#a really beautiful one is hiraeth the end of a journey

[intomybubble]

The artwork in Phantom Tales of the Night is so gorgeous. In a couple volumes there’s even artwork inside the front and back covers (before getting to the actual pages).

(It’s a but confusing to read, but the English release is completed with 12 volumes!)

[liquidstar]

I wanna reread hiraeth wa tabiji no hate now that it's complete so I can organize my thoughts on it better. But something I'm thinking about is the nature of hibino's immortality- it was just because of hani.

Hibino was always searching for a soulmate, that was his only real goal after having lived such a long life and never finding anyone permanent. Hani was his soulmate at the end. His soulmate was a god. When that god died, so did his immortality.

But they lived almost their entire immortal lives apart. Even on the journey itself, they didn't realize they were linked until the end. The idea that hibino lived his whole long long life just to meet a god as they're dying is a very tragic romance. But at the end it's not a bad thing, he's happy to have lived, happy to have met them, and ready to accept the end.

BUT I think it's also very important to note that hibino chose this. This wasn't some sort of predestined fate, he wasn't bound to his soulmate. He chose them. Even though he forgot it, he and hani made a pact back when they were still a powerful god. And they gave him the OPTION to dissolve that pact. But he chose not to, because he grew to love them.

It's not actually about being bound to a soulmate, it's about a promise being made a long long time ago. That he'll find them again in death, and they can go together. That death will reunite them. And though their memories have fogged over so much time, and as hani's powers fade, those feelings remain.

But I also think this creates a really good contrast with mika and mitsuha, especially in the idea of keeping history alive though memories.

The story is not saying you have to die when your "soulmate" does. Mika wanted to die after mitsuha did, her suicide attempt was the event that started the entire story. But this isn't treated as a lofty ambition, obviously.

On its face the story is about going to yomi, but her actual arc is about NOT doing that. About living. The reality of death isn't something mika actually wants, and she even has a panic attack about it while in the cave...

And hibino yells at her about it too, about what death means, and he tells her that by dying she's also throwing mitsuha away. The memories she holds of her. Once she's dead, the mitsuha only she knew will die too.

That alone doesn't inspire her to live though, it's the whole journey, the fact that she's now made memories with people just as precious to her as the ones she had with mitsuha. The fact that she doesn't want to forget any of it, that she wants to keep at all alive. But really, it's the fact that at the end... The birds were singing

I think it's a really beautiful story about love and death and memories and I'm excited to experience it in one go form (rather than waiting for translations) and hopefully it'll give me an even better perspective of all its themes this way

<3

[lgbtqmanga]

New Releases Feb. 21, 2023

Assorted Entanglements vol. 1 by Mikanuji

Discover a variety of stories about women's love, starting with Iori: twenty-eight-year-old office worker who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. When she wakes up next to someone, she can’t believe her partner was Minami, a worker at the bar who doesn’t want to forget what they have!

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense vol. 8 (novel) by Yuumikan, Koin

Maple's made it to the seventh stratum. Finally, monster taming's available on a grand scale, and the other Maple Tree members have begun the search for their own pets! As usual, Maple's gone off on her own to find a new skill. She’s eaten another monster…and this time she's got tentacles?!

Crossplay Love: Otaku x Punk vol. 3 by Tooru

The punk, Shuumei, and the otaku, Yuuma, fell for each other while crossdressed as cool beauty Mei and bubbly maid Hana, respectively. Things continue to spiral as Yuuma and his bestie Shimazaki try to help cure their normie friend Nakamura, who’s afraid of girls… because they keep falling in love with him! Though the otaku aren’t exactly sympathetic, Shimazaki offers to help him… by accidentally taking him to Roman, the cafe where Yuuma works as Hana! Will his bestie figure him out? What if Nakamura falls in love? Most importantly… where’s Mei?!

The Flower That Seems to Truly Dance by Saki Tsukahara

In 1941, Soutarou Kuramoto returns to Japan after years abroad with something on his mind. His closest childhood friend was a boy named Haroumi Asuma, who was famous for his traditional dances in women's clothing. Soutarou loved watching Haroumi dance, but after a fight one day, Soutarou told Haroumi: "I hate the way you dance." The two of them grew apart, and it has haunted him ever since. Soutarou is determined to finally apologize to Haroumi. With the threat of war looming over Japan, will their reunion finally bring Soutarou peace, or will it force him to confront his long-repressed feelings?

Futari Escape vol. 2 by Shouichi Taguchi

Kouhai is a mangaka living under the thumb of constant deadlines. All she wants is a little joy in her everyday life! Thankfully, Senpai has all the time in the world to help her embark on daily escapes from reality. Whether they’re going to extreme measures to make summer feel like winter, heading out on a late-night food run, or leaving all their decisions to fate, the two never fail to find creative ways to slack off. Kick back and disconnect from life with this adorable yuri comedy!

HIRAETH -The End of the Journey- vol. 3 by Yuhki Kamatani (digital only)

Mika, Hibino, and Hani are set to resume their journey, but time is not on their side, as Hani's corporeal form won't hold out much longer. But the god doesn't wish to pass into Yomi without remembering something long forgotten–something that only Hibino seems to remember. As the truth of their bond finally comes to light, Mika steels herself for the descent into Yomi and her long-awaited reunion with her departed friend, Mitsuha… Will the three travelers find what they each seek, here at the end of the journey?

Hirano and Kagiura (novel) by Shou Harusono and Kotoko Hachijo

Basketball players. Bad boys who aren’t really bad boys. Roommates. Senpai-kouhai BL romance. It all started when Kagiura moved into the school dorms with what seemed to be a bad boy upperclassman. But after he’s left in the tender care of his mother-hen of a roommate, Hirano, it’s too much to ask for Kagiura not to fall in love...right?!

From the author of Sasaki and Miyano comes the Hirano and Kagiura novel and its manga sequel, filled with answers to the questions Mya-chan never knew. Do they like-like each other? Are they dating? What juicy things do they get up to behind closed doors?!

I Think I Turned My Childhood Friend Into a Girl Manga vol. 2 by Azusa Banjo

When Hiura agreed to let his childhood friend, Kenshiro, practice applying makeup on him, both of their lives were turned upside-down. Kenshiro comes to terms with the fact that his longtime friend is the same person as ever, despite a dramatically different look. Meanwhile, the introverted Hiura deals with a sudden surge in popularity. Both are learning that beauty—and makeup—can be more than just skin deep.

Last Gender vol. 2 by Rei Taki

Ever felt as if there's no place for you in this world? BAR California. A secluded establishment where people of various genders, propensities, and sexual orientations gather in search of love, sex, and fulfillment. In this installment, Rei Taki tells the story of a young man who loses his same-sex partner to the harshness of society, a lithromantic woman who's scared of getting her feelings reciprocated, and a cross-dresser who has a secret she'll never share...

Run Away With Me, Girl vol. 2 by Battan

Momo has been reunited with her lost love Midori, but they're still nowhere near a fairy-tale ending. With Midori tangled in a rocky engagement and Momo still pining for Midori, are the two women destined to be apart, or will fate find a way to bring them back to each other? While Midori tries to convince herself she's happy in her relationship with Tazune, Maki tries to convince herself she's happy not being in a relationship at all. But when Maki's friend Komari invites them to her seaside home, the three women find themselves questioning how to be true to what's in their own hearts, and encourage each other to reach out for their own versions of happiness. As Komari sees the shine that comes from Midori and Maki when they're together, it seems to light a path she might follow herself. Will Komari be able to show them what she sees? And if Midori and Maki see it, too, will it change how they look at the world--and each other?

Sasaki and Miyano Manga vol. 7 by Shou Harusono

Sasaki and Miyano. Bad boy and BL nerd. Miyano finally took the plunge and told Sasaki exactly how he feels! But that’s only step one of any relationship. After all, now they have to actually make dating work. And with Sasaki’s graduation just around the corner, the challenges they face are only increasing! Can they make their own happily ever after?

SCRAMBLUES by mame march

Haru Kurosaki once heard a stranger's song in high school that made him decide to finally follow his passions. Now, he's a graphic designer who's recently been put in charge of designing a CD jacket for the prodigy musical artist Eddie Astley. On the outside, Eddie is intimidating and aloof — but when Haru spots him at a rock concert, he realizes how wrong that assumption is. As he sees beyond Eddie's surly exterior and catches a glimpse of the man beneath the affectation, Haru begins to think about the message and emotions that Eddie tries to convey through his music. And in trying to get to know more about Eddie for his design project, he discovers that music always has a way of transporting you to a vital moment from the past.

The Snake Who Loved a Sparrow by Nna Natsuo 

 Komazu is a sparrow, and as a sparrow, there’s one thing he knows about snakes: they eat small birds. When he encounters Shiratō, the white snake, of course he expects the worst — but instead of trying to eat him, Shiratō saves him from a boar stampede and flees, teary-eyed, when Komazu lashes out in fear. When the sparrow realizes he's perhaps misjudged snakes and decides to learn more about Shiratō, the two grow closer, first as friends and then as something more. They are predator and natural prey, coming from different species and social castes; can love overcome the laws of nature, despite the differences in their way? This book contains sexual content including nonhuman physiology, and is intended for an audience aged 18 years and up.

SOTUS vol. 1 by BitterSweet and Kei

SOTUS is an educational system in which upperclassmen impose “trials” upon underclassmen. Arthit, leader of the engineering seniors, plans to put his new juniors through a harsh training regimen to earn the symbol of their major—the gear. However, a first-year named Kongpob causes new headaches for Arthit when he declares he’ll snatch the gear from him: “I’ll make you my wife!”

[rhetoricandlogic]

A Time Capsule for Who We Used to Be: A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Martin Cahill Thu Dec 14, 2023 3:00pm

To say I consumed this book isn’t accurate—instead, this book consumed me. I read it from cover to cover onboard a flight that raced the sunset; outside the window, the light of the world kept pushing back against the inevitable, encroaching dark. Within the pages of their newest novel, Ava Reid has written several brilliant, haunted individuals, adrift and seeking answers, all of which can only be found in a home built for darkness. This is a story about stories—who tells them, and who they’re about; if the tellers are telling the truth, and if the subjects can ever have power over the tellers. And what power lies within the reader’s hands? When you are witness to a beautiful lie, do you have an obligation to find the truth? Reid grapples with these questions of art and artistry, legacy and literature, love and power, abuse and survival, and so much more in their dazzling novel, A Study in Drowning.

