#Writing Don is so unbelievably fun

[sunsetsandsunshine]

~ 𝙲𝚊𝚗 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚢 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝…? ~

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝚃𝙸𝙲𝙺𝙻𝙴𝚃𝙾𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝟷𝟷: 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙴˚*• ̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*＊·̩̩̥͙

𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝙷𝚞𝚛𝚝/𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝 (𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑, 𝙸 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎 💗)

𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚍𝚜: 𝟷,𝟽𝟿𝟻

𝙻𝚎𝚎: 𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚢 ��🧡

𝙻𝚎𝚛: 𝙳𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚎 🐢💜

𝚂𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢: 𝙼𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎. 𝙸𝚝’𝚜 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚢….𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚑 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚖𝚎 *𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚠𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚗𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚗𝚞𝚍𝚐𝚎*

(𝙰/𝙽: 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚕𝚢: 𝙳𝚘𝚗’𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚐𝚞𝚢! 𝚃*𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚔/𝙽𝚂𝙵𝚆 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚜 𝙳𝙽𝙸!!!)

𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: 𝙲𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚗𝚢𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚊.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙹𝚄𝚂𝚃 𝙲𝙰𝙼𝙴 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 𝙰 𝙿𝙰𝚁𝚃𝚈 𝙸𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝚂 𝚂𝙾 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝙻𝙸𝚃 𝙾𝙼𝙶‼️‼️‼️˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙

Dreams were one thing. 

Mikey loved dreams. 

He adored dreams in fact. 

It was…his escape from reality; sort of like drawing in a sense. Except, when he dreamt…he didn’t have to do a single thing.

He could do anything he wanted…whenever he wanted without having to get the 'a-okay' from anyone.

And plus, the best part about dreams was that if there was an ice cream cat barfing up sprinkles…Mikey wouldn’t question it oneeeeee bit. 

That was the magical part about dreams. 

But…there were always two sides to a coin.

…Nightmares…were the opposite of dreams…

…And they were a whole other thing.

They could turn your most happiest memories and moments into horrid and scary ones.

It could turn the most greenest of valleys into nothing but dry ash, blowing away in the wind and fluttering and intoxicating the air. 

Or…perhaps…maybe nightmares were just…lonely. 

Perhaps…it was just lonely to be alone, watching you sit in your room as you break into cold sweat, the darkness weighing you down like a ton of bricks. 

And maybe the nightmares wanted you to be there with it…so it wouldn’t have to be alone…

'I could be lonely with you' as Beach Bunny would say…

But back to the initial topic, Michelangelo always hated having nightmares.

But what he hated more was not even remembering what said nightmares was about. 

It was terrifying for sure— I mean— he woke up from it so it must’ve been really…bad…right?

The box turtle sighed loudly, running a tired and shaky hand down his face.

…He should probably get some water while he’s awake; his mouth was as dry as the Sahara desert.

Or, better yet, Mikey could go find his brothers.

Well…one of them. Or at least see if anyone was awake.

The light scarlet eyed mutant hopped down from his bed, hugging himself with one of his blankets as he made his way towards the hallway, the darkness almost consuming him in the process. 

Even as a little kid, the box turtle was never fond of the dark. 

…You could never see beyond it. 

It was cold and…just, well, dark in general if that makes sense. 

Michelangelo never understood the appeal some people had to it.

The only time he did welcome darkness, though, was when there was light occumpining it. 

Like the moon. 

Or the stars. 

Or even car lights! 

It was Mikey’s small reminder that no matter where he was, there was always some glow or gleam with him…

So relitavley speaking, he should head to where the nearest light was…which was his immiediate older brother’s room. 

The smallest turtle opened Leo’s car door ever so slightly, peeking inside to see a very sound sleeping slider. 

The youngest buried down his disappointment as he quietly closed the door, going back into the darkness once more.

Leo barely got any sleep as is…

…And besides…the chance of accidentally waking him up was waaaay too high. 

It was fine, anyway. Mikey could try going to Raph’s! 

Michelangelo dragged his orange blanket with him, putting it around his shoulders as he tip-toed to Raphael’s room…surely he was awake, right? 

“Raph…?” The youngest called out quietly, looking into his older brother’s room. The smallest mutant wasn’t greeted with a small grunt of acknowlgemnt nor a kind Raph greeting.

What the light scarlet eyed teen was greeted with, though, was a loud, ear pierecing snore from the snapping turtle. 

Mikey snickered softly at his brother’s loud noises, going into the room and giving him his favorite Squishmello that was on the floor.

The alligator snapping turtle smiled in his sleep, squishing the plushie to his chest and his tail wagged slightly. The smaller turtle giggled at the action, walking out and closing the car door.

Alright…so the odd’s on Donnie being up…were…rather…slim but it was fine! 

Quite very much fine.

If the softshell was asleep, the light scarlet eyed mutant would just hed back to his room…alone; in complete darkness. 

…But it would be fine…!

Probably.

The box turtle quickly and quietly shimmied to his purple loving brother’s room buuut not before tripping over his own feet and stumbling in front of Donnie’s train car door.

And Mikey was supposed to be a ninja…pfft, yeah right. 

The youngest turtle got up on his feet, brushing off his knees and shoulders as he grabbed his blanket from the floor. 

Maybe if he just stood perfectly still until the crack of dawn…Donnie wouldn’t wake up…!

Besides, it’s not like the softshell heard him or anything.

“I can hear you trying to be quiet over there, Mikes.” The second oldest deadpanned, turning around of his bed so him and his little brother shared eye contact.

Well shit…

The youngest’s stomach twisted and turned with guilt, rubbing the back of his neck as he leaned on the doorway nervously, “Oh! H-Hey, Dee…sorry…did I wake you up…?” Michelangelo asked guiltily. 

“Eh, kinda. But it’s alright.” Donatello yawned, rubbing his eyes as he sat up on his bed, reaching for his desk as he put on his glasses. 

“…Are you going to come into my very humble abode or are you just going to continue to stand there?” The taller turtle asked, squinting into the darkness where the youngest was almost being consumed by.

Mikey shook his head ever so slightly, closing the door and hopping into Donnie’s bed with his blanket. The elder hugged the smaller turtle tight, rubbing his shell gently as Michelangelo melted into the embrace. 

The box turtle buried his face in his older brother’s chest as the other rested his chin at the top of the smallest turtle’s head, “Mhmmmm…your warm as fuck…”

Donnie bit back a loud laugh, instead, smiling faintly as he rolled his eyes fondly. 

Typical Mikey…

The second oldest wrapped his younger brother tighter in the hug, “Your literally using me as a blanket right now. I’m not your own personal heater, y'know.” 

“Ehhhh…you kinda are to be honest.” The other snickered. 

“Oh? You're just using me for my body heat, huh? And here I thought you loved me for me…” Donatello sniffled theatrically, wiping away a fake tear for dramatic effect.

“I do! But I also love you for your body heat.” The younger turtle giggled snarkily. 

Donnie scoffed, shaking his head slightly as he smiled; he couldn’t help but chuckle faintly.

"You're such a dunderhead, y'know that?” The older said as he scribbled at the youngest’s sides, grinning as Mikey almost immediatley squealed with laughter. 

“Here I am, pouring my heart out to you, being all sentimental and caring...and all you care about is my toasty body heat.” Donatello fake seethed, scribbling where the younger’s plastron met his shell. 

Michelangelo screeched loudly at his brothers squiggly and wriggly fingers, hugging his middles before turning around so his shell faced the young scientist. 

The light scarlet eyed turtle squealed, kicking his legs from under the bed sheets as his brother continued to tickle him, “N-NohoHAH! D-Deehee cahahome ohon dohon’t doohoo thihihis!” He squeaked, pulling on Donatello’s arms. 

“And where do you think you’re going, little brother?” The taller turtle asked, wrapping one arm around Mikey’s chest so his arms were at his sides. “You’re not going anywhere~!” Donnie grinned before scribbling his free hand all long the younger’s stomach. 

“OHO FAHAAAHACK! DEEHEE NOHO STAHAP!! THAHAT’S SOHO SOHO BAHAHAD!!!” Michelangelo screeched whilst laughing loudly and hysterically, kicking his legs so much that the blankets soared high in the air and fell on the floor. 

'And she was a fairy' ahh moment…

“I’m going to tickle you foreveeeeer! Eeheevihil lahahaugh!” The purple hoodie wearing mutant announced as he nibbled the crook of his baby brother’s neck.

Donnie laughed along with the other, his mind flashing back to times when they were very little…

…When they would lay together in the dark with fairy lights hung around the ceiling, infodumping about shows and movies as he would hold his younger brother close to him to keep him warm…

…It was just like when they were little kids.

Well, almost like when they were little kids. 

In their early childhood years there was definetly less hyena cackling…that was for sure.

“GAHAHAD DAHA— squeal NOOOHOHOHO!” The younger mutant squealed, shaking his head as a faint blush spread to his cheeks.

“Yeeeeeeees~!” Donatello playfully cooed, “And stop your loud Tom-foolery! You’re going to wake up the entire lair!”

“THEHEN STAH— squeal!! GOHOD— squeak SCREHEHEW YAHA— YOHOU! STOHOHAP TIHICKLING squeak MEEHEEHEE!” Mikey yelled through his laughs. 

“But you looooove it~!” The other smugly countered. 

“DEEEEEHEEHEE! PLAHAHEASE! YOHOUR GOHOHONNA KILL MEEHEE!!”

“Kill yohou?” The elder mutant asked in awe, pausing the tickling for a split second before mercilessly prodding where the other’s ribs would be.

The reaction was almost immediate as Michelangelo let out a loud, genuine scream before descending into hysterical fits of laughter. 

Mikey thrashed and squealed helplessly, throwing his head back on his older brother’s shoulder. “DOHOHAHA— squeak DOHOHAHANNIE!!”

“You are conversing with Donatello; yes?” 

“PLAHAHAHEASE!”

“Please what~? Pleeeeease keep tickling you~? Pleeeeease tickle tickle your oh-so ticklish ribs~?” 

“N-NAHAH! THAHAT IHIS NOHOT WHAHA— squeal IHI DIDN’T MEEEHEAN THAHAAAT!”

The softshell chuckled lowly, holding his baby brother’s wrists above his head as he lightly nibbled his ribs. 

The box turtle squeezed his eyes shut, throwing his head back once more as he could do nothing but happily laugh. 

“D'awww~! Are Mikey’s wittle wibs tickwish~?” Donnie teased, using his free hand to flutter along the orange cladded turtle’s neck.

“AAAAAHAHAHAH— SQUEAK!! NONONOHOHO! DEEHEE DEEHEE NOHO— SQUEAK SQUEAK— NAHAHA— SQUEAL— NOHO MOHOHORE!!!”

“No more~? Are you sure~?”

“YEHAHAHAH! YEHEHES YEHE— SQUEAL YEHEHES!!” 

Donnie gave his brother one last poke at the rib before stopping and hugging him from behind, resuming the gentle shell rubs. “I guess I really am nothing more than your own personal heater, hm? Just a walking furnace at your command…”

The box turtle mutant groaned loudly, flicking the taller turtle’s forehead slightly, “Deeeehee yohou knohow damn wehell thahahat’s nohot true.” Mikey pouted, snuggling in the embarce. 

"Yeah, yeah…I know, I know. You supposedly love me for more than just my body heat.”Donatello said as he let out a huff of laughter and rolled his eyes. 

The elder wrapped his arms tighter around his brother, resting his chin on the orange cladded teen’s head once more. 

The smaller turtle giggled at the action before yawning, snuggling into the other’s plastron, “Lohove yohou, dorkwad…”

“Pfft— dorkwad? Is that the best you can do? Really?” The softshell snickered. 

“Is ahass faced Atomic Lahass fuhucker good enohough fohor you?” The box turtle asked snarkily. 

“I’ll stick with dorkwad, thanks.” The older giggled. 

“That’s whahat I thohought.” Mikey grinned as he yawned, resting on his face on his brother’s chest, “Lohove you, Dee.”

“I love you too, Angelo.” 

·̩̩̥͙＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚𝙵𝙸𝙽˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊·̩̩̥͙ 

(𝙿.𝚂.: 𝙸𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚏𝚒𝚌, 𝚙𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚐!!!)

[dedalvs]

what kind of books do you like reading?

