#also thank you for that q1 i’m-

[uhohdad]

👀 👀 q1 you on to something girl

[thepersonnamedsam]

hiii, love your stuff<33 could I maybe request a gen z reader blurb where after getting in a crash due to a mechanical issue everyone worries about her and she’s pissed because she felt seen as weak and vulnerable?? THANK U SO MUCH

life goes on

pairing: genz!driver x '23!grid and some seb cameo

summary: see request :)

word count: 2.1k

warnings: crash, blood, injury, anger issues, tears (idk if that’s a warning), media talks bad about genz!driver, foul language

note: thank you so much for the request!! i am not quite sure if i should write the genz!driver stories in a you pov or a she/her pov, what would you prefer, please let me know, ty :))

masterlist / taglist

It started with a bad day. FP1 was shit, FP2 was also not great. Her day was just not great. Free practice 3 was better, the car had finally responded to her again. In the first two laps, everything went smooth. She was already singing Smooth Operator in her head. But suddenly the car stirred, luckily she saved herself and didn’t crash, but she did retire from the session.

Her engineer and her sat together for Qualifying. She told him everything she noticed whilst driving.

„I feel like the steering wheel is not responding on time. It’s like it’s two seconds delayed, which is not good.“

He nodded and wrote it down on a notepad. „I feel like there’s nothing we can do, I can check with the mechanics, but qualifying is in two hours, which may not be enough time“, her race engineer told her. She sighed. The last two days were bad for y/n, she hasn’t slept good for at least four days. She nodded and told him that she’d be in her drivers room.

As qualifying started, she only got in one good lap before she had to retire. She was right, her steering wheel indeed had a slight delay. Which made turning corners very hard. She ended Q1 in P19, her worst result in qualifying yet. She was disappointed, in herself and in the car.

Her mechanics tried to fix the issue until the race started, but with no hope. She prepared herself for the race, knowing it would not be an easy one. She was scared, like scared shitless. She tried to call Sebastian during Q2, but he did not pick up. Opting for a quick text, she asked him to call her back as soon as possible.

Lewis heard what happened to y/n car during Q1 and wanted to comfort the young driver. With long strides he went to her motorhome. Her engineer just pointed to her drivers room as soon as he saw Lewis approach him. Three short knocks. Her head snapped up as the door opened. Lewis was standing there, looking pitiful and held his arms out.

„Are you okay, darling?“, he asked her as she nuzzled her head in his shoulders. She let her tears fall freely. Shaking her head she told him how she felt. „The steering wheel is delayed, which is so difficult to drive with and also dangerous. But my mechanics can’t fix it, they don’t know why it’s happening and a whole reboot of the system would take too long! I’m scared, Lewis. I don’t know what to do.“

His hand firm on her backside, he just held the young woman. Telling her to retire to not cause a crash would’ve been the best thing. Tell her to refuse to race. But he didn’t, knowing the girl and her ambitions. She would race, no matter what. She didn’t want to be seen as weak or even worse, girly.

She was girly, but not in the sense of racing. She was just as ‚manly‘ as the other drivers.

„I know that you will make the right decision about the whole situation“, Lewis told her. Oh, how wrong he was.

Q3 was finished with Verstappen on pole, as always, Perez on P2 and Leclerc on P3. Happy to see Charles starting this high, she went into the race with somewhat a good feeling. The first three laps were okay, she sank down to P20, DeVries overtook her with ease on the second corner, as she slowed down as much as possible to control the car. But the longer the race was, the more angry she got. It was not fair, the steering wheel was just not responding.

On lap 24 y/n’s car crashed. In corner eight, her steering wheel stopped working. Instead of a turn, the car just went straight into the pit wall. The front wing smashed against the wall, squashing it against her own car. Her head was spinning. What just happened?

„Red flag, the FIA just announced a red flag in corner eight. Seems like y/l/n crashed. Let’s hope she’s fine.“

Several team radios went through.

„Charles, y/n crashed in corner eight, there’s a red flag, be careful.“

„Lewis, there is a red flag.“

„Be careful, Max. You are approaching corner eight where y/n has had a crash.“

And many more. Everyone was concerned. What has happened? What did she do to crash her car like that. Was she responsive? Responsible? What was going on?

„y/n, please respond. The race has been stopped. What happened?“, her race engineer tried to speak to her, she was non-responsive.

„What the fuck, what happened?! Is she responsive? Are the medics on their way?“, Lewis was the first to address the situation. „We don’t know, we don’t see any medics yet, Lewis.“

And as Max pulled up to corner eight he hopped out of his car. He ran towards hers and yelled for her, to show him a sign that she was still alive, without a response. He was worried, he was always worried when someone crashed, but he was extra worried when she did.

„y/n! What happened? Are you okay? Please give me a sign!“, he tried it again, with no luck. He saw her helmet move, the flashy colours moving from side to side. „Ach godzijdank Ah, thank god“, he mumbled.

The medics arrived and ushered Max to the side. Taking her out of the car and laying her on a spinal board. Transporting her into the ambulance.

She was devastated. It was not her fault she crashed. But the media didn’t know that. They would accuse her of crashing yet another car. That she wasn’t good enough to be in Formula 1. They would report about her as if she wasn’t a human being and just something they could play with. They would talk about her like a doll. It was not fair.

Meanwhile on the paddock the talking began. Lewis was the most worried, he should’ve just told her to refuse racing. What if she suffered a serious injury? Like a neck or spine injury and couldn’t race anymore. It was his fault, that’s what he thought.

Lando was worried too, not really knowing what happened, he was just worried. She could be injured. The minutes went by without any news from her. They were hard for Lando.

Even Checo, who wasn’t usually a companion of y/n, was worried. He didn’t see what happened, but he heard from Max how the crash looked - bad, it looked bad.

„We hear from the medics; y/n is okay. At least that. Let’s hope the race will continue without another crash.“

Lewis released a breather, not knowing he heals so much air in his lungs. He was glad y/n was okay. He still felt bad, always feeling responsible for her. And now that she crashed, his head was spinning with gut wrenching thoughts and worry.

The FIA announced the green flag and the race continued without y/n. When she got back to her garage, her motorhome, she expected a angry team principal, angry mechanics and engineers, expect she was greeted with relieved sighs and shoulder droppings. Her engineer was the first one to embrace her. He told her how sorry he was and how everything was definitely not her fault.

She was still angry, no points, no race, no happy ending for that day. Everything was shit. She had a shit day that race. And it was not even her own fault.

Her team principal came towards her, gripping her shoulders hard and said: „I know this seems bad, it is, but we can fix it. I wish I could send you home, but media still awaits.“

So she waited, she waited lap after lap until eventually Max won the race. She waited until her PR got her out of the drivers room and took her to the media pen, where the post race conferences will be held.

Sky Sports interviewed the todays winner. So, y/n waited for Max to finish. She hoped he would never finish, that she would never have to face the camera and talk about the incident.

But that didn’t happen.

„Hello y/n, how do you feel? Everything okay, no pain?“, the nice interviewer asked her. „Uh, yeah, everything is fine“, she struggled with her answer, not believing herself that everything was fine.

