#adorably conceited dorks

[borgialucrezia]

LUCREZIA BORGIA and JUAN BORGIA + being painted The Roman populace deserves their glimpse of us. Yes, brother.

[cvnt4him]

Hello!!! I really love your writing style and I want to try out requesting<3 How about IT girl reader in a serious relationship with Izuku in middle school? I don't know if this disobeys your rules, if it does, I'm sorry 😭

Tysm nonnie/nonette!!! I am so glad you actually took the time out of your day to read my rules!! They are a bit outdated to the way that I am/write now but I will do this It just won't be smut I hope that's alright ty for the req and i hope you enjoy<33

Wherever you walked you left a message. Whatever room you entered, all eyes were on you. You just had an effect on people that made their jaws drop. Izukus however was always dropped the lowest. He was a complete dork. A nerdy adorable dork.

You watched everything very closely. You were an observant person and every time you seen izuku get mistreated it angered you deeply. Your first time seeing izuku get bullied you assumed it truly was a one time thing, but we all know it wasn't.

You watched from behind a door, katsuki and his goons laughing down at izuku ridiculing and insulting him. Izuku tried hard not to cry, tears brimming in his eyes every ounce of strength in his body trying to not let these boys see him cry.

It broke your heart. What else were you to do besides treat them the way they treated him. You called out to them making the goons run away, katsuki rolled his eyes and stood his ground. He was an egotistical, conceited, rich boy who felt nobody could tell him what to do.

"the fucks wrong with you? Why are you treating him like this, dickhead."

You called out to him, the blond scoffed looking you up and down taking you in. The way stood the way you spoke and they you looked, it even flustered him. You walked with your head held high, always and people acknowledged that, he wouldn't admit it but it was respectable.

"just a little joke between friends s'all. What's it t'ya?"

He spoke to you, loud and brass he didn't care who heard him and wasn't afraid to speak. You roll your eyes at the statement, it's clearly obvious they weren't friends with izuku.

"you're not his friend. If you were you wouldn't be treating him like shit, or a two dollar hooker your rich daddy bought for you."

Izuku didn't dare to look up at you or him, he tried hard to keep his head down until the two of you were finished, maybe katsuki would let him go by then.

Katsuki sucked his teeth and looked you up and down once more, your words were off and insulting. He fucking hated it.

"the fuck did y— "

"back the hell off, katsuki."

You cut him off putting your hand in the air ushering him to shut up, he infact did which is what took both you and izuku off guard, himself too. He doesn't listen to anyone yet your intimidating mannerisms were getting to him.

He grumbled and growled at you trying to find words to say, his hands beating and palms trickling with light, you simply brushed him aside and walked over to izuku who looked up at you with wide eyes.

"need a hand?"

You chuckle, with a polite smile and pretty eyes staring down at the freckled boy.

"m- me?!"

You nod eagerly, he was just about to take it before everything went up in explosions. Anger yells being heard from the same blond who you dismissed earlier.

You vowed to stay close to izuku, try your hardest to keep him out of harms way. You wanted him to make it to highschool no matter where that was.

"..oh and midoriya, you wanted to go to UA high as well right?"

The teacher asks unimpressed and surprised, izuku scrunched in his seat trying not to be seen as much as his classmates laughed and ridiculed him. Saying this like he'd never be more than a lowly sidekicks servant and how he could get in the support courses. So many things you didn't agree with.

Yet you also wondered how far he'd get without a quirk.. it's not like you wanted to make him feel bad but you wanted to make sure he was in reality. A lot of people dream big and never reach their desired destination at the end of the road, you don't want that bright light in him to burn out.

"Shut up, all of you! He can do whatever he wants!"

You tried to yell at the laughing students, some of them ceased their noises while others, like katsuki, continued to laugh loudly.

"oh please! Why do you waste your time with him anyways. He's a quirkless nobody, hell, he'd have better luck getting a quirk if he took a swan dive off of the building!"

Laughs erupted from his classmates as he groaned heavily, katsukis volcanic ruby red eyes shot over to the green haired boy with a shit eating smirk on his face. You hated how evil katsuki was, he was shitty and cruel and vile.

By then there was only a month or two left of class before you would all graduate and head on to high school. You were ready you vouldnt wait to get away from katsuki and his evil antics, but you wkrried abiut izuku. He wasn't exactly a social butterfly or anything he was always exiled off into his own little circle writing in his little notebook.

When the two of you would sit together or you would attempt to start a conversation with him he'd just look at you with wide eyes and a red face. So red you could hardly see his freckles. You understand at times you can be a bit intimidating or loud, but you wanted his last months to be memorable. He didn't deserve the hatred and bullying he got.

You ended up giving him your number for whoever he wanted to talk or just rent about something. He took it in silence, flustered face being flushed red as he literally got a nose bleed. It was funny and kind of adorable, you never understood how someone so cute could be treated so shitty.

One Sunday night he texted you for the first time. Your phone vibrated as you picked it up to see a text from an unknown number, you pretty much assumed it was izuku just because he was the only person you'd given your number to first hand.

'hope to see you at school tomorrow. Goodnight. :)"

You hummed at the cute little smiley face at the end of the sentence, it made you feel kind of flustered in a way. Not flustered necessarily just kind of.. excited? You had butterflies swarming in your tummy as you held your phone to your mouth trying to figure out the feeling you felt.

You read the message one more time, butterflies swarming your tummy once again, you giggled to yourself and rolled around in your bed before the message dawned on you in a different way. What did he mean 'hope to see you tomorrow'? Is something wrong? Was he going to...

So many different things ran through your head, you'd always seen those lame little tiktok videos where someone talked about a message their friend randomly send at 3am saying goodbye n shit. You never took them seriously, you just thought they were kind of cringe. It never crossed your mind that you might have that kind of friend.

Maybe izuku was a ticking time bomb. Maybe he'd just finally had enough, so many things raked your mind as your fingers acted on their own. You had called him for fucks sake. It rang and rang and rang, you were terrified. You couldn't believe you had called him and if you hung up now he might think something bad of you, and if he declined the call or didn't answer you would feel so embarrassed.

To your surprise.. he did.

"h- hel- hello..."

His voice was small and kind of cracky, like pitchy. He cleared his throat silently on the other side as you couldn't help but giggle. He heard your sweet voice and basically melted, you laugh triggered his and he silently chuckled underneath his breath. He was the cutest thing ever.

Once he got quite used to you, he got rather chatty. His voice was hushed which you expected, it was night and you were sure his family was sleeping. The more comfortable he got the louder he got, you'd never really heard his voice since every time he spoke in class he seemed to have a lace of fear or regret in his voice. It was always shaky and unconfident.

Hearing him now it was hard to believe that was the same little guy who slouches in his seat to avoid being seen by his classmates in fear he might get bullied.

You guys talked for hours, you explained to him how you thought he would do something stupid that he felt right in the moment. He literally screeched when he heard your assumption.

"you really thought I'd do something like that?! Come on!! Have a little more faith in me.."

"hehe, I'm sorry 'zuku, you're right I shouldn't have assumed like that."

You heard him squeak on the other line, he got kind of silent before stuttering a reply. You hummed at this, taking in every little detail you could of your first call. You had realized you'd called him 'zuku instead of izuku. That clearly was the cause of his sudden change in tone and the little stutters.

Hed never gotten a nickname before or even had much of a friend before. His whole childhood was hanging out with katsuki and just following him around like a lost puppy and sticking to his side like a barnacle on a boat.

You two ended up chatting all night, the both of you were tired out of your minds, lazily talking to one another, little deep breaths coming from his end. He had gotten quite silent besides the little breaths he took. You listened closely to the little hums that escaped him. It sent a vibrating feeling deep inside of you, you but your lip and buried your face in your pillow just listening closely to him before he spoke in a tired and raspy voice.

"y/n?"

He whispered through the phone. You were instantly snapped out of whatever little haze he put you in what his breaths. You hummed and he let out a breathy chuckle apologizing if he woke or startled you.

Once you got to school you seen Izuku alone, at his locker, per use. You walked up to him with a wave, once he acknowledged you he was so terribly red, he could hardly even face you he was trying hard not to look at you as he just fiddled with his bag until you made your way over to him.

He was a lot more confident over the phone than he was now, he was trying his hardest to hide his face with his arms as you spoke to him, greeting him and laughing at how tired he looked.

You had a little time before your class actually started so you wanted to get as much time with him as possible before his usual buzz kills arrived.