Effy Sayre is a young student in the college for architecture, as the university doesn’t allow women to enroll in their literary program. Belittled by many of the students around her, mostly male, haunted by visions of a character from her favorite book Angharad, and desperate to escape both, Effy believes she’s found it when she enters and wins a contest to redesign the ancestral home of Emrys Myrddin, the beloved and mysterious author of Angharad. Arriving at Hiraeth Manor, she can’t help but notice all the danger that abounds and riddles with no answers: There are no mirrors within this home; the sea threatens at the edge of the storm-wracked cliffs; Emrys’ son looks at her with a hunger that makes her stomach turn; and there is another student within the Manor. An academic rival who is determined to prove that Emrys Myrddin was a fraud, Preston Héloury becomes a splinter beneath Effy’s very heart. But as the two grow close, despite their best intentions, they begin to unravel the true mystery of Myrddin and Angharad, the truths of Effy’s childhood and her haunting visions, and the decrepit foundation upon which the Manor, and Myrddin’s life, was built.

Whether it’s before, during, or after reading this excellent novel, I urge you, dear reader, to read this essay from Reid. I think you would find a lot in there to admire on its own, but having read it prior to reading A Study in Drowning, it gave me the proper scaffolding to embrace the book Reid put their whole heart into, their experiences acting as a foundation that only added to my own experience of this novel. More than that, it is a tremendous and vulnerable essay of Reid’s mental health history and journey, and the ways in which they shaped A Study in Drowning. As I read this novel, I found myself reflecting back on the essay they had written, which only made me appreciate the book more: A Study in Drowning, like all great art, becomes a time capsule for who we used to be, a story that, in the now, may be the very mirror another might need to see and find themselves in.

And Reid holds nothing back, examining with brutal beauty how a young woman might contort herself, round and round, to keep herself safe from a world designed to make her feel lesser than, ashamed, hurt, and as small as possible. And, as a character towards the end of the novel aptly says, Reid stakes that that’s nothing to be ashamed of; in a story so centered around the idea of heroism, Reid asserts that in such a world, simply surviving, making one’s way through the horror and terror in a single piece, is absolutely enough. It casts the entire novel in a really incredible light, that even when Effy is at her lowest, when no one believes her and forces magical, mundane, and institutional threaten her in every conceivable way, even then, she picks herself up and keeps pushing. Forward, onward. Effy, at the end of everything, saves herself and it is beautiful.

Along the way, Reid delivers in every possible fashion. Atmospheric, gothic prose, sentences of shadow and mist abutting against the glamour and pine of fae malice, pages dripping with the brine and salt of seawater and history. Amidst these landscapes, they give us a tender and honest slow-burn relationship between Effy and Preston, these two hungry young academics so eager for truth, each hoping to bring the other into their own worlds of warmth and wonder. And throughout it all, the building menace and tension as it all comes crashing together in a crescendo that had me holding my breath at 30,000 feet.

Ava Reid has quickly become an author whose every work I will read, no matter what. I know when I open a book they wrote, I will find everything I want as a reader, and in A Study in Drowning, they have once again delivered. From the prose to the characters, from the world to the mood, from page to page, I found only delight, joy, and an eagerness to see how it would all come together. If you’re looking for a good starting point for Ava Reid’s work, I couldn’t recommend A Study in Drowning highly enough. Then, once you’ve been blown away, go and read the rest of their work, too!

[valentinesweetheartspecial]

Vincent manga log 4

Hiraeth -The End of the Journey- is genuinely one of the best manga I’ve ever read. I’m not exaggerating whatsoever. By the end of its beautiful, meticulous, heart-wrenching 17 chapters, I was fully sobbing on the floor of my bathroom. I do not often cry when reading books, watching movies, or reading manga, but this manga reached straight through my chest, into my heart, and squeezed it incredibly tight. I would recommend this to anyone who looks for light in the cracks of daily life

In short, Hiraeth is about three people who are all on their journey towards death for vastly different reasons. One, a grieving girl, another, a man looking to put an end to his immortality, and third, a dying god on his path to bid his final goodbye to the world before submitting to obscurity. I really want to share more but I want you to go in almost completely blind. Please just read it…..

Hiraeth is one of my favorite stories with some of my favorite art. You might recognize Yuhki Katamani as the creator of Shimanami Tasogare (Our Dreams At Dusk): if you enjoyed that, you will definitely love Hiraeth. I really do want to say more but, again, I think you should just read it….and you should let me know if you do!

[whoseafraidofliloleme]

Invisible Chapter 15

Summary: YN YLN has always been third in Class 2-5, right behind Lee Su Ho and Kang Soo Jin but with both of them having left Saebom Highschool, this is her time to shine. That is until Han Seosangnim asks her to tutor Han Seo Jun. A guy who doesn’t even know she existed.

Ship: Han Seo Jun x Female Reader.

Word Count: 2k + words

Sorry, this has been so long but this is the final chapter. Sorry for the wait and I hope the ending is satisfying for everyone.

This has been a journey and I loved writing this story. Thank you to everyone who showed interest in this little story of mine. This was my first written series and it's been the best time writing it. I'm sad it's ended, I probably won't be writing more True Beauty fanfic but I did love writing this very much.

Taglist: @thealexalcala @hayateotaku @tomihoekaeka @goatqueen3 @jeminiepabo @hiraeth-maximoff @yaomomvs @ghostfacefricker6969

True Beauty Masterlist.

Chapter 14.

Chapter 15.

Han Seo Jun couldn’t believe he was doing this. He had willingly called a class meeting. He was willingly calling these people he begrudgingly liked to discuss something. The things he did for you.

Then again, there were very few things he wouldn’t do for you. You had told him about the text and meeting Hae Sung. There was no way that Seo Jun was going to let you do this alone. You had the support of everyone in your class not just your best friends.

“So, everyone understands the plan, yes?” Seo Jun said looking at everyone in the class. They all nodded, understanding how important this was for YN and Seo Jun. It was well known how much the class hated Hae Sung and well anything they could do to help get him out of your life permanently they would do.

You were nervous going into school. Seo Jun had come all the way to your house, and you had gone to school together. Mi Soo Unnie gushing about how cute the two of you were the least of your worries at the moment.

Today was the day that you were going to confront Hae Sung. It terrified you to even think about it. But you knew it needed to happen. You couldn’t continue your life with Hae Sung in the shadows. Waiting to be let back in, knowing that he was behind so many rejections. Pulling the strings of your academic life without your knowledge. You wanted answers and you were determined to get them.

Walking into Saebom, your class and Hae Sung’s class did what they had been doing for months now. Helping you to avoid Hae Sung. You appreciated it, you knew you would not be able to handle seeing Hae Sung’s face before you needed to. As you walked into your classroom, you were surrounded by the girls giving you hugs and the boys shouting fighting. Confused you looked at Seo Jun who smirked and winked at you. Causing you to blush, making the whole class coo at how adorable you were.

The day was a slow one. For once you wouldn’t wait for the end of the day. It was the day to get answers from Hae Sung and the way the class was acting they were probably going to be around to help. Which you appreciated, then again you didn’t know how much of your personal laundry you wanted your classmates to know. In retrospect, there was too much your classmates already knew anyway, so did they know everything really matter?

That was an internal debate you could have later. You knew if you asked Seo Jun would scare your classmates into staying quiet and not saying anything about the confrontation. That made you feel bad though. Did that count as using your boyfriend? You didn’t know and for now, didn’t want to worry about it.

The end of the day came, and you were led to an empty classroom by Seo Jun, there you could see Si Woo and Hyun Ji with Jae Yi as well which was a surprise. You looked at him in shock, your mouth must’ve been open that you felt someone gently closing your mouth. You turned to look at Seo Jun and he just nodded his head.

“I would’ve told you, but Seo Jun wanted this to be a surprise Ynnie” Jae Yi told you. You looked at Seo Jun but again he wouldn’t give you an answer. You weren’t above begging Seo Jun to get answers from him but before you could, Cho Rong was heard shouting.

“Guys hurry up with the explanations Hae Sung is on his way” Looking around everyone nodded their head.

“I’m here as a witness and with the proof of what he did, plus Hyun Ji and Si Woo went through all the applications you filled in that were rejected as more proof. Our plan is to hit him with as much evidence as we can.” Jae Yi explained. You nodded your head before looking at Seo Jun and smiling at him.

He looked more nervous than you and that was saying something. To reassure him, you hugged Seo Jun tightly, just knowing he was here for you was reassuring. Seo Jun whispered in your ear, telling you that he was here and all you had to do was look out the door and wink at him. That was the sign for him to come in. Any moment you felt uncomfortable, just wink and he’ll be there.

“Well, isn’t this sweet, I didn’t come here to see you two hugging Han Seo Jun,” Hae Sung said as soon as he walked into the room. He had a smug smirk on his face like he knew this would all work out in his favour. Was he going to get the shock of his life then?

Seo Jun let go of you and gave you a peck on the lips. Then left the room, hitting Hae Sung with his shoulder on the way out of the room. That made you want to laugh but you knew that would just rile Hae Sung up and that was the last thing you wanted to do. So, you did a poor job of hiding your giggling behind a cough.

“So, you’ve kept a lot of things from me Hae Sung and I would like answers” You started strong, you were not going to let your fear of Hae Sung’s angry words get to you. That was not happening. You had a support system and sadly for Hae Sung, none of them was going to let him leave without telling you the truth of why he did what he did.

“I’ve kept nothing from you YN, my best friend. If anything, you’ve been distant. Hell, you told me that you couldn’t stand to be near me a few months ago” Hae Sung replied, looking you up and down. There was something different in the way you held yourself and he hated it. He heard Si Woo and Hyun Ji scoff at his words. He glared at them, but the two brats just smiled at him. Making him angrier. Why were the two of them even here, not to mention Jae Yi was here? Wasn’t he supposed to still be abroad? When did he come back and contact you?

“Kept nothing from me, sure I would’ve believed that last year but not anymore,” you said and then gestured for Jae Yi to start playing the video. You all turned towards the screen at the front of the classroom. Si Woo even offered you some popcorn which made you laugh but you took some anyway.

