#anyway i mostly ended up on this path and took these pics because i was running for my life

[klonoadreams]

Scarnoa gives me cryptid vibes. Like, people just post pictures of them posing with her whenever they come across her in her chaotic journey through Paldaea.

I think she's even more of a cryptid than Brie, which says a lot, because Brie was that weird kid you bump into at night sometimes, but I think in her case, you have insomniac piers running into her (or vice versa), raihan dropping in to check up. And then there's Leon, who KEEPS FINDING HER WHEN LOST.

Scarnoa tho, she's on her lonesome, and the chances of your paths crossing with her is highly up to chance, unless you ACTIVELY seek her out to have her stay in one place...or you are Arven. Because Koraidon wants sandwiches from Arven. :V

Meanwhile Nemona can easily track down Scarnoa through the League, but also, Miraidon knows Koraidon's scent and sometimes, they get the ZOOMIES, and oops - tackled to the ground , sorry - Miraidon always lights up around Koraidon. I guess they're feeling lonely??

Anyways Scarnoa is like full on chaotic cryptid that you just HAVE to take a selfie with if you run into her. Some of the photos her Rotom Phone has taken, includes her constant wipe outs on her Koraidon "this is hard" followed by the comments on that "that's a weird fucking Cyclizar" "HEY MA, IT'S A WEIRD FUCKING CYCLIZAR - IT'S LIKE NEMONA'S"

Scarnoa literally walking into a flock of Flamigo and somehow, SCARING THEM OFF because she just reached out and GRABBED a Flamigo, and then football (the american one that causes confusion outside of the States) carried it in her arms, while teh Flamigo was looking all over the place, SO CONFUSED, LIKE ????????

Arven saw all of it in real time, just "You just grabbed a Flamigo."

"Is that hard?" Not really - BUT THEY CAN KICK THE SHIT OUT OF YOU.

Scarnoa just wanted the pink flamingo bird, and they KEPT avoiding her, that's how she ended up following a flock into the marsh area. HOW she didn't aggro them, no one knows, because their usual response is to "ATTACK ON SIGHT"

Anyways, then there's the shiny Smoliv she found like "FOUND THIS LITTLE GUY" not knowing it's shiny, just, "I'm naming him Manzanilla. Wait, why is that other Smoliv different" and comments are "BRO THAT'S A SHINY"

HAve another bird she just grabbed - it's a Wattrel. And it's literally to stunned to shock her. SHE JUST KEEPS GRABBING THE BIRDS> And then just strokes their feathers, and they LET IT HAPPEN. because it feels nice, but what the FUCK

She also has a Baby Tinkatink, like "hey, did somebody lose an egg?" a few days later "OH SHIT - " freshly hatched baby. Thankfully, she was right by a Pokemon Center to get some help for that, like baby formula and a carebook. Because unlike the games, this baby does NOT have its little hammer. "here's some starting scrap for the little one."

makes the shoddiest hammer around five days after hatching, but she's PROUD of it. "Baby's first hammer"

Lots of progress updates for her team, she's happy with them. :V

sometimes you also get "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT" pics and shortly after "I love them."

apart from pics, there are ALSO video recordings of it, again, she's just super weird. That it's just "oh, you're that new trainer, huh? mind if we take a picture?"

and the caption is "guess who i found"

"CRYPTID SPOTTED"

most chaotic trainer, and yet mostly everyone is surprised that she isn't expressive...

Until Arven's Rotom Phone took the snap during a sandwich session, and right on social media and it's like "AYO"

he never really notices because Arven barely pays attention to social media beyond just posting his shit and leaving like some sort of cryptid. :V

from one cryptid (IRL) to another (ONLINE)

[hzdtrees]

Towards the Greenhouse

[willwriteforhugs]

you saved me- park seonghwa

seonghwa x reader - one shot !

word count: 2k

genre: fluff, meet-cute

synopsis: a busy and cold winter day leads you to a (very close) brush with death. but a stranger seems to be in just the right place at just the right time...

warnings: mentions of loneliness, near car accident (nothing too serious)

a/n: 

me as i open tumblr with the intent of actually posting for once: god i need to go post something so i feel less bad about being alive

so, anyways. first seonghwa fic- which is really just a long drabble. i always knew i wanted a seonghwa meet-cute, and this idea just seemed to suit him... please remember that this is for entertainment purposes only, though, so be respectful! (also, ^^^THIS genre of seonghwa pic, with the grainy filter and the tan...bruh...)

 anyways, i hope you enjoy, and as always- thank you for reading :)

- - -

your breath comes out in short, angry puffs, which you can see reflected in the cold afternoon air. the temperature in seoul is absolutely freezing, and you are not dressed for it. when you had left for work this morning, (in your standard sweater + jeans combo) you clearly were not anticipating that the sky would dump snow all day long. you long desperately for your warm winter coat.

so now, here you are: jogging, but only as quickly as you feel is safe in this weather. your condo is only a few blocks down- hence why you had walked in the first place, and why you hadn’t brought cash to pay for a bus. but god, the cold is just piercing.

the streets are practically empty, because of the terrible weather. so, at the very least, you are spared the embarrassment of having to waddle awkwardly on the ice in front of others.

but, to add to the stress- your day had seriously not gone as planned.

 when you first took it, you thought that the simple receptionist job would be easy- and doubly so with the convenient location. but these past few weeks were proving you wrong, today especially. while being distracted by coworkers, you accidentally put an important client on a somewhat permanent hold, and ruined a potential sale. as if that wasn’t enough, the next call you routed to a completely different office by mistake, earning you a strict talking to by the supervisor. 

so, to put it plainly: you were tired, annoyed, and cold. so. freaking. cold.

heaving a sigh, you continue your jog/waddle towards your street corner, which is two intersections away. faintly, you can hear a city bus approaching, the one that always stops near your work building. from where you are standing, the bus will be driving perpendicular to you, and you cock your head in thought. you don’t need the shuttle itself, since you live so close, but you wonder how close the bus is now...

feeling a sudden burst of energy, you speed up a bit, challenging yourself to beat the bus to the empty corner, even though you know it won’t stop there. this is something you do often- set up little games for yourself. it’s mostly an attempt to stay busy, but- though you’d never admit it, it helps with the loneliness too. when you race against the clock (say, to make a speedrun to the copy room at work) it almost feels like you are competing against an old friend.

you obviously know that you can’t beat the bus, but the thought itself is entertaining, so you throw caution to the wind. your feet slap the pavement as you run, and you hear yourself laugh a little. the cold air rushing by your cheeks helps distract you from your own thoughts.

you sprint through an empty intersection, and as you approach the final corner- having obviously lost the race to the bus- you begin to slow down a bit. but as you near the end of the sidewalk, (which is parallel to the moving bus, whose hulking body is getting ready to pass you) you feel your previous momentum get the better of you. 

you stumble off of the curb- and right into a vicious patch of ice on the waiting asphalt. 

it happens in slow motion: your feet slide harshly backwards, and you scramble for any traction- but to no avail. you hear yourself cry out as you fall forward, right into the path of the oncoming shuttle.

you slam your eyes shut.

but instead of hitting the ground, or the bus, a sudden weight catches you around your middle and lurches backwards. you scream again, certain you’ve already died.

you hear the sound of the bus honking as it speeds by- the only thing traveling faster than it is your frantic pulse.

you hit the ground hard, with all of your weight on your left shoulder and hip. even so, you start with the relief of knowing the bus didn’t even graze you. 

only after a moment do you realize why it hadn’t.

someone had caught you.

grabbed you from behind, and used their whole body weight to get the two of you to safety. 

you lurch forward, startled. as you turn around, you see him lying on the ground, in the same position you were in just seconds before- and you meet the eyes of the person who’d just saved you. 

it’s a man- a young one. and good god, he’s beautiful, too. the boy on the ground before you is seriously the epitome of korean beauty- large, dark eyes, an open face, and full lips. as soon as he opens his mouth, you wonder at how his teeth could possibly be so perfect.

it takes you a moment of staring before you realize he’s speaking to you. 

“um.” your voice breaks. “what?”

the boy scrambles onto his knees, shuffling towards you. “i asked if you’re alright- are you hurt?” his voice is concerned, and his hands flutter about your face- too wary to touch you, but clearly wanting to.

his eyes are more genuine than you can even take in, and you hesitate at the whole scene- what the hell is happening? did you hit your head?

you stutter, trying to make sense of the situation. the boy leans back on his heels as you finally catch your breath. 

your words are breathy, but deliberate. “you- you saved me.”

the boy tilts his head slightly, the corner of his mouth tugging upwards. “yes, i suppose i did.” a beat passes before he continues. his eyes, though now bordering on playful, still look worried. “you probably shouldn’t be running in this sort of weather.”

you heave a sigh that comes out in a laugh. “yeah, i realize that now.”

your counterpart picks himself up off the ground, brushing off his front. he then extends a hand towards you. you stare at it for a moment, confused. for a moment, he looks down at you intently, waiting. your puzzlement passes, and you blush as you cautiously place your palm in his, allowing him to help you up. 

“i’m seonghwa, by the way. park seonghwa.” the man- no, seonghwa looks down at you, letting his sentence hang.

you clear your throat, feeling a harsh wave of embarrassment at the situation. “um- i’m y/n.”

seonghwa nods at you, taking a step back. his brow is furrowed. “well, y/n-ssi- you didn’t actually tell me if you were hurt or not. do you feel dizzy? nauseous?”

you throw your hands up in protest, not wanting to cause any more distress than you already had. “no, uh- i’m fine, really. maybe a little bruised, but i’m okay. i think it would be a bigger problem if you were hurt...”

you are not exaggerating- you can only imagine the guilt you would feel if he’d been injured. 

seonghwa represses a smile. “i’m alright too. you did startle me, though. thought i was about to witness something pretty terrible...”

at this, you give a surprised chuckle. “yeah, i’m so sorry...you really came out of nowhere, huh? i seriously didn’t even know you were there until i was on the ground!”

this time, it’s his turn to laugh. “yeah, those bus stops provide great cover.”

the two of you settle into a stiff silence, and you can practically hear your heart pounding- both with leftover adrenaline, as well as the sudden nerves that seonghwa was giving you.

“here,” he says, breaking the quiet. “take this.” he shrugs off his long winter coat, and before you can argue, he’s reached over and settled it on your shoulders. the relief is near instantaneous, but you find yourself a bit too tongue-tied to thank him.

you sigh again, determined to get the words out. “oh, god, i really am so sorry about that, um-” you stutter. “i really should thank you, for the coat. but also-” you take a deep breath. “thank you, park seonghwa, for saving my life.”

at this, the man actually blushes. he reaches a hand to rub the back of his neck. “no, really, it was just a gut reaction...”

you shake your head, insistent. “it doesn’t matter. i could have died, but you prevented that. now-” you can feel yourself gaining confidence. “what can i do to repay you?”

seonghwa’s face, which had previously harbored a look of child-like innocence, suddenly turns mischievous. 

you tilt your head, indicating an answer.

his smug smile is full now, chin tilted upwards. “i actually do have a request.”

“okay, shoot.”

“you’ll do anything i ask?”

you frown, narrowing your eyes in an almost flirtatious way. “i suppose i have a few limits...”

to your surprise, seonghwa interrupts you, eyes twinkling. “you’ll repay me- by allowing me to take you out on a date, y/n.”

your mind goes fully blank for a moment. 

...huh?

you blink in shock, not being able to suppress your initial reaction. “wait, come again?”

“will you go on a date with me?”

you stare at him- this terrifyingly beautiful man was asking you on a date? after you’d fully humiliated yourself in front of him? what on earth?

suddenly, before you can even finish the thought, you find yourself nodding. “i suppose i can arrange that.”

seonghwa’s smile is completely smug at this point. “does tonight work?”

you bite your lip, heart pounding despite the chilly weather. your voice comes out in a whisper: “yes, i suppose tonight works.”

seonghwa tries to bury his smile and looks at the ground. “that’s great.” he pauses, allowing his gaze to flit back to you. “do you- i hope this doesn’t sound weird, but do you want me to walk you home?”

you smile, but shake your head. “it’s alright, i live close. here- i’ll give you my number, though.”

you dig through your work satchel for a piece of paper and scribble your phone number on it. when you extend it, he accepts the slip, still trying to suppress his grin.

a beat passes, and the two of you look at each other intently.

and with that, seonghwa reaches down and gently takes your hand, glancing at your face to make sure the action is alright with you. when you don’t pull away, he lifts it up and presses a soft kiss to the top of your hand, holding your gaze the entire time. his lips are cold, an unlikely and romantic nod to the temperature.

you feel your neck and cheeks go red, but you smile in an attempt to seem casual. “thanks again, seonghwa. for helping me.”