You two sat on a bench and talked, he showed you little drawings that he was embarrassed of but never really got to show anyone. His artstyle wasn't.. the best, but he had potential plus you'd never intentionally put him down no matter what so you hyped him up and wrapped your arm around him with a smile.

He was extremely red and had a wobbly smile on his freckled face. He felt so comfortable around you, so normal. You didn't see him as a waste of space or a useless nobody. You seen him as a human and that was the greatest thing he could ever ask for. Of course something deep inside of him always tried to put him down, making him think things like 'you must pity him to be friends with him'..

Katsuki and the others might've been his bullies but no one made him feel worse than himself. Sure katsuki knew little things about him and always used that to his advantage but he always knew how to make himself want to actually do something drastic.

Izuku was stuck in his mind so visibly to the point you had to snap him out of it. You gently caressed his cheek and held his face in one of your hands, he jolted back to reality blinking a couple of times before he looked at you, you had gotten quite close and personal.

You had a little grin on your face as you looked into his big wide emerald eyes. They were so bright and hopeful, you could see your entire future in them. So big and radiant, this precious boy with kaleidoscope eyes. They were all you could look at.

Izuku gulped and shook beneath your touch, you were so close and it seemed like you were getting closer. He didn't know what to do or how to react but he wanted to be ready. Izuku had looked up how to kiss long ago. He'd also watched other things.. but that's a story for another time.

Within an instant he closed his eyes pursed his lips and began slowly getting closer to you. A small giggle left your lips before you grabbed both sides of his face, you warm palms making his eyes shoot open, a flush of red painting his freckled cheeks. His mouth went into a wobbly frown, he was so embarrassed he assumed you were stopping him because you didn't want to kiss him..

He was slightly disappointed, slightly was quite an understatement. He was very disappointed, he wanted you to kiss him, he wanted you to have his first kiss. He thought you wanted him like he wanted you..

You sigh with a wide smile on your face and pull him into a soft kiss, his eyes blew wide and his whole body shook underneath you, he couldn't believe.. he was having his first ever kiss. Izukus eyes fluttered shut as he let out a whimpery moan, the pitchy sound made you giggle before breaking the kiss.

He tried so hard to hide his face from you but you couldn't help to grab him and hold him close, his face came right up against your chest and he was even more embarrassed, but he was glad he had a place to hide and bury his face facd into.

"can I uh- uhm... be your.. your boyfriend.."

"yes you can, zuzu."

AN: this took a while to finish gang

[basedkikuenjoyer]

I learned Skip & Loafer was a thing last week, I’m already caught up. I don’t usually have the time for binges anymore. But damn it, it’s so sweet and earnest it gets a full on appreciation post. Some light spoiling ahead. Starts with MC Mitsu. Rural girl moves to the big city isn’t new, but she actually tracks for me as someone who’s had the experience. She’s not a hick; she’s only in Tokyo because Mitsu has way more potential than Ikajima can support. That’s real, even the way you sorta have the town’s hopes on you. You get that nice, fuzzy quote from the lovely best friend Fumi early about eating good food pass or fail. It captures the vibe so well. Such a nice, strong skeleton to build a leading lady off of. Not exactly new territory but it’s been out of style for a while. There is that real edge of acknowledging the growing issue of rural depopulation in Japan. That said, if we’re talking new ground there’s a clear standout...

Nao-chan. Sweet, sweet Nao. Here she is launching into dropping some great wisdom about fashion and how it only needs to have as much of a role in your life as you want it to. One of our big wrinkles is that Mitsu goes to stay in Tokyo with her aunt who is trans. Great example of someone well past the finding yourself phase. Nao’s in her late 30s and she seems to have come out around her mid 20s. We know there’s some things like a falling out with her father and trauma from school days bullying but this is the type of series we may never actually see it. One of the cool elements is that Mitsu already presumably knows about all this. The two have long been close because Mitsu was one of the first people Nao felt like opening up to. Based on other examples I’ve seen, it’s pretty cool how casually everyone just refers to Nao as Mitsu’s aunt. Even ends up being a cute plot point.

What’s so well set up though is that Nao is honestly an amazing foil for Mitsu as well. There’s an implication she was the standout compared to her brother. A lot of hopes pinned on that salaryman career. But on someone who was treated poorly by back home. Either way, always cool and sadly too novel to have a trans woman in a maternal role. Especially an example where the junior is not also queer. She does a great job at it and when I compared these two to that Gilmore Girls vibe it was high praise. I need more of her adorkable boyfriend Goro too!

Last are these two dorks. Yuzu & Makoto. I adore blondie’s story arc. She’s naturally pretty and legitimately enjoys fashion...but hates all the nonsense that comes with the obvious popularity. It’s a hard line to tell that story without her coming off as a brat, and it’s hard to say it resonates without sounding conceited, but it really does for me. I’ve been there, talent or beauty or intelligence attracts envy. It doesn’t feel good to deal with that. You don’t want to rub it in you just hate it ended up being a problem. You do have those times people think it’s just, okay to treat you like a doll or be nasty to you because what do you have to complain about?

But for these two, they get over that hurdle. Makoto realizes she’s being unfair and that Yuzu just wants to enjoy a group of girls that aren’t obsessed with dating. Reminds me of Mugi in K-On a bit and that’s fun.

Give this series a go, it’s got a lot of heart. Will say the official release is worth it, especially if you’re here for Nao-chan. She...has a weird way of speaking that flummoxes the scans in some scenes. Bad enough it changes the meaning. The anime adaptation is great too.

[pastelmlkcloudreblogs]

SO IM GONNA MAKE A GIRLFRIENDXBOYFRIEND MATCH STEREOTYPES ˘͈ᵕ˘͈

1. the poised it girl x old money heart throb

-- a lady with highly curated hobbies and who's so eloquent and well-mannered, smart, prim and proper except she gives off weak-ish persona AND a young man who tries to suit himself in the world of big men, well educated, fluent in diverse topics, doesn't go aggressive regardless of nerve-wracking situations.

2. the "one of the boys" fem x street crush

-- woman who mixes well with opposite gender, tends to be carefree yet still knows how to dress on occasions; knows all the street lingos, sounds boy-ish but never loses her fem side AND the orphan guy who the neighborhood relies on, famous in their town, messy hair and baggy clothes, rip jeans and charming smiles. they both cause town problems on purpose.

3. the cute dork x overconfident cassanova

-- innocent dork-ish gamer who loves all stuffs cute, outwardly shy around people, shut in, talks a little and softly *^* basically ignorant of social cues AND a player who stalks her endlessly (to the point of looking like harrassment) except he's got a soft spot for her undeniable innocence and it guilt trips him from taking full advantage of it. anyway, he should be famous around everybody but he only like weak but cute girls.

4. the party girl x introverted gamer

-- dresses all the time, likes to party and drink, corporate fem and a little bossy, cheerful and loud--charming to both genders AND introverted guy who doesn't like crowd, works as barista during part time, reads books during his leisure, fluent in household chores.

5. the carefree missy x overprotective best friend

-- cheerful and athletic, does casual flirting here and there, looks pretty despite struggles, works multiple jobs, blends well with both genders, sassy AND introvert guy who has secret crush on his best friend, studious, well mannered, gets dragged to her mess--basically saves her and cleans them up, morally uptight.

6. the badass boss bitch x wimpy nerd

-- gets everything her way, has well curated closet, obsessive compulsive, conceited, her way or highway, grumpy, conniving AND guy who gets all the work done, easily bullied but adorable, yes-ma'am philosophy, doesn't like arguing, somehow only corrects 'her' and doesn't care on what's going outside his bubble, doesn't like social gatherings

7. the player girl x stiff corporate guy

-- wears hot, revealing clothes in inappropriate situations, tends to get drunk all the time, doesn't care about her vocabulary, sticks to men with money, has loud group of peers AND the decent, sophisticated man who doesn't like trouble, intelligent, well-mannered, likes prim and proper women but all women in his life are either boy-ish or loud, too conscious about reputations

8. the happy go lucky sunshine x depressed rich kid

-- literally does not care a thing in the world, only looking out for fun stuffs to do, travels often and hang out with her friends a lot, pretty, charming and adorable AND guy from a wealthy family but has abusive/insensitive parents, always like going alone by himself, doesn't like being bugged except from one person, hopeless and gloomy

OKAY I'M TIRED I'LL CONTINUE TOMORROW.

