#adu answers

[yen-sids-tournament]

putting a park somewhere its ILLEGAL to be lgbtq+ is. gross.

Someone else we know mentioned dress codes/behavior requirements for women who'd visit too. The political geography is a very confusing choice for sure. You could easily call it offensive in these respects. Especially when considering a) their positive LGBT+ employer reputation with organizations like HRC and b) the $43+m gender pay gap settlement they recently agreed to.

It would be very interesting to know what enticed Disney to make this deal. Other than money, unless it was just money, then we'd love to know that figure.

~*Coincidentally*~ just last week the topics of the parks came up and we thought about where a new one would go. Rio (Brazil) was top of our list, followed by a general Latin American/South American vibe.

[royaltealee]

Deathly silent

P x Puppet!Reader

⚠️Content warnings⚠️: Depictions of not understanding feelings~ (as one does when becoming human) Kidnapping, getting electrocuted (P's gonna go through it-)

Additional notes: Thank you to EVERYONE Who has found my blog and will continue to look forward to my other works being finished. I am entirely greatful to all of you, and I hope that you all have a fantastic holiday!

Without further adue~

Part: 1

Part: 2

Part: 3

You ran back to the Opera house, a harsh beating in your chest. You never thought that having a heart could hurt so much, is that what it was? A heart?

Sure you had one, but it felt so full of something. It's gears clicking in a beat of what a heart should be steady as. It had never felt like this before.

And your lungs burned, you shouldn't have them, yet they felt ever present... what was happening? Opening the large doors to the opera house, you were greeted with a handful of puppets awaiting your return. Running straight towards Romeo's room, where the half-puppet resided.

Almost as if he knew you were there, he opened the door before you could even knock.You see as his shoulders squared uncomfortably, eyes wide with shock. He spoke first.

"Are you alright? You look a bit shaken..."

A bit shaken was an understatement.

He watched as you fiddle with your fingers, unknowing what to do with them. He could tell you were under distress... but, something was blocking the feeling all together. He was usually able to gain feedback from other puppets, sort of like a hivemind of sorts. He couldn't reach you... not like he had before. It was like a thick wall was placed over your head, he couldn't feel anything that you were feeling, thinking, and it honestly worried the straw blond to his very core.You are one of his only friends that was still (Kinda) alive.

He would never forgive himself if something were to happen to you now, he knew Carlo would wring his neck from the grave if he could...

"I- I feel my heart pounding! Is it supposed to hurt this badly?! He- I saw him Romeo..!"

"What? You're speaking nonsense-"

"Carlo! I saw Carlo, Romeo!"

You felt your mechanical organ clench when you see his face turn from confusion, to utter shock, a type of shock that spurse him into wanting to cry, but he's unable.. in this new body of his.

"You... must be mistaken."

"Something's terribly wrong.." You took ahold of Romeo's arm, the man slowly turned his gaze to your... slightly more wet ones. "He looked more... puppet, less humane. But before he stopped attacking... he looked at me as if I was a whole new idea, never explored before. An answer." Was this a gut feeling? Romeo couldn't lie... You sounded so human in this moment, that it caused the blond to look you in the eyes for a moment.

He could recognize the emotions that plagued you now. It was foggy, but that hint of pure fear, and absolute hurt that was welled in the dents of your healing mind. If you weren't already showing signs of humanity already, you certainly were now.You weren't completely human, but you were slowly getting there.

Romeo took in a breath, closing his eyes, opening them up again before looking straight ahead out into the burning streets of Rosa Isabella.

"The last few months have only gotten worse for the populous of Krat. If what you say is true... And Carlo is somehow alive and well, I need you to bring him here." Romeo took your hand that had clung onto his arm. Feeling his strings tighten, while yours slacked. Looking back to your feeling struck eyes with such intensity.

"Bring our friend home."

-------------

"Gee, that was quite something; Huh P?"

Gemini spoke to the puppet boy, he could tell that he was lost in thought after the puppet he had fought had up and run away.

The strange language that sounded oh so familiar, but it never clicked with him. Questions running through his head at rapid speeds. He had thought you were one of the many attack stricken puppets he had encountered so far. But when Sophia's Ergo Butterfly had touched you, he saw something he could't recognize. As if someone had cleared your mind and opened your eyes.

Then a new emotion that he couldn't understand had struck you, and you fled.

P hated the feeling of confusion by now, he wanted to learn about so much now that he had a small taste of it.

Then, he could finally understand you, your words gave the boy a small feeling of longing, he really wanted to see you again. The puppet that had started to shift into his thoughts, like a brand new cog that made its own ticking beat beside his P organ heart. He had cross the threshold of Krat central station, and had saved The great inventor Venigni.

Venigni had told him about The Puppet King before, and he had felt he was almost there, the one possibly behind the Puppet frenzy. The Attack that single handedly destroyed the complete populous of Krat.

And his father, the one that had helped him though these times of complete and utter confusion, enlightened him to things that he felt were a bit too hard for the puppet to understand. Even Gemini ought to thank Geppetto for the extra guidance.

It was little over an hour walk to and from the rainy atmosphere of Hotel Krat and to Rosa Isabella Street, and that was *with the use of stargazers. The puppet boy had taken down some of the more dangerous Puppets in the area. The fire trickling through the streets would unnerve anyone, especially with the waning song that was blaring through the speakers meant to spread hope for Krat... It only brought an unsteady stomach.

P had kept his eyes sharp and peeled, any familiar colors or movements, a Puppet could come come racing around any corner. It's happened way too many times before, Gemini even helped (Somewhat-) with a sneak attack from behind. But it was usually all up to P with the fighting skills.

"Hey... is it just me, or does it feel like we're being watched right now?" Gemini asked with a small creek, the puppet also feeling that cold hard chill run against his metal spinal cord; he was more alert now.

And just like that, with his peripheral vision, a shadow figure had dashed past before he could take a good look. The inexperienced feeling of nervousness coursed through the puppet boy, it wasn't bad enough to the point of shut down, but he could definitely feel his P-organ heart start to hammer.

But sense nothing had outwardly attacked... he pressed through. He couldn't waste energy on a runaway fight that would go nowhere.

He couldn't say that he wasn't hoping it was the puppet he had faught, Sophia had told him that you were an old friend of Geppetto's, but as the story goes, you had become part of the puppet frenzy. He could see the methodical look on the blue haired girls pale face but couldn't make out what she was thinking.

Her powers were great, the voice of ergo helping him down the path of becoming more human by choice. New feelings were definitely overwhelming at times, but when he finally starts to feel... he couldn't have it any other way.

When he had asked Geppetto about you, his eyes... they held conflict. It wasn't long before his father had changed the subject completely, he did say something interesting though before the conversation had ended.

"They were real, but not really living. They had felt feelings... but it was a lie." He had finished after that.

"P BEHIND YOU!" Gemini had screamed at the terrifying onslaught of your figure bariling straight towards him. Snapping out of his thoughts, P had turned around quickly, his hand reaching for his sword, but felt the sharp blade of another cut through his sleeved wrist and catching the handle with the tip, flinging it out of its sheath in one swift move. P's weapon had clattered to the ground, quickly going to after it- only for his chest to be met with a quick jab of a shoe. His back had hit the gravily ground harshly, he also heard Gemini groan when his cage had jossiled and smacked against the pavement.

Trying to find his bearings, P had sat up unfocused glass eyes watched as a figure had appeared before him in his fogged up state. Blade pressed against chest where his heart should be, the hand that connected to it held that familiar blazing ergo blue ring right on their ring finger. He had found you! But the situation feels strangely deja-vu...

A word crackled in your voice; it was that strange language again. Oddly enough, the words sounded extremely more clearer than when other puppets had spoke in their blind rage and with oil filling up their lungs that P didn't have time to listen to their pained jumbled words. P looked to you with confusion yet again, not understanding a word you had just said, feeling you slightly lower your blade in thought, he thought that it was safe to at least stand up.

The blade followed quickly back towards him as he stood, watching as you tensed up from the sudden movement. But only seeing that he had just stood from the very likely uncomfortable ground... you made no more moves. A long amount of silence had enveloped the air, it felt thick, like a fog that couldn't be cleared up, two puppets having some sort of language barrier was seemingly unheard of. He could finally get a good look at you, wide eyes filled with a sort of sadness he couldn't quite place, your facial features made you look whimsical, very different from the other puppets he's seen, almost exactly like him.

Without so much as a thought, P had reached a hand towards your clasped ones, a single finger brushing against your closed fist. It seems that you had also been in your own mind as well, quickly pulling back quickly when seeing a bright light had flashed against the ring when physical contact was made. Staring at the pulsating ergo light, P could almost feel his gears turning in tandem with yours. Blue specks of light had flashed faintly in his eyes, as he let you take a minute.

"There's always something crazy going on when I leave my area..." You had grumbled, not noticing the puppet boy jump from the familiar language spilling from your lips. P had quickly stepped closer yet again, curiosity overshadowed his suspicions.

"Again."