„Can you tell me what happened? We just saw you crashing?“ - „Uhm, yeah“, she looked towards her media PR, what was she allowed to say? She shook her head - no bad words about her team. „I-, uh, I lost control of my steering wheel.“

The interviewer nodded. „We saw you retire from the race after Q1, having struggled already in FP1 and 2. Did you have problems with your steering wheel during them as well?“

She sighed. She was tired, her neck ached and she just wanted to be in her bed.

„I mean, kind of, yeah you could say I struggled with it during free practice.“

If she told the interviewer that she struggled with it during the whole yesterday and today, she would’ve bad mouthed the team.

„Last question for today, y/n. We asked Twitter for some comments, would you be so kind to make a statement to some of them?“

She really didn’t want to, knowing exactly what most of them had to say; women don’t belong in motorsports, etc.

„Sure“, she sighed. Her PR nodded, happy that y/n decided not to refuse.

„Alright, @motodports_2 said: That’s the second time this season that y/n crashed her car and we are only on the 7th race. What do you have to say to that?“

She closed her eyes, the headache creeping in like a madman with a desire to kill. „That’s true, that was the second crash of the season. And I am sorry for that, my team doesn’t deserve me crashing that many times during the season. I apologise.“

Sebastian was sitting at home, watching the race from his couch. He couldn’t believe what she was saying. The team doesn’t deserve a driver that crashes so much? Bullshit.

He missed her calls earlier that day, he wished he would’ve picked up his phone or at least called her back. But what she was telling to that interviewer was absolute bull.

Charles, who was next in line, also couldn’t believe the stuff you were telling Sky Sports.

„Okay, @maydrive says: The way y/n is throwing away her career in F1 with those shenanigans. Get a grip, will you?“, the interviewer read from the screen in front.

Charles was shocked, he never had to respond to any comments like that. How was she experiencing something like that?

„Uh yeah, thank you @maydrive for that. I will try to get a grip, and you are right, I am throwing away my F1 career like that, but I don’t want that, that’s why I will keep trying to get better“, her eyes were starting water. Just don’t let those tears fall, y/n. They want to see her cry, don’t give them the satisfaction of it.

„Thank you, y/n. Rest up and good evening!“

Her PR pulled her away and onto the next interview. After all that, she was exhausted. Exhausted and angry. How could they be asking her questions like that? Not fair.

Back in her garage, she let the emotions flow. Tears were streaming down her face, sobs were heard and her body was shaking. Her PR handed y/n her phone, leaving her again with a gentle pat to the shoulder.

Seb was calling her.

„Before you say anything, don’t let them treat you like that ever again. Not your fault, if you had problems with the steering wheel, it is not your place to apologise“, Seb interrupted her, before she could even sob into the phone. He heard sniffles. „Don’t cry, liebes dear. You did nothing wrong today.“

„Seb, I wish you’d be here“, she sobbed into the phone. It broke his heart. Comforting someone over the phone was hard, much more if the person being comforted was a teenager.

„It’s gonna be okay, life goes on, okay?“, he told her. „I just feel so weak and vulnerable. They hate me, they always find something wrong with my driving.“

„You are not weak! Who told you that?“, a voice from behind her sounded from the dark. Fernando Alonso stepped out of the shadow. Seb instantly recognised the older spaniards voice over the phone. Glad y/n was not alone in a time like this.

Fernando embraced her. Hugging her tight and firmly. He felt her heartbeat against his chest, beating like crazy. „Breathe with me, y/n.“

They were standing in her motorhome, embraced in one another. If a camera had noticed, headliners would say: Alonso and y/l/n dating confirmed? But there was no camera around.

She had her family here in F1. She belonged here, just as much as any other driver. She was not at fault. She was not weak or vulnerable. She was strong.

°°°

taglist: @ironmaiden1313 , @topguncultleader , @missskid , @gulabjamooon , @lovelyy-moonlight , @peachyplumsss , @mistrose23

[bellaaae]

Yn tells us about herself [19.6M views]

“Hi!” Yn said and waved to the camera.its her form of greeting.

“If you don’t know yet i am a member of newjeans” Yn briefly introduced.

“Today I will be answering questions about myself,so you can get to know me better!” Yn said smiling.

“Lego!” Yn said and swifted her hands pointing to the side.

Q1

What is your full name?

Yn chuckled.” This is a very easy question,my full name is Kim Yn”

Q2

How old are you?

“I’m currently 14,going on 15 meaning I’m born in 2009” yn answered another easy question.

Q3

Do you have any siblings?

If you do are you allowed to reveal their names?

“Yes I have 2siblings,two older sisters,Kim chaewon from lesserafim sister born in 2000 and my other sister is born in 1994 a whole lot older than me” she chuckled.

Q4

What are your nicknames?

Yn laughed.”I have so many….Angry bird,Youngest Kim,Newjeans youngest child,Short Maknae,Kitty Kim…..” she paused trying to remember more.

“There’s still more but I can’t seem to remember lol”

Q5

How tall are you?

“I’m 159cm tall,People are often shocked by my height because of my age.They said people my age are usually taller because of puberty ” yn said smiling emphasizing the puberty.

Q6

What are your positions in newjeans?

“Newjeans doesn’t actually have official positions but we do when recording and dancing…..Mine is main dancer,main rapper,Centre and maknae” yn explained to the camera.

Q7

What’s your favorite food

“Umm I don’t have a favorite food,I love all food but maybe sushi since it’s what minji unnje loves making for use” she said thinking.

Q8

Favorite color

“Easy Blue” Yn responded smirking.

Q9

Emoji that’s your personality

Yn smiled looking at all the board of emojis.

She searched through it and finally found her emoji. “Oh! This one!” She exclaimed excitedly.

“😼🤨,Cheeky and sometimes sus,but I’m also very nice and sweet” Yn told the camera giving it a look.

Q10

Favorite song?

“Umm…Ah!” She said thinking then hitting her head.

“I have so many” she stated before thinking again.

“But (y/favorite song) is the best” you said giving thumbs up and nodding.

Q11

Would you classify yourself as the chef of the group?

“Me?” Yn asked shocked.

“Hell naur…..I can’t stay in the kitchen for 5minutes without Burning or messing everywhere” you explained chuckling.

Q12

Your MBTI?

“ENTJ,Shocking right?” Yn asked raising her eyebrows.

“People say I look like an introvert someone quite like Haerin unnie” you spoke.

Q13

Your favorite member?

“What kind of question even is this” Yn looked at it shock.

“It’s obviously all the members,I love them all for different reasons” Yn said smiling.

The staff were shocked at the duality of this child.

“Thank you so much for asking me to be a guest and I hope you’ve known some informations about me” Yn said giving a heart sign.

✰𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐉𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐒

[meraki-yao]

Hi correct me if I’m wrong but I thought I saw you mention that the same intimacy coordinator who worked on rwrb also worked on m&g, if that’s so, why was the intimacy approached differently, it seems rwrb was really toned down and alex and henry are a very passionate couple in the books and nich and taylor can definitely deliver passion and intimacy and it was rated-r so why do you think rwrb was approached differently and rather toned down, I mean what we got was great I’m still so attached to this movie 3 months later and that doesn’t happen often unless I absolutely love the movie or show but I feel like they were holding back and it becomes the question of why, was it n&t choice or matthew and intimacy coordinator or everything was done in how they wanted to tell the story, idk to me you can’t help but notice after the release of the trailer/teaser for m&g, I know it’s a different story and it’s more a drama based on a true story but very different in how they approached intimacy and affection

Okay so this turned into an essay.

