#and you know his drama-seeking butt

[maspers]

I think the best Danganronpa power move would be to just openly claim to be the Mastermind from the very start. Be like "yeah I'm the Mastermind, sorry everyone I had a GREAT idea while I was sleep deprived and now we're stuck here and I wiped some of my memories to ensure I couldn't go back on this so whoops my bad" and claim that's the first motive. Just act really chummy with Monokuma. Someone asks why they can't just kill me and be over with this and I'm just like "yah this is all automated I'm basically a regular student in the system so killing me won't end it sorry". 

The real Mastermind is *furious* but Monokuma lets it go because he lives for drama and only reveals that sort of thing when the game's integrity is in question. Everyone gets so focused on my antics that they forget to kill each other, and that gives me more time to figure out who the Mastermind is. 

Well, either that, or I end up dead within the first chapter. But like. It'd be funny.

[mrscakeishere]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beta Reviews!

“I just passed the sausages!”

“Omg it really was chipboard!”

“I can't believe you. I just can't.”

Polycakes (me and Polychrome, aka @polychromicron-persei-8) here, proudly hurling the first fanfic grenade in the @goodomensafterdark Smut War with The Long Road To Meatballs (rated Explicit, 4786 words).

Summary and excerpt below!

NSFW CW: light BDSM, butt plugs, oral sex, penis inflation (not in excerpt but on AO3)

The Long Road to Meatballs

After an unfortunate miscommunication regarding the lack of spice in their lives, Aziraphale and Crowley seek out IKEA’s new intimate playroom products for the South Downs cottage. When their purchase—and all 279+ parts—proves too difficult to assemble, Aziraphale and Crowley take matters into their own hands (literally). It's the IKEA comedy smut you never knew you wanted but can't live without.

IKEA had evolved a great deal over the decades, as had Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship. The Swedish furniture and furnishings company—in a debatably misguided and belated attempt to be a part of the sex-positivity movement—had developed designs for one’s personal intimate playroom, including the TRÄLDOM, BOTÖVNING, and FLATHET series. In addition, the Swedish designers had managed to produce products for each line that incorporated a not insignificant amount of chipboard.[1] This was quite a feat considering that most of the products listed should have been predominantly made of metal, leather, silicone, latex, or fur.[2]

As for Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship, it had evolved out of a 6000-year drama defined by mutual pining and pegged in by supernatural bureaucracy, into a satisfying pairing filled with safety, stability, and sex. Lovemaking had been glorious and intoxicating, and while it rarely verged into territory that could be considered truly “hedonistic,” both parties were quietly content in their newfound domesticity. But as we both know, dear reader, few things last forever.

And so it was on a mild Tuesday afternoon in the South Downs when an unfortunate exchange concerning Crowley’s cooking planted a seed of doubt in the demon's mind as to whether his angel was truly sexually satisfied.

[1] Note for Americans and other aliens: chipboard is the British term for particle board or low-density fibreboard. Regardless of the term, it is an unsuitable material for any type of sexual activity as it has the ability to absorb moisture like a sponge.

[2] This had led to IKEA ending up in litigation for five years over several regrettable incidents that had occurred with their compressed wooden dildo.

Continue reading on AO3 for Crowley and Aziraphale miscommunications, sex swing assembly complications, witty banter, dowels, sausage jokes, and some first-time sexual experiments: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52376542

Image by Polychrome.

[not-chatnoir]

Chat Noir as the Ultimate Catgirl (Genderneutral)!

If you are as invested in the cat girl drama on tumblr dot com as I am, I am sure you are familiar with @catgirlgames ultimate catgirl tournament. As a Chat Noir truther, I wanted to put in my two cents as to why you all should vote for Chat in the finals of this tournament (against Hello Kitty of all catgirls).

My first series of points are all to do with how cat-like this fruity boy inherently is and chooses to be when in his black spandex.

1- The Purring

Yes, he legitimately did not realize he began to purr in this scene- his cat magic grants him the charming and not at all awkward ability to involuntarily purr

2- The Scritches

This boy not only enjoys chin scratches but openly seeks them out... one step further toward him being a domestic housecat tamed by one particular spotted bug

3- The Ears

A slightly unsettling but utterly damning fact about how committed he is to the cat bit is that his cute kitty kitty meow meow ears take the place of his human ears when he is transformed. They move on their own and lead directly to his ear canal... Yeah, I try not to dwell on this one too much.

4- The Behavior

It's the butt wiggle and pounce for me. (Although technically he was under the influence of an Akuma here, I can't dispute this piece of evidence to further damn him for being a dramatic cat boy)

5- Another Cliche

Another great staple for his undeniably cat-related tropes- him being a scaredy cat. (Once again due to an Akuma, but I just love that this piece of animation exists for me to ponder where the line between catboy and boy cat lies exactly)

Other Reasons To Love This Iconic Black Cat

If you're still not convinced that he is the greatest and most iconic cat girl (genderneutral) hear me out-

He (alongside his beetle counterpart) has elemental-themed transformation upgrades that are sick as fuck.

Cmon, look at Astrochat!! Hello!!!!

He is a beloved hero but also Paris's most fearsome enemy in another timeline- one of the most swag Akuma designs and chilling dichotomies to the friendly, pun-loving cat we know and love.

Thank you for coming to my ted talk! Don't forget to vote Chat!

Bonus- here he is being cat and doing crime.

[driftward]

Title: FFXIV Write 2024 - 17. Sally Characters: Solita Grey, Urianger Augurelt Rating: Teen Summary: If the naturalist goes forward blindly where the seer might see, whose fault might her untimely death be? Notes: Weird Wild West AU - A Desertwalkers story. This is definitely a rough draft I intend to expand later

Solita made her way in the back rooms of the Cat's Eye cabaret, quietly finding her way to a door that had no markings to inform what may lay beyond, besides a 'no entry' sign nailed to its front. A seemingly casual glance around showed nobody else was present, and with that, she slipped past it, and into the space beyond.

Here lay her particular coven. Acolytes to a once great man, gone now, but determined to continue his mission of peace in these lands nonetheless. Here is where her and her comrades often spent their time, sharing gossip and information with one another, commiserating in camaradarie, and plotting their own course of influence in these lands.

Urianger appeared to be the only person currently in, sitting at a table, adjusting some kind of orrery. He looked up at her briefly and nodded to her, which she returned in kind before finding a chair to throw herself into tiredly.

"Greetings, my Grey Lady. Another vexatious day?"

She waved a hand in the air. "I enjoy my contribution to our work and how I choose to pursue it, I truly do. But some days sorely test my patience, Urianger."

"Indeed. My ear is ever thine, shouldst thou wish it."

Solita, with perhaps somewhat exaggerated drama, draped an arm over her eyes as she tilted her head back over the chair's edge. Urianger chuckled.

"'Tis of no import. A final meeting with Miss Vauban. I find her curiosity nigh inexhaustible, but perhaps this latest survey of hers shall keep her out of my hair for some time."

"Indeed. And I suppose our Adventure Naturalist has gone forth on yet another sally of discovery?"

She lifted her arm just a bit to give him a wry look.

"Why, Urianger, you sound like an levinwave aetheric serial."

"Perhaps," he said with a grin. "Mayhaps I have been enchanted by thy stories of her ventures thus far, second hand though they may be. Her travels to the grasslands with nary an incident, and yet she had much to tell. And her drawings of the southern buttes were remarkable to mine eye."

"I suppose that if there is any value to my time with her, it is in that which she brings back from her travels. I shall keep my wariness and my weariness, however. 'Tis only a question of time until she proves to be a source of more trouble than value, I am certain."

"But sooth, her excursions have been without mishap thus far, I believe. And a wealth of information besides, to hear thee tell the tale. As well as new maps which hath proven boon to our own efforts. And she heeds thine advice. Is that not what thou have oft wished, in speaking of your clientele past?""

"She is a naturalist, Urianger. We've yet to have one come to town who was not the source of some manner of trouble that needed to be handled by one of us."

"One 'twas a fool, on his own merits. Another a braggart, and I believe you rid yourself of him before his grand misadventure. The last was a naturalist only in name, as I recall, and saw to her own end."

"And I am hoping this one will see to her own end. I only wish to forestall any further damage she might do, other than to herself."

"And what of the good she hath undertaken? You yourself have had cause to admit, she is boon to our work. Having naught our obligations, but her own thirst for knowledge causing her to seek out that which we ever do ourselves wish to know. Her traversal to the petrified forest provided us a wealth of information, not only of the practical, but of the esoteric and even the occult."

