#also they did shi mei so dirty

[tentative-wanderer]

Smirking

The new HYX leak has 2hatwt in shambles so I thought I’d share it over here

[kukuandkookie]

I want to write another essay on why Mo Ran is an amazing protagonist but I just attempted to on my Twitter and I feel like all I did was bark like a feral dog so now I’m not sure I can do the words justice otl.

But basically I’m just once again absolutely emotionally eviscerated over how Mo Ran is a protagonist with clear darkness in his heart from all the suffering he’s endured, and yet even in the face of that, he still tries so hard to do good.

I love that he’s our protagonist. That he’s not perfect; that he’s as capable of bad as he is good.

We see how he offers himself to Shi Mei for the flower, telling him that he wants to trade places with Chu Wanning because he has evil in his heart. And why would he do that? Because he just wants to preserve the light that is Chu Wanning in a world where such light can be so rare…even to the point of sacrificing himself. So it’s just. That dichotomy, you know? That acknowledgement by Mo Ran that he is not a good person and is thus worthy of the flower, yet the clear sign that he is still trying to do the right thing despite everything. Because saving Chu Wanning would be good for the world. And he was so young when he made that decision.

He was…He was so ready to die. He asked to be killed the moment he started doing evil—because he didn’t want to do those misdeeds, but also because he didn’t want to disappoint Chu Wanning. And he had such faith that Chu Wanning would do the right thing and strike him down immediately. 😭

How can I put into words the absolute deliciousness that is Mo Ran’s character, his arc, and his redemption?

Like he is crushed by such guilt…and he knows he is capable of some of the absolute worst, most cruel things, but he’s also not as bad as he thinks he is. Because with all the good things he’s ended up doing in the second life—a life where none of the things he did as Taxian-jun even came to pass—how could he not be a good man?

It’s just fascinating, isn’t it? That Mo Ran is like the sun, and yet inside him is this intense darkness, and it’s like…you could never guess, if you just looked at him. He always seems so radiant and warm and charming and open and kind.

But it’s a testament to his desire to be better and to do better for Chu Wanning. And you guys know I’ve screamed before about Mo-zongshi and how much he grows due to his love for Chu Wanning. How absolutely amazing it is seeing the soul-crushing guilt he feels finally settle in and the realization that the one he has been hurting is someone who has done so much good for him.

And isn’t it even more amazing, that Chu Wanning comes back and thinks, How can someone like this be so good? And at first glance, it feels like Mo Ran is “better” than Chu Wanning, because he’s friendly and shines so brilliantly. But in reality Mo Ran does all this because he wants to be even a quarter of the purity that is Chu Wanning—he wants to emulate those strict, heroic morals so that when he stands by Chu Wanning’s side, he won’t feel nearly as undeserving or dirty.

He wants Chu Wanning to pay attention to him, but also wants to be worthy of Chu Wanning’s attention. And I just think that’s so beautiful. 😭

[straydog733]

Watching Resolution: Turning Red (2022)

11. A children’s film: Turning Red (2022)

List Progress: 5/12

There is not much to say about the 2022 animated film Turning Red that has not already been said by someone. Pundits and conservative groups wrung their hands about how “inappropriate” the film was for making the bold statement that some thirteen year olds menstruate and that’s okay. But discourse aside, most receptive audiences have acknowledged that Turning Red is a very sweet coming of age story with a lot of heart, and a very particular early 2000’s aesthetic perfect for stirring up nostalgia in older audiences. It is not groundbreaking narratively, but it is in how open it is willing to be about difficult teenage topics. “Period” is not a dirty or obscene word, and this movie is one of the few to know that.

Meilin Lee is a Chinese-Canadian girl growing up in Toronto in 2002. Mei strives to honor and respect her traditional Chinese mother, while also finding herself and connecting with her friends at school. All of those things become more difficult when she discovers her mother’s family curse; once the young women come of age, they develop the power to turn into giant red pandas when they feel any strong emotion. Most movies would let this puberty metaphor just be an unspoken metaphor, but Turning Red is not most children’s movies. Mei’s mother Ming mistakes her panic about the panda as Mei starting her period, and she says as much. Ming is emotionally unprepared to talk about the red panda and the family curse, but she is more than ready to supply Mei with pads and herbal tea. But as excitement about a touring boy band grows, Mei cannot keep her transformations under wraps for long and she must face what this all means to her and to her family.