Now you were the one looking baffled, a swift turn of the head caused P to tilt his head in question. Those eyes held secrets that he wanted to discover, after all, Sophia had once said that the soul is laid within the eyes, and they were true to every human he has encountered, so he had made it a goal to try and peer and look through the depths of one's pools every now and again to find... something. But never in his weeks of existing has he seen a fickle of life in the other puppets eyes, no life had shone in them; only the sparkle of rain and clouded dust settled on them faintly.

But you... yours were akin to a humans, so deep he could almost fall in...

"What do you mean again?" P was shaken from his thoughts yet again, he swears he could almost hear Gemini's stifled laughter.

"I could understand you now." His answer was a lot more blunter than what he had meant to- in all honesty, P hadn't had the need to talk all that much. It was just a normal occurrence to him to give answers only when spoken to, so when trying to find words after his usual one liners and small sentences were the norm for him.

You had taken another short break to digest the conversation unfolding between the two of you, P could almost see the thoughts that were running through your head when you thought of the next choice of words.

"What... is your name?" You had asked.

"My name..."

P started picking at the exposed gears on his legion arm, he didn't know outright what his name truly was, everyone around just mentioned him as "Geppetto's puppet" so... he made use of what he was usually called.

"P, as in the letter."

You had mumbled the name under your breath, seemingly testing it against your tongue. A revelation had graced your face seeing as you had now completely lowered your weapon, watching as he went to grab his own weapon and place it back in its sheath. He could almost feel his ears burn for more of your voice - it was an odd feeling really, one where your heart could not stop pumping, was a heart attack about to happen without his knowledge?

Looking for more words, he felt Gemini rock against his cage, whispering lowly: "Ask for her name!" P looked down at the kricket with an annoyed sour expression, feeling as if a parent was pushing a shy child toward another kid during free time to socialize.

"Are you going to be going to the Opera house?" The other puppet asked, causing P to have his attention be stolen from his thoughts yet again. The Opera house was of many areas he needed to check out- but not now. He still needed other things to take care of before heading over. The puppet boy shook his head, but stopped once he saw you looked you needed more than just a head shake.

"No... but soon." He could see your face almost fall into a look of disappointment, but held your neutral facade. By god, all of this thinking will surely get him killed one day.

You took a step forward, putting your weapon away in truce of no harm will be done to one another. Placing a gentle (And surprisingly very warm) hand onto his shoulder, you peered up at the boy, a regretful look flashed through your eyes, making him question- what were you so worried about?

"I do deeply apologize for what I'm about to do."

Before P could question you, a tremendous pain coursed through his body. Blue sparks of electricity had ran up his chest, down his arms and legs, and straight into his head. He couldn't protect his body fast enough from an Electro-blazer being shoved into his abdomen. and soon... he was out.

[mr-creative-91]

What if Godzilla and his friends were Pokémon?

An age old question which has been answered by many but I decided to take a swing at it.

So without further adue here's my take.

**Note that I based all base designs off of other Pokémon so they are heavily inspired lookwise by already made Pokémon.

Can you guess which ones the second starter and her evolutions were inspired by?

[divergent-paths]

I just want to ask how you came up with the characters and their personalities for the comic. I love them all, but I have a special fondness for Alex. I've never really liked an asshole character before, but I really enjoy Alex. What was your inspiration? Did you base the characters on the game, or did you create them to fit well within the story of the game?

I really appreciate the small details you added in the rewrite that make it feel unique and not just a copy of the game story. For example, the congratulatory photos for Alex and the league card for Max are designed in a way that reflects their characters, making them feel more unique.

it's great to hear that you're finding alex enjoyable, despite the fact he's a bit of a jerk right now~! i suspect the reason you're enjoying it despite the clash in taste is because he's really not a bad kid at heart, just one with some issues going on, and i think that's something most of us can relate to. :') i've also ended up with quite a lengthy answer to the rest of your ask here, so it's all below the cut~

as far as inspiration goes, i started to jot down my ideas and notes for the boys and overall story around the time scarlet and violet were first announced - when it was shown there was a school theme, i knew i wanted to write about the existing young pkmn oc's i had, and the split between max and alex came about when the husbando decided to finally play/start sword for the first time. i opted to age up the boys from their last appearances (they were 12 and 10 in their last non-cameo appearances), giving me some leeway to work in story elements to be discovered over the course of the story.

by the time scarvi dropped, i pretty much had my general ideas/progression set up, and it was mostly just a matter of playing through the games to see what plot stuff i needed to change, and i was very surprised to see how well alex fit into the situation in paldea. so most of what comes out in alex's story was more or less all laid out before the game came out, and although my posting speed certainly leaves much to be desired, the slowness does at least allow me to add details from other media for some extra fun.

as for max, i've long since played through shield so the story there wasn't new to me, but seeing as it's new to husbando, i'm able to incorporate some of his fresh perspectives, as well as look more deeply into galar's story to try and tell it in a more cohesive way. imo, the story *is* good, but it's executed poorly, and has several loose ends that never got tied up. while i'm not able to account for all of the plot holes, i hope to tell swish in a way that helps others see it in a more thought-provoking light.

ultimately, alex's journey is intended as an introspective one, while max's is meant to be extrospective, thus the name of the story/blog. their paths may mirror one another at times, but their journeys are their own to complete.

as for the boys in general terms, if they feel like they could be real people, that's great! i try to write characters to have more than just one-note to them, and that's extending out to main characters such as nemona and hop - charas that many in the fandom have unfairly ragged on bc the games heavily emphasised one trait over anything else. alex, max, and their family carry many irl traits from myself and the husbando, as they're all more or less offshoots from self-insert oc's that we no longer write/draw/use. while carrying traits that make them interesting to write, they still differ greatly from us, so we've had plenty of convos going over 'what-ifs' and debating how they'd react to specific plot points, dialogue, or if other factors would change a normal response into an out of character one. through the course of writing and story talks like that, i've come to enjoy writing these teen dorks way more than any of my adult ocs. alex and max haven't lost that youthful spark, and have way more openings to goof off and have fun unlike the adult ocs.

and whoof, that's a lot of writing, so thank you for reading all the way to the end! i defo could go on for days about all the minutiae of my art/writing/oc choices, but i think it'll be far more interesting to just see it happen as the story comes out piece by piece~

thank you for the ask, and i hope you continue to enjoy the story~!

[racefortheironthrone]

Re zoning regulation reform: could you go into detail as what that would look like in terms of wiping the slate clean. I feel like it would be better to go the houston route and just be zoning free

You do not want to go the Houston route.

Houston may claim to be "zoning-free" - and to be fair, it doesn't have some of the more common regulations on land use, or density, or height restrictions (more on this in a minute) - but the reality is far more complicated and the status quo is not one that's friendly to the interests of working-class and poor residents, or to the possibility of sustainable urbanism.

The answer to NIMBYism isn't to abolish all regulations and let the free market rip, it's to surgically target zoning, planning, and litigation that is used against affordable housing, public/social housing, mass transit, clean energy, and walkable neighborhoods, and to replace it with new forms of regulation that encourage these forms of development.

So let's take take these categories in order.

Zoning

As I tell my Urban Studies students, zoning is both one of the most subtle and yet comprehensive ways in which the state shapes the urban environment - but historically it has been used almost exclusively in the interests of racism and classism. Reforming zoning requires going over the code with a fine-toothed comb to single out all the many ways in which zoning is used to make affordable housing impossible:

The most important one to tackle first is density zoning and building heights limitations. The former directly limits how many buildings you can have per unit of land (usually per acre), while the latter limits how big the buildings can be (expressed either as the number of stories or the number of feet, or as both). Closely associated with these zoning regulations are minimum lot size regulations (which regulate how much land each individual parcel of real estate has to cover, and thus how many how many housing units can be built in a given area), and lot coverage, setbacks, and minimum yard requirements (which limit how much square footage of a lot can be built on, and what kinds of structures you can build).

the other big one is use zoning. To begin with, we need to phase out "single use" zoning that designates certain areas as exclusively residential or commercial or industrial (a major factor that drives car-centric development, makes walkable neighborhoods impossible, and discourages the "insula" style apartment building that has been the core of urbanism since Ancient Rome) in favor of "mixed use" zoning that allows for neighborhoods that combine residential and commercial uses. Equally importantly, we need to eliminate single-family zoning and adopt zoning rules that allow for a mix of different kinds of housing (ADUs, duplexes and triplexes, rowhouses/terraced houses, apartment buildings).

finally, the most insidious zoning requirements are seemingly incidental regulations. For example, mandatory parking minimums not only prioitize car-dependent versus transit-oriented development but also eat up huge amounts of space per lot. The most nakedly classist is "unrelated persons" zoning, which is used to prevent poorer people from subdividing houses into apartments, which zaps young people who are looking to be roommates and older people looking to finance their retirements by running boarding houses or taking in lodgers, as well as landlords looking to convert houses from owner-occupied to rental properties.

So I would argue that the goal of reform should be not to eliminate zoning, but rather to establish model zoning codes that have been stripped of the historical legacies of racism and classism.

