couldn’t resist”

He places the gift in front of Robert. And Robert, well he just stares at it like the idiot he is, unsure of to do.

“This is usually the part when you open it, ya idiot.” And he’s doing that nervous thing he does; twiddling his ring around his finger as if to ground himself. Lip buried deep into his bottom lip.

And before Robert’s even got half of the wrapping off, Aarons explaining himself, as he couldn’t contain the excitement bubbling inside of him any longer.

“It’s a picture of the night sky, of all the stars and constellations - and whatever - from above here on our wedding night - the second - second one - and there’s a little message on there too - I thought maybe we could put it up down here? Or not, I mean it’s up to you.” He tumbles about nervously, like a kid on Christmas morning.

And Robert’s cheeks feel wet, don’t they? Because his husband is has done this really special, thoughtful thing for him. Because his husband wants his permanent reminder of their wedding day on display in their house. Because his husband loves him so much.

And God does Robert love Aaron.

“I love it. I love you” He says wipping at his face.

Words fail him. It’s all he can do to lean up and kiss his husband senseless.

Tomorrow he’s going to put the map up, pride of place, and he’s going to invite everyone around to see it. But right now, he’s going to show his husband exactly how much he loves him.

—

Mr & Mr Sugden-Dingle

Emmerdale Village

5th October 2018

53.8007° N, 1.54907° W

[atruththatyoudeny]

Happy 1D Fanworks Appreciation Day!

I want to thank all the amazing authors and artists who make this fandom as special as it is.

Here are all the fics I read and loved this month: (this is going to be looong)

I don't want a taste (I want it all) || thedaggerrose (blessedfetish) || "Fuck me yourself you coward" AU - college - crack - humour - 3k

The AU where Harry tells Louis to go fuck himself, Louis tells Harry to fuck him himself, and Harry follows through.

Always || JamieJam93 || amnesia - references of past depression - 85k

Thousands, if not millions, of fans had been right. Harry and Louis had been in love and together for four whole years. They were 'the dream team'; the couple that made others sick while simultaneously envious.

But thousands of fans had been right about something else too. The pressure had been too much. The fame had been too much. The closet had been too much, and, four years after the pair swore to each other that nothing could break them on the night of their first kiss in 2010, they broke up.

Fast forward to 2018, on the night of One Direction's last ever concert, and Harry has yet to move on. It's not as sad as it seems-he still lives his life and, for the most part, he's happy-but he knows that Louis was his one true love and is trying to prepare himself for a life completely without the other when an accident erases Louis's mind of all of his memories. In reliving the moments with him, trying to make him remember, Harry comes to find that maybe he never really forgot them at all and maybe, like him, he hadn't moved on either.

Enjoy The Ride || 2tiedships2 || a/b/o - strangers to lovers - road trips - fluff - 11k

The one where Louis, an omega more than tired of being treated as lesser than alphas, is forced on a road trip by his beta besties only to meet Harry who might just be the alpha he never knew he wanted.

Whisper The Wind || jacaranda_bloom || strangers to lovers - surfing - fluff - 36k

The one where Louis rides an elevator that may change his life forever, Harry loves the ocean but is a terrible surfer, Liam proves not all heroes wear capes, and Niall might actually have all the answers.

A kiss to build a dream on || noellehenry || Christmas - social media - pining - 17k

Harry has a brief encounter with a handsome stranger at the local Christmas Fair, the romantic kiss they share changes everything.

Harry is determined to find his Prince Charming and sets up a tumblr blog with help from his best friend Niall, owner of the locally famous Steamin' mugs.

Let the challenge begin!

Enter the Rose Garden || angelichl || a/b/o - friends to lovers - 10k

Soft heats make omega Louis clingy. Enter alpha Harry.

I been feeling high when I touch your body || Anonymous || gym - boxing- 17k

Harry is a boxer, Louis is an architect and Liam is the worst cupid that could ever exist.