"Well, yes. Boundless curiosity. A sense of questioning everything. And I will grant that she is thorough with her work. Intrepid," said Solita, reluctantly.

"Such venom with which thou deliver thy praise. I wonder, what insult hath she given unto thee? And if it is sufficient to this vitriol, why not set her free? Thou has no need to keep her on as client, and yet thou continue to serve her in thine capacity as consultant. If she truly is so burdensome, thou might relieve thyself of her company."

"And risk another incident?"

"Risk of what, my lady? She follows thine advice, and is conscientious in her work. If ought were to befall her and doom her fate, I full believe it wilt be the fates themselves conspiring against her, or the folly of man in opposing her, rather than any fault of her own due diligence."

"Well," said Solita, reluctantly, "perhaps her exploration of the northern ceruleum field will prove one of us right."

"If thou hast advised her thoroughly, then I foresee little risk of ill," he said. But after a moment of consideration, he frowned. "...is that not where the Baroness Aurelia met her end?"

"Aye. If she had listened to me more carefully regarding the warding stones, she may still yet live, and without creating such aetheric agitation in the area. I suspect she did not consider whether her little experiment of setting fire to the ceruleum sinkholes in an effort to prove their purity would shatter said stones. And perhaps she felt herself immune to the consequences of foolhardy action."

Urianger drummed his fingers on the table, slowly.

"And of the rheums which now as a result call that place home? We may find them simple to handle, but one without the gift of suitable sight to peer beyond the curtain of material reality may not so readily be able to handle them until it is rather too late."

"If she has taken appropriate precautions," said Solita cooly, "then she will have no problem."

"Are not thou meant to be such precaution?"

"I have given her all the information she asked for."

"And yet denied her that which she needs."

Solita gave him a withering glare. "Are we now questioning how I comport myself?"

Urianger bowed his head, squeezing his nose between his fingers.

"...aye."

Solita sat up fully, and frowned at him.

"This woman hath done thee no insult, and indeed, has been of great boon. She has given you first refusal of her work, despite your contract asking for no such thing. She has shared fully her findings with thee. She heeds thee, and I believe, even sees you perhaps as mentor in these strange lands. That you have led her astray speaks not to her character, but to thine."

"She may yet prove trouble, Urianger. She minds me, to be certain. As did Aurelia. And all that you have said could be said of others. I will not be charmed by her. As you will surely recall, Aurelia herself was gifted with etiquette and charm."

"And yet as I recall, thou were never fooled by her, facade as it was. You are the seer, she whose vision pierces into the heart of truth, unblinded by any veil. Tell me true, doth Miss Vauban present facade or honesty?"

Solita looked away.

"...she is as honest as she is earnest. That is to say, she is plenty of both." She rallied. "But if it is not duplicitousness that shall lead her to ruin, than surely it is that naïveté she carries. I simply cannot believe anyone such as her could survive in a place such as this."

"And yet, she lives. You are not the only one keeping an eye on her, you know. We all know the risks of those who would turn to these lands for their own profit. And yet, Thancred thinks well enough of her. Jovial though he may seem, thou knows well his cynicism of people. And the deeds master says she has even been asking after that abandoned range outside of town. She has profited, but not at the expense of others. Indeed, she thrives, steered by our own seer and her own wisdom."

Solita just crossed her arms, and sank into her chair, head down, ears back, thinking.

Urianger's voice softened.

"My lady, I have never known you to waver in the strength of your conviction, whether in the pursuit of knowledge, the mission we have undertaken unto the service of this star, or in how thou 'comport thyself'." he said. "But I also have never known thee to prevaricate in the manner of facing thine own errors of judgement."

He smiled at her. "Howsoever rare they might be. But! I charge thee; why dost thou hesitate now?"

"Urianger, we don't even know her actual name!"

"And does she know thine birth name?"

"I make no secret of myself."

"Nor she of herself, I believe. The names we are given are oft no gift, but instead an obligation, unwanted and unwarranted. Thus do I charge thee, which is more true; that name which was given unto us, or that name which we make for ourselves?"

Solita's ears dropped, and she waved a hand to the side.

"You are very invested in this woman who you've not even met, Urianger."

"I do not wish to see thee sully thy reputation in a fit of perhaps excessive defensiveness over what thou seem, instead of who thou art. I know not her, 'tis true. But, I would like to believe I have come to know thee, my Gray Lady."

He leaned forward. When he spoke, his tone was gentle.

"Your talent is to see truth, of this world, of others, of yourself; but thus, thou knows how to hide from thyself. This distance hath kept you thus far. But I believe your turmoil, your unseemly agitation at this woman, beyond that which I hath heard from you regarding your many clients o'er the summers, is because thou now face a change. I shall gainsay you no further; only to say thus: whither you help her or not shall define and make its mark upon thee, more than it shall upon her."

Urianger kept his gaze steady on Solita for a moment longer, before returning to his orrery, carefully arranging its orbits and axis, fingers dancing along lines of would be destiny in his future augery.

Solita watched him. Warred with herself. Clenched and unclenched her hands. And looked towards the door.

"Gods, what have I done?" she muttered. "I must needs rectify this matter."

Solita moved off towards her room with uncommon speed. Urianger ignored her, and when she came back several minutes later, she was in an outfit rather more suited for the brushlands than for the cabaret, an ornate staff in her hand.

"Inform Thancred and the others as to where I am. If I am quick, I can catch up to her before anything untowards happens," she said. She headed for the door, stopping just at its threshold.

"Thank you," she said. "For helping a blind woman see."

"My Gray Lady sees the truth around her, whereas I merely intuit possibilities," he replied. "Thus we are always strengthened by the talents of one another."

Solita frowned, and nodded, and then she was gone.

Urianger reached into his orrery, and made a single change.

[doveshovel]

anon is right, more hunter lore.

he's very fun. love your ideas.

Do you mind if I ask what goes on regarding all the magic stuff? Is he Aideen-adjacent or just kind of vibing? Somewhere in-between? I know there's some drama going on with Sabine 🤔

I wasn't expecting my guy to get this much attention, thank you guys!

Going to be completely honest here: I'm a very new player who only really started playing SSO in January of this year, and took about a month's break from the main quests in March. As a result, I've almost definitely forgotten a lot of important lore surrounding Aideen/soul rider magic, and don't have many of the magical shenanigans in Hunter's story fully thought out :'))

But! It has definitely been on my mind. Hunter's specific role among the soul riders + his relationship with the different circles of magic are works in progress so here's what I've been working with so far!

(Content warning for some (pink) blood in image!)

Lately, I've been messing with the idea (just for fun) that Hunter's a conduit for Aideen, rather than a descendant or reincarnation. He has almost no magical power of his own, and relies pretty much entirely on the whims of an incorporeal, deity-like being to perform any kind of soul rider magic. Essentially, he gets partially possessed every now and again when what remains of Aideen's soul decides that it would be beneficial to the fate of Jorvik and/or its inhabitants. During this "possession", Hunter functions as a point at which her soul (which I think was supposed to be scattered among the horses, people, and nature of Jorvik? correct me if I'm wrong. Hunter's lore google doc is in dire need of revision and organization anyways) can condense enough to produce magic from any of the four circles, and create the illusion that he's the mystical fifth soul rider.

Other bits of this idea from the google doc:

The four runestones in Valedale respond to a concentrated "presence" of Aideen, rather than to Hunter himself.

He's aware of this. Aideen's not of this world in cannon (emerged from a falling star), and practically dissolved into the entire island of Jorvik. Containing even a fraction of her soul in a human body is a jarring experience that can cause a lot of issues for the "host" ranging from minor side effects (cold sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, mild nausea, etc.) to more severe (short memory gaps, nosebleeds, migraines, loss of consciousness, insomnia, severe nausea, visual disturbances and/or hallucinations, auditory disturbances and/or hallucinations, etc.).

Maybe losing so much of his memory and original personality in the process of getting to Jorvik counts as losing part of a soul? So it creates a kind of "empty space" that Aideen's own soul is able to fill whenever she so chooses, and that's why Hunter works as a conduit/vessel, rather than a reincarnation. Idk. May have to workshop this.

The soul riders, valiant reincarnations of previous soul riders. +This one guy who has a weird thing with the local deity

Hunter and Aideen have a similar relationship to roommates who butt heads frequently but have no intention of leaving to seek a better roommate. but in Hunter's brain/soul/body. Bodymates. Soulmates (derogatory) (not romantic) (not platonic either). Symbiotic relationship. Both parties benefit and Hunter recognizes the necessity of it for saving Jorvik but he's still having a very bad no good time with the side effects, and he's still mad at her for letting him die.