“of course.” the man’s eyes are twinkling again. “as grim as it sounds, i’m sort of glad it happened. if it hadn’t, i probably wouldn’t be talking with you right now.”

you smirk in what you hope is a flirtatious manner. 

“well,” he continues. “don’t let me keep you. after all, you’ve got a date to get ready for.”

seonghwa begins to walk away, then turns back. “although,” he calls over his shoulder. “i’m pretty sure the guy you’re meeting with won’t care what you’re wearing. you could probably show up in your pajamas and he’d still think you were gorgeous. just for the record.”

before you could manage an answer, he turns on his heel and strides away- but even from here, you can tell he still has a goofy grin plastered on his face.

heart pounding, you turn and make your way towards your apartment building. 

despite yourself, you also can’t seem to keep the grin off of your face.

[sunflowerdigs]

I think someone posted about this before. Maybe? However, it struck me again while writing up a meta, how much it sucks that the kids never really get reprimanded for the bad things they actually do and instead get treated really harshly for almost...the good things they do? Like, I guess that's par for the course with a narcissistic abuser because anything healthy their victim does with someone else is considered a threat.

But it's somehow extra annoying in the Roman and Gerri situation because for the sake of anyone Roman crushes on and for Roman's own happiness, it's incredibly important that he understand Why We Do Not Send Unwanted Nudes. But Logan is actually ok with that part of it. He's a toxic man who sees harassing women as a sign of masculinity. If Roman had sent Gerri dick pics out of pure spite or just to fuck with her, Logan would have just shrugged and said "boys will be boys". The only reason he cared at all was because Shiv suggested Roman was "weird" about Gerri and Logan likely thought back to how Roman nominated her for CEO and realized "oh fuck, Roman might actually have a stronger emotional attachment/loyalty to someone besides me, MUST DESTROY WITH SHAME".

When, really, that attachment to Gerri, though fraught with complications, overall spoke really positively about Roman. The two things that killed it from his side were entitlement and lack of self-knowledge. Logan bolstered the entitlement in the office scene ("like a fuck you"), and tried to encourage the lack of self-knowledge in the boat ride by telling Roman, through incredibly skillful gaslighting, that if he kept down this exploratory path he could, horror of horrors, end up taking it up the ass from a man.

(Side note - I will actually be extremely disappointed in the show if the ultimate answer to that ends up being "don't worry, Roman isn't that sick - underneath the trauma he only likes sticking it in women." Like...*shrug* play homophobic games, win gay prizes. The best route, imo, would be if Roman did end up enjoying this Most Unmasculine of sexual activities (likely because he's bi/pan) and it just...was not a big deal or was even empowering for him. Otherwise, the scene is just Logan unnecessarily spouting some very ubiquitous homophobic bullshit with no counter argument on the show at all, which is...gross).

Anyway, whatever you think of Roman's attraction to Gerri, that he admitted to it in our ageist society spoke well of him. That he recognized Gerri's superior capabilities spoke well of him both as a Roy and as a man. That he followed her advice and took her mentorship mostly seriously despite someone like Shiv taking jabs at his masculinity for it, spoke well of him. That he let her see some vulnerability spoke well of him. Everything Logan wanted to crush was positive and everything he was ok with or would have encouraged (the Kerry test in the boat ride = "this is how you properly objectify women, son") was negative. And it just...is killer that this keeps being the case with the kids.

[so-writing]

The Head Tolerates What The Heart Wants - Nolan Patrick (5)

Summary: You and Nolan broke up a few months ago and you’re both conflicted. Chaos ensues.

One. Two. Three. Four.

“Can you stop fucking moping and just call her?”

Nolan heard him clearly but what TK said was annoying and he wasn’t able to shake the thought of you getting down with Mathew Barzal. It pissed him off more than it should but he was too upset to understand how irrational he was being.

“No. She’s probably with Barzal anyway.” 

“Patty,” Travis rolled his eyes, “shut up. She isn’t with him.”

“Sure she is. He’s,” Nolan formed air quotes with his fingers, “wonderful, fucking amazing actually.”

Travis tried to hide how funny he found that, but his lips betrayed him as they quirked up into a smile. He knew your words hit Nolan but he’d be lying if he didn’t think a small part of him kind of deserved it. He’d never say it to Nolan but you weren’t the one in the wrong in this situation. 

“Patty, I know for a fact she’s not with him. Call her. Don’t be a fucking idiot.”

“Why should I give her the time of day when she’s fucking other players?”

That question had Travis laughing out loud. When Nolan didn’t laugh along with him, he straightened up and looked his best friend directly in the eye before rolling his own into the back of his head. 

“Didn’t you cheat on her? Why are you so fucking pressed?”

Nolan snorted and pulled his beanie from his head, running a hand through his hair, before replacing it.

“Yeah, I don’t know.”

“Well,” Travis started, “you need to do something. Call her, text her, write her a fucking letter, but do fucking something man.”

*

You casually exchanged texts with Mat, not quite willing to let go of him despite knowing that nothing serious would happen because you were too caught up in Nolan fucking Patrick and hating every second of it.

Pouring yourself a glass of wine, you turned on Netflix and decided to take a deep dive into The Office for probably the hundredth time. You put your phone on silent as you watched the slow burn relationship between Jim and Pam play out. You’d seen the episodes enough times to not get completely invested and your phone kept lighting up on the cushion beside you, so you gave in and checked your messages.

Hey from Nolan.

I’m sorry from Nolan.

You’re watching the fucking office again aren’t you from Mat.

Fool, don’t ignore me, I know better from Mat. 

Of course I’m watching the office, you ignorant slut to Mat.

You’re going to kill yourself pretending to kill yourself! from Mat.

You chuckled at the conversation you were having with Mat and quickly fired off the next message.

Prove it, let’s see your penis!

It was a rather cheeky text but Mat would definitely get the joke. The problem was that you hadn’t sent the text to Mat. You sent it to Nolan.

*

What the fuck?

Nolan paced the room as he considered your response. He said he was sorry and you asked him to prove it, and show you his penis and that made no fucking sense at all. He was sure that a dick pic was the last thing you wanted from him but Travis was right. He needed to do something, and while this wasn’t the way he planned to reach out, he made a quick decision to just go for it.

“Fuck,” Nolan sighed in defeat, “whatever.” 

He lifted his hips up from the couch he was positioned on, sliding his joggers down and stroking himself a few times before snapping a photo and making complete sure it went to you and only you.

Here you go he captioned the photo. 

A part of him felt very awkward about sending a NSFW photo to you, but he was mostly exhilarated by his bold move and anxious over how you would respond to it.

*

The amount of wine you drank was starting to get to your head, making you feel lighter and more giggly. You phone had been going off for a few minutes but you were too intoxicated to care. 

It wasn’t until you started to get annoyed by the constant vibration that you reluctantly answered, not bothering to check who was calling. 

“Hey, listen, about that text message-” 

Nolan. He didn’t even bother with a greeting, opting instead to jump straight into conversation.

“Sorry, what message,” you cut him off, confused and a little irritated by him for interrupting your evening.

You heard him speaking as you pulled your phone away from your ear and checked your messages.

Holy shit. 

You’d seen his dick countless times but this was different. Uh, what? If an unsolicited photo of his penis wasn’t enough to sober you up even a little bit, nothing else would be.

“What the hell, Nolan?! What the fuck are you doing sending me that shit? I don’t want a picture of your dick!”

“You told me to send you one,” his voice was shrill and panicked, “you said to prove I was sorry by sending you a picture of my dick!”

“Wait, what? No I didn’t.”

You pulled your phone away from your face once again and scrolled through texts, quickly realizing the that cheeky Office quote you’d meant to send to Mat had accidentally gone to Nolan. A wave of guilt washed over you as you pushed the phone back against your ear.

“That wasn’t meant for you, fuck, I’m so sorry, Nolan.”

“What?”

“I didn’t mean to send you that text. It was for someone else.”

Someone else. The words cut him like a hot knife easily splitting butter. He was pretty sure he knew who the text was meant for, but it took a few seconds of silence on his end before he could say it out loud.

“Barzal,” he mumbled, “you wanted a photo from Barzal."

“Yes, well no, no, it isn’t what you think. I fucking swear it isn’t what you think.” 

A wave of panic crept up your back as you tried to explain your way out of this one. You didn’t want Nolan to think you wanted to see anyone else’s anything. That was the complete opposite of what you wanted.

“That’s a pretty bold thing to say. I can’t imagine how someone could interpret it other than literally.”

“Nols,” he hated how soft your voice was when you said that, “it’s from The Office. It really is nothing.”

“Eleven seasons of that stupid show and all you can come up with is suggestive talk? Sure.”

“It’s only nine seasons,” you quietly corrected him, “but I get it. It comes off as incredibly suggestive if you’re not me or Mat.”

He sighed heavily into the phone, not willing to say anything until the quiet became almost unbearable. It was maybe 45 seconds, but it felt like hours. 

“I don’t want you to be with him, fuck, I know that’s so selfish but I can’t help it.”

“I’m not with him,” you assured, “I’m really not. We’re friends and that is all.”

“You had sex with him though, that isn’t a thing friends do.”

Your heart was pounding seemingly out of your chest as you shoved the phone into your ear, eating up everything Nolan said because, in your opinion, it sounded like he still felt something for you. 

“Do you regret it?”

You should have lied. You should have told him a small fib in an attempt to help the two of you try and fix this burning, broken that that lay at your feet. 

“No.”

“Really? Not at all?”

“No, Nolan, not at all.” 

“Did you do it just to hurt me?”

It was another chance to lie and work your way up with Nolan. You weren’t a liar though, that wasn’t a path you ever planned to take, especially being with someone so public. 

You assumed your truths would open him up more and make it easier for the two of you to communicate. 

“No.”

No, on all accounts. Nolan sighed heavily before ending the call without another word and you felt like you could fall into a black hole and disappear forever, that punishment felt worthy of how badly you fucked everything up.

[euphoriacrossing]

So while I sit here trying to get normal balloon spawns...

I may as well write a blog. I am using a guide post on how to catch normal balloon spawns to try and get more cherry blossom recipes. Well I am only half using it.. I am camping on the beach waiting for normal balloon spawns instead of going there every 0/5 ending minute. I'll share the guide on here after this if I remember, but I already got one new cherry blossom recipe just by camping on the side of the beach that balloon spawns are coming from and ignoring the bunny day balloons, so I think this could work, too.

Anyway, now story mode is over, but I still have so, so much to do that it's not even funny. I am making it my main priority to save miles up to buy all the different paths and stuff. I think I have three left to buy so roughly 6,000 miles to earn. But saving miles means making less bells as Nook mile trips are where I made the most, I think. And now I can't take them because I have no miles/am saving miles and so I don't have the bells to pay off my house or to build a new bridge or any of the things I am saving for. But in part the fact it is harder to save bells just makes it feel like I have more to do and that is comforting in a way. I want the appeal of this game to last forever but I know my brain doesn't work like that. Still for now it's the best distraction I have and I'm grateful for it.

Having the ability to make paths is tough because it's just another million decisions to make and hope I get it right or can redo it better or whatever, so that Euphoria becomes the island I dreamed it could be. Right now I have a lot of dirt paths and I think they look okay. But I plan on redoing them someday with either custom paths or maybe just the arched tile ones... I like that path style. Still I started when I just had dirt so I just kind of kept going that way.

It looks alright, I think, especially at the entrance. I haven't finished a lot of the paths on either the right (residential) side or the left (wooded area/orchard) but I have mostly finished the center which is shops and such.

(So far I've gotten a normal balloon spawn every 5 minutes! So it works to just hang around the beach and then look for the spawns at every 0 and 5 ending minute. Edit: Aw, nope just didn't get that last one... I am probably doing something wrong then. Oops Edit2: Definitely doing something wrong. Didn't get a spawn again. Oh well I'll check the guide again once I finish this post. I am also watching for wishing stars so it won't be a total waste.. though I haven't seen any of those either. Last edit: Guide said spawns don't happen every time AND I just got another regular balloon, so maybe I'm fine? I hope I am not just wasting time.)

I am moving most of the houses before I do the paths on that side which is ANOTHER expense for sure, but after seeing a couple of my friend's islands, I knew I could make the houses probably a bit straighter and I decided I want them not quite as closer together as I want everyone to be able to have a yard. One of my friends has houses that are PIN straight and have little yards to them. I don't think I can accomplish that. But I do think I can space them out far enough to fence them in and have little yards.

So I started with the last to move in which was Marina. I put her in a space both by the beach, and by my house because even though she just moved in we're absolute besties. No but honestly, I love her. She sings like everywhere she goes and it's adorable.