As the video played, you could see Hae Sung grow pale. His expression from a smug smirk to confusion to shock and then to disbelief at what he was watching. By the time the video ended, he was refusing to look you in the eyes. Looking anywhere in the room but at you. That was new, Hae Sung had never been afraid of confrontation but looks like being faced with the knowledge that you knew what he had done, scared him.

“Oh, that’s not all that I know Hae Sung. Jae Yi’s family were nice enough to have a Private Investigator delve into my whole academic history, to see if you and Kang So Hee had done this before and well you have. Practically my whole academic life has been controlled by the two of you” As you were saying this, Si Woo and Hyun Ji were putting papers up of all the applications that you’d filled out that had been rejected because of his mother Kang So Hee.

“I just want to know why Hae Sung, what was the point of doing all this? what did you achieve from any of this? Were my emotional breakdowns after being rejected multiple times funny to you? Did it amuse you that I was distraught over something that you had done” You cried to Hae Sung, you just wanted answers and if you were close to tears then so be it. Hae Sung is just silent. You want to shake him, anything to get answers from him.

“I had to do it YN. Do you realise how smart you are? All the applications, all these schools wanted you. It was a struggle to convince them to reject you. I hated to see the emotional breakdowns, but it was a price I had to pay. I need you close to me, all those schools, and opportunities would take you away from me and I couldn’t have that. I tried to keep you isolated from all our classmates.”

“That worked until you met Si Woo and Hyun Ji. I got used to those brats, but I couldn’t let you leave me. Jae Yi was an issue too and I had to get rid of him. It didn’t help that the summer you started dating, you had already rejected me and were pulling away. I had to do everything to keep you with me. I can’t handle anything without you and the only way I saw to keep you with me was to stop any and all opportunities you had that would mean you leave me” Hae Sung said and it took a lot out of him to admit all this to you. So much so that he just sat down in a chair.

All four of you are gobsmacked you couldn’t believe what you had heard. All of this just so you wouldn’t leave him. It didn’t make sense, nothing you had just heard made sense. You didn’t know how to react. All the things you had gone through with Hae Sung by your side, was any of it rule or just a way to make sure that you didn’t leave Hae Sung?

“All of this to make sure YN doesn’t leave you and it’s your behaviour that makes her leave you anyway. If I were you, Hae Sung, I’d go cry to your mother Kang So Hee and change schools, cause the minute this gets out, you’ll be hated more than you already are” Si Woo said calmly looking at Hae Sung with fire in his eyes.

“Too late, everyone already knows, part of the class plan was for me to call Seo Jun when Hae Sung starts confessing. No one will miss you Lee Hae Sung” Hyun Ji mentioned, pulling up her phone and nodding her head to Seo Jun who was at the door.

“Man, I knew you were messed up before and oddly territorial of YN while we were dating but this explains so much and it just makes you look so much worse” Jae Yi was disgusted, to think when he was dating YN, he did everything he could to get Hae Sung to approve of him. This guy needed help, but it was doubtful that he would get the help he needs considering his mother was already doing his bidding and covering for him.

“I never want to see you again Lee Hae Sung. Our friendship is done and dusted. Your control of my academic career is done. You’re lucky that I am not handing this stuff over to the police. Literally because of the good times but I am serious that if I see you again, I will hand this over to the police” you say peacefully. It had been long enough that you had stopped talking to Hae Sung. In the last few months, you had gotten used to not having Hae Sung in your life. You looked towards the door and winked at Seo Jun with a big smile on your face.

Seo Jun was confused but still came into the classroom, he was followed by the rest of your class and you couldn’t help but laugh at the way they all fell into the classroom. Seo Jun went to go fight with Hae Sung but seeing him in the chair looking very docile was weird. Seo Jun looked to you.

You smiled and motioned for Seo Jun to come over to you and to Seo Jun’s shock, you grabbed his collar, pulled him down to you and kissed him in front of everyone. You pulled away and laughed at the dazed look on Seo Jun’s face. Your friends were taking pictures claiming this was blackmail material.

“Last year, I wouldn’t have dared to confront you, Lee Hae Sung. If it hadn’t been for tutoring Seo Jun, I wouldn’t have grown closer to my classmates, realised just how toxic you are and literally, you’re the worst person, I don’t know how we didn’t fight before to the point of our friendship ending but my point is that I am better without you. I’m happy with my boyfriend, friends and family. I used to think that we were two idiots in a pod, platonic soulmates. I was wrong, were not soulmates, nothing you’ve ever done has been to help me. It was all to keep me with you and that hurts.”

“However, you did all of that to keep me around when just one honest conversation could’ve solved everything. Instead, you decided to go behind my back and pull the strings. I am happier without you and really, I feel sorry for you Lee Hae Sung. This is my goodbye. Were strangers from now on” After you’ve said this. You take Seo Jun’s hand and walk out of the classroom. You can hear your classmates clapping and whopping at your exit and that makes you laugh.

“So does this mean, I’m out of tutoring today,” Seo Jun asks putting his arm around your shoulders. You shake your head, even after all this time, this boy will do anything to get out of tutoring.

You’d think you would feel bad or upset. You’d just ended a friendship you had since your childhood. That’s not how you felt though. You felt free, you had been seen as Hae Sung’s best friend for so long. Now you were able to be yourself, you didn’t need to worry about how Hae Sung would react to something if there would be an argument if you had to deal with Hae Sung’s disappointment. You never thought that tutoring Han Seo Jun would lead to your freedom from the cage that had been your friendship with Hae Sung.

THE END.

[moriarty-bibliotheca]

—✧/ℳ ❝𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐭𝐡❞

❝ 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ❞

— 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹! 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

— 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴! 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀

— 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱; 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗧𝗣 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿/𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴

— 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀!

— 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱!

☎ 𝒃𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒚'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔: hi, loves! taking a little break from writing requests by writing this story that i thought about last night, how did you like mtp’s last episode? i’d say i cried a lot [even though i read the manga and i know it isn’t the end yet] anyway, hope you’ll enjoy! come back again <3 reqs are still closed btw!

“Catch me if you can, Mr Holmes.”

And with that, your favorite series ended. The ending was bittersweet, as you might say, but it was a fun journey nonetheless. One thing you could not control was the fact you tend to feel emotionally attached to fictional characters, so the characters in this animated series wasn’t an exception.

You are currently caught up with the manga, so you did not understand why you felt like there was an empty hole in your heart. Was it because you can no longer see them animated? Or is it because there was nothing for you to look forward to every week?

As you stared at the black screen, your mind drifted to them. Though they are fictional, it seems as if they were with you all along, they were like a friend that you never had. Your heart fluttered every time you think about them, every time you imagine what it would be like with them, and every time you would read fanfictions about them. 

It was like you are living a happy memory, you could not ask for anything more, but your happiness was replaced with misery as soon as you were brought back to reality— your lonely reality.

Tears welled up in your eyes as you felt overwhelmed, you promised yourself not to get attached to any of them and just watch the series like it was your favorite pastime. That did not happen, obviously. You let the show take over your mind, you read fan stories about them online, laugh at the memes that other people in the fandom had created, read and made theories about the story, and you even made some friends.

“It’s not the end,” you thought to yourself, “the manga is still ongoing.”

But why is it that it feels like you’re longing for something? Longing for something that never exists, longing for a home that was never yours, longing for friends that don’t exist. Was your reality so sad that you used them as an escape from your reality? Do they mean that much to you? 

Do you really want to spend your life with them? 

As much as you wanted to, you couldn’t. The closest you can get to spending time with them is imagining it at the top of your head or reading fanfiction, unless you have tried to shift to their universe. 

“Why am I longing to be with you?” you mumbled, looking at the black screen as you imagined them, “why am I longing to slow dance with you? Why do I want to look into your eyes as I tell you how much you mean to me?” You pictured their beautiful eyes as you would imagine yourself dressed well, dancing the night away with your beloved.

“Maybe, just maybe, I could be with you in another life,” you whispered as tears cascaded down your cheeks, “right?” 

“I’m going crazy, what am I doing?” Wiping your tear-stained cheeks, you immediately left the streaming site and busied yourself with other things. Maybe denying this aching feeling will help it go away, won’t it? 

“A love that was never meant to be, I’m real and you’re not... At least, I got to know you. Perhaps, being with you was too much to ask for. I’ll see you in another life then, darling.”

Hiraeth (n.)

— The feeling of longing for a home that never was. A deep and irrational bond felt with a time, era, place, or person.

☎ 𝒃𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒚'𝒔 𝒄𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆: i’m sorry. to be honest, this was exactly what i was feeling last night so forgive me for this self-insert crap! if i made you sad, i’m sorryyyy! honestly, i feel bad for my best friend cause i was sobbing my eyes out for hours to her. anyway, hope you liked it! <3

[sxlver-raven]

A List of Pretty Words

this is just a list of random words with definitions that I think are pretty

ACTUALLY PRETTY WORDS           

- Gossamer: a fine, filmy cobweb seen on grass or bushes or floating in the air in calm weather, espicially in autumn

- Euphoria: an intense feeling of happiness or elation. A sense of euphoria may be the result of a fortunate turn of events or an indescribable personal high

- Demure: any modest or reserved behavior

- Lithe: a flexible and slim figure

- Panacea: something that could fix everything

- Surreptitious: to act clandestinely or to do or acquire something by stealth

- Tryst: a somewhat discreet meeting between two lovers, while techniaclly defined as any sort of meeting

- Ineffable: too great to be expressed in words

- Elysian: beautiful or creative; divinely inspired; peaceful and perfect

- Ethereal: extremely delicate light, not of this world

- Thalassophile: someone who loves the sea, ocean; a lover of the ocean

- Abditory: a place into which you can disappear; a hiding place

- Quixotic: extravagantly chivalrous or romantic; visionary; impractical, or impracticable

- Wabi-sabi: the discovery of beauty within the imperfections of life and art

- Aeipathy: an enduring and consuming passion

- Metanoia: the journey of changing one's mind, heart, self, or way of life

- Clinquant: glittering with gold and silver

- Querencia: a place where one feels safe, a place from which one's strength of character is drawn

- Nemophilist: a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude

- Nyctophilia: love of darkness or night, finding relaxation or comfort in the darkness

- Strikhedonia: the pleasure of being able to say "to hell with it"

- Meliorism: the belief that the worlds gets better, the belief that humans can improve the world 

KIND OF SAD WORDS

- Onism: the awarness of how little of the world you'll experience, that sudden dreadful realization that you are you, and only you, stuck in your body for as long as you live, knowing you will never be in someone else's shoes

- Sonder: the realization that everyone is living their own vivid life, that everyone who passes you by has a life as complex as your own

- Acatalepsy: the idea that it is impossible to truly comprehend anything

- Oneirataxia: the inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality

- Achroous: colourless

- Exulansis: the tendancy to give up trying to talk about an experiance because others are unable to relate to it

- Lacuna: a blank space, a missing part

- Solivagant: wandering alone

- Kalopsia: the delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are

- Eccedentesiast: someone who fakes a smile, when all they want to do is cry, dissappear and/or die

- Súton: twilight; the approach of death or the end of something

- Pâro: the feeling you get when you feel like no matter what you do, it's always somehow wrong. Any attempt feels like a step in the wrong direction and like you are never trying hard enough

- Hiraeth: a homesickness for a home you can't return to, or perhaps never was

- Saudade: a nostaligic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost; "the love that remains"

NOT SO PRETTY WORDS AFTER ALL 

- Inure: accepting or growing accustomed to something undesirable. For example, your family's constant criticism could inure you to toxic behavior to loved ones

- Languor: lethargy or weakness in body and mind. 