This is the idea that I like working with the most so far, but I'll update y'all if there's something better in the works! :^D

As for Sabine: I was in a weird headspace while making that little comic of Hunter and Sabine up in Dinosaur Valley. At the time, it was just intended to be the end of Hunter's story. He'd be a spooky character who haunts the forest up in the valley as a ghost and that's that. Maybe the world's doomed by Garnok now, maybe the keepers find someone to replace him. Hunter doesn't know, he's dead on a mountainside and doomed to spend eternity wandering in search of an escape from Sabine.

A couple weeks after making that scene, I decided I didn't want that to be the end of his story. Just because it's kind of sad :( As much as I delight in making Hunter's wildly out of place string of crimes for a backstory, and making him experience endless horrors, Star Stable's very much a happy game for me. It's something I couldn't afford as a 10 year old but desperately wanted, and bought for myself with adult money a decade later to live out some old horseboy dream with beloved pixel horsies. :) To end my first (and so far only) player character's story there feels like a disservice, so I've got that scenario tucked away as a sort of AU/alternate timeline thing. It's still very fun to draw and think about because I love giving characters horrors to experience, but I want him to keep going on horse adventures in Jorvik :D

I decided that he does in fact die there in the Hidden Valley though. Not many people can survive that kind of thing after all. Aideen, however, decides she doesn't want to lose her vessel just yet, and Hunter's resurrected through a combination of the power of horsies and friendship Aideen's connection to the star circle and WizardEgg's (Starter horse) Starbreed magics. Magical resurrection results in the ability to channel more of Aideen's magic, but also the worsening of side effects, and a glowing star-shaped scar on his forehead that appears when using said magic.

^Old doodle from when I was playing around with negative side effects of magic :)

The whole scene creates a point of tension between he and Aideen. Hunter thinks Aideen could have done more to prevent it, and isn't particularly fond of the new, worsened magical side effects. Aideen isn't mortal and so doesn't think the way mortals do. She sees her vessel as having gained more power, and knows he'll come to understand the value of that power in the future. She's right, but he's still going to be mad about it.

As for Sabine? Hunter's still scared of her! Her and all the dark riders! They're spooky 👻 and he's a bit of a coward! Hunter lost a lot of his nerve/confidence with his memories during the boating incident, along with coordination and a couple other odds and ends.

[fereldanwench]

I keep thinking about Goro as a former Vault-Tec exec on the run (similar to Wilzig, minus his fate) and Valerie as maybe a Vault Dweller who left her vault prior to the time you decide to do your AU, and became a badass wastelander who knows the rules of the harsh outside world?

Another idea is just combining both Cyberpunk and Fallout together and explore Valerie and Goro's survival when everything they knew and had before is gone. Since Cyberpunk is 2077 and the bombs in Fallout dropped the same year, I feel like something could be done with that 👀

Brain goes brrrr thinking of your babies in the Wasteland, I'm super excited to see what you come up with for your AU, if you do it!

OBSESSED WITH ALL OF THIS

Valerie being an exile from one of the nicer vaults was immediately the first thought I had when I started thinking about the AU because it could parallel so nicely with her CP77 canon. Abernathy could be the vault Overseer, Jenkins could be an overreaching peon who gets Valerie tied up in his plot to become the Overseer which is why she gets kicked out. I was maybe even thinking about Jenkins and Valerie having some kind of arranged marriage situation for a little extra drama.

AND JACKIE COULD WORK IN IT TOO!!! He could be a surface dweller who sees her totally out of her element and takes her under his wing to help her become a Wasteland badass. And he'd stay alive because Valerie needs her bestie!!!! I've also always had a mighty need to see Jackie and Goro interact because I think they'd butt heads a lot initially but could eventually grow to respect each other.

And for Goro, the Insitute came to mind first--Like he could be a bodyguard for a defector who dies (deets pending, definitely need to refresh some of my FO lore) and then Goro is stuck in the Wasteland, totally out of his element, probably seeking vengeance, could come across Valerie at some shantytown, hires her for help, but they get distracted by bullshit per the golden rule of the Wasteland and sexy post-apocalyptic shenanigans ensue!!!!

I'm also thinking I might be able to work in my other girl, my Sole Survivor Audrey Banner, into the chaos because I think she and Valerie would be an awesome duo.

aHHHhhhhhhHHHHFJSDHFJDSK there are not enough hours in the day, I want to just roll around in all of this for like a week straight lmao

[listerbirdloml]

ghost

(for the iwbft mini story thing)

ask and you shall receive. i'm well aware this is super unrealistic but BOOO DIDNT ASK BOOO I'LL WRITE WHAT I WANT

again, no real content warning other than silliness, strong language, and rushed writing. established bicci but its like two lines. set 2/3 years after events of IWBFT. 1K words.

Ghost

"It's definitely haunted."

When Cecily first mentioned a change in their accommodation during their first tour in America, Jimmy's traitor of a brain instantly began concocting worst-case scenarios. They were going to have to camp in the American wilderness with the bears, the cougars, and the coyotes. They were going to have to ask for shelter at a lonely homestead, as though they were simple gold prospectors in the 1800s seeking shelter. They were going to have to spend another night on that godforsaken tour bus with Rowans loud snoring and Listers incessant need to initiate games of “I spy” every three seconds.

His bandmates had tried reassuring him. There was no way Cecily would let them camp in the middle of the United States, and there was no way she would let them shack up with some random family. No, what was more likely was a change in hotel. Maybe even a switch of rooms. Maybe they’d have to share.

Rowan had been right, apparently. There was a change in hotel. And now, the creators of not two but three golden albums had to spend the night in a most definitely haunted hotel, 50 miles from the nearest town.

"It's not haunted.” Two heads turned to Lister as he spoke up. They had been standing in a row on the pavement, all three of them staring up at the building as though they were getting the perfect promo shot for an indie horror film. Lister bushed his sunglasses off of his nose and rested them on top of his head. There were little red indents where they had originally sat. “I don’t feel anything.”

“You don't feel anything?” Rowan had an eyebrow raised, his voice thick with scepticism. “And pray tell, what would you feel if it was haunted?”

“Oh easy.” Lister slung an arm around Rowan's shoulder. “My butt cheeks would start clenching.” Rowan shoved him off, making him bump into Jimmy, who was still gazing up at the building in front of them. There must have been genuine concern on his face as Listers farcing stopped. “Jimjam, seriously. Dont worry. It's just for one night. Then we are on our way to LA. Theres no haunted building in LA!"

"Actually," but Lister had already walked off, and towards the front door, Rowans comment ignored. The two remaining band members sighed and watched him go, Cecily following not far behind.

“You know, there's a way we could get him back for Peegate."

That caught Jimmy's attention, and he was finally looking away from the rafters. Peegate had happened two weeks prior, during their stop in Texas. Lister had hidden on the tour bus after a stop at a rest station and then texted Rowan, telling them they'd forgotten him while he’d gone into the petrol station to use the toilets. After what was most definitely an illegal U-turn by their driver and fifty frenzied calls to Lister's phone, he’d come out of hiding, all giggles.

So yes. Jimmy was more than happy to get back at him.

The interior wasn’t much better than the exterior of the building. Jimmy thought that it wouldn’t be out of place for a period drama to take place in the room he was supposed to be sleeping in.

There was an ensuite at least, but it was currently occupied by Lister, who had called dibs on the first shower. Jimmy had put up just enough of a fight for it to seem convincing before Lister disappeared behind the door and the spray of water could be heard.

With a text to Rowan to let him know, Jimmy only had to wait all of ten seconds before the bassist was tiptoeing into the room and shuffling under the bed. There was a muffled curse as he hit his head on the frame, but soon after he went quiet, and they both waited for the drummer to reappear.

As was expected, Lister was quick out. His was still dripping with water and his usual pale skin was tinted red from the scalding heat he enjoyed in the shower, but he was thankfully dressed. With a towel wrapped around his shoulders, he yawned loudly and shuffled over to the bed. He had two hands resting on the wood of the bedpost, leaning over to press a loud and exaggerated kiss to the crown of Jimmy's head.

“Bathrooms free, sweetheart—HOLY FUCK!” With a full-body jerk, Lister stumbled backwards. He was screeching incoherently, his right leg raised off the floor.

“Somethinggrabbedmesomethinggrabbedme!” He was pointing frantically under the bed. Jimmy couldn’t keep it in and keeled over laughing. He could hear Rowan laughing just as hard under the bed, and soon he was wriggling his way out. When his upper half was visible he laid on his back, arm over his flushed red face as he continued to cackle.