My favorite era is 19th century Russian literature. Some of my favorites from there are Dead Souls by Gogol, Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev, Eugene Onegin by Alexander Pushkin, and Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov (I was utterly baffled as to why everyone was talking about Ivan Goncharov when I came back to Tumblr!). I loved a lot of early 20th century American literature, in particular F. Scott Fitzgerald, who was an early hero, and I also read a lot of Joseph Heller and Vladimir Nabokov (Russian/American). I've read everything by Franz Kafka—even the bizarre stuff, like Amerika—and loved it all. My favorite writer of all time is Virginia Woolf, and I love reading writers who experiment with style (Lewis Carroll, of all people, has a nice early example of stream of consciousness with Sylvie and Bruno). I think the best piece of writing I've ever seen from America is Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.

I've also read and enjoyed some stuff from the 16th-18th centuries (in particular, Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, Edmund Spencer's The Faerie Queene, and John Milton's Paradise Lost), but a lot more that's a lot older. Giovanni Boccaccio's The Decameron is a great collection of tales like The Canterbury Tales, but better (note: I haven't yet read 1,001 Nights. Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur was a lot of fun. I slowed down a lot about eight years ago). I even love the fake ones that are tales within tales like Jan Potocki's The Manuscript Found at Saragossa. But I love chasing down and reading older works, like sagas and epics. Some of my favorites are The Nibelungenlied, The Kalevala, Njal's Saga, and The Epic of Sundiata. Gilgamesh is absolutely incredible. I've read some clunkers, though, like The Song of Roland, which I found dry, dull, and short.

As my reading slowed, I liked to read books aimed at young readers. Growing up, I loved the Oz books, which I find to be an utterly fascinating example of uniquely American (and non-European) fantasy. We have that and Little Nemo, but most other fantasy you get (outside of modern times) is distinctly European, and owes more to Lord Dunsany and Tolkien than anyone else. I loved The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear, which I just finished ready to my daughter (Walter Moers). Michael Ende's The Neverending Story is probably the best book for young readers I've read. And then there's the Moomin books by Tove Jansson... What a find those were! Written for kids, but so unbelievably melancholic and subtle! Every page is packed with so much loneliness and longing! I couldn't even believe what I'd read after reading Tales from Moomin Valley. "The Fillyjonk who Believed in Disasters" is something I think every adult should read. It reminds me a bit of The Magic Mountain (see below) in how subtly it captures a character or series of character traits that are quite natural and recognizable, but so hard to pin down! Tove Jansson was brilliant.

For utter, nonsensical, bizarre, indulgent, and absurd escapism, I read E. T. A. Hoffmann. It's hard to even describe how ridiculous his stuff is. Like...you read this stuff, and are saying, "You can't DO that! You'd be laughed off AO3 for that!" And yet he does. And he doesn't care. He had an audience of one, and that was himself. I have no idea how his works are even remembered. Utterly bizarre.

That captures a lot of it. Here are some that don't fit elsewhere:

The Buru Quartet by Pramoedya Ananta Toer (masterful)

Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (wrecked me)

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (tore through it!)

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (this one, too! Thick book, but such a quick and joyful read—and written with such exquisite detail!)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (one of the best of the 19th century)

The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (so subtle... Let me tell you, this is a long book, and like, it's 90% over, and suddenly this new character is introduced, and it's like, "What even is this…?", and yet, somehow, he takes like 50 pages, and you suddenly care about this guy... Astonishing)

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (tour de force; her best, in my opinion)

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (his best that I've read, and the one I'd recommend to everyone)

Forest of a Thousand Daemons by D. O. Fagunwa (terrible translation, but so wonderfully inventive!)

Black Elk Speaks (I want to mention this, because I really loved it, but it has a problematic history, so fyi)

True Grit by Charles Portis (one of the most beautiful short novels I've ever read; the Cohen Bros. adaptation is actually very, very close to it)

The Awakening by Kate Chopin (what a smack in the face that one is!)

The Tempest by Shakespeare (my favorite of his)

The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (best written work from America in the 19th century)

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin (by contrast, one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read in my life; HILARIOUS)

Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en (read the whole thing, and...wow. lol So much repetition with humor throughout capped off by brilliance)

The Bostonians by Henry James (the best demonstration of exactly what he aimed to do: produce an ending that has two equally plausible and utterly opposite interpretations that can both be supported textually)

Nohow On by Samuel Beckett (the culmination of his work, and a worthy one)

Three Tales by Gustave Flaubert (I bawled—loudly—after reading "A Simple Heart"; I couldn't help it)

Thanks for asking this! It's been so long since I've really read... It's nice to remember. I wanted to read the Studs Lonigan trilogy for ages now... Oh, and I went through a Gabriel García Márquez phase! And Tom Robbins! And, of course, I've read all the wonderful comic novels by my friend Nina Post, whose wit astounds me.

Okay, now I'm just not getting to sleep. But this is some of what I've read that I've loved. Also, for certain things, I've read a lot (like 19th century Russian literature and Samuel Beckett), so I can tell you what not to read. For example, A Hero of Our Time by Lermontov? Pass. Same with The Golovlovs by Saltykov-Shchedrin. You can probably pass on War and Peace, as well, due to its girth, but you're going to miss some good stuff (amidst a lot of dry stuff).

Okay, hitting the button now! I'm done.

(Oh, but if you were assigned Their Eyes Were Watching God and kind of passed on it because it was a "school book", that was a mistake!!!)

(Oh, Cane by Jean Toomer!)

(Oh, and if you want a short one that has a "wah-wah!" ending, check out As I Lay Dying by Faulkner! lol That rascal...)

(OH! And the "school book" thing? Hard ditto on Of Mice and Men. Holy shit, that book... Wow.)

(OMG BABBIT!!!!! I loved it!!! Pass on Main Street, though.)

(Oh, and John Updike can miss me with his Rabbit stuff... YIKES!)

(Oh, and if you like Woody Allen's style but not Woody Allen, try Portnoy's Complaint.)

(Last one: Jasmine by my short fiction professor Bharati Mukherjee, who sadly passed away far too soon. On the last day of class, she'd forgotten she was going to have us read Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky. As we were walking out the door, she made us promise to read it. I never saw her again, but I did, Ms. Mukherjee, and it was tremendous. Thank you so much for what you gave me. I had so much trouble showing my work to other people before that class. You helped me so much, and I wish I could've told you. You may think those who have influenced you will be around forever for you to thank one day, but they're not. Today's the day. Tell them what they meant to you. You'll regret it if you don't.)

[1000-rat-corpses]

in defense of a gacha game

"i can't believe tjere's a real fandom for stuff like genshin impact. imagine if half your dash was posting about raid shadow legends. you'd think it was astroturf"

i know it's fun to hate on genshin impact and criticize any gacha game but a post like this makes it very clear you only know that the game has bad ads and a gacha system. .........it has an unbelievable amount of lore and worldbuilding like i get what you're saying really but if you took out the gacha aspect you are left with a very real and substantial rpg.. no the writing isn't very good in the beginning, some characters are filler characters that only show up in their own side stories or events, and i have words about the resolution of inazuma... but there's so many really amazing stories in the game, and lots are just hidden little side quest plots that range from fleshing out the world to pure whimsy

there's a side quest in fontaine about a little girl and her imaginary friends and what it means to grow up, and you go on a very cute and touching journey to help her and her imaginary friends, that were based on characters from Don Quixote which is also relevant to her imaginary, idealized world, feel relieved that she can grow up and still retain her childlike whimsy while seeing the world for what it is. this comes well after she makes this world of imaginary friends who serve as her protectors, each based off the people/pets that replaced her parents in her life after her vigilante outlaw parents literally abandoned her with their ex-outlaw friends because their wanderlust was stronger than their desire to raise their own child. it was actually touching as you swam through the beautiful reefs while the "children" (a school of cute fish she befriended who also may or may not be imaginary friends too) sing nursery rhymes/songs with her about remembering the people who took care of her in her parents' stead and how she should never forget the sweet and wonderful times of her childhood even if she has to face growing up eventually

and there's so many more of these little hidden gems even among the countless side quests, like fischl's persona dungeon where she faces off with and has to accept the side of herself she wants to be but knows isn't real, or that incredibly depressing story with Freminet and the Thelxie and the mother who was delusional and thought her son was still alive and was deteriorating from Loneliness Syndrome but it was actually she who had it all along... That was a ride.

The world is beautiful and absolutely packed, and you can grow to really like the characters in the main story, if you let yourself. Inazuma's story had promise before it fell apart lol but after that Sumeru was awesome (I could write a dissertation on Scaramouche and his background/themes/boss theme lyrics) and I'm loving Fontaine so far. I already love Navia and i've known her for like a a day in the story.

anyway. i know it’s amaaaaazingly easy to just be like ‘ew gacha gambling predatory game with sameface bland over designed characters you have shit taste’ but man sometimes a game is fun and people like it. idk whats so surprising about a game like this having a fandom, but i guess people can go jack off to reveling in their superiority complexes and their REAL GAMERS ONLY games

[kyria-nico]

Getting to know you tag game

Thanks to @sunset-a-story for the tag! I'm Nico!

Rules: use this picrew to make yourself and answer the questions.

three fun facts about me:

This is tough because I'm basically the most boring person alive. I like it that way, but I always draw a blank on "fun facts".

- One of my eyes is slightly darker than the other

- I'm an aspiring fiber artist and love to knit and crochet, although my crochet skills are still pretty basic

- I can count to 10 in 5 languages, that's not really that special, especially outside of the US, but it's what I got!

favorite season: This is tough. If I'm going to be outside then Fall, when the leaves are changing and there's a slight chill in the air. My favorite season in general is Winter. I love the snow, especially when I can spend part of the day in it and then curl under a blanket with a hot drink and watch it fall.

continent where I live: North America

how i spend my time: I'm a software engineer, but outside of work I like to indulge my (too many) hobbies. I play video games (currently replaying Breath of the Wild while awaiting Tears of the Kingdom), read, draw, and knit. I also enjoy writing, although I haven't done it in a couple years. I also recently started playing an awesome TTRPG (with a FANTASTIC GM) with some friends and my partner that I'm super unbelievably excited about, so I currently spend a lot of my time doodling my character and trying to flesh out their backstory!

are you published? Not unless AO3 counts!

introvert/extrovert: Definitely introverted. I love spending time with friends and loved ones and wouldn't give it up for anything but I have a definite limit that I hit with socialization that requires several hours of dedicated alone time where I don't even want to talk to my partner. Sometimes it's a quite literal shutdown where it takes a herculean effort to say anything.

favorite meal: It's hard to top salmon don, which is basically my favorite meal if we're going out! But lately I cannot get enough of Maangchi's Dubu Jorim, which is Braised Tofu. I eat it 2-3 times a week!

I'm no-pressure tagging @localcryptideli! I'm not sure who else to tag, so if you see this and want to do it, consider yourself tagged!

[adamwatchesmovies]

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kick-Ass is foul-mouthed and violent. Some might call its dark sense of humor in bad taste but it's deliberately shocking. Surprising and funny, it sets to tell a more realistic superhero story… until the end when its objective falls completely out of sight. Since its release, the film’s impact and novelty have diminished considerably but it’s worth at least one viewing.

Ordinary teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides to become a real-life superhero, calling himself “Kick-Ass”. Not particularly skilled at crime-fighting, he nonetheless becomes a viral sensation after one of his more successful heroic attempts is caught on camera. Soon after, he meets eleven-year-old Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage). Unlike him, the duo are well-equipped vigilantes with advanced weaponry and proficient hand-to-hand combat skills. Unfortunately for Kick-Ass, crime boss Frank D’Amico (Mark Strong) and his son Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) think the teen is responsible for all the trouble Hit Girl and Big Daddy have caused their criminal organization.

Based on the graphic novel by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., the film differs from it in significant ways. Most obviously, the characters in this film are likable and the ending diverges wildly - we’ll get to it in a moment. In some ways, it’s a big improvement. I sensed a deep self-loathing from the book that's all but absent in this adaptation. Even so, certain problematic or unbelievable elements remain. It’s pretty obvious that an eleven-year-old who goes around cursing and slicing off limbs at the behest of her vengeful ex-police officer of a father is funny to a certain extent but once the dust settles, it’s not heroic. Then, there’s the “chick-flick” element. Dave has more than one secret identity; he pretends to be gay to get close to his longtime crush, Katie Deauxma (Lyndsy Fonseca). That story's conclusion marks a turning point. At first, we’re introduced to a story that feels grounded in reality. The film opens with a man suffering from mental illness donning a costume and jumping off a building - to his death. When Kick-Ass hits the streets for the first time, he is beaten up, stabbed, hit by a car and sent to the hospital - not exactly a glamorous beginning. We’re told that trying to be a superhero is sure to get you killed because bad guys are not like those in the comics; they’re not going to pull their punches so readers can make it to the next issue. By the time we get to the end, all semblance of real life has disappeared, which in one way is fun because you know, it’s a movie. You want an escape from real life. In another way, it feels like a major cheat. I’m reminded of Super which did everything Kick-Ass did but even darker and more deranged. I think it’s the better film.