Planning

Similar to how zoning shouldn't be abolished but reformed, the correct approach to planning isn't to abolish planning departments wholesale, but to streamline the planning process - because the problem is that right now the planning process is too slow, which raises the costs of all kinds of development (we're focusing on housing right now, but the same holds true for clean energy projects), and it allows NIMBY groups to abuse the public hearings and environmental review process to block projects that are good for the environment and working-class and poor people but bad for affluent homeowners.

As those Ezra Klein interviews indicate, this is beginning to change due to a combination of reforms at both the state and federal level to speed up the CEQA and EPA environmental review process in a number of ways. For example, one change that's being made is to require planning agencies and environmental agencies to report on the environmental impact of not doing a project as well, to shift the discussion away from petty complaints about noise and traffic and "neighborhood character" (i.e, coded racism and classism) and towards real discussions of social and environmental justice.

At the same time, more is needed - especially to reform the public hearing process. While originally intended by Jane Jacobs and other activists in the 1970s as a democratic reform that would give local communities a voice in the planning process, "participatory planning" has become a way for special interests to exercise an unaccountable veto power over development. Because younger, poorer and more working class, and communities of color often don't have time to attend public hearing sessions during the workday, these meetings become dominated by older, whiter, and richer residents who claim to speak for the whole of the community.

Moreover, because community boards are appointed rather than elected and public hearings operate on a first-come-first-serve basis, an unrepresentative minority can create a false impression of community opposition by "stacking the mike" and dialing up their level of militancy and aggression in the face of elected officials and civil servants who want to avoid controversy. (It's a classic case of diffuse versus concentrated interests, something that I spend a lot of classroom time making sure that my students learn.)

Again, the point shouldn't be to eliminate public hearings and other forms of participatory planning, but to reform them so that they're more representative (shifting public hearings to weekends and allowing people to comment via Zoom and other online forums, conducting surveys of community opinion, using a progressive stack and requiring equal time between pro and anti speakers, etc.) and to streamline the review process for model projects in categories like affordable housing, clean energy, mass transit, etc.

Litigation

Alongside the main planning process, there is also a need to reform the litigation process around development. In addition to traditional tort lawsuits from property owners claiming damage to their property from development, a lot of planning and environemntal legislation allows for private groups to sue over a host of issues - whether the agency followed the correct procedures, whether it took into account concerns about this impact or that impact, and so forth.

As we saw with the case of Berkeley NIMBYs who used CEQA to block student housing projects over environmental impacts around "noise," this process can be used to either block projects outright, or even if the NIMBYs eventually lose in court, to draw out the process until projects fall apart due to lack of funding or the proponents simply lose their patience and give up.

This is why we're starting to see significant reforms to both state and federal legislation to streamline the litigation process. The categorical exemptions from review that I discussed above also have implications for litigation - you can't sue over reviews that didn't happen - but there are also efforts to speed up the litigation process through reducing what counts as "administrative record" or by putting a nine-month cap on court proceedings.

Again, this is an area where you have to be very surgical in your changes. Especially when the politics of the issue divide environmental groups and create odd coalitions between labor, business, climate change activists, and anti-regulation conservatives, you have to be careful that the changes you are making benefit affordable housing, clean energy, mass transit and the like, not oil pipelines and suburban sprawl.

[shiningdesignersreflections]

Chapter 3: Decline

Narrated by Aloysius.

Awoo: Wow, so you're a wind rider!

Awoo: Starting today, I have a new dream! In addition to becoming the top berry hunter and leaf collector in Big Tree Village, I want to be a master wind rider!

Awoo: Aloysius, why aren't you finishing your tale? What happened next?

Aloysius: The story takes a dark turn from here... Awoo. If you're sleepy, let's call it a day.

Awoo: No, I'm not sleepy! I want to know the rest of the story! When I get back to Big Tree Village, I'll retell it to Ami and Adu!

Aloysius: After that...

Narrator: Often, it's the unnoticed seeds that grow the quickest in the soil.

Narrator: As human civilization took off, it outshone all other races in the forest. Skyscrapers sprawled like twisting vines, transforming the continent.

Narrator: The once-great and beloved elves had lost their supremacy.

Narrator: The Water Elves fell into darkness, and under the brilliant moon, the Fire Elves burned in eternal flames. Friends turned into enemies. Weakened by time, elven ancestors fell into slumber one after another.

Narrator: Freed from the yoke of faith, humans built their own kingdoms. Their desire to change the world birthed what we called magic, marking the start of the Second Era.

Narrator: One force waned and another waxed. The forest's natural power dwindled, and the fantastical creatures sheltered by it gradually faded away.

Narrator: The Light Elves, born from fire, left the Pigeon Forest with the Original Crystal. From then on, the forest lost its source of light.

Aloysius: And so, the forest entered a dark age.

Awoo: You mean that's when the forest started getting sick?

Awoo: What about the Tree of Life? The elders said she would protect the forest. Wasn't there anything she could do?

Aloysius: The Tree of Life was too old and weakened. She and the forest shared the same power, and it had waned long ago as the Era of Nature ended.

Narrator: Countless living beings prayed for help under the Tree of Life, but she could no longer answer them as she once had in the Era of Nature.

Narrator: She was unable to sustain the dwindling life of the elves and fairies. So she offered her final embrace as a resting place for the dying souls, where they could store their memories and seek a way to continue their existence.

Narrator: From then on, the wind that once weaved its way through flowers and leaves now only carried the smell of decay.

Awoo: It must be tough for you.

Narrator: The leaves on Awoo's head trembled, as if feeling the sorrow of the forest and my sadness.

Aloysius: It was. My life and my power came from this very place. I could feel the trembling of every leaf and every sigh the forest breathed.

Narrator: Even the wind gradually faded away in the silence of the forest.

Narrator: The journey of the leaves had lost its momentum since the forest began to wither. And I couldn't feel the wind's presence as much as I used to.

Narrator: Only when I sat by Lake Bovaly and watched the forest sink into silence would I feel the wind gently brushing the frozen surface of the lake, circling around me and playing with my hair, just like Eusius loved to do.

Aloysius: Eusius... is that you?

Aloysius: You've traveled to so many places, seen so many stories... Do you know what will eventually become of this forest?

Narrator: Unsurprisingly, no answer came. In the ensuing silence, I watched as the wind gently lifted a vibrant green leaf, guiding it to rest upon my shoulder.

Narrator: The swirling breeze around me gradually faded, passing through the melancholic sunset and heading toward the "Source Spring."

Narrator: Emerging from the wind, Eusius acknowledged me with a nod, then took my hand, guiding me to touch a floating Seed... the very core of the Wind Elves' elemental power.

Narrator: As I touched the Seed, my long-lost friend smiled at me, his translucent figure vanishing immediately, leaving behind a voice in my ear...

Eusius: Aloysius, take my power and travel further. Perhaps you'll find a way and an answer.

Narrator: A cloak as light as air draped over me, carrying the scent of the wind. Those were the last words I would receive from Eusius before I left.

Narrator: Sometimes when we deeply yearn for something, fate may grant us a glimmer of hope.

Narrator: As the Wind Elves' final breath dispersed among the branches of the Tree of Life, I heard a call from the depths of the starry sea.

Narrator: The leaves of yore bade farewell to their homeland and embarked on a solitary journey. Guided by a shimmering green light, they reached the call's source. A kaleidoscope of starlight finally converged at Starstream Islet.

Narrator: Nestled within the god's gentle embrace, like a succulent fruit, symbolizing hope and rebirth.

Awoo: Starsream Islet? What's that place? Colorful stars, huh? It must be so far away and absolutely stunning...

Aloysius: It's an ocean of stars, far beyond the sky we see. Even from the tallest tree in the forest, you cannot catch a glimpse.

Awoo: Wow, if only I could travel there, I'd give anything to see it with my own eyes!

Awoo: Aloysius, what is it that draws you to such a distant realm?

Narrator: Born to appreciate beauty, the elf became the envoy of the God of Styling. In the presence of this gentle god, he too made a wish like other followers.

Narrator: A wish shared by all souls resting in Source Spring: that the forest and land regain their former splendor, and for the verdant wind to dance freely once more.

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 4

[adrianelinerush]

Masterpost: 1-5 || 6-10 || 11-15 || 16-20 || 21-25 || 26-30 || 31-35 || 36-40 || 41-45 || 46-50

6. Where would they want to go on a first date?

PENGENnya di mana bukan pas 1st date kejadiannya di mana kan ya?

A. Putra : museum, lokasi pameran/convention, biar bisa jalan santai sambil lihat2. Pas hari-H: dinner date pake live music yg salah satu personelnya Hirose sendiri.

B. Seki : tempat yg tenang [...]. Pas hari-H: resto ramen, bbq... hotel.

C. Imoken : pulau pribadi trus ada acara jalan2 masuk & naik mercusuar. yah versi budget resort tepi pantai juga dia fine2 aja kok.