Jimmy could feel his breath start to catch and reminded himself to breathe in and out correctly, but the look on Listers face made it hard to do so. He looked a true mix of dumbfounded and enraged.

“You bastard!” He stomped his foot like a petulant toddler. One hand was placed on his chest, and he was breathing heavier than normal. "That's not funny, Rowan." But he couldn’t hide the slight twitch in his lips. “You're the worst. What if I'd been naked, huh?" This only served to make Rowan laugh harder.

He scooted the full way out from under the bed and flopped onto his back next to where Jimmy sat. He was starting to calm down now, a hand over his own heart like Listers had been. The blonde sighed and laid down next to him. Jimmy turned so that he was facing their faces again.

"That's what you get for the butt comment.” Jimmy poked Listers rib and earned a swat at his knee in return.

“And Peegate. Don't forget Peegate."

“Shut it, Omondi. Now spoon me as an apology.” After a few bickering comments back and forth, the tallest agreed and turned on his side to hug the drummer, who in turn held his arms out for Jimmy, who gladly accepted. They were on top of the covers still, but none of them seemed to care as they slotted together and fell asleep.

The next morning, they received their usual Poor Hotel Etiquette lecture from Cecily.

Worth it. 

[planetkiimchi]

the hard choice | ready, set, love

featuring: day, almond, paper, son, valentine, chun (from thai drama “ready, set, love”)

word count: 1.4K words

warnings: spoilers for the drama (last episode), lots of angst.

summary — my take on the last episode of “ready, set, love” because i wish we knew what son was thinking at the end (and i really love them and can't let go yet).

"I'm not going."

Everyone stopped short in their tracks, gazes filled with questions that were too difficult to voice. Day stared at Almond, brows furrowed head cocked. Don't do this, her pleading gaze said.

Son didn't bother trying to dissuade Almond. He could see it in his brother's eyes—were they even brothers? For they were unrelated by blood, yet brought up together. Almond's jaw was dead set, but his eyes were filled with desperation. Don't make me choose, he implored Day.

Son fought the urge to cross his arms as he stared Almond down. Almond didn't spare him a single glance, but Valentine tugged on his arm, forcing him to look at her.

"Please come with us. I'm begging you."

"I... can't." Almond's voice broke, and Son saw the monster in him fighting desperately, the part of him that wanted to leave warring his his need to comply with the rules. Because even since they were kids, Almond had always been the law-abiding one, the oldest, the most responsible. The one who hated being late and always saw through their lies, who discouraged all of their rebellious acts.

Most people had a rebellious phase in their teenage years. Son definitely had had one, though not half as bad as Max’s. The latter had always felt the need to act up more than Son, always wanting to be the one in the spotlight. Butt it was difficult when the person he was fighting for attention with was the perfect, sought-after, dream son Son. Son was aware of Max’s attention-seeking tendencies, but he assumed that letting Max win would hurt his pride more than if he didn't win.

However, in all 28 years of his life—or at least the 25 of those years that Son had been alive for—Almond had never been rebellious. He was a follower of rules, and when he had agreed to Day's plan, Son had been rightfully suspicious.

"He's never been one to break the rules. He's the one that's the most likely to discourage us from breaking the law, yet he's choosing to join us now. Why?" Son had asked Day.

"Why do you have to be so pessimistic? Can’t you just be happy that your older brother is on our side?" Day had replied, and Son had dropped the subject.

Well, look at where that left them now; Valentine clinging onto Almond's sleeve while Day and Paper hovered near the door of the van.

"I know what you did." Valentine looked like she was about to cry, her eyes brimming with tears, but—admirably, if you asked Son—not a single drop slid down her cheek. "I know you told Jenny about our plan."

The look of betrayed hurt on Day's face gave Son the push he needed to speak. If Almond didn't want to go with them, that was his choice. Even if Valentine was upset, she was Day's friend, not Son's. He had no qualms about taking Paper and Day out and away from that hellhole if it meant leaving Almond behind. They were already leaving two brothers behind, what was one more? Son could live with that.

But betraying them all? Innocent, naïve Paper, who had initially refused to believe that his mother might have been forced to give him away to the Farm? Day, who'd never loved Almond the way he loved her, but had chosen him again and again, giving up her chance with Son so this plan of theirs could succeed? Valentine, who'd gotten shot and risked everything she had, just to get them all out, including Almond?

If Almond had betrayed all of them, Son would speak. For Paper and Day, who were too stunned to. To give a voice to the pain in their hearts.

"How could you betray us? I had my suspicions when you agreed, but I never thought you'd sell us out."

"Let's please just go, Val. Leave him," Day said, having regained her composure.

"No. I can't. Haven't you wondered why I refuse to leave Almond, even after knowing he betrayed us?" Valentine's voice cracked. "He's my brother." Turning to Almond, she continued, "So, please, come with us. Your mother is searching for you—she has been, for your entire life. Your mother wants to meet you. She's waiting for you. Our mother is waiting. Please, come with us."

Almond shook his head, almost like he was trying to convince himself that he couldn't possibly go. "No, I can't. The Farm is my home." With that one sentence, Almond shattered all the remaining, fragile hope Son had harboured in his heart, leaving nothing but shards of piercing hurt in its wake.

To Son, the Farm had always been a prison, the physical manifestation of the government that had stolen his parents from him. But to Almond, the Farm was a place of luxury, one that had provided for all his needs, the home in which he had gown up. It would be cruel to force him to go; but it would be crueller to make the rest of them stay.

Day wrapped her arm around Valentine. "He's made his choice, Val. We have to go." As she turned, sorrowful eyes meeting Almond's, Son realised that maybe he was the reason Almond didn't want to come. He might not want to come just for his brothers, but if Day had chosen him instead, it might just be enough to make him go. Perhaps the knowledge that the girl he liked was in love with his brother was too heavy a truth for Almond to face every waking second.

Yet, no matter what consequences it entailed, Son would choose Day, every time, over and over again. Perhaps it was selfish of him. But he had grown up in a space where he had to fight for what he wanted, and he definitely wanted Day.

He'd like to believe Day wanted him too.

Paper climbed into the van, Valentine following behind and collapsing in the seat beside him. The tears had long since flowed past the barriers of her eyelids, streaming silently down her face.

Son was the last one into the van. Moments before he shut the door, he turned to see Almond, meeting those gentle eyes that had accompanied him for practically his entire life. In a fit of spite, he slammed the doors in Almond's face, looking away. He never wanted to see his brother again.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this," Paper whispered, staring blankly past Day.

It really wasn't. Not when Almond had always been the best big brother there was, the one who comforted them when they were down, who had taught Max how to cook and read Son stories so he could sleep at night. Not when Almond and Jin were close, so close people sometimes forgot they weren't biologically related. Not when Almond was the only one there for Paper when he was distraught hearing about how corrupt the government really was. Steady, mature, responsible Almond. It was never supposed to end like that.

"Tell me, Chun, if he doesn't come, then is everything I've done in vain?" Valentine asked. It was a question Son would never have been able to answer.

"He made his choice, Val. You can't decide for him. You did what you could." If those words had come from Son, they wouldn't have been half as comforting as they were coming from Chun. But when Chun said it in his gentle, matter-of-fact tone, Valentine seemed to accept it, sniffing softly.

Son looked at his brother, and his other brother's biological sister. The best friend of the girl he loved. And, of course, Day. All of them, broken shells of people who'd just had a part of them ripped out and left behind, just because Almond couldn't bear to leave. People who had been willing to make sacrifices to escape, but not losing Almond. Not that, on top of everything else.

And now, Son's girls—for he had come to think of Valentine as his as well, by some odd familial extension—and his brother were right in front of him, hurting. Because of one selfish choice Almond had made.

Son promised that regardless of what was to come, he would never leave them like that. He could never.

In his heart, he swore it on his life.

[loopy777]

WBTA if I asked for even more Iroh II headcanons ? Seriously. I loved the ones you provided. I could totally see Iroh having everyone fawning over him yet he chooses to marry a childhood friend.

No one shall be shamed on this blog for asking for headcanons, no matter how many servings you've already had. I'm not a fan of Dickens and I've never even read Oliver Twist.

People who don't know Iroh -- or, rather, don't know him well but are in a position to observe him from a distance -- think he's a prodigy at everything he does and one of the luckiest people alive. Things just seem to work out for him, no matter what he's doing. This has actually gotten mixed a little with a general long-standing resentment of the Fire Nation in the rest of the world, that it has thrived so much in the years since the war. It's not enough that it's an economic and military powerhouse that has managed to maintain its traditional lands, but its leaders seem to be blessed by the spirits themselves.

