#another reason that this is the focus of the teaser of course is that it is quite flashy while being relatively cheap

[twilightofthesandwiches]

So, um, I'm sure I'm not the first to notice it but....

I mean, I noticed that track that plays in Hometown near the ending of Chapter 4 musically references "It's Raining Somewhere Else" from Undertale but....... okay, fuck, that name....

Honestly I kinda figured we'd get a track with a name like that in Deltarune and yet it still surprised me regardless???

Like, the implications............. It works super-well with the 'Sans Undertale is actually Sans Deltarune" theories, considering the places "It's Raining Somewhere Else" plays in 'Undertale'

During one of Sans' most sincere and serious scenes in the Neutral/Pacifist Playthrough where he muses about whatever it's worth it to 'go home'

and in his secret workshop, with the strange machine and the hidden Deltarune teaser.

"It's Raining Somewhere Else" is, in that context, the theme of Sans' hopeless already-gave-up-on-it wish to go back to "the place where it rained". To Hometown.

But even without Sans directly travelling from the Deltarune timeline to the Undertale timeline.... Even if we assume that Undertale and Deltarune are parallel but separate lines that never meaningfully interact, the parallel being drawn here is still very emotionally powerful.

The main focus of the Sans' 'date' scene is his story about befriending Toriel behind the door to the ruins and the promise he made to her. They've never seen each other's faces, they haven't even bothered to introduce themselves by name. There is some connection there, but it's blocked by their secrets and obligations and also a giant-ass stone door.

And somewhere else, in another world, it's raining, and Toriel ducks into Sans' grocery store and they spend an entire night drinking and having fun.

A lot of people assumed the rain here is a metaphor for depression and sadness of Sans or Toriel or both. But I think, with that track, it's more likely that the rain is the happy moment and the bond these two share in the Deltarune timeline, somewhere else.

Of course, depending on which ending you get, you can bring the 'rain' to them. Sans and Toriel can meet in the Undertale timeline and become friends and have many happy nights dancing the Jitterbug or whatever. But... they also they might not, depending on the Player's actions before and after this scene. Toriel might even be dead and that 'rain' will never come. And either way, at this moment Sans has no reason to think he will ever get a chance to truly meet the funny lady behind the door.

Is it sadder to think that this is the same Sans who danced with Toriel Deltarune, who probably knows that it's the alternative-universe counterpart of her beyond the door but also think there's little no chance they'd ever meet or relive that connection they had in the Place Where It Rains?

Or if it's sadder if it's a different Sans who doesn't even know there's a version of himself and the mysterious lady behind the door, dancing and laughing and having the time of their life, Somewhere Else?

[jaemotion]

been a while — njm (teaser)

pairing ⇢ photographer!jaemin x model!reader

summary ⇢ avoiding Jaemin proved to be a difficult challenge because here you are, opening your doors for him when he comes knocking after you declined the invitation to his very first exhibit.

genre/au ⇢ smut, angst, fluff? former ??? or?

rating & word count ⇢ 18+ | 1k+

warnings ⇢ mentions of sex (full & detailed warnings will be in the full fic)

a/n: it has indeed been a while lmao 💀 anyways, happiest 24th to the love of my love. my jaem, my nana on gawd he looked too good during this live i just had to 😩

the incessant knocking forces you to open the door, ready to tell whoever's behind off but he’s carrying a furball in one arm and another in a small carrier bag.

it washed away your annoyance at once.

“hi, sorry i had to bring them with me”

“didn’t you come from the dorms?” you query, finding Jaemin's sudden appearance here suspicious. he knows you love his cats and could be bringing them here just to lure you.

you tried to ignore how good Jaemin looked, the tight black shirt hugging his frame but your eyes were pulled to the dangling bracelet on his wrist.

the one you bought for him months ago as a gift.

“yeah but you haven’t seen them in ages”

whose fault is that?

“pictures or videos would’ve been enough” you cut him off before he could reply, though your eyes are already set on one of the cats.

they're just too adorable for you to ignore.

jaemin finds it amusing how you’re doing your best to repel him and his babies when he knows your fondness for his precious pets.

“they might’ve missed you too” he turns his body slightly, showing another furball inside a cat backpack so you immediately take the cat on his arm into yours. he comes in, dropping off both bags on the floor before facing you.

“did you eat already?”

you're aware of his busy schedule today and besides-

“i ate kimbap in the car on the way here”

the mere mention of that specific snack sparks your late night memories with Jaemin. it's your go-to one during night drives with, of course, mainly fucking and then eating whatever you both are craving after while stargazing.

you knew that Jaemin notices you reminiscing those memories. evident with the small curl of the side of his lips as he takes one cat back in his arms.

“did you?” his voice snaps you and you nod. before the absolute awkwardness begins between you, the fluffy cat in his arms meows and reaches for you.

“awee come here~” you scoop the cat from Jaemin’s arms, ignoring the spark you feel when your skin touches one another.

“looks like Luke missed you a lot” he chuckles with that raspy voice of his as he unloads Luna and Lucy from their cat bags.

"he sure does" you parrot Jaemin's laugh, cooing at the furball in your arms.

"not as much as me though"

your smile drops but it didn't affect Jaemin at all. if not, it seems to encourage him to fulfill whatever he's here for tonight. he situates himself comfortably on your couch after settling the cats on the floor. you sat beside him with Luke not interested in leaving your arms. eventually, the cat joined his sisters after Jaemin set the TV into one of those dog channels.

"they really love it, no?" you muse, watching his cats fondly. you're still avoiding him but thankfully they've behaved so now he can focus on you.

part of why Jaemin's here was because he wanted to talk to you in person. you didn't respond when he sent an invitation for his exhibition and his messages after that. it's his first one so it means a lot to him and he wanted you to be there.

so Jaemin had to pay you a visit which he hasn't done in a while. maybe that was the reason. or maybe you were just very busy like he is. you were already dressed earlier when you welcomed him so it was a miracle that you even let him in.

the thing is you did. you went to see what it's like since Jaemin's been talking about it for a while. he hasn't really talked to you in months so you were apprehensive in accepting when you got the formal invitation. you've had reasons but you managed to take a peek which is a mistake cause one of his friends did see you.

he thankfully didn't know that you did and that's because you've bribed Chenle to not tell anyone else. you thought you succeeded but the prospect of Jaemin coming here after was something that passed through your mind.

you were even planning to meet up with Jeno tonight to catch up. with the both of you being models, schedules are tight though sometimes you see each other during photoshoots and after. you only did have time when Jaemin stopped talking to you.

“were you planning to leaving earlier?” he turns to you after you got back from your room, now changed in your nightwear.

“yeah to meet Jeno” you reply, wanting to see Jaemin’s reaction to you meeting his friend this late at night. he was eyeing you up and down but soon as he heard his friend's name, he looked away. even when he tried to hide it, the shock, confusion, and something else was there.

“he’s not at the dorms” he’s calm. too calm than he should be. maybe you seeing Jeno doesn’t really matter to him at all.

“then where?”

“rina’s”

“oh” you couldn’t stop the disappointment seeping into your tone.

“didn’t tell you or anything?” his tone leaves you no idea if he's mocking you or not.

“no”

“thought you knew already”

“well, that perfectly explains why you’re best friends doesn’t it?”

your walls broke no matter how hard you tried to act nonchalant about this. about Jeno bailing on you; about Jaemin coming here and him finding out. it should be expected that in your line of work, these instances happen. you often do the same with people you meet but you just didn't think Jaemin would be the one to give you the same treatment.

he scrambles right away after hearing your tone, following you when you turn your back at him and head towards your kitchen. you haven't told him to back off yet, not that he's worried since you opened your doors to him but he couldn't take any more risks.

"can we talk?" he starts, sounding unsure for the first time and it ignited your curiosity. he's naturally confident so you want to see how far he'll adjust just to have this talk with you.

"10 seconds" you challenge.

"what"

"do anything you want with me for 10 seconds"

e/n: i had work today so i couldn't finish this one on time 😭

[yunara-maiden]

my true (respectful) thoughts of arcane s2

so much of the promotional material promised so much in the way of vi and jinx/powder and their sisterly relationship, but i feel like with the amount of storylines/plotlines they did in this season, it was just too busy to focus on anyone–let alone the two supposed protagonists of the show. i think the best way for me to articulate how i feel about the writing of this show is that it fell flat, lost its heart, and emotional impact of the first season.

i would have been okay with them straying from my personal favourite focus if:

the storylines had been fleshed out better

the decisions the characters made actually made sense

main characters didn't become plot devices (vi)

new additions of the show weren't just plot devices (isha, loris, maddie, etc.)

motivations of characters made sense

characters had even small lines/dialogue to articulate their intentions/ideas

less time spent on off-screen development

and the thing is with the amount of plot lines they were ambitiously aiming to see out to fruition, its really hard to also set up all these new facets or opposing characteristics in former characters–plus adding new ones too. for example:

caitlyn's facist arc that didn't really have much meaning or attention

jinx's s1 mental collapse which changed abruptly into her redemption arc via isha (plot device)

jinx's revolutionist arc (first, reluctantly and then, willingly w ekko)

vi's pitfighter/brawler arc which was literally just one clip (which ended up being a teaser that showed everything)

im almost grateful to the minimal screen time ekko got bc they didn't try to change the core and essence of who he was in s1: he stayed true to himself. he's just a boy with a huge heart and love for his people that chose to leave his happy ending in an alternate timeline to return to the ppl who needed him where he is almost guaranteed heartbreak in some way or another.

i think the main reason so many ppl loved the first season was bc the characters were relatable in one way or another and they became so multidimensional when you explored how their environment/circumstances shaped them. but this season bc it was so purely focused on the endgame instead of HOW everyone got there, the characters fell flatter, they lost a soul and heart, and i felt the show lost its charm.

i know we all have our favourite characters and storylines we want the show to focus on and i would have been okay if i didn't get my way. if the show didn't focus on jinx and vi, i would've lived (although the promotional material was unfairly misleading) if the storylines, characters, and everything else made sense to me.

of course, the animation was lovely and the music was catchy/heartbreaking. i dont regret watching the show out to its final episode. it was one of the most beautiful visual experiences of my entire life. i still love the characters and will never regret staying on board until the final moments.

but i cant lie and say im not a little sad at how it ended too.

edited add-on:

also, the voice actors did phenomenally. ella purnell just absolutely nails the delivery for every line and reed shannon also hurt me with how he portrayed ekko. so on and so forth.

but that being said, i also felt the dialogue and lines of each character felt much less impactful this season (again, writing.)

i liked viktor’s monologue at the end of act 2. that was compellingly well written

but the lines this season weren’t the same quality as silco’s monologue about drowning, jinx’s speech at the beginning of the doomed tea party, etc. everything just felt so flat and shallow this season overall.