Turning Red is so clearly a work of love by creator Domee Shi (also the creator behind the 2018 short Bao). There is care and detail in every frame of animation and every character beat. There are some details that could have been ironed out in another draft (Mei breaking the fourth wall in the opening and closing is distracting and does not add much). But on the whole, this is a strong and empathetic movie that respects children, teenagers and parents as full people with complex inner lives. Would that more things in this world did.

Would I Recommend It: Emphatically yes.

[arizona-trash-bag]

more unspoiled shi mei meta that no one asked for: I have so many questions about who he is and why he’s shady! I don’t think he’s the big bad (although that would be super cool and novel), but I do think he’s the person who threatens mo ran at the lodge in the guyue’ye auction arc. the water elemental thing can’t have been a coincidence. the way he rubs me the wrong way is very specific - i’ve gotten the same feeling from people i’ve met who I later realized were operating from a trauma response called ‘masking’. if you’ve ever seen an introverted person slap a lively expression on their face and pretend to small talk, that’s what masking is. it’s putting on a palatable face to be accepted and to survive. being a neurodivergent person who also masks but didn’t know what it was at the time, those people just gave me the feeling of something being ‘off’ - like they were too placid, too effusive, too accommodating, to the point of approaching uncanny valley vibes.

that’s the feeling that shi mei gives me, which i think is interesting given his gender (women are much better at masking than men) and his narrative function in the text thus far. something I keep wondering about shi mei is - why? regardless of what his actual role as a potential antagonist(?) is, why does he choose to get his hands dirty? was it even his choice at all, or did he get dragged into something? I can’t see him being a sociopath who fucks with people for fun, that’s not tragic and twisted enough for 2ha. and going back to the masking thing - that is specifically a defensive trauma response, unlike acting which is a performative sign of agency. as a neurodivergent person, i'm very interested in that contrast. it's usually quite clear to me which tactic people are using, but in 2ha there’s a whole bunch of characters who are hiding their true selves and motivations, and quite a few seem to be playing hot potato with the line between masking and acting. which is interesting because it calls into question all sorts of issues of agency, motivation and responsibility, etc. I get the sense in 2ha that very few characters are acting from a place of complete agency. but back to shi mei, in regards to what he's actually up to, i get the sense that he has his own agenda, but he's probably also being controlled by someone (lunatic gege??) and serving their agenda at the same time. wow ok this got hella long and I have a whole treatise on how I view masking, acting and the concept of agency in our society as both a neurodivergent person and a lapsed actor, but i'm pretty sure no one wants to hear that hahaha

ok seriously, shi mei doesn't even do anything but he's hella shady? Everyone who has read/ is reading the book just feels his shady-ness but what is it exactly?! No one knows!

haha yes! sorry shi mei, you have failed the vibe check💁‍♀️ he reminds me of those people irl who smile and smooth over everything, but you never know what they’re really thinking. and narratively, he has no actual reason to merit his share of screen time *unless* he’s secretly shady?? like he never does anything useful except get between mo ran and cwn. when your entire existence is a plot device, that’s a red flag my dude.

[erickmalpicaflores]

Erik Malpica Flores Erik Malpica Flores recommends: What is Coming to Amazon Prime Video in March 2019

Photo: Amazon Prime Video

Several Prime original series are coming to the streaming service in March 2019, including THE WIDOW and HANNA, as well as season 2 of TIN STAR. We’re also going to get a fourth and final season of CATASTROPHE. On the movie front, you can catch classics like DOUBLE JEOPARDY (which I will always watch on TV no matter what) and DEATH AT A FUNERAL.

March 1

A Sky Full of Stars for a Roof (E per tetto un cielo di stelle) (1968)

A Woman Possessed (1958)

Abduction (2017)

Amelia’s 25th (2013)

American Beauty (1999)

Baba Yaga (1973)

Basic Instinct 2 (2006)

Big Night (1996)

Black Cat (Gatto nero) (1981)

Black Sheep (1996)

Boomerang (1992)

Boston Legal, Seasons 1-5

Carpool (1996)

City of the Living Dead (Paura nella città dei morti viventi) (1980)

Death at a Funeral (2007)

Deep Red (Profondo rosso) (1975)

Double Jeopardy (1999)

Dude, Where’s My Dog?! (2014)

Enter the Invincible Hero (Heugpyobigaeg) (1977)

From Beneath (2012)

Jig (2011)

Karl Rove, I Love You (2007)

La clave (2008)

Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (No profanar el sueño de los muertos) (1974)

Little House on the Prairie, Seasons 1-9

Lone and Angry Man (Una bara per lo sceriffo) (1965)