I’m gonna dissect your ask into two parts, feel free to send me another ask if I missed something

Q1: Why was the intimacy in RWRB approached differently and less intense than M&G

Q2: Why was the intimacy in RWRB toned down from the book even with an R rating and with Taylor & Nick clearly capable of delivering passion and intimacy, and who was responsible for that

Firstly, yes, Robbie Taylor Hunt was the intimacy coordinator for both RWRB and M&G

Secondly, a little bit of background for M&G to aid my explanation later: While M&G isn’t out yet, I did read George Villiers’ Wikipedia page (Thanks Henry), listen to Nick talk a bit about him from a podcast episode, and watch the trailer. To summarize quickly, King James I has a list of male lovers, Mary Villiers realized her son had potential, so she more or less moulded him into a figure that the King would immensely like. Sex with the King was all for political power: George has sex with the King, and the King enjoys the pleasure he brings and lavishes him with treasures and political power in return. Historical records seem to indicate that the King really did love George as a partner, as odd (and in our modern times, toxic and maybe even “grooming”, George was 21 and the King was 48 when they met) as their relationship was. But the truth is George gained a lot from the King: he ended up one of the highest-ranking members of the court, and the only duke who wasn’t from the royal family.

So to answer your questions:

A1:

It’s mainly because since these are two different stories, the meaning of intimacy is different in each context.

RWRB is a love story. It is about the growth of the romantic relationship between Alex and Henry. Granted, they started with a friends-with-benefits arrangement but from the moment Henry kissed Alex on New Year's they both held mutual, genuine affection towards each other which later grew into love and devotion. This affection doesn’t have an underlying hidden purpose. Their intimacy is a reflection of their genuine feelings towards each other, which is why Paris is so gentle, quiet and soft. That’s the slow comfort of falling in love. Note that in the Paris scene, while it is clear what they’re physically doing, the focus is on their faces. You don’t see much below their waist. Matthew made that choice deliberately: this was an emotional experience for them as much as it was a physical experience. The sex in RWRB shows growing love.

Sex means something entirely different in M&G. To put it in a crude way, George Villiers, under his mother’s order/guidance/manipulation, fucked his way to power. Is there real affection and love between him and any or all of his partners, the King included? We honestly can’t know, because history only records what Geroge wanted to show, but it is incredibly unlikely that he did. Remember how I said there isn't an underlying hidden purpose in Alex and Henry’s affection? That’s not true for George: the hidden purpose is that he wants political power. Sex isn’t love in M&G, it’s entirely power play. And power play is violent and rough and messy, so the sex, as a reflection of that, is portrayed as such as well. Note that in the trailer, we see a lot of the body, but if you look at their faces, which isn’t the focus, he… kinda looks in pain?

A way I see it is in RWRB, Alex and Henry are both giving each other pleasure, as well as their heart. It’s slow, it’s gentle, and it’s respectful: Henry guides Alex in, Alex pays attention to each change on Henry’s face, and only moves when Henry consents, and even then, he moves slowly and the speed later builds up

Now look at the M&G trailer, it’s more like George’s partners are taking pleasure from him. It, at the very least, looks far less mutual than what Alex and Henry have. Geroge gives others pleasure, and in return, he gets political power.

TLDR: RWRB’s intimacy was less intense than that of M&G because intimacy has a different meaning/ symbolism in each story.

A2:

Part of this is because of the limitations of movie storytelling.

A book doesn’t have time limits, a movie does.

If you look at the book, at the beginning of Alex and Henry’s relationship, a lot of the sex was kind of repetitive in a way. Paris and MET for Alex’s birthday were covered in three pages. And both of those Alex compartmentalized as “friendship with benefits”. Aside from the internal monologue of him observing Henry sleeping which can’t be delivered on screen effectively, it’s mostly reiterating the same sentiment from the polo match: they use their international events as escapades to have sex with each other. But put that in the movie and it would take up the limited movie time, time that needs to be used for effective storytelling. The time used for Alex and Henry’s walk in the Paris garden could be used for a montage of all of their kinky sexual shenanigans instead, but if the polo hook-up can establish the intensity of their hooks up in the same way, then that time is better used exploring Henry’s baggage. TLDR: not enough time in regard to the number of times they have sex compared to the book.

The other part is by Matthew’s design.

I don’t remember where I saw/heard it from, either a podcast or an article, where Matthew half-jokingly said people will get bored if it’s just smut all the time. Yes, Alex and Henry are a very passionate couple, as shown by their first hook-up in the movie and the polo scene, but because gay sex in media is mostly portrayed as this wild, sexy frenzy, Matthew also wanted to show that gay sex can be emotionally vulnerable, which is why Paris was so focused on their faces, ergo, their emotions. Matthew wanted it to be something gentle and emotion-focused, so that was his priority in designing the scene.

Also there’s the fact that they’re older in the movie, thus more mature and a little less… hormonal. I think they get to the emotional connection a little earlier than their book counterparts.

A thing to note is that the movie wasn’t aiming for an R rating. In a really good podcast episode with Matthew and Tommy Didario, he even expressed disappointment in MAP for rating the movie R, saying that if it was a straight couple, it most likely wouldn’t have gotten an R rating, and even if we ignore latent homophobia, there’s are films much more violent than RWRB is sexually explicit, yet those films are PG 13.

I agree that if needed, Nick and Taylor can deliver something more intense. They’re clearly comfortable with each other, as seen from the bloopers of Paris morning and the fact that Robbie wasn’t there when they shot the lake scene, yet they were comfortable enough with touching each other and gentle kisses. They’ve also both done more explicit things: Taylor with Minx, Nick with M&G (granted that came later).

But the thing is, the RWRB movie doesn’t exactly… need more, from the storytelling perspective. I might say putting a sexy montage in between Polo and Paris might clarify the timeline a little, but that would still just be little clips of what we’ve already seen in the previous two scenes. And just from what I’ve seen, people who have read the book (myself included) would think it’s toned down, but some YouTube reaction videos from people who haven’t read the book find it really spicy. We book readers just have a comparison.

TLDR: In the movie's story, we didn't really need more sex scenes

Wow, I didn’t intend this to be so long, but I haven’t written a RWRB essay in a hot minute. This was a lot of fun, so thank you for the ask, and I hope I could answer you!

[velunaryn]

RSoFs - Update, 11/5/23.

Hi, today I’m gonna share the exciting news. RSoFs chapter 5 will be released publicly on 9 November, this Thursday!

There are a few issues with the code I had to fix before the release. And now onto what will be released on Thursday?

- Newest upcoming chapter, the chapter 5 (and also the latest chapter I’ll release for the demo.).

- Another bad ending?

- Three different routes.

- Another P.O.V from one of the characters. (Spoilers, it’s not from the LI/RO. Not now at least.)

- A lot of choices.

- Some other secrets, you have to encounter yourself.

I’ve released the alpha version on my patreon a week ago, and forgot to announce it. (My bad. It’s probably filled with a lot of error too :’))

As for extra content schedule on patreon will be released at the end of this week. For Q4 2023 and Q1 2024.