The truth, which Iroh's closest friends and family know, is that he's had to bust his butt for everything he's accomplished in life. He actually has a learning disorder, although I don't know enough about them yet to assign one to him, and required specialized tutoring. He's always been clumsy, so he's had to do double the amount of training as everyone else to learn his Firebending forms. He's not the quickest thinker and he actually has bad instincts, so he also had to train himself to have a completely artificial set of reactions, and when he can, he takes as much time to think things over as possible.

Essentially, Iroh's big advantages are his tenacity and the opportunity his family has provided for him to have all the time and resources he needs to be the best version of himself. He recognizes this and loves his family dearly, even though he and his mother have their policy disagreements.

He owes a lot to the United Republic military, as well. Like many Fire Nation enlistees, he did a few years in the Fire Navy before being 'loaned' to the United Republic. The UR is where the world's excitement is, with all the drama that seems to seek it out and the incompetent leadership that turns every situation into a disaster. Iroh fully enjoys the structure and community, despite his tendency to "creatively interpret" his orders, and the regimented climb through the ranks gave him the time and framework to work on his skills. He is a royal, so of course he started as an officer, but he didn't use his status as a way to leap straight to the top. But, granted, his commanding officers tried to be nice to the next ruler of the Fire Nation unless he disobeyed really important orders. So one of the things he learned in his early years was how to peel potatoes, but knife skills are something his family are big on, so he just had to learn how to apply those early lessons to spuds.

It was a similar climb through the ranks that got him married. Despite having so many qualities of a romantic hero, Iroh is a not a love-at-first sight kind of guy. His childhood friend was indeed just a friend during childhood, and he had both boys and girls as friends, despite attending the Boys Academy until graduation. That particular friendship grew into being best friends, and then the best friends fell in love, and then they cautiously explored a new level in their relationship, and then they married their best friend just like the common wisdom. To an outsider, it looked inevitable, but again, for Iroh it was a steady grind that required work (including writing daily letters from wherever he was stationed) and lots of careful thought. His mother, at least, could guess where things were going fairly early on compared to everyone else (or perhaps she was influenced by her hopes and lucky), so she laid the groundwork for the formal arrangements when the time came. His marriage was something they never argued about.

One thing Iroh never quite mastered, though, is arguing itself. He has trouble understanding how what is self-evident to him can be so opaque to other people, and so he has trouble convincing anyone of something more complicated than "If we attack this place, we can win." Again, his place in the military served him well in this, because they've never been big on their people being able to argue at a higher level. He's going to have to put a lot of work into this before he can become Fire Lord; people seem to get nervous when a Fire Lord doesn't want to talk through a conflict.

[measuringbliss]

Tomb of Dracula Read-Through 2 (#5-10)

MASTERPOST

Look who's here! Blade!

In this demonic land, Dracula quickly understands that Taj is his only chance at feeding, so he'd better save him ("You're mine," he says.)

I personally think they should kiss first but oh well.

They eventually find another mirror, and they're back in Transylvania! Dracula locks Taj in a coffin, and goes looking for food...

He's fully out as a bisexual by now. We love character development!

His new goal: Get revenge on Abraham Van Helsing. Sadly for him, Abe is on vacation.

The villagers find the dead woman Dracula sucked, and come to his castle to burn it. Hmm, bonjour, déjà vu! But this time, Dracula directly faces them.

Frank and Rachel successfully use the mirror to come to the same place and time, and they free up Taj. To prepare to fight Abraham, Dracula frees up Lenore, whom he'd kept up in a vial all this time. Name a more iconic duo than Dracula and a female companion!

Lenore immediately leaps on Rachel, which screams "lesbian" to me (or bisexual, we love it either way). The heroes make her leave with the shadow of a cross-shaped tombstone. Oh, they're going all out on this. Excellent.

Dracula and Lenore eventually escape through the famous mirror. I doubt that mirror will stay much longer...

Our heroes eventually find them in #6, Lenore dies just as she was about to bite Rachel (I'm sensing a pattern...) and Dracula lures them to a trap. He actually successfully gets rid of them!

They have other priorities anyway. Can't say I'm here for the ship, but the page is gorgeous.

They're saved by the monster of the moors, who's actually just a hideous gentleman and is also mute. He gestures to thank our heroes for calling him a man, aww.

Since they're freed, Frank angsts about his vampiric lineage and thinks he can't be with Rachel.

A new rule is introduced in #7: Vampires can manipulate the weather and "the meaner animals". Is there anything Dracula can't do?

In a fun subversion, the lady Dracula traditionally attacks has a crucific and is thus protected. Dracula is understandably miffed.

Turns out the lady is the daughter of Quincy Harker, whom our heroes get to spend some time with in London. And to face this badass in a wheelchair, Dracular enlists literal children.

The thing you have to know about Quincy is that his beard is absolutely wonderful.

Dracula escapes, naturally.

OoOoh~!

By the way, issue 7 saw Marv Wolfman get onto the comic and he never left it afterwards (and coincidentally, Wolfman is in the next issues of Spider-Man I have to read!).

#8: By now, Clifton has fully become the Butt Monkey. Case in point:

Poisoned in the previous issue, Dracula seeks the help of the town's doctor who's in charge of blood donations. Turns out he's a vampire! The doctor performs a full transfusion on Dracula, and then shows him something he should have destroyed long ago: a weapon capable to raise the dead.

Except Dracula designs the doctor's daughter as his first victim of the night, and the doctor decides that enough is enough. They fight to the death under the bat form, and Dracula, naturally, stays victorious. However, the projector shatters, and the raised dead soon return to dust, saving the doctor's daughter.

Meanwhile, the heroes are stuck in a broken car that a dozen of kids are assaulting, until a helicopter approaches and somehow knocks them out. Apparently, Quincy and his folks have friends in high places...

When Dracula wakes up in #9, still reeling from the after effects of his blood transfusion, he sees a cross. He's been found and taken to a holy place, the horror!

He barely escapes, but not before showing how much of a drama queen he is.

This issue's funny, because Dracula's only option to rest in the city, aside from the church, is a young man from Littlepool (the city) who tells him his entire life story, of which Dracula naturally cares very little for. He still gives him advice though, and saves him from vampires he created later in the street. A nearby priest sees him and decides that to breathe new life in the town's religious circle, he'd canalize everyone by telling them Dracula is a demon. They go to the young man's house, who asks Dracula if what they say is true. He then goes outside and tell everybody that Dracula has fled. Except he's not far yet and the villagers see him, to the young man's apparent dismay. Interesting!

Near London, our heroes train for their next fight with Dracula, but they're not the focus.

Their dynamic actually made for a very good issue. There's a lot to say about it, but I'd prefer going a bit further with this post first. But basically: Dracula's queer, and David's an ally.

Blade's introduced in #10 as the mysterious agent Harker knows. Turns out he and Dracula know each other well. But do they know each other intimately?

*Flashback to...*

Anyway!

Dracula's on a cruise and wastes no time seducing the ladies.

Dracula has a bit of internalized homophobia, but no matter. I still love him.

Dracula is goofy, he's having so much fun being evil.

We get nice color work this issue. Naturally, Blade gets on board too.

Dracula is also fun because when he gets taken by surprise, he's really ineffectual!

Eventually, he reveals he manipulated the ship's captain to set bombs off... and the only one who stays on the exploding ship is one I'm not particularly sad to lose.

I think that's a good place to stop, isn't it?

See you next time!

[agentnico]

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning - Part One (2023) Review

Tom Cruise - what a guy! I mean yes he’s a Scientologist, has a constant death wish by breaking his ankles on film sets and also guilty of jumping on Oprah’s sofa like a monkey, but my my is he a charmer! Gotta love that Cruise ship!

Plot: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission... not even the lives of those he cares about most.

The two of the most consistently successful and critically acclaimed action franchises of the past decade have to be the John Wick and Mission Impossible movies! Ironically both are lead by actors who are around 60 years old, showing us that age should never be a reason to stop kicking butt. Well, maybe if you’re pushing 81 then maybe just maybe you may consider that putting that fedora back on and swinging that lasso might be a bit too much (looking at you Indy), but for Keanu and Tom this is full cruise control! That being said, the most recent John Wick entry Chapter 4 I enjoyed, yet did not love. There were some impressive combat sequences and Bill Skarsgard made for a memorable a-hole, but it was the first movie in the Wick series that began to show signs of wear, with the action being very repetitive and mentally I thought that they should end it here and now. Not that they will, I mean honestly it’s not as if Lionsgate are going to read this review from a nobody like me and use my word against....how much did the last John Wick make at the box office?? *Consults some search engines* Wow - $432.2 million!! Yeah, keep them coming, I haven’t got a leg to stand on! Next though is the return of the MI franchise which is taking a page from the Spider-Verse by splitting this story into two parts, with Dead Reckoning - Part One out now. And how does it stack up to the previous Mission Impossible films? Can these missions get anymore impossible??

