#and 'worse' just sums up that second scene especially

[qilingxiong]

[anadiasmount]

promise - trent alexander arnold x reader.

quick sum: based on these two requests! best friends should always remain best friends. what happens when one has enough of the back and forth and begins to move on?

wc: 3k | masterlist | trent's masterlist

psa 🗣️: hi !! second trent fic as highly requested!! feel very proud of this one so i hope you enjoy!! did use promise by romeo santos ft usher bc i felt like it fit the plot 🤭🤍

trent watched from across the room, sipping on his whiskey observing the way you laugh and smiled at the stranger he didn’t know. he cleared his throat and scratched the his nose in annoyance as he watched you share a kiss, resting your forehead on his.

he felt a pan of jealousy override him, the feeling in his chest felt harsh and fire like seeing you with another man. everyone had their eyes on you, including the girl who sat in front of trent. you worse a sexy red dress, calling attention even from him.

how was it even possible for the two of you to be at the same place, at the same time? was it fate?

"you seem distracted. are you okay?" asked the woman in front of trent, he looked over at her giving her a fake smile, and nodded. "i'm okay, are you enjoying the food?" he asked cautiously, not wanting to make things more awkward than they already were.

he listened to what she said but his eyes kept going back to you and him. trent hated him, even without knowing him, he was angry because he got to do all the stuff that trent wished to do. he hid the bubble of frustration and anger, drowning the urge to go over and question you.

he knew it was partially his fault for letting you go, and that disappointed him even more. he pushed you away, lacked communication, and had commitment issues, when he promised so much. you deserved better and that was trent's only thought about when you were together.

you needed a man who'd be with you always and gave you love and support. trent was the opposite, always away for games, training, shoots, and interviews, he felt like he barely saw you towards the end of the day. trent felt like the relationship was one-sided to him, and he felt it was about him when with you.

even though there was no label, the feelings were clear. he loved you, and you loved him. he knew he loved you the first time he laid eyes on you, watching how you nervously struggled to say words but overall how dedicated, strong, and loving you were. you were a speaker and listener, which he admired.

you worked with kids a lot, earning your degree in education and speech development for kids. you were more than ready to settle down, but the hesitance within trent made him fear if he was truly "ready for more".

trent remembers the good and hard days, when you cuddled into his embrace and stroked his skin softly, pressing kisses all over his face, making dinner and cookies, watching re-runs of gossip girl, when trent felt most safe when he held you as you slept or said nothing and just stared into each other's eyes.

the bad days especially after a tough match, or he just didn't know how to handle things. where he didn't even spare a glance or word at you, leaving you hurt and confused. ignoring your calls or messages. shrugging your touches and words of comfort. not only did it sting you but also him.

trent quickly paid for dinner, grabbed the girls hand, and approached your table, where you sat with your legs crossed and sipped on your wine. you took a double take when you saw the familiar body approach you, feeling your skin heat up with nerves as you saw his dismounted look. 

you sat up straighter, giving fabian a nervous smile before speaking up. "trent, hi," you say very monotonely, glancing at the girl who matched almost similar to trent with a grey dress. "what are you doing, y/n?" he taunted, ticking his head to the side referring to fabian. you shook your head pleading to not start a scene. 

"fabian meet trent," you introduced stuttering standing up and him following your movements. the girl gave you a nasty look, wrapping her hand around trent's bicep in a protective manner, making your heart twinge with pain. "he's my-" you start.

"boyfriend. i'm her boyfriend." fabian cuts you off, coping trent's facial features in amusement, maybe even bewilderment. 

"uh..." you swift your head quickly, stunned and surprised by his words. you weren't anyone's girlfriend, so it confused you why he'd say that to trent. trent's brows perked up offering an enraged smile and licked his lips. "boyfriend huh? how come i didn't know this y/n?" trent asked, releasing his arm from her and crossing them across his chest. 

"trent, please not right now..." you begged, wishing you could've ignored him and pretended to be strangers again. trent easily got jealous, and you noticed it right away when you saw the irritation behind his brown eyes, jaw clenched and muscles tense. "just asking a question, y/n," trent shrugged, pursing his lips upside down nonchalantly. 

"outside, now," you said dragging him out before trent could continue his games any longer, and muttering a quick 'excuse me' to fabian who sat down. you felt deceived and overall embarrassed at his actions. who was he to demand questions when he threw all of it away? get jealous and angry when he wasn't even yours? 

"what do you think you're doing?" 

"i don't get it. you say we're done, but here you are moved on y/n?" trent spits out. "is that why initiated us to end? because you felt the need to be away and search for other options?" he continued stepping closer to you. you scoffed and bursted out laughing. 

"oh please! you can't be serious when you gave me the reason all along! you acted like a lost puppy and treated me like i was nothing. i tried, gave you my all, tried to support and be there for you and when i begged you for an ounce of attention you pulled away trent! im done with you, and us," you state feeling the knot in your throat build up as you spoke. 

you try to walk away but he wraps his hand around your elbow pulling you to him. "i'm not done." you try to push him away but he refuses, bringing his hand to the back of your head and hugging your waist, your struggles coming to an end when you smell the familiar cologne and sense of home in his embrace. “i’m done with playing games y/n… i swear this time.” 

“this time? or until you realize you're still afraid of commitment? i need a man trent, not a boy who will leave me when he pleases or gets scared. you proved to me who you were, and i don't want to tangle myself into that mess again…” you whisper, tears running down your cheeks as trent places small kisses on your head and below your ear. 

the words let out your mouth hurt trent, feeling his insides turn and anger disappear. all he wanted to do know was never let you go, beg onto his knees if that was what it took to plead and get you back. he’d do anything. 

your body felt tense and cold, wanting to be miles away from him, because you knew with trent you faced the reality of always wanting to come back. it wasn’t healthy, you gave him your all for him to push you away. “let go t…” 

“i can’t not now, or ever. please i’ll do anything…” 

“it’s too late, i need to move on from you or else i’m just bound to end up in the same cycle of getting hurt everytime i’m with you. It’s not fair… also what are you proving to me right now, hmm? that girl inside? who else is gonna come between us now? i can’t trust myself around you…” you let out, gripping his biceps and feeling the cool air between the space of both you as you pulled back. 

you sniffled and wiped your tears away, hands smoothing the dress and tucking you hair into place as the wind had blew. trent itched to pull you closer but he saw the mess he created in front of him. why every time he pulled back was because of this, afraid of hurting you. you were right, maybe it was too late. “i’m sorry trent, but i deserve to be happy after i moved heaven and hell with you…” 

“i want to be selfish y/n… it's taking everything inside me to drag you away and prove to you i have changed… that i won't walk away from you or us… i’ll say it now and repeat as long as it will take for you to be with me. i love you… i love so fucking much y/n,” he felt relief after holding in the words that tortured him every day since he left you. 

he loved you endlessly. the way your eyes shimmered when you laughed or smiled. held his hand and drew shapes to get rid of the nerves. he loved the charisma and energy you carried to be a new and stronger person everyday. he loved you because at the end of the day, you were his best friend and understood him like no one else did.

you scoffed out a laugh in disbelief, yet felt the hope and rushed feelings return when you locked eyes with him. “love? you don’t what that is. the love you claim to have left when i walked away,” you say with no remore, walking back into the restuarant before trent stops you again.

"y/n please. i'm being serious, just hear me out."

"so am i trent. when i say i'm done, i'm done. this isn't going to help, if you say you're a changed man then prove that to me. but right now you're the same trent i met and left me alone constantly," you felt your heart dragged out and painted along the sidewalk.

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

you bit your lip in worry and desperation as you saw another bouquet of flowers and a small card on your desk, knowing exactly who they belonged to. you sighed and opened the card, reading it word for word before tucking into your desk drawer along with the others.

"red tulips symbolizes love and lust. i love you forever y/n." - trent

he'd sent a boquest of flowers each friday, everytime expalining their meaning and cofessing his love for you over and over again. not only that but he'd send small gifts to your flat, going from food, books, jewelry, or small frames that spoke to you. you had filled your rooms with all of them, not wanting to throw them away.

you shouldn't have kept the gifts, discarding them the chance you received them. but something inside always felt an attachment to him. unable to look away or smile when you saw a small box filled with goodies. it wasn't right especially when fabian was still in the picture.

"another bouquet?" asks your coworker, looking at them from your doorway. "erm yeah," you stutter, "seems like he wants to prove a point y/n... cause it's not only flowers he's sending also small gifts," she points out. "real question is, who are you going to pick at the end of the day..."

"i don't know," you say sitting on the chair leaning back and feeling frustration building in your head. you take a sip of water, trying to ooze the nerves and listen to your coworker. "go with the one that at the end of the day will cherish and honor you forever. the one who'd do anything and everything to be aside with you. because that's a good man."

you thought about what she said all day. her words taunting and making you shiver every time you thought of it. it followed you all the way home to your flat where you looked around and saw all of trent's gifts. you chuckle disgruntled, and remove your coat, getting ready for your date with fabian.

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

"this isn't working for me y/n," fabian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and clearing his throat. "i'm getting the sense either you're not ready or you're still stuck on someone from the past... and i need to know because i can't wait any longer," fabian laid the truth on the table.

words struggled to come out of your mouth, feeling defeated and overall disappointed. but fabian was right about something, struggling to move on from trent. he was all you thought about since that night at the restaurant. his pained look with tearful eyes. the way he held you along his chest begging you.

"is there someone in the past you haven't moved on from?" he asked carefully, leaning forward to where you felt your heart pump out your chest. how could you answer that without hurting him? he deserved better and here you were ruining that for him, after all along he treated you like a queen.

"fabian," you croaked giving him a small smile. that alone said enough for him, shaking his head while he tried to get rid of the wave of sadness. "you changed after that night. i don't know what he said to change your mind but if that's how you want to live your life, go for it. i'm not stopping you."

"you don't understand-"

"i don't understand? please let's be civil now y/n. you told me all this shit about him and here you are doing the same to me? you told me i made you happy, that you liked where we were headed. suddenly you're back to your old self who couldn't get over him," fabian expressed angrily and obviously hurt.

your stomach turned, reaching your hand out just for him to pull away. it felt unbearable, the misery and pain of once again losing someone in your life. the bile in your veins filled with venom, how many more would it take till you finally had your happy ever after?

"i thought you were it for me, but now i want nothing to do with you."

fabian got up from the table leaving with stained tears and embarrassment, people looking over and seeing you. you felt like you deserved it, after all you were the reason he was leaving you. with shaky hands and a heavy heart filled with sorrow, you paid and left to the only place you could think of.

"i hate you," you yelled once trent revealed the door. "i hate you so much trent," you cried out gasping for air throwing your clutch onto his sofa and facing him. "when there's finally something good in my life you go and ruin it!"

"y/n breathe... i don't understand-"

"i can't stop thinking of you or what you've said. and for that reason, i lost a man who truly deserved my time and love. i can't have or think of anyone because you're always in my head trent. i just need sanity and peace," you point to your heart, vision blurry as you feel him hold your arms.

"i feel trapped trent, under these stupid feelings i have for you. all of your flowers and gifts, messages and voicemails you leave? it drives me insane," you said sniffling as sinking further into his embrace once again. "fabian is done with me, all because i turned out to be the person who hurt me the most..."

"i didn't deserve to go through all of that. the way you treated me or never communicated what you felt? wishing an longing for your love and affection when i most needed it. even after supporting you through your tough times, promising to be with you forever? i hate it all..."

you struggle out a painful laugh, "i mean look where i am now, back into the place where all this mess started..."

trent had to hide the excitement and contentment he felt upon hearing you and fabian were done. all that mattered now was you were finally here with him, after proving to you, he was in it for all. if proving every day how much he loved and missed you took to get you back, he'd do it forever.

"no you're back home where you belong," trent corrected you, grabbing your face and frowning at your state. you looked completely hopeless and rained with energy, eyes low, and puffy lips from crying. "you're back with me. i meant what i said y/n, i'm proving to you that i want to be here for you..."

"i wake up every day hoping you text me or leave me those silly note drawings. i love you so much it hurts to see you like this because of me. i was an asshole to you then but i promise y/n, i will give you my all if that's what it takes to get to spend the rest of my life with you."

"to hear about how the kids were in your classes and what they did. to eat those amazing cinnamon cookies, to hear your laugh, to see your eyes widen when they bore into mine when we cuddle in the same bed. to be able to wake up next to you..."

"it hurts me too y/n. to see you don't love or even acknowledge what i'll do for you..." trent clamors out, still holding your face as his thumb brushes away the new fresh of tear the slid down your cheek. "i love you so much, im afraid it's too late for us and tomorrow you'll be gone."

a moment of silence passes between the two of you, hearing your ragged breaths and sniffles as you both take in the situation and what was occurring. heart beating out of each other's chest, and pulse-raising a mile high.

"it's not late..." you say with no reluctance, despite what happened trent did prove himself how much loves you. fabian couldn't ever see or read that from you, having to either ignore the signs or ask. trent knew you better than anyone else, and he knew right there and then, that hope still laid on the table. "say it... i need to hear you say it."

"its not late because i love you too trent... i think i always have and always will... i couldn't stand the fact you were with someone who wasn't me. so much needs to be changed and heard trent. i refuse for you to say all this and then go back to square one," you clarify, a sense of warmth towering over you as he smiled down at you.

"just promise me one thing hmm? that you won't give up so easily or walk away like i did. we will talk it out and solve it because i can't go through another span where you're not next to me here," trent says, tracing your lips with his thumb. "i promise trent..." you swore desperately nodding at his words.

trent closes the space, lips molding with yours as he takes a breath finally being able to kiss you. he wastes no time and pushes his tongue through your lips able to taste your sweet fondness. hands holding you tight as you completely let yourself be unrestrained and into the way he kissed you.

"i promise you y/n, this isn't bullshit. what we have is special, and i'll make sure you see that..."