Anyway that's it from me. Thank you, have a great day, and stay tuned.

[fyeah-chanyeol]

Chanyeol, a member of EXO under SM Entertainment, is set to reveal his first solo album ‘Black Out’ today, August 28, at 6 PM KST on various music platforms. The music video for the title track ‘Black Out’ will also be released simultaneously on SM’s official YouTube channel.

The album includes six tracks: the title song ‘Black Out,’ ‘I’m on Your Side Too’ and ‘Clover’—both of which Chanyeol contributed to as a lyricist—along with ‘Hasta La Vista,’ ‘Ease Up,’ and ‘Back Again.’ This album promises a mix of new genres and familiar emotional tones unique to Chanyeol.

In an interview accompanying the album release, Chanyeol shared his thoughts and experiences:

Q1. How does it feel to release your first solo album after 12 years of debuting? Chanyeol: It feels refreshing and joyful. It’s been 12 years since I debuted with EXO, and I’m excited to show a new side of myself. I’m thrilled to finally present my solo album to EXO-L (EXO’s official fan club), who have been waiting for so long.

Q2. How would you describe your first mini-album ‘Black Out’ in one word? Chanyeol: I’d describe it as ‘beginning.’ Since this is my first solo album, I see it as the start of something new. I wanted to create music that I’ve always wanted to make, showcase concepts I’ve wanted to share with fans, and present a variety of charms. Please look forward to it!

Q3. Can you tell us more about the title track ‘Black Out’? What should we pay attention to? Chanyeol: The charm of ‘Black Out’ lies in the combination of melody, lyrics, and emotions. It’s a pop-rock track with a fast tempo, minimal acoustic guitar, and a lyrical synth melody. The lyrics compare the post-breakup experience to a ‘Black Out’—a time when everything feels like a mess, much like a phone screen that’s turned off without any notifications.

Q4. You participated in writing some of the lyrics for this album. Did you try anything new this time? Chanyeol: I usually combine my experiences with imagination when writing lyrics, but for this album, I focused more on my cherished memories. Since this is a solo album, I wanted to share more personal stories. For example, I wrote ‘I’m on Your Side Too’ while recalling the happiness I felt looking at EXO-L during performances, and ‘Clover’ was inspired by spending time with my dog, Jjaru.

Q5. You explored various genres for this album. Which one do you like the most? Chanyeol: It’s hard to choose just one (laughs), but I really like ‘Back Again.’ It’s an old-school hip-hop track with a strong rock base, and I think it shows off a new side of me. It was the first song I recorded for the album, and although it was challenging, it made me want to push myself even further.

Q6. You filmed the album jacket and music video entirely on location in Hong Kong. How was that experience? Chanyeol: It was a lot of fun (laughs). I fell in love with Hong Kong’s beauty all over again. We filmed mostly outdoors, exploring everything from the city center to lesser-known alleyways. I especially enjoyed shooting on a double-decker bus, taking in the city views as we went along.

Q7. You’ll be holding a live tour next week after the album release. Can you give us a sneak peek? Chanyeol: You’ll see both the sides of me that you’re familiar with and many new aspects as well. I’ve been preparing hard every day, so I hope you’ll love the album and the performances.

Q8. What did your fellow EXO members think of the album? Did they offer any support? Chanyeol: I played the songs for Suho, and he said he could tell how much effort and thought went into it. He told me he’s looking forward to it and cheered me on (laughs). We often talk about music, and his support always motivates me to work even harder.

Q9. Is there a moment in your life that you never want to ‘Black Out’? Chanyeol: All the moments I’ve spent with EXO-L during our concerts. Those are precious memories I never want to forget.

Q10. Lastly, any message for the fans? Chanyeol: First of all, thank you for waiting so long. I’m so grateful for your constant support and love. Preparing this album was a joyful experience, and I’m excited to finally share it with you. Without you, this album wouldn’t have been possible. This is just the beginning, and I hope we can continue to share happiness together for a long time. I love you all so much!

Translation by Allkpop.

[alephkeller]

Hi, my friend is a huge fan of your stories it makes me happy to see him so happy! I'm a fan by osmosis but not the target audience (a lesbiannnot a guy into femdom). Thanks for cheering him up!

Are the women on Mars happy? do they les out?

Thank you for the questions!

I appreciate that my story isn’t for everyone. At the same time, I’m happy to see people taking interest, no matter who they are! It makes me very happy to hear that I’ve brought your friend some joy with my writing. That’s ultimately what matters most to me!

Let me try to answer both of your questions:

Q1: “Are the women on Mars happy?”

This is a good question, and one that the books have only just started to answer (and even then, only in part). That said, we’ve seen the very real consequences of the “Relocation” of humanity’s women from the very start of the series on both the daxy and human members of the cast.

The material conditions on Mars are actually almost paradisiacal and the daxy are not allowed to abuse or hurt the women. The women also aren’t forced to work (except perhaps as punishment for serious crimes like hurting others, etc.) and all their needs are provided for (including entertainment, community, and even AI companionship, a la “Blade Runner 2049”, if desired)

Now all of this doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness (though I don’t doubt that many of the women there are happy). The Empire still ripped families apart, separated husbands from wives, sisters from brothers, etc. For a civilization that basically ended poverty, war, and most of every other bad thing on Earth (many of the daxy really do have good intentions), it’s definitely the worst thing the Daxy Empire has done, and serves as the central, moral crisis of the books and the setting overall. The Relocation and its consequences kind of hang over the characters throughout the series. 

There are some themes about loss and family that I try to use this separation to explore, and the series will bring this all to some kind of resolution (for better or for worse, though I’m not generally a fan of dark endings)

Q2: “Do they les out?”

Anyone who wanted to certainly could. The Empire definitely wouldn’t stop human women who wanted a lesbian relationship (And as I said earlier, the Empire will even provide AI companionship to alleviate loneliness, so I can see them having no problem with that).

The Empire’s culture is unfortunately pretty sexually conservative so it’s hard to say for sure. Luckily, I think that applies more to themselves and the males they take, rather than something they want to enforce on women of other species. 

Perhaps it’d be a good question for me to address in book 3 of the series, at some point! 

Again, thanks for taking an interest in my work, and I hope that answers your questions! 

Tell your friend I said, "Hi!" ;)

(pic by @doc-art )

[absolutebl]

BL & Critical Analysis

Pop culture critique & a how to do it... or something

This meaty question came from the lovely @huachengeye Thank you!

Codicil: I do not get paid for pop culture critique (although I once wrote book reviews professionally, long story). So I’m entirely a dilettante. 

The Question!

Q1: Can you can shed some light on your process (of critical analysis)

This is a little like training your eye to edit a document (I bet you can tell that's not one my strong points). Or training your mind to look at data and data collection in terms of the results it may yield and what the initial survey says about the questioner's bias (or can bias results).

First, I have to ask... 

Do you really want to train your eye to critique?

Because it will become a lot harder to immerse yourself in a piece of media if you constantly feel obligated to step back mentally and think about it from various perspectives. 

In other words, you may enjoy BL, or all live action dramas, LESS if you try to think about them critically.