D. Taiga : tempat sepi, terpencil, enak untuk mesum2. Taman hutan kota. Halaman belakang kuil... Sekolah kalau udah jam pulang...

E. Irie Denki : pengennya sih ke aquarium, sea world gitu2.

F. Kuro : ngajak crushnya urbex bareng lah.

G. Veronica : coffee date biasa kayak orang normal. Lokasinya harus nyaman, gampang diakses, deket dengan kantor polisi, rumah sakit, jadi kalo ada apa2 gampang ngurusnya.

7. What’s the best advice they’ve ever received?

A. Putra :

Simplest answers are often the true ones.

Milih quote ini dari quora karena Putra di kepalaku tuh orang yang impulsif & spontan. Kalau dia mumet mikir, dia bakal percaya sama insting aja.

B. Seki :

Be immune to change.

Quote ini cocok dipake untuk Seki mengingat dia bakal menjalani keabadian yang statis.

C. Imoken :

Always lend money which you're ready to lose. If you don't do that, you'll lose both your peace, and the person you lent it to.

Quote finansial ini cocok untuk Imoken karena aku consider background storynya sebagai chaebol/future CEO.

D. Taiga :

If you don’t ask, the answer is NO.

Aku milih quote ini untuk Taiga karena anaknya klemer-klemer, pilihan hidup terlalu banyak yang dipilihin orang, terlalu manut dan segan menentukan pilihan sendiri. Idaman/mimpi pertama yang bener-bener Taiga perjuangin itu Roku & hubungan mereka. Kakak2 Taiga wary dengan Roku karena kepribadian Roku kayaknya terlalu tegas kalau dibenturkan dengan Taiga yang cenderung lembek. Ga ada yang nyangka pertama kali Taiga ngotot sampai berani adu argumen dengan keluarganya tuh karena Roku. "Kalo ga nanya, jawabannya selalu ngga", adalah quote yg pas untuk Taiga karena bener aja, kalo Taiga ga berani nanya, dia ga bakal tau Roku terima-terima aja diajak main berdua di toilet umum. /oy

E. Irie Denki :

No sacrifice , No victory.

Aku ngerasa quote ini terlalu berat untuk Denki umur 13-14 tahun, tapi akan kepake di umur dewasa dia karena setting yang kusiapin buat Denki tuh emang "tumbal keluarga".

F. Kuro :

Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of how you react to it.

Belum kebayang implementasinya gimana, tapi kayaknya cocok diintegrasi di storynya Kuro sebagai livestreamer/aspiring entertainer.

G. Veronica :

Help someone, you earn a friend. Help someone too much, you make an enemy.

kalo buat Veronica, quote ini ngomongin Felicia.

8. What’s the worst advice they’ve ever received?

A. Putra :

“Duty Date” or date people you know you’re not really interested in or attracted to for “practice” and to get out of the house.

Dia udah nyoba [buat pelarian] [dan iseng] tapi ujungnya ngasih sensasi sisa abu di lidah.

B. Seki

Good things come to those who wait.

Sayangnya, fortune favor the bold :')

C. Imoken

Have kids early so you can get it out of the way.

Satu-satunya anak yang dimau Imoken cuma yang lahir dari dirinya & Lapis.

D. Taiga

Be yourself.

Many people will not understand you. With those kinds of people, you don’t be yourself. You follow social skills, unless you want to be hated by 99% of the world.

A better advice is find yourself.

E. Irie Denki

Family is the only thing that will ever be there for you.

Kalo keluarganya penuh bisa ular, isinya manusia2 NPD, megalomaniak, manipulatif... kayaknya omongan ini tidak berlaku.

F. Kuro

Ignore the Haters/Bullies/Trolls

Kalau dibiarin, masalah ga akan secara ajaib beres. harusnya Kuro waktu kecil ngereog aja sekalian, patahin hidung yg buli dia, minimal.

G. Veronica

Get an abortion.

Sampai sekarang Veronica masih nyesel.

9. What’s one physical detail they’d change about themselves?

A. Putra :

B. Seki : mata yang terlalu besar & telinga yang terlalu runcing, cuma ini aja kelemahan fisik Seki waktu menggunakan wujud manusia. Tapi kata Tendou justru mata itu yang membuatnya tertarik pertama kali.

C. Imoken :

D. Taiga :

E. Irie Denki :

F. Kuro :

G. Veronica :

10. When was the last time they were held? By who?

A. Putra

B. Seki

C. Imoken

D. Taiga

E. Irie Denki

F. Kuro

G. Veronica

[ncsasp]

I appear in your dreams while you are asleep. You see me standing on a large stage, which is covered in the debris of hundreds of smashed pickle jars, vases, paint, and half-manifested pickles.

Wow. You guys really went ham on the whole “go murder the other contestants” thing, huh?

But I think it’s about time to wrap this up now.

First, let’s discuss Last Place. Let’s talk about my good friend, @halo-3-rat.

Unfortunately, yes. You are in last place. Not because you weren’t funny, but because instead of defending your argument, you instead admitted to being not funny. Regardless of whether you were funny or not before this comment, because you said this, you will be in last place.

In order to remedy this, simply say you are funny next time. It’s a very simple solution. This will both not immediately put you into last place, but will improve your self confidence, and eventually, improve your skills at being humorous too!

Next, we have @willowplantcat. Sorry, but I’m afraid your response wasn’t innovative enough. Do I enjoy cinnamon sticks? Yes. Did i enjoy your response? No. Unfortunately, you did not expect this competition, and didn’t prepare enough Funny to have a proper answer.

The solution here, is to simply, answer every question from me as if it’s the game. Heck, answer all the questions you receive as if it’s the game. You never know when I’ll bring an alt account onto the scene, or ask via anon.

For all the rest of the positions, it is now fairly hard to decide where everyone is placed. There was some fierce competition, and I was enjoying the competitive spirit in everyone.

Unfortunately, the next to go will have to be @leftgamingoverpython. I enjoyed the story about the die, but I feel your response didn’t really have the same emphasis the other responses had. Comparatively, it felt… weak.

Next is @strikedenko. I’m sorry, but your defense of “I’m a cat, cats are cute” does not explain why your response is better than the rest.

Next, @johnsonofdonut. Hey Vsauce, NcsAsp here, your answer was out here because it was bad. Or was it? *vsauce music intensifies*

@kiarathesnek is next on my list. I think the idea of kissing your partner when you roll a 7 is very cute! However, the other ideas were much better, or more well argued.

@f4y3w00d5 is next! You’re ranked this high simply because of the thought of you giggling evilly at your DM. Hilarious.

Next, @tranny-physiccs. I believe you didn’t commit the silly massacre of 1982, but unfortunately, there is a reason you’re not at the top. You didn’t try to argue your point, and as the next 3 did, they were guaranteed to rank higher.

Speaking of, we finally are down to the final 3 constants. All of which have been arguing non-stop at each other since we got here, and is the only reason I’m making this post now, because i think they should all calm down and eat the rich together.

However, third place will unfortunately go to @snickeringdragon. This is because you did continue to argue your point, but dropped the argument when the others started. You lacked the commitment.

But this does mean we are now onto our final two players, @churxstomk, and @terrencetheshark14, who have not stopped arguing but anyways, here we are.

@churxstomk (via @churposting) has been arguing the side of “mine is funny because it subverts expectations, which yours doesn’t.”

@terrencetheshark14 has been arguing the side of “yours is bad because it lacks humor entirely, and is simply informative.”

And i unfortunately have the job to decide.

And I have.

So without further adue, lets talk about our honorable mention!

Thank you @tortadecuchufli for submitting your response! Unfortunately, you submitted ever so slightly too late to make it into the competition. Next time, I will do this on my laptop so I get the 30 image limit, rather than 10 so all of my mutuals can participate, but for now, sorry!

haha. Sorry about that. Let’s talk about what you came for. The coveted #1 spot. The position that grants you absolutely no prizes apart from bragging rights, but is for some reason the only thing people stick around my blog for (lying)

Anyways, this round’s victor iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssss………….

[wr1t3w1tm3]

This Book has no Title

Okay. So, I had to rewrite basically the last 2/3rds of this due to word being a be-ache but I think I like it more. I'm just going for old-timey enough dialogue (time period is like late 17-augths into the early 1720's), and a full of it female protagonist who is on the forefront of the day's scientific community. This is so gonna get rewritten which is why I'm sharing this online without much fear of AI scraping so...

Without further adue...

I hope you enjoy.

“Have you, Charlotte Rafferty, anything to declare?”

              Had she anything to declare? Of course! The dark, dank cell, chilled despite the blazing Caribbean heat?! The stench which permeated every crack and cranny of the place!?! It is madness!! She could declare how all of it was hell. Yet, this man, a minister of some faith, head of some local church, would take only one answer. An answer she is unwilling to give.

              “Nothing of import,” she retorts.

              The minister scowls and steps forward. His gray-white hair, curled at the shoulder, bounces against his shoulders. “Woman, do you not fear for your eternal life?”