[cto10121]

Midnight Sun Part 2!!! Possibly my favorite section; I could not put it down, especially the rescue part. I did have Des Notes, though:

“It wasn’t really a difficult ask.” Nope, no way a vampire from 1901 would say this 2020s slang in 2006. Don’t slip up, Meyer!!! Or get better editors!!!

Alice introducing herself to Edward by hugging him and calling him brother and Edward going like “Yep, legit” will never not be great

Edward lying in bed and nearly giving Bella a heart attack with his sluttishness is almost worse in his POV, omg. How the fuck does that happen

Edward reading Tooth and Claw just because Bella recommended it. Remind me again why some people don’t like Edward?

Wait—Edward describes Bella’s scent as “lavender�� or “freesia.” One of Bella’s favorite scents is lavender, as well as clean laundry. And she blushed when she looked at Edward, clearly thinking about his scent. Could Edward’s scent actually…be similar to Bella’s? Is that why her scent affects him so powerfully? Holy shit.

Edward “It was enlightening and alluring to watch her in her element” (Bella *eating Cheerios*) 🤝 Romeo “See how she leans her cheek upon her hand” (Juliet: *leaning her cheek on her hand*)

“Bella had gone to the other room to calm her mother. And then the vision had overtaken Alice.” Nice way to cover up that little plot hole, very enterprising

“The image of myself astride the sleek black motorcycle was so appealing that for a second I ignored her” 🤣🤣🤣🤣 🤣🤣🤣🤣 It’s giving Terminator. Love it. Also, what a great parallel to Bella’s motorcycle adventures

Very ambivalent about the highway scene. Otoh, it’s interesting and clever and detailed how the Cullens worked together. Otoh, it’s over the top at places! Like why did they flip the car into upcoming traffic????? Why did they even have to switch cars to begin with????? Meyer really should avoid full-length action scenes (I did like the Victoria fight in Eclipse, though)

Ngl, the James hunt is probably better than in Twilight, if just because Edward is at the front of the action. Still amazing how James slipped away from them

“Bella’s blood was the opposite of pain. It erased every burn I’d ever suffered. And it was so much more than just the absence of pain. It was satisfaction, it was bliss. I felt suffused with a strange kind of joy—a joy of the body alone. I was healed and alive, every nerve ending thrumming with contentment.” The Metaphor(tm) has now become literal.

Book Edward *drinking Bella’s blood*: ✨Bliss ✨🥰 >>>>>> Movie Edward: *gnaws on Bella’s arm like a chicken wing*

“The chuckle that bubbled up from my chest surprised me. I had her blood on her tongue. It was probably tinting the edges of my irises red even now. It was drying into my clothes and dyeing my skin. But she could still make me laugh”

Jasper looks so dangerous to other vampires that James just…accepts his fate. Like welp, guess I’ll die. Iconic

“Why am I towing that ridiculous truck?” Okay, the Cullens hating Bella’s truck is officially a gag.

“For a moment, I imagined Renée as a vampire. Would her thoughts shout audibly at everyone, inescapable?” Nice foreshadowing/Easter egg for Renesmee. So there is a meaning and rationale behind the name other than Bella’s corniness.

That section where Edward watches James’ video and is so overcome with rage and despair and then starts to pray for the strength to leave Bella…that passage was so well-written I was nearly crying

Re: Edward’s decision to leave Bella, It is genius on Meyer’s part (or, well, just practical) to make the obstacles internal instead of external. Edward needs to deal with the consequences of leaving Bella and learn from his mistakes

Finished and in sum: This was great and only gets better in the re-reading. There is a lot of whinging and whining over certain aspects, mostly by anti fans, but those didn’t really bother me. Most lines were taken out of context, as they always do, and spun into something questionable; in context they were fine. Then there are those who say it is better and better-written than Twilight, but I disagree. Twilight was much better structured and less superfluous in detail than Midnight Sun, which could get bogged down in minute-to-minute summary. That said, Midnight Sun does have the advantage that all the dynamic change and development are on Edward’s side than Bella’s, as in a proper Beauty and the Beast telling. But Bella’s story does have power and is arguably more subversive than Edward’s. I think the two complement ultimately each other—the subtext of Twilight is the text of Midnight Sun, and vice versa. Reading both gets you a more complete picture…which the TV show would undoubtedly fuck up in some way if they decide to use parts of Midnight Sun. Le sigh.

[number-1-kuaidul-fanboy]

Episode 90 of Go Rush is the most painful Yugioh episode to me

This episode has put me in a state of grief and shock, similar to what I felt after my cat died, for days, to the point where I'm still recovering from the after effects as I write this. I'm gonna do my best to judge this episode fairly, and critique it for what it is, not what I may have personally wanted it to be. To be clear, I think this is a good episode. Maybe even a great one. I do have some genuine critiques (mainly with the dialogue so I admit it could partially be a language/culture barrier issue) but overall, it is a well put together episode and duelling wise especially, a fantastic arc finale to my favourite story arc of season 2. It just... came out Christmas Eve, a hard time of the year for me for personal reasons, and did something that was always going to destroy me personally. But, anyways, enough beating around the bush. I have a ton of thoughts on this episode that I really need to put in one place.

Spoilers below of course.

Like I said, the duelling action in this episode is amazing, one of my personal favourite duels in Bridge Era Yugioh. Honestly maybe someday when GR is fully released, I will declare it my favourite. I need more time with it to know for sure. Kuaidul is so at the top of his game with his perfected deck that Yudias had to steal Kuaidul's ultimate monster in order to fight back at all and even then, Kauidul was still able to defend himself and potentially make a comeback. He's a skilled duelist and a great villain and that's on full display this episode.

The only problem I have with this episode's first half is the opening theme playing over part of an episode once again. They did this at the end of Galaxy Cup and it felt ill-fitting there too but this episode felt even more forced as that song being played during a "triumphant victory" right before the turn this episode took was really distracting. The tonal whiplash honestly kind of disgusted me. The song is great, but you don't have to play it in the middle of the episode just because it's an arc finale, guys. If it doesn't fit, then it doesn't fit. Don't force it.

Other than that blunder though, the first half or so of this episode is high quality standard fun so had I not known better and seen the clips and screenshots before watching the entire thing subbed, I never would've expected the episode to go full on depressing. Yeah, Kuaidul was mentioned to be dying in the previous episode but Yugioh hardly ever permanently kills characters and every other Go Rush villain was allowed to live.

Surely, I don't need to lose sleep over this. Surely they won't kill him on Christmas Eve when he's only existed as a character for like four months and has so much more to give us. Surely Kuaidul will be okay-

.....oh

....Yeah, for me, I don't think there's a worse feeling than anxiously dreading something will happen but trying to insist it won't happen and you're just having anxiety only to have your anxiety proven right... This was the perfect storm of despair to completely destroy me and me personally since Kuaidul is a personal comfort character, saved the second season for me after it went to shit, and my favourite in Go Rush so understand that that is what my bias is when discussing this episode.

I've already made a whole post defending the scene where Kuaidul forcefully tries to fuse with Yudias. To sum it up, it was a life or death situation and Kuaidul was acting out of fear/self-preservation, Yudias was willing (though yes he did leave this unvoiced at first), and Kuaidul did let go of the fusion and accept his impending death because the fusion would, to some degree, hurt Yudias. I wish the reason and extent to how much it would hurt Yudias was more clearly explained. Maybe some line about how Kuaidul's decaying form (or the thing that gave his body form) will start to make Yudias decay as well would've helped because personally, I found the explanation the episde gave to be vague and confusing. Yugioh has confusing logic at times but I've never questioned the logic behind sacrifices like these. Antinomy and Ai's motivations and reasons for sacrificing themselves both made sense and I never questioned why they did what they did. Kuaidul meanwhile, I don't fully understand why he HAD to die. The fusion would've hurt Yudias, yes, but how drastically? Would it have eventually killed him or just hurt a lot? What would this "fusion" even have entailed? This episode vaguely implied Kuaidul was straight up trying to possess him but it never quite fully said that? For all we know, he would've ended up a harmless spirit vibing in Yudias's subconscious like Yubel or Astral were because fusions like this are just not explained in Go Rush's universe. Yeah, yeah, "show don't tell" but the visuals didn't give a concrete answer either, at least not to me. It felt weirdly vague and confusing.

Also, side note, I won't dwell on this too much because someone has already posted about it but this:

This is messed up in a way that I don't think Go Rush, which is aimed at a younger audience, is equipped to handle and should not be Yudias's reasoning. "If it will save you from death" was enough of a reason. That captures Yudias's astonishing compassion and selflessness perfectly and is far more subtle and emotionally resonant. I hate the implications of this line and it genuinely made me extremely uncomfortable when I saw it.

Anyways, the sacrifice. Despite all the under explaining, I obviously still felt the weight of Kuaidul's sacrifice and emotionally, I understand it even I find myself questioning the semantics more than I normally would with scenes like these. I do think if we knew the extent to how much Kuaidul was willing to hurt Yudias in his moment of impulsive fear, then him deciding not to go through with it would have added even more to his character. Still, I think the fact that he was willing to let go and accept his death makes him a better character. I think that was the only way that forced fusion scene could have been salvaged. Because, yes, if the episode had ended with Kuaidul forcing Yudias to fuse, sticking with it, and essentially getting away with it, this episode would be worse. I... would probably still like Kuaidul but I would definitely feel uncomfortable to some degree. However, I personally am able to fully forgive him because I understand that it was an act of impulse by a dying man that, after thinking about, he did decide on his own not to go through with. The scene played out perfectly for what they were going for. They went a direction I wasn't expecting but the direction made sense (despite being under-explained to me) and was emotionally effective.

Speaking of emotionally effective...

Okay, I won't lie. The first time I saw this scene (purely through screenshots), I was actually pissed. It immediately brought to mind Akiza being forced to forgive her abusive father and I felt like they were not just pulling that crap again but having it be the final note an immensely important comfort character of mine went out on.

....but I was already a crying mess when I saw this and now that I've regained somewhat of a clear mind and seen the full episode, my opinion has changed completely. The Creator is NOT on the same level of Akiza's father, not in the slightest. I still firmly view him and Kuaidul as a father/son relationship since the Creator... ya know, literally created him and Kuaidul craving his validation very much came across to me as a neglected child craving their parent's attention/approval. That's not explicitly spelled out by the show but keep in mind this is how I view it. From what we saw, Kuaidul had valid reasons to feel neglected, most notably episode 77 where the Creator left Kuaidul behind despite his cries. However, upon actually seeing the hug scene in motion, I realised that Kuaidul wasn't the one who initiated the hug. The Creator was:

And to me, that makes all the difference. He's offering a hug, a symbol of forgiveness and acceptance, which Kuaidul accepted instantly, with no pressure from anyone which was my main problem with Akiza's situation, because validation from the Creator was all he really wanted this whole time. That's actually quite cohesive and I'm glad Kuaidul's motivation wasn't forgotten or changed. Do I still think Kuaidul deserved more? Oh, absolutely. The Creator should've apologised verbally in some way. Maybe Kuaidul didn't need him to but I the viewer did dammit. At least if this is both their final appearances and isn't leading into something down the line (the Creator could just use him again, or it could be revealed to be a hallucination fuck-). Whatever, this hug was enough for Kuaidul and at the time of writing this, the scene is their final scene in the show and if this is truly where it ends for them, then I'm glad that despite dying, Kuaidul got exactly what he truly wanted all along.

I could nitpick it and the entire show's implications about the Creator into oblivion if I really wanted to but... I don't. My favourite character had a cohesive sympathetic narrative with a payoff, which is more than I've gotten from some other Yugioh series. For what it is, I like it and it resonated with me emotionally, which is the goal of fiction.

In fact, that's my take on the entire episode: it's not exactly what I would've expected or wanted but I like it overall for what it is. The reason I resent this episode so much is almost purely personal and not reflective of the episode's quality. I have issues with the episode, as I mentioned, but it's a good episode overall. The script just needed some tweaks.

It's a good thing Konami and Entame are taking a break after this episode. They deserve it, first and foremost, and I don't know if I'll be able to return to Go Rush even after their breaks end. I want to know what happens next but it'll be... hard after being hit with something this upsetting so suddenly during an already rough time of the year for me.

I want to return someday, but not if any part of me is still instinctively hopelessly crying out for Kuaidul's return only to be disappointed.

[thechaseofspades]

3, 13, 27

3: Describe the creative process of writing a chapter/fic

I tend to challenge myself with different concepts and styles with each project so it's hard to sum it up universally. I will say that I do loose outlines, so I always have an idea of where the characters are gonna go in the story. I'll split my stories into scenes or scene concepts, and have those as placeholder chapters for the time being. Once I actually write those scenes, the ongoing word count pretty much dictates whether or not I cut it off and start a new chapter. "Lena's Groundhog Day", for example, averages about 4500 words per chapter, and "Quack to the Future" hangs out in the 3-5k range. Basically, if a scene filled up a decent amount of space, then I call it a chapter and move right along. I won't, however, chop a scene up or bloat it to fit a certain runtime, hence the range.

Usually the story will start as a basic idea ("what if X but ducks"; "let's do a sequel to that one fic"; "I want to write Gosalyn"). I'll usually come up with a first chapter just to set the stage and see where we're at, and then bounce the idea around in my head for a while. I'll think it over on walks, I'll listen to music and imagine the characters, stuff like that. By the time I'm ready to write, I've usually settled on an ending scene, and come up with a couple other beats I want to hit in between. For example, for "Lena's Groundhog Day", I knew I wanted the diner scene with Webby and the ending scene(s) at the amphitheater. The rest came up as I wrote it, for better or for worse but mostly for better in my opinion.

13: What's a common writing tip that you almost always follow?

You know I actually had an odd time coming up with an answer here because I don't really seek out writing advice as much as I probably ought to. I've found that generalized advice isn't helpful for me, and also anything that suggests a change in routine is difficult to implement. Anyway, I'll think of something give me a second…. … … Hey I'm back. I didn't think of anything. The best I can do for you is always save your work because you never know when a bolt of lightning will strike your device specifically and uh oh there goes your progress.