I would move Beau next but I think he might stay close to where he is. Unfortunately if I have to move him a little bit I first have to move his house out of the way and then move it back because you can't move buildings just a tad, you have to find a whole new spot. This is why I had to move the whole museum to a new spot as it was slightly out of line and i couldn't just move it to where it lined up. I wish i had known this when i put things there. I didn't take care placing anything because I knew it could be moved. I only ASSUMED it could be moved a small amount as well especially since I assumed correctly that you were paying for it. But no, so oh well, now I have to come up with new spots for things, that's fine. Luckily both Nook's Cranny and the Able Sisters I got in perfect alignment with resident services like I wanted to so they're all on one straight path.

Anyway, I hope I can get it looking like i want it to. I thought that decorating it how I wanted would be the hardest because I still need to find all the furniture. But the paths might give that a run for it's money when we talk about difficulty level if you include trying to get all the houses in the right position and such.

But as hard as I've been "working" (it's definitely still fun or I wouldn't do it) I have found plenty of time for play as well. Yesterday morning I visited a friend for her KK Slider concert. I luckily have a good group of friends from a discord I'm part of and a lot of them are from other countries so they experience stuff before I do and things like that. So a bunch of us visited her for her KK concert and we did some of that...

And then things got a little wild...

Lol, it was fun. I thought for a second about the state of the world but I didn't panic thankfully. I just saw a bunch of us coming together from across the globe, some of us in quaratine, almost all of us at least ADVISED not to go out unless necessary. The world is a scary place right now, but the fact we could still come together from across the globe to be silly and enjoy a game together makes me feel like everything might be alright. I mean, it would still be cool even if these things weren't going on, but the fact they are abd socialization is becoming more difficult than ever, it's cool to see an alternate means of that in action.

I can't believe I took no pictures of her super straight houses, ugh, if I go again, I will have to, they are literally perfect.

And the weirdest thing about all of this to me is how included i feel in all of this. We're all on a small AC discord together and it seems like a lot of them have maybe known each other a while. But unlike a lot of other places it doesn't feel cliquey to me. I've always been welcome to come to their islands, and they have always been very courteous when any of them have come to mine. They act as happy to see me as they do anyone else. And I've only known them a short time so it would usually feel strange to call them "friends" but it doesn't. Now obviously they could feel differently but if they do they don't show it. I am incredibly grateful to have found them. I really couldn't ask for a better group of people to play with.

I actually was invited from this tumblr. Likely after I made some kind of post about not feeling like I belonged in the AC community or something similarly emo and whiny, I'm sure. So I am surprised I was invited at all, but I am so thankful I was. It was just what i was looking for in the AC community.

(Yes! I learned cherry blossom umbrella! Balloon hunting is going fairly well considering I only had like two of the cherry blossom DIYs total before I started and now in about an hour I've doubled that.)

I do have some facebook friends and such I have play AC with, and I am also grateful for them as well of course. It has brought us closer together and I am thankful for that. I have one friend who we constantly send each other gifts like if we accidentally got two of something or a DIY we already have or just if we think something is cool, it's really fun. I enjoy mail as much in game as I do in real life.

But yeah, I was nervous when this game first came out that I would be stuck playing just with my sister. And don't get me wrong I love playing the game with her, we always have a good time. But sometimes you need socialization beyond your own family and I really saw this as my one chance to connect since I'm not very social, I am very anxious, and I just struggle with these things. I may have been right about it being my best chance at connection because I can hide a lot of the awkwardness in game. Very thankfully though, I found people who accept what I can't hide in game. And who accept me. For some reason that's just been really hard to do. Every community I am a part of I feel like an outsider until now. But yeah, I am looking forward to a continued friendship with these people and continuing to enjoy the game moving forward.

I guess I've rambled enough. I still need to get more balloons, but I can't write here forever. Though... I frequently do write far too much here and I wonder if it get read. If it doesn't I don't blame ya. But yeah. I will leave you with this adorable pic I took while Marina was singing... you can't really tell she was singing, but still, she's adorable either way.

(And don't you love this dress? I have it in I think 4 different colors, I just love it.)

[ericahitshawaii]

Beaches of emerald...or at least moldy green color

Today I begin my circumnavigation of the island as I leave my home base in Kona on the west side of the island and head for Hilo on the East side of the island.  I will be making a pit stop at a few magical places along the way, the National Historic park of Pu’uhonua o Honaunau and the green sand beach of Papakolea.

But before I head out of Kona I decide to stop at a farmers market in Kona...because I love farmers markets.  You understand so much about a place by analyzing the kind of cheesy trinkets they sell that “represent” their community.  Fascinating.  The one purchase I was most excited about was the fresh fruit available.

Breakfast of champions.  For $5 (total) I got fresh mango, papaya and pineapple.  I don’t even what to contemplate what this would have cost me in Minnesota or how gross it would have been.  This may have ruined fruit for me forever.  It was SO MUCH better than fruit I have ever had in the midwest.  So. Much. Better.

Anyway, on to my first stop.  Pu’uhonua o Honaunau.  I can gladly check another National Park of the list.  This national historic park was founded in 1955 and up until 1819, it was known as a place of refuge (Pu’uhonua) for Hawaiian that broke a kapu (or ancient law).  Hawaiians that were sentenced to death for breaking a kapu would flee to this city of refuge to be absolved of their sins by the priests that resided there.  Others that would seek refuge there included warriors that were defeated in battle or people fleeing war.  This site was used for hundreds of years until the end of the practice of Kapu.Outside of the walled city of the Pu’uhonua was a village that was reserved for the powerful ali’i (chiefs) on the island. (Think of it like a vacation timeshare for island royalty.)  They would stay for several months and socialize, make deals, hold ceremonies and pay their respects to past chiefs.  Many generations of chiefs, 23 to be exact, were buried here and that is another reason it held important significance to the Hawaiians.  The site now has recreations of some of the temples and heiau (houses) ans well as the remains of the original walls and foundations of temples within the City of Refuge.

A halea (thatched shelter) on the Royal Grounds

An ancient board game called konane.

Entrance to the walled City of Refuge.

Walls were built out of lava rock and were fitted together with amazing precision, using no mortar.

Recreation of the temple where Hawaiian chief would worship and refugees were absolved of their sins, so that they could return safely to their homes.

Temple.  Some of the laws that you could be sentenced to death for under the kapu system included casting your shadow on an ali’i, fishing out of season or a woman eats a meal with a man.  Harsh.

Those who wanted to visit the City of Refuge would have to boat/swim to this inlet in order to access the entrance to the city.  It was very dangerous.  There were strong currents and very sharp lava rock to contend with.  Not for the faint of heart.

This site is still considered a sacred place with extraordinary mana (spiritual power).

My next stop was to visit the very southern point of the Big Island (and the entire Hawaiian chain).  This is the site of one of only four green sand beaches in the world. (The other three are in Norway, Guam and the Galapagos Islands)  I had no idea what an adventure it would be to GET to the beach.  It requires a very rugged and steep  2.2 mile hike to the beach.  The only people that are allowed to drive to the beach are Native Hawaiians due to the danger of tourists driving the rough roads and tourist being disrespectful to the land there.  So hiking it was.  The hike was beautiful  I represents the strange diversity of the Big island.  The west coast is more what you think of when you imagine Hawaii: perfect sunny weather and white sand beaches.  But the souther area is more hilly, cool, windy and filled with huge expanses of what looks to me like prairie.  Only prairie that borders the ocean.  Also, prairie that is scattered with lava rocks.  So strange.  I made the extraordinarily windy and hilly walk with two German friends that were also making the hike in.  According to my handy fitbit, I climbed the equivalent of 100 floors over the course of the hourlong hike.  Dang.  I’m getting too old for this.  But it was worth it.

View from the hike to the green sand beach. (German friends in the background)

More views from the hike.

And here we are.  The green sand beach.  I won’t lie.  At first I was a little disappointed.  I was imagining emerald or neon green sand.  It’s really more of dark “mold” colored green, that is hard to see from far away.  But once you get down to the beach itself, you can really see the green and how unique and special it is.  So why is the beach green, you might ask?  Well...it is due to a special kind of mineral that you sometimes find in lava called olivines.  You can find olivines in other beaches where there is volcanic activity, but the reason there are only four in the world has to do with the concentration of olivines.  Because of the shape of the cove, the olivine crystals are concentrated into this inlet and the much lighter normal sand gets washed out to sea, leaving a mostly green sand beach.

Part of the specialness of this trip was the sheer amount of effort it took me just to get there.  As many of you know, I have a fear of falling.  (Not a fear of heights, more of a fear of tumbling down steep hills and unprotected ledges).  I was very disappointed to see that the beach was at the bottom of a very steep hill and rock face.  I was sure that I had walked all the way there and wouldn’t make it to the beach.  But there was an interesting path down that included some wooden stairs and traversing narrow groves in the rock.  Totally unnerving but it got me down to the beach.

Precarious path down situation.

Narrow grooves in the rock face to get to the beach.

Now you can see that the sand is pretty green.

Having successfully made ti to the beach, it was time to head back.  There was absolutely no way I was making the hike back.  The wind had really picked up and it was going to start getting dark in the next hour.  Luuckily for me, some of the local Native Hawaiians are camped out above the beach to give silly tired tourists rides back to the parking lot.  This in itself was quite an experience.  You ride, standing up in the back of a pickup truck over some fo the bumpiest terrain ever.  Roller coaster-esque.  There were several time I feared for my life, but they totally knew what they were doing and got us back in one piece.  Stellar.

After a long day, I headed to my new accommodations, and Airbnb in Hilo.  BTW - I took this pic the following day.  It was super dark by the time I actually got bak to the Airbnb.  A lovely Bed & Breakfast with a garden in the back that had so many mysterious fruit trees.  Lovely.

My room.

Next stop: Volcanoes National Park.

[hidayasu]

Revamped (ch. 4)

I... have been writing... for THIRTY YEARS! D: Lol jk it just feels that way. Hey guys! Sorry about the delay! I had like three different directions I could have this story go, so I had to play around with it and decide which one I wanted. SO I finally did, so now hopefully we can get back on track! Soooo if it's riddled with mistakes I missed, I rewrote this a lot, so I apologize. OTL. Now, onward! :D

Lol, snapped a pic of Ladybug carrying someone across the city!

Aw, that's our Ladybug! So sweet and helpful!

OMG is that ADRIEN AGRESTE?!

OMG NO WAY

I THINK IT IS

They look so cute! 3

No way, she and Cat Noir are in love, didn't you see the photo? THEY'RE so cute together 3

omg did they break up?

GASP! Is Ladybug cheating on Cat Noir!?

No way!

How could she!?

Poor Cat Noir!

Adrien deserves better!

"Adrien is it true?!"

"It can't be true!"

"No way, how'd you manage it?!"

"What?" Adrien jumped from one questioner to another, flabbergasted at the sudden swarm and barrage surrounding him. "Is 'what' true?"

"You and Ladybug are an item!"

"What?!"

Alix shoved her phone in his face, where there was an unmistakable picture of Ladybug swinging through the skies of Paris, a common and accepted sight. Save for the fact that she was carrying a lean, blond male with a very signature outfit, and blond hair.

"Oh no," he groaned before he could stop himself.

"So it is true!" she pestered.

"No! No, no, we were just, uh," He grimaced as he glanced between everyone trying to wrack his brain. "She was just giving me a ride home! I was right by where the Akuma attack was and-"

As Marinette came to school, she was surprised by the crowd near the front door. It wasn't the first time she'd seen Adrien in the middle of an overexcited group of teens, but their classmates had stopped being star-struck a long time ago.

"What's going on?" She asked a distressed Alya as she approached.

Just then, nearly all the girls in her class turned with a gasp and suddenly crowded around her. "Nothing!" "Nothing's wrong!" "Nothing's happening!" "Adrien was just telling us about his-"

"No way guys," Nino spoke up suddenly, coming over to put his arm protectively around his friend. "There's no way Adrien is secretly dating Ladybug! Cuz if he was, he would've told me about it, his best bud!"

"Right, of course!" Adrien said quickly, though the agreement seemed a little haphazard.

"ADRIKINS!" Came the distraught wail as Chloe jogged up to him. "Tell me it isn't true! Tell me you're not dating Ladybug!"

"It's not true!" Adrien finally said in exasperation. "I was late for dinner and Ladybug was just giving me a lift home, that was it!"

The girls winced and looked worriedly to Marinette. And somehow mistook her worried expression for disappointment.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Chloe sighed with relief, instantly cuddling his arm, ignoring his leaning away from her. "Not that Ladybug isn't great of course, but she's not the one for you."

His grimace came back, knowing where this was going, and quickly coming up with a distraction. "Right! Because, uh, sheeeee and Cat Noir are a thing, right? Didn't they just become an item?"