- Defenestration: the act of throwing someone out of a window 

I AM NOT SURE WHERE TO PUT

- Lassitude: tiredness, whether it's in your body, your mind, or both.

- Quintessential:  representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class 

- Ingenue: a naive and innocent female character

- Aquiver: quivering, trembling

- Opia: the feeling you get when you make direct eye contact with someone, making your heart drop. This could be in a pleasent way, or something that makes you feel awkward and anxious

- Sarang: the feeling of wanting to be with someone until death

- Jouska: that feeling when you make up a hypothetical conversation tat you play out in your head, like a daydream, you make up liitle conversations that have never actually happened to you

- Hanker sore: finding a person so attractive it actually kind of pisses you off. It's that jealousy from seeing someone you wished you looked like

[the-supreme-g0ddess]

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts

I just saw the Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts (2022), and let me tell you how absolutely shredded and torn and overwhelmed and happy and excited I am.

This series is very easily the love of my life. I am finding it so hard to believe it’s been 20 years, and even though I wasn’t even born when they were filming it much less when the books were being written they mean so much to me.

I started reading Harry Potter when I was 9 and it really changed my life. There are things I’ve learned from it that I honestly couldn’t have understood in any better way. 

Harry taught me to never stop fighting. To be strong, and fearless. Hermione taught me that reading can take you a long way, and that hard work always pays off. Ron taught me to be brave and bold, and to always keep my head held high. Luna taught me to be myself and look for the good in things, Neville taught me to stand up for what I believe in, Ginny taught me that I should be independent and anything is possible. Draco taught me it’s okay to cry, Hagrid taught me to always be prepared, Dumbledore taught me to dream big but not let those dreams control me. The Weasley Twins taught me to keep laughing, Mcgonagall taught me how to shine and be firm, Lily Potter taught me about the importance of love, James Potter taught me that you can always improve. Sirius taught me to never let anything lower my spirits, Remus taught me that the monster inside of you shouldn’t control you. Even Voldemort, as much as I hate him, taught me about leadership and ambition.

I could go on and on, listing every single character but I won’t because all of us Potterheads know exactly how much this series has an impact on our life. 

I swear to all the gods, I was thrilled watching the movie and seeing all my favourite characters grown up and recounting the wonderful experience they had and the even further amazing experiences that they provided us.

Throughout the course of it I laughed so many times remembering the beautiful movies. In fact I spent a lot of time lip syncing the movie lines myself.  The way they spoke of their relationship with film actors, with each other, their trust in each other, memories of silly things that happened on set, their favourite scenes, their relations to their characters, their journey…was just amazing.

And by the time I reached the end I was broken. Because it felt so much like the end. Hearing Emma, Rupert and Dan tell the story of their last day on set, last day of filming had me in tears much faster than they even began to feel nostalgic. You could tell exactly how much it meant to all of them as individuals and as a group. Harry Potter has always given me a huge sense of hiraeth, and I’m so grateful to the journey that they had with filming and the one I had myself. That is the thing I love about Harry Potter — it always feels like you’re back home.

[shemakesmusic-uk]

International chamber black metal project Antiqva unveils their second single ‘Anadem Gyre’ along with a music video. Xenoyr comments on the track: “Based on Romanian folklore, ‘Anadem Gyre’ is a more emphasized dark folk element from within our sound, a portion of this infused into our chamber black metal backbone is what we’re working towards on our debut album. With all our tracks we utilize the Romanian tongue, and because of this we thought it fitting that we pay respect to the country, one so rich in spirit and character. In short and on a surface level, the song is about the Iele, the daughters of the woods, mythological creatures (in this interpretation) who would lure and bring misfortune upon men.” [via Metal Goddesses]

Madame Mayhem released her new single ‘I Am More’. “’I Am More’ is very much about self empowerment, standing up for yourself and telling the world not to underestimate you. It’s a song that really gives confidence. We are all stronger than we know,” says Madame Mayhem. She adds: “This song is so personal for me. When I perform it, all the frustration, emotion and attitude that flowed through me when writing it comes right back. Writing with Keith Wallen is always a pleasure, and this song came about so seamlessly, it really was like telling a true life story about how I was feeling. Having my mentor Billy Sheehan (Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo) playing bass on this track made it even more special and added to the awesomeness of the groove in this song.” [via metal Goddesses]

Symphonic metal band Dream Ocean releases a music video for ‘As I Die’, the fifth single off of their just released second studio album The Missing Stone. Watch it below. ‘As I Die’ may be musically a straightforward, party-like song, but it talks about quite a dark topic; violations against women. Vocalist Başak comments: “While I composed ‘As I Die’, I just wanted to have a party song which people can just dance to or headbang or sing with me, and I didn’t want to write a complex text. But in the end, it turned out to be a very dark song, at least with its message.” [via Metal Goddesses]

Canadian melodic death metal act Lutharo unveils a music video for ‘Hopeless Abandonment’ off of their upcoming album Hiraeth. Hiraeth will be released on October 15. The record sees the quintet push their compositional and performance skills further than ever before. Hiraeth is an epic exploration of the band’s technical, musical and compositional abilities. Expertly balancing hauntingly beautiful atmospheres with raw power and aggression. A fantastically epic journey that needs to be experienced to be believed. [via Metal Goddesses]

French modern metal act ODC releases ambitious music video for new single ‘Wanted’. “The song talks about how women can be imprisoned by society in predetermined roles and how they can break free from these stereotypes to express their strong and fierce side. Modern Metal opens a new era and encourages women to dare to assert themselves as they wish”, explains founder Celia Do. [via Metal Goddesses]

[river--glass]

Reylo Fic Recs Long Ass Fics pt 2: Alternate Universe

Someone asked for fic recs 100K or over, so here they are. See Pt. 1 for Canon Verse or Alternate Canon Verse fics. (I haven’t read all of these- my personal comments are in bold)

Equilibrium by AttackoftheDarkCurses & thebuildingsnotonfire. (modern, E, 479K)

When Rey works up the nerve to ask Grand Master Luke Skywalker to train her, she makes friends and finds something deep and wonderful in the martial art known as Taekwondo.

She never thought the choice would change her life.

Alternatively, a (long) story of love, family, and Martial Arts.

The Heartbreak Prince by diasterisms. (Harry Potter, E, WIP) 

I swore I would never read Harry Potter AU’s or Works In Progress, but for this fic I broke both rules. This is, pun not intended, so magical in every way. It has me SHOOK and if somehow you haven’t heard of it yet, do yourself a favor and check it out!

In Living Memory by SpaceWaffleHouseTM. (multiple times, E, 221K)

Ben and Rey are rendered immortal after being struck by lightning at the precise same moment, and keep running into one another as the centuries drag on. Waffle’s stories are all amaaaaazing and you need to read ALL of them.

Hit Me With Your Best Shot by SageMcMae. (modern, E, 214k)

MMA fighter, Kylo Ren is suspended from the league and sentenced to community service at his uncle’s martial arts academy. There he meets Rey Niima, a recent graduate with a natural ability and incredible potential.

Soul Searching by OptimisticBeth. (AU, Modern, E, 205K)

A Soulmates AU in which Ben is horrified to find out he’s soulmates with his 16 year old student, ten years his junior. (no underage shenanigans) This fic fucked me up. The world building is so stunning. The story is rich with love and fluff, but oh the angst. Soooo much angst and emotional anguish and two people who are trying their best but just can't communicate for shit. The overall story is so beautiful and worth every heartbreaking moment. A happy ending WILL come!

Satan Wears a Rolex by AquaWolfGirl. (Modern, E, 205K)A Devil Wears Prada AU. Unfinished, but it’s fascinating and it ends well where it is.

Hiraeth by Ferasha. (1990′s, E, 204K)

An absolute angst and pain train of a historical war fic. This is not a comfort fic. It will fuck you up. But if you’re into that, the way they’ve woven canon plot in with the Yugoslav Wars is a masterpiece. It’s dark and gritty and will make you feel things.

Le Fin Du Fin by QueenOfCarrotFlowers @leofgyth. (Victorian, E, 196K) A Crimson Peak AU!!! This writer has never let me down.

A Proposal by Any Other Name by Lucidlucy. (Modern, E, 188) A Leap Year AU.

Salt in the Blood by Hagen. (9th century, E, 169K) Featuring pre-Norman invasion Ireland, selkies, love of the sea, and mythical creatures.

The Great Big No by dietplainlite. (1990′s, E, 165K)

Kylo Ren is third generation rock royalty, a reigning brat prince starting to feel the burn of the fame he reached for with both hands. Rey is an aspiring singer on the verge of a big break, provided her A&R guy still has a job by the time she reaches LA. Their paths have crossed briefly, disappointingly, before. What happens when they collide?

The Trail Bride by SecretReyloTrash. (AU, Wild West, E, 160K)

Rey Niima finds herself in a perilous situation when her husband dies at the start of their journey West. From the few bachelors on the trail in her party; she attaches herself to the best of her options- mysterious Banker Ben Solo. A really interesting, amazing piece. Lots of introspection, and a heart wrenchingly real look into abuse and recovery. I emotionally digested for days.