Despite the mixed final act, there’s a lot to enjoy in Kick-Ass. A lot of it is so shocking you can’t help but laugh. Director Matthew Vaugh, who co-writes the screenplay with Jane Goldman, makes Dave into a delightfully foul loser who is also endearing. Out loud, you cheer for him. Secretly, you also get a kick out of seeing him get beaten up and overwhelmed by this world he's jumped into. As the pre-teen vigilante, Chloë Grace Moretz will have you picking your jaw off of the floor and as her father, Nicholas Cage is terrific. There’s a lot of humanity behind his bizarre obsession with revenge and the scene where he truly, finally opens up to his daughter might be the picture’s best moment.

The action scenes are well-choreographed and satisfying - even the ones that just have Dave getting punched and beaten over and over. I criticize the ending for pulling us into a realm of pure fantasy but I must also admit that seeing all of these bad guys - who are a lot of fun to hate - get slaughtered is deeply satisfying. There is something relatable in Dave, who obviously makes a pretty lousy superhero - even his costume is lame - but decides to go for it anyway.

Since its release in 2010, we’ve gotten so many more superhero films that the satire in Kick-Ass… feels a little off. Deadpool has given us fouler, more R-rated action, we've seen dozens of “no budget” superhero films, Avengers Endgame killed Iron Man (among others) and The Batman showed us a Bruce Wayne who was full of uncertainty get his own ass kicked. Kick-Ass is less funny and less edgy than it was back then but its cult following is well-earned. Who knows? This might just be exactly the bit of vinegar your palette has been waiting for after all those candy-colored, CGI-heavy superheroics that regularly arrive on the big screen. (August 17, 2022)

[spectaculardistractions]

To Carlos Fuentes

Paris, 3 March 1974

My dear Carlos, My 74 years thank you for your birthday wishes, and for my part I also accept them with a sad smile of farewell.

I see your migration issues are completely resolved and wonder if Don Luis E. had something to do with that. Mine are in the process of being sorted out by Mr Moskovitz, Saltzman and Silberman’s lawyer in New York. It turns out the State Department had a pretty sizable file on me.* I may get an ordinary visa this month without the famous Exemption 28 C d, etc. If so, I’ll go to New York in June via Mexico, and will descend upon your home in Virigina to have fun with all the zorras that, according to you, surround you on all sides.

And you, still working on your book! I now see you have more trouble writing a novel than I do writing a letter! I’m waiting impatiently for you to get to the final full stop.

There are 70 actors in this film The Phantom of Liberty, all with very small parts. When you see it, you’ll realize why it just wasn’t possible to get María Casares in.

I’m happy to try and help García Riera in any way I can. You just have to let me know how. Television and advertising horrify me, although I am grateful for your new attempt to take up your cudgels ‘on my behalf’. I really don’t think I deserve so much of your attention. I’m embarrassed.

I’ve been filming for four weeks now with a good few more to go. This Phantom of Liberty may be more popular than the one about the bourgeoisie. But I don’t want to get my hopes up.

Have you read the monstrous book Comment devenir Dalí? Unbelievable!

Kisses for Silvia and the baby and, what the hell, kisses for you too! Luis

*Ninety-two-page FBI file on LB’s activities from 1941 to 1971.

Jo Evans & Breixo Viejo, Luis Buñuel: A Life in Letters

[bookishdiplodocus]

Writing doesn’t have to be realistic... But.

I’m serious. It doesn’t. Go ahead. Your characters can find true love in just a second. They can knock down a thousand henchmen before reaching the Big Boss. They can wield unlimited powers. They can turn out the be The One.

Is it unrealistic? Probably. Is it fun? Yes.

It’s fiction. It doesn’t need to be realistic.

But.

Writing doesn’t have to be realistic, but it needs to be consistent.

Realistic = compared to the rules of the reality outside your story, the reality you and I live in (most of the time).

Consistent = compared to the rules of the reality inside your story.

What I mean when I use the word “rules”

I don’t mean “You’re not supposed to do X in this society.” I mean rules that describe reality, not prescribe it. Rules that are as inescapably tied to your story’s reality as gravity is tied to ours.

Examples:

Why do we accept that Disney princesses live happily ever after with someone they just met? It may be unrealistic, but it’s consistent.

Why do we accept that one set of superheroes in one universe can wield unlimited powers without facing consequences (Superman etc.) and another set of superheroes can’t (The Incredibles)? Because the writers of each universe have made it clear to us that these are the rules.

“But, Bookish Diplodocus… My character is The One!”

“My character is the One who breaks all the rules nobody ever thought could be broken.”

“I’m not breaking the rules, my character is an exception to the rules!”

“Their arrival has been foretold by Legends! They are Special!”

That may very well be. I enjoy reading the The One trope just as much as the next person. But just know that if you break your own rules, your reader may feel cheated.

So you need to do it well.

If you have established certain rules and you create an exception, you have to make it believable that the rule has an exception.

A well-executed exception

Well, take The Matrix for example. (Spoilers ahead, obviously.)

Neo is the exception. What is the rule? The rule isn’t that the Matrix exists. All the rebels know that. The rule is that no-one can manipulate reality. Jesus. Obviously no-one can manipulate reality. Do you take us for idiots? And then one guy shows up who can.

Why do we accept the existence of this one individual? Along with Neo, we are gradually led to realize it. Trinity believes he is the One. But what does she know anyway? Morpheus believes it too. Morpheus, as a mentor figure, has more authority, so we start to believe it. Neo doesn’t, not entirely, not yet. And then we start to see it, slowly, with ups and downs. There is a training session, a breakthrough moment, a failure, people around him start to doubt, but some keep faith. The Oracle says Neo may become the One, but isn’t the One yet. It’s only during the finale of the movie that Neo truly becomes the One.

The character arc from Thomas Andersen to Neo to the One is the whole story arc of the movie. It’s done slowly and well-executed.

A badly executed exception

I’m gonna make one up, because I’m a kind person, I don’t want to drag other people down. But we’ve all read books with heroes like the one I’m going to describe.

The hero is a teen or just a regular guy. Nothing special. They come into their powers, or start training, or… Within a few months/years/chapters they surpass the level of their mentor/teacher/champion/authority figure, who’s been doing this for at least 112 years. No need to think this is weird, reader. This character is the One, remember? I showed you the Legend that foretells his arrival in chapter 2.

While the character arc in the Matrix is done slowly, this fictitious bad example is done within the scope of a few chapters. Quickly level-up the character, so that we can get to “the real story”. And that’s the mistake.

So, next time a reader tells you something is unrealistic, they mean it’s unbelievable within the reality of your story. You don’t necessarily need to cut it. Go back and fix it.

I hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to ask me any questions, and happy writing!

Follow me for more writing advice, or check out my other writing tips here. New topics to write advice about are also always appreciated.

Tag list below the cut. If you like to be added to or removed from the list, let me know.

@therska​ @writingwordsanddrawingpictures​ @the-words-we-never-said​@writingwhithotchocolate @i-rove-rock-n-roll​  @maskedlady​ @no-time-like-write-now​ @timefire25​ @black-lakritz-dragon​ @nzmayart @fandomrandomness-stuff @dangertoozmanykids101​ @anaestheticdisaster​ @storytellingofravens​ @purpleshadows1989 @mathematicpony​ @i-don-t-know-words @notquitenovelist @coffeescribles​ @reffaces @livingthelovelylife @katsglabella @lokitty-is-my-spirit-animal @thefallenbibliophilequote​ @watchmewritedumb @sting-the-scribe @kais-writing-shit​ @dameschnee123​ @curiosityonmars​ @oodlittlething​

[works-of-fanfiction]

Harmless Fun - Graham Coxon x Reader

Summary: Graham agrees to a date at the funfair with the reader. (I imagined 2020/21 Graham whilst writing this, but you can view him however you like.)

Requested by: Anon - who wanted to see an older introverted Graham with an extroverted reader - I put a little spin on this with Graham coming out of his shell more throughout. I hope I did the idea justice!

Warnings: None.

Word Count: 2.8k

___________________

Among the extravagant rides, flashing lights and hundreds of people, Graham and I seem so small. We link arms as we walk into the funfair, exchanging a couple pounds each for fluorescent orange paper wristbands and glow-in-the-dark hand stamps shaped like goldfish. Graham’s smudges across his knuckles a little and we both make fun of the distorted icon on his skin. “That’s a very chubby goldfish.” I giggle, tracing the outline of it with my finger then comparing it to my own.

“No, yours is just starving. Look!” Graham points at my stamp, rubbing his finger over it to try and smudge it. It doesn’t budge and I laugh mockingly before tugging on his hand to drag him further down the gravelled entryway.

We reach a red arch covered in bright lights, mimicking a stereotypical dressing room mirror, like the kind you’d see in a movie. Graham and I spend the next couple of minutes dodging couples and families taking photos, the repetitive sounds of phone cameras clicking and flashes going off. Coming to a halt, I pull Graham to the side and grab my film camera from my tote bag. I wiggle it in front of his face, donning the classic puppy dog eyes to try and get my way. “Y/N…” He starts, taking the camera from my hand. “There’s so many people here. We can take a photo inside.”

“But this is such a nice spot! It’s so bright and sparkly. It’ll make such a pretty picture, Gra.” I beg, batting my eyelashes like a spoilt toddler. He sighs, winding up the camera and holding down the flash button until it lights up. I clap my hands together happily, giving him a quick side-hug before shuffling to the middle of the arch. “Ask him to take the photo.” I whisper, gesturing towards a man stood nearby. Graham shakes his head, holding the camera up to his face.

“Let me take one of you.”

“You’re just making excuses not to be in the picture!” I whine, my hands on my hips as I stare into the lens. Graham unexpectedly presses the button, the flash catching me off guard. “Hey! I wasn’t ready.”

“But you were posing.” He teases, winding the camera again. I shake my head, laughing as I link arms with him and lead him away.

“You still owe me a photo later.” I huff, grabbing the camera and tucking it back into my bag.

Graham chuckles, giving me a kiss on the temple and whispering in my ear, “I win.” I playfully slap his chest and he gasps, pretending it hurts. “Don’t hit the old man.”

“You’re not an old man!” I protest, standing on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek. He smiles, unlinking our arms to wrap his around my shoulder. He pulls me close and I settle into his side so perfectly, it’s almost like I was made specifically to be there. “Thank you for agreeing to this.” I say quietly, my arm lazily slung around his back, holding onto his denim jacket.

“Well, you were very persuasive.” He taunts, prodding me in the upper arm and earning himself another slap to the chest.

“Graham! Don’t say that in public.”

“Say what?”

“That! People will hear you.”

“Oh, they don’t know what I’m talking about.” He teases, leaning down to kiss my head. “You always know how to get your own way with me.” His hand slides further up my arm and onto my shoulder, gently massaging it. My eyes flutter closed involuntarily and Graham hums, the sound so smug it snaps me out of my daydream. He knows exactly what that damn shoulder thing does to me. I bat his hand away and point to the carousel which is the first ride we come across.

“You were saying something about me getting my own way?” I slip from his grasp and run to get in line.

“Y/N! The carousel… really?”

“Come on! It’ll be fun.”

Graham looks around, clearly worried or bothered about something. I leave the line before anybody joins behind me and go back over to him. “What’s wrong?” I ask, hands resting on either side of his arms.

“I’m just - I don’t know. We’ll stick out like a pair of sore thumbs on there.” He scratches his head, looking past me at the people climbing onto the brightly painted horses.

“Who cares?” I whisper, leaning closer to him and pressing a light kiss to his nose, before rubbing my nose against his. His glasses graze my face and I pull away, swiping his lenses with my sleeve to make sure I don’t leave any smudges behind. “Shall we?” I ask, holding out my hand to him.