[absolutebl]

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun

series review 

Japanese BL: Takara & Amagi

2022 Gaga & Viki

Tropes: high school crush, chaos muffin, high angst, classic seme/uke, secret relationship

Don’t expect modern BL but do expect classic live action yaoi, it’s absolutely lovely. Japan played with narrative beats with this BL so it actually launches with a confession scene and moves instantly into a secret relationship. The initial meat cutes are told from each boy’s perspective as flashbacks. That can feel a bit jarring at first but if you roll with it you’ll find that it’s really flipping good, with both of them liking each other, and already in a relationship, yet so nervous about what to do it’s actually quite tense. It’s completely and totally high school first love, flip-flopping agony and joy. It made me so happy but it’s also so teenage crisis management it’s traumatic to live through. But this is my favorite kind of Japanese BL, I kept getting a hint of Seven Days and I don’t mention that show lightly. 

Amagi, our uke, is an ADORABLE sunshine bean nugget with wildly uncontrollable elbows, one of the weird outsider kids. He’s frantically jerky and clumsy but in a way that doesn’t seem as overblown as Aoki did in Kieta Hatsukoi.

Takara is elegant to the point of deadpan, too cool, one of the popular clique, reserved and inaccessible at first (to us and Amagi). But turns out Japan is doing their version of pining with him. And when Japan does pining it skips right over yearning and into THIRST. 

Takara, it turns out, is the one who liked Amagi first, and it’s Takara who will latch on to Amagi’s confession as an excuse to hold on as tightly as possible to his sunshine. 

Takara’s reason for keeping their relationship secret is that he doesn’t wanna share Amagi, ‘cause he thinks his friends will like Amagi too much and steal Amagi’s attention - such a seme reason. I find Takara such a likable and relatable character. 

Takara will (as we learn, as we watch him learn, and as eventually we see Amagi learn) do absolutely anything to keep Amagi. He’ll risk his friendships, his popularity, his status, even go against his own nature and learn to communicate (which includes going against his personality as a sullen teen).

“I like him so much that it feels stupid.” 

The show depicts depth of personality and relationship balance by switching perspectives and voice overs from Amagi to Takara relatively quickly. We need this, especially at the beginning, since Amagi shows too much emotion and Takara too little. 

Takara is a classic seme, voicing many of the conceits of the archetype while at the same time being a seme who is scared of his own semeness and therefore forced to learn to communicate. 

Amagi’s fears are all the fears of first love (and not really queer love, just first time jitters). Takara’s attempts to mitigate that fear mean trying to understand Amagi better through conversation. 

I adore this because part of first love should be learning how to talk to each other! The way Takara evolves in this matter is so good and so important to the BL genre I did a whole post about it.

I genuinely think this is a BL suitable to show to youngsters and teens, a genuine YA coming of age narrative. It might even be good for them to see. 

It is Takara’s voiceover that really blew this show away for me. 

All too often in BL we only get the uke’s perspective and that means, with a unlikable uke, it can be hard to understand why the seme loves him in the first place (see SCOY). With these two we are never left in any doubt that Takara thinks Amagi is beyond adorable, wants to have him (in all ways) and keep him (probably in all ways too). 

Takara is also a corny, awkward dork, because coolness and passion are incompatible, and I love him for this. He keeps stepping on land mines with Amagi and not knowing what to do about it. Good thing his default it to actually ask what’s going on. 

GOOD SEME, have a cutie as a treat. 

And Takara does win, there were more kisses in this high school JBL than I have seen since Seven Days. Sure they are awkward, teenager, dead fish kisses, but for this narrative that totally worked for me.

“He said something cute and I couldn’t help myself“ is so traditional Japanese seme in one sentence I can’t even.

As a couple, and we see them in a relationship for the entire show, these two are sweetly shy, and so painfully awkward it’s almost unbearable. The hand holding! The torture of decision making when you can’t read his mind! 

The. 

Agony. 

Of. 

It. 

All. 

But I happen to enjoy the way burgeoning desire works with high school characters better than in any of the other settings Japan explores. What I’d find annoying in an office drama (like Senpai) is fine in this BL. 

Warning though, these two pretty much define cringe. Takara because he is trying desperately to maintain his cool (and perform perfect seme) while simultaneously being so in love/lust with Amagi in high school where desire is, by definition and practice, uncool. While Amagi is just a tiny basket case with more than a hint of blushing maiden about him. He is all frenetic movements and angles, like he cannot control his limbs or his emotions, both are deeply confusing to him. 

Watching them stumble around each other and reflectively agonize over every little movement and conversation is an exercise in joy, patience, and terror. It’s all so “teenager” I can hardly stand it.

I gnawed on my knuckles and squealed a lot with this show. Stoic cool kid who must lean to communicate to keep the tiny disaster nugget he’s madly in love with. It is beyond charming: soft and gentle, packed with cuteness and high school angst. Did anything actually happen? No. Was it emotionally tense and paced well enough for me not to notice? Absolutely. Was there plot? Not really. Did I enjoy the hell out of it, anyway? Oh yes. 

9/10 

TOTALLY RECOMMENDED

GaGa’s subs are more poetic but Viki’s are more comprehensible, so I did (and recommend) both. But if you must pick? Viki.

I you liked this show you should watch Seven Days and even Old Fashion Cupcake. Also something like Cherry Magic, My Love Mix Up, and Mr Unlucky might also be enjoyable. For something a little less cringe but with a similar dynamic there’s Korean BLs Cherry Blossoms After Winter and Light on Me. (Speaking og, T&A features one of the best wingman since Namgong.) 

More? 

Takara, Amagi, Communication Used to Subvert Seme/Uke plus some stuff about Ask v Guess cultures 

(source) 

[theflowergirl]

I've been wanting to ask this of you for quite sometimes but never did. Can you recommend me some anime? I've been away from anime world for quite sometimes. I want to start watching anime again but I just don't know what to watch. I need to make a list of anime to check out later. Thanks Lily :)

I feel like I’ve been waiting for this question my whole life. Melodramatic queen.

I say this as I haven’t been keeping up with anime seasons since 2015, but I’m still an anime fan so let’s go for a few recs!

Akatsuki no Yona / Yona of the Dawn

I’m starting with this one because I noticed you mean to start it so I’ll just convince you to go for it, lol. Yona is a good transition for someone who has been watching mostly kdrama/cdrama because the scenario is very reminiscent of Korea and the magic aspects can appeal to wuxia fans.

The plot? Oh, the sageuk feels. Sheltered princess Yona’s best friend/first love murders her father to become King, and Yona is forced to flee the palace to save her own life. Together with her other childhood friend and guardian, Son Hak, Yona sets out to find allies who can help her reclaim her throne - and the dragons from legend who will pledge their lives to her.

It’s wonderful to watch Yona grow. She doesn’t know much of anything, of the world, of battle, but she adapts, and boy, does she adapt.

Chills.

Natsume Yuujinchou

Natsume is basically my life. At this point in time, Natsume has gathered 6 seasons and if you think that would have lessened its quality, you’d be wrong. It’s still just as touching, universal and magnificent as it was 9 years ago.

High school student Natsume Takashi can see spirits. This has ruined his life since he was a child because everyone is afraid of him, and without parents, Natsume goes back and forth between relatives who don’t want the hassle of raising such a problematic child. Natsume discovers his grandmother, Natsume Reiko, had the same powers as he did and went around making contracts with spirits and collecting their names in a single book called the Yuujinchou - the Book of Friends. He also releases a powerful spirit called Madara - who usually hides in the form of a fat cat.

What makes Natsume so different from all other “boy can see spirits” anime is that it’s very… soft. Natsume could have been a hateful, traumatized child but he’s kind. He will always stop to help, he will always smile, no matter how painfulk it is for him to do so. It is no exaggeration to say I’ve cried in every episode because, well, I have. It shows so many different human emotions, so many connections, lost love, lost friendships, and relationships that can also never be broken. It’s beautiful and poingnant and you will not regret the hours spent on it.

Tiger & Bunny

This is the point where my anime friends, if they see this list, will be laughing loudly and saying, “Yep, that’s Lily, all right”. Because I was obnoxiously loud about T&B in 2011 and I’m still loud about it now.

Do you like super-heroes? Are you tired of anime set in high school? Do you want to see characters struggling to find the essence of what makes them what they are, to find what they truly want to be? Do you like stories of revenge, of trauma, of manipulation, of betrayal? T&B has got your back.