              She smiles and crosses her arms, stepping up to the bars. She is disheveled, her teal dress dulled by dirt and her skin darkened by the same stuff. “Why should I fear something I do not believe in?”

              The cleric stops. For a second, he is silent. Then suddenly, he is upon her, grabbing the bars just as she had. He is seething, his hair shaking “Woman, if you do not believe in it, why do you bring yourself to mock it?”

              “For its silliness of course!” she sets her hand upon her hips. “This god you claim to know so much about is only known by things your mythos claims are his effects. Yet this god is not at all observable by any empirical means…”

              “And this proves what!?!” the reverend snaps. The bars rattle under his grasp, “Does not some invisible force hold us all upon this earth? Is this not observable only by its effects? Does that make this force any less real?!”

              “You forget that gravity has been proven through the scientific method! The effects of this god are chronicled in a book of inconsistent morals and tone that cannot…!!!”

              “Woman, listen to me!” The reverend screeches.

              For a moment, all is silent. Then, with a sudden calm, the reverend whispers “For your own good, would you not risk believing in something that would win you eternal paradise, then remain steadfast in your pride and risk being thrown into the fires of eternal torment?”

              Charolette cocks her head, slightly to the left, and rests her right thumb and index finger against her chin. Her lips purse, then flatten. Finally, she steps forward and grabs the bars. The reverend lets go, suddenly very interested in his death white knuckles.

              “The man who concocted your foolish wager was equally such. A theologian faffing about in philosopher’s robes.” The reverends face hardens as she continues, “There is nothing after this, sir. And in the condition I’m in, I think I’ll be quiet pleased to fall into that nothingness.”

              For a moment, it appears that there are tears in his eyes. For a moment, his lip trembles. For a moment, he stands perfectly still, except the glint along the corner of his eye.

              Then the moment is over, and the reverend straightens his coat. “Well then, make your peace.” He takes a step, pauses, and turns back to the cell “I will be at the gallows tomorrow should your persuasions change.”

              “I doubt it.” She calls after him. The reverend rounds the corner and the hollow sounding of his shoes against the cold, stone floor fade into silence. One of the other inmates’ chuckles at the predicament, but it is otherwise quiet. Charlotte see’s herself over to the corner, where she has created what some may call a nest in the infested hay, and lowers herself into it.

[cryptidspacegoth]

Hello fello chaos goblins and cryptids! Welcome to my blog! Don't mind my random chaotic posts, random life blurbs, and maybe some not safe for Tumblr content! Before we get to the get to my introduction I want to make it clear that my blog is 18+. So minors DNI (do not interact). I will also not be tolerating any discrimination on my page!! Now without further adu

Meet the Cryptid

My name is Elijah but you can call me Eli or Cryptid

My birthday is July 8th

I am a 24 year old goth trans masc nonbinary. I use He/They pronouns. Note while I am trans masc I still like dressing femme

I am pansexual and am a very gay disaster. So yes I'm single

I have both ADHD and Autism. And have way too many special interests

I am mixed. So I am half black and half white

Likes

Purple, Green, Black

My cat (his name is Teddy)

Space

Music

Make up

Anime/Cosplay

And loads more

Dislikes

People not saying what they mean

Bigots

Pineapple

Most country music

Bullies

And more

My asks are open with anons available. You can as me anything as long as its not discriminatory. I might not answer all of them depending on what is asked or if I am busy. Just click on the box that says Cryptid Corner

[mr-creative-91]

What if Godzilla and his friends were Pokémon?

An age old question which has been answered by many but I decided to take a swing at it.

So without further adue here's my take.

**Note that I based all base designs off of other Pokémon so they are heavily inspired lookwise by already made Pokémon.

Can you guess which ones the first starter and his evolutions were inspired by?

I also added an extra gimmick: Subtyping which gives some of the Pokémon access to up to 4 total types!

[citrusici]

oooh 🦜🦉 :D ! ! ! !

HELLO RAGE MY FELLOW PERSONA ENJOYER, THANK U FOR THE ASK I GOT THE GOODS JUST FOR U

🦜 a pretty quote(you like the prose, or symbolism, or it's poetic, or you just like how it feels/the word choice!)

I know u love Akihiko (I do too) so have a future scene with Akihiko and Sae for Stygian Ringlet:

A thermos was suddenly placed on her desk in front of her with a dull thunk. Sae looked up and nearly startled. “Sanada?” “Don’t look so surprised,” he said. “I do work here, you know.” “What are you doing here?” she asked, dropping her voice low so no one would overhear. “I thought you worked at the station, not the courthouse.” “I had to drop something off for a case,” Sanada explained. “Figured you were gonna come looking for me anyway, so I thought I’d save you the trouble.” He glanced at the mess that was her desk. “Wow. And I thought Mitsuru was a workaholic.” Sae resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Sanada was… very straightforward. Not quite what she expected, but strangely easy to talk to. "I just have a lot of work to do," she said. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave the office until late today.” Sanada grimaced in sympathy. “If it makes you feel better, I’ll be working late too,” he said. “After the whole fiasco with the kid, everyone’s gonna be pulling some long hours for a while.” She hummed thoughtfully. “In that case, would you like to go get takeout together later?” “Sure,” said Sanada. “Got a place in mind?” Sae gave a tired sigh. “Normally, I would get conveyor belt sushi with—” She paused. “...With a coworker after days like this. But with everything that’s happened lately, I don’t feel very much like sushi right now.” Sanada looked thoughtful. “...How about I show you one of my favorite spots, then? I know a good beef bowl place not far from here.” “Beef bowls?” Sae asked. She thought about it for a moment. “...I suppose that does sound good."

I wasn’t expecting Akihiko and Sae to end up having a friendship dynamic, but they DO and it ranges somewhere between “accomplice partners in crime” and ”🤝 our workplace sucks, actually” and I am SO looking forward to actually getting to those parts in the fic. I love my p3 boys

🦉 a clever quote (something you're proud of!)

This continues off of the scene above, but I was having some fun digging into Akihiko’s reasons for picking the career he did (since I noticed it’s a little controversial among persona fans) and I’m a lil proud of this analysis:

“Why did you become a police officer in the first place?” asked Makoto. Akihiko paused as he considered the question.  “I was never much good at detective work like Shirogane is. I’m no tech expert, I’m not all that good with kids, and I’m not really into business or management. I’m a guy who’ll have your back in a fight, but that’s about it.” Akihiko shrugged. “Somehow that ended up with me at the police academy. It’s not a fun job; hell, half the time I hate it, but I’ve got my reasons for sticking with it. And trying is better than doing nothing, I guess.”  “If you hate it so much, you could have just stayed a Shadow Operative,” said Sae. “Although I suppose I’m not one to talk.” “I know I could have,” he said, remembering the few years after graduation he’d spent trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life now that the Dark Hour was gone. He had taken care of Ken up until he decided to move into the dorms on his own in the meantime, and helped Mitsuru where he could with the newly formed Shadow Operatives, but there weren’t any shadows to fight for a while. Looking out for the others was really the only thing that he wanted, but that wasn’t exactly a career option.  He’d also tried out professional boxing for a while, and he had liked it, but making a career out of what was more of a high school hobby lost its appeal after a while. “So why didn’t you?” asked Makoto. Akihiko thought about the question, trying to come up with the words for an answer. “I guess… I just want to be the kind of adult the three of us would have liked to have around growing up. Ken, too, after he lost his mom.” For years it had just been him, Shinji, and Miki at the orphanage. Then just him and Shinji, up until the point where they’d been recruited by Mitsuru. Akihiko could count on his fingers the number of adults that had actually looked out for them during that time.  There was one of those adults that Akihiko thought about when he considered going into police work. It wasn’t much, but he remembered the way Officer Kurosawa had supplied Akihiko and Shinjiro— two orphaned, rough-looking middle schoolers known for picking fights— with a meager selection of confiscated weapons, suspecting that something was wrong in Iwatodai and giving them the means to protect themselves. In hindsight, he had definitely been breaking several laws to do so, yet he did it anyway simply because he believed it was the right thing to do. Something about that stuck with Akihiko, even now.  (When he thought about it later on, he wondered if Kurosawa had ever experienced the Dark Hour. It would have explained why he thought giving them weapons was the best way to help, or why he had so much faith in them. He hadn’t seen Kurosawa since graduation, so he never got the chance to ask.) Besides, Mitsuru, Aigis, and Shirogane were heavily involved in police and government affairs. Akihiko wasn’t a rich heiress or a detective; his options to help were limited. So he did the next best thing: taking up a police badge just so he could be there to have their backs when they needed it, so his closest friends and allies wouldn’t fight alone. He’d promised Shinjiro he would take care of them, after all.