He’s quiet for a moment, giving the carousel one last look before his eyes come back to meet mine. I smile hopefully, my hand still flat awaiting his to connect with it. He sighs and takes my hand, pushing his glasses up onto his nose with the other. “Alright. But I’m having that grey horse there.”

Graham’s horse is on the left, closer to the centre of the ride. I take the white horse beside him and hold onto the gold pole with one hand, the other still in Graham’s. He looks at me and smiles shyly as the ride begins to start, a corny rendition of ABBA’s ‘Mamma Mia’ playing on what sounds like an organ. We both roll our eyes and I listen out for the chorus, joining in with it. Graham bows his head, laughing quietly as I sing the lyrics at the top of my lungs, bopping from side to side and nodding my head to the music. “Why, why did I ever let you go? Mamma Mia! Now I really know - my my, I should not have let you go!” I sing, letting go of the ride to pretend I have a microphone in my hand. Graham leans over and grabs my wrist, pressing my hand back onto the pole.

“Hold on!” He shouts over the music and my tone deaf singing. I flash him an apologetic smile, cheekily blowing him a kiss and carrying on with the song. As the tune fades to an end, so does the ride. He jumps down from his horse and helps me off of mine. We head down the stairs and stand beside the ride control box where Graham stops to fix my hair, moving a piece out of my face and smoothing the rest with his palms. “Did you enjoy that?”

“Very much so!” I grin, staring up at Graham whose face is lit up by the carousel. His eyes catch the light and I can’t help but smile at just how beautiful he looks. The slight salt and pepper colour of his hair is more visible and I reach my hand up to run it through his fringe. “You’re so pretty, Graham.”

“Pretty?”

“That’s what I said.”

His gaze struggles to meet mine and I can’t help the giggle that passes through my lips. “Look at you getting all embarrassed! Is that a blush I see on your cheeks?” I tease, poking his cheek with my finger.

“Stop it…” He says, his voice small and unbelievably adorable. I wrap my arms around him to give him a hug, resting my cheek against his chest. He hugs me back, his chin resting on my head as we slowly sway under the lights. “Are you hungry?” He finally asks and I nod.

We head over to the food stalls and I find a bench, grabbing my scarf from my bag and laying it across the seat before sitting down. Graham stands, looking at the different options. “What do you fancy?” He asks, leaning down and holding onto my shoulders, his face hovering next to mine as I read the banner of each stall.

“I’ll just have some fries. Can we get donuts later?”

“Of course we can get donuts later.” He plants a kiss on my cheek and heads over to get the food, leaving me to save our seats. Taking the camera from my bag, I sneakily snap a picture of Graham as he waits for our orders. His attention is focused on something in the distance so he doesn’t notice the three clicks of the camera flash. One photo is never enough when it comes to Graham. Even if I filled a thousand albums with pictures of him, I’d still want to make it a thousand and one.

He’s back in no time with an extra large tray of fries and a bunch of sauce packets in his hand. He dumps the sauces on the table, putting down the food and untucking two cans of lemonade from under his arm. “I didn’t know if you’d want ketchup or mustard so I just got both.” He shrugs, sliding onto the bench beside me and tearing open a sachet of ketchup. He makes a space on the tray and empties the sauce out, wasting no time and tucking into the fries. I do the same but with mustard, and we assume a comfortable silence as we eat. The action continues around us as various songs play at each ride, all muddling into one and mixing with people’s squeals and screams. The scent of different foods surrounds us and almost tempts me into trying more, but I resist. We clean the tray of fries pretty quickly and decide to walk around, cans of lemonade still in hand as we explore the fairground more.

We spend the next twenty minutes making conversation about everything we spot around the fair. There’s stalls of handmade crafts and gifts which is something neither of us have ever seen before at an event like this. I marvel at the array of trinkets and lovingly crafted items, pointing things out to Graham that I think he might like. I come across a watercolour painting of a man playing the guitar, his silhouette illuminated by the night’s sky as he perches on the edge of a dock like a fisherman. The detail in the picture is spectacular, every brush stroke purposeful in making the painting perfect. I scuttle to Graham who’s a couple of stalls over and bring him over to show him the painting. I watch as his eyes light up like headlights in the snow, and we both look at each other with beaming smiles on our faces. No words need to be exchanged for us to combine some money and buy the picture. The artist carefully wraps the canvas in tissue paper before tucking it into a stiff cardboard box. I thank her and she thanks us right back for supporting her work. We look at a few other things before continuing on our walk.

“This’ll look great in your studio, Graham.” I enthuse, holding tightly onto the box. “Although I do wish you would’ve let me buy it for you.”

“It’s not just my painting, it’s ours.” He states simply, taking my hand and bringing it to his face to kiss the back of my knuckles. A rush of heat spikes up my neck and onto my cheeks, and my gaze falls to the ground like a lovesick rom-com character.

As we walk, Graham gets onto the topic of fairground mini games and how they’re rigged to make more money and have barely any winners. It’s hard not to laugh at his rambling, and I tease him for being so uptight about it. “I’m not uptight! It’s the truth!”

“It’s for kids, Graham.”

“Exactly! Which is why it shouldn’t be such a scam. It’s not fair for kids to keep losing.” As he speaks, I spot a Hook-A-Duck game and grab his arm to stop him. He notices the stall and frowns, his expression the complete opposite of the ear-to-ear grin taking over my face.

“Go on, Gra! Have a go!” I chime, wrapping my arms around his left arm like a koala bear attached to a tree. “That stuffed panda up there looks like he needs a home.”

“That stuffed panda is too big to be a real prize, Y/N. You’ll be lucky if I win that plastic snake down there.”

“It’s worth a shot.”

I pull him towards the game, handing money to the woman at the counter. She hands me the rod and I turn to Graham, thrusting it into his grasp. “You weren’t kidding.” He says, reluctantly taking it.

“Nope!”

He aims the hook towards the brightest yellow duck in the middle of the water. His grip is a little shaky and he misses the first couple of tries, but he eventually gets it. The worker grabs the duck and turns it over to show a big black star on the bottom of it. Graham drops the rod and looks at me, embarrassment covering his face as the large stuffed panda bear is brought down from the top shelf and handed over to us. “Congratulations! You found the grand prize duck.” The worker cheers, pushing the bear towards Graham. He awkwardly thanks her, picking up the oversized plush toy and carrying it over to the nearest bench.

I can’t contain my laughter as he stares at the bear, one hand on his hip and the other scratching his head. “Well, this is ridiculous.”

“He’s cute!” I squeal, sitting down and cuddling the panda close. “I’m going to name him Leslie.”

“Very funny.” Graham quips, trying hard not to smile but I can see the smirk beginning to tug at the corners of his mouth. I give the teddy bear another big squeeze, encouraging the smile to finally surface on Graham’s more than perfect face. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Who? Me or the bear?” I raise my eyebrows and he moves closer to me, bending down to press a gentle kiss to my lips. I grab him by his jacket and pull him closer, causing him to stumble a little and almost fall on top of me. He steadies his feet, kissing me again, his hand cupping my cheek. For a second it feels like we’re the only people there, until the screams of those on the dodgems pull us out of our private moment. We both jump at the sound, Graham’s cheeks turning slightly pink before he buries his face in my neck.

“Look at us snogging at the fair like a pair of teenagers.” He mumbles, his hair tickling my skin as he talks. I find his shoulders and push him to stand up straight, standing with him.

“Oh, let them stare! I’m not embarrassed and neither should you be.” I encourage, embracing him in a hug and fluttering kisses along his jaw. He squirms a little and complains about being ticklish, moving his head around to try and dodge me. He slips away and grabs the panda bear, throwing it onto his shoulders like a parent carrying their child, or a festival-goer balancing their drunken friend. I laugh, tossing our empty cans into the bin before linking my arm with his once again.

With a giant stuffed bear in tow, it becomes increasingly more difficult to get on rides and find somewhere safe to leave it. We settle on the ferris wheel, sitting beside one another with the panda facing us. Graham stays close, his arm wrapped tightly around me as we go up into the air and look down on the view of the funfair as well as the city around us. “Sorry we didn’t get to do much. Bloody stupid bear.” Graham scoffs, gesturing to the mountain of stuffing and fake fur occupying the opposite seat.

“I don’t mind. I’ve had a lovely time.” I rest my head on his shoulder, reaching over to hold his hand. His fingers entwine with mine, his thumb rubbing circles over the back of my hand as we listen to the faint sounds of the music below us. “I’m really glad we agreed to do date nights more regularly.”

“Me too, but I’m planning the next one. Preferably somewhere with fewer screaming people.”

“Here’s me thinking you enjoyed the company of overexcited strangers.” I joke, nuzzling my nose into his neck and inhaling the addictive scent of his cologne. He rubs his cheek against my head like a cat showing affection.

“I’d enjoy having you to myself much more.”

“Then it’s a date.” I giggle, kissing his cheek and feeling his short stubble tickle my upper lip. He turns his head for his lips to meet mine, kissing me as we both mumble “I love you”s against one another’s mouths.

Graham is the first to pull away, slouching in his seat and slipping his hand into my bag. He pulls out the camera and smiles at me. “How about we take that photo together now?”

[ais-little-teacorner]

Hello! I’m the anon who asked for the nekomaru and ultimate imposter head cannons… I should of made this more clear but yes, I did mean x reader headcannons ;; apologies

<<hiyaa! it´s all good, i just wanted to ask in case i understood it the wrong way^^ i am kind of excited to write for those two characters, since i never see any fan content of those! though, that also means, i am kind of nervous and afraid that i will not write them correctly °~° anyways, i´ll try to give it my best!!>>

Nekomaru & Ult! Imposter x Reader headcanons

character(s): Nekomaru Nidai, Ultimate Imposter/Twogami franchise: Danganronpa warning(s):

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♡ aagghhh Nekomaru is such an underrated character ♡ i honestly wish i´d have paid more attention to him duirng my first playthrough ♡ i would imagine that if you and him don´t meet through school/Hope´s Peak ♡ that it would have to be in his training sessions! ♡ if you aren´t a sportsy person (i feel ya, homie) then maybe you picked up a friend of yours or anything like that ♡ if it´s the first, then, of course, Nekomaru got to know you immediately as a coach and got to bond with you ♡ if it´s the latter, then, being a good coach and caring about his studens, he asked who you were and got into conversations with you any time you decided to stop by at his! ♡ either way, you two came to regularly talk to each other, maybe even just meet up to see each other! ♡ (he would still try to get you into sport activities every time you meet, but shh) ♡ and over time, Nekomaru would develope feelings for someone as beautiful as you>< ♡ if his sickness he mentions in the game would get worse, he probably wouldn´t tell you, afraid to hurt you when he would have to go or something along those lines ♡ but it isn´t acting up! and he loves you a lot! ♡ so he wants to be "manly" and confesses to you! ♡ i can either imagine he does it completely unplanned and clumsy ♡ or super cutesy with a bouquet of flowers and chocolates ♡ he would probably also ask around between his friends because ♡ even though he is acting like a tough man on the outside ♡ in the inside he is actually pretty nervous :c ♡ and he doesn´t understand why! it´s just you, he already knows you! ♡ but, well! you said you felt the same way! ♡ sooo onto the relationship headcanons! ♡ Nekomaru himself is a very overprotective person ♡ i can imagine he probably lost a few people important to him in the past, so he is constantly afraid, that you are gonna get hurt:( ♡ he is also the best hype man imaginable! ♡ you did something you are feeling proud of? Hell yeah! You did amazing, keep it up! ♡ you are feeling bad or insecure about yourself? don´t worry, you are effing amazing and he will do everything and anything to show you that! ♡ he constantly wants to show you how amazing you are and make you believe that you, indeed, are an amazing person! ♡ but give him some of that reassurance back! Nekomaru really wants to be appreciated in the same way he appreciates you! ♡ all in all, amazing boyfriend, just imagine him giving you a confidence boost:* ♡ he´d give you the confidence you deffo deserve!!<3

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

♡ also a character i haven´t payed that much mind to:( ♡ but hey, that´ll change! ♡ so Twogami rarely has any human contact apart from Ryota and a few of his classmates in school ♡ so you´d either have to be in his class or have any secret ways of getting in touch with him (o.o) ♡ but let´s say you have your ways of keepting contact with him! ♡ maybe you are even simillar to Ryota! ♡ either way, Twogami has never had any deeper human contacts especially not genuine ones, where he is not in his persona ♡ i personally headcanon that, because of that, he always loved pets, he doesn´t own any but freaking loves ´em to bits! ♡ anyways, it means so unbelievably much to him to know he actually has someone that cares about him ♡ the real him! ♡ so if he knows you good and trusts you a lot (which might take a while) he will definetly take his persona off or take it off more often ♡ but that takes a lot of courage and trust so don´t force it off of him ♡ when Twogami realized he might have feelings for you, in his mind this was a huge drama ♡ normally he would have just repressed those emotions ♡ ´it wouldn´t be in his character, right?´ ♡ not gonna lie, he judges himself lost for the fact that he just imposts people ♡ you might have had to confess your own feelings first in front him ♡ poor boy is way to nervous for that, istg ♡ when you did confess, a part of him was super duper happy, you liked him back! ♡ another part was extremely nervous, though ♡ if you really do know each other well, he would just have a stern alk with you about it ♡ how he plays a persona ♡ but if, in the end, both of you are cool with the situation you are in and you tell him that you do love him for the actual person he is ♡ you will end up in a happy relationship! ♡ as to general headcanons, i can see him being quite the overprotective person ♡ simillar to Nekomaru, he cares a whole lot about the people around him, especially you, even if sometimes it doesn´t really seem like it! ♡ he could practically burst if he would see that you are hurt ♡ he also gets embarassed easily °~° ♡ just shower him in some sincere compliments and he´ll be putty in your arms and blushing mess, telling you to "cut it out!" ♡ so even though a relationship with him might seem complicated from the outside, he is a really sweet and genuine person, that also deserves to be loved!