[thatcatbasil]

ok watcher thoughts after finishing* it

obviously spoilers under the cut. also this is a very long text post so it warrants a cut regardless

*i did the main ending but not the other one with the throne. i will be doing that next. these are just my impressions after the first ending. i may or may not make another post after i do the other one. if i feel strongly enough about it i will

quick preface i've been into rain world since around 2021. my hollow knight hyperfixation led me into discovering and playing rain world and eventually my fixation ended up shifting to rain world instead etc etc. the original game's been my jam for a long time. that being said my opinions on downpour have wildly shifted since it came out, and my final verdict is that i don't really care for it anymore (besides gourmand and rivulet. i still adore them cause they're very fun to draw but in my head i've pretty much divorced them from the plotlines of their campaigns. especially rivulet). 2ish years after the initial hype of "wow more semi-official rain world content! and relatively soon after i got into it!" i've fallen out of love with downpour from both a lore/story/writing perspective and a gameplay perspective. i think it's too fanonized and character/gimmick-driven (which of course is to be expected since it originated as a fanmade mod) and it goes a bit against the spirit of the original game, but that's something i'll be talking about later. the focus of this post is going to be watcher. i'm still going to make comparisons to downpour since that's currently rain world's only other dlc but i don't mean for this to solely be a downpour hit piece. i can still at least appreciate all the work that went into downpour, it's very well put together and i did very much enjoy it at release. but let's talk about watcher now

did i like watcher? yes!!!! a lot!!!!! but really only after the first couple hours of it though. to be totally honest i was genuinely disappointed at the beginning for a few reasons but it managed to turn itself around decently fast. when i got out of the starting area and ended up in industrial complex i had a whole "WE'RE BACK IN THE FUCKING VANILLA REGIONS AGAIN" moment since the teasers had really emphasized the new locations, but i'm really glad that that was a fakeout and i was proven wrong. there's so many fantastic new regions and i really enjoyed poking through them. initially i did feel like the region hopping didn't feel cohesive and i did have some qualms with the inclusion of modded regions, but as i progressed i did start to notice continuity/cohesion between them and the transitions felt less jarring as i started putting pieces together. i really really love the environmental storytelling at work and this really shone with places like cold storage (the lizard tubes!!! surely the answer was in a lizard skull all along!!!) and signal spires (the pyramid iterators!!! awesome callback to the original concept art!!!). i thought the modded regions fit pretty well too, to the point i didn't realize some of them were modded at first (i don't really play region mods to begin with though. the only ones i recognized were coral caves, badlands, and aether ridge from browsing raindb way back in the day. i didn't realize that stormy coast and desolate tract were mods until i spotted them in the credits).

the elephant in the room i'd say is the lack of clear direction and less focus on a Main Plot. i hadn't done any Serious full playthrough of rain world since my initial playthrough of downpour (most of what i've been doing since then are hunter expeditions because that gamemode is super super fun to me) and i think getting so used to downpour's handling of the gameplay and narrative really threw me off at first when it came to playing watcher. cause with downpour's campaigns there's a very clear sense of progression (especially with spearmaster and rivulet, those are essentially get to point A to point B and carry an Important Item to point C). but the original/vanilla campaigns are extremely vague especially to a newcomer, and hell you aren't even strictly required to visit one or both iterators if you don't want to or are doing a pilgrimage run. you do have the overseer occasionally showing up to point you down the intended route as survivor/monk but it's not immediately obvious where they're trying to take you on the first playthrough. and That Is The Point Actually.

as a slugcat you are an animal that's suddenly dropped into this vast world, and you aren't supposed to understand everything around you. and you're just like every other animal in being a part of this ecosystem instead of some kind of element separate from it. that's the main issue i have with downpour, the slugs are very gimmicky to the point that they don't feel like real animals, and the huge focus that their plotlines place on the iterators (this doesn't apply as much to gourmand, gourmand is perfect in every way) doesn't make you feel like just an observer anymore. in the original game, you're meant to just be a fly on the wall to these incomprehensibly vast godlike biomechanical creatures, not a key player in the plot on their level. and that's what the watcher really succeeds at, bringing rain world back to what it is at its core. of course you have the cloaking ability, but it isn't entirely foolproof and you have to work around its limitations. it's not a gamebreaker like saint's thanos snap where you can just blast a predator out of existence, you have to be tricky with it cause the predators can catch onto you, you're vulnerable when you're stunned at the end of its duration, etc. and even with the cloaking gimmick you're just an animal and just an observer to the outside world. you will not get to know every detail for sure about the life of the echo or the lives of those pyramid iterators off in the distance or the precursors passing by the window, but you can sure as hell speculate about it. which is the fun part! everything is vague in rain world so that leaves plenty of room for you to have your personal interpretations and theorize and make art and write fic. my point here is that i started having a lot more fun with watcher once i stopped treating it as downpour 2 electric boogaloo and more like an offshoot of vanilla where you're meant to really dive into the different locations and let yourself get lost in them as you figure out how things connect.

as much as i liked it, it needs to be said that watcher lacks a lot of polish. i imagine this is going to come in future updates but it does feel like it's been released in a partially incomplete state, at least when it comes to balance and general QOL stuff. as much as i enjoyed just wandering and exploring i Did want to eventually progress and see what was up with the echo and what all this had to do with the beginning cutscene. and i ended up looking up some of the echo locations and then getting the workshop mod that highlights regions that still have the echo in them cause i did want at least a little nudge in the right direction. i'd rather not publicly speculate on whatever's going on behind the scenes with videocult and akupara so i don't wanna necessarily accuse anybody of rushing watcher out for a release date, but i do think it would've benefited from extra time in the oven and more time with playtesting to really iron things out. also this is unrelated but i do kind of think there is a weird amount of dead ends in some of these regions? not something that majorly bothered me but i Did notice it. i'm excited to see what comes in the future updates though beyond these fixes

random other thoughts:

the music bangs especially verdant waterways' threat theme, it makes me think of the whoa zone from super paper mario? can't exactly place my paw on why though, maybe i just have that association because of the region's color scheme. i need to make time soon to listen to the full soundtrack cause there's a lot of banger tracks i heard that i don't know the names of

i love love love the new creatures, all i've ever wanted from new rain world content is new creatures (beyond just lizard variants) and they seriously delivered. I LOVE THE WHALES!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THE MOTHS EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PLOTTING ON MY DOWNFALL. the crabs can go fuck themselves though

at some point i ended up in the rot infested version of industrial that i forgot the specific name of totally by accident and it was crazy when i realized what it was. infected crossroads moment

also i just need to say that going through ancient urban and actually SEEING the precursors WALKING AROUND was genuinely nuts. fantastic buildup from seeing the shadows passing above you when you're in the sewer to seeing them Right Outside The Window. just an incredible sequence all around

that's all for now. not sure how coherent this is. watcher is a solid 8/10

[heavy-swing]

Scales For Her Armor

I'd been meaning to post this here eventually, and I just kinda forgot with all the miqomarch hubbub, but here's the other big thing I've been working on lately: an Aelita & Yugiri fic! This is based on a headcanon I got from the tags on this post about Au Ra scales which grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let go, so I wrote about it.

It's sort of a follow up to a few of my other Aelita & Yugiri fics, mostly Memory, but allusions are made to A Star Hidden in the Clouds and What Goes Unsaid/Hackneyed, so if it feels like there's a “part 1″ missing, you should go check those out too! Without further ado, here's a little teaser and a link, and I hope you enjoy! Feel free to yap at me if you liked it or had thoughts/questions!

---

After many moons spent in uncertain limbo, Yugiri finally decides to share an important part of herself with Aelita. Trouble is, Aelita isn't there.

AO3 Link!

---

Yugiri couldn't say exactly when she'd started collecting her old scales. She'd heard of the tradition when she was just a girl, but she had always been told it was something done by lovers as a symbol of dedication. The leftover scales would be fashioned into a charm or other piece of jewelry, a small physical piece of their significant other they might carry with them.

Yugiri had no such aspirations, back then; no particular person in her life she would have even considered giving them to. She kept them because they were a part of herself, one she could not bear to throw away after all she had left behind. The Empire had crushed much of her people’s culture already, and though her undersea home had escaped their wrath for a time, she knew that neither the harsh conditions of the Steppe nor the depths of the Ruby Sea would shield the eastern Au Ra clans forever.

So, she kept them. Not literally all of them, of course. Many were damaged or dirty, and space in her pack was limited, but she kept the ones in good condition; the ones that looked like they could still take a hit and retain their luster. It gave her something small to focus on, in the quiet moments that came few and far between. The meditation of cleaning off the dust and grime, of polishing them until they shone, gave her time to clear her head and find peace.

Well, at least it used to. Now she found that the task that was once a space for self-reflection had become yet another moment in her day to spend thinking about Aelita.

Aelita was a hrothgar, big and strong and sturdy; headstrong and brash in a way that ran against every instinct she'd learned as a shinobi. And yet, in spite of an imposing silhouette and bluster on the battlefield, she had also been their champion, fighting with the heads of state to find the Domans a place to live. She’d been kind and welcoming, even giving care and attention to the children.

Despite the fact that they'd conversed many times and even spoken about their pasts, however, there was still a gulf between them. A chasm created by unspoken expectations and assumptions and cultural differences; one that seemed impossible to cross, no matter how much Yugiri thought about it. And yet, as she sat in her room, caring for this handful of scales she had just shed, she knew could not simply walk away from it, either. Perhaps, she thought, holding up a freshly polished scale in the moonlight. Perhaps I can build a bridge of these. She watched the light play off the shiny surface and onto the far wall, seeing how the patterns changed as she tilted the scale this way and that. Just as quickly as the thought had come, she shook her head, and it was gone.

—

Yugiri knew she was lucky to be alive.

Perhaps it was luck, perhaps it was Aelita's big frame and bigger heart that had gotten her back to the healers in time. Perhaps it had been her scales and armor, taking the blows that might've otherwise split flesh.

Whatever the reason, she still drew breath. And after Aelita's recent confession at her bedside, despite the sense of shame she felt for acting so foolishly, she was grateful.

It had been almost a week since that fateful night, and between Aelita's doting and the work of the resistance healers, she was almost back to fighting shape.

Passing the time had been strange while confined to her room; it felt alien not being involved in meetings or out on one reconnaissance mission or another. She'd filled it with pursuits from days gone by: reading old philosophy and history texts, writing her own thoughts, and meditating. Conversations with Aelita had also become a more frequent occurrence, and the topics ranged from the mundanity of the weather or a recent meal to what the future of a free Doma might look like.