Of course, so focused on Chloe, no one noticed the way Marinette grimaced. Ugh, right, that photo! The one of her and Cat Noir kissing! He'd been so eager about it, and Alya had gotten so trigger-happy with it. All her hard work of "rejecting" Cat Noir, down the drain...

...well ok, that wasn't true. Every now and then she still wound up flirting with him back, so maybe her attempts hadn't been that successful anyway.

"Ugh, she can have him if she wants," Chloe waved him off in her typical fashion before clinging onto the reluctant boy's arm. "You're the perfect one for me!"

Marinette crossed her arms. "Oh please, he's hardly "perfect"."

She hadn't realized she'd said it aloud until the shocked eyes rounded on her. Her own eyes widened, especially when she saw Adrien's stunned confusion.

"What was that?" Chloe pressed.

"I mean, uh, no one's perfect, Chloe!" Marinette said, trying to be more confident than she really felt. "And, uh, you shouldn't expect that of people!"

"Ugh, what would you know? You wouldn't know perfection if it hit you in the face," She said airily, flipping her ponytail with a flourish.

Marinette leered.

And then she smiled mischievously. "Actually, Chloe, I always thought you and Cat Noir would make a great couple."

"What?!" She wrinkled her nose in his disgust, while everyone else looked confused. Adrien looked positively alarmed. "Me and that mangy cat? Why on earth would you think that?"

But her cool, easy smile never faltered."You two brag about yourselves so much, you'll be able to keep each other entertained for hours."

Everyone burst out laughing, much to Chloe's anger, and Adrien's embarrassment. She scowled at the laughing faces, and Adrien flushed with a forced embarrassed smile. The warning bell rang, and the others dispersed, though Chloe of course couldn't leave without a threatening point to Marinette. "You'll regret this, Dupain-Cheng!"

"I seriously doubt that, Chloe."

"Hmph!" She turned up her nose before marching off to class.

"Shouldn't expect him to be perfect, huh?" Alya raised a brow as she smirked, crossing her arms. "Nice philosophy. Did you decide that in the last five minutes?"

She smiled bashfully with a helpless shrug.

"Marinette?" Came Adrien's voice, making her snap straight.

"Speaking of perfect," Alya muttered with a sly grin, before she stalked off. "See you in a bit, Marinette." She sang.

She looked after her friend longingly before turning with a nervous smile. "H-hey, Adrien!"

He seemed as nervous as she was. "Hey! So, uh," he rubbed at the back of his neck. "You like Cat Noir, huh?"

"No!" She panicked, making him blink. "I mean yes! I mean- I like him! As a hero! But it's not like I like him romantically or anything!"

"You don't?" He seemed genuinely surprised. "But I thought- er, that is, you were uuuh-"

"I did used to have a little crush on him," she said quickly, proud of herself for this brilliant turn around. "But he's in love with Ladybug, so now I'm just a fan!"

"Oh! Great! Glad to hear it." He nodded, half to himself, though he seemed mostly distracted as he fidgeted. "Soooo... do you really think he brags a lot? As bad as Chloe?"

Her lips twitched traitorously, but she managed to school her expression. "That depends. Do you really think Ladybug and Cat Noir are an item?"

He raised a brow, obviously confused as to how those two were connected. "Don't you?"

"Oh, I dunno, I mean it's just one photo," she excused quickly, turning around in pretend thought. If she faced him, she was pretty sure she'd lose her nerve. "Maybe they had another reason for kissing. Maybe Ladybug was saving him again, oooor maybe they thought they were trying to break a spell!"

Of course, not looking at him, she didn't see the sudden flash of worry. "You... think so?"

"Yeah, I mean, who can really say, right?"

He was quiet for a moment as he considered it. "Yeah, I... guess that's true. Ladybug's done it before."

"Exactly!" She agreed cheerfully, finally turning to face him. "I'm just saying, you can't believe everything you-"

She stopped. As she looked at his face, she was stunned by how... down he looked. He was clutching the strap of his bookbag, face to the ground as he hunched over.

"...though I guess they did look really happy together," she finally relented. "I mean, what do I know, I'm just a fan!"

He looked up at her in some surprise, like he had forgotten she was there, and then balked when he remembered himself. "Right, of course! We're just fans! I guess only Ladybug and Cat Noir know, right? We should head back to class."

"Oh, yeah," she smiled as she followed him quickly. "Don't wanna be late again!"

Of course, neither of them were aware of their eavesdropper. Lila watched from the shadows, her face turning into a scowl as she gripped the photograph of Ladybug in her fingers.

After that, everyone in school had forgotten about the incident, and took Adrien at his word. He thought that was the end of it.

"ADRIEN AGRESTE!" Cried the angry female akuma from the school rooftop. She was dressed in a garish mockery of a retail worker's uniform. "Where are you!?"

The students ran screaming for safety, trying to hide in some classes and rooms nearby. Adrien was trying to head for the locker room, but he was spotted, and the female akuma dropped down to block his path.

"I don't understand," he said. "What'd I do to you?"

"Nothing, I just know that you're my ticket to Ladybug, Loverboy," she sashayed toward him. "It's nothing personal."

"Uh," He grinned nervously as he tiptoed back. "I would just like it to be known that that photo was taken out of context, and we're not actually-"

"SILENCE!" She shouted, holding up her weapon- a rather formidable looking… coat hanger? Either way it started glowing and he had a feeling he wouldn't like getting hit with it. "I don't care what the rumors say- all I know is that you're enough to make her come running."

There was no where to run, and no where to hide, and as he braced himself for the attack, he silently cursed his need for haste yesterday.

"WATCH OUT!"

And then he was suddenly yanked away, Ladybug's yo-yo wrapping around his waist to pull him toward her.

"HA! I knew it." The akuma sneered. "Attacking your precious lad in distress was the perfect way to bring you straight to me!"

She scowled, holding him protectively close as she rebutted the claim. "Ugh, I'm going to rescue anyone in distress, not just him!"

And while normally Adrien would be thrilled at the close contact, the sight of the smug akuma, and the students peeking through the windows with their phones out, made him clear his throat. "Uh, Ladybug?" He smiled shyly with a blush, pointing to their touching waists.

She blinked at him, then her protective hold, and released him with a squeak, activating her yo-yo. "Sorry!"

"No problem! Uh, thanks Ladybug!" Adrien saluted obligatorily before dashing for cover to transform and join her.

Thankfully, the battle itself was not a difficult one. Cat Noir didn't even need his Cataclysm. The day passed by relatively quickly, leaving the students to finish up their classes and head home. And in Adrien's case, head to fencing.

"Hey, Kagami!" He greeted cheerfully.

"Hey," she nodded once in acknowledgment, then readied her stance. He hesitated a moment, curious.

"Sooooo you're not going to ask me about the picture?" He asked cautiously.

"Do I need to?" She asked sharply.

"No! No, no, it's nothing like people are saying," He assured quickly.

"Then there's nothing to worry about. I'm not going to worry about some suspicious pictures anymore. I already know where your affections lie."

He was grateful for the fencing helmet to hide his blush. Because it was true, he had been developing a crush on her lately. Granted he was still falling for Ladybug over and over, but... if Marinette's point was right, then maybe he really should give up on-

"En garde!"

Her warning snapped him out of it, and he readied his stance. He could think about it later, but for now, he had to try to beat her again.

"Would you care to explain this?"

Adrien had a feeling word of this would come back to his father. So this time, as the man held up his own phone with the incriminating picture, he was prepared.

"Father, that's not me! It's just an excited fan dressed up like me."

"Oh really?"

"My face isn't visible, is it?" He crossed his arms. "Besides, Nathalie saw me before I came down for dinner. I was in my room the whole time."

He glanced at his assistant for confirmation, and she nodded.

"It's true, sir. He was already in there, and there was no sign of Ladybug."

The man studied the boy hard, looked at the photo again, then relented. "Very well, you may go."

Adrien smiled, quite pleased with himself as he made his way back to his room. Today just had a quick battle, a quick evasion, so all was well and good.

But needless to say, things got a little… hectic after that. And not just from akumas.

It happened Tuesday, after the battle when the reporters had to get their 'scoop'…

"LADYBUG! How could you cheat on Cat Noir!"

"Uuugh, I'm not cheating on him! I'm not dating either of them!"

"Can confirm. On both ends."

Wednesday, when there were three akumas in the same day...

"Now that I have super powers, I can be good enough for Adrien!"

"Trust me, with your super powers, you can do so much better."

"Hey!"

Thursday, when they got a nice combo of one of her fanboys, and one of Cat Noir's fangirls…

"I'll take the Miraculouses, then we'll be together forever!"

"An eternity of corny pick up lines and bad jokes? Be my guest."

"For the record, I know you're teasing me, but I'll still stand by the fact that my jokes are hilarious."

And Friday, when it felt like everything was piling up bit by bit.

Lila stared at her phone, teeth clenching harder and harder as the newest news clips came out. Image after image of Ladybug valiantly protecting Adrien only fueled the fans of the assumption of their "secret relationship", giving her plenty of fodder for rumors, which she had been taking. To no avail.

"Why? Why can none of these idiots take out Ladybug?" She ranted. "What else do I have to say?"

She jumped onto her computer, looking up more articles and forums, trying to make as many comments about "secret dates" and "outings" and possible.

'Come on, come on, someone take care of her!'

Because no matter how Adrien tried to deny it, Lila knew the truth.

"Why?! Why isn't Hawkmoth akumatizing me?!" She chucked her phone across her room, and stomped about in rage. Picking up the photograph from her desk, she glowered at the smiling, swinging image of Ladybug, gripping so hard it crinkled in her fingers.

"Just as I planned, her anger is growing with each passing day I "ignore" her." Hawkmoth mused as he sensed her rage tumbling through. "But not yet. Her work in helping spread the rumors is giving me plenty of ammunition to wear them down. And then she'll be ready to be my perfect puppet."

He held out his hand, letting a butterfly land in his glove. He akumatized it, and let it flutter out the window. "Fly away my little akuma, and evilize him!"

Ladybug dropped between a couple buildings, trying to catch her breath against the wall after the latest battle. Cat Noir transformed back first, having to use his power a lot sooner than her. Plagg took the time to zip out and groan in annoyance. "Man, that's the 10th one this week! It's nice being popular with the ladies, but this is ridiculous!"

"If it wasn't for people taking all these pictures it wouldn't be happening so much!" Ladybug groaned in exasperation. "It's not like I'm saving you any different from normal."

"Normally, I might be disappointed, but this time I have to agree. I mean:" He had given Plagg a piece of cheese, then pulled out his phone to pull up the latest "craze". "This one isn't even remotely flattering!"

It had been a picture where Ladybug had just barely caught Adrien mid-fall by the ankle, leaving him swinging precariously in mid-air, and screaming bloody murder. Clearly, the affection was palpable.

"Honestly, I'm gonna need my PR people to get on the ball soon," He mused. "My nose looks way too big in this one."

"This is getting out of hand." Ladybug groaned with her head in her hand. "You've got to go on TV and tell people they're wrong."

"I've been trying! But the more I try to deny it, the more people think I'm trying to hide it!"

"Well there's gotta be some way to stop all these akumatizations." She murmured as she grasped her chin in thought.

He watched her a moment, brow furrowing in worry, before he quickly schooled it to be casual. "Well, what if we pretended we're dating? I mean as Cat Noir!" He said quickly. "Like we did before for the other akumas."

She looked at him sharply, but he searched her face to decipher her reaction, hand at his neck. She seemed less-than-thrilled at the idea, though turned her face away so he wouldn't see. "I-I don't know, wouldn't that be hard for you to-?"

Then the akuma found them, and burst in with a mighty roar, making Plagg have to hide.

"Another one?!" Ladybug complained. "It hasn't even been five minutes!"

"LADYBUG!" He cried angrily. He was a massive, muscular boy with a wrestler's yellow uniform blindingly bright against his purple skin. There were stripped braces on his wrists and calves, with an orange armored helmet, but besides that had nothing else to shield him. "Why, why do you love him? What does that weakling have that I don't?!"

"Oh, one of your fans again," Adrien realized brightly, hands on his hips. "I gotta say this is a nice change of pace."

"Silence, girly boy! You don't have what it takes to make Ladybug happy!"

Both Adrien and Ladybug glared.

And then Adrien sneered. "Well, better a "girly boy" than a toy store reject." He said easily, leaning to one side. "With a paint job like that I'd say a 2 year old could do better."

"Ca- Adrien!" Ladybug snapped, just before she had to dive to snatch him out of harm's way. "Are you insane? Don't antagonize him like this!"

The boy didn't even have the decency to look fazed, simply shrugging as she held him in her arms. "What? He asked," he defended. "Besides, you can't expect me not to feel a little jealous of anyone after you."