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

<<ayoo! i hope you enjoyed this! honestly, i di not thing i would have so much fun writing this!! i really loved rethinking about those characters and i mightve started to like them much more! thank you for requesting, i hope i got them at least a little accurate:) i hope you´ll still have an amazing day/night!>>

[tommydarlings]

Jarley Quinn ↬ t.h

A/N: Wow, one of the longest things i ever wrote! got this idea after i watched the joker and Harley Quinn birds of prey and i thought it would be nice to write it... I hope this doesn´t flop, sorry if it´s crap. anyway, enjoy! :) ily,liz <3 

pairing: Tom Holland x reader 

warnings: violent actions, mentions of nearly blowjob?, swearing

w/c: 1.8k 

Requests: OPEN

Summary: Your win an Oscar for your amazing role as Harley Quinn´s and Joker´s daughter, but you didn´t knew that Tom Holland aka your role model would be there too. 

this handwriting = actions and dialogues in the movie

masterlist || taglist || requests || blurb event

„Guys, i think that i´m gonna pass out“ Tom said as they all took their seats in the huge hall.

„Calm down Tom, it´s okay, your gonna win this“ Harry told his brother.

Today was the day.  Today were the oscars. And Tom got nominated for the best leading role in an action / psycho / R rated movie. Cherry.

And the best thing is, when he should win the oscar, then their gonna show cherry on a huge screen in the hall. That´s sick.

Leonarde Dicaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and a lot of other amazing and unbelievable good actors are gonna see his movie then. Sounds like a dream to him.

„Thomas, son, it´s fine, we all believe in you! Your performance in Cherry was amazing and even the Russo Brothers said that it was an oscar worthy performance! Find someone to beat that!“ His mother, Nikki, said to her son with a small laugh.

Just when Tom wanted to answer, the Russo brothers came and both sat down next to Tom.

„Hello, guys!“ Anthony said.

„Hello, how are you?“ Dominic asked them.

„Were good, and excited“ Joe told Dom.

„And i´m fucking nervous“ Tom whisperd.

„Hey, hey, it´s okay to be nervous. Your gonna win this, your gonna rock your speech and in the end everyone will clap for your performance after they all saw the movie!“ Anthony told tom.

Tom could only nod before a man came on the stage and started to talk,

„Hello Ladies and Gentleman! I hope you all feel well and excited!“

The man went on with his speech and after about 15 minutes talking about some random stuff, he finally said the words that the entire hall craved for.

„And now i´m gonna announce the winner for the oscar in the category action / psycho / R rated movie…“

Tom was shaking, Nikki and dominic prayed for their son and Tom´s brothers tried to calm him down a little bit.

„Calm down“ Joe whisperd to Tom.

„I c-can´t“ he stuttered quietly.

The whole hall was so silent, it was creepy.

„Y/N Y/L/N!“ the man on the stage said into the micro.

Tom had his head hung low after his name wasn´t said.

Everyone started to clap, but when they saw who came on the stage, everyone looked very confused.

„What the-„ Tom said.

A young women, maybe about 21 – 22 years came on the stage with a beautiful suit on her body.

 „Hold on, is this the wrong catergory?“ Tom said.

„No, it´s the action / psycho / R rated movie category“ Anthony answerd.

„How can she-„ before Tom could finish his sentence, you started to speak,

„Hello Ladies and Gentleman, omg i can´t belive this, sorry, I won´t steal your time, i just want to thank the cast of this amazing movie and my family and friends who support me since we started filming this masterpiece. Thank you so much and enjoy the rest of the night, love you“ you finished.

„And now, let´s watch the amazing movie of the oscar winner! Jarley Quinn!“ the man said with a huge grin into the mic.

„Jarley Quinn? Isn´t it Joker?“ Harry said.

„Or Harley Quinn?“ Sam said.

„Boys, let´s just watch it“ Nikki told her son´s.

They said a quick and quiet ´okay, sorry´ before the movie began.

Jarley Quinn was written in thick and big letters on the screen, then you appeared onto the huge screen.

You stood infront of a mirror and looked at your reflection in the mirror infront of you. You took each side of your mouth with your fingers and spread them into a big smile before you let me fall and started to cry, tears were running down your cheeks as you still looked into the mirror where you could saw your painted face and green dyed hair. You always painted yourself just like your father and mother did. And the hair were another thing you got from your father. It was funny and interesting.

After this little opening, you went to two graves with the names Joker and Harley Quinn written on them.

„So that are her parents“ Tom whisperd to himself.

„Obviosly“ Harry huffed.

„I´m so sorry mamma and daddy, i´m gonna make you proud and i´m gonna make the entire world remember your name, and my name i swear“ you said.

And then, then the scenes came where everyone understood why you got the oscar in the first place. Even the Russo brothers were impressed.

„Fuck“ you whisperd to yourself as you saw that you need money for the pills you were fucking addicted to. You don´t even need all these pills, but you basically craved them with passion.

„Not again, please not fucking again“ you yelled through your apartment as you tried to find some money anywhere in the living room or kitchen. You even looked in the bathroom.

„Well, i don´t have another option, so“ you said to yourself in a slightly bitchy way.

You grapped your weapon and put it into your weapon holder that was covered up by your red suit jacked from your father.

Just a few minutes later you stood with a bag full of money, a weapon in your other Hand and huge smile on your face that is covered in the iconic Joker makeup in the middle of the bank while every single person around was on their knees and begged for their lifes.

„I won´t hurt anyone, i swear okay? I just wanted the money, but before i leave, i would like to say something, of course if i´m allowed to“ you said.

The bank women nodded quickly with her head before you said your last sentence,

„You look so good on your knees, just like i did yesterday“ you said with an amused laugh before you shot the person that was kneeling infront of you right between their eyes.

You laughed hysterically while you ran out of the bank with the bag and your beautiful weapon.

„Oh m-my g-good“ Nikki whisperd to herself with an shooked expression on her face.

„I mean, that was sick, but it was good“ Anthony said.

„That´s right“ Joe agreed.

„How has she done that with so much ease?!“ Tom whisper – screamed at himself.

After you swallowed your pills, you decieded to go into the club and have a good time, well at least you wanted to have a good time.

The second you stepped into the club, people went silent and didn´t dared to move. But you didn´t liked it.

„What? C´mon, go ahead with your talking about whatever you were talking about! I won´t stop you!“ you laughed.

You really weren´t here to stop anyone, so you just orderd a drink and looked through the club. You stopped your gaze at one specific couch in the corner of the club, a man, trying to rape a poor little young girl.

„Let´s have some fun“ you whisperd to yourself before you took a huge sip from your martini and walked to the scene.

„Can i help you?“ The man asked as he saw you standing infront of him while he held the poor girl in a tight grip on his lap.

„No, but can i help you, little girl?“

„N-no“ she stuttered.

„Okay“ you shrugged before you walked away.

Hold on, let me correct, about to walk away.

You punched him with your fist right on his nose.

„Ow! What the f-„ before he could finish his sentence, you grapped your weapon and hit his temple with it.

He fell unconscious onto the floor and you laughed again in a quiet creppy way before the girl ran into your arms.

„Woah, woah,woah, i only saved you from getting raped, not more“ you said.

„You saved my life, thank you“ the girl said.

„No, i saved your virginity“ you said before you removed yourself from her grip and went to the exit. Before you could exit the loud and sweaty club, a young but confidence looking men grapped your wrist.

„Hello beauty“ he growled.

„Hello, with what can i help you mister?“ you said with a smile on your face that was still full of the iconic makeup of your father.

„How about you help me with the little problem down there“ he said as he looked down to his own…crotch.

„Of course! Your house?“ you answerd with a little smirk.

„Mine“ he said before he dragged you into a car.

Just a few moments later, you were on your knees right infront of his naked figure while he sat comfortably on the couch.

„You gonna be daddy´s good girl?“ the man growled quietly.

You nodded with your head before you opened your mouth and stuck your tongue.

„Good“ he whisperd before he put his hand on the back of your head and directed your mouth to his dick.

But before he could get what he wanted, you pulled your dagger out from your dress pants and stabbed him in his… dick.

„Ohhhhh shit“ Tom hissed while he lightly held his crotch with his hands.

„Fuuuuuck, i know this isn´t real, but that fucking hurt“ Harry said.

„Okay, wow“ Anthony whisperd.

„OW FUCK, YOU LITTLE SLUT!“ the man yelled in pain.

You just started to laugh hysterically again and grapped your lighter, plus a tiny Matchstick from the pocket of your suit jacket.

„Hold on, wha- what the fuck a-are y-you doing, NO AHHH-!“ the man yelled before you lit the matchstick with fire and threw it on his naked body.

You still didn´t stopped laughing in this creppy and loud way as you walked out of the house with a cigarette between your red painted lips.

The next few scenes were violent, brutal, sexual and absolutely disgusting, but at the same time… definitely oscar worthy.

„Okay, that was unbelievable“ Harry said as the credits started to roll.

„You right, that was a true masterpiece“ Sam said with a tiny laugh.

„It w-was really g-good, yeah“ Tom said quietly.

After the movie ended, you got a lot of praises for your performance. Finally, The hollands and the russo brother´s found you and walked to you.

„That was amazing Miss Y/n!“ Anthony said.

„Oh please call me y/n, and thank you“

„Yeah, it was great“ Tom said quietly.

„Thank you so much- hold on, you are Nico walker from cherry right?“ you asked Tom.

„Yeah, you saw it?“ he asked.

„Of course! It was one of the best movies i ever saw!“

The two of you didn´t even noticed that Nikki, Dom, the twins, paddy and the russo brother´s already went as you went on with talking and praises.

„Would y-you maybe l-like to g-go out with me?“ Tom asked with an nervous voice.

„Of course!“ you asnwerd quickly.

„Really?!“

„Yeah, of course, i would actually love to Tommy“

The nickname melted his heart immerdiately.

„Okay, c-cool, uhm, can i have your number?“ Tom asked.

„Yes, here“

After they exchanged numbers, Tom went to his Family and the Russo brothers.

„And? How did it went?“ Harry asked with a little smirk.

„Got her number“  tom said proudly.

„No way! That´s amazing!“ Sam said.

„She is amazing“ tom said with smile.

He can´t wait to see you again.