27: What is your most and least favorite part of writing?

My least favorite part of writing is when I'm not writing. I mean when I'm stuck staring at a blinking cursor, can't think of where to go from here. Or I know where to go but not how to get there. Or I've just not written in a while and go "dang I miss doing that". Oh, and I also hate the part right before I publish where I go through like 50 times for spelling or grammar or typos because I have a fear of commitment (only to find mistakes months later when I'm just reading casually).

There are scenes and scene concepts that live rent free in my head before I write them. I'm talking imagining the characters having a back and forth, envisioning the action descriptions I'm gonna use, the works. If I had a thoughts-to-text ability, I'd have a whole collection written I'll tell you what. But I write my stories in order, so a lot of times (especially for endings) I can't just jump in and write those parts down. But when I do, man it's just really cool to see the thing I'd imagined for so long finally pop up in the document. It's crazy. Like I thinked all those words and then bam they're on the screen for anybody to look at. Indescribable. What a world.

Thanks for the ask!

[seeingteacupsindragons]

Brains are especially prone to bullying us in this darkest week of the year that also has the most pressure on it to be HaPPy and MaGiCAl. I'm sorry you're having a rough week!

Couple asks: do you do New Year's resolutions or set goals or anything like that? If so, any you're willing to share?

Second, we've talked a lot about pantsing vs outlining etc. This is semi-related I guess. I seem to have backed myself into a corner where I have a very specific scene I want to write, but that doesn't seem to be where the story wants to go, so everything I try to do to get there feels forced and dry. Do you think I need to drop the planned scene entirely to get my flow back? Is there some magic trick to get my brain to cooperate with me daring to plan something for once? 😅

Work has been a bear and hormones are currently out of whack, so it's not like it's surprising and honestly could be a lot worse, but I'm just so tired and grumpy and feeling underappreciated. I'm going to go take a nap soon.

One:

Yes, I do set New Year's Resolutions, sort of, but I haven't actually made most of them in a few years. They're typically writing-goal oriented, and I'm not generally very married to them. But they're goals. Things like getting back in querying (missed it again, thanks concussion), finishing drafts, starting new things. I think this year it's going to be finding a new CP, getting Tiadane's book out the door, and finishing at least one draft of Avel's.

Two:

I have a number of times had to drop plot lines I liked the idea of or scenes because they just never fit into the story or I never had time for them (in the story line). I suspect this will always happen, and it's a little sad, but sometimes it's just better for that particular story.

But there are ways around it:

Write it anyway, and if it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. You still have that scene you love.

Plan the damn story around the things you want most to include, and therefore that scene you want to do (this can be hard because you can do that and then sometimes the story warps and it's weird anyway).

Write a new story to stick The Thing in. Very popular choice.

Sometimes also talking through the problem and articulating why the story is veering in a different direction from that scene can be helpful (even if only talking to yourself).

For example, that I'm just making up on the spot here:

The Scene: A very dramatic reunion between Protag and Love Interest set in Protag's home after a year apart, and one of them is wounded and dripping wet from the rain and there's a couple lines you really like about what they meant and why they left and why they couldn't return sooner and the other getting down on their knees to beg for forgiveness or whatever the hell.

Why would the story not want to go there? It's great, right?

Except maybe the dramatic confession words you imagined don't quite work with other ways you've described the feelings so it doesn't seem like a way to sum it up

Maybe the location is wrong, because Protag's home has become a source of too much safety and it seems wrong to have a dramatic confrontation there, or the layout you made for it doesn't match your Cinematic Daydream.

Wait, why are they going to someone they haven't seen in a year wounded they have other options and they're not actually the type of person to do that despite how cool it looked in your head.

And then once you kind of narrow down the specific sort of direction the story is building to and the specific location the Scene That Doesn't Fit is in, you can see if one or the other can shift towards the other so they can meet together, or if it's just irreconcilable, or you have to pick which elements are most important and how you can repurpose them.

I don't know if this is helpful. Maybe? Lemme know, I guess.

[youngerfrankenstein]

Alright, Earthspark time, here we go again. Talking about a show for little kids under the cut.

Fair warning I may be a little more critical than it deserves.

…You know, I wanted to like this one. And it's not like it's awful or anything. It's worse, it's incredibly mediocre. Not in the way where everything is bad but where the whole is less than the sum of its parts. Because there's some really good stuff in there!

And I think the main problem is that the show has a really hard time figuring out what it wants to be. A fresh spin? A celebration of the franchise's history? A silly slice of life show? A drama about moving past the horrors of war? It in some ways tries to be all of these and fails at doing any of them particularly well.

There's also how many themes it tries juggling. The two that kind of bother me are the one where I go "I think keeping the giant alien war criminals locked up or under surveillance is a really good idea actually", but I get it's more about people deserving second chances. Which is a good message and I'm reading it too literally. The one I WON'T let the writers get away with is the anti-racism stuff because here's the thing. The big problem with bigotry allegories is that you run the risk of making the bigots either have a point, or just plain be right. And you know what? They are kind of right. The Transformers DID drag Earth into their war that it had no purpose being in. Presumably a shit-ton of people died or lost their homes because of it. PEOPLE ARE UNDERSTANDABLY PISSED ABOUT THIS. STOP making bigotry allegories where the bigots have a point SHEESH.

Not helping is the fact the tone and writing feel juvenile (and SO schmaltzy) even by Transformers standards at times, which makes the show's attempts to tackle more serious topics feel kind of out of place. It's also paced really badly. Dragging at times and in others feeling rushed as heck. I think this might be a product of the show being released in batches. One pretty big example of the writing being not… great is the finale. We should not have a scene where Twitch is sad, gets a pep talk from Nightshade and everyone feels bolstered TWICE IN ONE EPISODE. Even if it is a 45 minute one.

It also tries to be a fresh spin on things while WALLOWING in nostalgia. I will take one or two references to previous material with a chuckle, by the 5th or 6th I'm wanting to put the writers in a windowless room until they come up with new material. In some cases it practically expects you to have prior knowledge in order for things to work. I have no doubt this series was written by fans of the franchise, but that's not always a good thing.

It's especially jarring when you have clear attempts to pull people in by teasing old characters. The most obvious being Soundwave and Starscream, who a lot of older fans would be waiting for, and then not doing anything with Soundwave and Starscream's episode being pretty meh (and I am dangerously worried they are going to make him boring). I hear there was a deleted plotline with them but that doesn't factor into talking about the actual show.

The characters are also kinda hit or miss. As for the Terrans I adore Twitch and Hashtag but the rest are just kind of… there? I don't really care about any of them. Nightshade is probably the most frustrating as I really like their introverted and romantic (in the classical sense) personality but their tech stuff usually gets annoying to me. Again, stuff I like a lot and stuff I don't. The human kid characters are just fairly annoying and I don't want them around (but that's normal for me it seems). The returning bots are mostly bit parts of varying quality (Grimlock was surprisingly dull, Wheeljack was fun, etc.) I love what they did with Bumblebee, this is my favourite one. I do like we're seeing more Elita-1, and I enjoy her 'cool aunt' demeanour. I was initially scoffing at Good Guy Megatron being a thing but I've come around on weird uncle warcrimes and I think he's one of the strongest characters. I just wish they'd stop doing the equivalent of having a rock fall on his head every other episode to take him out of the equation, by the end I was half-convinced I could take this Megatron in a fist fight.

(Powerscaling in general is a pretty big problem in this show)

And it mostly takes away what my favourite part of any Transformers show is. Which is watching the Decepticons be the most ridiculous evil army ever. But I get it wouldn't really fit here.

The animation is also a mixed bag. The human characters tend to look somewhat off, especially Mo who looks right out of the uncanny valley, and the textures are very… plasticky. Given these still are toy commercials it makes sense I suppose. In better news, the bot designs are by and large really good in this show, and the action scenes are often AWESOME.

And I like some of the ideas it brings to the table, I just think the execution is messy or covered in stuff I don't care about.

However, I will say a lot of shows have pretty mediocre first seasons. I think this will go one of two ways. It could pull itself together, figure out what it wants to be and put out a really good season 2, and possibly more if it doesn't get canned for tax purposes. Or it could could keep meandering and never really do much and eventually get canned for tax purposes. I am curious to see which way it goes.

[tribow]

So I watched Blood-C

Continuing my Blood streak, I have finished watching this too! I have actually seen Blood-C before, but I never finished it due to being spoiled about the ending. Now that I actually watched the whole thing and saw the full context...I'm dissatisfied.

In fact, that just about sums up my thoughts on Blood-C: "Dissatisfied". Throughout much of the story, all I did was wait for the answer to "Why?"

Why must Saya do what she must do? Why does this character know this? Why the dog? Why the school? Why did they go back? Why are these monsters showing up at specific times of the day?

It was clear that several characters had answers to these questions. There's a lot of very unsubtle foreshadowing in the dialogue to make it obvious.

Alone, this wouldn't be a problem, but nothing else in Blood-C hooked me. The characters all felt pretty weak. Saya has 0 agency until ths end, and most of her interactions with other characters are small talk, direct orders, or questions that dont get answered. The dialogue feels a little unnatural and to make matters worse, there's so much wasted time!

I tried to come up with reasons as to why so many innocuous scenes happen and none of them made sense. It's especially frustrating because of how heavy this anime is.

If you didn't know Blood-C is quite infamous for being an extremely violent gorefest. Many people have written it off as a guro porn due to these violent and very bloody scenes. I'm not exaggerating; people get torn in half, heads bitten off, crushed, amputated, impaled multiple times, and its a bloody mess.

Honestly, despite all that....I disagree with the notion that Blood-C is gorey for the sake of it. The violence has a place in the story that works and makes sense...IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY. For the most oart it's true, but in certain episodes during the second half there's some deaths that are practically comedic or unecessary. I was so ready to have my expectations shattered and then some guy gets killed by the shards of a window impaling him are you kidding me?

Ugh, there's one genuinely good thing I can say about Blood-C and it's the action. Wholeheartedly, Blood-C's action is some of the best I've ever seen. The choreography is really cool for nearly every fight that happens.

You know how most anime will have characters monologuing their plans or reactions to their opponent? They'll shout their attacks. Sometimes the fight almost seems turn based. You can't read the pace of the battle without background characters expositing about what just happened.

As a big fan of a good-ass fight scene these issues stick out to me. I'm happy to say Blood-C lacks many of these problems. You can get an idea of what a character's battle strategy is just by watching their actions it's so cool how these animators were able to achieve this consistently. Production IG was not slacking here.

It sucks that action that goes this hard is tied to a story that ultimately just fails for me. Each character's book closes in a terrible way. The mystery that unravels only left me questioning the logistics of it rather than keeping me intrigued.

I wish I liked this. I wish I could say the despite all of the extreme violence Blood-C has something great going on in there and I just can't. Don't recommend.

Now....you might be aware that I have been watching every anime related to Blood and I didn't mention the connection between the other anime at all in this whole review. Well, that's cause Blood-C has a movie to follow-up that cliffhanger and since I rambled so hard here I'll save that discussion for that movie.

[dirtytransmasc]

110% agree on all of it, but I did word that last part badly.

I just meant that whole scenario with storms end in general. but I appreciate the input non the less.

I felt the same about the ship at first, but it's got me in it's jaws now and I don't think I'm getting out. I've always been an angsty enemies to lovers little shit, so it's just natural for me to gravitate to that, especially since all I read is fix it's, and the typical go to in those fics is to just get everyone together and call it a day. but to each their own.

but back to the other stuff:

if I don't get to see some acts of violence targeted at Otto next season I'm going to fucking riot, it's not even funny. like I want to watch him tortured or some shit, and I'm not normally a fan of that type of stuff. I hate him and everything he represents. he destroyed that family almost all on his own (visery's would have just let the family get torn apart from the outside by war and conflict, while doing nothing to pull it back together. Otto tore it apart from the inside, actively shredding everything, and visery's let him. same outcome, different process. Otto was on a mission, visery's was compliant and neglectful).

you summed up both boys and alicent so well, like they're all just suffering, and they're hurting people around them because of it. as the oldest sibling left to drown, argon is relatable on one too many levels, even just the small stuff like how he always looks five seconds away form just balling or the way he is (purposely with the use of nudity and makeup to make his face look more worn) so vulnerable to the eye. they smoke him look also transparent, like if you look to close you'll see right through, like he wants you to look right through him. everythung about him screams attention seeking, he just wants someone to care, to see he's hurting, cause he doesn't know how to ask for help. not to mention we know he's abused by Otto (Otto kicked him in the ribs at leanas funeral, and it's implied he wanted to hurt him when he tried to run away), and visery's. like my boys been through, done everything to ruin his image, to run away, to give up the crown he never wanted. he begged to be let go yet Aemond held him back (cause he's second opposite and survived by being the favorite, there for not having a life of his own, cause he was too busy people pleasing). the greens are killing me man.

I need a fic where Rhaenyra and the green kids are closer so I can have some found family bonding. I would kill for some protective daemon, unsure of them at first due to his soldier mindset and seeing them as the enemy. but as soon as he warms up to them, he's commiting war crimes just to keep them happy. just imagine Rhaenyra and Aegon hugging or something, even teasing one another, just being siblings. what I would pay for that is insane.

they did daemon so dirty, cause they use the narrative in character and make scenes that should be up to interpretation too objective (when aemond stayed in the war room while Rhaenyra delivered hit me as him feeling useless and scared. last time he watched his wife give birth, he watch her suffer, had to deny a fatal c section, and the watched her kill herself brutally, and all the while he couldn't do a thing. so this time (partly out of fear and trauma and partly because it's just how daemon functions and shows his love, he planned her war. thats how he could help her then. and while that's my interpretation, it allows personal wiggle room unlike the actual scene that sets him out to be a 2d villain). they needed him to be evil, so while Rhaenyra wasn't constantly with alicent anymore (cause they used the narrative to make alicent look so much worse the she was just like they did with Daemon) they needed Daemon there to make her look better then she was. because if theirs one thing this show lives to deny it's the Rhaenyra is just as guilty as 99% of the characters. this show is about picking your favorite war criminals, that's it. but because of the need to make nyra innocent all the time, someone's always being thrown under the bus (it especially pisses me off that they do this while keeping the characters mostly in character, they just bend the narrative, meaning it goes over 9/10 veiwers heads)

I love the idea of Luke being alive, I don't care how they do, he could just walk into the war room soaking wet, completely unaddressed until later on and no one ever mentions it or storms end again, and I'll be happy. I just want my boy back.