You guys know the drill with these Mission Impossible movies - Tom Cruise throws his body around like a tomato fearing not for his life nor broken limbs, but you have to respect the man for wanting to give the audience their tickets’ worth of entertainment, and Dead Reckoning does not disappoint! The action is exhilarating, yet unlike the recent John Wick, the set pieces and Ethan Hunt’s various exploits never felt repetitive. Every sequence, whether it be the car chase sequence through the streets of Rome to the spy espionage antics through the halls of an airport to the Uncharted 2 inspired survival on a train falling off a bridge, this movie was a constant adrenaline rush, all the while managing to also tell an engaging story with a threat that genuinely felt like a force to be dead-reckoned with, pardon the pun. The threat is no nuclear bomb or some war-hero, but in fact an AI system that is growing a consciousness, and the threat being the fearful idea of allowing this system to come into the hands of any government or third party and how they can use it for malicious purposes to take full control of the world. So Ethan and his crew, instead of fighting for a particular side, simply seek to find the key to this system and stop it from coming into anyone’s hands, as no one deserves to have such power of destruction. There’s an interesting moral question to the proceedings, which I felt added an element of gravitas and drama to what really is primarily a collection of ridiculously mad stunts.

The cast is also great. Tom Cruise is a charisma machine, and he’s joined here by franchise newcomer Hayley Atwell, and them two together make for an excellent pairing. The chemistry between Cruise and Atwell was superb with them riffing and bouncing off one another so naturally that honestly I’m gonna say it - I ship the Hayley-Cruise! Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg are Hunt’s reliable team, and are as entertaining as usual. Pom Klementieff gives a stand-out turn as a silent killer, and the likes of Vanessa Kirby, Henry Czerny and Shea Whigham round up a very watchable array of actors. The only weak link of the bunch is Esai Morales who plays the villainous Gabriel. It felt like the writers desperately wanted to have a physical villainous presence in the movie in addition to the AI, and such we get this Gabriel character which, I mean, I guess Tom Cruise needs a punching bag, but this guy felt so wooden. Instead of saying his lines in a menacing way, he just kind of said them blandly. It’s a small gripe as this character is rarely a major focus, but whenever he was on-screen I couldn’t be any less engaged with him.

Overall Dead Reckoning - Part One is the perfect summer blockbuster, offering excitement, laughs, charm and entertainment. There’s never a dull moment, the spy techy stuff is cool (yep, the face-changing masks are back!), the signature music theme is as bombastic as ever and somehow they manage to keep making these sequels more and more ridiculous yet still feeling fresh and awesome. If you love the Mission Impossible movies this one is an easy buy, and for any action fans this is a must-watch. Summer movie season is in full swing, baby!!

Overall score: 8/10

[fangirlandtheories]

3 6 8 9 16 22

3. screenshot or description of the worst take you've seen on tumblr

I'll be honest, I don't involve myself in the drama of the fandom so if it's a take I wouldn't agree with, odds are that I didn't see it as I don't actively seek out things that don't interest me. I will say this, and I'll say it carefully: If you want to look at Billy as a tragic character because of his traumatic life, that's fine, but that doesn't excuse everything he did. He's an inherently complex character and it's possible to hate that someone is racist and also hate that that person was abused. I don't know if that really answered the question or not, but it's a take of my own.

6. which ship fans are the most annoying?

Honestly all of us 😂 We all annoy each other for different reasons. I will say that nothing has made me more angry than the Steve/Eddie vs the Chrissy/ Eddie thing. It's not even how the fans of either interact with each other, it's the fact that Joseph and Grace have been dragged into it. They're actors playing a role and shouldn't have to play mediators for fans. They definitely shouldn't receive hate or backlash either.

8. common fandom opinion that everyone is wrong about

Specific to Steddie shippers: That Eddie is perfect or Steve is perfect. They're both loveable doofuses that absolutely don't know conflict resolution. It's definitely not all pet names and snuggles but massive arguments and silent treatments.

9. worst part of canon

God I could go on for so long that you would almost believe that I don't like the show.

I think ultimately it's that up until this season there hasn't really felt like high stakes or consequences. Steve and Robin were tortured and left with just bruises and a shock blanket. The injuries the characters have sustained would leave someone sidetracked and bedbound in the real world but they constantly shake it off. It's like the only consequences occur when necessary to the plot. Steve gets bitten by bats and strangled twice: Let's tie a shirt around his waist and have him get dizzy once. Eddie gets bitten by bats: Kill him for sad value.

16. you can't understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

Mike

No haha... Unless...

I'm really not into Kas!Eddie or vampire Eddie. I'm all for bringing him back and if that's the way that the Duffers want to do it: Great! It's a sound theory and it makes sense to the plot, it's just not something I am really into when I'm reading things like fanfiction.

22. your favorite part of canon that everyone else ignores

Here's a plot twist: I'm not going to talk about Steve or Eddie for this one.

Here's a comprehensive list of little things that I love that don't get enough conversation:

1. Ted Wheeler's little comments

2. Murray Mother Fucking Bauman

3. Joyce's (Winona's) eyebrows

4. The dedication to the fact that it's 10 pm and none of the parents know where their children are and don't ask

5. Erica and Dustin's friendship/ the passing of the DnD torch onto the next gen

6. The inclusion of Holly

7. Steve's plaid walls and car picture

8. Nancy "New Hair Every Season" Wheeler

9. Eddie having pretzels and weed in his lunch box

10. The sibling dynamics

11. Steve's butt in those jeans

12. Dustin's quirky style never changing and his mother who loves him so dearly.

Quite literally I could go all day but this would be the longest post.

[mirrorvinephotography]

This week is about Yeon ~. Our new adopted home kitty...🐈..Honestly I've never expected a random kitten walked in our living room, wondering around the house while asking for food, AGAIN... This has happened before and it still happen again. Cats/Dogs are sustenance to us if we feed them with food/water or offer some kitty/doggie snacks. 

I adopted this small kitty name Yeon~ from a Korean Drama about a nine-tailed fox. You know, Lee Dong-wook? Yup. He is one of my favourite actor in K-dramas. He's getting more handsome in his early 40's and my boyfie looks like him. 😆😆😆 Love you bae~

3 weeks ago on Sunday night, a lost kitten appeared in front of the garbage bin, found him seating quietly beneath the grass. My mom was outside collecting dry clothes and saw a lonely kitten and asked him to come in. The little fella walked in, followed my mom until it enters the living room. Dad surprised as he saw an orange cat (exactly like how my previous Oyen when he was just a kitten) slowly strolling around the living room. The kitten looked lost, a small dirt found on his tiny pink nose, his tiny beans looks like tiny white socks but softer. He has a beaitful feature for an orange species. His big round cute black-orange eyes smirking at me. I was at the kitchen with my sister after we had dinner and we went to the kitten. He was curious about the surrounding, trying to figure out what's happening and where is this place. 

I walked to him and used my left palm to carry him as his small innocent dreamy eyes staring at me. He had tiny male balls behind (oh~ a male ah?) with a clean butt.... Are you Oyen's kid? Are you from somewhere else? Did your previous owner abandoned you? While observing his body, I noticed his long fur, dark orange and white, a 2 blended colors just like a typical orange cat. His face looks tired and confused. Immediately I looked for the late Oyen's food to feed him. He followed us to the kitchen and ate the Royal Canin. Once he finished his food, he began to start his small journey around the house. He started to climbed up to the washing machine, a few minutes later, he went to the toilet, pooping on the floor sink and left us to clean it up (Walaoeh, how clever this kitten? Did his previous owner taught him this?) and then he start to follow us whenever we go. My dad kept asking him if he was Oyen's son due to the familiar attitude as Oyen. Our Oyen has gone missing since last July 2023 and yet to returned until today. 

My mom assured that this kitten must be abandon by the previous owner due to his active stage or perhaps he was left alone accidentally from the house. I examined his body once again to confirm if he is free from any symptoms of cat's illness/disease. Fortunately, his fur not coming out or sticked to our shirts when we hold him and his fur is healthy, beautifully groomed. He must have been self-grooming all the time after a meal or something. His attitude is similar to Oyen, except that he was so polite to pooping at the toilet's floor sink. What a gentlemen this little kitty. Even Momochan still pooping in the cage unexpectedly. (Momochan is still no.1 in our family). I am getting worried when Momo is aging since she has been laying down in the cage and sleeps a lot.