I have an intimate who is a pretty well known writer. She mostly writes humorous fiction. She's open about the fact that this means every time she laughs, she stops and thinks about why that happened and whether is could be used in her prose. She never gets to be fully absorbed by narrative ever anymore because her critical eye is always turned on, especially for the written word.

What you may sacrifice for critique, is a certain level of childish wonder. 

I’m not sure i would necessarily advise doing this. 

My Process 

My process is essentially now visible in this blog. As I watch a show I take a few notes on it (which show up in the weeklies) and then at the end I go through those notes, consolidate, try to be witty about it, and write up a review.

The review usually has something about:

characters, tropes, plot 

narrative & story structure & pace

how this BL fits in with the greater BL genre & history

any thoughts I have on the quality of the production, acting, and/or directing 

my own personal feelings about the show

Thus my reviews tend to take into account several criteria.

For #1-2 I have a background in lit crit as an undergrad (and, like I said, I did once review books for a living) so these are kinda ingrained in me. I’m working on seeing the influence of soap operas, fan fic, and non-western story structures as critically valid, so these are the things I’m actively learning more about the most these days. 

For #3: How does this fit into the history of BL? Since I’ve made it point to watch pretty much all BLs, I feel like I’m set up to think and talk about this. AKA the spreadsheet made me do it. But since I also have anthropology in my academic history, I’m very interested in how a BL represents for its country’s BL oeuvre. I try to judge KBLs against other KBLs (and Kdramas) and look for patterns and trends in how that country’s interpretation of what it “means to be BL” shift over time. 

For #4: my IRL job is tangential to the entertainment industry so that’s accidentally trained my eye for film. I don’t know that I like this part about myself, but it’s happened whether I like it or not. And I don’t have a proper background in film critique. 

Final #5: will discuss further in a bit.

Suggestion? Establish A Rating System 

Come up with your own personal 10 star (or 5 star) rating system.

Write it down. Don’t be afraid to modify or adjust it. It’s yours, your tastes change, nothing is set in stone. 

Pick one ideal example BL for each category that you’re very familiar with for your reference point. Then you can ask yourself, after you’ve watched a new one, whether you liked it more, less, or about the same as that show. (relative rating, similar to grading on a curve) 

I change my examples regularly as my taste changes and as new BLs are added. The bar gets shifted, so to speak. 

My Rating System 

Your reasoning for rating a BL will be different from mine, but here’s mine as an example. 

(Also I never feel bound by this, sometimes I give a show a 8/10 just because it feels like that’s what it deserves.) 

10/10 - HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - my favorite precious squee!, faithful to tropes, happy ending, good chemistry, few flaws, high rewatch potential, makes me happy, examples: Semantic Error, Until We Meet Again 

9/10 ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED - loved it and good rewatch potential but probably a few pacing issues or one big flaw, still made me feel good/comforted, examples: Cherry Magic, Bad Buddy

8/10 - RECOMMENDED - some concerns around tropes (like dub con) or story structure/filming but still satisfies as BL, moved me emotionally, rewatchable in parts or not rewatchable but important, examples: Love By Chance, Between Us

7/10 - RECOMMENDED WITH RESERVATIONS - i.e. isn’t quite BL, convoluted, not strictly HEA, too short/long, and/or chemistry issues, may have impact on other BL fans but not me (or on me but not others) examples: Make it Right, KinnPorsche

6/10 - WORTH WATCHING BUT FLAWED - probably around the ending or in narrative structure/cohesion or censorship, disappointed expectations, unlikely to rewatch, examples: My Gear and Your Gown, Love Mechanics

5/10 - WATCH IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO - but don’t expect much, it’s a total hot mess interesting only because it's BL and I'm probubly pretty conflicted about it, examples: Advance Bravely, Even Sun

4/10 - FATALLY FLAWED - but still basically BL, however... do we want to support this kind of behaviour? examples: Precise Shot, Work from Heart

3/10 - I DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM WATCHING AND NEITHER DOES IT, just seriously why did this get made? examples: Blue of Winter, Physical Therapy 

2/10 - IT'S DEPRESSING - they killed/tortured/etc the gay, save yourself, examples: The Effect, HIStory 3: Make Our Days Count

1/10 - IT'S AWFUL, I WATCHED IT SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO, has all the flaws of 4-3 plus something even more egregious, personally triggering, example: My Bromance series, Round Trip to Love

dnf - self explanatory, but usually I drop because I feel like the narrative is already a #3 and/or headed for a #2 or #1 and then I’m told later that is went there, example: My Tempo

I hand out the fewest 1s & 10s. The most 8s and 7s. Everything else is pretty much on the bell curve you’d expect. 

Q2: What resources do you use to build your reviews?

I listen to a lot of pop culture review critiques in podcast form, often about stuff I'd never watch. But I like the way professionals talk about these things, even if they aren't MY things or don't jive with my personal opinions.

Mark Kermode is my favorite film critic and we like the opposite stuff, but the way he talks about film is very interesting to me. His podcast mini series on the "business of film" is probably one of my must listens. For his main podcast (Kermode & May’s Take), I always skip over all the interviews, people talking about their own films bore me to death (especially if they are actors on the promo junket, save me please). His rants are some of my favorites of all time (try Pirates 3 or Iron Man 2). Someone else’s list. 

I also like Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR because it brings in multiple perspectives and varied cast of critics who often disagree and the "things making me happy" is a grab bag of fun.

The Bechdel Cast is a feminist critique podcast from Hollywood insiders and they do recaps as well as critique, and it's always fascinating to me to hear what people latch onto in a narrative. However, I only listen if I am already familiar with the film they are discussing.

My background is in anthropology and I've lived all over the world so that helps train me to think in terms on culture's impact on narrative as well as linguistics and so forth. As a personality I’m also quite reserved and deadpan, grumpy, stiff, strict, and kinda cold. I think I gravitate to being an observer and an outsider which helps if you want to analysis stuff. Which is not a claim to objectivity, I don't think there can be objective analysis of pop culture.

But it does make me pause to think, "that made me FEEEL something" why? What am I feeling? How did the actor do that? The script? The direction?

These shows are meant to entertain, whether they are successful or not, for me (and what "successful entertainment" means to me) and how they are doing it is the first question I always ask myself.

Q3: What are the things you look out for when watching a BL?

I ask myself a lot of things I would when looking at any piece of art. Or even when shopping for clothing or a new car or reading a book.

Did I like it? Why did I like it?

Did it move me? Why did it move me? 

Did I react? How did I react? To which bits? Why? 

What tropes and narrative beats was it using to manipulate me and my expectations? Did it meet those expectations? The promises it set up at the start? Did it fulfill the watcher-contract during the course of the narrative? 

Did the filming successfully telegraphy the journey I was meant to take? Did the actors? 

But also... would I rewatch it? Am I tempted to do so the moment it ends? For which bits?

The statistician in me wants to point out that these questions say a lot more about me and my relationship to art than it does about the art itself.

For example

Did I like it? Means... I'm motivated by pure taste and personal preference and complete subjectivity. This is in part formed by a person's background, life state, whole experience with culture and pop culture and society, family, friends. Taste is also just "that" bit. You know, that bit? Likes lemon deserts over chocolate ones, gravities to spicy food, favorite color is green, decorates with potted plants. Just my taste is my taste. I like what I like. 