But in between Aelita's visits and whenever she had moments to herself, she had fallen back on her old habit of caring for her old scales. It was about the ritual of the process more than it was for any practical reason; given that they spent most of their time stored away, there wasn't much opportunity for the scales to get more than a tiny scuff here or there.

This time, though, instead of returning them to the wrapped cloth she kept them in when she'd finished, she stared at them for a few minutes, deep in contemplation. After another moment had passed, she gathered the scales into her hands, pushed herself up to her feet with a small groan, and set them on top of a nearby shelf, as a sort of reminder to herself. There has to be someone in our group who would know what to do with these, she thought. I owe her that much, at least.

[beardedmrbean]

Facing fierce backlash for what critics condemned as the sexualization of children in their early teens, the producers of South Korea's "Under15" K-Pop audition show canceled the series shortly before its scheduled premiere on Monday evening.

In a statement on March 28, the Crea Studio production company said: "After deep consideration, we have decided that it will be best to cancel the scheduled broadcast and focus on protecting the participants and reorganizing the program."

"Moving forward, we will do our best to produce the program in a way that ensures the essence of the show is not damaged while making sure the sincerity of the participants is properly delivered," it added.

Given the anger aimed at Maeil Broadcasting Network (MBN) immediately after it released the first teasers for the new series, media analysts say the producers had little choice but to apply the brakes.

The show was marketed as a "K-Pop prodigy discovery initiative" and closely followed 59 young girls — all aged 15 or younger — as they competed to become the industry's next star.

"Promoting younger artists is not, of course, new in the entertainment industry," said Chuyun Oh, assistant professor of dance theory at San Diego State University and author of the book "K-Pop Dance."

Controversy over marketing children

"But one of the reasons this program has attracted controversy is that it explicitly advocates the girls' age, as the title implies, as a source of marketing," she told DW.

"Some of the audience — TV and online — are not happy about the show, including parents and teachers," Oh added.

"Their major concern is that the participants are minors but their dance, including movement, costume, facial expressions and so on are too mature as the girls would be replicating the choreography of the original K-Pop girl groups."

K-Pop frequently attracts criticism from some quarters over lyrics, moves or performances that are overly graphic.

For example, K-Pop star Jennie Kim was effectively canceled in South Korea after a particularly raunchy performance on HBO's series "The Idol." In another instance, CU, a singer with DimePiece, experienced a wardrobe malfunction during a live performance in 2017 and revealed too much.

For some in conservative South Korea, the sexualization of girls in their early teens on "Under15" was too much — and made worse by the girls' ages being highlighted on promotional posters in a barcode design that critics said reduced the girls to objects.

'Packaged and sold'

"It is not just a question of the sexuality of these girls being promoted that is causing problems, but the idea that they are products being packaged and sold," said David Tizzard, an assistant professor of education at Seoul Women's University and a columnist for a Korean daily focusing on social affairs.

"When it is adults that are being packaged in this way, then it is less of a problem," he added. "But because they are young, this is much more sensitive," he told DW.

He emphasizes, however, that using "sex to sell" is not new in South Korea or anywhere else in the world.

"BoA, sometimes called the 'Queen of K-Pop,' was 13 when she started out. But how old was Michael Jackson when he started performing? Or Britney Spears?" he asked.

"It could be argued that we live in a society that is a paradox of freedom at the same time that it is hyper moralistic."

Part of the problem for the producers of "Under15," he suggested, has been unfortunate timing.

In early March, media reports emerged that actor Kim Soo-hyun, 37, had dated actress Kim Sae-ron when she was 15 and a minor.

Kim Sae-ron was one of the most promising young performers in South Korea but she died by suicide in February at the age of 24.

Her parents have gone public with accusations that Kim Soo-hyun groomed their daughter, triggering a fierce backlash against the previously popular actor.

Kim Soo-hyun gave a tearful press conference of his own on Monday, confirming that the two had dated but claimed their relationship had only started after Kim Sae-ron had legally become an adult.

"I cannot admit something that I did not do," Kim told massed ranks of the media in Seoul. "I feel sorry that the late actress is not able to rest in peace."

'Entertainment industry is fascinated by youth'

Tizzard said Korean society "has been rocked by the suicide of Kim Sae-ron and now all the allegations that Kim Soo-hyun was dating her when she was still a minor, which perhaps puts what is happening with 'Under15' into greater context.

"People are hyper-sensitive about under-age girls in the K-Pop industry right now."

However, given that there will always be demand for the next fresh face on the K-Pop scene, there is little doubt that the industry will act to supply it.

"As anyone can imagine, the entertainment industry, from fashion to film, is fascinated by youth," said Oh. "K-pop is no exception as the younger they are, the more youthful their bodies are. And because K-pop is driven by dance performances, a physical activity, youth plays an even more significant role in boosting artists' charm, and therefore, their commercial value in the capitalist market."

*Editor's note: If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at www.befrienders.org.

[baileypie-writes]

~My Thoughts on Wonderful Pretty Cure!: Episodes 36-40~

~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~

This will be updated weekly, so be sure to come back if you want to see my thoughts on new episodes!

~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~

Episode 36 - A Special Kind Of Wonderful:

I’m going absolutely feral. I’m crying, screaming, throwing up and everything else.

I’ve never been this happy for a Precure episode. This is definitely my favorite Wonderful Precure episode so far. And it may be my favorite episode in the entire franchise.

I can believe they’re canon. I really can’t. Pretty Cure does not have a good track record when it comes to romance(straight ones anyway). So I fully expected Toei to pull a Happiness Charge, and just make their relationship implied at the very end. But I was pleasantly surprised!

I was worried about how Iroha felt. From the preview, it wasn’t obvious. But I’m glad she realized her feelings! The chase scene leading up to the confession was beautiful. The animation, the atmosphere, the internal dialogue. I really felt Cure Friendy’s emotion.

I’m really excited to see her and Satoru’s relationship develop further during the rest of the series. Next episode looks really cute and wholesome, so I’m definitely excited.

My only concern at this point is Komugi. No one has explained romantic love to her yet. And on top of that, I’m worried that she’s gonna feel jealousy. It’s a pretty high probability. But I have high hopes for the outcome!

My rating for this episode:

10/10 - A+

~~~~

Episode 37 - A First Date With Everyone:

This episode was cute, though I expected better.

I really wished it focused more on Satoru and Iroha’s date. There was a lot of focus on the others. I was just super hyped for a purely date focused episode.

That being said, it was still super cute! I loved how awkward they were, but still happy. Iroha yapping about animals when she was nervous was so sweet.

My rating for this episode:

7/10 - C-

~~~~

Episode 38 - The Place Komugi Calls Home:

I was honestly terrified for this episode. I had no idea what to expect. But I was pleasantly surprised.

First off, I had no idea Komugi and Iroha had only known each other for 2 years. I assumed it would be more like 5. But whatever.

I had always assumed that before meeting Iroha, Komugi lived in Niko Garden. I thought the same for Yuki. But they could be just normal animals. I guess we won’t really know for sure unless the show reveals it.

I was really surprised when Iroha admitted to not wanting to give up Komugi. I definitely assumed she’d pretend to be okay with it, but the old man would allow her to keep her. I liked that part. It’s much more emotional and realistic to me. Also, I love that kind old man. He’s so nice to let them be together.

Finally, we got a teaser for Niko’s human form! I already got spoiled for it, but I’m still excited haha.

Next episode looks like it’s gonna be a major plot point. Not only is Niko’s human form probably gonna be fully revealed, but if I’m not mistaken, it looks like Komugi might get turned into a Garugaru!

My rating for this episode:

8/10 - B-

~~~~

Episode 39 - Niko Evolution:

This episode was pretty good! I was super excited!

We finally get the actual reveal of Niko’s true/human form! She’s so pretty! We also get the full reveal of Gaon. He looks really cool!

I was terrified when Komugi almost turned into a Gaogaon. But of course, she would be the one to break out of it. Good on her!

I’m really excited for next episode! It looks really fun. And hopefully, we’ll get more lore.

My rating for this episode:

7/10 - C-

~~~~

Episode 40 - The Great Wanyan Incident:

While this episode may have been completely pointless, I still loved it!

It was really random how they ended up turning into animals. The idea was clearly for cash grab reasons, but I don’t mind too much.

Iroha and Mayu’s animal designs are absolutely perfect! I’m not so sure about Satoru’s though…

Another thing, it was really random how the gang ended up at the shrine. There was no talk of it prior to this episode. We just open with them there.

Other than that though, I really liked this episode! I loved seeing the owners enjoy being animals. Satoru’s bit was definitely my favorite. He was so happy! We also even got a cute little moment between him and Iroha, which is always great.

There was also a little hint to Torame possibly reforming? Maybe? He likes playing with the Pretty Cure, and he’s always bored at home. So it’s possible!

My rating for this episode:

7/10 - C-

~~~~

Overall Score for These Episodes:

78% - C+

~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~🎀~~~

~~baileypie-writes

[p5x-theories]

Soooo..... Do you think that Akechi is from actually a later point in time from the royal timeline? Because the time of his voice reminds me of his true personality lol (as for why he's wearing his prince outfit, maybe he's trying to disguise himself or maybe he'll be the second character that can change during battle like Kotone to his black mask outfit)

Like I don't know how to explain but but like Joker and Violet are from the point in time where they first discovered Maruki's palace and Akechi is from the point in time during the third semester in Maruki's palace. I'm sorry English isn't my first language I can't explain it properly 😭

No worries, I think I follow what you're saying! You're basically asking if I think Joker, Mona, and Violet are from around October 3rd (when "Kasumi" has her false awakening), but Crow's from the third semester, right?

It's definitely an interesting question! We know that the collab has been stated to take place across space and time, which seems to mean characters can come from different points in time. The original Phantom Thieves seem to be from further "ahead" in their timeline than Wonder's Phantom Thieves are in their own timeline, too, which could be evidence of this. And we've seen that Wonder's team always gets pulled in together when they use the MetaNav, which probably means the same happens to the original PT, even if they're in another universe. Based on that, it stands to reason that if Akechi used the MetaNav separately from them, he could maybe also get pulled in, even if he was at a different point in the timeline! In other words, with what we know right now, Akechi being from the "future" compared to Joker, Mona, and Violet does seem entirely possible.

As for whether I think that's what's going on... I'm honestly not sure. One potential answer that comes to mind is that we've seen characters get separated despite getting pulled in by the MetaNav at the same time, which could potentially also explain Joker's reaction to Akechi; maybe they all entered from the third semester, but were separated? If it's early enough into the third semester, then Violet wouldn't have realized she's really Sumire yet, although that doesn't explain why Mona's there.

The next explanation I can think of: October 3rd is early enough that they actually haven't seen Akechi in the Metaverse before- even if they know he has been there because of his pancakes slipup, they've never actually seen him. On top of that, if Akechi gets pulled in alone and doesn't know what's going on, it's possible he could think that they're responsible, or at the very least, that now the jig is up about his secret Metaverse activities. He can't exactly lie to them later about being "attacked by a man in a black mask and awakening his Persona" if they've seen him in the Metaverse before Okumura's change of heart! And if he doesn't know what's going on, he won't know they're going to forget everything later, either. I think this could explain everything: Joker's surprise, Akechi's hostility, why Mona's there too, and why Violet thinks she's Kasumi still.

But of course, your theory about different times works as well! If Crow is from further ahead in the timeline than Joker, Mona, and Violet, it explains why he'd drop the friendly pretense, but also why Joker would be surprised that he did, in addition to explaining Violet and Mona. It could also explain why he seems to only be there as a teaser for the next part of the event (which we don't know when we're getting); Violet and Crow being from different points in time would be a natural reason to break up this chapter into parts, since Violet's part would focus on the "present" while Crow's would be more about the "future", in a sense.

All that to say, I can think of a lot of ways to make sense of that ending! It's also possible they're just trying to mislead us for that teaser at the end, and he won't actually even be that hostile in his actual chapter/part of the chapter, haha. Having written all that out, I think I'm leaning towards the idea that they're all from October 3rd, and Akechi is just confused/feeling like his plans are threatened? But really, I think any of them are possible.

As for whether he might change during combat, like Kotone... that's a really good question, too. This is another situation where I think you could argue a lot of possibilities. Akechi could be a dual-type character without changing outfits, since Robin Hood already has both Bless and Curse! He might also just be categorized as Bless or Curse, but have skills for both elements, similar to how Ryuji is a Physical type but has an Electric attack, or other characters with both Physical and an element. And if this isn't Akechi from the third semester yet, they might be holding on to Black Mask for when we do get there. But of course, it'd be really fun to have an Akechi that can actually swap between outfits and Personas in battle, so I wouldn't complain if they kept him as one unit, haha!

[pippin-katz]

I wanna get this out of my head and you’re one of the people that I know will set me straight. I am so beyond proud of Nicky and his new show! That teaser for M&G was fucking amazing and I know it’ll definitely get him so many nominations and awards (as he rightfully deserves - the man has been putting the work)!!!! I guess I’m feeling….bitter? Idk if that’s the right word. I’ve been living on a high from RWRB I want to see more of him and Taylor together, more RWRB content. It’s his job of course and I know he’s got so many more roles to come in his career. I just……yea don’t know how to deal with seeing so many M&G posts in the RWRB tags when I don’t think I’ll ever move on from Alex and Henry 😔

I know what you mean and I understand that feeling. I don’t think you’re entirely wrong or unjustified. The thing is, we didn’t get the full experience for Red, White & Royal Blue. There’s a big difference between these two projects.

Neither of them could even acknowledge RWRB, let alone celebrate it, despite it coming out and smashing expectations for over a month straight (lol).

It’s also not the same in that Nick, despite for some reason being labeled as “a rising star” by some news outlets and YouTube channels, has been the lead in a major production with a famous costar before (Purple Hearts & Cinderella). There’s no need to hype up working with Julianne Moore; people have already been laughing and pointing out how despite being the bigger and more notable actress, most people are talking about Nick. In contrast, Taylor had never been a lead before, so talking about working with him would’ve been significantly different.

They’re also the same age, which changes the dynamic between them. I’m not sure if or how much press they will be doing for this, but I think it’s fair to say that it would be more fun/entertaining to see Nick and Taylor together than Nick and Julianne, which is nothing against her at all. I’m sure she’s absolutely lovely.

Another difference is that RWRB is an original story based off a popular novel, and it was doubted from the start. Mary & George is based on real history, which gives it a significant advantage. Both have LGBT+ sexual elements, but it’s far easier to grab attention if you can slap the “based on a true story” in front of it; it simply intrigues people who aren’t fully convinced more, and that’s why they use it.

Basically, the “what could’ve been” for RWRB is probably the bitterness you’re feeling.

I’m not going to tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t feel that. Instead, I’ll just tell you not to let those feelings bring others down; if you want to express them, find a friend that you know you can talk to, and talk to them about it. I’m sure there’s plenty of others that have similar feelings. I myself was experiencing a weird negative emotion deep down in my chest underneath the excitement that I couldn’t place until typing all this out.

The important thing to focus on is how proud of Nick we are/should be. It’s that positivity that we want to spread. Hopefully that helps!

[side-vermin93]

Well.

Long rant below this line if you're just scrolling by.

I normally don't do this sort of thing, I don't post my unfiltered dogshit opinions on any kind of social media, I don't toll the bells when I don't get my way and cry 'Foul Play' unless I truly believe that something is going wrong.

No doubt, everyone has seen the... colourful reaction to TADC's release date being set in May of 2024 (This May) and the Murder Drones tag on Tumblr is exploding for good reason.

Now, before I say my piece, I would like to immediately debunk a common train of thought often used by detractors to devalue the points that others have made when it comes to this controversy:

"Glitch is saying that they are taking their time to make the episodes and the finale as best as it can be." And that we as a fandom are "Overreacting."

To begin with, I personally hope that yes, Glitch is doing everything in their power to make MD as good as it can physically be, I hope that they are giving the finale to the season the sendoff it deserves.

But would it KILL THEM to tell us something? Post teasers, memes, references to Murder Drones or even something as simple as "Hey! You liked TADC, how about you check out Murder Drones while you wait?"

Instead, Glitch has spent months of complete and total radio silence, completely forgot the existence of the anniversary of Murder Drones' pilot, and as they did this, they continued to post teasers of TADC, including a personally vexing post that basically amounted to engagement farming, literally "If this gets 100k likes, we will open the door"

Stuff like this DOES NOT help assuage the fears of fans who believe that Glitch has begun to ignore MD simply because it isn't as popular or as profitable as TADC has become, it smacks of blatant favouritism and foul play when the fans of Murder Drones get nothing, meanwhile TADC is getting WEEKLY teasers, which is only serving to inflame the controversy between TADC and MD fans.

The thing that infuriates me the most is that Murder Drones is in its final stretch for (HOPEFULLY) its first season finale, and yet we have recieved nothing aside from the initial trailers and the release date of "sometime in early 2024" and we are now coming up on the end of the second month of the year, meanwhile TADC gets a concrete release date in MAY, which does NOT excuse the constant teasers and content for TADC that was produced before this point.

As for the overreaction? I think its personally an acceptable response considering the current controversy, but the biggest problem is what Glitch has said today.

"We're also working hard on Murder Drones & will be releasing final episodes soon!"

This, reader, is a very vague statement made by Glitch in their announcement today, and... well, notice how they said "Final Episodes"

Now, this could be Twitter and its word limit screwing them over, but Glitch (and most corporations) is very deliberate with their wording, and this could be no different, do they mean the finale of season one? Or is Murder Drones as a SHOW coming to an end after episode 8? We don't know because Glitch is being vague about this.

Now, because we don't know, we are (reasonably considering how companies often tend to focus on what is most profitable as opposed to any concept of "loyalty") reacting in a negative way towards this wording and believing that MD might very well come to an end before Liam is able to fully finish his story or for us to enjoy the show he has been working on for a long time now.

If it is the end of Murder Drones, then of course people are going to blame TADC for "Killing Murder Drones." Corporations have no loyalties and no qualms about being underhanded, only an appetite for more funding and appeasing their investors, and the most juicy of cash-cows practically fell into their lap.

Now, perhaps we are WRONG, maybe Glitch really did screw up because Twitter loves its word limits, then in which case, shouldn't Glitch try and clarify that in another post as soon as possible? Say that MD isn't going anywhere and that they meant the season finale?

Ultimately, we are in a very turbulent time and tensions are the highest they have ever been, and the next two months will either cool down into something to laugh about later, or there will a shitstorm. No inbetweens.

If it is a false alarm, then I will be there laughing with y'all about how I was doomposting like an idiot, but if it isn't? then I will continue working on my projects in the fandom until I believe I am satisfied, and I will be there when the shitstorm drops.

God, I hope it's the former.

Also sorry if the tags for this are crap, but I don't have the energy left over to fix them.

[themysterioust]

Microstory Prompts - Silent Fury

@ramtiger sent me a prompt via Discord from the list! So have a microfic XZero tag. Bonus below the cut featuring my boy Soleil!

This may also be a teaser for a WIP I have on my list.

{Wanna send me a prompt to write more X/Zero or about one of my OCs? Here's the list!}

"Angry" was not exactly a rare time of year for Zero. In fact he could make a fairly strong argument for it being an everyday occurrence, but this level of anger was a new experience.