Okay I’m way late to the party, but I just finished House of the Dragon and I have a lot of thoughts.

Huge shoutout to the set designers and Ramin Djawadi for the fantastic sets and music. Even the characters’ rooms look distinct, and I’ve had the theme stuck in my head for days now.

The costumes!! I love the costumes! I want to make every piece of clothing on this show and wear it!!

Helaena is autistic, argue with the wall. She has a bug special interest, speaks very little and seemingly doesn’t recognize social cues (ex. her unintentionally roasting Aegon), and is very touch-averse. Also she’s done nothing wrong ever, which means something horrible will probably happen to her.

Matt Smith as Daemon reignited my crush on the 11th Doctor and made it worse. Him in that really long wig made me feel things.

Aemond is really cool and also kind of funny. Didn’t deserve to lose an eye to Lucerys, he may have gotten a dragon but still, he was ten and lost an eye? Add that to the trauma pile, I guess

Not enough people talk about how bad of a parent Viserys was.

Alicent. Alicent has so much depth of character, I could rant about her for way too long.

Aegon is my favorite. Yes, I know what he did, and I don’t like it at all. However, I took one look at kid Aegon and went “what a little shit, I love him” and the rest is history. This show does his character such a disservice by painting him as a two-dimensional villain, and Tom Glynn-Carney gives him so much depth.

Tom Glynn-Carney is to Aegon what Dacre Montgomery is to Billy Hargrove, in that they both have the only correct interpretations of their characters 😌

Can we please see Dreamfyre and Sunfyre? (Are those their dragons’ names? Idk I’ve never read the books) I need to see Helaena and Aegon with their dragons

I do think Rhaenyra is the best available choice for the throne, but all my faves are Greens so idk what side that puts me on. Everyone’s gonna die anyway so it doesn’t matter.

I’m deeply attached to this family of dysfunctional war criminals, and I have a lot of opinions so someone please ask me about them!

@dirtytransmasc

[imidio]

General rambling about Eldarya and questionable direction choices

Oh gods, that’s gonna be long. Actually, I don’t play Eldarya anymore, it just feels like a waste of time right now. But fortunately, a lot of my friends are still brave enough to continue, so I have a lot of insight in what’s actually happening in the game.

I’m writing this mostly because of this post, or rather, the article that was mentioned in it. It is mostly the Eldarya writer’s response to all the criticism from the players and oh boy… Not going into details because some people actually did this, but just quick summary of my personal opinion after reading this (just my thoughts regarding Eldarya, I’m not even going to mention the attitude that shows in the article): I somehow feel like the person writing Eldarya doesn’t like the game as a whole – the genre, target, setting. I heard from people that play MCL Alternate Life that it’s actually pretty good so maybe the fantasy part is the problem? Or it can also be lack of solid preparation to write something like this.

Anyway, as for my thoughts regarding Eldarya.

1. They don’t know its players

Actually, no, more than that. I feel like they don’t have any specific target in mind. Beemov games started when most of us was like 12-14. But the thing is, now we are mostly adults and younger people don’t seem to be so eager to join the fandom (not that the games have anything to offer to younger players, I mean, for example playing Eldarya before unlocking the market is absolutely devastating experience). And right now we have a game that is trying to be everything. For some parts, I feel like this is written for children. But then we go to the more heavy themes that would be either not suitable for their age, or simply boring for them. In the same time, this “heavy stuff” I’m talking about feels so unrealistic and grotesque that despite efforts, you just can’t take it seriously. And with this we go to the second part.

2. Because they don’t know their own players, they don’t know what genre should they even make. And how to approach it.

But, really – if you’d have to tell someone, what Eldarya is – what would you tell them? Their main page is saying “romance and adventure fantasy game”. In the google play, it’s tagged as otome. The writer’s words: fantasy adventure series - what, you could say, also shows that the romance is so low on his priority list that he doesn’t even mention it – could be just understatement but I feel like it’s worthy to point out. So, what we get if we sum this up – three keywords – romance, fantasy, adventure.

As for romance… We all know what it’s like right now. As someone that was aiming for the Lance’s route, all I can do is laugh. To be honest, I’ve never believed this will be good route. I like the trope, but this just couldn’t go well with everything we’ve seen before, especially with only 20 episodes. I’m not sure if it’s worse than what I thought it will be, but definitely is no good. Emotions are non-existent. Everything is just… dry. Narration tells me that characters feel certain way but I just don’t see it, I don’t know why, I don’t feel anything. Those rare romance scenes we get are so out of place that you can think someone in the team was like: “Wait, I forgot there was supposed to be romance in the game! Let’s just throw some random kiss here, yeah, that will be great!”. Absolutely meaningless.

Fantasy? Right… You know, if you read/played/watched a lot of fantasy genre, you know that making it good is not about “oh, let’s put magic and dragons here”. From my experience it can be either the easiest or the hardest genre possible, depending on the writer. You don’t have restrictions. You don’t have to do boring research on “how the law works in this country at the other side of the ocean in terms of what I need here” for this to be coherent. Creative freedom 100%, you can do anything, rules from our world don’t matter and yet, you can use some of them which will make your work easier. You don’t even have to be Tolkien or Sanderson, with their fantasy worlds that have been created from scratch in every little detail for over 10 years. You don’t need explanation for everything, you can make it simple – just make it work and stand by the rules you’ve already made. We have magic in Eldarya, but actually we don’t. How many times did you see characters actually using it? I’m not counting alchemy here, just pure magic. Kero used telekinesis ONCE. In TO tutorial if I remember correctly. Or one of the first episodes. I don’t feel like the magic is integral part of this world so how could it be convincing when they suddenly use some strange spell/ritual/thingy to solve a major problem important for the main plot (let’s not even start this whole discussion on how it’s not really a good idea to use pure magic powers to solve a problem, especially if you didn’t introduce those powers ).

And now, with the most recent episodes – fantasy… yeah. Someone on our discord server said something that sums it up pretty well – Eldarya is right now something like MCL but with explaining us in most stupid ways possible how our own world works.

And adventure… Well, I could make a whole post about “everything wrong with” for just that one part. Let’s start with – why on earth did they choose military conflict as a main plot for this game? Don’t get me wrong, I love fantasy with those type of conflict, I really do. But it’s also very difficult and requires research – and here it is non-existent. Some time ago, with a couple of friends, we’ve been discussing 30 episode of TO, or rather, the battle itself. I’m not going to do this again, it would be way to long. But – if you’ve watched GOT, especially the last season. If you’ve seen Battle of Winterfell. And if you’ve seen some analysis of everything that went wrong with it from the tactical point of view. Yeah, Eldarya repeated every single mistake and added some more. If you’re curious about those things, just go to youtube, a lot of experts explained it very well – I’m sure you’ll see similarities. If you’re not –

Look at the map. HQ is really solid place for defence. We have hill, high walls and the cliff on the other side, so there is only one side for the potential assault. Wall is the perfect place for archers, crossbowmans and mages. While defending the city, you take advantage of it – especially of its walls – to the maximum. What you DON’T do, is going outside of those walls with your forces, to fight a battle on the BEACH. I guess most of us have walked on a sand at least once. Yeah, imagine fighting on that kind of terrain. And Lance’s army? Attacking from the beach side, really? He’s a dragon, they could literally fly with him and chose best place possible, and they chose BEACH? Just imagine them, walking one by one, just like some ducklings, up those very narrow, rock stairs that lead to the HQ. And that’s just the top of the iceberg.

In ANE on the other hand – we have diplomatic mission, for example. Here there is no point of telling what was wrong with it – there wasn’t a single thing that was right. They came to the ruler and king of the country they’d like to cooperate with in a way. What are first things they do? 1. Show of power. 2. Disrespect for the monarch (I don’t care right now what he’s like, he’s still a monarch and a ruler). 3. Going there with the very person he’s in power conflict with, also being his past wife (and probably present wife by law), a refugee that they gave an asylum in the guard. Telling him no, we won’t hand her over to you. Well, if that is not provocation then I don’t know what is.

I’m not telling that they should create great and realistic plot with R. R. Martin’s level of politics and complicated military situation. I mean, I would be delighted, but I’d be in minority, most of players would be bored by it. But! There are already things that are doing really good job (in my opinion) with simplifications! A Ranger’s Apprentice for example, or The Powder Mage Trilogy. Both of them touch the topic, in completely different ways, but both of them work on the simplified concepts of complex conflict (also military conflict). What I think makes them work is the fact that the authors did really good job with their research. In Ranger’s Apprentice you can find a lot of concepts that are brought up in The Art of War by Sun Tzu. They are simple concepts by themselves – but they are real and logical. What Flanagan did was probably taking some of them and making them the main focus for the certain part of the plot. You read about some kind of the tactic characters use – it’s nothing complicated by itself but just feel like it could work – of course it does, because it did through the real history. It’s just simplified, and with the simple narration it makes the books fun even for the younger audience – and not grotesque for older one, as long as you understand and accept existence of those simplifications. This is what Eldarya lacks. It tries to bring up complicated topics in simplified way, but you just cannot do this from nothing. We are not strategists or tacticians – but we can read and take inspiration from other sources. With a little of logical thinking on top of that, it is possible.

They could do all of that. Or they could just stick to the things that worked perfectly fine. I mean the very beginning of the Eldarya: TO. It was simple – we had clear main goal – collecting Crystal shards. We had some problems that we had to overcome – food shortage, human organizations, Ashkore (rest in peace, my favourite character :< ) and the fact that the guard leader was young and inexperienced what made her more likely to make mistakes. We also had enough space for our love interests, enough time to get to know them, get attached to them (as a character, but also as a player), get some quality fluff we deserved. Personally, I think this simple problems would be much more fitting for the game like Eldarya that despite being fantasy and adventure, more than anything should focus on romance. Generally I think Eldarya right now lacks everything that would make the game good – there is no real direction, no real idea, no research, and most importantly, no passion from the creators (or if it’s there, sorry but I don’t feel it). It just feel like a project everyone in the team is tired of creating, would love nothing more than to throw it away and never ever look at it again, but just cannot stop right now because they have to finish is somehow. You know, the kind of feeling you get when you’re at the end of writing your thesis. And it’s sad. Because it had potential – not the kind of potential like masterpieces in the gaming world, but enough potential to become really fun game that you play as a form of relax after a hard day in job/school, also donating it once in a while as a form of appreciation for the creator’s work. I could write even more but it’s already almost 2000 words so I’ll stop here.

Summary: they don’t know what to do but also won’t listen to their own players because of reasons. Result – no one gets what they want. Oh, also, one last but very important thing! I don't like the concept of aengel powers AT ALL. I think Gardienne should be simple human or have powers so limited that they could just support her but not solve the problems for her. Why? Because maybe that way we could see solid character development, MC that relies on abilities that was earned and not handed over to her. Working with her own creativity, problem-solving skills and the knowledge she gained during both her life on Earth and in Eldarya. Right now, everything that defines her and her abilities - are her powers (and what's funny is the fact that writers KNOW this and shamelessly throw this on us whenever possible - you know, all the "now with my powers I'm invincible" rambling). Yep, now I'm done for real. xD

[alaanz]

Late again but the eclipse needs to be talked about. And holy fuck was there a lot going on this episode.

WTF! That sums up the general feelings I have for this ep. This is so much happening and all of the tension and theories building up to this ep where finally let LOOSE on screen. And the main culprit for this absolute havoc was of course Thua. Oh my fucking god, there are no words to describe the journey I went on throughout that whole protest scene. So many ups and downs and just general he’ll fire. Thua showed absolutely no remorse for anyone and fuckin set the world ablaze. I was so proud of him for finally standing up for himself and speaking his true opinions with no more fear of what the backlash is going to be, and I still am. But on that note.

Wtf, Thua. Nahhhh. I could see it building and knew it was about to happen but that didn’t stop the shock and hurt at hearing thua out akk as the both the curse and him being in a relationship with ayan. I get that he just wanted there to be no more secrets anymore and everything to be out in the open, but he didn’t even have all of the context behind what’s going on. He outed akk without a second thought and was not going to listen to what he had to say on the matter. You could visibly see the moment akk just broke in that scene, everything he’d worked towards for years finally crashing down in just one sentence. It was like the last nail in the coffin for him. And ayan knew this too. The way he was almost pleading with thua to just listen and please stop before he makes anything worse. Ayan had previously spent episodes telling akk that he needs to tell everyone about what he’d done and, like thua, hadn’t really cared much for the context of the situation. But over the past couple of weeks, ayan has grown to learn more about akk and his situation and the pressure that he’s under to do what he’s being forced to do just so he can have a chance at a future.

Thua very much reminded me of an earlier ayan throughout this episode. He was very self righteous in a way that ayan had previously been. Yes he fought for what he believed in and for peoples rights, but there’s quite surface level thinking when it comes to the people involved. Thua is kind of blindsided by what he now thinks is right, and anyone that opposes that is the “enemy”. He even went against ayan this ep. Ayan has helped thua a lot over these 11 episodes and guided him to stand up for himself more and not take it lying down because that’s the easiest option. But even still, thua now saw ayan do something he deemed to not be the right thing and so completely went against him. He not only outed akk but he also outed ayan. Yes ayan is kind of already out and doesn’t care what other people think, that’s still not thuas right to expose anyones relationship or personal things about them, especially when it’s used against them.