Yes I have some criteria that subconsciously come into play: I look for clever story structure, subversion or manipulation of tropes, parody, not hitting any of my dislikes (like dub con). But also I have other biases impacting whether I like it (like physical appearance) which I can try to check but usually can't fix. (For example GMMTV's Gawin/Fluke looks so much like an ex of mine I really struggle with his screen presence.)

Did I like it?

The fact that this is the first question I ask myself also should tell you I'm motivated by the emotion these narratives engender. I want them to transport me and move me. I my case I want to feel comforted and satisfied and happy. The ones the make me feel discomfort, especially for too long in the narrative, I am simply going to like less. Sometimes less than I feel like I should (see my struggles with masterworks like ITSAY, YNEH, or The 8th Sense). The very BLs that most professional critics would tout as the best examples of the genre for a wider audience often turn out to be the ones I struggle with the most. (They are also, fortunately for me, the least representative of the bulk of the genre.)

In other words there is ALSO a part of me that genuinely likes and enjoys the trashy stuff. Even the trash I trash watch.

So I would advise you to come up with your own questions. Ask yourself what you want from these shows when you watch them. 

What motivates you? 

Why are you watching them at all? 

What brings you joy from an art or entertainment experience? 

What do you want them to do for you? To you?

You are going to experience them (and therefore analyze them) from this perspective whether you like it or not. So understand yourself is paramount. It's about your relationship to the art, not the art itself.

If I were to give you an assignment I would say start with one BL you really enjoyed, perhaps not your favorite but one level down. And then do one you really did not enjoy. And think about why... 

Happy analyzing! 

(source)

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Main Story: Part 4 - Act 14: DREAM CATCHER - Episode 2: Full-Power Comedy Etude

Tenma: MANKAI Company’s rank right now is 30th…

Yuki: The Spring Troupe’s performance jumped us up a notch, but we can’t quit now if we want to get to the top 10.

Kumon: The final ranking will be determined by the total of all points until 4Q, so we gotta earn as many as possible…

Izumi: Although not as many as in the pre-voting, there really are many new theater companies set up by influencers and the like in the top rankings of Q1.

Kazunari: There weren’t that many shows during 1Q, so the social media sway was probs extra strong.

Muku: But being overtaken in the blink of an eye is kind of sad.

Muku:  Even though all of us have grown since our debut performance, as a group as well as individually, and our fans have been steadily increasing since then…

Kumon: Right… We overcame all sorta troubles, and even won the Special Fleur Award…

Tenma: For what reason have we been building up everything till now…

Yuki: Well, I guess we’re back to square one.

Kazunari: We just gotta do our best from here!

Misumi: Yup~ I’ll give you the triangle cookie I got for the performance I guest-starred in the other day, so cheer up~

Yuki: So the Triangle Alien’s love for triangles is famous amongst other troupes too.

Misumi: I’m famous~?

Yuki: You’re probably the most famous Triangle Alien. Since you’re the only one.

Tenma: He doesn’t need to be famous for that.

Kazunari: I’m doing some research on the social media side too, and it seems most of the hashtags are about the companies on the top of the ranking.

Izumi: Ah, Masumi-kun has also gathered data for that.

Kazunari: GW, Massu! He’s even got the percentages in there!

Tenma: His promotional skills are steadily improving.

Kazunari: I gotta take my visual promos more seriously than ever too~

Kumon: We may not have a script yet, but is there anything we can do right now?

Muku: I don’t want to sit around doing nothing. I’ll get anxious if I don’t do anything…

Tenma: Staying gloomy and thinking things through definitely isn’t the Summer Troupe way of doing things.

Tenma: In other words…

Yuki: Long story short, we should do that?

Tenma: Exactly.

Kumon: It’s decided!

Misumi: Since it’s decided, let’s gooo!

-

Kazunari: “This planet is now ours! Tri, tri, tri…”

Misumi: “... Angle, angle, angle. Bow before us, you Earthlings!”

Yuki: “Ugh… If we don’t do something soon, the Earth will fall in ruins by the Triangle Aliens… Are we really powerless…?”

Tenma: “No, not yet… We can’t fall here…!”

Kumon: “The Earth is ours.”

Muku: “Quietly submit to us.”

Yuki: “What!? The Triangle Aliens have multiplied!?”

Kazunari: “Perfect timing. You should work with us and–”

Misumi: “Wait! No, these guys are–”

Kumon: “Co, co, co…”

Muku: “ne, ne, ne…”

Tenma: “Cone Aliens…!”

Kazunari: “You misleading lot…!”

-

[Applause]

Misumi: Thank you very much~!

Tenma: Thank you very much!

Passerby A: Good luck on your performance~!

Passerby B: We’ll be rooting for you, MANKAI Company!

Kazunari: Thank yooouu~!

Passerby C: The Street ACT we saw before was interesting, but so was this~!

Passerby D: Yup, and it looks like someone’s doing one near the station, let’s go check that one out too!

Izumi: There’s Street ACTs all over the place today, too.

Muku: This really drives home that the theater companies are increasing.

Tenma: We gotta keep our spirits high.

Ibuki: Woah, hold on a sec. Ain’t you MANKAI Company?

previous episode | masterpost | next episode

[izuizzy]

Hi Talia and Vox! How’s your day going and I’ve got some questions!

What’s life growing up with your parents?

Do you guys have a favorite uncle/aunt?

What’s your favorite deserts? Autumn will be ready to bake! >:]

Hi hello! I think it’ll be fun to let them answer these! :3 It got a bit long so I’m gonna put the answers under the cut! 💜🫡

Talia 💙

Q1

“Hi! I’m doing well thank you! I hope you are too!

Hmm personally I think I had a great childhood growing up with Dad and Papa. They looked out for me so much and I know my sudden appearance didn’t make things easy for them. Plus I was always worried about fitting in when I was younger and learned I was “gifted” more than most kids. It was hard and I’d cry sometimes because others didn’t wanna be my friends.

With Dad he would always make me smile and laugh when I needed it. And Papa.. He and I don’t need to speak sometimes, I just need to know he’s there, and he is. He lets me lean on his shoulder when I’m sad or the voices in my head are too much.

I know I’m a handful sometimes but I love them both so much and I know they love me back.”

(for context: Sonic = Dad and Shadow = Papa)

Q2

“Oh! Auntie Amy! I love all of Dad and Papa’s friends they really are like aunts and uncles, but even they knew I kinda got super attached to Auntie Amy.”

“You even emulated her hairstyle.” - Vox

“Hey! *Pouts* It is true… She’s always been kind to me and was constantly trying to help me feel like a normal girl. On top of just always having my back, I love and respect her so much! So I may… Or may not have copied her hair because I wanted to be like her…”

Q3

“Oh! I love anything sweet! I love sorbets and ice creams and I also love strawberry-flavored desserts I’d love to try something you make!”

————————————

Vox 🖤

Q1

“Hello. Life with my… Parents… It’s still very strange to hear them with such a title.

In truth I didn’t grow up with them, at least not for long, back when I rediscovered my original purpose as a counter to the Ultimate Lifeform, I couldn’t abandon that purpose, it was all I had. I ran away. I trained myself in order to become the stronger hedgehog. I fought with not only my parents but my sister and my friends.