A face all too familiar, hair just a shade paler than his own, eyes red like carnelian drops, a voice that dripped poison with each word and a hand on the cheek of the person Zero loved most, cooing softly as if he didn't see the horror in those gentle green eyes:

"I did it for you."

Ciel had said she didn't want him to see this, told him it was better that he didn't know, emptily promised she'd explain someday. Now he understood why she'd decided he couldn't look at the last few files in the post-Elf Wars recordings. She surely must have thought having context for X's empty smiles and dead eyes in all the footage of Neo Arcadia would have driven him into despair, a despair the Resistance couldn't afford while Zero was well and truly their only hope.

On some level she was right. Perhaps it was better he didn't know, and the guilt clumsily tumbling in his reactor down to the hydraulics in his knees was consuming his mind in pieces. But above all else, there were other sensory matters to attend.

His system was flashing a warning that the joint in his wrist was threatening to buckle under the pressure of his shaking fist not wanting to lash out at the screen. His jaw ached from clenching it so tightly he was pretty sure he'd knocked part of his audial sensor array loose. Synthskin sent a warning for straining self-repair while on low energy, his nails digging into it to the point the nanobots were struggling to keep it repaired and in good condition, and his eyes - well, they'd been open a while and his optical focus system was starting to demand a screen refresh it wasn't getting.

Was he despairing, oh, certainly. But the fury was coursing through him far brighter like a supernova, and he'd use that to continue on.

Someone had to stop the "Messiah" for X's sake. Who better than the alpha version?

BONUS EDITION OF THE PROMPT:

"It's dreadful, really. Can you believe people are siding with the Mavericks now? It's all I hear about when I go to work these days."

Soleil was never a fan of these parties the "upper class" humans liked throwing, and he liked them even less when his father was invited and the only reason he got sent in his father's place was Harpuia insisting that Soleil needed to get out of the tower more often. (It was the kindest thing his older brother had done in ages, and even then Soleil suspected it was just because he hated these affairs even more.)

"The damn Resistance has X so tied up that he can't focus on the really important issues in Neo Arcadia! Construction work on the central highway's taken months! It takes me thirty minutes to get to my salon now--"

Being dressed up, preened and polished was bad enough, the stupid outfits were worse, but this was by far the worst part.

"Kill 'em all and let god sort them out, that's what my grandpa used to say. Better to stamp the rats out at once even if we catch a few strays in the blast, wouldn't you say?"

Hand around the stem of his wineglass tight enough that he could almost crush it, Soleil continues to keep his back to the chattering group and pretend he's intensely studying a painting on the wall. Barbarians rage, tacticians plan, he reminds himself in his head with another drink of wine. It'll get him through the moment at least, then when he gets home he can pretend he drank too much wine and get straight to work with Ciel and (admittedly, this was petty) see if there was a way to make the Central Highway congestion worse.

...It didn't matter that the enemy was his father in moments like these. It was easy to forget the gentle hands that taught him to play piano and the kind voice that told him stories of the Maverick Hunters of old were the same bloodstained hands deadset on the destruction of every Reploid and the same cold voice ordering the execution of everything that went against him.

Soleil loved his father, and always would. But when people talked like this--

"Ah, but I suppose we shouldn't get rid of too many Reploids. X himself is one, after all, a true example of the best of his line. And the Four Guardians, I suppose, they've done an excellent job. Did you hear they have a brother? Supposedly, his name is Soleil--"

--it was very easy to forget the image of his father and remember the image of Neo Arcadia's tyrant ruler.

He'd drink more wine about it, he supposed.

[hopelessromanticx7]

Catalyst | B. Katsuki

A MHA OC Story

Chapter One Teaser

——//——//——//——//——//——//——//——//——//—

!TW! Suicidal ideation, smoking, mentions of violence

𖤐✰ Wishing on stars 𖤐✰

Noa’s quirk alerted her of an approaching presence. Hebi was a snake-like being, which provided them with faint heat-detecting abilities, so Noa, by proxy, had a built-in radar system. She could tell by the opposing temperatures that her brother had come to find her.

“Hey, Sho.” She muttered without looking up, removing an ear bud.

Shoto sat down on the roof next to her, crossing his legs. “It’s dangerous up here.”

“Yeah,” Noa sighed. “I know.”

He meant well, of course— but sometimes, when he cared too much, it could come off as just slightly patronizing. Occasionally, it was sort of endearing. Most of the time it made her feel like a child.

“But look,” Noa said, pointing at the sky. “It's so pretty.”

Shoto looked up, craning his neck. “The stars?”

Noa nodded.

“Hm.” Her brother’s head tilted to the side a bit, and he squinted at the clouds. “It is pretty, I guess.” He shrugged. “It’s just always there. There isn’t much to look at after you’ve seen them once.”

Noa looked over at him, his smooth, unchanging face, the red hair spilling over his scarred eye. A small smile made her purse her lips.

“I firmly disagree.” She said pleasantly. “I could never tire of them.”

Shoto glanced at her, and gave her a soft smile. The white side of his hair was ruffled by a gentle breeze. The unmarred grey eye twinkled underneath the moonlight.

It’d been ten years since she was adopted, and Noa still wasn't able to define their relationship. It was… less than siblings, but more than training partners. There was no denying that they were family, but the bond between them defied basic explanation.

There was an understanding, though. A deep, intrinsic knowledge that whatever one was going through, the other was very likely experiencing the exact same thing. Their pain was mutual. The excessive amount of training they endured together bound them in a way that nothing else could. They had an odd sense of respect for one another— they knew each other better than they knew themselves.

She didn't show it well, but Noa cared about her brother more than she cared about anything.

“Are you worried about school tomorrow?” Shoto asked, breaking her from her thoughts.

Noa frowned, caught. “How’d you know?”

“You’re on the roof again.” He said with a shrug. “You always come up here when you’re worried.”

She fought off a smile. The boy wasn't wrong, but of course he knew that.

“I come up here when I’m anything .” She corrected.

Shoto huffed through his nose. Her light sarcasm and little jokes often left him confused, but he’d gotten used to it over time. He’d even grown somewhat fond of it.

“There’s nothing to be anxious about, you know.” He said casually. Noa opened her mouth to object, but he beat her to it.

“The other students don't matter.” Shoto said. “Their opinions have nothing to do with our objective. As long as we focus, and keep our heads clear, we can achieve it.”

“And the objective is…” Noa trailed off boredly, used to her brother's tangents.

He turned, looking at her dumbfounded. “Heroes, remember? That’s the whole reason we’re going.”

“Well yeah,” Noa rolled her eyes playfully. “But that doesn’t mean the other people at the school don't matter.”

“Their opinions are irrelevant.” Shoto said, serious. “We shouldn't pay them any attention.”

“Okay,” Noa lifted her hands, palms facing out. “You’re right. Fuck ‘em all.”

The corners of Shoto’s mouth twitched, and he shook his head fondly. “I don't even know where you learn words like that.”

Noa smiled, crooked and teasing. “A dark, dark place, where only the most depraved people reside, saying the vilest things they can think of.” She said dramatically. “You wouldn't last a second.”

Shoto raised an eyebrow at her, but had a strong suspicion she was joking.

Noa wiggled her fingers at him, lowering her voice to a whisper. “The internet.”

He broke into a smile and pushed her hands away, laughing through his nose. Noa looked back at the sky, fighting off a smile. It was rare they had moments like these, where they could relax, actually enjoy each other's company instead of throwing punches. She tried her best to enjoy it while it lasted.

All jokes aside, both the siblings’ internet usage was restricted. Noa made due with what she had.

Something caught her eye, and she gasped quietly, sitting up and leaning on her hand. “Look.”

She pointed at the sky, and Shoto’s gaze followed its direction. A thin, distant line of silver had just finished streaking across the swath of stars.

“You’re supposed to make a wish.” Noa told him, breathless. The excitement made her eyes shine silver in the dim moonlight.

Seeing shooting stars was rare, but Noa hadn't ever been around someone else to show her enthusiasm for them. Her and Shoto shared one more glance before turning back to the sky, each of them uttering a silent plea with their thoughts.

It wasn't shocking what popped into Noa’s head. She was accustomed to seeing a hazy, blurred version of Aizawa, all those years ago, ruffling her hair. Almost every time she saw one of those combusting meteors, she would wish that she could go back to that day, do something- anything- to change the outcome. She’d wish that she’d gone with him instead.

That was all usual, as far as wishes went. The shock she felt was caused by what followed after— a vision of her when she had escaped, jumping out the window of the building.

Only instead of Hebi saving her in the nick of time, they were too late. She splattered on the pavement in a pile of bursting blood and shattering bones.

That’s what she wished. That she never made it out alive in the first place. Never been thrown in the hands of Endeavor, out of the frying pan and into the fire.

From her left, Shoto looked at her, breaking her from her thoughts. No more than a second had passed.

“What did you wish for?” He asked in that monotone, slightly curious voice he always seemed to have.

Noa blinked, shoving her mind away, and forced a small smile. “Don’t you know what everyone says about wishes? If you say them out loud, it won't come true.” She half-fibbed, shrugging casually. “Sorry. My lips are sealed.”

For a moment, Shoto’s eyes grew wide. He looked at Noa’s mouth with concern, and she smiled.

“Metaphorically, Sho.” She said with affection, patting him on the shoulder. “Metaphorically.”

“Oh.” He said, his face dropping.

Noa had to hold in her laugh. Having to explain her metaphors to him wasn’t uncommon, and she found it endearing. She reached over and rubbed her hand over the top of his head, a gesture she’d only learnt a few times. It was one of those rare occasions when they had physical contact outside of the training room at all.

Shoto smiled and dipped his head, shaking it to fix the mess she’d made. He glanced up at the moon, noticing it reaching up as far as it could go.

“It’s getting late.” He said. “I’m going to get some sleep. You should too.”

Noa nodded, but waved her hand in polite dismissal. “Go without me. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“Okay,” Shoto said, standing up. “Goodnight.”

“‘Night.” She replied, smiling as he walked back to the other side of the roof, climbing down on the porch.

It dropped once he was out of sight, and Noa sighed deeply. She closed her eyes for a second, letting the interaction register.

When the sky came back into view, she shoved her hand in the pocket of her sweatpants, and pulled out an old, smushed carton of cardboard. Had Shoto known about her habit, she would have asked him to light the cigarette for her before he left. But he didn't know, and she didn't feel like being chastised.

She pulled out her lighter and flicked it, taking a shallow puff of the cigarette. There was only a slight inhale before she blew the smoke out, not letting too much excess get in her lung.

That’s the thing about smoking. Not only was it unhealthy, but having one lung made it more than twice as dangerous. It was nothing short of a death sentence.

She took another shallow puff and blew the smoke out. Her eyes closed as she let the dim buzz of nicotine form. The more she smoked, the more her mind wandered.

Noa loved Shoto. Really, she did— or at least, as much as she knew how to. He was her brother in the most complex sense of the definition. She loved all her family members, to an extent.

What she had a problem with was their situation, and Shoto would always be involved in that, no matter what. Even when pleasant, their interactions had the stain of their upbringing looming over the two of them like a gluttonous shadow.

The ‘situation’ in question started not soon after she’d been adopted. When Endeavor put her in his vehicle, strapped her in the car seat, and sped off toward his home, he had given her what he liked to call a ‘pep talk.’ It was clear, blunt and direct. Her instructions were to move into his house, finish healing, and begin learning how to train as soon as possible.