In a world where being a super-hero is a job and some humans called NEXT have developed powers, our veteran protagonist, Kotetsu Kaburagi aka Wild Tiger, in order to cover up for his multiple fuck-ups, is forced to form the first ever super-hero duo with newcomer Barnaby Brooks Jr. The worst thing? Barnaby has the same NEXT powers as Kotetsu - the Hundred Power, a power-up that makes enhances all their abilities a hundred-fold for the span of 5 minutes. Can Kotetsu and Barnaby learn to work together? Can Barnaby discover the truth behind his parents�� murder?

T&B is exciting with great characters and a breath of fresh air for anime fans that have been long tired of being fed the same tropes. So go watch it and join me in my cry for a second season!

Akagami no Shirayukihime

So, let’s say you’re a fairy tale fan. What if I told you Snow White is a herbalist who flees her country to escape the unwanted attention of a spoiled prince, only to fall in the graces of a better, handsome, kind and brave prince who offers her a place in his own country, where she can hone her abilities and use them for good?

That’s the premise of Akagami no Shirayukihime, or Snow White With The Red Hair. If you’re a fan of romance, this is a huge treat. Not only is Shirayuki an icon - telling princes off, doing her own thing, refusing to accept bullshit, but Zen Wisteria, her prince, is so dreamy, exactly the kind of prince you’ve ever wanted to meet. The sweet development of their relationship and Shirayuki’s ascension inside the court is a treat to see, and every character grows inside your heart. This is a must watch.

This is growing huge so I’ll just drop some titles for your consideration now lmao. I stan every single one of them 💕

Aoi Hana (girls loving girls, in the most realistic, human way)

Barakamon (conceited adult makes a huge mistake and is thrown off to live in an island and repent; there, he befriends all the islanders and, especialy, the children)

Chihayafuru (hitting cards off the floor is a sport, and it will make you cry. Trust me on this.)

Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju (discover the almost lost art of rakugo, an entertaining form of story-telling, and the lives that have been touched by it)

Gourmet Girl Graffiti (cute girls bonding over food. I’m especially targeting @justonehappyvictory)

Croisée in a Foreign Labyrinth (cute Japanese girl in France!)

Kids on the Slope (highschool kids learning to deal with loneliness through jazz)

Lovely Complex (tall girl falls for short boy and they’re the most idiots ever, send help)

Maria Watches Over Us, or, as it’s popularly known, Maria-sama Ga Miteru (not as gay as you’d expect, beautiful bonding between girls)

Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun (you’d think the most popular shoujo author is a woman… but it’s a high school boy who barely displays any emotion?? Gender roles reversed at every corner! Absolutely hilarious)

My Love Story!! (big guys who look threatening but are sweethearts can love the cutest girls, why not?)

NANA (two girls with the same name meet and share one of the most profound relationships. Do you want to cry? I cry.)

Nodame Cantabile (anime! jdrama! kdrama! enjoy the musical dorks in every media possible!)

Princess Tutu (the fairy tale that will change your life)

Tamako Market (adorable girls and a talking bird being silly in a big market)

The Perfect Insider (a good thriller anime that is so hard to find)

Your Lie in April (yup, this one will make you cry too)

…I think that helps? I DID NOT GET CARRIED AWAY………

( ˘ ³˘)♥

[warrioroflondonbelow]

Psst. Are you writing Victor Frankenstein verse by any chance? Because I love that conceited dork so much. =D

( I don’t know about Victor Frankenstein, as much as I absolutely adore that character, but I don’t think I’d do him justice. However, I’ve been thinking about making a Victorian!Richard AU for a while now. One of the reasons being I want to find icons and gifs from Victor Frankenstein for Richard. xD) 

[justsayun]

Passing along the Wisdom.

Someone expecting his first child expressed how he wanted a boy.  He had no desire to have a little girl. I told him "Buddy you're nuts,  I have three girls and I wouldn't give up one of them." I am speaking from experience with Barbies and Boyfriends I couldn't stand. (Oh my daughters drove me crazy, (Still, do.) but they make me smile.)I've always tried to give my daughters insights to making life easier.  For example, I told my girls to not date good looking guys.  They're too conceited.  They'll play games and dump you.  Instead, date ugly guys.  They'll do the same thing, but when they leave you won't care.  (Yes great advice that my girls ignored.  I do admit with daughters you'll never get into the bathroom and Homecoming and Prom Season major headaches to deal with.)  I do have one son that I can hand off man knowledge to.  For example; How to properly carry a 6-pack. (Yes theirs a cool way and a dork way of doing it.)  Also that he should never eat corn on the cob on a first date.  Plus date code secrets, (So important for a young man to understand.) like if a friend tries to set you up on a blind date and he says she's "Fun at Parties"!  Usually, that means she's not a super looker but likes to drink.  Yes, men know these little things that women don't.  While with my grandson last week he asked how can you tell the good super-heroes from the bad ones?  That's easy I told him.  The good super hero's all wear their underwear outside their pants.  It feels so good to pass on knowledge.  My wife complains about my relationship with our girls from time to time.  She says "I don't understand why our girls adore you.  They always hit me up for things and never you, because you'll say no.  You're the "No" person in our family.  I told my wife I agree I am the no person with our children, but they love my consistency.  

[paradisefovnd]

what is something everyone should know about your muses before interacting?

multimuse ask meme accepting

i told vicky to send this to me again bc i’m a dumb and didn’t understand it the first time

ruth balakov  - she is SUPER high energy. if you interact with ruth, expect her to be just short of bouncing off the walls. also, she’s super random, so don’t be surprised if she just rambles on and on about all kinds of random shit

samir chaudhry - this guy may seem immature, but he’s actually very thoughtful and considerate

tutankhamun “tut” mcmullen  - he’s emotional. look up “emo” and there will be a pic of tut. however, he’ll try and hide it if he thinks that his emotions will hurt the other person (well, that’s if he cares about them. if he doesn’t, then he’ll let it all out) 

jughead jones - he’s a little shit. he’s also not the dark and brooding jughead from riverdale. i cannot stress that enough. my jughead is asexual, loves burgers more than life, and doesn’t say shit that sounds like a young chuck palahniuk. instead, he’s more like roald dahl minus a dash of the whimsy

melody valentine - again, she is NOT riverdale based. that’s honestly the most important thing about her and jughead. my melody is sunshine in a person and sings everything she says with the occasional bit of cryptic wisdom

mark darcy - basically, he’s a modern mr. darcy. something to know about him and my portrayal is that i’m probably not going to write him with a lot of people. most of the muse i have for him is when i’m writing him against bridget, and i can’t really change that. he’s deeply in love with her, and ??

choi han-kyul - this kid is the grandson of the chairwoman of a company so like he’s hella rich, and he takes it for granted at first. but then, he’s put in charge of running a coffee shop, and he matures a lot through the process. however, he doesn’t lose his playfulness. he’s honestly one of my favorites, and if anyone ever wanted to write with him, i would be beyond happy. 

dr. noelle akopian - she’s a psychiatrist who’s done with ur shit

greg serrano - self-sabotaging but currently working on improving his life. in business school, used to be a bartender. recovering alcoholic. 

maya - she’s the most pure and pls don’t hurt her

valencia perez - used to be a yoga instructor, but is now an event coordinator. hella gay even tho the show doesn’t admit it. deserves to be appreciated. is working on improving her “mean girl” tendencies. the “mean girl” tendencies tho are partially bc she’s never really had female friends and she just...doesn’t know what to do? she’s actually an awkward bean, but her beauty prevents a lot of ppl from realizing it

johnny castle - soft. again, don’t hurt him. he’s a dance instructor at a resort, but he can work in a lot of different verses. you need a dancer? he’s there. he’s very serious about his craft, and is a genuine human being. he appreciates honesty. 

blair warner - she’s rich af and can be super conceited, but she knows how to have a good time and has a little bit of a devious streak. depending on the verse - is either in law school or a lawyer. intelligent altho ppl don’t expect it. 

jo polniaczek - looks tough, is a soft. don’t let her leather jacket and motorcycle fool you. jo polniaczek just wants a simple life and she wants people to be happy and respected. respect is big with her. 

emily gilmore - a socialite altho she prefers the term “philanthropist.” emily might seem “evil” to some people, but she has good intentions (in her mind). she only does things when she thinks they’re the “right” thing to do (at least, before the revival), but she also has a bit of a mischievous streak that’ll come along every now and then. her upbringing instilled certain lessons in her that she’s unlearning little by little. 