The Sacred Texts by Eskayrobot & Poaxath. (Modern, E, 159K)

Doing the Unstuck by slipgoingunder. (Modern, E, 158K) A When Harry Met Sally AU.

The Mating Service by AlbaStarGazer. (Modern A/B/O, E, 146K)

If Rey had known how quickly she would find her biological mate and alpha through the world wide mating service, 'Match,' she might have considered signing up years ago.

Unravel Me by UnderTheCancerMoon. (Modern, E, 145K)

Rey and Ben push and pull their way through their 20's, experiencing the love, success, loss, and challenges that make life rich.

Fire Away by Daisyflo. (Modern, E, 141K)

The Witch in the Wood by HarpiaHarpyja @thisgarbagepicker & Inmyownidiom. (Fantasy, E, 138K)

I cannot say enough good things about this fic. It’s serving you knight Kylo and witch Rey and so so many good feelings. Sure there’s some angst and dark magic and some struggles but mostly this is a lovely Ghibli-esque story about two people living in a treehouse and talking to animals and having a really good life! Everything HarpiaHarpyja writes is magic.

Snow Without Winter by neonheartbeat. (Renaissance, E, 138K) 

If you’re into serious historical fics (this once features catholicism and Rome in 1492) this is for you.

Lemon-hot Summer by IshaRen & pr3tty_g1rl5. (Modern, E, 130K).

In which Ben is the horniest virgin alive and Rey is bored and looking for something (or someone) to do.

Stranger Than Fiction by daxcat79. (Modern, E, 127K). Grumpy writer Ben and sunshine muse Rey.

Like Red But Not Quite by @kylotrashforever. (Modern, E, 126K) KTF is a god-tier reylo writer and you need to do yourself a favor and go read everything they have ever written.

Dark Water by LinearA. (1950′s, E, 125K)

The North Shore by @strawberrycupcakehuckleberrypie. (Modern, E, 125K)

Notting Hill vibes. Actor Ben meets shop owner Rey, and both their lives are changed instantly. It’s mostly about them both being smitten and starting a really good life together!! Lovely!

Stars In My Pockets (Wear Daisies In My Hair) by LostInQueue. (Modern, E, 125K). A Reylogan fic.

we could plant a house, we could build a tree by like_a_dove. (Modern, E, 124K).

An absolute classic. It’s about growing pains and growing feelings - the transition from childhood into adulthood and all the messy bits in between. God, it will hurt you. Badly. But it’ll be so, so worth it.

go i know not whither and fetch i know not what by voicedimplosives. (1990′s, E, 118K)

Russian Mafia AU!! A truly beautiful piece of work. Great plot,great smut, great Bendemption arc. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that’s fully worth the ride.

Souviens-toi de moi by Maniable. (Modern/historical, E, 117K)

Disconnect by Weatherbug02. (Modern, E, 115K) 

Candyleg by 5cents. (1950′s, E, 115K)

The girl was too young, but old enough to have a hustler’s-eye view of her own bleak future. The boys were paying her to do a snow job on a candyleg, but she was beginning to love her work and love Solo, and she decided to stick with him till death did them part...

Baby, It’s Just Biology by polkadotdotdot. (Modern A/B/O, E, 112K)

Only If You Want To by Violetwilson. (Modern, M, 111K)

Personal security expert (and occasional under-the-table hitman) Kylo Ren has a strong feeling about the cute dive bar waitress with the strange bruises and the vicious wit. She's either a victim or the weirdest criminal he's ever met. Possibly both.

Ileenium Manor by WaterlilyRose. (AU, victorian, E, 109K)

Leia’s maid Rey instantly hates Lord Ben when he comes to take over the household. She can’t hate him for too long as he starts to pursue her. If you’re in the mood for a sweet but angsty Lord/Maid fic, this is for you.

Kohelet 3:16 (Call Me A Cab) by LinearA. (Modern, E, 108K)

Ruby Woo Red by HeartSabers. (Modern, E, 107K) Featuring makeup artist Rey and TV star Kylo.

Sixth Year by witheyesclosed. (Harry Potter, M, 107K)

The one where Ravenclaw Rey gets paired with Slytherin Ben in Potions and ohmygod he’s hot now

Lockjaw by bitterbones. (zombie apocalypse, M, 106K)

A Song of Trash and Fire: Ben and Rey Make a Porno by HarpiaHarpyja & sunshineflying. (Modern, E, 106K) 

With the help of rich Unca Wanwo, flagrant misuse of Ben's creative writing degree, and copious amounts of coffee, Ben and Rey put together the porno of the century, starring themselves and their friends . . . with interesting results.

The Hypnotist by Pandora_Spocks. (Modern, E, 104K)

From a galaxy far, far away, soulmates Ben and Rey have been reincarnated on Earth to resolve their karma. Dr. Ben Solo is a charismatic hypnotist to whom present day Reychelle Lumen has been referred to for help with her nightmares.

Score by SpaceWaffleHouseTM. (Modern, E, 104K)

Ben's friends convince him to take the Rice Purity Test, but when he and Rey are revealed to have the highest scores of their friends, they quickly form a pact to beat Poe's out by the end of the semester. I loved this! Its so so sweet and funny and all from Ben’s POV. Sweet, sweet pining Ben.

The World Shifts (And I Am Better Here) by lachesisgrimm. (Fantasy, E, 102K)

Once upon a time there was a beggar girl whose parents sold her to a thief, and she was very unhappy.--In which prophecy is used with malicious intent, and the universe exerts itself to correct the problem.

for @scarletvizhlovers

[songlordsbug]

Lost in Translation Prompts

I got the book Lost in Translation a couple of Christmases back. It’s a book of words that don’t have direct translations in English. It’s a gorgeous combination of descriptioin and illlustration. I thought it would make a fabulous prompt list.

So recently @fluffyhallokitties and I have been using it as such. I thought other people might like them as well, so I’ve typed them up, though it doesn’t include all of the description or of course any of the wonderful illustrations. If you like the list, go ahead and create, but also consider checking out the book, it is amazing!

Palegg, norwegian- n. Anything and everything you can put on a slice of bread.

Commuovere, italian- v. To be moved in a heartwarming way, usually relating to a story that moved you to tears.

Mangata, swedish- n. The road-like reflection of the moon in the water.

Samar, arabic- n. Staying up late long after the sun has gone down and having an enjoyable time with friends.

Gesellig, dutch- adj. Describes much more than just coziness- a positive warm emotion or feeling rather than just something physical- and connotes time spent with loved ones, togetherness.

Glaswen, welsh- n. This leterally means a “blue smile”; one that is sarcastic or mocking.

Meraki, greek- adj. Pouring yourself wholeheartedly into something, such as cooking, and doing so with soul, creativity, and love.

Kilig, tagalog- n. The feeling of butterflies in your stomach, usually when something romantic or cute takes place.

Pisan Zapra, malay- n. The time needed to eat a banana.

Jugaad, hindi- n. Ensuring that things happen with minimal resources, if they happen “by hook or by crook.”

Fika, swedish- v. Gathering together to talk and take a break from everyday routines, usuallly drinking coffee and eating pastries- either at a face or at home- often for hours on end.

Hiraeth, welsh- n. A homesickness for somewhere you cannot return to, the nostalgia and the grief for the lost places of your past, places that never were.

Tima, icelandic- v. Not being ready to spend time or money on a specific thing, despite being able to afford it.

Komorebi, japanese- n. The sunlight that filters through the leaves of the trees.

Razliubit, russian- v. To fall out of love, a bittersweet feeling.

Kummerspeck, german- n. Literally meaning “grief-bacon”, this word refers to the excess weight we can gain from emotional overeating.

Boketto, japanese- n. Gazing vacantly into the distance without really thinking about anything specific.

Vacilando, spanish- v. Traveling when the experience itself is more important than the destination.

Karelu, tulu- n. The mark left on the skin by wearing something tight.

Jayus, indonesian- n. This refers to a joke so terrible and so unfunny that you cannot help but laugh.

Shlimazel, yiddish- n. Someone who seems to have nothing but bad luck.

Ubuntu, nguni bantu- n. Essentialy meaning “I find my worth in you, and you find your worth in me.” Can be (very) roughly translated as human kindness.

Gurfa, arabic- n. The amount of water that can be held in one hand.

Trepverter, yiddish- n. A witty riposte or comeback you think of only when it is too late to use. Literally, “staircase words”.

Struisvogelpolitiek, dutch- n. Literally, “ostrich politics”. Acting like you don’t notice when something bad happens and continuing on regardless as you normally would.

Wabi-Sabi, japanese- n. Finding beauty in the imperfections, an acceptance of the cycle of life and death.

Mamihlapinatapai, yaghan- n. A silent acknowledgement and understanding between two people, who are both wishing or thinking the same thing (and are both unwilling to initiate).

Resfeber, swedish- n. The restless beat of a traveler’s heart before the journey begins, as mixture of anxiety and anticipation.

Tiam, farsi- n. The twinkle in your eye when you first meet someone.

Ya’aburnee, arabic- n. Meaning “you bury me”, a beautifully morbid declaration of one’s hope that they will die before another person, as it would be too difficult living without them.

Feuillemort, french- adj. Having the color of a faded, dying leaf.

Poronkusema, finnish- n. The distance a reindeer can comfortably travel before taking a break.

Warmduscher, german- n. Refers to someone who would only take a warm shower (not an icy cold or burning hot one), implying that they are a bit of a wimp, and unwilling to step outside of their comfort zone.

Nunchi, korean- n. The subtle, often unnoticed art of listening and fuessing another’s mood.

Akihi, hawaiian- n. Listening to directions and then walking off and promptly forgetting them means that you’ve gone “akihi.”

Murr-Ma, wagiman- v. The act of searching for something in the water with only your feet.

Goya, urdu- n. A transporting suspension of disbelief -- and “as-if” that feels like reality -- such as in good storytelling.

Drachenfutter, german- n. Literally, “dragon-fodder.” The gift a husband gives his wife when he’s trying to make up for bad behavior.

Szimpatikus, hungarian- adj. When meeting someone for the first time, and your intuition tells you that they are a good person, you can refer to them as “szimpatikus.”

Iktsuaropok, inuit- n. The act of repeatedly going outside to keep checking someone (anyone) is coming.