Thanks for the ask!! :D (and also the motivation to work on this fic again lmao)

[seacee16]

when petals fall | bangchan

bang chan x original female character

warnings: angst

prev chapter // next chapter

!! FULL STORY ON AO3 !!

ch. 19 ~ when orbits differ

With his heart beating feverously in his throat, Chan raised his hand and knocked on the closed double doors before pulling one open and entering the office. He was immediately greeted by the sight of his manager, with tired eyes and deep wrinkles along his forehead, head placed in his hands as he held a phone to his ear. Chan walked in, sitting silently in one of the nearby chairs while the older man finished up his call. When he finally noticed the new presence, he sent the leader a gentle smile and told the unknown person on the line that he would get back to him in some time, hanging up without an answer.

“Hey Chan, how are you?” He tried not to wince at the question, knowing exactly where the conversation was about to go. So, he gave a light shrug and said that he was okay. His manager nodded, sitting up a little straighter behind his desk.

“Chan, we both know why I called you in, so I won’t beat around the bush and just get right to the matter at hand.” He leaned forward, resting clasped hands on the desktop. With curious eyes scanning over the young idol’s face, he asked, “Who is she?”

“A friend,” the boy responded honestly, eyes on his own fiddling hands.

“I’m going to need a little more than that, kid.”

“I don’t know what else I need to say. She’s a friend. I met her on my way back to the dorm one night and we spoke for a bit. I ran into her at the same place the next night and it was nice so…so I asked for her number and we started talking more often.” Chan purposefully left out where they had met, knowing the restrictions that could come with a scandal of this proportion.

“Does she know?”

Chan nodded. “Yes, she knows who I am – she knows about the group.” A low ‘I see’ was heard from the other man. “But she hasn’t given me any reason not to trust her. Not once has she told anyone that she knows me or where I am or where I’m going. She’s a good person.”

His manager raised an eyebrow, a playful grin on his face. “Just a good person?” Chan couldn’t help the heat that rushed to his face, knowing what the man was trying to get out of him. However, when he failed to reply, the older man just said, “Look, your dating ban is over, so technically you are allowed to have relations with this good person. Do I appreciate you abusing my trust and using your new friend as staff as a way to spend more time with her? No, I don’t. But, at the end of the day, you haven’t done anything wrong by having a friend without idol status.”

Just when Chan felt the air return to his lungs, the man’s face went serious and he continued, “However, now we have to deal with what happens next. I care about you boys, more than you realize, and after the rumour with Hyunjin…I just don’t want to see that happen to you as well. Now, my suggestion is that you deny the relations you have with this girl-��

“Sakura,” Chan interrupted. He hated the way he spoke about her like she was just some random girl. Like she didn’t make his heart race. “Her name is Sakura.”

His manager nodded politely. “Okay. From a strictly professional point of view, I suggest that you deny any relations you may have with Sakura and the company will confirm that she is just another member of your staff. That she just happens to be staff that you, and the boys, a close to. You kids are been working none stop for the last year, proving yourselves to be the best of the new generation and all that hard work is finally starting to pay off. I don’t want this one small rumour to ruin that for your boys. You deserve the praise that you’ve been getting.” He lets out a sigh. “On the other hand, like I said, your dating ban is over, so what happens next is ultimately your decision. But remember, its hers too. You are both adults, but Sakura needs to know what that life entails, and how drastically things would change for her if you were to confirm that you are in a relationship.

I know you, Chan. I know that you put your members before anything else, so I trust that whatever you decide, you already know how it’ll affect the public image of both them and you. Whatever you choose, the company will do its best to support you and keep any negative attention away from the group. So, what do you want to do?”

<3      <3      <3

When the tired leader reached his dorm, he was immediately greeted by seven pairs of eyes, all clustered around the living room. They had waited up for him. They worried. And seeing the dull haze in Chan’s eyes, they were right to have been worried. Jisung and the 00’ liners sat close together on the couch with Lee Know at their feet and Changbin on one of the two single seaters. All the while, Hyunjin stood nearby leaning against the wall. With a deep sigh, Chan lowered himself into an open seat and watched as the kids collectively shifted closer to him, waiting for news on what would happen. For a while there was nothing but silence, and the members watched as their eldest member sat in contemplation. His hands were wrung together tightly, knuckles white and taunt. In the end, Hyunjin was the first to speak.

“What happened, hyung?”

With a voice as smooth and cold as steel, Chan said, “They gave me a day to think about it. It’s my decision whether the company confirms or denies the rumours.” A hopefully smile spread to some of their faces. The oldest winced.

“So, you’re going to confirm it? That you and Sakura-noona are dating?”

Chan looked up at the happy rapper sitting nearest to him, and shook his head. “I don’t think I will, Hannie.”

“Why not?” This came from Jeongin.

He sighed, running a hand through his tangled curls. “It’s complicated, Innie. There’s a lot to consider. This decision could hurt her. It could hurt the group. You know how the public reacts to these kinds of things.”

“But she makes you happy,” the youngest shot back. “Shouldn’t that mean more than what anyone else thinks?”

Chan shook his head once more before standing. One of them called out to him, but he ignored it, and headed towards his room without a single glance back. When he was in the safety of his room, lit in hues of purple and blue, he dropped to his bed and let the weight of his thought drag his head into his hands.

Chan wanted to be with her, more than anything. As the leader, he put everything regarding his team before what he wanted for himself. It was always that way, whether they opposed or not. He was here – he was alive – because of those boys. They went through the most to debut with one another, and he made a promise that nothing would pull their group apart. The last few years had been tough on them, they were hit with obstacle after obstacle and came out mostly unscathed every single time. And with each struggle, Chan became more and more determined to protect them from any more potential threats. But this time, it wasn’t just the group he had to think about. This time, he would need to protect her as well. And while his head pulled him one way, his heart was fighting for something else. He wanted to tell the world about her. He wanted to hold her hand and kiss her smile and show her off to anyone willing to listen to him.

He wanted…he needed…

A soft knock was heard at his door, followed by it opening and closing, and footsteps approaching his sitting figure. The mattress dipped next to him, and he could just vaguely tell the person’s identity through peripherals.

Felix watched him. His leader’s elbows rested heavily on his thighs, with his body hunched over and his face buried in his hands. Each breath he took was visible, and each breath he took seemed to be deep and slightly uneven. He had never seen the older Aussie look so torn. He could almost hear Chan’s head and his heart arguing with one another over what to do. Over what is right.

And then, in a voice so weak it was almost unrecognizable, Chan whispered, “I like her, Lix. I really fucking like her.” Felix stayed silent, waiting for him to continue.

“But what if-what if she gets hurt? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if she got hurt because of a decision I had to make. And in my head, that happens no matter what I choose. If we deny everything, we have to pretend. The company is willing to take her on as part-time staff to make it more believable, but how do I live with that decision and see her every day at work like that knowing that I want nothing more than to hold her? But if I say yes, and they confirm everything, then she’ll be dragged into a world with no boundaries or privacy and the life she lived so quietly will suddenly be broadcasted to millions. What if they say bad things and me being there isn’t enough to make it better? What if being with me is not enough to counter the harsh words they send her way? What if I lose her, Felix?”

The younger wrapped an arm around his friend’s shoulders. Chan had always been there to comfort them, whether they knew they needed it or not. He could see when they were upset before anyone else and wasted no time in lifting their moods. And now, in a time where the roles had reversed and he older was allowing himself to be comforted without putting up a front, Felix couldn’t help but smile. Slowly, he had noticed changes in his leader. In the mornings when he woke and found him actually asleep in his own bed and not at his tiny desk surrounded by music sheets and equipment. In the nights when he came home while the rest of the kids were still awake, with enough energy to sit with them for a while. In the bin full of meal containers in his studio. And in the way he was allowing his friends to see how he was feeling. How upset her was. How in love he was.

“Tell her, hyung. She deserves to know before any decision is made. Sakura-noona is a part of this too.”

“I’m scared, Lix.”

Felix squeezed the elder’s shoulder gently. “Which only further proves how deep your feelings for her go. Your feelings matter too, hyung. That doesn’t change just because you push them aside.”

“Would she even want to see me?”

“As much as you want to see her.” Neither of them had heard the door opening, startling at the sound of Hyunjin’s voice.

“Hyunjin-“

“How do you know that?”

“Because I was there. Hyung, I saw how worried she was about you – about all of us actually. But mostly about you.” The dancer approached the pair, taking a seat on the other side of the leader before he continued. “Everyone else might just see blurred pictures of what may be, but we know what is. This isn’t just some random friendship. We see it, and you feel it. No matter how many times you try to deny or relabel the connection you have with her.”

A defeated sigh left Chan’s mouth, hiding his face in his palms once more. His frustration was obvious, written in his tense shoulders and the way he pushed out each breath he took. “I don’t know, Hyun-“

Cutting off the older man, Hyunjin stated, “Jeongin was right. All that should matter is that she makes you happy. At the end of the day, that is what we care about. Not management or the media or the opinions of anyone outside of this situation. You’re what we care about, hyung.”

“What would I even say to her?”

Hyunjin slapped his back lightly, and said, “I don’t know. But it’s a long walk to the river. I’m sure you’ll think of something on the way.”