meredith quill - she loves classic rock, motown, her son, and the world. she’s one of those people who’s in love with life, and her enthusiasm is genuine. 

alice longbottom - she’s kind and altruistic. however, she’s not a pushover. my alice isn’t “soft” alice. she’s “u said something super ignorant and im gonna tell you why youre wrong” alice. gryffindor. 

arthur weasley - arthur wants to learn everything he can about the world around him. a bit of an absent-minded professor, even tho his mind is always turning. he just has so many thoughts happening all at once, he can tend to jump from subject to subject without connecting them sometimes. gryffindor (altho he was almost a ravenclaw)

victoire weasley - read this here

helga g. pataki - helga is someone who came from a bad situation and pretty much raised herself. most of her interactions will be after high school. my headcanon is that she finished school and got a scholarship to ivy league and after that, she went to law school at another ivy. she hopes to be the first female president one day. she’s aggressive, but deep down, she cares a lot. 

effie trinket - seems like an airhead, but effie is smarter than you think. she grew up in a society where certain things were expected so she fulfilled them. her upbringing was also extremely different in the sense that she was fed propaganda from a young age and never knew differently, but her experiences in district 12 (or other verse equivalents) have shown her that the world isn’t what she thought it was, and she’s learning what life actually is little by little 

katniss everdeen - i won’t write katniss a lot just bc it takes me into a place that’s harder to get out of, but my katniss is a sacrifice of her circumstances. she never wanted to be a revolutionary figure and never felt comfortable with her position in it even after the war was over. her “toughness” that people seem to see is just katniss trying to survive. survival is her driving aspect. 

jane villanueva - jane is a mama who is also an incredible writer whose first book is in the process of being published. she writes romance novels so essentially she’s just like us! she likes having a plan for everything, and her family is number ONE in her life

michael cordero a detective. is also a major nerd. thinks he could be a comedian, but he’s not actually that funny. like maybe if you have a certain sense of humor. he lives with a certain code of ethics, however, they might get bent at points if he thinks it’s for the best of the situation. 

rogelio de la vega - telenovela actor. if your character met him on the street, they might not know him if they haven’t watched telenovelas, but he will assume that they know who he is and that he’s famous. SUPER dramatic. don’t be alarmed.  

elle woods - amazing lawyer, loves the color pink, member of delta nu. in my version, i take pieces from the movie and musical. for my elle, vivienne was the one who told her to come back to the case (like in the musical), but at the end, elle doesn’t propose to emmett. instead, she and vivienne start dating and fall in love and get married 

ryan atwood - he came from not a great family, and then he got adopted by this uber rich fam in the oc (orange county, california). he’s navigating his new life, and grappling with who exactly he is and what his place is in the world. just know that he’s deeply loyal and cares a lot about people

pam beesly - receptionist at dunder-mifflin paper company. insecure, but is slowly coming out of her shell. is an artist and outlawed at chili’s. is a huge dork, but also adorable. 

fitzwilliam darcy - super rich bc he inherited everything from his parents after they died. they died when he was young, so he was thrust into responsibility at an early age which is part of why he is the way he is. seems stuck-up (and kind of is), but he just doesn’t care of societal expectations of friendliness even though he gets caught in what society expects when it pertains to manners, etc. is his sister’s guardian, and she means more to him than anything else in the world

jane bennet - pure, the sweetest. the oldest sister of five. in modern verses, i have her as a preschool teacher

queen clarisse renaldi - queen of genovia. a literal queen. tries to be diplomatic. expects people to do as she tells them bc she’s a queen. has dealt with some shit in her life - her husband died, her SON died. tries to stay optimistic. 

sabrina fairchild - suicide attempt tw: her father is a chauffeur for a super rich fam. suffered from depression. attempted suicide, but thankfully, was found before it was too late. after that, she was sent to paris and attended cooking school. fell in love with paris, and also healed. developed a love for life. became a fashion designer. 

capheus onyango - son of a local leader who was murdered when capehus was young. was raised by his mother who he loves more than this earth. spent awhile driving a bus called the “van damme.” is a sensate, meaning he is connected to seven other people. idealistic, kind, and too good for this world. 

princess fiona - i’ll mostly be playing her with a real life fc. she’s a princess, an actual princess, and her parents had her in a tower for years bc there was a spell on her that turned her into an ogre at night. so kinda like the swan princess but instead of a swan, she’s an ogre. black belt. enjoys burping. 

shrek - an ogre, however, if i keep him, ill be playing him mostly with a real life fc. isolated from a young age, had to take care of himself. is insecure because of how he looks and who he is. enjoys burping as well. has layers. 

charles brooks - in charge of a publishing company. divorced. has two daughters. is cautious when entering new relationships because of his position and his family. respectful. intelligent. is finally starting to live life in a way that aligns with what he likes. 

josh - tattoo artist. human golden retriever except more funky. is just trying to enjoy life while he can. definitely a millennial. spontaneous. knows how to have a good time. is super duper loyal and kind. 

[ladyselene]

Sky of Endless Love: Chapter 2 (Y!!!OI Fic)

AO3

Chapter 1

Inspired by the wonderful Day & Night AU by @beanpots. Please pay their lovely blog a visit!

Series: Yuri!!! On Ice

Rating: G (Will change in later chapters due to sexual themes.)

Words: 5 600+

Warnings: Dramatic mythos, mutual yearning, and an overdose of figurative cheddar cheese true to my style (read: eventual fluffy love and romance). Phichit is the Best Friend™ in the entirety of the galaxy, Yuuri and Victor are smitten and pining dorks, and Yurio is done.

Summary: In a Realm far above the Earth, the King of Day leaves behind roses of vivid red - all in the hopes of having his feelings reach the King of Night.

Meanwhile, Yuuri wonders why Victor keeps dropping his roses.

In a Heavenly Realm of serenity and starlight, The King of Night danced.

On Night’s head rested a diadem of constellations, their brightness contrasting with the short back-combed waves of his ink-coloured hair. On his long robes countless stars were woven, the gentle lights following the graceful movements of his hands and legs. As he danced on the terrace of his palace carved from moonstone, the sound of waves was the only accompaniment to the silent music inside him.

Even after eons, he remembered how Day had danced upon their first meeting.

Yuuri moved like Victor did in his memories, as he had done countless times before. At the very end he jumped forward and landed lightly on his toes, twirled around, and extended his left arm with the palm up while the right hand was atop his heart, as if reaching out to someone while solemnly swearing that you will never leave.

Many a time since their creation, Yuuri had watched as the King of Day would dance in the Sky Court, just as he had done so long ago. There were times when Victor moved to the rhythm of the music at celebrations, where his performances were always met with thundering applause - whereas other times Victor was the music himself, dancing with quiet grace around the halls, gardens and courtyards.

Yuuri remembered many of the performances by heart: he had loved dancing ever since he saw Victor for the first time. He could feel him close as he danced, connected to the King of Day in the way he had always longed for, and in those moments neither his fears nor shortcomings could weigh him down.

He would occasionally perform to his court, and created choreographies of his own. Yet more than that he enjoyed dancing in solitude to Victor’s routines, and out of them all, Day’s first dance was the one he had always loved best - for no one had seen it but him.

This way, at least, I can keep him to myself.

Having reached the end of the routine, Yuuri calmed his heart with deep breaths, and raised his gaze to the sky. He would often spend his time tending to the stars: some of them were even older than he, created at the Beginning of All, when Sun and Moon were yet to create Day and Night. Yet many of the twinkling lights were created by Yuuri himself, and he would weave some together into constellations time after time. He used to visit Earth long ago, and the first constellations he had ever created were dedicated to the humankind, to act as guides to the lost. Thousands of years have passed since his journeys, but many deities continue to travel there in disguise, and therefore much has been shared between their realms and the Earth. But even out of everyone here, Phichit must have been to Earth the most, Yuuri thought to himself with a smile. His Viceroy must have seen it all by now, and yet he still continued to travel and share his stories with the same curiosity and brightness in his eyes.

The Moon was in the sky as well, watching him from among the stars and greeting him from above, for the Sun was still shining from the Court of the Sky. At the end of each night on Earth he called for the Moon to return to their kingdom, and did the same along with his court while Day took the throne and summoned the Sun.

His mind wandered back to Victor then. It always liked to be more with him than Yuuri himself.

He thought about the beautiful King of Day, with hair reminiscent of Night’s beloved stars and eyes that were home to the bright blue sky. He thought about Day creating clouds with vibrant hues as he danced, long, light limbs moving nimbly and gracefully.