She was to accompany Shoto on his way to the top of the hero charts, and help him get there by whatever means necessary. She would get food and shelter in exchange— education, running water, everything a child would physically need.

But she was strictly allowed limited interaction with the other family members. Only when she and Shoto were absolutely needed would they see the other children. Visits with his wife would be rare, and scheduled. She was to obey his instructions, and under no circumstances should she do otherwise.

Noa had listened from the backseat, looking down at her hands. Her thumb scraped against the cuticle of her forefinger, and she pushed, trying to re-open the scab that had been there months ago.

When they got to the house, Endeavor helped Noa out of the car and dropped her hand as soon as she was standing. He headed briskly inside, ushering her ahead of him. Noa’s eyes were wide as she took in what little she could of the pristine home, but she didn’t see much before the door opened.

She hid behind his leg as he introduced her, giving a brief explanation to his family about why she was there. To help Shoto, he said simply.

The Todoroki’s had stared at her, most of them stunned into silence. Two of them, the oldest and youngest, had vacant expressions, but wide, blown eyes. One of them had two different hair colors split down the middle. The other had hair like snow, with one single red strand peeking up at the top.

It went like Endeavor said, mostly. She healed, started training immediately, and was put to work. She spent her afternoons in the sparring room with Shoto.

At night, though, when Endeavor went to sleep, some of the siblings learned to stay awake. Most times, it would be difficult for Noa to fall asleep, and they’d find her hiding somewhere. When she would wake up screaming from a nightmare, they would come in and sit with her until she fell back asleep.

The visits didn't happen often, but very slowly, she came to know the siblings. Fuyumi took a liking to her, happy to finally have a sister. Her and Touya grew close before he passed.

Endeavor found out once, but it never truly stopped them. They continued to sneak around despite his threats and warnings. After the loss of their eldest sibling, though, everyone stopped leaving their rooms once the sun set.

Not much changed from there. She grew up, Shoto grew up, everyone grew up. Endeavor’s prized duo fought and fought, and leaned on one another to better their skills. More time passed. Natsuo left, and Fuyumi stayed, homeschooled them, and Endeavor never really stopped trying to get his ridiculous goal accomplished.

That night, though, a change was underway. UA would start the next morning, and the process of becoming a hero would truly begin.

Noa resented it.

It was good that she was getting out of the house, sure. It was good that she would be learning from somebody other than Endeavor or Fuyumi. Sure.

That didn't mean being around that many people would go over well, for either of the siblings. Thanks to their father’s sheltering, they were utterly socially inept, and neither one of them were going for the right reasons.

Shoto was going partly because he wanted to be a hero, but mainly to prove that he could do it without Endeavor. Maybe the man was forcing them to go altogether, but his son refused to do it his way.

Noa didn't want to be a hero at all.

She didn't want to go to the school, didn't want to learn about villains and citizens and ridiculous things like rescuing victims. To her, heroes were overconfident policemen. There might’ve been a few good ones, rarely, but most of them were frauds. It was an overloaded and over-appreciated profession.

More importantly, she didn't want to be around strangers. That many adolescents in one place was bound to be more than unpredictable, and with it being UA, legitimately anything could happen. People looking at her, talking to her, being around her— she couldn't stand the thought of it. Knowing she would be perceived so much filled her with dread.

Thankfully, she would have Shoto to hide behind, but he wasn't the best with socialization either. He was likely worse at it than she was.

Tomorrow would be a disaster.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/63941974/chapters/164382949#workskin

[nyasialiveshere]

Adult Swim Analysis; Ancient vampire cult modernizes itself pt 2

I believe Kai in Adult swim and potentially in all of exo's content is in some way a vampiric entity who seems to be obsessed with running a sort of religious cult with followers who dance with him and worship him.

Anyway to me the analysis kind of proved itself halfway through this is definitely what it is about

Like...it's just kind of right there.

Cause honestly I noticed nobody was analyzing, they were simply seeing it as oh Kim Jongin who plays Kai of Exo is doing a music video and he's coming back from the military and he's working so hard, just like and watch it. Which is exactly what they want people to focus on.

It seems like the real message of the music video has been completely ignored do to a focus on "real world events"

In Adult swim we are seeing Kai lead another cult which is something he seemed to have left behind thousands of years ago during peaches. But apparently not.

Towards the end he seems to be doing some sort of indigenous dance, it looks like a spirit dance native americans used to perform while he is surrounded by his cult members.

The Gender Bender

On this poster which is shown multiple times, it is expressing the belief that gender expression and identity and romance have nothing to do with one another. Which I agree. It's basically saying you cannot possibly figure someone out by knowing who they have or haven't slept with. Or figure out someone's orientation by the clothes they wear.

In the music video he is seen being close with guys, putting his arm around them, hugging and sitting very close. Yet he dances with a woman with whom he has some type of serious connection to. All while he wears a crop top. With the crop top he is wearing a durag which is seen as more masculine attire. There is every race present and yet for some reason they are all okay with him being in charge of them and they are okay with following his lead. Meaning he isn't simply a guy hosting this party, these people wakeup and end the night at a pool building so clearly this is some type of coven or something.

The other members seem to barely know how to dance and somewhat just shimmy a bit and there is a few scenes where you can see Kai trying to teach them how to dance but by the end no one does anything more than shuffle they don't even attempt to do the dance he does. Which they easily could of gotten background dancers to do, but they did not want to because that isn't the theme

These aren't the old followers who followed him throughout the ages but new followers who he has to teach just like children, they all look to him for guidance and seem not to know anything.

But like I said, with the hypnosis necklace is that just because they are all stupid or are they hypnotizied

Is the cult religious, do they believe he is an angel or a fallen angel. One believer is wearing a cross

then we see a kid with a fish

he begins tapping on the tank disturbing the fish

most likely a metaphor because Kai notices

It could be that Kai is the fish in the tank who must return to the water or the pool for some reason.

I suppose it could be a reference to the little mermaid or finding nemo, needing to get back to the ocean but instead he returns to the pool.

the ending is ominious and he ends up in an empty pool alone pointing to the nights sky

perhaps showing how he is bound to the earth after becoming a fallen angel and he's somehow confined to the water. Just like all his teasers his entire career have been water based.

I suppose this could also be a shared living dormitory

it says community and F normal. Which means they could all be each others found family.

okay I'm tired now but I loved this. I really think this could be a mini drama if they have the footage, send it to me I will edit it for them I promise, 30 bucks an hour. But no really I love this concept and idea and it reminds me of something I'd binge watch on netflix or hulu.

Fav moments the duets of course but also towards the end when they were all dancing in the mosh pit well he was dancing they were all acting like they have something on their shoulders and they are trying to get it off. I think that awkwardness was purposely input.

But my last fav moment I found that I can't incorporate with research was this moment when he made eye contact with this woman and he was going off doing his best club hoe gimme some dollars move to...impress her? Like there were men around he could of done that with. I don't think she knew what to do with that. I really don't know what the intention was and she was just kinda like

The music video is sped up but she turned away so slowly she was like I dunno about all that. No lie he's either a comedian or he like actually think he's a exotic dancer cause why would he do that.

It was actually the highlight of doing this for two hours. Like I'm gone, what did he expect her to do get behind him?

But yeah this was actually fun and honestly I have less space on my other apps so I put a lot of research on tumblr, and with stuff like this why not it's innocent and not too serious. I really enjoyed the song and music video at first I was hesitant but once I realized the average person didn't like it I was like okay it's safe. I like things that are an acquired viewing.

At first I was like ehh, but now I am seeing the vision. But I really think this could of been a really cute drama. Like 4 or 5 episodes I'm so ready for him to act again especially if it's in something like this, like please. Korean promo circuit is a particular torture for me. I do not find korean variety funny. I have watched japanese variety and laughed so many times. I've been watching korean stuff for years. I'm not sure if the humor doesn't hit for me but I'm very different in what I find funny. I noticed that I find Kji hilarious but not when he's trying to be funny on variety it's so cringe to me. Like I just sit their stoneface, but when he's just being himself doing goofy stuff like this he's very funny. I just wish they wouldn't script so much. I know korean t.v they script so much of it just to be safe so no one says something bad. It makes for awful, repetitive t.v.

So sadly his album and whatever he does will be all I will be able to enjoy. I just can't get used to korean variety it's so boring. It's never the show it's the system it's like some shows have way too many people writing them and I can tell. I can see for rookies but I can't understand they do it to grown adults.

But I would love to see him on the jennifer hudson show, or drew barrymore or maybe kelly clarkson. I think if he promoted in america they usually don't script that heavy so it will be much more natural. But I notice some kpop idols sort of crashout when they are given freedom to talk about things they would never say in korea.

There's also so many shows on youtube he could guest on.

Hailey bieber interviews people over snacks, tiny desk concert,also he literally has his own youtube channel but apparently he has to pay for editing and film himself. But his youtube is so so scripted like it's unbearable you can basically see him reading off a prompter.

Honestly if he would show himself doing stuff for work or during his viral moments that would be nice like an in between for filming mv's. Him talking with people, or his actual dance practice process.

I would love a behind the scenes for this whole process. He could of been making documentaries for every album, post them on youtube. The ones that show barely anything aren't entertaining, there's so much they leave out,

[ferret-does-stuff]

What I think could happen in Double because the wait is killing me:

So if you've seen my blog before you'd know I am a little bit insane about Milgram, especially Mikoto so I thought that I would make one last theory post on him before the release of Double. This will mainly focus on his song's teaser and voice lines

First let's look at the official translation of Double's lyrics so far:

"I should have saved you, but why are you crying?"

"Rely on me, praise me with your song, I am your saviour"

Let's start with the first line before we piece everything together

The singer saying that "I should have saved you" makes it seem that the main speaker of this song will be one of the alters. The title "Double" could refer to this alter and the host Mikoto, or this alter and another potential alter if the three alter theory is correct, although the former seems more likely.

I think that a major part of Double will be some kind of flashback to Mikoto's past and how the alter/s came to be. I mentioned in a previous post that Mikoto's father could potentially be the reason for his DID through child abuse, which he may have been arrested for, thus him being out of the picture and Mikoto not remembering much of him (possibly through repression)

Now for the second line, "I am your saviour" points to this alter being a protector, most likely the first one to make themself known. I think part of the MV will show the first time an alter protected mikoto, possibly by attacking the person responsible for the repeated abuse.

Could this tell us anything about the victim? Probably not. But I'm going inhale some copium and try anyway.