Forelsket, norwegian- n. The indescribable euphoria experienced as you begin to fall in love.

Tretar, swedish- n. On its own, “tar” means a cup of coffee and “palar” is the refill of said coffee. A “tretar” is therefore a second refill, or a “threefill.”

Tsundoku, japanese- n. Leaving a book unread after buying it, typically piled up together with other unread books.

Sgriob, gaelic- n. Refers to the peculiar itchiness that settles on the upper lip before taking a sip of whiskey.

Kabelsalat, german- n. A word to describe a mess of very tangled cables, literally a “cable-salad.”

Naz, urdu- n. The pride and assurance that comes from knowing you are loved unconditionally.

Luftmensch, yiddish- n. Refers to somone who is a bit of a dreamer and literally means “air person.”

Saudade, portuguese- n. A vague, constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, a nostalgic longing for someone or something loved and then lost.

Cotisuelto, caribbean spanish- n. A man who insists on wearing his shirt tail untucked.

Waldeinsamkeit, german- n. The feeling of being alone in the woods, an easy solitudeand a connectedness to nature.

Cafune, brasilian portuguese- n. The act of tenderly running your fingers through the hair of somebody you love.

Kalpa, sanskrit- n. The passing of time on a grand, cosmological scale.

[crescendo-for-survival]

one word ideas for when you’re feeling stuck

A aeipathy (n.) - an enduring and consuming passion aleatory (n.) - relying on chance or an uncontrolled element in the details of life or in the creation of art alharaca (spanish, n.) - an extraordinary or violent emotional reaction to a small issue anacampserote (n.) - something that can bring back a lost love antiscians (n.) - people who live on opposite sides the world, “whose shadows at noon are cast in opposite directions” áoyè // 熬夜 (chinese, n.) - to pull an all-nighter   appetence (n.) - an eager desire, an instinctive inclination; an attraction or a natural bond aranyhíd (hungarian, n) - “the golden bridge”; the reflection of the sun as it shines on water aspectabund (adj.) - letting or being able to let expressive emotion show easily through one’s face and eyes asterismos (n.) - “marking with stars”; a word that gives weight or draws attention to the words that follow aswium // 아쉬움 (korean, n.) - the mingled feeling of disappointment, frustration, and regret that results from an unsatisfactory situation atermoiements (french, n.) - distractions or hesitations leading to procrastination avos’ // авось (russian, n.) - blind trust in sheer luck

B balter (v.) - to dance artlessly, without particular grace or skill but usually with enjoyment basorexia (n.) - the overwhelming desire to kiss bilita mpash (bantu, n.) - the opposite of a nightmare; not merely a good dream, but a blissful state where all is forgiven and forgotten brontide (n.) - the low rumble of distant thunder brumous (adj.) - of grey skies and winter days; filled with heavy clouds or fog b’shirt // באשַערט (yiddish, n.) - “destiny”; referring to the seeking of a person who will complement you and whom you will complement perfectly

C cafuné (portuguese, n.) - the act of tenderly running one’s fingers through someone’s hair caim (scottish, n.) - an invisible circle of protection, drawn around the body with the hand, that reminds you that you are safe and loved, even in the darkest times casuistry (n.) - deceptive or excessively subtle reasoning chéngquán // 成全 (chinese, v.) - “to become whole”; to selflessly help someone achieve their aim chimerical (adj.) - created by unchecked imagination; fantastically visionary or highly improbable commuovere (italian, v.) - to stir, to touch, to move to tears consenescere (latin, v.) - to grow old and grey together; to stay too long in an occupation; to decay, to lose respect, to fade convivencia (spanish, n.) - living together, in the sense of living or working closely with other people with whom you share feelings, desires, or a common purpose

D defenestrate (n.) - to throw someone or something out of a window dépaysement (n.) - the feeling that comes from not being in one’s home country   dérive (french, n.) - a spontaneous journey where the traveler leaves their life behind for a time to let the spirit of the landscape and architecture attract and move them desenrascanço (portuguese, n.) - the improvisation of haphazard but completely sound solutions or plans at the last minute   dormiveglia (italian, n.) - the space that stretches between sleeping and waking dustsceawung (n.) - reflection on people, and on the knowledge that all things will turn to dust

E eigengrau (german, n.) - “intrinsic grey”; the color seen by the eye in perfect darkness erlebnisse (german, n.) - the experiences, positive or negative, that we feel most deeply, and through which we truly live estivate (v.) - to be inactive or asleep through the summer’s heat and then come awake and alive in the winter eudaimonia (n.) - a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous

F fanaa // فناء (urdu, n.) - destruction of the self; “destroyed in love” fernweh (german, n.) - feeling homesick for a place you have never been to finifugal (adj.) - hating endings; of someone who tries to avoid or prolong the final moments of a story, relationship, or some other journey firgun // פירגון (hebrew, n.) - the act of sharing in or even contributing to someone else’s pleasure or fortune, with a purely generous heart and without jealousy fisselig (german, n.) - being flustered to the point of incompetence; a temporary state of inexactitude and sloppiness that is elicited by another person’s nagging fuubutsushi // 風物詩 (japanese, n.) - the feelings, scents, or images that evoke memories or anticipation of a particular season

G gezellig (dutch, adj.) - cozy, nice, inviting, pleasant, comfortable; connoting time spent with loved ones or togetherness after a long separation gibel // гибель (russian, n.) - not death, not suicide, but simply ceasing to exist; deteriorating in a way that is painful for others gibigianna (italian, n.) - the play of light reflected from water or a mirror; a sunlit area gigil (tagalog, v.) - to grit the teeth in order to resist the urge to pinch or squeeze something extremely cute gökotta (swedish, n.) - dawn picnic to hear the first birdsong; the act of rising in the early morning to watch the birds or to go outside to appreciate nature guanxi // 關係 (chinese, n.) - a network of social connections based on mutual trust and the balancing of debts by returning favors so that the relationship’s benefits are shared by all

H hanyauku (kwangali, n.) - the act of walking on tiptoes across warm sand hifistelyä (finnish, n.) - something sophisticated, luxurious, and expensive, which is however a very minor improvement and is not needed hiraeth (welsh, n.) - a homesickness for a home to which you cannot return, a home which maybe never was; the nostalgia, the yearning, the grief for the lost places of your past honne // 本音 (japanese, n.) - what a person truly believes; the behavior and opinions which are often kept hidden and only displayed with one’s closest confidants hüzün (turkish, n.) - a melancholy resulting from inadequacy or failure and weighing so heavily that it becomes communal, resigned, and even curiously poetic

I ichariba chode // 行逢りば兄弟 (japanese, phr.) - “though we meet but once, even by chance, we are friends for life”   iktsuarpok (inuit, n.) - the frustration of waiting for someone to turn up ilunga (tshiluba, n.) - a person who is ready to forgive any abuse for the first time, to tolerate it a second time, but never a third time incalescent (adj.) - growing hotter or more ardent; set ablaze induratize (v.) - to make one’s own heart hardened or resistant to someone’s pleas or advances, or to the idea of love

J jaaneman // जानेमन  // جان ِ من (persian, n.) - “soul of me”; gender-neutral word for sweetheart or darling jiāoqiǎnyánshēn // 交浅言深 (chinese, v.) - to have a deep and intimate conversation with a stranger jīlè // 雞肋 (chinese, n.) - things that you have no use for, yet still don’t want to throw away

K kairos καιρός (greek, n.) - the perfect, delicate, crucial moment; the fleeting rightness of time and place that creates the opportune atmosphere for action, words, or movement kalopsia (n.) - the delusion of things being more beautiful than they really are kalsarikännit (finnish, v.) - to get drunk alone at home in your underwear karōshi // 過労死 (japanese, n.) - death from being overworked katzenjammer (german, n.) - a bad hangover or a general state of depression or bewilderment kawaakari // 川明かり (japanese, n.) - the gleam of last light on a river’s surface at dusk; the glow of a river in the darkness       kilig (tagalog, n.) - the feeling of butterflies in your stomach, usually when something romantic takes place kintsukuroi // 金繕い (japanese, n.) - “to repair with gold”; the art of repairing pottery with gold or silver lacquer and understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken koyaanisqatsi (hopi, n.) - nature out of balance; a way of life so unbalanced that you need a new way kruschteln (german, v.) - to look for an item in a disorganized pile of stuff

L la douleur exquise (french, n.) - the heart-wrenching pain of wanting the affection of someone unattainable l’appel du vide (french, n.) - “the call of the void”; the instinctive urge to jump from high places latibule (n.) - a hiding place; a place of safety and comfort lethe (n.) - oblivion or something to make you enter oblivion and forget lítost (czech, n.) - regret and remorse and repentance; a state of agony and torment; sorrow said to be created by the sudden sight of one’s own misery livsnjutare (swedish, n.) - one who loves life deeply and lives it to the extreme

M mamihlapinatapei (yagán, n.) - the wordless, meaningful look shared by two people who both desire to initiate something, but are both reluctant to do so matutine (adj.) - just before the dawn mbuki-mvuki (bantu, v.) - to shed one’s clothing spontaneously and dance naked in joy meliorism (n.) - the belief that the world gets better; the belief that humans can improve the world mellandagarna (swedish, n.) - “the middle days”; the days between christmas and the new year meraki // μεράκι (greek, n.) - the soul, creativity, or love put into something; the essence of yourself that is put into your work metanoia (n.) - the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life mono no aware // 物の哀れ (japanese, n.) - the gentle wistfulness at the transience of things, and the awareness of the sadness of existence mudita // मुदित (sanskrit, n.) - sympathetic, vicarious joy; happiness rather than resentment at someone else’s well-being or good fortune mutterseelenallein (german, adj.) - utterly alone, as of refugees torn from their home country