Of course, neither of them were aware of Hawkmoth on the other side of the psychic link. "What?!"

"Oh, go "hide" already," Ladybug spat as she dropped him, whirling her yo-yo to life.

"Oh no you don't!" the wrestler shouted. "Come fight me face to face!"

"No!" Hawkmoth interrupted. "Not until you've faced Cat Noir and Ladybug and given me their miraculouses!"

"Hmph, go ahead, girly boy!" the akuma yelled after Adrien as he darted around a building. "Go run an' hide! While I show Ladybug what a real man I am!"

"Real man, huh?" Adrien opened up his shirt to let Plagg out again. "Why don't we go show this guy what a real man can do. Plagg, CLAWS OUT!"

Once fully powered up in his own armor, he came out into the fray, happily jumping in to take a few swipes at the technicolor wrestler.

"Nice moves, Cat Noir." Ladybug praised. "Think you can hold him back for a while?"

"No problem. You just go recharge yourself," he assured with a wink.

"Don't let her get away!" Hawkmoth demanded. "She's about to transform back!"

But of course, the akuma's attempt to go after her was thwarted by Cat Noir jumping between them.

"Ah, ah, ah," he wagged his finger, whirring his pole around himself dangerously before striking a defensive pose. "You'll have to go through me first."

Ladybug dashed around a building, letting herself detransform. "Hurry, Tikki," she whispered, pulling out the cookie. "There's not much time!"

"I don't know how much more I can do this, Marinette," Tikki admitted weakly as she got to eating the macaroon.

"Hang in there just a little longer!"

Cat Noir was quick and agile compared the big, hulking muscle man. His strikes were fast and fierce, and he kept his pole close to his body to keep his control. For once, he was focusing hard on the fight. So much so that he didn't even hear Ladybug when she finally jumped beside him, yo-yo at the ready.

"Alright, I'm ready to-"

He let out a battle-cry and charged at his enemy, going low to try to knock him flat. Ladybug blinked, before chasing after him and trying to join in.

"No, Ladybug, stay back!" Cat Noir grunted. He was on the ground, on top of the wrestler as they pushed against his pole to try to beat the other in brute strength. "I'll handle him!"

"Ha! You don't have what it takes! How'd a puny boy like you get to be the hero of Paris?"

"My charm and sense of humor, of course. You should try it some time- it might make you more tolerable!"

The wrestler managed to switch positions, rolling on top and trying to shove the pole into his throat. "I deserve the miraculous! Ladybug needs a real partner!"

"I'm her partner!"

Ladybug, for her part, let her yo-yo stop its spin. Narrowing her eyes and letting her scowl deepen, she straightened her stance and crossed her arms. She had a feeling of where this was going, and she didn't like it one bit.

"You know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall!"

Cat Noir finally kicked out the wrestler's leg, flipping him over and jumping back to his feet. He went on the attack again, the wrestler using his braces to block his moves, and of course throw a few punches, with Cat Noir leaping out of range. They advanced and retreated in an angered dance of showmanship, sparring verbally as well as physically.

"Not bad for a weakling, puny man!"

"You're delusional if you think a muscle-head like you has a chance with Ladybug. I'll take you out using brains as well as brawn."

"Hmph, I'll show you and that girly boy! A real warrior is full of strength and power, nothing like your skinny little-"

"Will you two knock it off!?" Ladybug finally snapped, and the pair paused in their fighting. "Did neither of you think that maybe I don't care who's stronger?"

The blinked, and they stared from her, to one another, back to her.

"What are you doing?!" Hawkmoth demanded. "Get his miraculous!"

"You… don't?" Cat Noir asked in confusion.

"No! I'm a superhero for crying out loud!" She said. "I can save myself just fine! I don't need a knight in shining armor to impress me!"

"Then…" the akuma victim lowered his hands in confusion. "What do you need to impress you?"

She glanced to Cat Noir, then sighed as she looked to her clasped hands. "The boy I love is… kind, and sweet. He's helpful to people, and always has a smile for everyone, and it's the most beautiful thing in the world. I don't love him because I think he can "save me", I love him because he's kind to me."

"I can be kind," the wrestler said instantly. "I'm a nice guy!"

"You've been fighting me and Cat Noir to take our Miraculouses and help Hawkmoth. How is that "kind"?"

"She's right," Cat Noir sighed in mock sympathy with a shrug. "Helping the supervillain doesn't usually give you points in the "nice guy" department."

"Don't think you're free from this either, Cat Noir," Ladybug frowned at him, jabbing at his chest. "If we'd been working together instead of you fighting over your ego, we could have gotten his akuma already!"

He flinched, then lowered his head, properly chastised.

Ladybug hadn't really been sure what to expect, but it wasn't the akuma victim willingly handing over his arm brace.

"What?! What're you doing?!" Hawkmoth yelled.

Ladybug smiled up at him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You're doing the right thing."

"I guess it's too late to ask you for a date, then."

"Sorry, but I'm in love with someone else," she said sympathetically, taking the brace and dropping it to the ground and stomping on it.

She captured and purified the butterfly, but since the akuma hadn't actually been doing anything but trying to fight Cat Noir, there wasn't any damage to fix.

"Uuuuuugh, ah..." the akumatized victim groaned as he looked around. He was obviously much smaller than his villainous form, though still tall and muscular. With his young face it was clear he was only a couple years older than the heroes. "Ladybug? Cat Noir?!"

"Hey there," Ladybug smiled kindly, ignoring the way Cat Noir wrinkled his nose in distaste. "You feeling alright?"

"Uh, yeah," He shot up to his feet, cheeks pink. "I-I'm great, but what am I…?"

"You were akumatized by Hawkmoth."

"What?! No, that's impossible! I'm not evil!"

"I know, it's Hawkmoth that's evil. He gets into your head and makes you do things you wouldn't normally do. Just be careful from now on."

"I will. I promise I'm stronger than that," he assured, flexing for her.

Cat Noir snorted, and Ladybug sighed. Right, since he was akumatized, he wouldn't remember her "speech".

"Do you need a lift?" She asked instead.

Taken aback by her lack of response, he glanced around the area to get his bearings back, and he smiled in embarrassment as he rubbed at the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, actually."

"Sure thing," she threw her yo-yo to catch a perch, and held out her arm.

He looked at her, then balked. "You mean, you want to carry me?"

"Don't worry," she waved off his concern. "I'm much stronger than I look."

He still seemed uncertain, and Ladybug couldn't understand why he seemed hesitant, knowing that she was, well, a superhero.

"Ah, on second thought, I'll be fine walking after all."

"Are you sure? I really don't mind."

"It's not that far, actually."

Cat Noir, who knew instantly what was going on, was leaning on his cane with a slyly amused smirk, before he looked at his hand, and gasped.

"Oh no, I'm about to transform back!" He stole the opened spot, hopping into her arms and holding on with the arm not holding his staff. "Quick Ladybug, you've got to get me out of here!"

"Honestly, Cat Noir, again?" She chastised. "You've got to be more responsible. Sorry," She said to the former victim. "Maybe next time."

Of course, since she was looking at him, she didn't see the way Cat Noir leaned his head toward her to look like he was "cuddling" her, or the way he waved farewell with a smug grin before she pulled them away. She brought them to drop behind a building, and was about to let him down before she blinked, memories rushing back to her.

"Hey wait a second, you're not about to transform back. You didn't even use your Cataclysm."

"I know. I just had to show the guy what he was missing."

"Cat Noir!"

"Look, I already knew he wasn't going to do it. He can't be seen being carried by you, it would ruin his image."

"Oh, but not yours?"

"Of course not. Everyone knows I am still the greatest hero of Paris."

She let him drop with a yelp, dusting her hands off and planting them on her hips as she waited for him to stand. "Well, the greatest hero of Paris can go ahead and walk himself back, then."

"Aw, c'mon, bugaboo, I was only joking. You know I think you're the number one hero of Paris," he cooed, leaning sideways to look up at her from under his lashes. Blink blink blink.

"Hmph. Sweet words from someone who wanted to fight all by himself. And haven't I told you not to call me 'bugaboo' anymore?"

He straightened, rubbing at the back of his head worriedly. "Right, sorry, it slipped."

"Just keep it in mind," she said easily, throwing her yo-yo to catch a perch.

"W-wait, Ladybug!" He twisted his pole self-consciously. "Do you… think I brag a lot?"

She blinked.

He darted his eyes away, fidgeting nervously. "It's just a thought I had, lately, for no reason, I just wondered-"

"You mean you hadn't noticed?"

He stared.

"I thought it was just a part of your act as Cat Noir," she stated in incredulity, before pointing at him. "You mean you were serious all those times?"

He hedged and erred, forcing himself to laugh it off. "Act, right! It was! I-I was just worried it was a little too much, you know? I mean I don't want to come off as too annoying."

She facepalmed.

He looked at her worriedly.

She sighed. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to it with you."And then she was gone, flying off to her destination.

"W-Wait! What do you mean "used to it"?" He called after her. "Ladybug? Ladybug!"

He had enough time to leap back to the school, and hid between the buildings across the street before turning back. Plagg zipped around, groaning hungrily, but Adrien ignored it.

"Does she think I'm annoying? Is that why she doesn't like me?"

"She said she's used to it, what's the big deal?"

"The "big deal" is that I probably messed up my chance with Ladybug! What if all those times I was trying to impress her did just the opposite?!"

"Then just stop bragging around her, problem fixed."

"It's not that easy, Plagg. Even if I do, I don't know how to actually win her over after all this time."

"Dude, just be yourself. You're like, the nicest guy I know! She'll go nuts for that."

"And how exactly am I supposed to do that while we're busy saving Paris? Besides..." He almost looked as though he were going to continue, and then the wind whooshed out of him with a long, drawn out sigh. "You heard her. She's already found someone. They're probably already happy together."

His disappointed musings were cut short when a familiar car rolled up to the front of the school. "C'mon, Plagg. Let's go home." He opened his outer shirt up to let him in, and trudged across the street.

When Marinette got in her room, she was distraught. Tikki sighed, plopping down on her bed tiredly.

"Tikki, am I doing the right thing?"

"About what, Marinette?"

"About trying to get Adrien to fall for me! Tikki, what if I came out and confessed to him? Would people react the same way? Would there be akumas, this time coming after me?"

"That's hard to say," she admitted. "Some of these akumas are happening because of Ladybug and Cat Noir. They probably wouldn't care so much about "Marinette".

"But what if they do!?" She wailed. "What if I get hordes of crazy fans coming after me everywhere I go, and all our dates are hounded by the press and even more crazed fans destroy any chances we have at private time together and Adrien decides it's not worth the effort and dumps me and-"

"Marinette, calm down!" Tikki flew into her face to get her attention. "You're worrying too much! It's not going to be as bad as you think."

"...But if I am targeted, that means Chat Noir would have to face them on his own. And I'd have to keep switching between myself and "Ladybug" and I could mess up somehow. I mean, he almost discovered my identity already! If I have to keep changing, things could slip up for sure!"

"You're right, it is a risky plan," Tikki agreed sympathetically. "More than anything, I think other people would start to get suspicious too."

"Tikki, does this mean I… I can't be with him? Not until Hawkmoth's gone?"

"You could still accept his feelings as Ladybug."

"But I want real dates, Tikki! I want us to go to the movies together, go to concerts, and go out for ice cream, and be able to go on romantic outings! We can't do that as superheroes!"

"You're right, you have to do what's best for Paris. But even if you can't go out like you wanted, are you really ok with him never knowing how you really feel?" Tikki asked pointedly. "It's your choice, Marinette. But I think you'll be happier at least letting him know."

Marinette was silent as she looked at her phone, where the smiling face of her love stared brightly up at her. A hero listened to her head, not her heart. The question was, what was the right choice when even your head was a mess?

A few miles away, someone else was wondering the same thing. He was staring solemnly out his car window with a growing ache of disappointment.

I don't love him because I think he can "save me". I love him because he's kind to me.

It just didn't make sense to him. She was brave, and confident, practically a genius in her own creative way, and she just wanted someone "nice"?

Nah, this guy, whoever he was, had to be the most perfect guy on the planet. From the sounds of it he was friendly, kind, and ridiculously handsome, even moreso than him. Not in a "vain" way, but come on, he was a literal model, and she was saying some other guy's smile was the most beautiful thing in the world. And he was helpful and "sweet" on top of everything else. Honestly, how was he ever going to compete with that? He'd love to try to be "kind" and "helpful" to win her over, it wasn't like he didn't know how. The only way would be if they went out somewhere, just to hang out or something. But she never agreed to it every time he tried. More than anything, he really wanted to meet this guy for himself. Who the heck was perfect enough to catch the eye of Ladybug?