Mikoto's victim (or at least one of them) is almost definitely a colleague of his. I don't personally believe the gang theory (because Mikoto dislikes violence, not much else sorry) so I believe the victim may have been harassing him, overworking him or just generally causing him to become ridiculously stressed to the point an alter intervenes, or Mikoto himself does.

In the voice line trailer:

"Oh, Es... It's been a while"

Not much to say, Mikoto doesn't seem the remember the initial interrogation. This seems to be Host Mikoto.

"Ack... oww... my head hurts"

This might hint that over the course of the trials the other alters may have been fronting more, or this could be a stress response to being put in a previously stressful situation.

"*screaming* DESTROY EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING! EVERYTHING!"

These glitches voice line translations are iffy, but if the other lines are to be believed then this may be what Mikoto was saying/going through his head when "he" committed the murder. The screaming makes it seem like he's not... himself. Mikoto could be suffering a breakdown of some kind, or a more agressive alter was responsible for the murder.

Any other theories I would love to hear! If I made and mistakes please correct me.

[writingmochi]

an honest review of the world ep fin: will from musical and conceptual observation (not proofread)

opening remarks: hi hi hello! for real, i didn't follow much of the main teaser promotional era because i was and still am busy with college and trying to get myself to write cause ughh it's so hard. but the fact that this is the end of the strickland era is melancholic for me... i think that the world era shaped ateez's sound so much as edenary + hongjoong mingi is now more taking their edm sound towards country and latin sound that is outside of the realm of pop music as we know it.

concept-wise, it's the same strickland concept but a more military style? like if guerilla is them creating the conception of the rebellion, bouncy is them going undercover, then crazy form is their battle song. and it definitely shows how both treasure fin and the world fin are both full-length albums with their battle song as the title tracks. i also really enjoy how they incorporate comic book influences into the concept, like i still don't know if they are ateez, halateez, or a new persona. based on the unit songs, we might hear various genres from the quick to the slow. if that is right, then track sequencing will be important too

let's do this!

1.we know: why does it sound so spacey? like the level of their battle has reached orbit level. but then the bass comes in and drags you back to earth. oh i love how the low-range timbre members shine here + jongho and his belting of course. it's slow yet has a tame chaotic vibe to it, like a motivational speech vibe. i also like how they're not shy to repeat the chorus multiple times to double down that yeah... they know, they know that you know they will catch you ;)

2.emergency: that bass synth line in the chorus is so SICK! i can hear a more chiptune vibe from this especially the synth line in the chorus, like something i can hear in a 16-bit video game. and the fact that it is gone in the last chorus really hits you hard with the drop. based on the lyrics, this song is literally about them and how they still have to be careful(?) with it. like they seem confident but also insecure at the same time especially with the repeat of "who has got my back". it's like the second part of the motivational speech that we know has started like "who is coming with me?" hyping ppl up in a battle against the world.

3.crazy form: ateez as always spoiler songs in their mv! and we get it! this definitely shows how meticulous their art direction has been planned. they might even is currently an album that might be released in 2025 because of how intricate their planning is (makes me wanna see the behind the scene process cause i think they're one of the best idol company in korea rn, especially since i consider that ateez is a indie kpop artist.

like bouncy, i like how they incorporate the korean instrumental sound in it. never letting go of their origins even if their music is going worldwide. this song isn't as brash as guerilla and bouncy. like it is made subdued for a reason. even ppl are confused if the chorus should be a drop or an anti-drop because of how subdued it is. also the hwawooyunyeosan chorus line is just *chef's kiss*. the refrain istg i agree with them so much. and what i love with how subdued the verses are is that they're going hard on the outro. i kinda want another chorus after the outro cause it just ends so abruptly, like the exciting counterpart of the default chorus with the bass just booming in my ears.

also, just a comment for the marketing team who is trying to make this just as a famous challenge as bouncy is: not all title track can be a challenge. other than it is a lightning-in-a-bottle situation, the song and choreo doesn't hit as hard a challenge song as bouncy. i'm thinking that they have to focus more on the performance aspect of the song rather than trying to make it viral, go to shows like studio choom to showcase the performance more.

4.arriba: the latin/hispanic influences definitely show with this song, from the lyrics to the rhythm and choices of chords and melody line. like i can definitely hear a clave playing in the background if they push more towards the influence. it definitely is a sound that the usamericans like, as latin is literally taking over the music there.

what i want to comment is WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT RHYTHMIC NOTATION IN YOUR RAP MINGI?? THAT'S TOO COOOL. definitely the highlight of the song for me. you're definitely going odd signature with it and i love it so much. (i count a 6/8, but i think it definitely has either a 5/8 or 7/8 in it.)

5.silver light: CYBERPUNK TEEZ!! ooh that reverb synth hits hard. i can definitely hear the synthwave sound with this especially when the chorus hits. the outrun aesthetic definitely shows up in my mind. that descending bass synth sheesh, before it became such a fat sound.

the sound mixing is a bit messed up cause the vocal swims with the instrumental with the part where there are so many layers. like i can't hear yeosang's voice that much because the eq is too similar...

6.crescent part 2: ISTG i miss answer with this so much! (i'm gonna listen to it after this) the piraty sounds uGhgh before it became waltzy. istg if this is the real ateez and we've been following halateez D:

7.dreamy day: right after the interlude, we're introduced to a brighter sound. as if as they have done what they're doing in strickland and retire to the beach aka their second home honestly. gives off aurora vibes but also eternal sunshine. but its like its a shade darker especially coming from what they've done in strickland, like it's not a bright as wave. istg this song definitely shows me how ateez found their sound in both darker and lighter spectrum of sound and i love them for that.

8.matz (98 liners): BRO THAT DROP! okay we're doing cypher style huh? this song encapsulates matz so much tho like "hey, this is who we are and fuck you for thinking otherwise." gosh my ears are blessed to hear rapper seonghwa in this. it reminds me of the bts rap line songs though it doesn't hit as hard for me, imo. (like ugh, cypher pt 3, ddaeng, it's just too good man.) that last chorus gives off old-school 90s rap tbh like. this is just me but like they give off such a kpop twist to madvillain's madvillainy album. like they see themselves as vigilantes and i like that so much!!

9.it's you (yeowoosan): ooh club song? ooh yeah definitely. i can see this song playing in like a dark, steamy type of club where all you can see is objects being highlighted with red. it definitely matches with yeowoosan so much as them sexy boys. oh, reading the lyrics i can understand the innuendos, like using peter pan and neverland as references to the high of sex? fuck you for that.

10.youth (yungi): lo-fi rnb song! LET"S GOO! i thought it's gonna be like vmin's friend but the sound is more like namjoon's indigo (which definitely suits them more), especially since it's talking about their youth and how adulting is hard I CAN FUCKING RELATE gosh yun's voice is so good here, like if my boy make songs akin to crush/zion t, i will definitely support you so much. it definitely combines a bit of their hip-hop side with the drum sample so it's a bit like bedroom pop song. oh gosh, it does sound like bedroom pop :D

11.everything (solo jjong ftw): ooh when the chords hit, i thought it's gonna be like youth, but the bpm slowed down as jongho's voice pushes forward. jongho and k-ballad: match made in heaven honestly. i also think that this such a good song for winter and at a time you just wanna to reminiscent of the year. that modulation ffs and the percussion. GET IT JONGHO ISTG the fact the his vocals pushes the instrumental to follow him. i'll pay to watch this perform live asvdhfdvj

12.fin: will: outro track! it's more like trance but it's very light because of the synth sound which i think it's more like strings. istg my guy maddox with his soft voice before the instrumental just barges you with so many colors as they're harmonizing. definitely an end credits type of song. and a happy ending as they now faces a new world... or is it?

closing remarks: coming from two darker album, this one definitely gives a brighter glow as it implies that they "won" their battle.

how do you finish a sci-fi cyberpunk concept albums? by giving it a melancholic happy ending and hope. it reminds me of the sci-fi stories i know like serial experiments lain, star wars, etc that when it ends it has a melancholic way. like it seems that once they've finished their journey, their tired selves shows as they retreat back to the beach, celebrating just within them as they see the aftermath of what they're done. it definitely shows music-wise.

when it comes to track sequencing, it is definitely done well. i can trace how the heroes journey is going as they enter the third act of their rebellion and how after crescent, it shows the epilogue after what they've gone. it definitely hits me more profoundly when i think more of it. definitely giving of answer vibes so much.

the highlight of this comeback, for me, is san. it's like he's in his peak right; physical-wise, skill-wise, and more. i love how he plays around with his vocal timbre from the lowest he can go to the highest he can sing. a very versatile performer as his skill grew and continue to grow from the last five years. san's going crazy with it and he deserves it so much. the boys deserve their success so much and i'm happy for them.

for the cons: suffice it to say that i know we're gonna get a brighter sounding album when i see that there's gonna be unit songs. but i think the album suffers from continuity of sound because of how both ep 1 and ep 2 has sounded. i thought we're gonna have more songs like halazia in the b-sides before the interlude because it will definitely hit harder with the cyberpunk sound. and because of that, this album just doesn't hit me as much as treasure fin. it's like they're trying to refurbished treasure fin but with a more electronic sound rather than marching band, especially if we wanna compare wonderland with crazy form. and since we have like 3 eras with the same beat through and through, i actually can feel the fatigue now when you realize it.

but, i'm still very much happy with the world's concept, marketing cycles with their guerilla marketing and so forth. they deserve to be called one of the best kpop acts active right now.

final ranking:

12.fin: will

11.crescent part 2 (i miss the pirate orchestra sound)

10.it's you (i'm in the ace spectrum so i tend to get repulsive towards steamy club song lol)

9.matz (madvillain wannabes honestly. could be executed better)

8.youth (istg pls collab with j-hope if you can i beg :3 i wanna see yungi with hoseok)

7.everything (give jongho more solo ballad songs istg)

6.silver light (yes, i'm also getting exhausted with poppy synthwave)

5.dreamy day

4.emergency (not me thinking of the hwa wip i have because of the chiptune song. it can be more lemon demon if they commit to chiptune/breakcore)

3.we know

2.arriba (now i understand why this is the second-highest streamed song in the album...)

1.9024 kick that drum / my ego in this show / to the moon we go / hey, this is some crazy form!!

small conclusion: now i wanna listen to answer, and am now petitioning ateez to do an instrumental album, one for orchestra and another one for edm/dnb. who's with me??

[marinawolf]

Obvious (SuperCorp)

by marinawolf

As promised- something for the supercorp girlies ❤️

So remember that post (this one) I made about Lena and Kara being totally obvious about their 'secret' relationship and Alex figures it out? Wellllll, I turned it into a fic with a bit of smut, so be warned. (a little teaser: only Lena Luthor can bring Supergirl to her knees.) Here you go:

"So, I was thinking we could maybe grab a drink after work today, Kara? Just you and I," James suggested, a hopeful smile on his face.

Kara hesitated, her mind already formulating a gentle rejection, when her attention was captivated by the sight of Lena, walking towards them from across the Catco bullpen.