N nakhes (yiddish, n.) - the satisfaction gained from life’s gifts; proud pleasure, especially in one’s children or grandchildren and their successes, however small ñáñaras (spanish, n.) - the free-falling sensation in the body caused by an unpleasant situation, fear, anxiety, insecurity, or other intense emotions   natsukashii // 懐かしい (japanese, adj.) - of some small thing that brings you suddenly and joyously back to fond memories, not with a wistful longing for what’s past, but with an appreciation of the good times nazlanmak (turkish, v.) - pretending reluctance or indifference when you are actually willing or eager; saying no and meaning yes nefelibata (spanish, n.) - “cloud-walker”; one who lives in the clouds of their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not obey the conventions of society, literature, or art nemesism (greek, n.) - frustration, anger, or aggression directed inward, toward oneself and one’s way of living nemophilist (n.) - a haunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude nepenthe (n.) - something that can make you forget grief or suffering noceur (french, n.) - one who sleeps late or not at all; one who stays out late to revel or party noctuary (n.) - the record of a single night’s events, thoughts, or dreams novaturient (adj.) - desiring or seeking powerful change in one’s life, behavior, or situation numinous (adj.) - describing an experience that makes you fearful yet fascinated, awed yet attracted; the powerful, personal feeling of being overwhelmed and inspired

O offing (n.) - the deep, distant stretch of the ocean that is still visible from the land orenda (iroquoian, n.) - a mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to effect change in their own lives ostranenie // остранение (russian, n.) - encouraging people to see common things as strange, wild, or unfamiliar; defamiliarizing what is known in order to know it differently or more deeply oubliette (n.) - a dungeon with a door only in the ceiling; a place you put people to forget about them

P palinoia (n.) - the obsessive repetition of an act until it is perfect or mastered pareidolia (n.) - the instinct to seek familiar forms in disordered images like clouds or constellations; the perception of random stimuli as significant peripeteia // περιπέτεια (greek, n.) - a sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances; the point of no return pretoogjes (dutch, n.) - the eyes of a chuckling person who is up to benign mischief

Q quaquaversal (adj.) - moving or happening in every direction instantaneously querencia (spanish, n.) - a place from which one’s strength is drawn, where one feels at home; the place where you are your most authentic self

R ranço (portuguese, n.) - the inexplicable feeling of disliking someone without a proper reason   rantipole (v.) - to be wild and reckless rasasvada // रसास्वाद  (sanskrit, n.) - the taste of bliss in the absence of all thoughts recumbentibus (n.) - the knockout or ending blow, physical or verbal; the final, winning argument redamancy (n.) - the act of loving the one who loves you; a love returned in full resfeber (swedish, n.) - the restless race of the traveler's heart before the journey begins, when anxiety and anticipation are tangled together retrouvaille (french, n.) - the joy of meeting or finding someone again after a long separation; rediscovery

S sankofa (akan, n.) - “go back and fetch it”; to look back on the past in order to understand how we became what we are, and move forward to a better future     sarang // 사랑 (korean, n.) - “i wish to be with you until death”     saudade (portuguese, n.) - a nostalgic longing to be near again to something or someone that is distant, or that has been loved and then lost sciamachy (n.) - a battle against imaginary enemies; fighting your shadow scintilla (n.) - a tiny, brilliant flash or spark; a small thing; a barely-visible trace sehnsucht (german, n.) - a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one’s home serein (french, n.) - the fine, light rain that falls from a clear sky at sunset or in the early hours of night setsunai // 切ない (japanese, n) - the feeling between bittersweet, painful, and wistful sillage (french, n.) - the scent that lingers in air, the trail left in water, the impression made in space after something or someone has been and gone smultronställe (swedish, n.) - a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress or sadness   soigné (french, adj.) - possessing an aura of sophistication in dress, manner, or design; presented or prepared with an elegance attained through care for the finer details sophrosyne // σωφροσύνη (greek, n.) - a healthy state of mind, characterized by self-control, moderation, and a deep awareness of one’s true self, and resulting in true happiness sturmfrei (german, adj.) - the freedom of not being watched by a parent or superior; being alone at a place and having the ability to do what you want susurrus (n.) - a low, soft sound, as of whispering or muttering or a quiet wind súton (croatian, n.) - the approach of death or the end of something

T tacenda (n.) - things better left unsaid; matters to be passed over in silence tatemae // 建前 (japanese, n.) - what a person pretends to believe; the behavior and opinions one must display to satisfy society’s demandsv. temerate (v.) - to break a bond or binding promise toska // тоска (russian, n.) - ache of soul, longing with nothing to long for tsundoku // 積ん読 (japanese, n.) - buying books and not reading them; letting books pile up unread on shelves or floors or nightstands

U uitwaaien (dutch, v.) - to take a break to clear one’s head

V vagary (n.) - an unpredictable instance, a wandering journey; a whimsical, wild, or unusual idea, desire, or action velleitie (n.) - a wish or powerful desire for something that nonetheless is not or cannot be followed by actions meant to pursue it venters (scots, n.) - what the wind or tide drives in from the ocean upon a wave vernorexia (n.) - a romantic mood inspired by spring videnda (n.) - the things that should be seen or visited, especially if because they mark the character of a person or place volta // βόλτα (greek, n.) - a leisurely stroll along the main street or the seashore as the sun is setting, to meet and talk with friends and neighbors vorfreude (german, n.) - the joyful, intense anticipation that comes from imagining future pleasures

W wabi-sabi // 侘寂 (japanese, n) - accepting the natural cycle of growth and decay wēijī // 危機  (chinese, n.) - crisis or critical moment; from risk 危 and opportunity 機, the idea that there can be a positive result in a wisely handled risk

X xibipíío (pirahã, adj.) - of experiential liminality; of a being in the boundaries of experience and the act of entering or leaving perception xuānxiè // 宣泄 (chinese, v.) - “to let accumulated water flow”; to emotionally unburden oneself

Y ya’aburnee // يقبرني (arabic, phr.) - “you bury me”; wishing for a loved one to outlive you because of how unbearable life would be without them yakamoz (turkish, n.) - the reflection of the moon as it shines upon the water

Z zugzwang (german, n.) - a situation where every possible move or decision is a bad one, or one that will result in damage or loss

[prolestari]

Fan Fiction Faves!

Happy Fanfiction Writers Appreciation Day! To celebrate I want to give a shout out to my favorite fics and writers!

First, @baconwaffle2016 has been absolutely amazing this year. Every time I think I have her plots figured out I’m thrown again. She has this incredible way of balancing the sexy with the drama, and her interpretations are some of the most unique I’ve ever seen. You can pick literally any of her works and it’s awesome, but if I have to pick favorites I’d go with this spark of black, imagine how the world can be (so very fine), or No Power in the ‘Verse.

@galfridus1 is absolutely meticulous in a way you don’t find anymore. Her plots are well thought-out and really take you on a journey beginning to end. She’s also an amazing collaborator. I especially loved her fic The Call of Duty (and hope it continues one day) as well as Forbidden Love.

@thisisaverycreativeurl pretty much burst through the door a few months ago and dropped bombs of angst on us all that I have loved. If you’re looking for a fic that just delves into character and emotion, check out pick up all my broken pieces or sunfire and blood.

@blacksteel-art is so damn passionate that she gets me invested and excited and then I see her work and I’m always amazed. Please go read her webcomic Cities in Sound, it’s the coolest thing I’ve seen in ages.

@derieri absolutely terrifies me because her work is so good and I make a fool of myself every time she publishes. Her fic Her is one of my favorites of the year, and I am living for the moment Seven Devils will be published.

I read The Ritual before I met @smolmeliroll and when I started it I immediately thought, I have to meet this writer. Since then I’ve watched this writer create some of the most memorable scenes since I joined this fandom, and her ability to take a sliver of an idea and just create astounds me every time.

@itsyaboimilk is the fan we all need in our lives. I’ve been given life with Hiraeth and his absolute fearlessness in writing and creating. Matt has the ability to just get the characters and has been the hidden jewel in the fandom.

@maryjanewinchester is just getting started but I’ve already been loving her work. She’s the ultimate fan-as-writer and has characterization down to a science. Check out Level 10 Friend for an awesome study in character and canon development.

Getting to know @lemaskadra not only personally but also her work has been an amazingly wild ride. The queen of writing Meliodas smut, if you’re feeling adventurous try Dancing in the Dark, or if you’re in the mood for something more romantic then Isabeau is a must.

I also want to highlight some of the fics I’m reading and loving right now:

How Not to Re-Raise Demonic Children: This fic actually finished not long ago. It’s got it all: domestic Melizabeth, all the Sins interacting, angst, heart, and plenty of laughs. I loved this fic and you will too.

Tales From Camelot: Probably my favorite fic of the year. It’s an ongoing story about Zeldris, Gelda, and Arthur in Camelot after the second Holy War. It’s hot and steamy while also being so romantic and heart breaking. I know this is an unusual ship but I bet anything if you give this fic just a few chapters you’ll be as hooked as I am.

Heroes of the Dark: A BNHA fic about Ochako and Bakugou grieving Midoriya’s death, only for him to turn up again—but not exactly as he seems. This story has me on the edge of my seat every update and has taken my love of class 1-A (and it has them all in it) from level 10 to level 1000.

Open Marriage: I don’t know what to say other than I love this fic. It’s a Fairy Tail modern AU that starts as a love triangle between Natsu, Lucy, and Gray. It’s an ultimate guilty pleasure and I can’t get enough.

Sorry that this became a bit long but there is SO MUCH talent out there!!! Please check out the writers and fics above, and make sure to send a message to your favorite writer today, even if it’s just an anonymous thank you! Writers keep the fandom going in a really special way and they only continue doing so with support. Thank you to all of you amazing people who feed my love of fan fiction every day with your hard work and beautiful hearts.

[recentanimenews]

Manga the Week of 3/30/22

SEAN: The end of March, and manga is presumably going out like a lamb.

ASH: I’m not so sure about that…

SEAN: From Yen On we get the one-shot Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (Joze to Tora to Sakanatachi), a short story collection which includes the title story, which has been made into a movie. For fans of Yen’s other one-shot novels that can be summed up as “beautiful but sad”.

ASH: I’ve heard good things about this one.

SEAN: Also from Yen On: Konosuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! TRPG, which turns the world of KonoSuba into a tabletop role playing game, and features the authors of KonoSuba and Re: Zero doing a playthrough of it.

And we get The Greatest Demon Lord Is Reborn as a Typical Nobody 7.

From Yen Press, we see the debut of Cross-Dressing Villainess Cecilia Sylvie (Akuyaku Reijou, Cecilia Sylvie wa Shinitakunai node Dansou suru Koto ni Shita), the manga version of the light novel also published by Yen. It runs in Comic Flos.