*Chuckles* Even just explaining it now makes me realize how foolish I was… I eventually saw the error of my ways and worked to deserve the second chance I was given. Nowadays… It’s odd to have people care for me like I’m nothing more than another one of them. For my… Parents… For them to see me as their “child” is an odd feeling… But it isn’t unwelcome.”

Q2

“I never truly became close with many of my parents’ allies and friends before I ran away, but Rouge has been very kind to me before and after my return. She always asks me to tell her my troubles.

Omega as well, for a robot, he is surprisingly caring and a very good listener.”

Q3

There are not many foods I cannot consume, personally I find fruit-based pastries like fruit tarts and apple pies to be quite delicious. So long as it doesn’t have chocolate in it, I can eat it. Chocolate is the one thing I can’t stand…

[stup1dcl0wn]

1, 9 y 12

Thank you for the ask !! ><

Q1, list three positive things about your current fandoms: 1. Some of my current fandoms have honestly helped me by giving me a distraction when I’m not doing that good mentally. 2. My current fandoms have helped me to branch out and befriend new people ^^ 3. They give me something to do, if I wasn’t making content related to my fandoms I’d probably just bedrot o.0’’

Q9, a ship that isn't your OTP but you enjoy: I like BiscuitBites (murder drones) but I wouldn’t consider them one of my OTPs, I still really like them though and I think they’re really wholesome <3

Q12, compliment someone else in your fandom: I really admire @no1dollfan for their dedication to days without doll. I’d also like to compliment @dailyjuzi because their blog made me smile every day, gone but never forgotten 💔

[dutchannanas]

Release date: June 19, 2019

(context: I think the mixtape they're referring to is "20 Hip Hop Kid In Seoul" because it matches the timeline of his releases)

My attempt to translate this video:

Bully Da Ba$tard, his honest answer about likes and dislikes?

Q1: Recently, you’ve been showing tremendous hustle.

A1: “I think I was desperate for validation. Every time I dropped something, the response was weak-it felt like slamming my head into concrete But I kept pivoting, kept releasing. I wouldn’t call it maturity… more like I finally carved out some breathing room. Truth is, I was marinating in my own arrogance. I’d become the kind of person I hate most: someone who cashed a check from one TV gig, then coasted. Now? I’ve got space to breathe, and my confidence in my craft? It’s rooted deeper than ever.”

Q2: Your mixtape has received good reviews…

A2: “When I make albums, I usually map out the whole structure-but this time I didn’t.That’s why I dropped it as a mixtape. It’s a collection of a bunch of songs together. The costs were low except for the beats. I did the mixing mastering myself, and the features? I feel grateful that they gladly agreed to help out for free.”

Q3: HiphopLE’s forum (now LEmag) even posted directly about you back in the day.

A3: “Honestly, I’ve been watching the forum for a long time and was active on Workroom (name of forum that’s being referred to). I don’t pay attention to reactions except on LE. There are many low-quality forums, so I stuck with HiphopLE and wanted to post something.”

Q4: Your voice and music really split opinions-how do you handle the love and hate?

A4: “In this mixtape, I’ve been experimenting with melodies. I’ve been incorporating a lot of feedback. Lately, I’m trying to show a lot of different styles. I’m also singing and, even if it’s not strictly hip-hop, I’m blending other genres. Although I haven’t shown it yet.”

Q5: How did you form the project team with Jay Moon?

A5: “There aren’t many duo’s in Korea, so we decided to form one. We’re an impulsive duo. We’re always together like lovers. My style is either serious or wild, while Jay Moon is more romantic. The combination makes our album different from our original colours and is described as ‘beautiful trainwreck’.”

Q6: Why is the album title [THE TEACHERS]?

A6: “Back in middle school, I took lessons from Jay Moon. I’ve been his fan since elementary school. I wanted to meet Jay Moon rather than just learn rap. This led to taking lessons. That's how it started. There is a theme of teacher and student dynamic, and because of my negative feelings about school, I chose the title ‘THE TEACHERS’ with the vibe of: I’ll really teach you something.”

Q7: Do you have any message for your fans?

A7: “I’m always very grateful. So as to not disappoint your expectations, I’ll do more activities and put more thought into my ideas. Yes, thank you.”

[idols-stage]

An Interview with A • ZU • NA

In the lead-up to the first season of Idols Stage, we at ACS will be conducting interviews with the participants of the show. Today, we’ll be speaking with A • ZU • NA, a unit from Nijigasaki High School. This trio is known for their fun, upbeat, and bouncy music and are based around the concept of an amusement park.

Now, let’s get to our questions!

Q1. Can you tell us a bit about yourselves?

Shizuku: So, introductions then? I’m Shizuku Osaka, a first year at Nijigasaki High School. As well as being a school idol, I’m also a member of our schools theatre club! Despite all the work, I still get good grades in school. Oh, I also have a golden retriever! Her name is Ophelia! That’s enough about me though, you two should introduce yourselves too!

Ayumu: Right! I’m Ayumu Uehara, second year. Um, let’s see… My friends all call me a hard worker, I guess?

That’s all?

Ayumu: I can’t think of anything else to say! Setsuna, say something!

Setsuna: Well in that case, Setsuna Yuki here! I look forward to showing everyone how bright we shine on stage! Idols are a huge part of my life, so I’m real proud to be where I am today. I can’t thank you enough for this opportunity!

Q2. Why do you all want to win?

Setsuna: We actually had a talk about this earlier! Winning would be a way to help both our school and idol club out tremendously! We can put on bigger and better shows, and we’ll have plenty of new students at the school.

Ayumu: We’d also like to make the special people in our lives proud.

Q3. Are there any groups you’re keeping an eye on?

Shizuku: Well, naturally we’re keeping an eye on our club members, so DiverDiva, QU4RTZ, and R3BIRTH. If any of them win it’ll be a win for the whole club!

Setsuna: But that doesn’t mean we don’t want to win!

Ayumu: I’m personally keeping an eye on some of the newer idols, like Mirabell Maidens and ALL-IN. They may be new, but that doesn’t mean we can go easy on them.

Q4. Is there anything you want to do while on the show?

Ayumu: I’d like to dedicate a song to Yu! She’s been my biggest supporter since the beginning, so it’s the least I can do.

Shizuku: Personally, I’d like to see my old classmates. I know some of them are competing!

Setsuna: I want to give the audience an unforgettable show!

Q5. Finally, what colour should we use to support you?

Setsuna: Scarlet!

Ayumu: Light pink.

Shizuku: Light blue, please. Our unit colour is red!

We thank A • ZU • NA for their time, and wish them luck in the competition! Please join us next time where we will be interviewing a special guest on the show.

[sofiatarot]

Hi I’m here for your free tarot game 💗💫thank you for offering this my initials are LP!😊

Question 1: what will be first boyfriend be like (or any info you can pull about him)

Question 2: what is some advice I need to hear?

Q1: Your reading paints a picture of someone who might not be exactly what you expected, but who will still have an impact on you. The magician reversed and the sun reversed suggest that he could have a charming and charismatic personality, but there might be times when he isn’t entirely transparent or when he struggles with self-confidence. He might come across as fun and lively in social settings (3 of cups), but with the tower, there could be something unexpected about your connection—maybe he enters your life suddenly or shakes things up in a way that forces you to grow.