Chinese Hercules (Ma tou da jue dou) (1973)

Major Payne (1995)

A Man Called Blade (Mannaja) (1977)

Mary Loss of Soul (2014)

Murimgori (1982)

Nacho Libre (2006)

Overkill (1987)

P.O.E.: Project of Evil (2012)

Prison Girls (1972)

Rambo III (1988)

Ride Out for Revenge (1957)

Setup (2011)

So Young So Bad (1950)

Still Waiting… (2009)

Tapeheads (1988)

The American (2010)

The Apple (1980)

The Bank Job (2008)

The Chumscrubber (2005)

The Crazies (1973)

The Dead and the Damned (2011)

The Four of the Apocalypse (I quattro dell’apocalisse) (1975)

The Invincible Armour (Ying zhao tie bu shan) (1977)

The Mighty Quinn (1989)

The New York Ripper (Lo squartatore di New York) (1982)

The Practice, Seasons 1-9

UFO (2018)

The Unit, Seasons 1-4

Us and the Game Industry (2014)

Valerie (1957)

Vice Squad (1982)

Waiting… (2005)

The Widow (Prime Original series), Season 1

Woman Avenger (Shi mei chu ma) (1980)

Xue lian huan (1977)

Yin yang xie di zi (1977)

You Did This to Me (2016)

March 8

Costume Quest (Prime Original series), Season 1

I Can Only Imagine (2018)

Tin Star (Prime Original series), Season 2

March 10

March 11

March 12

Acrimony (2018)

Colette (2018)

March 15

Catastrophe (Prime Original series), Season 4

March 16

March 22

Cold War (Prime Original movie) (2018)

Leng zhan (2000)

The Stinky & Dirty Show (Prime Original series), Season 2

March 29

The Domestics (2018)

Hanna (Prime Original series), Season 1

American Renegades (2017)

March 30

March TBD

Made in Heaven (Prime Original series), Season 1

View Source

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[translations-by-aiimee]

The Husky and His White Cat Shizun - Chapter 14

Original Title:  二哈和他的白猫师尊

Genres: Drama, Romance, Tragedy, Xianxia, Yaoi

This translation is based on multiple MTLs and my own limited knowledge of Chinese characters. If I have made any egregious mistakes, please let me know.

Chapter Index

Chapter 14 - This Venerable One is Married

The red veil was thin and hung in front of his eyes. Although he could still see things, he couldn't see them clearly. Chu Wanning had sullen eyebrows and a calm face and was brought to the flower hall by the ghost bridesmaid.

Looking up through the soft red, seeing the person standing there, the temperature of Chu Wanning's whole body suddenly dropped several degrees.

Mo Ran was also dumbfounded.

No. . . shouldn't it be Shi Mei who came out?

The "bride" in front of him had bright red makeup and his face is covered by tulle. Although his facial features were slightly blurred under the veil, it was still Chu Wanning's handsome and murderous face, just staring at him, his eyes filled with the intent to kill.

Mo Ran: ". . ."

He was at a loss at first, and then his expression gradually became extremely complicated. After all kinds of emotions cycled on his face, a strange silence settled between them. Chu Wanning looked at the other, the atmosphere becoming extremely embarrassing.

It happened that the golden boy and girl behind the two chuckled. They clapped their hands and began to sing.

"The water of the White Emperor, the waves are clear; the ghost mandarin ducks are greeted with flowers.

In the coffin, they lie in the same cave; before life, the intention is clear after death.

From now on, they will be together in the underworld, and the lonely souls will never leave each other."

The lyrics were eerie, but they were also full of lingering feelings.

If he could speak, there was only one word Mo Ran wanted to say.

--"Gross."

But he couldn't speak.

There is a pair of paper mâché men and women in front of the stage. Although they had no faces, they were dressed richly and gorgeously. They were slightly loose and bloated. It is supposed to refer to a person who has reached middle age in the main hall.

The official of the ceremony began to sing with a sloppy tone: "The bride is charming and shy, with low eyebrows and soft eyes, a red veil covering her face and delicate smile. Please come and let the groom lift the veil."

". . ." Mo Ran was originally very reluctant, but when he heard this, he went crazy holding back his laughter.

Hahahaha, the bride is charming and shy, ahahahahaha!

Chu Wanning's face was blue, and he closed his eyes while holding back his anger, as if this would make him deaf even with his ears.

The ghost bridesmaid laughed and handed Mo Ran a folding fan. "Fan" and "good" are pronounced the same, which means that the marriage is a good fate.