-`ღ´- ᶫᵒᵛᵉᵧₒᵤ -`ღ´-

Taglist:

@goodgirlgonetom @majo240820 @misshale21 @itstaskeen @pure-ghost @justafangirlduh @elizabeth-brown @justafangirlduh​ @roseke​ 

[neonun-au]

back again with more:

13, 18 (yes, again; feel free to rant about as many books as you like), 26, 32, 51, 77, 94, 104

- livvie

here we go ~

13: your favorite romance novel

i said earlier as well that i dont really read much romance generally as a genre, it doesn't do too much for me. tend to gravitate more towards books where its either a b plot or its sort of doomed to tragedy fhdskja north and south by elizabeth gaskell remains a top favourite romance, but silk by alessandro baricco is also up there ! its short and very, very lovely to read. not really tragic, and i wouldnt even really call it a romance but there is so much love in it and it is so beautifully written.

18: your least favorite book ever

okay here is another one, and it encompasses a lot of issues i have with science fiction written by the "good old boys" and lauded as masterpieces of the genres when really there is no substance to them beyond surface level, and that is stranger in a strange land by robert a. heinlein.

the worst part about this book, genuinely, is how good it could have been if heinlein didn't absolutely hate women lmao. the initial plot and the early premise of the book is so interesting, and i love a good speculative science fiction novel so i had high hopes going in, but oh my god does it ever turn on a dime about halfway through.

it was written in the 60s, so the style of sci fi is dated but that's fine. the sort of 'moon fever' of the time very much carries through and alongside that comes the undercurrents of the red scare, of course, because you absolutely cannot divide an author or their work from their influences. so that is not super fun to read, but its fine. we can get over that. in the beginning there are some philosophical ramblings, and i can very much enjoy those when they make sense with the characters and the plot and everything. and in this book they did, for about the first 2/3 of it, and then it just becomes a platform for heinlein's self-insert character essentially to preach and prosteletize about his beliefs a lot of which are incredibly sexist and misogynistic. this is not even like a...light misogyny of the times sort of thing, because i am good at divorcing those things in my brain. i can handle light subtext and generational differences in thinking.

its not that. its absolutely blatant, awful misogyny dressed up as some sort of enlightenment and i just...its just awful to read. genuinely. and there is something much more bitter about it being such an abrupt shift and immediate downfall after a fairly promising first half of a novel. so much of anything that could be good about it is just too bogged down by sexism, xenophobia, racism, and the overall awful perspectives/opinions of the author to be in any way enjoyable and it is just so unbelievably not worth a read.

(this is much less of a petty rant and again it has been a while since i read it but...here we are lol i really truly just hated it)

ill give you a little peak into why i hated the fault in our stars, too. just for some fun nitpicking. i hate the characters. they read as very try hard witty; an older man's charicature of what a "smart, unique teen" sounds like. it's incredibly pandering and the writing is bland at best. i do not enjoy john green as an author or a content creator and, while i understand why people do and why he is popular, he is never going to be for me.

26: your favourite memoir

ah, this one is going to be difficult. i feel like i have to go with the glass castle by jeannette walls because it is truly just so remarkable, both as a book and as a story. i would also put brain on fire: my month of madness by susannah cahalan because its just so absolutely wild and entrancing.

32: your favourite nonfiction novel

the one that i think about the most, consistently, after reading it almost two years ago is the teachings of don juan: a yaqui way of knowledge by carlos castaneda. the legitimacy of the book has been under question for many, many years, but regardless of if it is fact or fiction in the end, there is a lot of insight to be gleaned from it. another one i have incredibly fond feelings towards is quiet: the power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by susan cain.

51: a book that you found underwhelming

the girls by emma cline. cults, 1960s. it had a lot of promise but it just sort of fell...flat.

77: a book so useless that you could use it as a coaster

ooo mean i love it lol. strength in stillness: the power of transcendental meditation by bob roth. its a 200+ page brochure for a company that charges you $2000+ to "learn" how to meditate. its absolutely a waste of time, it only got on new york times bestseller list because its backed by celebrities who have paid this sum to "learn" how to meditate. its a sales pitch. absolutely useless.

94: a book about grieving

norwegian wood by haruki murakami. its difficult in the same way that it is fantastic

104: a fluffy, sweet read

ummmmmm fdjksahfdsakj lemme see if i can dig anything up, this usually is not my vibe for books HAHA (barely even for fics tbh fjdsak)

its not really like...a fluffy, sweet book per se, but love letters of great men by ursula doyle is a very fun read. just a collection of love letters sent by a smattering of different famous men throughout history. sometimes hilarious, sometimes a little cringey, sometimes exceptionally sweet. but always short and light and easy to read.

[honeytea8]

Hey, first a small reminder: your blog makes me happy! UwU Then, I really need Passione gang and s/o, that has a stand with only one purpose: Chaos! The more, the better. Like, summon it and get ready for some rubber chickens rain, screaming tornadoes, triple raibows, etc. And, since Stand represents user's soul, meet the same chaotic good personality, that's always makes stuff, that leaves you only one question: why?

I’m so glad this blog makes you happy 🥺🥺 that’s so encouraging to hear! Also, I had a blast writing this request. Like, oh my goodness, how fun would it be to have this stand! 💗🤣

Bruno Bucciarati

Is fully aware of how you can get and thinks your chaotic good personality is a great addition to the team (for the most part lol)

Your stand will definitely catch him off guard at first but Bucciarati is a quick thinker

I think he’ll be able to manage his way through even the craziest stunts your stand may pull

Will trust you to make the right decisions and know your limits so that you don’t cause yourself harm

When your stand does something unbelievable, he’ll say something like “That is one hell of a stand y/n, you never cease to amaze me.”

Quite proud of you actually; wishes he had been a bit of a renegade like you early on in his mafia career.

Narancia Ghirga

YO! This guy lights your FUSE!

Narancia will constantly try to get you to use your stand at inappropriate times just to see what’ll happen. You guys turn it into a game and it’s hell for everyone around.

What will happen next? Will the sky turn purple? What about a lunar eclipse? Or zero gravity in the middle of the city?

The possibilities are endless, and Narancia has made it his personal goal to find them all!

He’ll be like, “Y/n, I’m so boreeeed! Let’s play a game 😈”

With a stand that unpredictable, let’s just say the gang is in for a bit of a surprise when you and Narancia get hit with a burst of inspiration for more half-baked experiments.

Don Giorno Giovanna

Has no clue what to think at first when your stand causes a citywide blackout. But is fascinated and wants to learn more.

I can’t help but think Giorno would use your stand as trump card or like a secret weapon lmao

Like let’s be real, your stand is quite the interesting one, and it’s bound to take the enemy by surprise.

“Y/n, are you injured? Here, let me take a look.” As he pulls you to the side he’ll say something like “You did well out there, good work.” (might peck your cheek or hand)

Giorno would definitely recognize your value as a soldato, but as an s/o I think he’d be just as curious as Narancia—just not as reckless

He would never ask you to use it unless necessary but trust that he’ll be paying very close attention when you do

Pannacotta Fugo

He’s the complete opposite of Narancia, but it makes sense, given his own stand is so volatile in nature.

He won’t want to indulge in any potential chaos your stand may cause.

Fugo understands the dangers of having that kind of power, so his top priority would be your safety.

You may not like this, but he’ll be a bit stifling.

“Y/n, stay back and let the others handle it. We’ll just get in the way this time.”

Chances are, if you’re just as chaotic as your stand suggests, you won’t be listening to Fugo much (if ever) lmao

He’ll probably be left to clean up your messes depending on how grand scale the effects of your stand is.

Will pull your ear or pinch your cheek as payback for being so bullheaded, even if your intentions were good

Leone Abbacchio

You literally give him the biggest headache ever and he simply can’t be bothered with keeping track of all the crazy shit your stand does.

Those are the facts lmao

He loves you, but you tend to cause a lot of trouble for him, considering he’s the oldest of the pack on top of being your bf.

Abba is usually the only one who can reign you in.

“Oi quit fucking around y/n. Put your damn stand away before you cause another earthquake.”

He’ll probably scold you a lot if your stand interferes with the success of the mission. It’s always about the mission with this one 🙄

Not above giving you his own brand of punishment if and when you mess up.

Secretly admires your good heart that rebels against society, but still follows its own moral compass towards justice

Guido Mista

You're a handful, but you're his handful.

“Damn babe, you really made it snow in the middle of July! That’s so awesome!”

Mista is kind of your cheerleader lmao

Your stand and the Pistols get together and even more chaos ensues, mostly because Mista has even less control over his stand than you lmfao

There’s actually an unspoken rule that you and Mista don’t get paired up for missions together, somehow you two are an even worse combination than say you and Narancia

Mista will make lots of comments and compare your stand to the apocalypse, then go off on a tangent about possible theories and ways your stand could be used in the apocalypse 😂

Is cool with anything as long your stand doesn’t suddenly conjour up 4 million number fours (he’s had this nightmare before)

[wlw-imagines-blog]

The Darkest House on Christmas Day {Carol Danvers x Fem!Reader}

Summary: Hallmark movies are so overrated. You and Carol are pleased to learn that you are every hallmark movie’s nightmare; a couple of gays. After moving into a small, ideal town, you and your fiance experience small town minds and souls. There must be a way to get through the season in one piece.

Pairing: Carol Danver x Fem!Reader

Word Count:

Warnings: indirect homophobia, heteronormative themes

A/N: This was super fun to write, it was inspired by a Hallmark movie!

Moving houses is always stressful. Moving houses a week before Christmas is unbelievably hectic. 

Your fiance, Carol, had assured you that the move would be a breeze; load up the truck in the morning, drive an hour, unload in the afternoon, then settle into the new house for the night. The new house was absolutely wonderful. The sweet little two story was at the end of a cul-de-sac, coloured blue with white shutters, and a large front porch.

The drive had been stressful to say the least. Going through snow and sleet on a highway of insane Christmas drivers. After an hour and a half, the two of you arrived, at your new slice of heaven.

“Get a load of this!” Carol called out, jumping onto the porch. She threw her arms wide. “It’s wonderful out here! There’s so much more space!”

You grinned, burrowing your face into your scarf. “It’s lovely! Much better than my shoe box in New York!”

Just as you were going to step off the porch, Carol wound her arms around your waist. “Come oooon, one inaugural dance to christen the porch, what do you say?”

You turned, throwing your arms around her neck. “I can think of a better to christen it.”

“Oh yeah?” She grinned, cheeks dimpling. “Wanna come inside and show me?”

You stole a quick kiss. “After we set up the bed, yeah?”

Carol hummed, distracted by your mouth. She dove back in, pressing sweet kisses to the corners of your mouth, before landing one directly on your mouth.

“Um, excuse me?” A voice pulled the two of you out of your reverie. 

Carol and you turned to see a middle-aged woman, wearing a Christmas jumper that could have been mistaken as a ugly sweater. She was bottle blonde and bristling, with heavy pale eye shadow and flared jeans.

“Are you the new... neighbours?” she asked in a bright, obviously confused voice. Her eyes darted from you to Carol.

Carol untangled herself from you. “Hi! my name is Carol Danvers, and this my fiance, Y/F/N Y/L/N. We just moved in two minutes ago.”

“Very pleased to meet you,” you said, reaching out to shake her hand.

She smiled and hesitantly shook your hand, eyes remaining cloudy. “My name is Brenda, I live next door with my husband Richard. We’re so... pleased that you moved in five days before Christmas!”

Her honeyed tones did nothing to sweeten her sour mood and bitter words. Carol blinked at you and you raised your eye brows in response. 

This wasn’t going to be good.

You intercepted before Carol could say anything too scathing to your new neighbour. “Right, we had no time before today, and we needed to be out of my apartment by yesterday. Five days is still a lot of time before Christmas!”

Brenda’s fake smile only widened. Jesus, this lady was making you sweat. 

“Of course! It’s just the neighbourhood has a theme every year; all white!”

The two of you balked, mouths open.

“Every house must be adorned with all white lights!”

Carol visibly relaxed while you breathed in deeply. “Lights! Of course. We’ll, uh, see if we can make time to put something up. We’re going to be pretty busy with moving.”

“I totally understand,” Brenda said in a tone that made her seem to not understand at all. “But you better put them up quick, you don’t want to be the only dark house of Christmas!”

“Yeah, I know what you mean,” you found yourself agreeing. “It was nice meeting you, Brenda.”

Brenda smiled and nodded, as to say yes, it is nice to meet me.

You and Carol waved goodbye as Brenda turned sharp on her heel and returned to her home. 

She turned to you. “Everything about that conversation was disarming. Her vibes are disgusting.”

“Hey, don’t be too mean; we might need to borrow a cup of sugar from her one day.” You laughed, shoving her gently. “Come on, let’s unload before it gets dark out.”