He bumped his head against the window, brows crinkling as his jealousy stirred again. This guy sounded too good to be true. Adrien hoped he was secretly a jerk or something.

But even if he was, there was… really no point, was there?

Sorry. But I'm in love with someone else.

Marinette was right. Ladybug hadn't fallen in love with him after all. Maybe it was time he finally switched targets. For good this time.

When they came through the door, he had prepared himself to trudge up the stairs to get started on his homework, but was surprised at Nathalie's voice speaking to him from the door.

"Adrien, your father wishes to see you."

He blinked, wondering why he was breaking his schedule. He knew for a fact that the man was normally finalizing his themes for the upcoming lines around this hour. Yet he followed her into the man's office, looking at his father's back. The man was staring up at the golden painting of his mother.

"Is it true?" He asked. "Are you in love with Ladybug?"

Adrien sighed. He'd gone through this all week already, and it was starting to wear on him. Plus, he thought the man was convinced by now. He let his head drop as he forced himself to speak. "No, father. She's just been protecting me from all the akuma attacks. There's nothing between us."

"I didn't ask if there was anything between you," He said suddenly, curtly as he turned to look at him over his shoulder. "I asked if you are in love with Ladybug."

Adrien flinched, both from the question, and the steely tone from the man. It was nothing like the excited barrages all through the week. Those eyes that bore down on him weren't like anything he'd ever seen before on him. And for a weird, strange moment, he felt scared. Not in his usual "respect" of his father's authority, but an honest to goodness fear of the consequences of his answer.

But the fear was pointless, worthless, and he dropped his gaze. "No, Father. Now can I please go?" He asked, voice cracking as he held himself together.

"...Very well. You may go," He said briskly.

The boy gratefully beat a hasty retreat, and the door shut with finality behind him. Nathalie looked up at Gabriel.

"What do you plan to do, sir?"

"Hard to say. I cannot have him admit to anything without revealing who I am."

"And if it's true?"

The silence was heavy, so much so that even Nathalie was worried.

"… This changes nothing. The plan is still the same. Tomorrow, we'll begin."

"We should break up."

Chat Noir, who had just told her that he didn't have much time since his father wanted him for some kind of appearance, stared at her. "...What?"

"With you as "Adrien"." Ladybug explained. "No one believes we aren't a thing. So go on TV, and say that we were secretly dating, but now all the akuma attacks have made you decide dating a superhero is too dangerous. We can't have people talking about us like this if it's causing this much commotion."

She expected his hesitation from her suggestion, and an argument, of course, and was already bracing herself for his rebuttal.

"Uuuum, isn't there something else we could try?"

"Look, Cat Noir, I know this will be hard with your feelings for me, but if we can just convince people that we're not involved, then-"

"It's not that!" He said quickly. "I know we have to do something. I just don't want to say that we've already been dating, since… Well..." He seemed oddly hesitant, nervous, and uncomfortable in a way Ladybug couldn't ever remember seeing him. "I may… want to ask someone out soon, and it would look pretty bad if I said I had just been dating someone."

Ladybug blinked, wide-eyed. "...What?"

"You remember Kagami, right?" He said, cheeks turning a little pink. "She's actually my fencing partner. We've been hanging out for a while. She's pretty cool, and… she told me recently she's fallen for me, so lately I've been thinking that maybe… we should… give it a try?"

He was looking at her, almost… Nervously? Or was it hopefully? Ladybug couldn't be sure, she was too busy trying and failing to make her mouth shut.

"Ladybug?"

"Oh, wow Cat Noir, I had no idea!" She managed to say instead, forcing herself to smile. "Congratulations! But wow I'm sure surprised, I mean… Kagami just seems so, you know, serious! I-I didn't think she was your type!"

"Yeah, but she can be pretty cool at times," He said, and there was an oddly… sad glint to his smile. "She's actually nice once you get to know her. And she's strong, too. She could probably even give you a run for your money," he joked.

But then he fell silent, looking down at his hands on top of his pole. Ladybug did the same, trying to filter through the emotions suddenly tumbling through her.

'He's… he's giving up on me. I mean on Ladybug, and going for...'

"Wasn't…. there someone else?" She asked in a small voice. And she wanted to kick herself, but the words just wouldn't stop, because she had to know, she had to hear for herself. "That- that girl who tried to have a date with you. Maribell or something? She- she said something when I rescued her, and..."

"Marinette? She told you about that?" He winced, rubbing at the back of his head. "Ah, yeah, that was tough. I'm glad she feels better about it now. But she's just a friend. I couldn't ever really see her like that."

She pressed her lips together, and her hands wouldn't stop shaking. "Oh..."

"Don't get me wrong, she's really nice!" Ever the nice guy, he was quick to praise and speak well of her. "She's super helpful, and talented! I'm glad to have her as a friend. But we've barely had a real conversation," he finally admitted with a half-shrug that said 'oh well, that's life'. "She's super shy, and so nervous all the time. I try to help when I can, but I think she just flusters so easy it's hard to really get to know her, you know? I kinda worry about her sometimes..."

And as she looked at him, her cheeks grew red until she finally buried her face in her hands. Ugh, she knew it! She knew he couldn't possibly fall in love with her stupid, clumsy self! Not only was her crush getting in the way, but her fear of him "realizing" who she really was just made her more nervous, which made their interactions… well, just as he described. No wonder he never fell for her.

"Ladybug? Are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine!" She assured, smiling up at him weakly. "I'm really glad! You finally have a chance to be happy!I'm sure you and Kagami will be great together!"

She could see his face falling, his expressions an open book, as always. But he was quick to smile back, and he reached for her hand. "I'm always happy whenever I'm with you, milady," he assured, bringing her hand to his lips. "You'll always have a special place in my heart."

His attention on her hand, he didn't see the pain on her face, or the longing in her eyes. Only the saddened smile. "...I know, Cat Noir." Then she pulled her hand back. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Of course," he said. Then stepped back to bow low. "Until next time."

And then he was gone, already vanished into the night. She stood under the moonlight, gazing longingly up at the stars.

"This is what's best for Paris… isn't it?"

"Marinette! Why didn't you tell him?!"

"You heard him, Tikki. He's already going for Kagami."

"The only reason he's going for Kagami is because he thinks he doesn't know you! But he does!"

"But I can't tell him that! AAAAAAAGH, TIKKI THIS IS THE WORST!" She fell to her knees, grabbing at her head as she cried to the ceiling. "I know he's in love with me but I can't tell him why!"

"Listen to me, Marinette!" She zipped in front of her face, gesturing and flitting about wildly as she ranted. "Hawkmoth is still out there, and your number one priority is stopping him and all these akumas! But that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice your happiness to do it! You can't tell Adrien who you are, but you can still tell him you love him! Even if he can only see a part of you right now, isn't it worth it to be with him, even if it's only to save Paris?"

Marinette looked up at the energetic and emotional kwami, smiling slowly as she started bringing the pieces into place. "You're right… you're right, Tikki! We can still be together!"

"Yes!" The kwami cheered. "Now you have to go to him, tonight, before he talks to Kagami!"

"Tikki, SPOTS-!"

"WAIT! … I'm still hungry."

"Oh, sorry."

A few minutes of eating, and then a transformation later, Marinette was bolting down the rooftops of Paris, sailing and leaping for her destination. Time and time again she had failed to tell Adrien the truth of how she felt, and her clumsy nature and terrible luck just spawned her at every turn. But would it be different as Ladybug? Would she have the confidence and the luck to finally get her feelings across to him?

She stopped outside his house, ducking down to peer over the edge of the roof. Outside his gate was a swarm of reporters and cameras hounding him, and his assistant holding up her tablet device.

"What's going on?" Ladybug wondered out loud, before memory served her, and she answered her own question. "Oh, that's right! Cat Noir said his dad had something planned."

Of course, this far away, she couldn't hear what was being said, so she pulled out her yo-yo and activated the screen.

"Don't be bemused, it's just the news. I'm Nadia Chamack, right outside Gabriel Agreste's mansion, where he's called a press conference in light of the recent events centering around his son, Adrien."

The camera zoomed in on the pair, Adrien of course appearing taller next to his father on the video call screen. Adrien smiled at the cameras obligatorily, though seemed just as in the dark as the rest.

"My son has been the center of many rumors lately, which I would appreciate to cease immediately, given the danger it keeps putting him in. I cannot bare to see him in such a position. That being said, I am eternally indebted to Ladybug and Cat Noir for protecting him from the onslaught of Akuma attacks recently. As a token of appreciation, I'd like to invite them both to dinner to the establishment of their choice."

Ladybug gasped, eyes honed in on both the older man, and his young son, who looked to with equal surprise. "A… dinner?"

Down below, in the center of the hubbub, Adrien's surprise made way for disappointment. "Father, you're wasting your time. Ladybug never accepts these invitations, you know that."

"I do," the man assured. "But so long as the sentiment is out there, I'm sure the message will get across."

He raised a brow, a little confused as to how that worked, until a surprised shout from the reporters got his attention. The sea of paparazzi parted before them, showing a familiar red-clad superheroine rising from her three-point landing, and making her way toward them.

Adrien gaped. "Ladybug?"

"Gabriel Agreste," she acknowledged, her lips curling into a smirk. "I accept your invitation."

[huehanya]

Akatsuki no Yona ch 158 “Baseless Rumors” - spoils + pics (+ Kusanagi Mizuho artbook pics)

Back again with ch 158. I apologize for not posting spoils of the extra chapter - I figure there’s probably stuff out there by now, but if there’s not I may post pictures after this. For today we have ch 158, “Groundless Rumors.” Look under the cut for summary + pics, as well as some pics of the extra Kusanagi Mizuho artbook that came with this issue.

We start off this chapter with Tae-jun, taking the HHB to a fire tribe residence to stay. While they’re grateful for the comfortable place to sleep, Yoon questions whether it’s really alright for them to be there, given that it technically belongs to Kyo-ga, who still doesn’t trust them. Tae-jun assures them that he will convince his brother for Yona’s sake. Jaeha and Hak hug him anyway.

Zeno and Kija admire the softness of the sheets and Tae-jun scolds them, saying that the rest of them are in another room and this is Yona’s room only - which leads to the rest of them pointing out that Yona doesn’t really care who sleeps in a room with her, even if it’s a bunch of guys.

> Hak: It’s no problem at all, is it, Princess?

> Yona: Nope. (I mean, it’s like this every day.)

Tae-jun takes the opportunity to call out Hak for lying to him about him and Yona being betrothed all those years back. Hak trolls him a bit but ends up admitting that was a lie.

> Tae-jun: You’re just full of lies, aren’t you...!

> Hak: The fact that I like her isn’t a lie.

The entire room freezes for a moment before Tae-jun begins spluttering a little in surprise and Yona turns into a tomato.

...anyway, they wind up in separate rooms.

Yona enters her room and hears a sudden commotion from outside, and rushes to the window to find out what it is. Ogi, hanging outside of her room Because It’s Ogi, explains that the Fire Tribe is celebrating their recent victory, as well as the fact that they have the divine protection of Hiryuu. Yona finds it strange that she and the others are being looked upon so favorably, given that the official story is that Hak killed her father and then kidnapped her.

Ogi then takes a moment to explain that the Fire Tribe has historically not really cared about the Sky Tribe and what they say, as they’ve always believed that they have Hiryuu’s blood in them. So, y’know, whatever goes on there doesn’t really matter, we’re the real Hiryuu.

We also get a nice diagram of each of the other tribes’ view of the Sky Tribe, which can be boiled down to:

Earth tribe: You’re strong and I can fight? I’ll follow you.

Fire tribe: No one cares about you, Sky tribe, we have the blood of Hiryuu... is what it was like before, but it’s changed a bit since Soo-jin died.

Wind tribe: We’ll do what we have to when we need to and no more.

Water tribe: Takes the long-term view... is following the Sky tribe for now. Thanks for help with the nadai incident.

...however, all of this is complicated by the fact that the dragons of legend have appeared before people’s eyes, and now Yona is involved with them, so she’s sure to attract even more attention.

They move on to discussing how the tribes feel about Soo-won as king; evidently the Sky tribe, by and large, don’t necessarily love him but at least feel he’s better than King Il. Ogi apologizes for saying so, but Yona reassures him that she’s already heard it. She notes the number of people asking why Yuhon wasn’t made king instead, and also recalls how neither she or her father actually met with Joo-doh much either.

She talks about what she learned about Yuhon in Xing, which prompts Ogi to mention that there’s actually something he’d like to learn, namely more about the four dragons - when there’s the sudden sound of a taiko drum from closeby and someone grabs Yona’s arm and tries to pull her out of her room.

It’s fanboys, wanting to meet Yona and the dragons. She screams and the others rush to protect her.

Kija throws them off of Yona before they begin, uh, caressing his hand, and they all flee back inside.