"Would the groom please lift the cover?"

Mo Ran held back his laughter, but he submitted. He held the fan handle to lift the light veil in front of Chu Wanning's eyes. His eyelashes smiled cheekily, going to look at Chu Wanning's expressive face.

As if feeling the sneering gaze of the other party, Chu Wanning, who had endured it for a while, did not hold back. He opened his eyes abruptly, a pair of eyes flashing with lightning, full of a sword-drawn, murderous aura.

His red gaze seemed to match his fiery red clothes. Although the intensity didn't lessen, the reddish ends of the eyes caused by anger and grievance had a unique romantic style.

Mo Ran looking at these eyes, unconsciously startled, and his smile instantly froze. The shizun in front of him was suddenly so similar to the one in his previous life that he almost forgot what day it was.

Even though it was only for a moment, it was enough to make Mo Ran break out in a cold sweat.

He had once done three vicious things to Chu Wanning:

Firstly, kill him. That is, make a fatal move against Chu Wanning.

Secondly, humiliating him, forcing Chu Wanning to have sex with him.

Thirdly. . .

Thirdly, it was the most painful thing he did in his previous life, and it was also the thing he regretted the most.

Of course, the emperor of the human realm wouldn't admit that he regretted something he had done, but he couldn't escape the internal suffering it brought in the end.

Damn it. Why did he think of that crazy past again and think of Chu Wanning from back then?

Mo Ran shook his head, biting his lip, trying to shake off that memory of Chu Wanning's face and re-assessing the person in front of him.

Chu Wanning has been staring at him with eyes that screamed "I'll kill you". Mo Ran didn't want to provoke this prick, so he had to pretend to play innocent with a helpless smile.

The official said: "Bride and bridegroom, perform the Rite of Washing."

The so-called "Rite of Washing" is that the newlyweds should dust and clean themselves before wiping and washing each other's hands.

The ghost bridegroom brought a porcelain jug filled with clean water and lifted the jug to ask the two of them to wash their hands. The washing water was followed by a basin underneath.

Chu Wanning's face was full of disgust, but he had to wash the other party after washing himself. Because Mo Ran was a little distracted, he looked quite restrained, silently washing his hands for Chu Wanning. Chu Wanning didn't have a good temper. He splashed Mo Ran with the whole pot and soaked half of his sleeves.

". . ."

Mo Ran stared at the wet half of his sleeves for a while. He didn't know where to look, but there was no expression on his face, only some subtle lustre flowing deep in those dark eyes.

He thought in a daze.

Chu Wanning hasn't changed, has never changed.

What he does, what he thinks, in his past life and in his present life, he was exactly the same, not changing a bit. . .

He slowly raised his head. For just a moment, he felt that he was standing on Life-Death Peak, standing in front of the Wushan Temple. Chu Wanning walked towards him from the bottom of the stretch of imperial steps, and the next moment he would kneel down on him in front of him. The noble head would fall to the ground, and his straight spine will be bent and humiliated. Chu Wanning would lie down in front of him and couldn't afford to worship.

"The Rite of Washing is complete."

The ghost bridesmaid suddenly sang a long song, snapping Mo Ran out of his thoughts.

He regained his senses abruptly and met Chu Wanning's eyes. The dark pupils gleamed with cold light, like a sabre covered with snow, which was truly frightening.

Mo Ran: ". . ."

...Uh, his previous life was his previous life after all. Thinking about Chu Wanning kneeling down to him was enough for this life. The price he would have to pay to make it happen was too great. . .

After the Rite of Washing ceremony, there is the Rite of Togetherness, and then the Rite of Drinking from Nuptial Cups.

The ghost bridesmaid sang slowly: "The couple will drink one cup of wine together, and from now on, in this world, they will never be separated."

The cups were crossed and then they worshipped the heavens together.

Chu Wanning seemed really close to going crazy. His slightly upturned slender phoenix eyes narrowed dangerously. After Mo Ran left, he would probably pound the Master of Ceremonies Ghost into the mud.

But he really couldn't look at Chu Wanning when he was like this.

Even if he took another look, he could fall back into those messy and dirty memories, and he wouldn't be able to drag himself back out.

"The first bow—— kneel to the heavens——"

He thought that even if this was all improved, Chu Wanning was too arrogant and stubborn to kneel, but he did not expect that he would need to in order to complete this set of steps. He twitched his eyebrows and closed his eyes, but he still knelt down, and the two of them bowed together.

"The second bow—— kneel to the family——"

Come on, just kneel towards those two faceless paper men, they can also be called the family.