There was a lot going on in this scene and all of it made me cry. But some of it didn’t quite make sense. I ADORE wat, he’s so sweet, but the film idea. Come on. How the fuck did that work. I don’t understand if the aim of saying their filming a film was to cover up only that ayan and akk are together or if it’s also to cover up that akk was behind the curse. Maybe I’ve read the subs wrong or miss understood (I wouldn’t be surprised) but that doesn’t seem like that’d work at all. There was a lot of eclipse talk and everything mixed into the talk about the protest and it doesn’t make sense if only parts of it are fake and parts are real. The only way that it’d work is if the whole protest scene was a scene from the film, otherwise it just makes no sense and the teachers would not believe it at all.

Ahh, the last part of that scene. Man alive. There’s no words. Everyone leaving. Akk breaking down sobbing. Ayan crying with him. Them both holding each other on the steps. Everything akk had done just gone. He tried so hard to make a balance between being himself and being a prefect. But in the end he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. There wasn’t anything else he could’ve done. The only way for him to go to university was for him to get this scholarship, and the only way for him to do that was to do whatever Chadok asked him to do.

It’s easy to say that akk could’ve just not done it and tried to get into uni some other way, but in the end it became more that just the scholarship. Chadoks control over akk just grew and grew the more he asked of him. It become an almost instinctual thing for akk to just do what Chadok asked. It’d become so ingrained in him. Even with akk being told repeatedly by ayan that what Chadok was doing to him wasn’t right and that he wasn’t to blame, akk just couldn’t believe it. Its been like this for years and it’ll take a lot for akk to fully brake free from this. Even now while it looked like there is progress and that akks finally realising how bad Chadok is, he still defended him in the protest scene. When thua asked him if Chadok was working with him with the curse, akk outright denied that Chadok had any involvement and it broke my heart to see. To see that even after everything, akk still can’t see that Chadok made him do it, either directly or indirectly. He still puts all of the blame onto himself for everything, the guilt and ingrained Suppalo rules refusing for him to see it any other way. Akks doing so much better with ayan, but even so, he’s going to need therapy after this is all over to work this stuff out and finally move foreword with his life.

These are pretty much all of my thoughts in this ONE scene and I’ll write more about the rest of the ep later. For now this is it. Ep 11 was a wild ride that’s for sure, and I’m in no way prepared for this show to be over but alas all good things must come to an end. No matter how much I really don’t want it to.

[alluringjae]

queen of hearts - sjn

summary: for the first time, one of your star students hasn’t been fetched right after class. but when she finally does, you weren’t expecting such a fine man to be her father.

pairing: johnny x female reader

word count: 5.5k

genre: fluff, romance, comedy | ceo and single dad!johnny + ballerina!reader + modern day!au

warnings: mentions of an absent parent, johnny being an overthinker, sexual innuendos (ten saying dilf hehe), slight explicit language, technical terms of ballet, a mini reference to mean girls

author’s note: sooo i came in touch with my former dance life, which led me to write this. there are links for the variations i used; their names are underlined when they’re mentioned. i am going to get technical with ballet terms here (even when my ballet knowledge decreased), so to any dancers reading, i really did my best, so please don’t come for me or do correct me for any mistakes.

although one character and her dance background, plus the name of the setting, are real, everything else about it is still a work of fiction.

i miss dancing, no cap.

leave me some feedback, constructive criticism or hellos!

Ballet student and teacher by day, a soloist of the Korean National Ballet at night.

This was your daily routine, and it wasn’t the typical 8-5. But it’s debatable whether or not it was worse, because you’re always going overtime. That’s the thing when you’re an overachiever. Nonetheless, you loved what you do. It’s the lifestyle you gradually built since your preschool days.

Mornings on the weekdays were mostly vacant since all the kids were still in school. You’d start at 10 am for a warm-up class for the company. Before you delved into teaching and assisting, you’d train right after your lunch break. Partnering class, en pointe class, 1-on-1 sessions with choreographers, self-practice, then the company night class, that’s the organization of your week.

Now adding the teacher title, you mostly handled kindergartners to 5th graders in the academy aspect of the company. Your first teaching class would start at 1 pm. It’s when the younger students who finished their morning classes zoom into your assigned dance studio. One class would last an hour and a half, then you have a 30-minute break in between another class with the older kids. Their lesson repertoire was more strenuous due to the added across-the-floor lessons and jumps. Water was always your best friend, water refilling stations located everywhere in the company building.

You wouldn’t say you’re a strict teacher, but you weren’t shy to correct anyone from wherever you stood. You’d lightly align their arms or back properly so your students were working on the correct body parts. Compared to the other teachers, a lot of students enjoyed your kind yet frank approaches. Your former students, who’ve already gone to the higher levels, missed your lively presence and wished repeatedly that they want you back as their teacher.

“Teacher (Y/N), I miss you so much! Teacher Ten is so intense. I get the jitters especially when we’re en pointe on the floor.”

“Teacher (Y/N), Teacher Sicheng and Teacher Seulgi scare the heck out of me during partnering class. Especially when I tried to lift my partner, I keep losing focus because of Teacher Sicheng’s never-ending comments!”

Not to be sadistic, but you’d simply laugh at their minuscule complaints. Even if they’re struggling in the academy, those comments were directed to fix their techniques if they wanted to breakthrough.

“Kids, you’re going to be fine! They wouldn’t say or do those things just because they wanted to. They’re here to push you to the next level, like how I used to do with you. It’s a cut-throat industry after all.”

This was always your reply, bittersweet and truthful. Not everyone makes it, unfortunately, so if you’re really striving, you’d do whatever it takes. Throughout your career, you’re relatively impressed with how far you’ve come.

Trainee at 17, Corps de Ballet at 18, Demi-Soloist at 21, and Soloist at 23.

You’ve been a soloist for 4 years. The final stage, which was to become a principal dancer, is your running goal. Becoming a soloist was praiseworthy enough because you’ve seen so many give up in the Corps, but claiming a spot as a principal dancer has been the ultimate dream. Since you’ve watched Swan Lake for the first time at 4 years old with your parents, that’s where you found a passion for dancing and the stage. Here you are years later, practicing numerous variations daily, performing in opera houses, and mentoring all these gifted kids.

Your last class with elementary kids, which began around 5 pm, reached its end once all the students curtsied in front of you and scurried to their mothers or their nannies. The remaining plan on your agenda today was the company class at 7:30 pm, which exceeds the average hour and a half. It’s worse during show season. There have been times everyone went beyond midnight to polish every scene from head to toe.

Currently, there’s no upcoming show for the public, though the annual summer recital for the students was around the corner. Selected members of the company were chosen to perform individually in it, which was both exciting and intense. It’s also because it’s an evaluation on whether you’d get promoted in status or staying put. You’ve partaken in 3 recitals in the past, two of which elevated you from the corps and demi-soloist ranks. The recent one, however, didn’t change your soloist ranking.

It was a major first in your career in ballet, and after finding out the result of the latter, it emotionally pained you. Recalling how much soul you put into that piece, the rejection from your artistic director clenched your heart. Though in time, you moved on from it and viewed it as a stepping stone. Also, Sicheng and Ten personally stormed your apartment to pull yourself together with wine and pizza after going on a short leave.

Since you were trainees, Sicheng and Ten were your best friends in and outside the company. Working daily to occasional barhopping, that’s your youth summed up. It wasn’t because you didn’t like the girls you’ve worked with (though a lot of them were fake and bitchy), but these two were frank and humorous as hell. Together, you’d help each other with your goals rather than be competitive. Over time, Ten leveled up to a principal dancer for 2 years running while you and Sicheng were still soloists. The way you’d watch Ten take all the big roles, that’s where you want to be one day.

Back in your last teaching class, the entire dance room was vacant. Since it’s mainly used for ballet classes, you’d either run through anything you’ve practiced from the company classes and polish it or warm up a little bit more.

Except for today, this was the only free time to sew a new pair of pointe shoes because your current ones were dead. Dead in a sense that the hard shell turned soft, which won’t be able to support you when you’re up on your toes. You’re not taking any risks of minor injuries especially when you’re in the current lineup of company members performing for this upcoming recital again. You have to prove to everyone that you deserve a position as a principal dancer.

As your legs sprawled in a half middle split, your sewing equipment laid in front of you like you’re about to perform surgery, a tiny girl stood by the ajar studio doors. In her neat bun and holding on to her small duffel bag, you’re convinced everyone has gone home already since it’s quite late.

You may have your priorities as a company member, but she was still your student.

“Minji!” You shouted her name, speedily waving your hand. You’re not one to have favorites, though you couldn’t help wonder how extraordinary she was. She’s always taking charge in demonstrating the lessons to everyone and improving every session in the 3 years she’s joined the academy. “Come in! Come in!”

At age 7, she’s gotten taller through the years, above the average from how you see it. She must have amazing genetics. Her legs sauntered in seconds to you. Sitting down across you, she marveled at your setup. Specifically, at the fresh pointe shoes.

“Are those yours, Teacher (Y/N)?” She perked up, caressing its soft fabric and playing with the mini bows of the drawstrings.

“Yes, it is, Minji!” You answered while trying to insert the thin thread through the small eye of the needle. “Why are you still here? Is your nanny stuck in traffic or something?”

“My nanny went on sudden leave, so my dad’s the one fetching me. But I think he’s running late from his job.”

Oh, this was a first to know about her father. In all the years she’s been your student, you rarely caught sight of him, even in recitals. Maybe he sat in an unknown section, but you’re pretty much acquainted with all the parents of your students. Even if some were snobbier than the rest because they wanted their child to have more stage time, you still got to know them out of respect. Quite odd, if you said so yourself.

After deep concentration, the thread triumphantly passed through the eye so you tied the two ends of the thread in a double knot. Seeing as Minji attentively watched you, you tasked her to cut the ribbons of your shoes according to the trail of pencil marks. This was so she wouldn’t cut it too short or too long. While she did that, you hammered your shoes against the floor to soften the hard front, bending the shank back and forth so the arch of your feet could move without difficulty later.

Minji wasn’t expecting such loud sounds, her entire body shaken awake. Her facial expression was priceless, explaining to her, “Once you get your first pointe shoes in a few years, this is one of the basic things you need to do so your feet won’t hurt too much while dancing.”

“Will you be there to teach me how to make my pointe shoes?”

“Absolutely! Come to me first then I’ll mentor you all that I know.”

The process of sewing and breaking new pointe shoes engraved your mind since your adolescent years, with changes along the way. Inspired by some tricks from your former teachers, but there were some differing rituals you followed. There’s no definite process of it, just as long you’re comfortable to dance after.

With your feet, you stepped on the hard boxes of the shoes to soften it more, creating a popping sound. Followed by sewing your elastic bands in. For your ribbons, you liked to burn the edges with a lighter so the thread of it won’t run. Kindly asking your cute assistant for the lighter beside her, you scanned the edges back and forth the flame. In seconds, the edges had a distinct mark, fully closed. From there, you slid your feet to your shoes to make final sewing adjustments. Sewing your ribbons took you another few minutes, plus adding superglue inside the shoe so the shoe won’t collapse when it unstiffens and scratching the shank with a cutter so you won’t slip later while dancing.

Voila, the final product is done! Hopefully, it can last you a week at least.

“Wow, Teacher (Y/N), it looks pretty!” Minji applauded, collecting the mess you’ve both made to dispose of later. You, on the other hand, gave her your thanks once you applied some bandages on your big toes and put on your toe pads. Slipping inside the shoes and tying them, you rose up back to your feet and headed to the bar to break them in. From plies-relevésto forced arches, the shoes gave you the sensation that they were an extension of your feet. The ease flowed through, meaning you were ready to practice your variations.

While you stepped your shoes in rosin for friction, your curious student moved to the front where the mirror lied to watch what you’ve prepared.

“What variation are you dancing to?”

“This is the Gamzatti variation from La Bayadere.” You replied, tapping the play button on your phone and racing to your position on the side. Talking a short ballet walk, you strongly prepared your arms before the music of the orchestra takes off.

This variation consisted of a lot of jumps and turns. Grand jetés, attitude turns, chaîné turns, you needed a lot of core control and proper spotting so you won’t get dizzy. The thrilling music lessened your nerves because you enjoyed learning this piece from one of the principal dancers, smiling and letting the music guide your legs. Once you nailed 3 consecutive grand jetés, the variation ended with a sus-sous and the wrists of your hands flicking upwards.

Holding it for 5 more seconds, you landed back on your feet with heavy breathing and a need for water. But before you could, small claps and cheers from Minji in front erupted. Momentarily, you’ve forgotten her presence because dancing solo puts you in your own space. You’d never let anyone take you away from it.

“Teacher (Y/N), that was wonderful! Are you performing that in the summer recital?”

Yikes, she’s right but she wasn’t meant to see it yet. Solo performances from the company members for the recital were top secret, only unveiled during the production rehearsal. Well, you didn’t think this through, but you didn’t mind.

“Can you keep a secret?”

Time ticked a lot faster today, only 10 minutes left until the company class on the ground floor whereas you were in the second. Just a few steps down the stairs away, yet Minji was still here. You only presumed that within your hour break, her father could’ve made it already. But maybe he’s stuck in traffic or at work.

“Minji, my class starts soon. Have you contacted your father?”

“I already texted him earlier, but he hasn’t responded. This happens often, he’s a busy man.” She bowed in front of you suddenly. “I’m sorry, Teacher (Y/N) for the hassle.”

“Oh no, please!” You shook your hands so she’d stop. Because this situation was relatively new, you were unsure of how to handle it. Or that was until you remembered what Ten texted you earlier. “Minji, the blinds of the main studio are going to be lifted so anyone from the outside can view us practicing. Would you like to watch until your dad gets here?”

With her insistent nodding, she situated herself in one of the seats in the front row. When you entered the main studio, your two close companions already carried a metal barre to the center and leaned towards it while observing you walking to them in your flat shoes.