Yen also gives us If the RPG World Had Social Media… 2 (the final volume), Let This Grieving Soul Retire 2, Overlord: The Complete Anime Artbook 2, Phantom Tales of the Night 8, Teasing Master Takagi-san 14, and Uncle from Another World 4.

ASH: I really need to catch up with Phantom Tales of the Night.

SEAN: Udon Entertainment has Steins;Gate: The Complete Manga (it got bumped) and Otherworldly Izakaya Nobu 10.

Tokyopop gives us the 2nd volume of I Was Reincarnated as the Villainess in an Otome Game but the Boys Love Me Anyway!.

Seven Seas has two debuts. Sheeply Horned Witch Romi (Youkaku no Majo Romi) is from Young Dragon Age, a manga where everyone in the world has fallen asleep except: 1) sheep; 2) a witch with sheep horns, and 3) the sempai with a crush on her!

MICHELLE: Here’s the lamb content we’ve been waiting for.

ASH: Ha!

MELINDA: Wait, wait, I’m HERE for the sheep.

SEAN: Yakuza Reincarnation (Ninkyou Tensei: Isekai no Yakuzahime) is a Sunday GX title. A yakuza badass is killed and reincarnated in another world… as a beautiful girl! This will not stop her from kicking ass.

ASH: As reluctant as I am to admit it, I am intrigued by this isekai variant.

ANNA: This does sound amusing.

SEAN: We also get The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Jack Flash and the Faerie Case Files 4, Chronicles of an Aristocrat Reborn in Another World 4, The Dragon Knight’s Beloved 2, THE EXO-DRIVE REINCARNATION GAMES: All-Japan Isekai Battle Tournament! 2, I Am a Cat Barista 2, My Next Life as a Villainess Side Story: On the Verge of Doom! 2, Reincarnated as a Sword: Another Wish 2, and Unicorns Aren’t Horny 2 (the final volume).

ASH: I need to catch up with the various Ancient Magus’ Bride spinoffs, too.

SEAN: No print debuts for Kodansha, but we do see The Hero Life of a (Self-Proclaimed) “Mediocre” Demon! 3, Something’s Wrong With Us 7, and UQ HOLDER! 25.

Two digital debuts. Bootsleg is a Shonen Sirius series from the artist best known for Yozakura Quartet and the Durarara!! novels. A young man whose family – and limb – were taken from him by a seeming serial killer meets up with the one person who might be able to stop them.

HIRAETH -The End of the Journey- (Hiraeth wa Tabiji no Hate) is from the creator of Our Dreams at Dusk, and runs in Morning Two. A woman despairing over the death of her best friend attempts suicide… and finds herself in another world! This is apparently great, though also dark – Kodansha’s blurb comes with a content warning for suicide ideation.

MICHELLE: Hm. The Our Dreams at Dusk link is very compelling.

ASH: That it is.

ANNA: This sounds exactly like the type of critically acclaimed work that I think I will read but don’t get around to because I’m not in the mood for despair right now.

MELINDA: Oh, this sounds perfect for my mood.

SEAN: Also digital: Elegant Yokai Apartment Life 23, The Great Cleric 8, Stellar Witch LIP☆S 5 (the final volume), Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister 2, and Zatsuki: Make Me a Star 2.

MICHELLE: I need to check out some of these.

SEAN: J-Novel Club has some more print editions. We see Ascendance of a Bookworm Part 2 Vol. 2 (manga), Infinite Dendrogram Omnibus 4, Marginal Operation 9, My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In For Me! 3, and Tearmoon Empire 4.

Speaking of Tearmoon Empire, the 7th volume is out digitally next week. We also see Culinary Chronicles of the Court Flower 5, Dahlia in Bloom: Crafting a Fresh Start with Magical Tools 3, Forget Being the Villainess, I Want to Be an Adventurer! 2, and Invaders of the Rokujouma!? 39.

Ghost Ship gives us Booty Royale: Never Go Down Without a Fight! 5-6.

A new light novel from Cross Infinite World: Even Dogs Go to Other Worlds: Life in Another World with My Beloved Hound (Isekai Teni Shitara Aiken ga Saikyou ni narimashita – Silver Fenrir to Ore ga Isekai Kurashi wo Hajimetara). Dead salaryman. Huge overpowered wolf. Relaxed slow life. Fluffy headpats. This book knows what the audience these days wants.

Lastly, Airship debuts I am Blue, in Pain, and Fragile (Aokute Itakute Moroi), another tearjerker from the author of I Want to Eat Your Pancreas. This is the early digital release.

ASH: Glad to see Yoru Sumino’s work is still being translated. (Though, like so many things, I need to catch up…)

SEAN: Also out ahead of print: Disciple of the Lich: Or How I Was Cursed by the Gods and Dropped Into the Abyss! 3, Drugstore in Another World: The Slow Life of a Cheat Pharmacist 5, and The Haunted Bookstore – Gateway to a Parallel Universe 3.

What manga makes you want to go out like a lamb? Or a sheep… lots of sheep manga lately.

By: Sean Gaffney

[sportsandfitnessinfo]

New Post has been published on http://fitnessandhealthpros.com/beauty/what-its-like-to-grow-up-on-3-different-continents-by-age-20/

What It’s Like To Grow Up On 3 Different Continents By Age 20

Growing up is hard enough, but what happens when you throw culture confusion into the mix? I am what is known as a Third Culture Kid (TCK), and this is my story about growing up on three continents by the time I reached adulthood.

Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a term that was coined in the 1950s by anthropologist and sociologist Ruth Hill Useem. It’s used to define people who grow up in a culture that is different to that of their parents. This is seen most commonly in children who grow up abroad with parents working in the military, at a foreign embassy, with a long-term mission, or any other type of business abroad.

Children who are raised during their core developmental years in a foreign nation often experience reverse culture shock when they return to their homeland. There is the confusion of having a passport that says they are home but a heart that feels differently. In truth, they can be left isolated and bewildered, wondering how to make a life for themselves among a society that they don’t resonate with.

TCKs could be considered “citizens of the globe,” “nomads,” or “cultural chameleons.” They are flexible in their approach to their own identity based on where they are and who they are with on a given day. This makes them excellent at coping with change. However, the sense of confusion or frustration in not knowing where feels like home can often outweigh this.

My story started in Egypt, where I was born to British parents working abroad. When I was a young child, I moved to Morocco, and then, just in time to experience the endless drama of adolescence, I headed west to the United States where I spent several years in the DC area. Just before my mandatory schooling was complete, I returned to the UK, and I’ve lived here ever since.

It’s been about a decade now, and I’m only just starting to accept that being a TCK is a part of who I am. It’s been a messy journey of utter confusion, hiraeth (Welsh for grief-tinged homesickness), and attempts to schedule Skype dates despite ridiculous time differences. But it has got easier with time and understanding.

As children, we simply “do” life. We go with the flow and we do what feels good. Life in Morocco was good. I attended an international school with other kids like me from around the world. I had one of those strange international school accents that kids develop, which basically sounds American but with a strange, “you’re not quite American, are you?” twang. I spent a lot of time playing outside in the sun.

When the time came to leave, I can’t remember feeling sad about it. It was just what had to be done. We returned to the UK for only a short time before the next job came up in Washington DC. We found out just a matter of days before 9/11 happened. That day, a friend calls–bearing in mind I’m only 10 at the time–and tells me to turn on the news. I do so, but I’m not really sure what I’m looking at or what it means for me. The next day, I could feel the whispers spreading like wildfire. The teacher addressed the whole class, stating that we weren’t going to talk about 9/11 in respect to me.

The initial eeriness passed, and less than a month later I was on a plane heading west. The US is where I spent those terrible teenage years, angry at life, dying to fit in, and ultimately making friends for life. I did a lot of traveling around the country, and if I ask myself honestly, it still feels just as much like home as the UK does. Leaving there some years later wasn’t quite as uneventful as Morocco was. This time ’round I was older, leaving best friends, summer crushes, and the life I knew. But I was also excited. I guess I had that same impression of England that a lot of Americans have: that all the guys speak with cute accents, and I’d drink lots of tea and generally frolic around through rose gardens.

Boy, was it a shock when I returned and had to deal with very real, aggressive bullying for the first time in my life and my parents’ divorce. Not so quaint and lovely. The first week of school I was a novelty; “that girl from America” in a small town. But almost in the blink of an eye, I became a target. The education had been ahead in the States, so I was awkwardly shuffled around in school to classes where I might actually learn something. I guess this sent out the vibes that I thought I was somehow superior to everyone else and had special requirements. I didn’t, I just wanted to learn.

Before I knew it, I was ridiculed, shouted at, and spat on. I ended up missing most of that school year for fear of what those kids would say and do next. My whole world had caved in, both at school and at home. With no more moves in the cards, I wasn’t sure how to cope. Was I supposed to just stay in one place? Was that what normal people did?

Life went on as it always seems to, and I did some great things like go to college and do a bunch of traveling, only there was always the same feeling in my gut that I wasn’t settled. For years I fluctuated between craving “new and exciting” and moving back to America. It was torture.

But eventually, things got better. After talking about it and working through why I felt so trapped, something clicked in my brain. I realized that I am not weird, or worse, “ruined” for having grown up all over the place. It’s OK that I feel at home in multiple countries. Why was I forcing myself to pick only one? I am finally proud of the skills I’ve gained that can’t be bought or learned from a book. I’m adept at changing, and I’m open-minded, creative, and a global thinker. I instinctively operate on a wider perspective because what I know encompasses so many places and people. Plus, if a TCK like Barack Obama can become President of the United States, that bodes well for me!

So while I still don’t have an answer to “so, where are you from?” and I still feel a little bit like Cady Heron when I tell people we didn’t get much TV in Morocco and instead I used to spend my childhood outside with tortoises and scorpions, and I still get down sometimes when I face the reality that most of my friends don’t live in the same country as me, I know that I honestly wouldn’t change a thing.

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Also by Kat: How to Break Free from Your Life’s Story

Related: 10 Things No One Told Me About Growing Up

Broadway Success Didn’t Make Me Happy–Until I Stopped Living For Validation

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Kat was born in Egypt and has spent her years growing up in Africa, North America and Europe. She is currently based in Bristol, England and is the writer behind www.sphynxkennedy.com – a collection of thoughts on conscious living.

Originally at :Peaceful Dumpling Written By : Kat Kennedy

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