He thought about red roses sitting on a throne of silver and gold.

Yuuri’s heart picked up its pace, suddenly throbbing painfully, and he clutched his chest. He had sworn to himself that he would give an answer to Victor. Why did he feel so uneasy? Should he not have been overjoyed at the thought?

“If this is all a fantasy, what then?” Yuuri could hear a voice in his mind, a merciless, pestering distortion of his own. “What if you answer him and the roses were never meant for you in the first place and this is all a terrible misunderstanding, some pitiful fantasy you created? What if you embarrass yourself and your people by acting conceited and then he’ll hate you?”    

“Oh, here you are! Were you dancing alone again?”

Yuuri snapped awake from his thoughts, startled. He would recognize that bright voice anywhere: Night had, after all, been living with him since his creation, and given him his names. Dusk had hair the colour of shadow and skin of beautiful golden brown, like the sky moments before the Sun sets, the last rays of light illuminating the darkening heavens. In the depths of his eyes stars were always shining, just as they did on his robes. As Yuuri turned to look at the source of the voice, his Viceroy was smiling brightly.

“Phichit,” he smiled back, and then a small figure caught his attention, running towards him. Yuuri smiled a little wider, “Ah, Vicchan is here too!”

“He started missing you while we were out,” Phichit laughed. Vicchan was a paraselene, a moon dog, and Yuuri’s beloved companion. (Though he wondered about that sometimes, seeing how close Vicchan and his Viceroy were. Not that he was jealous at all, or disliked the thought of being second-best. Because that would have been stupid.) Vicchan pawed at the hem of his starlit robes, and Yuuri lifted him into his arms.

“Little Victor looks really content again,” Phichit smiled, seeing Vicchan instantly settle and relax in Night’s embrace. In contrast, the words made Yuuri’s body stiffen by reflex, and a familiar blue blush came to warm his cheeks.

“You’re doing that on purpose,” he muttered.

“Maybe,” Phichit said, tone playful. He had laughed when he first heard of the name Yuuri had given to his small companion, and he had not quite stopped since. The name choice had been, in the Viceroy’s words, “adorable”, and so Phichit would occasionally indulge in the opportunity to tease him for it. But Yuuri was content: he had always been particularly weak to his best friend’s joy, and blushing from time to time felt like a fair price to pay in the light of Phichit’s smile.

“Were you collecting reports?” Yuuri asked him then. “Is everything okay?”

“Yup, all is well!” Phichit gave him an assured smile. “I’ll give the documents once I’m done with them. Otabek says the ocean has been calm tonight, too. Oh-- that’s him right there, isn’t it?”

Yuuri followed the Viceroy’s gaze to beyond the terrace. He squinted his eyes, and could indeed see a familiar figure walking on the white sand of the shore, clad in dark armour and a long silver battle-axe in hand.

The Ocean of Dreams twinkled, akin to the sky above – but the unnumbered lights in the water were not stars. They were the embodiments of thoughts of all sentient beings of the Earth and the Heavenly Realms, conscious, subconscious and unconscious. Some of the most intensely negative thoughts and nightmares would occasionally make their way to shore, shifting shape and attempting to harm the Moon Realm. That is where Otabek came in - as the head of the royal guard and the strongest warrior of the kingdom he patrolled the shore, destroying the corrupted entities that made their way out of the waters. He was a brave, tireless and solitary deity with the noblest of hearts, and Yuuri held him in high honour. Otabek’s sharp eyes must have seen them, for he raised his hand in greeting, and the King and Viceroy did the same.

With a hand still waving in the air, Phichit glanced at Yuuri from the corner of his eyes, silently scanning with Yuuri’s gaze still on the shore. Then, his eyes twinkled.

“Yuuri,” he lowered his hand and turned to face him, “Let’s dance together.”

Yuuri stopped his salutation and directed his attention back to his friend, blinking in confusion. “Right now?” He asked.

“Yup!”

He was still slightly baffled, though perhaps he should not have been. Phichit had always had a way of deciding something, and then simply going for it: it was far from rare for Yuuri to play a part in his plans and adventures, and that included sudden dancing sessions ever so often.

“Okay,” Yuuri answered, and Phichit smiled impossibly brighter.

Yuuri put Vicchan on the ground and the moon dog walked a few feet away from them to lie down, working as their audience. “I’ll lead this time,” the Viceroy said as they were about to take their positions.

“Okay,” Yuuri repeated.

“Take my hands, your Majesty!” Dusk beamed, and Night followed.

It was funny, Yuuri suddenly realized, that despite him being the king, it had always been like that: Phichit heralded the dawn upon Earth so that Yuuri could follow and give way to night, just like he decided on a course of action and then tugged Yuuri along, encouraging, yet never making him feel like he had his will taken away. Sometimes pushing, sometimes pulling, but never forcing.

They danced, Phichit dipping him low and making his back curve, then swiftly tugging him up and spinning him, and as Yuuri held on to him, he could not help but laugh. They twirled together and the starlight of their robes seemed to fuse into one, their pacing and their movements matched, familiar after thousands upon thousands of years of doing this together. As Yuuri grew excited he decided to break his role to spin Phichit in turn, making them laugh together, Vicchan barking softly and wagging his tale in applause. It all felt comfortable, like home, and suddenly Yuuri felt lighter, as if some unseen weight kept falling away from his shoulders with every spin, and he could once more move freely.

The dance ended and they broke apart to bow, smiling and breathless. Vicchan joined them, knowing that it was safe to approach with two pairs of feet no longer prancing around wildly, and Yuuri lifted him up again. He exchanged a look with Phichit, and they wordlessly decided to sit down on a small set of stairs near the terrace entrance.

“That was no fair, Yuuri,” Phichit said, “suddenly taking the lead in the middle of the dance.”

“Sorry,” Yuuri chuckled, “I couldn’t help it. You’re a good lead, it makes me feel competitive.”

“Well, they do say that flattery gets you everywhere,” the Viceroy remarked, the light tone of his voice revealing that he was far from upset. Another chuckle left Yuuri’s lips, and the Viceroy smiled at him.

“Do you feel better?” Phichit asked him then.

Yuuri’s eyes widened. “What makes you ask that?”

“I don’t know. Eons of living with you?” Phichit mused, and his eyes were soft. “You’re still thinking about the roses, aren’t you?”

Yuuri’s throat tightened, unable to form a reply. He looked down to Vicchan instead, and Phichit’s smile turned slightly melancholic.

“You’ve always had a way of hiding when something bothers you. I won’t force myself into your space if you really want to be alone, but you don’t have to worry all by yourself, you know?” Dusk leaned on Night’s shoulder, and reached a hand to pet Vicchan. “We can share our burdens. You’ve never left me alone with mine.”

Yuuri had the urge to clutch his chest again, but it was not because of an anxious ache. There was the too-familiar feeling of disappointment towards himself… but most of all, he felt a consuming kind of warmth. Love, fondness and gratitude mingled within him, to the point where his tears threatened to overflow, as he thought of Phichit - Herald of Dusk, Viceroy of the Moon Realm – and his best friend and brother by spirit, who never gave up on him.

So Yuuri made the conscious decision to trust him, hugged Vicchan closer, and spoke.

Quietly, “What if he doesn’t actually like me?” There was no reason to clarify who.

“Of course he likes you,” Phichit said, and smiled with no hint of doubt.

“You always sound so sure.”

“I am sure! I love you, Yuuri. The Moon loves you, everyone living in the palace loves you, and your people love you. Victor will love you too, if he doesn’t already!” Phichit’s arm wrapped around Yuuri’s shoulders. “I know me saying that probably won’t make you believe me, but you’ll see.”

Yuuri leaned towards Phichit’s shoulder. “It matters,” he said, voice still hushed. Having you matters.

Phichit gave him a light squeeze. “I know.”

Then, “Sometimes I wonder if you’re really from here,” Yuuri told him.

The Viceroy looked surprised. “What do you mean?”

Yuuri smiled softly. “You’re so bright.”

“Oh,” Phichit laughed. “Well, I’m glad! I love home, but we could really use some extra energy here. What would you say if we did a meteor shower? Oh, or maybe Chris could come and make a rainbow, but in the moonlight?”

Before he could do anything but smile in response, Yuuri suddenly came to a halt.

“Ah,” he said.

“Ah,” repeated the Viceroy. “It’s about time, isn’t it? I’ll go and call for the chariots, then!”