“I see we have a bit of an audience here.” Ten glimpsed at the young girl, astonished by the many dancers prepping and chatting away with their cliques from the glass barrier.

“Her dad isn’t here yet, and you did say the blinds were up today. Might as well give her a show while she waits, you know.” You lifted your right leg to the top barre, stretching it with your arms.

“Hmmm, shouldn’t her dad be more cautious though? It’s getting late and it’s a Thursday. Doesn’t she have school or something?” Sicheng pointed out, discarding his muscle tee to straighten out his leotard.

“That’s not my business though. She’s just my student, and since she’s still here, I have to entertain her while she waits.”

Before your friends said anything back, the artistic director of the ballet company strutted her way to the center of the room. It’s a common rule here that once she entered, everyone must be silent to listen and race to any free spot in the numerous barres spread out if they haven’t.

“Alright, everyone. We’ll do the typical barre, then before doing across the floor exercises, I’ll be requesting those performing solos already in the recital to dance any variation tonight as another evaluation on who deserves to perform twice.” She eyed the pianist directly beside her. “Proceed first with two demi-pliés then one grand plié. Don’t forget to do the port de bras of each position.”

As the live piano music played, your focus was divided. Partly properly executing the exercise while your artistic director roamed each barre area, partly thinking about what variation to perform. This was a first for the company, and everyone was just stunned to hear the breaking news. It’d be nice to get an extra opportunity to showcase to people your potential.

30-40 minutes flew by quickly. As the guys carried the bars to the side to clear out the floor and the girls changed to their pointe shoes, the artistic director ordered all the performers of the recitals to stand in a line in front of her. Everyone else was seated around the room, so the interested eyes of everyone were on you. There were 10 performers, half are from the corps and the other half are either demi-soloists or soloists. You and Sicheng stood beside each other, internally shaking with nerves under the intimidating eyes of the artistic director. She used to be a principal dancer for the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany before moving back to Seoul, making her undeniably capable of leading all of you.

“Okay,” From her seated position observing the 10 performers, her finger pointed at you directly. “Ms. (Y/L/N) (Y/N), you perform first.”

Your nerves intensified and more sweat streamed out your upper body. Even if going first felt more relieving, no one was ever brave enough to perform individually in front of the esteemed artistic director. Principal dancers aside from Ten that you’re close with were intimidated when they have 1-on-1 or partnering sessions with her. But anyhow, in less than 2 minutes, you’d be done. This wasn’t the first time she’s had your full attention either, so you’ll treat it like the other individual performances you’ve had.

You smiled to yourself when the other soloists left you alone, while you gave the name of the variation you’re dancing to the pianist. Running to the side to put on a practice tutu, the artistic director asked, “What will you be dancing for us tonight, (Y/N)?”

“I’ll be dancing Queen of the Dryads from Don Quixote.”

The last time you did this variation was 3 years ago during the recital that didn’t change your position as a soloist. Even if this variation hurt to think about for a while, it was still one of your favorites to watch and do. Moving on, you could only muse how powerful and beautiful you felt at that time. This isn’t an easy piece to perform in your opinion. Yet according to the members of the company, this was their favorite solo of yours.

As the starting notes unfolded, you took a deep breath and elegantly walked into the frame. You only wished you wore your fake crown again for this. Minimal smiling and light arms, you imagined yourself as an actual queen who captured the eyes of many. In this case, your fellow seniors and juniors held their breaths at the captivating sight of you.

Off you go into a series of glissade jeté developpé on relevé at elevating heights, then a fouetté arabesque and another arabesque on relevé before ballet walking again to the side to dance across the stage. Sissonne to the front, right developpé to the front on relevé, pique to prepare for a single pirouette, you gracefully did a chassé to the front twice and stood on your toes with a sus-sous.

Doing it a few more times, the climax of the entire variation was nearing. Returning to the center, you took another deep breath and lifted your left leg for the Italian fouettés. Spotting to the front and back while maintaining your balance, the variation approached its end with lame duck turns, posing with your arms were positioned at a 45-degree angle, your back slightly arched and your left leg doing a tendu derriére. Your eyes reflected at the mirror in front, surveying your alignment. Once your 5-second hold was finished, you properly put your arms down and closed your back leg into 5th position.

The applause from everyone in the room roared, Ten and Sicheng wolf-whistling even for more support. It’s a usual thing every time any of you perform individually, and no one minded it. The artistic director grinned, giving a quiet clap from the front before calling out the next performer, who was from the corps. Bowing to everyone hastily, you paid more attention to spot your student by the window. She was smiling ear to ear, waving both hands at you.

“You did amazing, Teacher!” She mouthed. Hearing words of praise from members was one thing, but hearing them from students was another. You’re so used to watching them and giving them your compliments that you often forget that you’re a dancer first before a teacher. Seeing them all delighted, saying that it motivates them more, showed that you’re doing a great job teaching them. You’re a reflection of what you pass down, and all you want was for them to be the best they could be.

From her jolly expression, a tall masculine silhouette hovered a part of the window. Her instinct of giving a brighter smile when the hand of said silhouette patted her head then carried her duffel bag again, that could only mean one thing. Excusing yourself to the artistic director, you stepped out to bid your goodbye and maybe meet her father. Minji and the tall man were about to leave the building if it weren’t for your breathy voice calling them out.

“Seo Minji and Mr. Seo?”

They stopped their tracks. Minji was fast to react, familiar with your voice and racing towards you for a sweaty hug. Meanwhile, your focus shifted once the masculine silhouette came into full view. You finally understood why Minji’s growth spurt spiked up, noticing that he was taller than Sicheng.

The top buttons of his shirt were off, yet he kept his formal blazer on. His hair was a bit tousled, some strands falling in front of his forehead. He must’ve run here. Peeking through were some roots of his scruff growing. His eyebags were almost as dark as his brown hair. Yet by the way his Rolex remained spotless, you blatantly assumed that he was more than well-off. Especially when the ballet academy was one of the most prestigious ones in Seoul.

Out of all the parents you’ve met, none of them appeared youthful like him.

“Teacher (Y/N)?” Thanks to Minji, you moved your staring eyes away from him. This was another first, since meeting only the fathers of your students wasn’t your norm. Meeting young-looking fathers, to be specific.

“O-Oh,” You ate your words, suddenly blanking out. “You’re leaving me without saying goodbye, Minji? Not polite of you.”

“My father was rushing right after watching your performance, and I don’t know why.” She responded, her finger scratching the top of her head in confusion. Speaking of said father, his strong presence appeared right in front of you. The wrinkles of his forehead creased while his eyes barely looked at yours.

“Uhm,” His fingers toyed with his Rolex. “I apologize for my tardiness. I got caught up in work and all, plus her nanny le-”

“Mr. Seo.” You halted his rambling, already aware of the situation. Like father, like daughter. “It’s fine. Minji loved watching us practice while waiting, and she wasn’t a bother either. You have nothing to worry about.”

“Phew.” He swiped an imaginative bead of sweat from his forehead, displaying his relief with his playful nature.

At age 23, Johnny Seo started his own company in the fashion scene and it grew internationally in the coming years. Then when Minji unexpectedly joined the picture, he’s been multi-tasking to make ends meet. Lately, as a CEO, he has had meetings and conferences on a daily. So, his position as a single father was always tested. It worsened when he rarely has proper time to spend any time with Minji unless it’s the weekend or late in the evening. Breaking it down, it wasn’t because he didn’t want to meet you. It was more like he couldn’t when his schedules were packed from head to toe.

Having the guilt of taking your precious time, “Seriously though, I am sorry for being late. Her nanny resigned suddenly, and I have no time to find her replacement.”

“Mr. Seo, again, don’t worry about it. As her teacher and a company member, I am practically here 24/7 so it won’t be a nuisance at all if this happens again.”

“Thank you so much, Teacher (Y/N). That is your name, right?” He planted his palm on his forehead, stressed. “Being a single parent is hard. I am always forgetting things.”

A part of you couldn’t restrain from feeling sorry for his struggle. Taking care of a child should be the work of both the mother and father, not one of them being absent. You’ve feared this would harm Minji, but she’s a strong girl.

“The fact you didn’t forget to fetch Minji despite the late time is still something to be happy over. I’m not a parent or anything, but parenting, in general, is a challenge.” You added an insight, patting the head of the young girl beside you. “Cut yourself some slack, Mr. Seo. I’m sure Minji still loves you, right?”

Minji shouted a big yes, now clinging to the leg of her father. “It’s okay, dad. Really.”

Over the years, Johnny has been doubtful of his parenting skills. He was an only child, and he struggled to ask for guidance from his own parents due to the shame of having a kid at a young age. So, he’d ask for help from his other friends and co-workers. No matter how many times they’ve reassured him that he’s doing well, he’s an overthinker who always reflected on the bad scenarios. There’s also that pressure to find someone who can fill that absent position not just for Minji, but for himself too. No matter how many girls he’s asked out or been set up with, he failed in the love department badly.

It’s the soothing way you voiced out your truth that made all these negative thoughts running through his head freeze briefly. Over the past 3 years since Minji started ballet, she always had a great story about you to share. One of them was how ballet made her a lot happier because of your influence. If he had at least an hour of his day to meet any of his daughter’s mentors, it would’ve been you.

“Do feel free to call me Johnny instead.” He casually introduced himself, taking his hand out for you to shake. “Mr. Seo makes me feel like I’m at work right now.”

Despite his informal approach, you understood his intentions and returned the action with a promising smile. “Pleasure to finally meet you, Johnny.”

“Pleasure is all mine, Teacher (Y/N).”

Earlier, the nerves from performing in front of the artistic director died down fast. But for some reason, they rose back up when you’ve spoken to this man in a matter of minutes. As someone whose feelings don’t flourish in a single glance, why did this man specifically deliver you such a strong effect?

If it weren’t for Ten calling for your name by the door, you would’ve held on to Johnny’s hand longer, which would’ve been inappropriate. Letting go first, this was your cue to return to your class.

“I must head back inside, Johnny. Don’t sweat on fetching your daughter late, though she is still a student with school the following day. Right, Minji?”

Minji nodded as Johnny kept that mind, knowing where he has to improve next.  “Yes, Teacher (Y/N). Thank you again, sincerely. I’ll definitely see you again in the coming days until Minji has a new nanny.”

“That’s no problem with me at all, Johnny.”

Soon as Johnny held his daughter’s hand to exit the studio and you were re-entering the studio with an impatient Ten, he swerved swiftly as if he forgot something.

“Oh by the way Teacher (Y/N), I saw your whole performance awhile ago. I was blown away, you deserved the applause.”

Although you could only distinguish his silhouette, you didn’t suppose he watched you from head to toe. Most parents or nannies would’ve dragged their kids out of the studio once they find them like they were on a tight schedule, so this was novel to experience. That performance showed your prime too.

“Thank you, Johnny. See you again soon.”

Giving a final nod, you led yourself back to the studio, not bothering to acknowledge the erupting heat on your cheeks and entire body. Not to sound narcissistic, but compliments weren’t foreign to you. You’re conscious of the hard work that you put in your talent and if they pointed out your greatness, why would you deny it? However, receiving one from Johnny was like gearing your engine with new fuel.

Before you could try to reject these harboring feelings, Ten was fast to pick up on it. You cannot hide anything from this man at all because body language was like another language he’s fluent in (aside from the other 5). Unlucky for you, the saga continued.

“You’re so into dilfs, (Y/N)!” He shrieked in your ear, nudging your shoulder repetitively. He placed things in his own way, yet they always shocked you because it was so inappropriate. Typical Ten for you.

“Shut up, Ten!” You objected, watching the other performers. You’ve improved in ignoring his remarks over time. That was until Sicheng sat down beside you after his solo and got up in your business. That placed you in the middle of boys from the water sign clan of astrology. They just loved getting down to your love life, going raunchy and whatnot.

“Who’s into dilfs, Ten?”

“A Miss (Y/N) beside you, who met Minji’s dad awhile ago, was basically eye-fucking him.” Ten elaborated, planting his elbows on your leg and gave you a sneaky glare. “Minji’s dad is fine as fuck, guys! I’m telling you, like a literal god! I’m surprised this is the first time he showed up here after 2-3 years?”

“How come (Y/N) is always getting students with good-looking parents? Especially the single moms.” Sicheng slumped his shoulders, attempting to get your attention too. “Is he that hot, (Y/N)?”

“Yah.” Sighing with annoyance, you’ve given up trying to appreciate one of the corps dancers with her rendition of Dulcinea from Don Quixote. “Don’t speak of Johnny like that. You barely know the man, yet you talk about him so unprofessionally."

“Oh, Johnny is his name, huh?” Sicheng sing-songed, bobbing his head. He’s certainly going to stalk him later on social media, you felt it in your chest. Like it was ESPN or something.

“Talking about being unprofessional, yet you’re here referring him as Johnny, not Mr. Seo.” Ten barked back, his lips pursed and one eyebrow lifted.

Just as soon as you could retaliate, the artistic director’s velvety voice boomed the room.

“Alright, thank you to the performers. I will deliberate with the staff and principal dancers over the weekend, and let you know the results on Monday. Now please, let’s proceed to the center.”

Everyone began to spread out on the wide floor, snatching a good position so they could monitor themselves in the mirror. Maybe you’ll defend yourself later after class because now, you needed to beat everyone else and have a crystal-clear view of yourself doing these following exercises.

In the meantime, Johnny was in the middle of driving Minji home. He had a designated chauffeur, but he gave him the night off because he wanted to spend time with Minji. Around this time, she’d be sleeping soundly, but instead, she’s boosting with so much life. She hasn’t even eaten dinner yet, which was the first thing on Johnny’s agenda now.

Playing Coldplay in the car, Minji belted some lyrics from her favorite songs while Johnny smiled to himself while listening to her attentively. Taking a breath, her thoughts reverted to her fantastic ballet teacher and shared them with her father.

“Dad! Don’t you just think Teacher (Y/N) is so cool? Ugh, I want to be just like her when I grow up.”