They’re all kinda creeped out, and Kija wonders if they were all drunk. Zeno notes that they might not want to stay here too long.

Outside, someone inquires what all the fuss is about. A Fire tribe citizen excitedly says how the legendary four dragons are here in this city!

> “That’s very interesting...”

That’s right, this fuck is back.

We cut to Kuuto, where Lili is walking with Ayura and Tetora. Lili is complaining because with Ogi and Yona not around, she has no one to talk to. The conversation is interrupted when Kei-shuk shows up on his horse, looking as dark and suspicious as ever, leading a group of soldiers. Lili and co wonder if it’s to help the Fire tribe, who recently sent a cry for help, but the number of soldiers seems awfully small.

Meanwhile, a small girl playing accidentally drops her ball, and ends up running right into the path of Kei-shuk’s horse. He either does not notice or does not care, so Lili calls for Tetora and Ayura, who save the girl.

Lili tries to call out for Kei-shuk, but he ignores her, and the townspeople seem pretty pissed at him.

One of the townspeople says that seeing that, it makes him wonder if the rumors aren’t true - that Hak and Yona have reappeared, along with the four dragons of legend; and that, accordingly, the one who killed King Il was not Hak, but Soo-won.

Hearing the townspeople talk about it, Lili realizes that however the people are coming to the conclusion, the truth is starting to spread. And while she’s perfectly happy with people knowing and with Yona and Hak getting the credit they deserve, she knows there’s definitely one person who isn’t happy - isn’t that right, Kei-shuk?

The chapter ends with a short monologue from Kei-shuk.

> The town is noisy today...

> It seems that Princess Yona and the four dragons are in the Fire tribe.

> We’ve finally come this far...

> So don’t get in the way, Princess Yona.

Chapter end. Next chapter June 20th (AUUGGHH).

And, as a bonus: this issue of Hana to Yume came with the Kusanagi Mizuho art book!

I only took a few photos but they’re all super cute.

It’s mostly Akayona, but there are a few other pictures of Kusanagi’s other works, including her next biggest one, NG Life.

Anyway, that’s all for today! Feel free to message me any questions.

[twdmusicboxmystery]

Thoughts on Terminus and the MSF

Okay, so if you haven't read my Morgan/Beth/Terminus post yet, go read it HERE. I just think that keeping Morgan and Zeke entanglements in mind might help give what I say here more depth. 

***Also, I will be revealing some spoilers here. They're not script spoilers but rather location spoilers. So not super-specific. Still, if you don't like spoilers, stop reading now.***

I know others have posted metas about the MSF, specifically about how it's going to be 88 minutes long. Let me start by seconding what they've all said and reiterating that there's no way that's an accident. As someone who has done a lot of both writer's editing and video editing, you can make something any length you want. You can cut it down or beef it up and somehow get it to the time you're shooting for. When TWD has longer-than-normal episodes, it's because the content trumps the time limit, and the show gets special permission from AMC to have a longer episode. We've seen them do this MANY times in the past few seasons. So what it boils down to is that Gimple can make an episode pretty much any length he wants and AMC will back him.

So could this be a coincidence? Sure, but no. Nothing will convince me that episode 8x08 being 88 minutes long is accidental. Why not an even 90? And how many 8s have we found re-watching the past few seasons? Um...about a billion? Yeah.  

I suppose I ought to officially throw out there that I kinda doubt we’ll Beth before the MSF now. You all know I was super-hoping for 8x04 to be the one. Now that it wasn’t, I’m kinda not thinking we’ll see her until 8x08. Arguments could be made for 8x06 (to line up with 6x06) and 8x07 (because that’s when Glenn was revealed alive in S6) but overall, I’m kinda thinking MSF now. Obviously I would be happy to be wrong, but I won’t be holding my breath for these next two episodes.

So some time ago, the spoiler site posted this pic:

It's quite obviously Terminus. Although it's blocked, the brick front is the same. Even the foliage looks identical. Here are some pics for comparison:

And could they be using this location to film, but it will be some other place in the show? It's possible and we have to acknowledge that, but I REALLY doubt it. Think of it this way. Every so often, the show will tell us (usually on TTD) that a location was used that has been used before. I remember in 8x02, they talked about a location in the woods being close to where Dale hid the guns from Shane in S2. That's an awesome little factoid, but everything in those scenes looked so much the same (and also so different) that we'd have never known that if they hadn't told us.

Terminus is VERY visually recognizable. I don't see the show using the exact same brick building and trying to call it something else. The fans would all take one look and go, "yeah, nice try. That's Terminus." And from this picture, they don't seem to have changed much about it. So I'm thinking this is actually supposed to be Terminus.

Also, the same week this was posted, Daniel Newman, who plays a Kingdom solider, posted on his IG instastory about filming at Terminus. His words. (Sorry, while people in my group saw the story, no one thought to save it, and those things disappear after 24 hours, so I don't have it for proof.)

Then there's the fact that it's...Terminus. All the buildup around it had most people (yours truly included) believing that Terminus would be a big deal in S5. That maybe they'd even spend a lot of the season there. Obviously that wasn't the case. It was there and gone in two episodes. Kind of weird given all the buildup to it. Many of us have predicted that Terminus would eventually be relevant again and that Beth will probably pass through there at some point (X). Even though those are just theories, them filming at Terminus again definitely catches our eyes.  

Then there's all the stuff I talked about on Wednesday, with the weirdness of Morgan around Terminus, and the fact that we saw train tracks near Ezekiel in 8x04. Let's talk about that for a second.

In S4, they established very heavily through the maps and signs that all train tracks led to Terminus. It was the termination point, or convergence of all the paths/train tracks, right? We're starting to think that was a much more important symbolism than anyone, even TD, realized.  

We're thinking that a lot more happened at Terminus than we saw, and all paths will eventually lead back there. I'll come back to that, but here we are seeing train tracks in S8. That alone I might point to as a foreshadow of the story heading back to Terminus soon.  

But remember what I said on Wednesday: that a juxtaposition is being set up between Morgan as the weak character, and Ezekiel as the meek or emotionally strong one. Well, here, we see very obviously that Zeke, Carol, and Jerry do NOT follow the tracks. They cross them. And who's the only other character who crossed over the tracks rather than following them to Terminus?  

Beth.

So Ezekiel is being paralleled with Beth here. (Clarification: Daryl did cross the tracks with Beth at first, but he later followed them with Rick and Michonne to Terminus, so she remains the only one in S4 who NEVER followed the tracks into Terminus.)

Also remember that there were a lot of A’s around Terminus. First the train car, then Gareth painted one on FG's church. If A= Atlanta, well, Terminus isn't far from Atlanta. All the A’s could point back to stuff that happened in Atlanta that we've haven't seen yet. And as we said in these two posts (X, X), Beth would have to pass through the Terminus area to get to the coast, and we still think she'll probably come up the coast and through Oceanside.  

@thegloriouscollectorlady had some interesting thoughts about this. She pointed out that while Beth wasn't at Terminus, when RIck and Daryl arrived, the others were. Glenn and Maggie's group came into Terminus very peacefully. Obviously it didn't stay that way, as they ended up in the A car too, but they didn't show us what happened with them. Just told us later. So maybe Rick and Daryl's stories are the ones most connected to Terminus. 

And that's interesting given what happened in last week's episode. We're just seeing more and more stuff come full circle from 4x16. In 4x16, entitled A, Rick and Daryl became brothers. 

Now we're seeing the first real rift between them since then. 

In 4x16, they entered Terminus. Now, for S8, they seem to have filmed stuff at the Terminus location again. In 4x16, the sheriff's hat fell off Carl and was put on Beth, proclaiming her the new sheriff in town. In 8x08, who knows? But do you see how the narrative is coming full circle?

I've also always thought the weirdness of Sasha probably started at Terminus. (Sasha/Tyreese Theory) That's mostly because of her weirdo convo with Father Gabriel in 5x16. He mentions the Termites and that Bob was consumed because of Sasha's sins, which makes no sense whatsoever based on what we saw in S5. So I've always thought there was more that happened at Terminus, specifically concerning Sasha, that we didn't see. I have no idea what it was, but it was something that contributed to her guilt and that FG seemed to want to use to blame Bob's death on her. Still no explanation for that convo in 5x16.

And why do I think Terminus might show up in 8x08 specifically? Well, I don't think we know for sure that this filming at the Terminus location was specifically for the MSF. And it wouldn't really matter anyway, because they've already told us they filmed things out of sequence for S8, and were often working on multiple episodes at once. So there's no way to pin down which episode it was for.

However, let's return to Crazy Tattoo Guy. Remember him? Two things that make me think we might be returning to Terminus in the MSF.  

First, there was a dialogue parallel to him between Rick and Morales in 8x03. I posted this edit: Exact same wording, but opposite words. Once again, we've come 180 degrees from where we were. Mirror theory.

Check out this guy's face: He has an 88 tattooed there. And yes, I know 88 can mean lots of things. It can mean nazi, which is fitting given what he was doing to the Termites. But what if it also means that in 8x08 (which is 88 minutes long) we'll finally understand what the hell was going on with Terminus?

Remember that Gimple said Crazy Tattoo Guy was connected to bigger group of baddies, who I believe to be the saviors. (Source) So there is definitely some back story/connections there that have yet to be revealed in the show.

In that same interview (linked above) Gimple also said there was “a lot to that character.” Really? Because we saw him torturing the Termites, then be let out of the C train car by Glenn, then die. How is that “a lot to that character?” It’s obvious to me that they’re planning to return to him and explain more. 

It’s yet another loose end from S5 that Gimple promised would be explained, but still hasn’t been. And per what we’ve been shown in the show, this one has little directly to do with Beth. (Only TD believes otherwise.)

Even if you look up the dictionary definition of the word Terminus, things are kind of interesting:

Notice how it mentions time. What if Gimple always meant to go back to Terminus. What if it’s the termination point for this crazy time arc that started in S4/S5? I don’t mean that in a negative, she’s-gonna-die-there way. But all tracks lead to Terminus, right?

We also learned this past episode that before Negan took over leadership of the Saviors, they were a band of wild animals, more or less. And we know because of Morales that they roved down into the Georgia area. So it’s very possible that Crazy Tattoo guy and those with him were a part of the Saviors, but that was before Negan took over.

And because there were defunct cop cars at Terminus, many of us believe there are connections between Grady and Terminus. And then there's the fact that the red car seen at Terminus was also spotted in front of the white cabin Emily filmed at in S5, which scenes we have yet to see. 

See how it all works together?

So there's no way to tell if we're interpreting the details correctly. It may not play out exactly as I've laid out here. (Probably won't, in fact.) But we have a lot of loose ends that need to be tied (and per Morales', we know Gimple always ties up his loose ends) plus some evidence that we might be revisiting Terminus sometime soon.  

Now we just gotta sit back and watch how it all plays out. 

Oh, one more great point by @thegloriouscollectorlady: they're doing this Red Machete story now, right? (X, X). The red machete had it's significance in TWD because of Gareth and Terminus. Now they're calling their mini episodes that. Coincidence? Just saying. ;D

[lavenderflowersandhoney]

Day 1. Humble Beginings

So, honestly I've always been vaugly aware of witchcraft because my older sister is pegan, and my Mom would sometimes attend and kinda watch her covens ceramonies. I was never allowed to look or see it for myself bc I was A Good Christian Girl and Witchraft Bad For The Soul. (She respected my sisters life descisions and never tried to force her into being a christian, but I do think she made it known that she disagreed with my sisters path).

And then my freshmen year that Zodiac Meme got huge, and for some reason that reaaaallly drew me into astrology? Like I full on studied it and my natal chart and got to know a lot about it. But I wouldn't say I really started practicing until a few years later when I accidentally stumbled across witchblr. Call me a bad witch or w/e, but I mostly came for the aesthetics. Everything looked so pretty, kinda like a flower. And like a pretty flower, when it catches your eye you tend to look closer at it. Not picking the flower, mind you, because then you take on the responsibility of taking care of it. But you get closer none the less, maybe take a few pics, maybe look up its name. Maybe decide you really like flowers and begin to study it. And that's what I did with witchcraft. I saw it, got closer, and got hooked. It morphed slowly from everything being pretty to everything being fascinating. And as I read more it kinda crept up on me, "hey, I wanna do that. That sounds really neat." So I kept reading and studying about it until it shifted from a casual interest to a legitimate and solid topic I was studying.

My first spell didn't work. Which I mean, looking back now, duh. I didn't have any of the right supplies and was arrogant enough to think I knew enough to make it work anyways. Key tip to babywitches: yes you can substitute things in spells, and you don't even necessarily need supplies at all for some spells. But if its a written out spell that is not one of your own making, stick to the recipe until you're enough of a pro to put your own spin on things. And it's okay to admit that you're not a pro yet. We all have to start somewhere, and it's pretty rare that you're going to catch onto things the first time around and not make any mistakes. That's a lesson I'm still learning and working on tbh.