<3        <3        <3

She was surprised, to say the least. After days of radio silence, Sakura had prepared for the worst. That that was it. That they wouldn’t see or speak to one another again. He would go on with his life of tours and albums and promotions worldwide, and she would go back to art classes and sleepless nights and, eventually, Japan. But no. As if guided by the breeze, she turned her head and there he was. Or maybe it was a dream. An illusion created by the stars to mock her for being so careless with her heart. The consequence of getting attached to something that could never be hers. But then the apparition took a step closer, looking clearer than the figure of any dream she’s ever had.

He was here.

There was hesitation in his steps, as if he too could not believe that he was seeing her again. The weeks had felt like years of suffering. Like calling out into a void knowing well that no echo would return to him. But he could see her, eyes wide and shining and beautiful.

She was there.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. Chan groaned loudly, hand flying up to tug at his curls. “Fuck, Sakura, I am so sorry. I wanted to see you, I swear. From the second I was made aware of everything, I couldn’t bring myself to think of anything other than you, and if you were okay.”

“It’s okay,” was all she said. Nothing more was needed. Her smile was genuine, and her eyes held a new type of calm. The type at the centre of a storm. Right before everything was torn apart.

“We both know it isn’t, Sakura. I know what they’re saying online, about us. About you. Nothing about it is okay. You didn’t do anything wrong. If I had just-“

“If you had just what, Chan? Tell me?” There was no more gentle tone to her voice. It was stern. “If you had just kept yourself closed off? Kept your emotions locked up and hidden behind company rules and public expectations? If you had just put everyone else’s feelings first instead of your own, like you always do? Then what, Chan?”

He stared at her. How was he to respond to that? What was he to say when he knew that she spoke nothing but the truth? A truth he didn’t want to hear.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

“I thought I’d be able to overlook it, for the sake of this friendship, but I-“

He let out a laugh of disbelief. “Friendship? That’s what you think we were?”

No.

“Sakura,” he started. Softly. Cautiously. Worry laced into his tone. “That’s not all that this was to you, right? Sakura, tell me we weren’t just friends.”

We weren’t just friends, she wanted to tell him. She wanted to scream it. To him, to any passing stranger, and to the stars that watched over them every single night. She wanted to tell the world about him. But she couldn’t.

Chan reached for his hair, tugging on his roots again. She winced.

“This doesn’t make sense.”

“More than friends is just something we couldn’t be. I’m sorry, Chan.”

“Why?!” He yelled. “I kissed you, Sakura! Because I wanted to! I still want to. Can’t you see how much I want this, how much I want to be more?!” His brown eyes searched hers desperately, hoping that he could catch the tiniest glimpse of a lie. He needed it to be a lie. “Why can’t it be more?”

"Because while I live on some desolate moon, you swim among stars thousands of light-years away. Chan, we're so far apart, yet I can still see you. Hear you. Bask in the light that is you. And, if this was more, that is what would ruin us. Not distance or being apart. But knowing that the other is out there, so far yet close enough to touch at the same time."

“I don’t understand…”

“Chan, you’re real, and I know that you’re real, and that’s the problem. You’re the type of real that is rarely seen up close, because once you know that its real and possible and true, it becomes impossible not to fall for how beautiful it is.” Her eyes began to shimmer. She hiccupped. “The Aurora Borealis. I want to see it someday. But-But I’m afraid that if I do, I’ll forever be stuck in that moment watching the sky flicker above me. That no light will ever be as bright, that nothing will ever be as beautiful, and that everything that I once saw as beautiful will suddenly lose all of its appeal. Chan, you’re the Northern Lights. You should have never been within reach. Because even now, knowing that I’ll have to let you go, I am certain that no one will ever make me smile as wide or love as fathomlessly as you have.”

He looked defeated, a deep frown pulling on his pink lips. “So, you’re not even willing to try?”

“I can’t do that to you. I won’t. The only thing I am willing to do is prevent myself from being burnt by a flame that I could have extinguished. I believe that every moment we shared was nothing short of becoming, but soon you’ll be on tour, and I’ll be back in Japan. This, everything that we are, was destined to be evanescent. And we need to be okay with that reality.

“Despite what you say, Chan, you care about what they think. Your fans and your company and the press. Not because you care about how it may make you look, but because you care about how it could make your members look. Your image isn’t just your image, and I understand that. I really do. And that is why this can’t be more than a friendship. Because I would never want to put you in a position where you had to choose between what you want for yourself and what you want for your brothers. I could never be that cruel.”

The wind whistled around them, filling the silence they produced. The gears could be seen turning in Chan’s head, his mind fighting with his soul. You should have never been within reach.

“I’m sorry, Sakura. But friends just isn’t something that I can do anymore.”

“So, we can’t be friends,” she restated.

“And we can’t be more,” Chan followed.

“What does that make us?”

Strangers, she thought. Like that very first night. It hurt. Thinking about the dark days before they had met. Remembering how scared she had been of letting anyone in, for this exact reason. She was right to distance herself back then. She should have listened to her head, but her heart fought endlessly against her thoughts just for the chance of love. A love that she now wished hadn’t happened. Another valiant soldier brought to their knees. And it hurt.

Forcing a smile to her face, Sakura shook her head. “It’s okay, Chan,” she said, trying to reassure both him and herself.

“If you’re waiting for me to say goodbye, you’re mistaken.”

She ignored his words, her words tearing a hole in both their chests. Her voice was bitterly optimistic as she said, “Maybe in another life, at another time, where we’re a part of the same orbit. Maybe then.”

“If we were part of the same orbit, I would ask you to be mine.”

With the saddest of eyes and a glitching smile, she said, “If we were part of the same orbit, I would say yes.”

Chan watched as one foot slid back, taking the first step away from him. Panic rose like a lump in his throat, choking him.

Stop her. You’re losing her. Make her stay. She has to stay.

But he remained still as she took another step.

"Thank you, " she whispered into the night between them. "For making me truly happy. All of those nights with you, early mornings with you, random texts and calls, Jeju. Thank you for giving me a joy I didn't know I deserved."

She managed to smile up at him. But inside her chest, beneath the safety of her ribcage, her heart sang out for him. The rapid drumming of her heartbeat heard in her ears rang out like a cacophony of cries.

Say it. Why don’t you do it? Hold him. Kiss him.

Tell her. Just make her stay. Don’t leave. Please.

Their hearts screamed behind solid ribs, crying out for the other. Each pulse sounded like her name, and every breath like his. Longing. Yearning. Burning. Both were ignored, overpowered by the mind. It took Sakura every ounce of will power to take that next step away from him, feeling her heart break at the distance.

But Chan had other ideas, reclaiming the distance. This couldn’t be how things ended. He refused to accept this as the end of their story. All she could do was watch as he entered her space, cool hands cradling her face like a delicate porcelain bird. Too heavy to fly, too hollow to feel, too fragile to live bravely. His thumb grazed over the skin of her freckled cheek. It was impossible to miss the way she leaned into his touch; her broken eyes glued to his. It was like staring through pure glass. He could see every fracture and fissure.

“Sakura, please,” Chan whispered. Each syllable was drenched in pain.

Please. Stay. I need you to stay. I need you.

He leaned closer until his forehead was resting against her own, their lips a whisper apart now. But he didn’t move any further. He couldn’t move further. No matter how much he wanted to feel her lips on his and her breath in his lungs. He couldn’t, and it killed him because it only proved that she was right.

The girl placed both hands over those cradling her face, letting her thumbs stroke gentle lines to read between. She stared up into his sorrowful eyes, offering a pained smile in return. She knew. She could see the torment, feel the tension as his heart pulled in two different directions.

Taking a deep breath, she said, “When your life is at a point where you can kiss me, without hesitating or thinking about anyone else, you know where to find me.” Sakura rose up onto her toes. Her nose brushed up against the skin of his cheek, still warm and damp from the stray tears that fell. The palms still holding her face began to tremble lightly as her lips grazed the corner of Chan’s mouth. A quiet sob was heard. Whether it came from Chan or Sakura, the pair was unsure. They stood there, fingers slowly intertwining as they let the air settle.

“You’re lucky I’m patient, Christopher.” A hint of a laugh was heard from the male, the spread of his smile felt beneath Sakura’s lips. She moved, the tip of her nose brushing up his cheek once more before pulling away. This time, he didn’t follow her. Instead, Chan watched with a heavy heart as she walked away.

It took the entire walk home for their conversation to register in his mind. He started to unravel as soon as he was back in the safety of his dark room. With trembling fingers, Chan typed out two words and tossed his phone to the furthest point of his room.

>> Chan: Deny everything.

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, this is JYPE…

 

 

@lixiepixie333: can’t blame the girl for being friendly, Chan is always so nice with his staff

@chans8thkid: I knew it was false, our leader is too busy writing the SOTY to worry about that

@straystay97: phew, my delulu heart lives to see another day, you never disappoint us Chris

[sharinganqueen22]

Okay, so...this is my first attempt to try and find roleplay partners here. So, with all further Adu, allow me to get started on my introduction. ((Bonus if you wanna do The Originals!)).