“Right!” She clapped her hands. “Then we can christen the house!”

You shushed her playfully then followed her to the moving truck.

***

With all your kitchen supplies in boxes, and no groceries in the fridge, you and Carol drove out to the nearest restaurant on the downtown strip. 

Downtown itself was festive and cozy. Lights were strung up on every shop, with wreaths and Christmas trees at every door and corner. People bustled about, shopping and spending time with their families. A gentle snow had started, gently peppering Carol’s light hair and landing in her eye lashes. 

You smiled at her, winding your hand in hers.

There was a small diner on the corner of the street. It wasn’t as quiet as you had expected for a Tuesday night. From the looks of the patrons, it was the usual crowd; the owner and his wife, enough women to create a book club, and a few bachelors loitering at the bar. No one paid you much attention.

Carol squeezed your arm. “I’m going to the little girl’s room, grab a table for us?”

You nodded as she left. 

The owner’s wife finally saw you as you sat down at a small table for two. 

“Well hello!” She wandered over to you. “How many tonight?”

“Two of us, thank you.”

“So, where’s your husband?” The perky woman asked nosily, eyes landing on your engagement ring. She was older, with grey hair and bright blue eyes. 

You paused uncomfortably, taking the napkin from the table. “My fiance is in the bathroom. We’ll order in a bit.”

She nodded, not aware of your sudden attitude shift. 

“My name’s Joan, i run The Diner with my husband, Don. We’re the town’s central hub for good food and even better company!”

“It’s a lovely little place.”

“Are you and your husband passing just passing through?”

“No, my fiance and I just moved in this morning. She was excited to visit downtown.” you stated pointedly. “It’s beautiful this time of year.”

“Wow, moving in just before Christmas!” Joan steamrolled along. “He was right! Downtown is absolutely gorgeous during Christmastime. The snow, the lights, and the people make the town absolutely dream-like.”

This entire conversation made your skin prickle. You looked past Joan and saw Carol leaving the bathroom, drying her hands on her pants. As discreetly as possible, you shot her a look that screamed help.

She picked up immediately and fast walked to your table. 

“Excuse me,” Carol turned up the charm by a hundred percent. “Just need to sit down.”

Carol’s presence turned Joan completely on her head at such a fast rate, you though she needed to sit down. 

“I-I, uh, right,” the older woman stuttered out as your fiance seated herself across from you.

“What looks good, hun?” She asked conversationally.

You hummed. “Pasta or burgers, baby?”

“Ooh, pasta sounds divine.”

Joan stood there, mouth opening and closing like a fish. “I’ll-I’ll send a waitress when you’re ready to order.”

As she left, Carol leaned over to you. “What was that all about?”

“That was Joan, she and her husband Don own the diner. I told her that we just moved into their small town; she was really excited to meet my husband.” 

“Oh. Did she give you any flack? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. This is a small town, we have to assume the worse.”

Carol reached out and held your hand. “We just got here, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt.”

You smiled and brushed off the weird interaction with Joan. The evening was pleasant, despite the looks that Don and Joan shot you and Carol. You and carol ate quickly, paid the bill, tipped 15%, and left without a word. 

That night, you and Carol set up the bed, and unpacked the toiletry boxes. 

After a quick shower, you went downstairs to the box-filled living room and found Carol sitting cross-legged in front of a long box. 

“So, I found the tree,” she gestured to the fake tree at her feet. “Wanna put it up?”

You groaned, flopping next to her. “It’s almost ten, hun, how do you have the energy?”

“I drank a red bull. Come on, it won’t take us too long!” 

It took a few minutes of convincing, but she managed to sway you into decorating the downstairs with garlands, tinsel, and wreaths. The tree stood tall, broad, and covered in silver and gold. 

It took plenty of effort, but the two of you managed to move the couch from the garage to living room. You flopped there, Carol burrowing into your side and wrapping her arms around your waist. 

“I’ll put the lights up tomorrow,” She whispered into your neck. 

“You don’t have to, Carol. Just ignore what Brenda said.”

“It’s not because of Brenda. I just want to put them up,” Carol replied with faux innocence.

You sat up and looked at her. “We have one million things to do, babe. Why the lights?”

“Don’t worry about it, boo. I’ve got it all under control.”

You shrugged, not having time to worry about it, as Carol began to kiss your jaw, hand sliding under your shirt.

You were pretty busy for the rest of the night.

***

The lights did not surface in your mind until the next morning, when Brenda knocked furiously on your door. 

“Hello?” You wore a bathrobe and had a cup of coffee in your hand.

Brenda was in her usual attire of mom-clothes and heavy makeup. “Hi Y/N! can I show you something?”

Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed your arm and pulled you outside. She turned and pointed to your roof. “Look.”

Carol had put the lights up before you had woken up. She had found the white lights, and had expertly hung them along the exterior of the house. To you, they were lovely. 

Brenda was pointing to a string of lights that hung on the garage’s roof. Among the row of white bulbs, was a single, bright red bulb that sparkled brightly.

“It’s red,” you exclaimed, pleased at how smart and wonderful your fiance was.

Brenda pulled a white bulb out from her pocket. “Here, I brought this.”

“Oh! thanks,” you were about to take the light bulb when Carol appeared at the front door. 

“Morning, honey,” Carol hopped down from the porch and joined you and Brenda. “You like the lights?”

“I do, babe, but why the red light?”

Carol looked affronted. “Have you never heard of the Spanish tale of the ‘One Red Candle?”

You suppressed a grin. “No, I haven’t.”

“Well, you must have, Brenda,” Carol turned to your neighbour. “Right?”

“Oh! Of course I have,” Brenda stuttered awkwardly. “I just didn’t know you practiced it!”

Carol took your arm and began to steer you away. “We have a lot to do today, Brenda, and we’re sure you’re busy too! Don’t let us keep you!”

Brenda didn’t have a chance to say goodbye, and you closed the door on her face. Pressing your back against the door, you pulled Carol flushed against you.

“So, what’s the legend of the One Red Candle?” you whispered against her mouth.

Carol snorted. “No fucking clue. I made it up on the spot.”

“That red light is going to drive her crazy until the season is over; you know that right?”

“I’m counting on it, baby.”

[eeunoia]

An Idol’s Girl | l.ty

Note ⚠⚠⚠ : This will be my first blog so I’m sorry if it’s not good??? I really just can’t help but to write this ehe. Adios.

Summary: Y/N as a trainee and Lee Taeyong as her boyfriend. Kind of sum up everything.

This is so terrible but I can’t stop myself from writing this and posting it so rip to those who will encounter this to their newsfeeds??? hehehe. Don;t hate me tho, I’m like new to all of this so bare with me??

"To the world, NCT! Annyeonghaseyo NCT-imnida." I smiled as I watched them bow their heads in front of their fans. My eyes stared from the first boy from the left up until to the last one. They sure crowd the whole stage with all of their members.

I can say that SM Entertainment's future will really be bright because of them. With their visual like faces and their unbelievable talents, they will surely be remarkable.

Everyone's eye catching I can say that, but one man surely captured my eyes and my heart.

I smiled when he slightly caught me staring, Lee Taeyong. He was smiling while waving at their fans but when we locked our eyes, his smile disappeared for a while.

I pursed my lips as that hurt me. Why am I even surprised? And why the hell did I went here even though I know he won't be happy with it?

I sighed heavily as I slowly squished myself out of their loud fans. They were screaming and pushing each other but luckily, I made it out alive and a whole piece.

When I was already making my way out of the venue my phone rang so I fished it out from my pocket as I slightly hugged myself because of the cold breeze.

"Hello?"

"Where are you right now, Y/n? Did you make it in NCT's showcase?"

I smiled when I heard Jiguem Unnie's voice at the other line. She's a trainee from the Sm Entertainment together with me. We've known each other for years since we started training.

"Neh, but I'll be there in 15 minutes."

"Eh? Why?"

Of course she'll wonder why! The showcase is for 4 hours and I've been gone for only 1 hour.

I stayed silent, didn't really find the right words to say. I heard her heavy sigh and I knew she already figured out what happen.

"What did your asshole boyfriend did once again?"

The corner of my lips rose up not because I'm happy. But because of how I find things awful. He's my boyfriend and I'm just trying to support him.

"N-Nothing," i almost hit myself in my imagination because I stuttered.

"You know what? I can't believe why you still endure that relationship of yours with Lee Taeyong when you can just break up with him."

"I love him." that's the sad fact here. I love Taeyong but I'm not sure if he still feel the same way towards me.

We met the first time when our President wants the trainees to perform in one of the company's family concert. We were thrilled when we first heard about it. It will be the time Sm Ent. will introduce their trainees.

So all of us were gathered in one of the meeting halls to discuss about the said event. There is where I met him. I didn't like him at first because I don't like the way he makes me nervous.

With his visual that looks like he's been pulled off from an anime, he surely looks unreal. He have this sharp features that made him look intimidating.

It was hard for me to get close with him when I find it easy with the others. I'm a very friendly person and I get along with other people pretty well so I find it odd for me to feel different around him. That's when I realize I like him.

After a month of knowing each other, Jaehyun told me that Taeyong wanted to be close to me. I didn't believed it at first as I never saw him try. But then he started showing interest at me. He asked me out in coffee dates during our free days. It was fun!

Soon we slowly grew feelings for each other that pretty much led into a relationship. It was great actually. The first three months were just us showing how much we cared for one another. The management even knows about us and didn't really went against. I was close with his co-trainees as well.

We were doing fine until they started getting busy for their debut as NCT U. I was very excited for him and really rooting for his success. I knew how hardworking he is so he deserves this.

But as he slowly approach his dream, thats when we grew apart. We started hanging out less. I understand it of course. We started having big fights that led me to sleepless nights.

Our relationship went from a happy one to a dull commitment. My friends kept on telling me to just let him go because they think it's just not meant to be, but I'm just stubborn. I want to hold on. I don't know why, but I want to.

"Still no text?" I glanced over one of my co-trainee when she asked me that. She probably noticed I've been checking my phone too many times today.

I shook my head slowly and pouted my lips because of unhappy feeling that I've felt.

"Maybe he's just busy, Y/n-ah." Jiguem unnie said trying to lighten up my mood.

"I'm texting Mark, he said they're not busy today." Koeun said frankly.

I sighed heavily as it slowly sink into me. I get it! He's avoiding me. But I just don't know his reason! I can't remember that we argue about something? The last time we talk is me saying good luck for their comeback! I even let him do as he please, I don't confront him for all the days he's been so cold to me. I let that pass since I want him to focus with his comeback.

"Maybe he's cheating behind your back?" My thoughts were interrupted by one of the other trainees. We all looked at her in unison.

"(Trainee name)!" the other trainees called out her name with their warning tone. I saw how she just gave us a shrug.

I'm close to all of them and they're all just worried about me. They don't want Taeyong taking me for granted.

"What? We can't just feed Y/n lies! We have to be honest here. We all know her boyfriend is being an asshole so if he's cheating behind her back won't shock me at all." She said then rolled her eyes.

I understand her. She cares for me that's why she's like that. She doesn't want me to be hurt.

I unconsciously bit my nails as the possibility suddenly kicks in my thought. My heard thump in distress as I silently wish it won't be true. I knew for some reason that he loves me. Not as much as I probably love him but I'm sure he still loves me, right? I mean he won't stay in a relationship with me if he doesn't.

"Just confront him about it. Ask him why he's acting this way." Jiguem unnie suggested that I ended up just agreeing to. I don't have a choice because I also think that will be the best decision to do right now.

________

I'm here waiting for him outside their apartment building. It's just a couple of blocks away from where we're staying so I just walked myself here. It's already night time so nobody's around. The streets are dead silent and almost scary if it wasn't for the peaceful vibe.

I breath in some fresh air and tried to sit at the corner to wait for him. Jaehyun said that Taeyong usually go in the convenient store during this time to avoid people so he'll be out anytime soon.

I snapped my head over the other side when I heard some noise and there he is. Lee Taeyong wearing his hoody and a sweat pants. He didn't have his hood on so it was easy for me to notice his bright red hair color.

I smiled at the sight of him and felt how I badly I missed him. I was about to walk towards him but my steps halted when I saw him happily talking through his phone. Who is he talking to?

"Taeyong oppa." I called him. He looked at me and his smile slowly fades.