“Oh, to become a ballerina like her, you have to work hard every day and memorize lessons fast. Are you up for it, Minji?”

“Absolutely, dad! I want to pull off perfect jumps and turns like her one day!”

In the other after-school activities Johnny enrolled Minji in the past, none of them compared to the passion she had for ballet. Her work ethic was alike to Johnny’s: if they want something, they’ll do whatever it takes to make it possible.

Aside from being a star student in her school, she’s aiming to be a star ballerina. Being the supportive father he is, Johnny was on board to do what it takes to make it happen. Unlike his parents trying to mold him into the next heir of their company, he’s all ears to the dreams of his daughter. His only dream for her was to be live long and happy, not to merely pass on anything.

Johnny lost so much in his young life, so he doesn’t want to lose Minji in any way. As much as he loves his profession, he wanted to be an active father as much as time allowed it. He mostly received complaints from others that he’s not prioritizing his time well, but after hearing your kind words, this heavy weight on his shoulders decreased. All this doubt started to vanish after meeting you for the first time.

“Dad! Isn’t Teacher (Y/N) so beautiful?” Minji honored whilst gazing at the twinkling night sky. “She loves what she does and shines at it.”

Johnny was accustomed to his female co-workers throwing themselves at him due to his attractiveness, more than flattered even to have them feeling weak for him. Yes, there were times he used it to his advantage, some he frankly turned down. 

However, the radiance you carried whether you’re dancing or not was something Johnny couldn’t cease wondering about. Unknown to him, he’s the one getting weak. Behold, an unlocked first for the confident CEO.

“Yes, Minji. I do think Teacher (Y/N) is absolutely beautiful.”

[saturnsatiin]

my first post is gonna be a silly little book rant letsa go

throne of glass is garbage

there, I said it. And now I'm going to explain because I didn't suffer having to read that dumpster fire of a book and then do a project on it for nothing.

here we go:

Right off the bat Celaena is the worst mc I've ever read. Literally Ebony Dark'ness Dementia Raven Way type shit. She's apparently good at everything, beautiful (the book mentions it every 50 seconds), but 'not like other girls' because she reads books. Already terrible, I know, but it gets worse. It says she's the greatest assassin in the land, the book doesn't fail to remind you of that every 20 words, but she never actually kills anyone. It gets so annoying, especially when she's also constantly mentioning that she could easily kill everyone in the room. Her flashy assassin skills that the book advertised in the cover summary was hardly shown at all, but that isn't the only thing that pissed me off about this shitty wattpad fanfic that got published.

The huge tournament thing that was hyped up throughout the book and on the cover summary hardly even happened. I read expecting some awesome hunger games-esque fight scenes but I didn't get any of that? The tournament was summed up in a flashback type thing in like two sentences? It was ridiculously disappointing because my thought process was that it doesn't matter if the mc is annoying if the fight scenes and plot is okay. At this point, I was ready to shut the book, but I needed to do an English project on it so I kept reading, and it doesn't get any better from there.

I know I've already mentioned that Celaena is annoying, but this was a major turn off for me so I'm dedicating another paragraph to it. She doesn't stop complaining! It pisses me off!! Every fifteen seconds she's like, 'my boobs! my hair! I'd rather wear pants because I'm not like other girls!' and it had me seething. It doesn't help that when she isn't complaining, she's always talking about how pretty she is. We get it, you have blue eyes and blonde hair, you don't have to mention it every two paragraphs.

I came for bloody fight scenes and a cool female character, and what I got was a fucking y/n with a love triangle! Now, love triangles can be done well, but this one was so generic and essentially became the main focus of the story--which would be fine, if that was what was advertised.

Anyways, after finishing it and deciding that I'm never picking up Maas's work again, I looked on the wiki in hopes that it gets better--guess what? It doesn't! If you thought Celaena was a Mary Sue before, you won't believe what I found!! That's right, she's a lost princess! Yes, you heard that folks! Like someone's roblox royale high oc! Honestly, I'm not even surprised at this point. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if she got sold to one direction at some point in the books either, because that's how much of a shit character she is!

And I know people are going to say, 'iT gEtS bEtTeR iN tHe fOuRtH bOoK' but four books is too long! I'm not reading through 3 books of hot garbage just to get to the good part!!

All in all, this book is ridiculously overhyped and frankly, complete ass. Don't read it! Unless you like bad books I guess, in which case be my guest.

[therealvinelle]

How many people do u think the cullens have killed?

A lot.

I’ll try to answer on a Cullen to Cullen basis, and make my estimate as conservative as possible. Also, for this estimate I'll look only at direct kills, complicity doesn’t count, which for example means I won’t add Royce King II & friends to Carlisle’s count, even though he made himself complicit when he helped Rosalie plot their murders.

Without further ado:

Alice has had her accidents, plural, so 2≤ humans. After joining the Cullens, mind you, we don’t know how she lived as a newborn. I’d guess her visions told her to feed from animal blood early on, to accustom her to it sooner rather than later so life among the Cullens would be easier. The interesting thing about Alice having a body count is that her gift should be helpful in avoiding these kinds of situations, meaning that Alice’s accidents have caught her unawares. So, we have at least two humans, and considering the newborn army the number might be higher. Might. Jasper tried his damndest to keep Alice safe in that fight, so it stands to reason he killed anyone who got close to her. Alice might not have had the chance to kill any newborns. If she did, and counting kills she helped with, then I’d put my estimate at a conservative 0-1. Then we have Rosalie, who says she has the second best streak in the family, second only to Carlisle. Rose killed 5 humans (she corrects herself a bit later to 7, but this doesn’t make a difference. She’s still second best to Carlisle). She admittedly doesn’t mention Alice, but if Alice had a better record than her she likely would have. Which jumps Alice up another few steps, to 8≤.

Bella hasn’t killed anyone. 0.

Carlisle had a perfect record until the newborn army attacked. So, no humans, but most likely newborns. When Carlisle attacks Bree in “The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner”, it’s a fast and brutal attack. I’ll just paste the scene: A blond vampire glanced at me, meeting my gaze, and his eyes flashed gold in the sunlight. (...) I turned and really ran for the trees (...) I was a few feet into the trees when a force like a wrecking ball hit me from behind and threw me to the ground. An arm slipped under my chin. (The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, page 91) For the record, holy shit Carlisle, that was so brutal! I can’t believe that the minute Bella steps off screen the guy rips off his shirt and becomes the Terminator. Damn. ... Point being, Carlisle was an active participant in that battle. It makes ethical sense for him to be, the newborns had to die, it would have been hypocritical to tell his family “you guys go roll in the mud, I’m too saintly to get my hands dirty”, and if he didn’t pitch in his family and the shapeshifters would be in danger. It becomes morally just to join in the battle, and with a zeal at that. Or at least that’s how he appears to have reasoned, because holy shit, Carlisle took the gloves off. So, Carlisle can reasonably be assumed to have killed at least 1 newborn, likely more. I’d say 3 at the most, though there’s the possibility that he co-opted some kills with the others. (I have more thoughts further down).

Edward left for four years to eat people. At first he ate junkies and homeless people, they did not taste good. Would this have motivated him to eat more than one every fortnight? Alas, I’m keeping my estimate conservative, so let’s wager no. So, one human per fortnight for four years. 26*4=104. That’s the lowest possible estimate of people Edward killed, though I’m inclined to think higher. Given his mission to stop evil, if Edward found a rapist it’s not like he’d go “aw shucks, I can’t kill him yet because it hasn’t been a full two weeks!” Add Victoria to that count, and we’re at 105≤.

Emmett killed his two singers, but considering Rosalie’s statement he too falls under the 8≤ number. He helped kill James, which adds +1 to the vampire tally. Then comes the newborn battle. Bree sees him kill one of the newborns, so we know he got some action. I’ll make the same assumption as I did for Carlisle, which is 1-3. So, 2-4 vampires total.

Esme is explicitly stated to have a worse record than Rosalie. She has killed 8 people or more. As for the newborn army, I’m not sure I can picture it. If Esme did kill anyone, I imagine it was along with others. Let’s put her down for 1.

Jasper my poor guy, he’s in another league. Turned in 1863, he lived with Maria until 1938, then met Alice and became a vegetarian in 1948. He’s had a few accidents since. From 1863 to 1938 I think we should assume one person per week, as strength was paramount in the world of newborn armies, blood was a reward for soldiers, and Jasper won Maria a lot of territory. They would not want for blood, and he recounts she rewarded him often. So, 52*75=3900 dead humans. Jasper then runs off with Peter and Charlotte, presumably eating at a normal rate of every other week. We don’t know when he split off from them, but let’s assume an even split and that he left after five years, leaving another five years of lone wandering where he tried to starve himself. So, 26*5=130 for his years with Peter and Charlotte, then assuming he made it a month each fast before surrendering, 13*5=75 for the lone years. We then have accidents. He’s had more accidents than any of the other Cullen children (I don’t think it’s every actually specified that he’s had more accidents than them all, meaning Esme could still have slipped more), putting him at 9≤ accidents. Then comes the vampires he’s killed. We know he killed Nettie, Lucy, and James, so that’s 3. Newborns take time to train, but to make up for that we have a lot of armies. Let’s assume Maria’s army got into one battle every six months. Let’s assume Jasper always killed at least 1 vampire. (See what I meant by conservative? In my defense, Victoria’s army was huge and not at all representative) That’s 130≤ vampires. Jasper also mentions that as a newborn he kept getting into fights with his brothers-in-arms, he killed several. So, let’s assume 4≤, since it sounds like it was certainly more than 2. More numerous are the vampires he executed. Jasper’s gift meant Maria could have a lot more soldiers than most, and he doubled her army’s numbers. His first major accomplishment was to make her an army of 23 newborns. Assuming he kept up this good work, knowing as we do that Jasper was the only vampire Maria never replaced, and assuming some newborns were lost to infighting or battles, we can assume a replacement cycle of Maria needing 20 vampires executed on a yearly basis. 20*75 = 1500. Which... does feel a little high, but Jasper’s backstory is extreme. As for the newborn battle, let’s assume 4.

Renesmée hasn’t killed anyone either, 0.

Rosalie we know for sure, 7 humans. Let’s assume as with Carlisle and Emmett that she took out 1-3 vampires.

(NOTE: When it comes to how many newborns from Victoria’s army each Cullen killed, all we can do is estimate:

The Cullens divided evenly with the shapeshifters. There were 16 newborns at the battle, giving us 8 newborns per Cullen. There were 6 Cullens present, meaning at least 1 each. Jasper did more than his fair share, and Alice and Esme can both be speculated to have been smaller parts in this battle. I think it’s fair to assume Carlisle, Emmett, and Rosalie killed at least 1 newborn each, though likely more, especially if we take shared kills into consideration. I think 1-3 is a fair assumption, and I’m tempted to assume Jasper killed was everywhere and it feels like lowballing to estimate 4.)

Total:

Alice: 8≤ humans, 0-1** vampire. 9 total

Bella: 0

Carlisle*: 1-3**, all vampires.

Edward: 104≤ humans, 1 vampire. 105≤ total

Emmett: 8≤ humans, 2-4** vampires. 10≤ total

Esme: 8≤ humans, 1 vampire. 9≤ total

Jasper: 4105≤ humans, 1638≤** vampires. 5743≤ total

Renesmée: 0

Rosalie*: 7 humans, 1-3** vampires. 8≤ total

*with both Carlisle and Rosalie we have an upper limit. Carlisle’s body count can’t be higher than 15, and Rosalie’s can’t be higher than 22 (I get the number 15 from 16-1 newborns, as there’s one vampire we know for a fact was killed by Emmett alone) and that would be in an extremely contrived scenario where he or she was somehow everywhere at once.

** when adding up the total of vampires killed by Cullens at the newborn army, regardless of the composition of who killed who, the sum is (assuming an even split with the shapeshifters) 8.

Added together, this gives us:

4240≤ humans and 1643≤ vampires.

If we remove Jasper’s past from the equation, because newborn army George who spent 75 years in a newborn army killing every day is an outlier and should not have been counted, then the tally becomes: 

144≤ humans and 10 vampires.

If we remove Edward’s rebellious era from the equation, as he was not a Cullen at the time, the human tally sinks to: 

40≤ humans. (This is counting Rosalie’s revenge. There have been 33≤ accidents.)

This is the lowest possible estimate. The number is likely higher.

Special thanks to @theunexpectedness​ on the Twilight Forever discord for digging up her copy of “The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner” for me so I could get my quotes straight.

Also, feel free to point out errors in the math. I’m sure I’ve made some.

[not-me-simping-for-blasty]

if you need more asks.. may i suggest pining + jealous bakugou🥺 when he has no right to be jealous bc you’re not together but he still wants to prove that hes better than whoever has your attention

i- just wow what a perfect ask. truly delicious tysm

alsoooo ik this isn’t exactly what u asked for but it just fit super well with the rest of the ask so how bout sum secret-relationship!bakugou ???

—/—

Bakugou hated liars.

He hated people who would bend the truth and skew stories and give people false hope. He wasn’t a liar, obviously, and you weren’t a liar either. That’s why he even liked you so much in the first place. Or was. Until now.

It’s just- in Bakugou’s humble, yet self-decreed correct opinion, Denki was a idiot. Not just an idiot either, no, Denki Kaminari was a certifiable moron. An absolute blockhead who fried his own brain on the daily, for entertainment, and only had half a brain cell when Kirishima lent him one. This was Bakugou’s personal theory from the day he met the blonde, and so by that logic, obviously it was correct. Especially because Bakugou was never wrong, has never been wrong, not once in his-

That’s not the argument here. What is the argument here- what is the nagging, disgusting little problem digging away at Bakugou’s side, is how you’re currently breaking all his trust in you and lying and telling blatant fibs all over the common room.