The Pink Ghost of Princess Park || objectlesson || PWP - humour - sex toys - established relationship - light dom/sub - 7k

The thought of the vibrator does not go away. It’s sitting there collecting dust all through January, and every time Harry and Louis have to leave town for a press event or a show or to record or what have you, they come back home, and it’s still there, the Pink Ghost of Princess Park, the fucking glittery haunting that Harry cannot stop thinking of Louis stuffing up his arse.

Leave Your Mark On Me || FullOnLarrie || a/b/o - restaurant - mating bond - friends with benefits - enemies to friends to lovers - 32k

When Chef Harry Styles’ unbonded Omega designation threatens to derail his career, he does the only thing he can, and goes in search of a black market bond.

You Can't Change The Rolling Tide || LiveLaughLoveLarry || sailing - enemies to friends to lovers - childhood friends - friends to lovers - 25k

Louis lives on a tiny island off the coast of England and runs a sailboat touring company. When Niall is sidelined for the summer after his knee surgery, Louis needs a temporary new partner. Who better to fill that role than Harry, recently returned to the island after five years away? Louis is pretty sure there are plenty of better options. They don't get along until they do.

Take Care Down By The Water || shyserious || fantasy - magical realism - celtic mythology - fluff - angst - 37k

Louis has spent his summers at his Granny's in the Isle of Barra for almost as long as he could remember.

This summer wasn't supposed to be any different, but the little Scottish island turned out to be harbouring more than just the gorgeous white beaches, the clear waters, and the town drunk scaremongering the foreign tourists.

Pray Till I Go Blind || el_em_en_oh_pee || religion - religion kink - demon - homophobia - blasphemy - 19k

Louis is (kind of) a preacher. Harry is (probably) a demon. Of course, nothing's as simple as that.

This is not a love story.

Nocturne || rosegoldhl || fairy tale - fantasy - action/adventure - pining - 36k

Harry is a goblin living in the woods, entirely enthralled with a human named Louis.

I'm still learning to love || literato || minor character death - kid fic - pining - fluff - light angst - 74k

An au where Harry has almost everything in the world except for the will to move on.

Tell Me Your Secrets || dimpled_halo || For A Good Time Call AU - enemies to friends to lovers - dirty talk - phone sex - humour - fluff - angst - 17k

A For a Good Time Call au where Harry and Louis get off on the wrong foot when they first meet. When dire circumstances forces them to become roommates, Harry finds out some things about Louis that he doesn't expect will help him discover some things about himself.

We come in line || starsinoureyes || The Switch AU - mpreg - fertility clinic - 19k

Harry decides to have a baby on his own, Louis doesn't agree it's a good idea but lets him do it anyway. It took seven years and Harry getting artificially inseminated for them to find each other. Louis has a secret he didn't tell Harry and it might affect their family. Also featuring: a pre-pregnancy party, fertility clinics and pregnancy scares.

Sugar, butter, flour || EmmyLouWho || Nailed it! (TV) Fusion - reality tv - pining - 5k

Louis watches Harry start to pour icing onto his half-raw, still hot cookie, and tries to hold in his groan. He isn't sure if they’ve ever had a contestant on the show who tried so hard…and yet completely failed at every single step.

You can’t rig the show to help a contestant, he tells himself. Even if they’re adorable.

dopamine || Only_angel_28 || collge/university - meet-cute - social experiments - fluff - strangers to lovers - 7k

Louis honestly doesn’t know how he gets himself into these types of situations.

Well, actually, that’s a lie. He’s doing this because he needs the money, and because he’s curious. And, okay, maybe because he might be a little bit lonely too. He has always had what his mother affectionately calls an “adventurous spirit.” Couple that with being a (tragically single) broke grad student and voila! here he is scrawling his signature on a release form provided by the university’s sociology department. Essentially, he is agreeing to snog a stranger on camera for the sake of science.

Shouldn’t be a problem, right? All he has to do is lock lips with a (hopefully) fit bloke, collect his money, and be on his way. Easy peasy. Little does he know, fate has other plans for him in the form of one adorably quirky art student who goes by the name of Harry Styles.