His meow? - a soft tone, unlike a lion's roar. He crawls and sniffing to my hand, bite my leg and rubbed his small body against my ankle seeking for warm and love. What a tiny cute baby. 

What a wonderful little child. This orange kitten needs lots of love since he was previously left alone. Up until now, I have no clue how this tiny beautiful kitten was found outside of our house gate. On Monday evening after work, I go to SpeedMart to buy a few wet food and dry food for Yeon. The next plan is to buy Royal Canin dry food to maintain his diet and health...Emmm, how did he survived outdoors alone? How did he find food/drinks and shelter? All this kept running in my mind and I still yet to give him a name.

Kobe?

Haru?

Haku? (Like Jun's Kitchen cat, Haku...)

Oden?

Yeon? - my dream cat's name.

At first, I decided to call him Kobe (Koh-Bee) but my sister mocking me "Kobe Beef ~ Kobe Beef~".😂 Lama-lama nanti I fikir dia daging lembu pula...Boyfie said Kobe is a nice name just like the late basketball player Kobe Bryant. I answered, "Kobe Broyen" and he 😆😆😆. Lol ~ My mom was even funnier when it comes to name cats. She randomly dropped "Snack" as his name. Melissa likes the name "Snack" due to his orange cat personality. Mom has been asking how the kitten walked in randomly to us? My dad said" You asked for Oyen. And now, he sent another one to you". 😂😂😂😂 But, actually it might be true...😳

On Saturday morning (Before the night Yeon came to our house which is on Sunday night.),  I can't remember if is the day we went for morning market with mom to look for lamb/chicken for monthly stock or the time mom asked to accompany me to helped pump air for all tyres and pump petrol for her car.  But what I know is...While on the way back, Mom did mentioned she missed our late Oyen and I said yeah, me too (Sometimes, when I can't sleep or stressed from a restless mind, I sobbed whenever I saw his photos/videos from my phone before sleep. I still have doubts of Oyen's whereabouts and can't accept if he is really gone...By the time Oyen has left, I felt like a small hole is cracked open from my heart. It never felt content whenever Oyen is not with us...). I did not tell this part of the story to my mom because it was at my fault for late sending him to the vet when he is in heavy-swollen stage in his mouth. I am late for making the next move and I am regret for not sending him to the vet early. 😢😭😭😭I'm sorry boy. Please forgive me as you are the greatest creation from God. I even told my boyfie that Oyen is the most handsome cat I had ever seen in my eyes and I failed to take care of him as a cat owner. I have so many things to learn as a cat owner and I regret for unable to rectify my mistakes.

And then on Sunday night. Yeon came~

Just like that.

Dad insisted Yeon suddenly came to us as if he was fallen by the sky (Like the Mr. Bean live-action series) and still wondering how Yeon came to our house...

 "Mungkin langit atas hantar Si Kecik ni datang ke rumah kita untuk duduk"...

God: You! The orange one.

Yeon: Yes sir!

God: I command that you to go house number XXX tonight.

Yeon: Sir, yes sir!

God: Maksure they took you in with warm and love.

Yeon: Alright sir!

God: Go now!

Yeon: Thank you sir!

*Imagination story by my dad 👆....😂😂😂😂😆😆😆

Regarding the how I come up with the name Yeon? I played the name for a while and "Kobe" doesn't seem works on him as it reminds me of food. Beef Meat. Beef Meat. How can I live with this name at home right? Oden is food while Haku and Haru is not suitable much. Yeon was the name me and boyfie discussed about our future cats name and it was the name given by myself. Initially is Lee-yeon, but I decided to go with Yeon instead. Ala-ala kucing Korea~ (Oyenchan is a Japanese name).

Boyfie informed me to take good care of him and make him a house-cat instead of stray. I will follow my plan and make sure Yeon is well fed, healthy full with warm and love. 

Thank you so much God AL-Mighty. 💝

Kucing is rezeki.

Alhamdulillah💓💝x

So grateful to welcome our new orange kitten, Yeon ~... 😍

May all affairs be simplified smoothly~

[daily-thoughts96]

Here we go again. People criticizing my relationship. Here we go again. People saying I’m ruining my husband. Here we go again. I’m to blame for why my husband changed to be better. Here we go again. People telling us not to have a family because we aren’t well off.

To the people criticizing my relationship: mind your business. Did I ask you how MY relationship is? No? Then shut up, and keep out of MY relationship. The reason my relationship is more private is because you guys can’t just learn that it’s not your relationship, not my business. You want us to break up because you don’t understand our relationship at all. Let’s be honest here, we think you’re jealous of how well we’ve made it work. You want us to fall apart and be just as it was before we were together, but that’s not going to happen. Keep hating.

To the people who think I’m ruining my husband: I’m not at all. He’s still himself just improving on doing better and having better. He’s been making his own decisions for a long time, but you clearly think you know what’s best for him, don’t ya? Well you don’t. He is just being a better him.

To the people blaming me for my husband changing: what is so wrong with doing better? Making changes to have a future worth having? He wants to be a better person. He has the right to do that, and if you think he’s not doing better, maybe re-evaluate yourself. Why are you not congratulating him on doing better than he was before? He wants a better version on himself, not the constantly depressed, always choosing violence and way more annoyed with life self. Screw you guys for making him feel bad for wanting to do better and changing some of his habits.

To the people who say we shouldn’t start a family: Since when do you get to make that decision for us? Not even our own parents would be stopping us for it. They will have their thoughts, but won’t get mad because WE chose to do it. You’re not our mothers or fathers, so you don’t get to dictate whether we CAN or WILL start a family. This is our life, WE have control over that, NOT YOU. Butt out before you get cut permanently.

Lastly, to everyone who is supporting us and helping us: THANK YOU. We appreciate you being there for us, and helping us when you can. You guys are the reason we are going to continue doing what we know best. Just being us! We love you whole heartedly for never judging us for making decisions about our life as a couple. You guys will be worth fight for in the battlefield known as life. Keep up the fantastic work!

Our life will be our life. Whether you like it or not. You don’t like it, the doors right there. Walk out and never come back. I’m not giving chances anymore when you didn’t help or support us in any way shape or form. That door will stay locked, and the key of trust we gave you, just give in back since you lost our trust the moment you decided to make decisions for us on what’s best for us somehow. Goodbye to the haters, because jealousy is quite the green devil. Good luck on your endeavors but don’t come seeking for anything from us in the future. We will create a future that will be judged less. Drama is for high school, We are grown and don’t need the petty drama and excuses. Duces 🖕🏼

[dramaclover]

Ending & Thoughts: Secret Door 2023

It’s been a while since I’ve seen a good thriller drama. But I don’t know if I would consider this a good one. There was way too many annoying characters in it.. like very few likeable ones. It got to the point I started rooting for the evil characters cause of how horrible everyone else is. Probably the first TVB drama I’ve watched where there’s so many characters that I hated.

Luna’s mother in law definitely wins in the obnoxious, irritating character department. My goodness I just wanted her to die. Every time she shows up on screen I just wanted to fast forward. Literally you’re like so old already can’t she just chill out? She’s always so rude to Luna and so damn selfish. She played a huge role in Luna becoming evil. This old lady kept pushing too hard and wouldn’t let go of her. Every time Luna takes a step back even if it meant her putting aside her pride and dignity this grandma crushes it and gives no effs about it. This grandma is so convinced she killed her son, well lady if that’s what you think why don’t you SHUT UP? Aren’t you scared she will kill you too? And she tried to and let me tell you it was satisfying I wished she did die though. She actually convinced her son to not give his liver to his own daughter, Ching Ching even if it meant her niece dying. Manipulated her niece into thinking how awful of a Mom she is and tried to take her away. Luna even gave her the insurance money and agreed for all 3 to just live together, yet she wasn’t satisfied. She barely cared for Ching Ching back then and only shows care now cause she knows no one wants to take care of her selfish butt. So when she fell down the stairs, as bad as it sounds I was happy cause this woman is soo crazy like she actually installed a spy cam on Ching Ching jacket like wtf? Anyways I was very disappointed that she survived that fall, yes she is paralyzed and can’t talk anymore but like Ching Ching is still taking care of her and will for the rest of her life. In a twisted way the Grandma got what she wished for. She wanted Luna out of the picture and Ching Ching to always be by her side and well she got it.