He was currently sitting in the kitchen, scowling and muttering expletives into the table as he finished up assignments. You were supposed to be sitting across from Bakugou, where he could see you and talk to you and get started on schoolwork with you. In peace. But then the idiot walked in, loud and shouting, showing off a new ‘trick’ with all the grace of a legless deer. But it worked! Somehow Denki stole you away into the common room, far away from Bakugou, and instead tricked you into spending your time goofing off. Instead of studying like you promised!

You broke a promise, which meant you lied, in Bakugou’s eyes, and that was just plain unacceptable. What made it even worse though, what really put a giant stain all over Bakugou’s perfect afternoon, was that you did it with Denki Kaminari! Of all fucking people.

“Denki!” You cheer, cheeks red and ruddy from smiling all afternoon. “That was so cool! Do it again!”

Bakugou rolled his eyes. Another lie. You were obviously lying, because it, Denki- was not cool. He was not cool whatsoever, not even when he hung around Bakugou, so you were obviously lying. All the idiot was doing was making his hair stand on end- using his quirk to create static hair-dos like a dunce and you were laughing at it? Impressed by it?

No. No- clearly, clearly you were lying, or suffering from brain damage because someone hit you over the head which seemed unlikely because Bakugou’s been watching you all day and he’s fast, so fast and so strong and so capable, way more capable than fucking Denki, and cool too, so cool and he would’ve stopped that before it-

Again. Not the point.

“Look! Y/n,” Denki suddenly yells and Bakugou thinks he sounds like screeching hellspawn. “Guess who I am? Look! Guess!”

Oh.

Oh, okay. So Denki wasn’t just stupid- he must’ve been brain-dead and asking to be real dead because there he was, smiling like an idiot with his hair spiked up like Bakugou’s! Ruining Bakugou’s carefully-crafted and cool style- clouding it and smothering it in utter incompetence and a complete lack of higher brain function.

This just wouldn’t stand- not in Bakugou’s fucking common room.

“Dunce face! Better say your goddamn prayers, bitch!” Bakugou roars, tearing through the kitchen and into common room. “Swear to fucking god I’m gonna murder you!”

“Heyyyy, b-buddy.” Denki’s up and running, hiding around the opposite end of the couch as he holds up a placating hand. “I was just- it’s a joke! A joke, you know?”

“No I fucking don’t know, you absolute idiot!” Bakugou screams, chasing him down with explosions igniting. “It’s not fuckin’ funny! You havin’ the fuckin’ nerve to mock me like you’re not the single stupidest organism on the entire fucking planet! You’re a fuckin’ stain, you imbecile!”

Bakugou’s feeling good- feeling alive and fiery and carnivorous as he rounds on Denki. As he backs Denki into a corner, like he knew he would, since the blonde is quite literally the stupidest person Bakugou can think of. Bakugou raises his hand, nitroglycerin gathering in his palms. Denki screams. Like an absolute bitch.

“Y/n!” Denki wails. “Help me! Call somebody! Get Aizawa- I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die and get blown up and get-“

Bakugou ignites the gel waiting in his palms. Noise and chaos and Denki’s girlish screams fill the room. It smells like burning and soot and fire and then? The smoke clears- the smoke clears and Denki is still fucking talking.

“Y-you, you burnt my hair off! Bakugou!” He screeches, grabbing at fistfuls of his charred hair. “How- I- why, man?”

“Because I’m sick of your fuckin’ idiotic tricks!” Bakugou screams from above him, his spit covering nearly every surface of surrounding area, “And now you look as fuckin’ stupid as you act, idiot. Serves you fuckin’ right!”

Denki wails again. He’s beside himself and skitters away, tail between his foolish legs, towards the nearest bathroom to check the damage. He’s out of the room in seconds. Out of Bakugou’s sight- good.

Bakugou walks away triumphant, leaving behind a crime scene of fried hair and Denki’s soot-backed, cowering, outline on the wall. All is suddenly right in the world of Katsuki, and he takes a victory lap back towards the kitchen.

“You didn’t have to do all that, you know.” You say, leaning against the kitchen door frame. “I would’ve come back eventually.”

“I-I didn’t- he fuckin’ deserved it for makin’ fun of me!” Bakugou yells, turning his face away to hide his blush. “It was for me, you shitty woman! Why the fuck would I have-“

“Mhm.” You nod, before giving a quick sign. “See that’s kind of a shame though, because if it was for me, I would be super proud of the winner. I have a real thing for winners, you know, an-“

“I won!”

“What’s that, blasty?”

“I said- I said I fuckin’ won! You were there! You fuckin’ saw it with your own shitty eyes!” Bakugou is red in face now, hands clenched into fists. “I won- I killed him! Just like I said!”

“You fried his hair.”

“Whatever- who fuckin’ cares! He still lost! I won!”

“Yeah, I guess you did.” You walk closer to him, taking his clenched fists into your hands. “Now stop being so pouty and mad, will you? You won, and it’s over, and you’re still the one who wanted to keep us a secret, remember?”

“Yeah! Because of idiot’s like him- always fuckin’ runnin’ his mouth and sayin’ shit! I don’t wanna deal with it!”

“Alright then, Katsu. I get it. Calm down.” You soothe, running your finger through his hair. He leans into your touch. “Besides, I like you and your hair better, so no need to get so jealou-“

“Who said I was fuckin’ jealous, hah?” Bakugou screams. “I didn’t! I wasn’t! I’ve never been jealous, that’s fucking stupid, something stupid people do, and I’m not stupid! I don’t do it and-“

You just laugh, pressing a kiss into his hair as he screams.

[mk-wizard]

Sailor Moon 90s Anime is STILL the best

Hi. I know I am on a Sailor Moon binge here, but after seeing all of Crystal, Eternal and on R (season 2) of the first anime, I want to get this all off of my chest... and before I go further, since these are all animes, I will refer to them as 90s, Crystal and Eternal. And after watching them all, I have to say that the 90s takes the gold medal as the best Sailor Moon anime so far and this is why;

1- It had the best pacing. - While I admit that sometimes, it went too far with the filler, 98% of the time, it worked with the 90s. It took its time to make you get to know the characters for better or for worse, it made you see different sides of them, it gave them a chance to truly develop and be multi-dimensional, and it made you care about them. When a death happened, it felt tragic. When a victory happened, you cheered. And when you saw what side characters did, it mattered. I mean, who can ever forget the contribution 90s Naru Osaka had to the story? And everyone who has seen the 90s anime cannot forget her. More on the character development and getting to know characters later.

Sure, it wasn’t true to the manga and even the characters had different personalities, but I let that slide by because when Crystal and Eternal did follow the manga to the letter, we didn’t get a chance to digest anything. The only characters who develop are Usagi, Chibi-Usa and the outer guardians, and for the last bunch, it was the bare minimum. Crystal and Eternal were fun rides and I would be lying if I said I didn’t like them, but they were like roller coasters. They gave you a thrill, but fast and been done. The 90s was like a slow scenic ride that gave you surprises, emotionally touched you, made you cry, made you laugh, made you root for the heroes and even at the age of 37 years now, I keep rewatching this series.

2- The art of the 90s was better because it was sketchy, dark and edgier. - I know Sailor Moon doesn’t seem like this on the surface because the heroines are lovely girls in cute costumes, it emphasizes femininity and all things pretty, it has a romantic theme and is all about love, but Sailor Moon is also one of the darkest, grittiest, edgy and violent magical girl animes I have ever seen since Magic Knights Rayearth. Sailor Moon has on screen deaths which were permanent most of the time, on screen stabbings and the drawing of blood, and fights that got so hardcore, that real punches and kicks were thrown. The dark edges, black line art and sharp edges worked with the atmosphere of the story. I mean, look at the difference between the halls Dark Kingdom of the 90s (above) and that of Crystal.

And if that is not enough to win you over, the characters were much more animated, organic and conveyed more emotion whether they were exaggerated or serious.

In Crystal, the expressions and body language was very dulled down. Not to mention, very stiff.

Everything is also too bright and soft which makes the characters look like velvet dolls with too much make up especially with the line art. I will give them props for adding better details, cleaner lines, the glow of magical items, and details in the gems, but everything else is all wrong.

Eternal was better, but still not quite there. The colours are still way too bright and the characters still look too much like dolls from having line art that is too wispy. And I really do not like how the eyes have this unnatural glow to them. The edgy scenes become lost with all this brightness.

3- We got to see that there was so much more the characters than just heroes or villains. - Since Usagi is the titular character, let us just talk about her in the 90s since I could go on forever about how much we learned about the characters. In any version of Sailor Moon, Usagi’s role as a Sailor Guardian has always been the core of the story and she does indeed show progress as one. However, the 90s tells us that no matter what, she is still going to be herself too which is just as important and she shows character development as just plain old Usagi too. The manga, Crystal and Eternal which only paint Usagi as not doing anything right except be a Sailor Guardian, but the 90s show her hidden talents and learning new skills. For example, she was bad at cooking at the beginning of the series.

However, by Sailor Moon R, she gets the hang of it and is able to cook a meal by herself. Yes, she is messy, clumsy, never gets the hang of making cookies and is nowhere near Makoto’s level especially when it comes to presentation, but she is good at cooking food.

Another hidden talent of Usagi’s is her drawing skills. She isn’t just good at drawing. She’s got talent at it, so in the 90s, Usagi is quite the artist.

And it is admirable that 90s Usagi is open to trying new things even if she isn’t good at them. She practices, she explores and tries to enlighten herself. Sure, academics, coordination and organization will never be her fortes, but she really does have other and tries to discover more.

In Crystal and Eternal, she is good at being Sailor Moon, she is a good friend and a good girlfriend, but that is it. She is one dimensional here and she isn’t the only one to painted like that. Everyone is only the obvious and that is all the audience gets.

4- Better character redemption. - I mentioned before that Sailor Moon had grit and was dark, but the 90s also made it more complex and did character redemption right. It was open to the possibility of bad people becoming good. For instance, the Black Moon Clan Specter Sister are unforgettable for being successfully redeemed.

Yes, I admit that the monster of the day would get killed by the hands of the Sailor Guardians, but they also clearly showed that the monsters were not people or even alive. They were made of energy, clay or sand. When the monster of the day was a possessed innocent, they were saved through exorcism. Very rarely was an actual person ever killed and even when they were, it was either by the hands of another villain, their own hand, self defense or as a last resort. They never used killing as means of dealing with every single bad guy.

Furthermore, the bridge arc about the Makai Tree that also served as a prologue to Sailor Moon R could be seen as a story about mercy, kindness and love. It stands out as the one time the big bad was actually a misunderstood big good being the Makai Tree herself. And even Ail an An were never bad, but were raised bad. And even then, they changed. This story is unique only to the 90s so far, but it was great and stood out for that reason.

In Crystal, the heroines will kill a person without a second thought which I am shocked that no one brings up how repetitive and contradictory that is. The pretty warrior of love and justice should by all means protect the Earth, but doing so by killing off the bad guy all time is not love or justice. I also think the caption in this picture sums up how I feel about how the one and only time bad guys were given a chance to be redeemed...

Eternal was better because the Asteroid Guardians got redeemed and saved. However, even then, I feel like there is still a double standard. They were one of the good guys to begin with and Sailor Guardians. In the 90s, the Amazoness Quartet wasn’t, but were given a chance to change anyway. I find it cool that the Quartet turned out to be Sailors and even better that they will go on to become Chibi-Usa’s team, but mercy is not just for your allies or for your own benefit. Everyone should be given at least one chance to fix their mistakes.

5- We got to know Mamoru better. - I admit that no matter the incarnation, Tuxedo Mask will never be as powerful as Sailor Moon except when he is King Endymion, but the 90s take on his character made him better even if they did omit his super attack being Tuxedo le Smoking Bomber. What the well dressed masked man lacked in firepower, he made up for in intelligence, insight about the enemy’s weakness, courage and skill. The only times he ever did get overpowered was either by bad luck or because it was intentional because he was taking a hit for Sailor Moon. And even then, he always got back up. He’s a real man like that.

More importantly, we get to know him as Mamoru too. Even before he confides being an amnesiac to Usagi, we see his struggles with feeling alone in the world from having no memory of his life before a tragic accident which also killed his parents. Now, him being a stern cynical person makes sense because I probably wouldn’t be pleasant to be around either if I lived with that. Once his walls come down, we see that deep down, all he wants is to belong somewhere and have a family. It should also be noted that 90s Mamoru doesn’t love Usagi because he is “destined” to. He loves her because he wants to. Even during that brief period where he broke up with Usagi was an act of love. The thing I also always liked best about 90s Mamoru is that even though he loves Usagi more than life itself, his life doesn’t revolve around her which is a healthy thing and he tries to encourage Usagi to be the same way for her own good. He is studying to be a doctor, he has a job and he even has his own crowd which I think is great.

In Crystal and Eternal, while I do see an attempt at trying to follow this trend by showing that Usagi and Mamoru were on their way to falling in love even before they got their memories back, I still find he was one note and we never really learn much about him that has nothing to do with Tuxedo Mask, Endymion or anything royal related. Sure, we know that he’s studying to be a doctor and is a genius to an extent too, but that is it.

I would like to end this by admitting that the 90s was not perfect either, but out of all the takes on the tale of Sailor Moon as of date. Crystal and Eternal were ok, but they just cannot stand up to the quality of the 90s. The only thing I can say I find Crystal did better than the 90s were the costume designs. Specifically, how they let Venus keep her chain belt, Pluto’s key chain belt, Uranus and Neptune’s shorter gloves, Uranus’s sword, Uranus having two earrings, Mercury’s suit is shoulder less which I always found suited her better, and I liked Sailor Moon’s brooch and necklace better in season 1.

And even then, I should have liked it if Jupiter’s antenna was always on display as it is just something I always found cute in the manga, I liked Mars’ five point star earrings better in the 90s, and I like how in the 90s, each of the Inner Guardians’ sailor stripes were a little different.

Of course, this is all my opinion. I would like to hear which of the animes did Sailor Moon right in your opinion and why. Thanks for reading and stay safe, and have a great day.