“Thank you,” Yuuri replied, watching as Phichit hurried away after directing one more smile his way.

Before the human concept of time was created, Dusk, ever curious, had asked him: “How do you know when to raise and lower the Moon, Yuuri? How can you tell when it’s time for an Eclipse?”  

“The Moon tells me,” Night answered him.

The Viceroy’s eyes had widened then. “You can hear them? The Moon can talk to you?” Then, “You gave me my names. Did they give you yours?”

Such was the truth. Ever since he woke up, Yuuri had felt a faint presence inside him. Their conversations were broken and brief, but they had guided him when it mattered most.

There were times when he could feel the ghost of a gentle embrace, as soft words echoed queitly in the depths of him. “It is time, beloved child of mine. Beloved Yuuri.”

Whenever Yuuri thought about his awakening, he felt like the Moon might have also guided him to Victor, when they first met in the Realm of the Sky. Did the Sun ever talk to Victor from within? Did he feel the same way? There was still so much he wished to know about the King of Day. He doubted that he could ever know enough.

“King,” Otabek came to him, helmet removed and tucked away under one arm, revealing sharp eyes and silver skin, a full moon and a crescent of silver dangling from his ears. Yuuri always forgot the warrior was shorter than him – one would not guess from the way Otabek carried himself, or from the air of quiet confidence that surrounded him.

“The chariots are ready,” he reported. Simple and straight to the point, as the knight tended to be.

“Otabek,” Yuuri smiled, “thank you for the hard work.” The royal guard gave a salute, and they started walking together without further words, Otabek guarding him like a shadow.

The King of Night followed Dusk’s direction to the main entrance of the Moon Palace. There, his court greeted him with a bow, and two chariots gleaming with silver were waiting side by side, both pulled by a pair of dark, winged horses. He boarded the larger one of the chariots, holding on to it with one arm and pressing Vicchan to his chest with the other. Night looked to the side where Phichit was, already on board and a long, silver flute in his hands, carved with elaborate ornaments. Yuuri gave him a nod, and he pressed the side of the flute to his lips, playing a soft melody to herald the dawn. As the song took off, so did Phichit, and Yuuri followed. The chariots would take them from one realm to the other in mere moments, and they would soon arrive at Sky Court, followed by Otabek and the rest. He tried not to imagine the sight of a throne without a red rose on it.

---

The Realm of the Sky resided far above the Earth, between the kingdoms of Sun and Moon. The Middle Realm, as it was also called, had always been close to Yuuri’s heart: it was here that Day and Night ruled together from the Sky Court, and where they would come together during an Eclipse. For half of one nychthemeron on Earth, Yuuri summoned the Moon to glow in the night along with the stars, just as Victor summoned the Sun to shine during his time on the throne. The humans of the Earth never knew of them however, for the three Heavenly Realms were all protected by powerful illusions, and the true workings of the Sun and the Moon remained a secret from the curious eyes below.

Yuuri had always enjoyed coming to the Court of the Sky, seeing the setting Sun at dusk and looking upon the Earth, enjoying the beauty of the realm where all came together and sitting on the throne he and Victor shared. But this time, his mind deemed itself unable to concentrate on any of that. Yuuri could barely hear what the voices around him were saying. He stepped out of his chariot and set Vicchan on the smooth marble under them, and accompanied by the sound of his heartbeat in his ears, strode towards the castle doors and to the hall where the Sky Throne awaited.  

As it happened, there was no red rose on the throne on Night’s arrival.

Yuuri slowed his steps, and then stopped completely. He stared at the throne, wide-eyed. He could no longer hear his heartbeat.

There was a bouquet.

There was not a red rose on the throne. There were many, more than he could count. Countless roses of vivid red, held together with a golden ribbon that seemed to softly sparkle with sunlight. He could hear Phichit’s hurried footsteps coming from behind him, and then a loud intake of breath from the Viceroy, before everything grew quiet again. Phichit’s palms came to press gently at his shoulder blades, pushing him to take the few steps he still needed in order to reach the throne. Yuuri’s legs felt stiff, but they somehow managed to take him to his destination.

As he looked at the bouquet from above, he saw something nestled between the ribbon and the roses. “There’s… a small piece of paper scrolled up here,” he told Phichit.

“Open it,” the Viceroy said in an enthusiastic near-whisper. He went to stand beside the King, holding on to his shoulders.

Yuuri reached for the small scroll, hands trembling slightly despite his best effort. With careful fingers he opened up the parchment, revealing words written in golden ink.

The message read, To Yuuri.

Phichit laughed, merrier than ever, and squeezed his shoulders. “Now do you believe me?”

Yuuri did not answer. He stared at the message. Then, slowly, he took the bouquet into his arms.

“This is Victor’s handwriting,” he whispered.

“I can definitely vouch for that,” Phichit answered, grinning.

“Victor left me a bouquet.”

“Yes, Yuuri!” Phichit was now squealing.

Yuuri could feel the thought slowly sinking in. As it did, he also became aware that he had not been blinking his eyes and a wall of water was forming itself in front of his vision, and that his cheeks had never been as blue as they were at that moment. He was blushing, furiously.

“Yuuri, now isn’t the time to short-circuit!”

“Phi-Phichit,” he stammered, “wha-what should I do?”

“Go see him, you beautiful fool!”

---

A groan.

That was all Dawn had to offer to the King of Day in this case. Or, well. In most cases ever.

Yuri, the Herald of Dawn and Viceroy of the Sun Realm, watched as the ridiculous, love-ridden deity who ruled their kingdom tied together a massive bouquet. A collection of red roses that were all once returned, one for each time that the King of Night had sent them back.  

“This? This was your master plan? Aren’t you getting tired of repeating the same scenario? Because that’s what this is,” Yuri said from behind Victor, exasperated, a frown plastered on the Viceroy’s delicate features.

“It will be different this time,” Victor beamed, “I can feel it!”

“With what damn logic?!”

“Well, I started thinking that perhaps I wasn’t being clear enough before,” Day said without turning his attention away from the flowers. He finished tying the bouquet by sprinkling a hint of sunlight on the ribbon and dipped a quill in golden ink, gliding the tip on a piece of parchment. “So now I’m going all out. I’ll write his name here for good measure… there! Now he’ll know without question that they’re from me, to him.”

Whereas Day was known to many as one of bright disposition, Dawn had a more serious nature, armed with brashness. One could say that Yuri was famous for never giving up – whether it be an argument, competition or otherwise - even when it might serve well to do so. And therefore it could not be stressed enough just how miraculous it was that a sigh of defeat escaped him, and he argued no further.

“And if it gets returned?” Yuri settled on asking, staring pointedly at the gathering of brightly blooming flowers.

“But it won’t,” was Victor’s adamant answer. “You’ll see.”

---

Or so Victor wished. It was easy enough to pretend that his smile had not wavered ever so faintly that morning, as he had tied together a bouquet after receiving yet another one of his roses back. But he held tightly to his hope still as he gazed at the sky from his high balcony, as Makkachin - his beloved parahelion, a sun dog – rested beside him, bathing in the strong sunlight and relaxing as Victor steadily stroked long fingers through golden fur.

The Sun Castle lay high upon a mighty mountaintop, from where it watched over the lively realm. It was a beautiful and grand domain, with white marble walls and golden pointed rooftops, tall towers reaching for the bright sky along with the trees and flowers that prospered in the light. The Realm of the Sun was adorned by vibrant colours and merriment, and many eternal deities resided there, in human and other fauna-form alike. Large lanterns decorated with elaborate ornaments could be found everywhere one looked, for they gathered and held sunlight that nurtured the realm during the half-day when the Sun was with the Earth. It was a wondrous sight, even in the eyes of those less unbiased than Victor himself.  

The King’s chambers were located on the highest tower of the Sun Castle, where Victor often found himself looking at the sky these days, just as he did now. There was some comfort to be found in that, at least – looking up in the literal sense of the word, catching a glimpse of the cosmos that connected everything together. Here, where no outsider could see and there was no need for calculated appearances, he let himself be lost to the vivid visions of his imagination, both the innocent and the intimate. Victor thought about what it would be like, to dance with Yuuri once more. To come together when the time for the Lunar Eclipse arrived, to intertwine their fingers in front of all those present and move as one, guided by music. To walk around the Realm of Sky, arms linked and speaking with voices no one else could hear, exchanging words no other would be privy to. To share moments of intimacy and slowly open Night’s starlit robes to reveal more of soft silver-blue skin, leaving gentle kisses in his wake…

And that road of thought, lovely as it was, had to be saved for later for a variety of reasons – for it was soon time for day to dawn on the Earth, and he had to prepare himself.