One thing that gets me worked up is that Ching Ching, won’t ever really know that the only person who truly loved her is her Mother. She just thinks of her as a criminal who killed her Dad and paralyzed her Grandma. She doesn’t understand the reasoning. Now I get it murder is murder… people should never go down that road unless it’s out of self defence. But Luna did all of that cause she was pushed way over the edge. When she tried to seek psychiatric help and take medicine, the Grandma tried to use it against her to take away Ching Ching. The Dad didn’t want to give her liver to her Ching Ching, which meant her daughter could die while waiting for another donor. He also didn’t show a lot of care and wouldn’t even listen to Luna’s reasoning only saying how he wants to divorce her cause she is a daughter of a thief. But Ching Ching is too young to even realize that those two people caused so much pain to her Mother. So while Ching Ching thinks about the seemingly good memories she has with these 2 people, her Mother was coping with trauma from the harsh verbal abuse she suffered in that household.

Yip Siu Tin, damn his character was evil of the evil. He committed every crime possible. Yet I find his character more likeable then the Mother in law. Solely, because he talks shit and he knows it everyone else tries to play the victim too hard. This guy though always gets away with everything even in the end the police was never able to charge him with anything. Justice did not prevail for him, Luna in one final act decides to take him to the grave with her. And I loved how Luna was the one to do it, she always lived her life scared of him and the idea of becoming him. So for Luna to be the one to end it all was great. I do wish we got some last words from Yip Siu Tin, though he was irredeemable.. he had done way too many bad things and is not capable of being a good person. But I do wonder if for those last final moments of his life, while he watched his own daughter cut both of her wrists and wait for death.. did he wish he could save her? Now, Luna had stabbed him with a needle that temporarily causes him to be unable to move. But he can still see and hear what is happening, we also see him attempt to move his fingers when he saw Luna slowly lay down. So it just makes me think whether if he was able to get up, would he save Luna? Or is he that shit of a person he’d just get up and save himself? Would’ve been nice to hear an inner monologue from him at that moment.

Luna was just overall a tragic character it’s like she never stood a chance at having a happy life. Her father was an abusive alcoholic who traumatized her childhood. She grows up having to hide her identity ends up marrying into a rich household BUT her husband and mother in law treated her like doormat. She was basically a second maid, no one really cared about her feelings. I’m confused why her husband even married her. Her father gets out of jail and looks for her immediately and right away restarts the abuse. Physical abuse from her father, verbal abuse from her husband and Mother in law. Her anxiety is crippling from trying to hide her past. Back then if she had embraced that she is a daughter of a thief things would’ve been so different. One thing for sure she should’ve chosen Zhong Zhi Kiu back then, as they had an understanding for one another. The tragedy of her character doesn’t sit well with me, cause she’s always been treated so badly I really wanted her to have a happy ending.

Yeung Yan Hiu, Roxanne Tong plays her and I noticed she got a lot of hate for her bad acting. But I didn’t see it that way at all, I just think people are so blinded at her annoying character they think it’s her acting. For real you guys are hating on someone cause of a damn character. Yan Hiu was so fudging annoying as well. All she did was follow Luna and especially Zhi Kiu around cause she has biased views that children of incarcerated parents are as evil as them. She would do mindless things to get in their way. And what makes it more annoying is that the one she should be investigating and stalking is Yip Siu Tin himself. Like she knows damn well he’s the criminal and the one who shot her Mother. But no let’s follow Zhi Kiu and Luna around cause she’s related to him like wtf? If Siu Tin was still in jail or dead I’d understand her investigating them but like bro he’s alive and well? How about you take yourself over there and try to find evidence instead? Why are you bothering the side characters when the mastermind that you know yourself is right in front of you?

That’s the thing with this drama, we all know Siu Tin is this undeniable villain the amount of horrible crimes he committed is scary. Yet, they focused more attention on catching others. The biggest example would be Zhi Kiu capturing Siu Tin and basically got him to admit some criminal things.. but even though he plotted this he didn’t record anything. But of course when he does this to Luna, he has a handy dandy recording device. LIKE LMAOOO are you serious??? Siu Tin has done some horrible stuff and has admitted to so many crimes in front of you and others but no one, NO ONE ever decides to film or record anything. Luna, did what she did cause of her deteriorating mental health cause of the effed up abuse she received practically all her life and opened up to you yet you were finally “smart” enough to record? I don’t know man, is it dumb or lazy writing?

The things I did like though was that Zhi Kiu’s Father was not a good man. All his life he believed his Father was forced into this and that he’s not all bad. But then we finally get video proof (which is stupid cause who would have such a clear video of something that happened 30 years ago + who on earth would hold on to this footage for so long only to release it now) that shows his Father pushing the pregnant lady onto the floor contrary to Zhi Kiu remembering it as him trying to “save” the lady. We also get another backstory that his Father is an awful wimp of a man. Only thing he did right was call up his old friend and ask him to take care of his son. It was nice that TVB decided for once to not twist the narrative of “oh he was actually a good man”, like nah he wasn’t a good person and the death was needed.

The ending wasn’t satisfying for me, I felt that it was too rushed and there were some questions left unanswered. Does Yan Hiu and Zhi Kiu end up together? How is Yan Hiu’s Father now? The randomness of Luna’s husband raising his insurance money was not explored… like did he do it out of his own free will? Definitely not a drama I would rewatch but it is the type of drama I won’t forget.

[adamwatchesmovies]

Pandora (2016)

Can we make a rule to outlaw crying during suicide missions? We know someone’s going to die. It’s in the name! Pandora is a nerve-wracking disaster drama that gets bogged down by endless weepy scenes during the end.

In South Korea, Kang Jae-hyeok (Kim Nam-gil) has no choice but to work at the local nuclear power plant. There aren’t many other jobs in town. When an earthquake causes one of the reactors to overheat, things go from bad to worse. As the president and his government debate whether to tell the country what happened and risk causing panic, the size of the disaster continues to grow.

As of 2021, there are 26 nuclear power plants in South Korea - a country that measures a little more than 100,000 square kilometers. By comparison, the United States measures nearly 10,000,000 square kilometers and has 60 nuclear power plants. That’s a lot of nuclear power in a densely populated country. The fear that something might go wrong is genuine. This fear is made manifest in this film in multiple ways. Jae-hyeok’s father and grandfather both died because of the plant but his family discourages him from seeking employment elsewhere. Practically everyone works there. The danger is simply part of their lives and no one doubts the building’s ability to withstand any earthquakes. In fact, people are so nonchalant about the plant, the director appointed to supervise its operations (Song Yeong-chang) knows nothing about the way it works. When things go wrong, he’s of no help. Neither is the government. All they're doing is covering up the impending disaster. Seeing this, you’d think if anyone would be ready to step up and do the right thing, it would be the people who work at the plant but once the alarms start going off, everyone panics. No one is interested in staying behind and making repairs.

It’s a rather bleak outlook on life that's also hard to discredit. We’d all like to think that places this sort of danger could arise are full of people who've been trained properly and understand what needs to be done. As Pandora makes it clear, to the people working in the nuclear plant, this is just their 9 to 5 job; it isn’t a calling or a cause they’d give their lives for.

When the situation is dire, Pandora is frightening and thought-provoking. When things start to look a bit brighter, it gets soapy and melodramatic. It doesn't take a physicist to realize everyone inside the plant is living on borrowed time. It's a nuclear disaster. Unfortunately, the movie plays it out like it’s a big, shocking reveal. Everyone sheds tears, throws things in frustration, and screams at the unfairness of the world. You get it. Things are tense but the disaster is still ongoing. You want to shake these people awake so they understand that millions could die if they don’t stop feeling sorry for themselves and get their butts in gear. Things really start to drag as big speeches are made, people ask dumb questions about the survival rate, everyone who’s still alive sheds tears and it all comes down to a big heroic sacrifice that I don’t think actually needed to happen. A final desperate gambit is proposed and looking back, I'm not sure if it makes all that much sense. Either someone didn’t think things through or it’s just another way to milk more drama out of the scenario. I suspect it’s a little bit of both.

Pandora is engaging during the first half, enough for you to mostly overlook the way it lays it all so thick during the second. At 136 minutes, it’s too long and there’s an error during the conclusion that takes away from the emotional impact it would’ve had - an impact that’s already deflated by the knowledge that the characters are going to die from radiation poisoning anyway. I wish I could say I recommend it. Maybe if you’re looking to make a similar movie and you want some ideas you can steal. (Original Korean with English subtitles, June 6, 2021)