"I'll call you again." He said. He hangs up then looked at me. I wanted to ask who it was but I just want to hug him. I haven't seen him for weeks!

"Y/n? What are you doing here?" There isn't a smiling Taeyong anymore. Now, only a slightly mad with furrowing brows Taeyong is present.

"Jaehyun oppa said you usually go out during this hour so I tried my luck and hoped I'll see you." I said then pout. I saw how he clenched his jaw then sighed heavily.

"Come on, I'll take you back to your dorm." I just gave him a nod before walking behind him.

At least I got to walk with him and spend a couple of minutes together, right?

The girls and I are now sharing a dorm since they're already planning our debut. Finally.

Since it wasn't that far, we arrived fast. I was pouting and a little sad since we haven't really talk even during the walk.

I faced him and bit my lip as I saw him staring at me intently. It wasn't the same way he stares at me but I don't care. I believe that I can still fix this. I can still fix us.

"Taeyong, can we hang out tomorrow?" I asked him smiling. He sighed.

"You know I can't be seen in public, right?"  He sounded a bit sarcastic that made me sad even more. He never been sarcastic to me before just when he wants to tease me.

"I didn't mean we go out in public places. We c-can hang out in the Sm Building like before." I said really trying to spend some time with him.

His eyes were cold while staring at me. Like as if he was staring at someone he doesn't know, someone he doesn't care about. And it hurst me. It hurts me big time.

"I'm busy. Why tomorrow?" he asked carelessly.

I felt my eyes heated up after what he asked and I just tried to pull up a smile so he won't notice it.

"Ah~ Nothing! Nevermind, thank you for walking me here and take care on your way back." I said then bowed my head before hurrying myself inside.

I sighed. A deep one. How come he always forgot our monthsary?

When I entered the dorm, they were all in the living room watching some kdrama. They were laughing but when they saw me, their mood changes up.

"What happened? Why are you back so early?" one of them asked.

"Where is Taeyong? Did you guys talk?"

"Hey, are you okay?" Jiguem unnie asked and it almost made me breakdown right there. But I stopped myself. I put so much trouble in us already. I don't want them getting messed up because of my emotions.

I tried smiling but I didn't know if it went well.

"I'm okay. I'll head to my room first." And I didn't wait for their response. I just walk my ass in my room like a lifeless creature.

When I made it inside the room felt quiet and empty. I hated it. I used to fill this room with laughter and giggles because of him but now it's plain... lifeless. Like me.

I was about to lay down when my phone beeped. I lazily fished it from my pocket and saw that Jaehyun sent me a message.

______________________________________________________________

Jaehyun

I think Taeyong is cheating behind your back, Y/n. I'm sorry.

Part 2

[adamwatchesmovies]

Fast Five (2011)

You don't need to care about car culture or have seen any of the Fast and Furious movies to enjoy Fast Five. This action-heist film is packed with excitement, great characters, and dialogue so good "poetry" feels like too ordinary a word. It's not often the fifth entry in a franchise is the best but this series continues to defy all expectations.

After rescuing Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) from his prison sentence, Brian (Paul Walker) and Mia (Jordana Brewster) join him in Rio de Janeiro where they run afoul of a ruthless drug lord (Joaquim de Almeida). To get even, the trio assembles a team of experts that can help them steal $100 million from him. Their operation is complicated by Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), a.U.S. Diplomatic Security Service agent determined to capture the fugitives.

This is a sequel done right. Director Justin Lin retains everyone you liked from before and then gives you more. This is a car-based heist film. Toretto and Brian are the drivers. Roman Pearce (Tyrese Gibson) is the fast-talker. Tej Parker (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges) is the man with the connections. Han Seoul-Oh (Sun Kang) blends in anywhere. Gisele Yashar (Gal Gadot) is the weapons expert. The team is topped with Mia and Leo & Santos (Tego Calderón and Don Omar). We even see the return of Matt Schulze as Vince! Most pictures would struggle to fit so many favorites, plus the introduction of some new ones (We’ll get to Dwayne Johnson in a moment) and a plot into a running time of 106 minutes. This film manages to get them all in there in satisfying amounts.

Written by Chris Morgan (whose portfolio is admittedly mixed) and directed by Justin Lin, this is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. We’re no longer talking about life being lived a quarter of a mile at a time. Instead, it's long chases where people are crashing through windows and bullets fly. The climax? It’s a race down the streets so awesome you don't care how absurd it becomes. The film is simply too entertaining. The instant it's over, you crave more. I never would’ve expected that little gearhead of a movie directed by Rob Cohen way back in 2001 to evolve into this.

One cannot talk about Fast Five without discussing the Luke Hobbs character. Even when he isn’t standing next to his partner, Rio police officer Elena Neves (Elsa Pataky), he’s a giant of muscle and personality. His lines are gold; one-liners so good most action films would be blessed to have one or two. Make sure you don’t forget a notepad and pencil when popping this beauty into your Blu-ray player so you can write them down.

Fast Five is so much fun, and it’s so unexpectedly entertaining those who didn’t drool over the sleek engines and squealing tires in the previous Fast & Furious movies may want to go back and check if their opinions on them have suddenly changed. Some will try to justify this as a mere guilty pleasure because, if you think about it, this part was a little unbelievable, and then there was that other thing... but don’t. Do not waste your time considering the physics of what takes place. Instead, admire how much bang for your buck you get. Fast Five is well worth your time and likely a new favorite for many. (Theatrical version on Blu-ray, September 15, 2018)

[owlsbride]

Sakura arrived at her apartment late that night. She was still made a rage with Kakashi. What the hell was he thinking? And that little bitch dress as a lamb, her Sempai, the one she trusted the most, at least at work, Shizune, how dare she talked to the Hokage and request a three weeks recess just because the last week she suffered from a little and perfectly normal pressure drop? It was unspeakable. Sakura felt betrayed by Shizune, surely Tsunade Sama would never do to her something like that. And what about that shit of losing weight? What did Kakashi mean with that? Sakura always has been thin, with right muscles, a body well shape in the correct places thanks to years of training but saying, she was too skinny was way out of the line. It was true that in the last time part of her clothes seemed too big for her, but maybe it was due more to a healthy diet, exercise or who knows what, that something to do with fatigue. No, Kakashi had no idea what he was talking about, and yet he took the liberty of looking her up and down like an endangered specimen and releasing her from her obligations for three weeks just because of a few rumours and a few pounds less. Such a childish, stubborn and insufferable man her Hoka... the Hokage was. Sakura arrived at her apartment late and soaked from head to toes, and she hated it. This hideous storm was strong enough like to last a few long days, and she felt exactly like that: angry, furious, with the ability to unleash a tempest that would ravage the village especially the Hokage Tower for the entire three weeks in which she would not be working. She needed to calm down because right now in her satchel was another problem that she would have to solve, an issue that she got herself into because she couldn't just accept a simple vacation. Sakura knew then that she just needed to stop talking in Kakashi's office, she shouldn't have played with fire and accept her destiny stoically. But no, she had to show interest even if it was for a brief moment in that hideous book, and respond willingly to a challenge which she was sure she couldn't win, just to see a tiny invisible smile full of pride and joy in Kakashi's masked mouth. Sakura was losing her mind, and she knew pretty well who was the culprit. Actually, they were two culprits now: Hatake Kakashi and Icha Icha. After a long shower, a hot meal, and the laundry done Sakura sat in her coach to think how to proceed during these weeks. The infamous book resting on the coffee table was a terrible reminder of what she had just agreed to, but against what she said in that office, she decided not to read it. After all, Sakura was sure that she can give her opinion base in her good judgement about what she already knew about Jiraiya and what people say about his writing, so yes, she was ready to lie a bit.

Bzzzzzt Bzzzzt Bzzzzt

The sound of her cellphone vibrating inside the satchel took her out of her content. Sure, Ino was willing and able to talk for a while about her blossoming relationship with Sai.

Bzzzzzt Bzzzzt Bzzzzt

Resigned Sakura left her comfortable position of denial and took her phone. However, the message was not what was expected. H. Kakashi: I hope you already chose a book for me, Sakura. Otherwise, you are the only one who is going to have some fun after all.

Unbelievable, this man was unbelievable. She didn't answer.

Bzzzzzt Bzzzzt Bzzzzt H. Kakashi: BTW, did you start reading your homework like the good girl you are?

What was wrong with him? First, this ridiculous idea of the book club, then the book exchange, and those texts. She was annoyed, but deep down inside she was also thrilled, she read the last message again: 'like a good girl.' Was she a good girl? a bad one? Just a girl? He was messing with her, or were they messing with each other instead? She typed her answer nervously and waited almost without breathing his response.

Bzzzzzt Bzzzzt Bzzzzt H. Kakashi: You made me laugh, Sakura. I'll be waiting, the time is ticking and three weeks is not that much. Good read and good dreams.

For Sakura, three weeks were a lot, but now she felt a little more content. She gave him a vague answer, hi didn't ask much and now she was in front of the endeavour to find him a good book to read. A book, of course, that can cause to him, not only a significant amount of pain in the ass but also tons of hours and hours of boredom. So with that thought in mind, she began to browse her library. She ran her fingers down the spines of all the books she had inherited from her father, an avid reader who had always preferred reading inside the house than spending time in the open air. Sakura still couldn't know where her passion for the ninja path came from. Even today her father, month after month, as a gift every time he visited her, left a new book on the coffee table that Sakura quickly placed in the library where they have to wait to be read when she had time. Not that she had never read any, on the contrary, only that now she found fewer and fewer opportunities to do so due to work. Ironically, now that her vacation was beginning, instead of reading her father's books, she was condemned to read Icha Icha, the book with the most dubious reputation that could exist. She turned back to the shelves. She found Don Quixote, the right choice, Cervantes tale of the deranged gentleman who turns knight-errant, tilts at windmills and battles with sheep in the service of the lady of his dreams, Dulcinea del Toboso. Yes, a great story about chivalry, romance, and why not, also madness. But as soon as Sakura thought this one was a perfect choice, she realized that it could amaze Kakashi, after all, is the story of a warrior, crazy or not. Her second choice was not other than the Ulysses, yes, James Joyce was the correct one. Then again, a masterpiece or not, it was a mundane story, speaking of everyday things, written in the most intricate and witty way, which would definitely catch Kakashi's attention from the first sentence. This was hard. Sakura pinched the bridge of her nose, why couldn't she find the perfect book to annoyed the always proud, infuriating, and sometimes unreachable Hatake Kakashi? And just like that an idea stroke her. She took the book in her hands, she caressed it with devotion. Sakura loved Pride and Prejudice, it had been the book that had accompanied her throughout her adolescence and adulthood. Pride and Prejudice had taught her what was expected of a woman but also what was not. Everything that love meant, and how she had to look for it and that sometimes a word was worth more than a thousand acts. Pride and Prejudice was her bedside book, it had taught her the balance between one and the other, and although sometimes she did not know which way she leaned the most, she always knew that she acted knowing the consequences of each act. Sakura had the possibility of imagining that she could be Elizabeth, but she could also be Mr Darcy, which filled her completely. Sakura was the one who decided about her life, her ways and her actions, without forgetting that one day, she would indeed find a suitable love around the corner, no matter how difficult things got. She took the book in her hands and had to make a decision: would she buy a new copy for the Hokage or would she hand him hers, filled with footnotes, personal annotations, and underlined sentences? Would she allow Kakashi to catch glimpses of her thoughts and feelings? Sakura directed her gaze to the orange book on the coffee table. Icha Icha belonged to Kakashi, and he had offered it to her unceremoniously, without suspicion, and only God knows what things he had done with it, but far from feeling disgusted about it, Sakura felt that Kakashi gave her part of his being, part of who he was, and part of his most intrinsic thoughts, and coming from him, it was something to value. Finally, Sakura decided to give Kakashi her own copy. The Hokage would have in his office the book chosen for the challenge by the next morning, the game would start tomorrow.

Kakashi entered his office earlier than usual, something that he could not identify had caused him to get up earlier than expected, and instead of wandering the streets of Konoha under such a terrible storm, he headed straight for the Hokage tower. On his desk, a package wrapped in red paper was waiting for him with a small sign that was clearly not one of the reminders that Shikamaru used to leave him. It merely said: 'Will you be. Darcy or Mr Wikham?' Kakashi couldn't help but smile, now Sakura had him captivated.