"James..." Kara's voice trailed off, her focus shifting entirely to Lena. The world around her faded into the background and her breath caught in her throat. Lena looked absolutely stunning, and Kara couldn't help but feel a rush of desire course through her veins.

Lena's pants clung to her figure in all the right places, perfectly fitted to accentuate her curves. With every step she took, her movements exuded confidence and grace, drawing attention to her every sway. The way her hips moved in those pants left Kara captivated, her mind spiraling with thoughts of exploring every inch of Lena's exquisite form.

Her heels added an extra touch of allure, giving her an air of undeniable sexiness. With each confident stride, Lena seemed to command the room, turning heads without even trying.

Kara's eyes trailed up Lena's body, drawn to the sight of her unbuttoned white shirt. The top buttons were undone, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her collarbones and the gentle curve of her breasts. A delicate chain adorned her neck, its presence teasing Kara's imagination, making her yearn to trace its path with her fingertips.

Lena's hair was pulled away from her face, styled in a perfect ponytail that showcased her flawless features. Every strand seemed to fall into place effortlessly, accentuating the elegance and sophistication that radiated from her. Kara couldn't help but admire the flawless canvas that was Lena's face, her eyes fixated on Lena's mesmerizing blue-green gaze that held her heart captive.

Lena approached them, a knowing smile curving her lips as she looked at Kara. "Am I interrupting?" she asked, her voice filled with a playful edge.

Kara's response was immediate, her eyes lighting up as if James had ceased to exist. "No, not at all," she replied, her voice laced with affection as she turned her full attention to Lena.

James, caught off guard by the sudden shift in Kara's focus, tried to draw her attention once more. "Kara?" he called, hoping to regain her interest.

But Kara barely registered his words, her eyes locked with Lena's, a silent conversation passing between them. It was a magnetic attraction that defied reason, and Kara found herself lost in the depths of those enchanting eyes.

Snapping herself out of her reverie, Kara finally responded to James, her voice filled with a mixture of distraction and apology. "Sorry, James, maybe another time," she said, barely registering his disappointment. Kara could only focus on Lena.

"Hey, guys, have you seen the news?" a voice piped up, filled with urgency.

Kara turned to one of her fellow reporters, Jane, who had joined them without her even noticing, her curiosity piqued. "What's going on?" she inquired.

Jane held up her phone, displaying a series of alarming posts on various social media platforms. "There's a new terrorist group making waves online. They're threatening to bring Supergirl to her knees," she explained, her voice tinged with worry.

A smirk tugged at the corners of Kara's lips as she confidently responded, her blue eyes gleaming with playful defiance. "Oh, trust me, nobody can bring Supergirl to her knees," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of humor.

Just as Kara finished her sentence, her gaze instinctively shifted to Lena, who had been listening intently. To Kara's surprise, Lena raised an eyebrow, a playful glint dancing in her eyes. A surge of adrenaline shot through Kara's veins, her heart racing in response to the unspoken invitation hidden within Lena's gaze.

Before Kara could fully process the implications of Lena's expression, Lena spoke.

"Kara, could you please join me in the boardroom? There are some matters I'd like to discuss regarding your assignment for Friday night's tech event," Lena requested, her tone laced with professionalism.

Kara's breath hitched in her throat, a wave of anticipation washing over her. She couldn't resist the allure of Lena's invitation, knowing full well that their encounter in the boardroom would be far from a mere discussion of work.

She followed Lena to the boardroom, the anticipation building with each step.

Once inside, Lena closed the door behind them, enveloping the room in an air of secrecy and desire. Kara leaned against the door, raising an eyebrow playfully, a surge of anticipation bubbling inside her.

"What's on the agenda today, Boss?" Kara asked, her voice filled with a mixture of curiosity and longing.

Lena's eyes darkened with desire as she moved closer to Kara, their bodies now inches apart. Her fingertips brushed against Kara's cheek, tracing a path down her jawline. "Oh, just some urgent matters that require your undivided attention," she replied, her voice laced with seduction, her breath ghosting over Kara's lips.

Without warning, Lena's lips captured Kara's, the heat of their connection igniting a fire within them both. Their kiss was passionate and hungry, and Kara melted into it, desperately.

As they kissed, Kara reveled in the taste of Lena's lips, the softness of her touch. The world outside the boardroom ceased to exist as they lost themselves in each other, the kiss deepening with each passing moment.

In that stolen moment, Kara let go of her inhibitions. She surrendered to the intoxicating pleasure of Lena's kiss, her powers and strength fading in into irrelevance as Lena took control, claiming Kara as hers.

Their bodies pressed against each other, fitting together perfectly like pieces of a puzzle. Lena's hands roamed over Kara's body, teasing and exploring with a gentle intensity. Kara melted into the touch, her body responding to Lena's every caress.

Lena's touch ignited a burning desire within Kara, her knees weakening as Lena's kisses traveled down her neck. A soft moan escaped Kara's lips, a testament to the pleasure coursing through her veins.

Whispering against Kara's ear, Lena's voice carried a teasing tone, her breath hot against Kara's skin. "So, no one can bring Supergirl to her knees, huh?" she playfully remarked, her words laden with desire and a hint of challenge.

Lena's words sent a surge of desire coursing through Kara's body, her knees growing weak in anticipation. The challenge in Lena's tone was irresistible, and Kara's playful confidence melted away, replaced by a hunger for Lena's touch. Kara's pulse quickened, desire coursing through her veins. In that moment, she was all too eager to surrender to Lena, to let her take control, to submit herself to Lena’s mercy.

"I guess I was wrong," Kara whispered, willingly dropping to her knees.

--

Later that evening, inside the bustling DEO headquarters, Kara stood in her Supergirl suit as the team worked frantically to trace the elusive terrorists who had targeted Supergirl with their threats. Winn, her brilliant friend and the DEO's resident computer geek, furrowed his brow as he grappled with the complexities of their digital trail.

"They're rerouting their connection through multiple countries, making it difficult to trace," Winn explained, frustration lacing his voice. "But give me just a few minutes, and I'll have their exact location."

As the gravity of the situation settled over the room, Hank and Alex joined Kara, their expressions reflecting a mix of concern and determination. The theft of synthetic kryptonite from a secretive chemical company weighed heavily on their minds, amplifying the urgency of finding the culprits.

"Synthetic kryptonite is volatile at best and in the wrong hands could pose a grave danger," Kara reminded them, her voice resolute. "not just to me, but to anyone near it."

Hank nodded, his stoic presence exuding a sense of reassurance.

Alex, a blend of fierce loyalty and worry in her eyes, interjected, "We won't let anything happen."

As the team rallied, Kara's gaze involuntarily drifted toward Lena. Their earlier encounter in the boardroom remained fresh in her mind, the taste of Lena still lingering on her lips. Kara couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of the situation. Despite the terrorists' elaborate schemes, it was Lena's mere touch that held the power to bring Supergirl to her knees.

The room's dynamics shifted whenever Lena drew near. Each time Lena brushed past her, she faintly grazed her fingertips against Kara's waist, sending electric pulses through Kara’s body, teasing and tantalizing.

Amidst the turmoil, Lena dedicated herself to the cause, assisting Alex and Winn with unwavering determination. Her worry for Supergirl's safety mingled with her expertise, lending a sense of urgency to her actions. Kara marveled at Lena's intellect and resilience, grateful to have her as both her girlfriend and a formidable partner in their fight against evil.

However, shock rippled through Kara as her gaze inadvertently fell upon a vivid lipstick stain adorning Lena's neck and collar. Realization crashed over her, and she silently cursed herself for her oversight. In the midst of their passionate encounter, she had unwittingly left evidence of their intimacy.

Panic surged within Kara as she desperately hoped no one else had noticed. Her gaze darted toward Alex, whose inquisitive eyes seemed to linger on Lena's neck, a glimmer of suspicion flickering within them. She was certain that Alex would figure it out- she had helped Kara pick out that lipstick. The fear of their secret being exposed gripped Kara's heart, yet she masked her worry behind a confident smile, silently urging Alex to let it go.

Taking a deep breath, Kara refocused her attention on the task at hand. They had to locate the terrorists before they could carry out their nefarious plans.

--

The next evening, Kara and Alex settled on Kara's couch, ready for a well-deserved sister's night with popcorn and movies. The successful capture of the terrorists the previous night had left them both relieved, and this evening was their chance to unwind. Lena, unfortunately, was tied up with work at L Corp, as the recent acquisition of several smaller companies demanded her attention. Kara, missing Lena's presence, tried to push the thought aside and focus on enjoying the night with her sister. She pulled on her coziest clothes, ready to enjoy a fun night with Alex.

As they snuggled in, Alex's eyes narrowed as she noticed Kara's choice of attire.

"Kara, why are you wearing an MIT sweatshirt?" Alex inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Kara's mind raced for a plausible explanation. She fidgeted slightly, her nerves betraying her as she replied, "Oh, this? It's Lena's. I guess I borrowed it when I spilled something on my shirt. You know Lena," she laughed, nervously, "always willing to help. I didn't realize I had put it on."

Alex raised her eyebrows, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.

"Right," she said, "okay, then."

Relieved that her impromptu excuse seemed to have worked, Kara steered the conversation towards movie choices. "So, what are we in the mood for tonight? Comedy or action? I've got a few ideas in mind."

--

A few days later, Kara and Lena found themselves in the confines of a supply closet at the DEO, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. The intensity between them was palpable, fueled by the longing from being apart for two days as Lena returned from a business trip. Kara sat perched on a table, her legs wrapped around Lena, their bodies pressed against each other. Lena's shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of skin, while Kara's fingertips traced the contours of Lena's waist.

Lost in their own world of desire, Lena's lips trailed along Kara's neck, eliciting soft moans of pleasure from Kara. However, the blissful moment was abruptly interrupted by the faint sound of approaching footsteps. Kara's super hearing caught wind of the intruder, and they hastily separated, Kara's heart racing with the fear of being caught.

Lena quickly adjusted her disheveled shirt while Kara frantically fixed her hair, both trying to regain their composure. With trepidation, Kara cautiously opened the closet door, revealing Alex standing there with an amused smile and a steaming cup of coffee in her hand.

"Well, well, well," Alex teased, her voice dripping with mischief. "Seems like you two aren't as discreet as you think. It's getting a little ridiculous, don't you think?"

Kara stood there, her face flushed with embarrassment, unable to meet Alex's gaze.

"Uh, we didn't mean for anyone to find out yet," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lena's cheeks were tinged with a faint blush but Kara expected that it was due to their previous activity, and not embarrassment at being caught. Lena was too confident for that.

Alex took a sip of her coffee, unable to hide her amusement. "Well, clearly subtlety isn't exactly your strong suit, is it? But you know what? It's okay. Everyone at the DEO already knows because you two couldn't be more obvious if you tried. So, no need to hide anymore."

Kara and Lena exchanged a nervous glance before an unexpected burst of laughter escaped from their lips. The tension dissolved, replaced by a shared sense of relief and humor. In that moment, Kara realised that subtlety was simply not their style. How obvious had they been?

As their laughter subsided, Kara and Lena reached for each other's hands, their fingers intertwining effortlessly. They didn’t have to hide anymore.

—-

btw I love you guys! I have been writing these fics for so long and only recently found the courage to post them. whenever you comment on my fics, I get a little dopamine hit. So thank you. ❤️