Best kind of bad something || wildestdreams || established relationship - angst - fluff - ambiguous/ open ending 40- k

A NorCal AU where Louis is the town troublemaker and everyone hates him except for Harry.

What, like it's hard? || starkidpatronus || Legally Blond Fusion - girl direction - enemies to friends to lovers - enemies to lovers - humour - fluff - 25k

In which Harry goes to law school to win back her man, but gets a lot more than she bargained for.

Tell Me This Is Paradise || QuickedWeen || girl direction - smut - 5k

Harry Styles has been lucky in love but unlucky in the bedroom with all of her previous boyfriends. When her best friend Niall finds out that she's never had an orgasm, she knows just what Harry needs: Louis Tomlinson. Niall sets Harry up to get sorted out.

Your rainbow will come smiling through || hazkaban || Cinderella Story AU - minor character death - bullying - fairy tale retelling - 17k

When harry isn't working at his stepfather's cafe, he's trying to make swim captain and trying to finish all his coursework on time. when he's not doing any of those things, he's talking to the boy he met on the oxford hopefuls subreddit. when they decide to meet, he's elated. he finally gets the chance to meet the boy he's been crushing on! when the day comes to meet his prince, he learns that his online crush is none other than louis tomlinson, captain of the football team and friend of his terrible stepbrothers. now harry has to decide whether telling louis the truth is the right choice or if it's better to just let sleeping dogs lie.

From, your secret admirer || flicker_album || secret admirer - Valentine's Day - tumblr - mentions of anxiety - 13k

The one where Louis is Harry's Tumblr crush so he sends him secret admirer messages for Valentine's Day

Every Story Has Its Scars, Ours Is a Brand New Start || Rearviewdreamer || strangers to lovers - hurt/comfort - domestic violence - angst - dubious consent - implied mpreg - kid fic - 62k

Life as a devoted husband and an amazing father turned out to be a little different than Louis had expected. Everyone tells him it doesn't have to be that way; that he's worth more and that he's so much stronger than any one person trying to keep him down. It's all just words though until he meets the one person who makes him truly believe it.

The Pain Is For Pleasure || lovelarry10 || BDSM - established relationship - 67k

Louis and Harry have been together for a few months. Everything is great, but there’s one question burning in the back of Louis' mind - why won’t Harry have sex with him?

I Just Wanna Get Back to Us || louiesunshine || soulmate-identifying marks - angst - post-divorce - exes to friends to lovers - mutual pining - getting back together - slow burn - 62k

Or, where Harry and Louis are divorced soulmates who are seeing each other for the first time in two years.

Soup Of The Day || jacaranda_bloom || strangers to lovers - minor injury - hurt/comfort - 20k

The Restaurant AU where Louis and Niall are chefs, Chicago is windy, and cracking the big time is harder than they ever imagined. But when a mysterious man starts grading Louis' soups by leaving little piles of rocks, could it be just the thing they need to get them on the road to success?

Bleeding Love || momentofclarity || girl direction - enemies to lovers - famous/non-famous - 27k

Louis is an animal rights activist who throws red paint at fur coat wearing it-girl Harry Styles. Then there's a crack in the surface and something new starts bleeding through.

Oh, Darling My Heart's On Fire (For You) || aiienharry || girl direction - fluff - angst - 33k

Two girls fall in love on a road trip that was supposed to last a week and a half, but it ends up feeling like a lifetime.

Sweet Dreams Are Made of This || MrsStylinson || fake/pretend relationship - escort - angst - heartbreak - fluff - friends to lovers - 30k

Loosely based on The Wedding Date. Inspired by 27 Dresses. Basically, Fake Boyfriend AU with a twist. Louis' sister is unknowingly getting married to the ex who broke his heart. When faced with the prospect of turning up alone, Louis panics and hires a corporate escort named Harry. General chaos and epic jealousy ensues.