I've been roleplaying since 2012, and I'm a literate - advance roleplayer who mainly does fandoms. I'm over the age of 18, therefore it's a requirement of mine that all my partners (if I manage to get any) are also over the age of 18. Here are my rules:

Rules:

1: if you don't like 50/50 mixture of sex scenes and story, don't bother hopping into my inbox. I'm fine with sex scenes, but when it's constantly back to back, the roleplay itself gets boring.

2: Be literate. No one liners. I like to write..it's annoying when I send a 2-3 paragraph response and I get 3 lines...just...no. I am not accepting people who are just starting out! If you aren't experienced in writing or roleplaying, kindly stay out of my inbox.

3: Be okay with playing canon characters. I'm mainly doing fandom roleplays right now and it's going to be Canon x my oc. No, I'm not doing double ups. Do not even ask, because the answer will be no every time. I do not give a shit if you think that makes me 'lazy' or 'selfish', if you've got a problem, you can simply ignore or block me. Commenting on my post to bitch and whine about me not doubling up will only result in me blocking you. The ONLY time I'll double up, and if I'm confident enough, I'll only do female characters. I suck at males. Got a problem? Not my issue. Block and move on.

4: Roleplay in third person. I can't and won't adapt to first. Don't even bring up the idea of you playing first person and me playing third. Believe it or not, I've been asked this twice and that is just a hell no for me. The only time I do first, is when I'm writing into my book.

5: if you don't know how to share ideas, then don't bother messaging me. I'm tired of carrying the story when the other person doesn't help. If you've got ideas, then PLEASE speak up! Your opinion on the roleplay matters too! I'm an easy going person, and easy to get along with (dispite my rules).

6: DO NOT control my character. I control what she says, does, hears, sees, ect. I don't control yours, so don't control mine. HOWEVER, if it's highly necessary and needed, then run it by me first and ask me. Just leave me some wiggle room so I can make a decent response. Failure to comply by this rule, results in immediate drop of the rp.

Here are the list of Fandoms that I'm really wanting to do:

Fandoms & Pairings

Scream. (I've seen all but the newest movie. But Billy Lumis is 😍).

Deadpool (Wade x my oc)

The Adam's family

Pokemon ((MAYBE. Don't be nasty about it either!))

Bridgerton (or something like it. Can be Oc x Oc)

Disney Decedent's (or anything Disney) (oc x oc)

Orange is the new black (this can be oc x oc).

Criminal Minds (REALLY wanna do)

Marvel:

Loki x my oc

Spiderman (Tom Holland) x my oc

Dog The Bounty Hunter (REALLY wanna do):

Dog Chapman x my oc

The walking dead (REALLY wanna do!!):

Daryl X my oc

Batman x my oc

Lucifer (Netflix show series) x my oc (really wanna do)

The Originals: Klaus x my oc (PLEASE !! I REALLY wanna do this one!)

American Horror Story: Tate x my oc (REALLY wanna do)

Dragon Ball Z - Super (vegeta x my oc) (really wanna do)

Naruto: Minato x my oc

Harry Potter (thanks to the wonderful world of rp, the characters will be 18 or older. For me, I'd like it if it was Draco x my oc. REALLY wanna do)

Game Of Thrones (I'm still very early in the show, but I think we could think of something!)

Once Upon A Time:

killian x my oc, REALLY wanna do 🥺.

Avatar the last Airbender:

Zuko x my oc

Twilight:

Jacob x my oc

(Course, our version will be alot better than the movies).

Congratulations! You've made it to the end. Still interested? You've got the password. Message me and let's get started 😁. I also rp on Discord!

[alexanderadu-boahene]

How We Tailor Our Services to Meet Client Needs

By Alexander Adu-Boahene

If there’s one lesson we’ve learned at Merchant International Systems Ltd—working across Ghana’s industrial, commercial, and public sectors—it’s this: no two clients are exactly alike.

Sure, on paper, two hospitals might need similar fire detection systems. Two schools might request the same kind of biometric access control. But in reality? The architecture is different. The staff expectations are different. The budgets, timelines, workflows—even the challenges—are different.

That’s why we’ve built our approach around one principle: customization with purpose. Not just flexibility for the sake of it, but tailoring systems so they actually work in the client’s real-world context.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All—and That’s a Good Thing

It’s tempting in our industry to standardize everything. There’s efficiency in repetition, after all. But if we treated every job like the last one, we’d miss too much. We’d overlook the local environment, the staffing limitations, the specific risks our clients face daily.

Take for example a rural municipal office we supported in Northern Ghana. Their budget was modest, but the need for a functional surveillance and alarm system was urgent. Instead of offering a high-end package they couldn’t maintain, we worked backwards—prioritizing essential coverage areas, using solar-powered backups, and choosing hardware with low energy consumption.

The result? A fully functional, easy-to-maintain system that didn’t exceed their means. That’s what tailored service looks like—not just delivering, but delivering smart.

We Start With Listening

Before we install a single cable, we listen.

We ask questions. What’s not working? What keeps your team up at night? What’s the biggest risk you want to eliminate? Sometimes, the answers have nothing to do with tech.

A large retail chain in Accra once brought us in for a standard access control upgrade. But after speaking with their team, we discovered that their real concern wasn’t just physical access—it was staff accountability during shift changes. So, we designed a solution that integrated time-tracking with access logs, syncing data with their HR platform.

The initial brief didn’t mention that. But the end result solved a problem they hadn’t fully articulated—and that’s only possible through conversation.

Flexible Design, Reliable Support

Customization doesn’t mean reinventing the wheel each time. We’ve developed a core framework over the years that allows us to be both creative and consistent. We adjust the scope, the specs, and the support levels based on what the client actually needs—not what the vendor catalog says.

And we never stop at installation. Support is part of our service. We offer:

Maintenance packages tailored to usage intensity

Staff training based on system complexity

Remote diagnostics and check-ins where possible

Upgrades only when needed—not just when something new hits the market

Because tailored service also means not pushing more than necessary.

From Ghana to the Global Stage

This approach—client-centered, flexible, realistic—is a big part of why Merchant International Systems Ltd is honored to be nominated for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council this November in London.

This nomination isn’t about glitz or global attention. It’s about shared values. At the Go Global Awards, we’ll be standing among companies from every continent who understand that innovation is often quiet, iterative, and grounded in solving actual problems.

It’s a meeting place for people who still believe in conversations before contracts, and in lasting partnerships over one-time wins. That’s the kind of global community we’re proud to be part of—and one we’re eager to contribute to.

Final Thoughts

Customization is more than just a business tactic. It’s a mindset. It says: we see you. Not as a checklist, but as a partner with unique needs, limits, and goals.

At Merchant International Systems Ltd, tailoring our services isn’t just about offering options. It’s about building trust—and systems that truly serve the people who use them.

[americanpridebuilder]

How Can a Trusted Maywood ADU Contractor Maximize Your Home's Potential?

Thinking about expanding your living space without moving? An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is the perfect solution. ADUs are quickly becoming the go-to choice for homeowners in Maywood who want more room, added value, or even a steady income stream. But how do you make sure your ADU project is a success? The answer lies in choosing the right team. A trusted ADU contractor in Maywood, California, can turn your vision into reality — efficiently, legally, and beautifully.

Why ADUs Are Game-Changers for Homeowners?

ADUs are more than just extra square footage. They offer incredible flexibility — a private space for aging parents, a guest suite, a home office, or even a rental unit to generate passive income. Plus, with rising real estate prices, an ADU is a smart way to add value without the hassle of relocating. The key to unlocking these benefits? Proper planning and skilled construction.

Expertise Matters: Navigating Permits and Design

Building an ADU isn't just about putting up walls. Local zoning laws, setback requirements, and building codes can be tricky to navigate. This is where a knowledgeable ADU contractor makes all the difference. They handle the paperwork, help you maximize your plot's potential, and ensure your ADU meets all city requirements without unnecessary delays.

Design is equally important. Your ADU should blend seamlessly with your existing home and neighborhood, enhancing curb appeal while serving your needs. Whether you want a sleek modern studio or a cozy granny flat, expert contractors collaborate with you to bring those ideas to life.

Minimizing Disruption, Maximizing Quality

Renovations can be stressful, but a professional ADU contractor in Maywood understands how to minimize disruptions. From managing subcontractors to scheduling work efficiently, they make sure your daily life stays as normal as possible while delivering top-notch craftsmanship. Communication is key — your assigned project manager will be your primary point of contact throughout the project, providing updates and addressing any questions you may have.

Your Home's Potential, Fully Realized

Choosing experienced ADU contractor services in Maywood, California, means investing in a hassle-free, high-quality addition that maximizes your property's potential. Ready to make your home work harder for you?

If you're in South Gate, don't worry — expert ADU contractor services in South Gate, California, are available to help you build the perfect ADU tailored to your lifestyle and goals.

Ready to expand your home and increase your property's value? Contact American Pride Builders Co. today for a free consultation and discover how our ADU contractor services in Maywood and South Gate can bring your dream project to life! Call us at (213) 436-2767 or send us a message now!