That being said, ace of cups and 2 of cups show that there will be real emotions involved. This person could open your heart to love in a way you haven’t experienced before, even if the relationship isn’t perfect. He might bring excitement and emotional intensity, but also lessons—especially about self-worth and what you truly need in a partner. Stay open, but also trust your intuition when it comes to who you give your heart to.

Q2: Your cards suggest that you’re in a phase where self-trust and confidence are crucial. The high priestess shows that deep down, you already have the wisdom you need—you just have to listen to your intuition. If something feels off, it probably is. 4 of pentacles reversed suggests that you might need to let go of control or release any fear of change. Holding on too tightly—to expectations, people, or old versions of yourself—might be limiting your growth.

The chariot reversed and queen of wands reversed indicate that right now, you might be feeling a bit stuck or uncertain about your path. The key is to reclaim your power. Don’t let self-doubt keep you from taking action. Whether it's in love, personal goals, or your self-image, step into your confidence. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for—don’t be afraid to take risks and go after what you want!

-xoxo💘

[exoluxionlove]

231104 xblushmagazine Instagram Update

Q1. Chanyeol seems to like camping and goes on camping trips often. Please recommend a song that's suitable for camping to listen together with your friends! Whenever I go on camping, I tend to enjoy the quietness and stay relaxed. I think a song which embraces that kind of emotion would be good. The one I could think of now is d4vd’s “Romantic Homicide”. It’s really good. Q2. Recently I’ve encountered many difficulties in my studies and I always feel that I’m not doing well enough. I’m very stressed about it. I believe everyone will have to go through this kind of phase in their life. At those times, don’t blame yourself too much. Have a look at my XBlush photoshoot and listen to my songs. Just keep your head free of thoughts and take a rest. I hope you can figure it out after that. Q3. My girlfriend has liked Park Chanyeol for 11 years. I want to propose to her this year. Is there any EXO song suitable for it? Among EXO songs, I think “Lucky” will be suitable. The lyrics are impressive. The line “meeting you was my luck” was beautifully written. Yeah, I recommend “Lucky”! She is gonna like it. Q4 is about chanyeol’s fashion choices for the recent weather. He advised to dress up warmly and to always carry a jacket due to the unstable weather. Q5. Visiting Seoul with a friend, recommend a place? Actually I don’t really tour around in Seoul very much. Still, among the places I have visited, now I could think of Han River. You can simply daze out there and the ramyun eaten at Han River is super delicious! You can have ramyun and feel that kind of emotion? Yeah, I recommend it. Q6. Horror movie recommendation? I’m not very fond of horror movies, so I’ve watched only a handful of them. Among those, the memorable one was “Paranormal activity”. I watched it during high school and it had a huge impact on me. There’s a possibility that you might have watched it already but I recommend this movie. Q7. My birthday is day after tomorrow. I’ve been repeatedly reminded by my parents that I’m in my 30s, that I no longer look forward to my birthday anymore. But I’m over 30 and I still look forward to my birthday. I truly believe that age is just a number. Just push your mindset back to your younger days when you celebrated your birthday happily and thank your parents for giving birth to you. Just enjoy your day! I’m so excited for my birthday this year. Q8. Its my parents’ wedding anniversary soon, what gift would be good? Without letting your parents know, you can secretly find out, like the memories related to their first date or the kind that will bring back old memories. Maybe make an album out of it and gift them. If I were that parent in question, it would make me very happy. Q9. Lost interest in everything, how can I make myself happy? I’m sure there is always that friend who does everything, likes to play outside often, loves to work out. I’m sure you would also have…or maybe not. But usually there is someone like that around us. If you hang out with them and get closer, you will definitely find something interesting. Translation

[the-starship-athena]

Hey, guys! Welcome to the Q&A for Star Trek: Athena.

This will be the first of many Q&A’s for STA. I’ve gotten a few questions that I hope will clear up things. Let’s get started!

Q1: What is STA?

It’s pretty much what it says on the box.

In keeping with Star Trek tradition, I’ve named this project Star Trek: Athena. It’ll be following the adventures of the crew of the USS Athena over the course of their three year mission.

Q2: When does STA take place?

So…here’s the thing.

We know that Star Trek has two timeline, TOS (Prime timeline) and AOS (Kelvin timeline.) The relationship between fans and the timelines…well it’s complicated. You either love it or you hate it or you begrudging like both of them. I’ve been fan since I was kid thanks to me discovering Star Trek while bored during the summer and looking for something to watch.

The problem is the story that I wanted to tell didn’t fit into the prime timeline because there is already so much packed in there so I ultimately gave up on it but then when I watched the 2009 Star Trek movie I realise that maybe I could make my story but still keep it Star Trek. 

Thus, the idea for STA was born.

To answer everyone’s question, yes, it takes place in the Kelvin timeline. The story takes place in 2264 immediately after Star Trek Beyond.

Q3: Who is the crew?

Okay, so the crew is different. I kind of wanted a mix of both bridge crew and lower decks crew because I thought maybe it would be more interesting story wise. Star Trek Lower Decks did kind of influence a little bit of it but then so did The Next Generation.

I plan to release a crew profile soon so like you can get a preview of who is who and what their ranks are and what they do on the ship.

I had to do a lot of research both into the prime timeline and the Kelvin timeline about ldifferent ranks and ship classes and positions on the ship. So like I had a consult both memory alpha and beta, which was fun.  

Keep your eyes out in the future because I will post a full post about our new characters - 8 of them in total - and then the minor characters.



Q4: What do you mean by ‘episodes’ being released?

Okay, I think we’re all familiar here with the format of Star Trek so I aimed to do something similar but in a writing form. It’s not a script or a fan made movie or anything like that. Think more on the lines of the novelisation of certain episodes of TOS, kinda like that but in a shorter format.

It’s going to be a three-year mission, so I am dividing this up into three seasons. I have everything already planned out and drafts are written. Each season will most likely have 10 to 12 episodes and I’m thinking of adding like a little short mini episodes probably like in between seasons just know small little stories or maybe like deleted scenes that I didn’t think made the final cut.

The first episode of STA will be posted on April 10. Hopefully there will be no delays but I look forward to everyone reading this because I’m really excited.

Q5: Why did you start this project?

For fun.

I’ve always been a very big fan of Star Trek, ever since I was kid.

It’s the kind thing that shaped me as a person. So it’s natural that I want write something as a tribute towards it

So came up with the idea of here’s my little star starship crew and they go off into space and there’s all these cool adventures but then they also learn these important lessons… i wanted it to be in spirit of the original Star Trek while adapting some of the newer aspects of modern day trek.

But then I was like okay this might be a stretch and I realised, is this just like me day dreaming or is this something I actually wanna do and then I formed the idea of STA.

Then you know they came with the whole hammering out all the details and deciding what I wanted to do and then finally I realised let’s put this in the kelvin timeline because you know there’s a lot of unknown about this timeline so it makes sense to have this crew in this timeline.

I hope I haven’t lost anyone on this but you have question, dont be afraid to DM me.