Prepare. Not only because there was work to be done, but if the bouquet he had left on the Sky Throne on his last watch was to be sent back to him -- No, no, Victor thought to himself with a firm shake of his head, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose in an effort to will the unease away. Don’t go there. That will just jinx it. Keep up the hope.

For all his portrayed confidence, he certainly felt rather nervous at the thought of failing this… quest of heart.

“Victor, it will be your turn soon. Go get ready to start another day.”

“Oh,” Victor opened his eyes with a slight startle and looked above his head. “You woke up? Good morning.”

The Sun had always had a way of being particularly chatty when the time of their Earth-rising drew near. The ever-there presence would grow stronger for a while, before eventually fading back to the familiar feeling Victor carried with him, like a warm hand settled on his shoulder, encouraging and steady. The two enjoyed talking when they could, sharing stories or using the chance for Victor to seek counsel.

“Why the heavy heart, son? Has your Lifelong Daydream Deity yet to dance with you?”

“It’s worse than that,” Day replied with a sigh. “I don’t know if he wants to dance with me again. I’m starting to fear he regrets it… and also, please don’t call him that. It makes this sound like I’ve been longing for him forever, which makes me even more miserable.”

“Oh? Alright then. We can all come together to agree that bestowing your Aftercomer with a name identical to Night’s was, surely, purely and entirely a coincidence. I would never argue with that.”  

Victor let out a defeated whine, and Sun laughed. There was no need or use for denial: Day had indeed named his viceroy after the one and only deity that had been there for him since the beginning. It had simply felt fitting for Dawn to have a name so loved and familiar.

He fell silent for a while. Then he spoke, with a whisper that lacked cheer, “What if he actually doesn’t like me back after all?”

There was a beat of silence. “Is the reserved King of Night truly someone who would share such intimate moments with someone so casually?”

“No, but if he simply regrets--“

“Is the cautious King of Night one to act or speak on impulse, then?”

Victor pressed his lips together, and the Sun continued, gentle.

“Victor… your feelings are not being played with.”

And oh, how the words hit a raw nerve, pulling all the fragile strings inside Victor that kept him from crumbling at the thought of caring so one-sidedly. A small fraction of the prickling pain in his chest travelled upward into his eyes, and tears gathered there without falling. Makkachin perked up from his spot, noting his king’s mood with a whine, and firmly nuzzled at his side, ever the giver of comfort. Victor clung to him in turn, unable to do much else.  

“Tell me, Victor,” said the Sun then, “Do you know how I decided on your name?”

“No... how?” His voice came out hoarse.

“Because the moment I brought you to being, I knew that you could accomplish anything.”

Victor looked up at the Sun with wide eyes.

“I know how much this means to you,” the Sun continued. “Your feelings have long been true. Never let go of something so precious, the least out of fear. If there are words that need to be said, make them known. ”

“Thank you,” Victor spoke, the sharp edges of his lips inching up into a smile. With gratitude he noted that for the time being, his head felt less muddled than moments before, for he knew the depth of the counsel he was given. Carefully, he wiped away the tears that had formed a wall over his eyes. “I’ll keep reaching out to him, until I know he wishes otherwise.”    

“I’m proud of you, son. And I will always be here to support you in your endeavours.”

“I wonder if the Moon helps Yuuri like you help me,” Victor smiled warmly, wondering.

The Sun laughed, “Night surely feels supported, but I doubt they talk as much. The Moon was always worried of being a bother.”

“Huh, you two have little in common then,” he mused theatrically, a good-humoured jab familiar to them both.

“You cheeky child,” the Sun huffed a laugh. “Go ready yourself now, or we risk the humans wondering why I am not rising when need be and calling it the End of the World.”

“Yes, yes,” Victor said airily, already making his way out of his chambers with Makkachin in tow to be greeted by the sight of the golden-clad Mila with her flaming red hair, the royal guard having kept watch at the door. He felt lighter, the poised posture of his body returning, graceful steps easily carrying him forward once more. As he journeyed through the castle he offered a bright smile and a friendly wave to the members of his court he encountered, Mila following behind with an easy smile until they reached the garden entrance.

Victor entered alone with Makkachin to spend what time he had left among his beloved flowers before Dawn came for him, taking in the scent of all the numerous flora and stopping in front of a particular gathering of them that had come to hold so much weight for him. “I love you”, was the meaning humans had given to the red rose, and Victor smiled, hearing the flowers whisper the words with his own voice.

He was interrupted with the sound of echoing footsteps, fast-paced and strong as a pair of shoes met with hard marble floor over and over again, and Victor knew who it was without turning around. Yuri walked through the entrance with intense purpose, and for a split second Day felt his heart spasming at the news he would bring.

“Hey, Victor!” Dawn roared, and the king swished around with an expectant smile.

“Yes?”

And it seemed that Yuri’s face was trying to express so many emotions at once, that the end result was a mess of them all: confused, annoyed, incredulous, and almost insulted. With halting movements, he raised his hand up and spoke.

“He gave them back,” said Yuri, voice forcefully flat, at the same time as Victor’s mind was done processing the bouquet in Dawn’s tight grip.    

With a smile that had plastered itself on his face at the shock, Victor shed tears.

That’s it, then. He really regrets it, huh? I wonder where I went wrong? Not that it matters at this point, I suppose - if he didn’t hate me before, then he most definitely does now, after all that pestering. I’m just glad I didn’t cause him more pain by actually going to see him.

“Are you seriously crying?!” The Viceroy spat in surprise, but then took a moment to properly see the king’s expression - and made an effort to catch himself, continuing more evenly while eyeing the roses. “Come on, I told you to forget about the… huh?”

The reaction called Victor to a state of near-awareness.

Dawn rustled the bouquet. “A note?” he said.

And with that, Victor’s soul, which had been taking a hasty flight to somewhere very far away, was summoned back to his body.

“A note?” He repeated quietly, and started striding towards Dawn, “Quick, what does it say?”

“I’m on it, I’m on it!” Dawn retorted, struggling to get the paper from amidst the flowers before succeeding. Clearing his throat, he read the note aloud, quoting:

 Dear King of Day,

The flowers you have sent are lovely, and it is with a heavy heart that I return them to you. Your roses do not thrive in my realm, and I could not bear to see them wilt. I hope my actions do not offend you in any way – I desperately wish I could keep the flowers at my bedside forever.

 “That’s the end of the note,” the Viceroy informed, glancing up at the King.

And like that, everything changed yet again. Victor was shocked to think that the reason – the reason behind everything, the confusion and the hurt and the heartache - was not Yuuri’s silent loathing, or even a lack of interest, but that he felt deep sorrow at the thought of seeing flowers wilt. Victor had not stopped to think of that. All flowers withered away without soil, and single cut out blooms were never meant to last forever, but simply to bring momentary joy with their beauty, or to relay a certain message. All the suffering had been caused by simple miscommunication, and Victor no longer knew whether to laugh or cry.

However, he knew something else for certain.

“I’ve decided,” he said.

Yuri did a double take. “Hah?”

“We’re going to the Moon Realm right now,” spoke Victor with finality, a smile widening on his face.

Dawn felt like yelling would have been a valid action right then, but found himself too stunned for it.

“I’m experiencing some serious déjà vu right now,” he whispered instead.

 - To Be Continued. -

 Sara’s notes: And so meet they shall in the third chapter...

For those who might be interested, I drew inspiration for Victor's castle from the famous Neuschwanstein Castle, whereas Yuuri's palace was inspired by both Mysore Palace and The Presidential Palace of Abu Dhabi. Except that it's literally carved from moonstone, and is therefore even shinier than the two.

Thank you so much for reading chapter two of SoEL! Take care, and be well!♡

[creativity-is-a-drug]

Monday's Kitchen Counter Drawing is of my friend Keith. He has these really kind eyes that were challenging to capture and my buddy possesses a slight resemblance to Josh Hutcherson. Though Keith feigns indifference, I'm convinced he's quite proud of that alikeness. After all, we are all conceited dorks at heart aren't we? It's an adorable quality! #kitchencounterdrawings #art #sketch #sketchbook #portraitdrawing #joshhutchersonlookalike #joshhutcherson (at West Hollywood, California)