"The third bow - kneel - to each other -"

Chu Wanning's eyes were half-lidded. Without even looking at Mo Ran, he turned around, taking a gulp and rapidly knelt down, clenching his teeth together.

Unexpectedly, the two were really out of sync. They got too close and banged their heads together.

Chu Wanning sucked in a breath of pain, clutching his forehead. He raised his moist eyes and staring fiercely at Mo Weiyu who also rubbed his forehead.

". . ." Mo Ran felt he had to say: "I'm sorry."

Chu Wanning didn't say anything. He grimaced and rolled his eyes.

Then there was the Rite of Binding Hair. The official sang: "Binding hair as husband and wife, the love between them is clear." The ghost bridesmaid handed over the golden scissors and Mo Ran couldn't help but shrink back, lest Chu Wanning be displeased and stab himself to death. Chu Wanning seemed to have this intention, but in the end, he only cut of a piece of each other's hair. He put them into the pouch presented by the golden boy and girl and they were put away by the "bride" Chu Wanning.

Mo Ran was tempted to ask him, you won't use my hair to curse me in a rage, take out the villain, right?

The tribute officer sang: "The Rite - is complete -"

Both were relieved and got up from the ground. Unexpectedly, the official yelled leisurely at the next moment:

"The time has come to send the bride to the bridal chamber——"

What. The. Hell!!!

Mo Ran froze instantly.

A mouthful of old blood almost spewed out!

What a joke. If he dared to sleep with Chu Wanning, this wedding was going to be a real fucking marriage! If he should die beneath a peony flower*, he would still be charming as a ghost. . . No, the person he wanted in his two lifetimes was the untainted Shi Mei, not this cold-blooded devil Chu Waning who would tie up anyone who coveted him and throw them into the mud pond to humiliate them!!

(T/N: peony flower is a metaphor for a beautiful woman)

Is it too late to run away from the marriage?

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

[unforth]

Chapter 35!

Mo Ran cares for Shi Mei less and less...I wonder if things happened this way the first time, and if so, what Shi Mei's countermove was/will be. (dying? Is it "dying" to ensure hatred? That'd certainly fit what I know so far...don't actually answer...)

...I'm assuming this highly suggestive overheard conversation between Xue Meng and Chu Wanning must be wound treatment or something...I don't know when CWN got hurt (again) but not much else makes sense?

Ah his old ones weren't healed three months later. Oof. But, nailed it. (Unlike Xue Meng...or Mo Ran, at least in this timeline...)

Did Mo Ran seriously just think that Shi Mei was so pure and perfect that he "didn't dare" think dirty thoughts? HE'S SUCH AN IDIOT Ml Ran YOU'RE NOT ATTRACTED TO SHI MEI.

Ffs. How is he this dumb? Howwwww? (I know. I know. Sigh.)

"Mo Ran was scared stiff" translator might have wanted to rethink that word choice 🤣

I repeat, Mo Ran didn't even look at Shi Mei when he had the chance, but he's starved for the least glimpse of Chu Wanning. That sound is me hitting my head against a wall.

(Also check "naked hot springs shenanigans" off the trope bingo)

"He truly hated Chu Wanning" just keep telling yourself that...though I also notice, he hasn't reminded himself of that in several chapters now...

Afdjcbcc of course they fall together. Of fricken course they do. *facepalm*

Chapter 36

Erection ahoy (no not election fuck you autocorrect). This whole scene would be hilarious in a donghua...it's impossible in live action, sigh...

I find this exchange about what to pick especially funny since presumably the word they use for "whatever" is suibian...

Honestly I'm kinda ready to kill Shi Mei myself...

Also I'm disappointed that apparently after we were given so much indication of how the thin the inn walls were, no one heard Mo Ran moan Wanning as he came...

(Oh hey it's wrap Shizun in blankets and cuddle him until he stops feeling worthless hour again!)

I wonder how many random sexual encounters these two can pretend never happened (I'm guessing a ridiculous number).

"If you won't wear it you can climb up naked." 🤣🤣🤣

...poor lonely TXJ, sigh...poor lonely CWN, sigh...

...alright...alright, Imma do it, I'm gonna start 2ha.

I was originally gonna liveblog privately to @thegreymoon but since I found out @jupiterjames is interested too I'll do it publicly but try not to do too too many posts (maybe on a chapter that I update as I go?)

BLACKLIST TAG "2HA LIVEBLOG" TO IGNORE THIS AND/OR AVOID SPOILERS.

...here goes...