But yeah, either way. I'd honestly say I'm still a baby witch. I took a few years off bc of major life changes, but I'm back to studying and learning again. This time though, full comitment. I'm not sure where my path is going to take me, and I get the feeling it's going to be slow going. But honestly? I'm kinda excited for it, to see where I end up.

[overthinkingdev]

First entry

Let's begin with who I am. My name is Yoshua Alfaro, I'm a computer science major with a huge passion about videogames. The main reason why I got in this major was because I used to like videogames so much that I wanted to learn how to make my own. So I did, it took me more than expected but I'm pretty much done with my credits and I'm currently working towards my thesis(I know, it's only a bachelor's degree why would I need a thesis? Well that's how it works here in Mexico(I'm mexican btw)).My experience doing games started making mods to the game Tibia when it was really popular, I started working on custom maps for it and starting to learn this script language called Lua, that was like my first approach at doing something close to game development, but to be honest I was so young I didn't really knew what I was doing until I actually learned how to program. After that I took my first course in design and programming of video games here at my university, I didn't know what to expect but there I met my favorite teacher of all times and also the best course I've ever had of something I like. There I developed three games, one was a modified Asteroids in this framework called LÖVE, I also made a modification of a mario bros in Phaser( spoiler: I love Phaser) and the last one was a game which had the intention to make young people (from the age of 15 to 18) be more attracted to reading, using this thing called gamification and I ended up developing that game and even making a paper  about what we were doing and presenting it in a small conference of human-computer interaction.

After that I took a small break in making games, but now I'm working on this project which you'll be reading about.

The name of the game is not yet decided but here we'll call it Car Car Revolution 2017.

Car Car Revolution 2017 is a game made to replace a driving test about all kind of situations that would happen in a city while driving, especially in a city as big as mine (Mexico City). Using gamification we want to take what would be an exam and make it a fun experience where you'll have to make decisions in the game and when you're done with all the levels from the game it would mean you're ready to put yourself in a car. *Note: this is not a driving simulator, this just means you should be able to take rational and conscious decisions in real life as in the game, if you just decide one day is totally ok to go at 300 km/h we can’t guess you’ll do that (or maybe we will at some point..).

Right now I'm done with making a paper prototype and we've tested some basic mechanics there, mostly what will be on this first digital prototype, we've also been through like two or three iterations for the game design per se, but we've got more work to do (me and my project manager(?)/thesis advisor).

Anyways, I'm gonna end this entry here and I'll see you around, I'm gonna keep writing this blog until I'm done with this game. Hope this helps someone through the same path of making a game by yourself. Don't give up. Stay strong. Eat your vegetables. You know the drill...

See ya.

Credits for my cover image and profile pic go to my girlfriend @codespo​

[paixen]

ffxv/atla/korra stuff?

just gonna ramble my thoughts and opinions of an atla au in which the ffxv chocobros exist because showers always get me thinking. fair warning, there is no organized timeline so i’ll be jumping willy nilly between atla and lok events, so pardon the spectacularly inconsistent verb tenses. this will be a messy stream of consciousness post. Spoilers all around.

noct: i feel like the prince would mostly likely be a water bender. he’s just got this cool, icy vibe going about him. small things - i find his ice spells to be visually pleasing because i feel like ice compliments his black and pale aesthetic best of the other elements. his eyes are a good chilly icy blue. and he likes to fish. Ray Chase even said that everything that noct says has weight to it because being cool is so important to him. larger things - his character development is exceptional. he undergoes so much change. as a water bender, he might struggle to get a handle on the techniques initially because of his overall inert attitude toward life. then chapter 13 happens and he becomes quite the changed man. he is able to go about his days by feel, ready to adapt as soon as he needs to. Sounds changey watery to me. once he gets into the water bending groove, his go-to weapon would be ice shards. water bending is often argued to be the most powerful form of bending, being able to conduct electricity, manipulate the water content in bodies, chi/qi meddling, healing, all that jazz. it would be fitting for a king like himself. i also like to imagine him having uninterested, unimportant arguments with the korra, who would fiercely sass him back. korra would kick his butt of course, but no one can stay mad at noct forever. he’s literally sacrificing himself. at least the avatar doesn’t need to die to save the world. i also like to imagine sokka, aang, and prompto being real bros and roping noct into semi-ironically partaking their shenanigans and terrible jokes, iggy, gladio, and katara shaking their heads somewhere in the background. in another scene, the other 3 chocobros are probably bowing at katara’s feet for her generously mentoring noct with how to manage his ice spells so that the other guys don’t have to suffer under his AOE icy hell. if only he could have learn these techniques before Leviathan happened... also Shiva is just nonchalantly JAZZED in the spirit world that her wee prince is learning ice so well. His doggo companion, Umbra, would probably be part spirit, gifted with some nifty communication abilities. He’ll never lose touch with Luna with Umbra around. Umbra is definitely cuddle buddies with Naga. (noct is kinda amused by the irony in the name of korra’s bear-dog.)

prompto: first instinct is to say he’d be an air bender because of the happy-go-lucky/carefree vibe he exudes. but then i remember Bolin, to whom he is similar in personality. as much as i love picturing prom air scootering around town, i also have a hard time picturing him being a particularly spiritually invested individual. and then i also remember prom’s MT history and his old esteem issues. prom is someone who can’t live without constantly being reminded of his roots. heavily influential roots make me lean toward him being an earth bender, his specialty being metal bending. it would make so much sense - the bros tease him about being a technophile. he is MT. I imagine him really digging Zaofu. Toph would teach him as mercilessly as the rest of her pupils, but his quirky personality would eventually win her over, queuing her signature affectionate punch. with time, he even picks up sand bending pretty decently. the Beifongs would end up being quite protective over this ray of sunshine despite his clear ability to take care of himself (esp after the 10 year jump.) wouldn’t be surprised if zuko took prom on a life-changing field trip that confronts his past. #the real episode prompto. that’s rough buddy. bolin and prom would get pretty competitive with earth bending sports. he and bolin gossip about how they secretly have a crush on gladio’s muscles. prompto also confesses his love for asami to bolin. she’s techy and gorgeous, it just isn’t fair. bolin empathizes with him, talking about his old crush on korra. prompto would essentially become another brother to mako and bolin. Asami is still fond of prompto and appreciates the help he offers in the garage. Iroh is probably commending prompto’s appreciation of nature and friendship, as displayed so wonderfully in his pictures. at the end of the day, prompto finds that his camera’s memory is completely full of real flattering pics of aang’s face and motion blurred sokka who complains of not being ready for taking a perfect picture. toph is just glad she can’t see the pictures. meelo borrows some of the pictures prompto takes for references for his complex paintings. varrick hires prompto as his personal photographer and the two fall in love with each others’ spunk. they talk about prompto’s cindy situation. prompto is given some terrible ideas for this but he tries them anyway. when iggy is freshly blind, prompto does everything he can to give iggy pointers to help him feel his way around the earth. of course, his animal companion is a chocobo. when noct is gone, he makes sure to take a charcoal colored chocobo chick under his care and names it after his late friend.

ignis: again, first instinct is to classify the guy as a water bender, like katara, both being the moms of their squads. it’d also make sense, being the healer of the group. regardless, iggy’s a bit tough for me, because he also reminds me of tenzin - being the protagonist’s advisor and being accidentally funny. but he also demonstrates the aristocratic discipline of a polished fire bender, a much different kind of discipline from katara’s or tenzin’s. my final answer is that iggy would be a fire bender. he’s wise like iroh and disciplined like jeong jeong. the fire benders seem to take on advisory rolls in the avatar series in terms of main characters anyway. Iroh to Zuko. Zuko to Aang. Mako to Bolin. i like to imagine ignis using fire bending to his advantage as a cook. his ebony never runs cold. i also like to imagine when ignis becomes blind, instead of using his usual fire bending in melee, he figures out how to manipulate the electric impulses in human body. he could effectively exhaust someone or something just by tetanizing their muscles. he and katara might even be able to discover some medically revolutionary treatments through his abilities with the nerves, pacemaker cells, and the brain. also the synergy between noct and iggy when fighting would be so good. iggy would probably grab some lightning from the atmosphere and direct it to noct, who redirects the lightning with his water bending, quickly incapacitating MTs. if noct is unavailable then prompto’s on it, sending a charged metal whip right to the hearts of the MTs. iggy will sometimes put a motherly flame under noct’s ass to get him out of bed in the morning. Iroh is probably very fond of iggy, who appreciates his tea and is a great conversationalist when it comes to philosophy. iggy is always more than happy to cook for Iroh and to play pai sho on his spare time. iroh basically adopts the man. When iggy is blind, he and zuko like to tease each other about the fact that they both have scars on their left eyes. iggy proves to be a great listener for zuko just as he is for noct. zuko basically adopts iggy as his substitute uncle when iroh passes. now iggy is busy motherinig TWO angsty figureheads. at least zuko eats his vegetables. gladio is always grateful when iggy’s around so he doesn’t have to spend a lot of time making a fire. toph probably thinks iggy is just the most amusing, darnedest, and sometimes infuriating beast, and iggy learns a lot from toph when he’s blind. it doesn’t take an earth bender to tap into the frequencies of the world, and he eventually learns to see like toph. team avatar lowkey ships the two together, but the chocobros know that iggy probably couldn’t handle a girl like toph. when iggy visits zaofu, he cooks for suyin, who is blown away by the blind man’s tastes. bolin requests seconds and thirds of his meals, going up to fifths, rivaling gladio’s appetite. every once in a while, iggy feels intrigued by varrick and helps zhu li out with her endless duties. Ignis would probably have a BIG black leopard-opossum hybrid companion. a beast with heightened sight and smell to guide him when his own eyes fail. also a good friend for finding quality ingredients.

gladio: gladio’s a straight forward kind of guy. he knows what his path is. his mind is unwavering, being the king’s shield. he is a guy who’s very in tune with nature. I bet he’s a natural earth bender. gladio can also have a firey temper when provoked. over time he might learn to lava bend. as the chocobro’s survivalist, his earth bending comes in handy when they boys are just too tired to set up a tent or to build a proper fire pit. if he’s lucky, he doesn’t even have to try very hard to catch small prey like rabbits if they’re unfortunately close by. he makes very easy friends with the creatures from the spirit world. they show him all sorts plants to live off and places to camp out. of all the bros, toph tolerates him the best. this is mostly because he can put up an equal fight and isn’t as excitable as the others. the bros are awestruck once again by how gladio can seem to get on every woman’s good side. toph and gladio enjoy sparring - toph is very sensitive to his movements and quick to react. gladio has excellent instincts as well and is obviously powerful. he might not be quite as accurate as toph but he’s got just a smidge more brute force than her, somehow. sokka is unsubtley jealous of gladio’s masculinity and secretly leaves to do some pull ups on a tree or something. how dare gladio just walk around with his 6-pack out and about. gladio and aang become great buddies. aang and gladio relentlessly pull pranks on each other and the bros. aang helps gladio learn the wiley ways of the spirit world too. korra sees gladio as a big brother. when she needs someone to talk to, gladio’s there to listen. if she needs to let off some bad energy by throwing rocks n’ stuff, he’s always happy to give the avatar a good, earthy fight. this guy can take a punch. prompto is hiding and secretly taking pics of the intense fights. both fighters are pleased with how badass they look. he and bolin train together sometimes, though usually the sessions end up devolving into a volley of cheap and dirty tactics and taunting. spending time with bolin is still one of his favorite pastimes. gladio becomes fond of mako as well. they relate to each other, having very similar occupations. gladio even offers to fill in for mako when something more urgent than his police work requires his presence. lin approves of gladio. every once in a while prompto requests gladio’s assistance in helping him escape the slightly overwhelming varrick during enormous parties, but gladio decides to stick around and have a few drinks with the elegantly dressed ladies. gladio would probably have a raven for an animal companion (partially to match his tats.) The raven would be a great helper when scavenging and just a nice intelligent friend to hang out with. His raven probably plays pranks on all the other bro’s animals.

[mysteriousooze]

Emotional Ectomagnetic Spectrum

Headcanon: the Lantern Corps and ghosts gain power from the same source.

(Scroll to Vlad’s pic for DP content, or past all of the pics for fic content.)

In the DC Universe, there are seven different Lantern Corps. Members use their lanterns to charge their power rings – but where do the lanterns get power?

Emotions. Every sentient being in the universe bleeds emotion, creating an energy field to which the lanterns are connected. Each Corps draws power from a different emotion. (Yeah, it’s hokey. Whatever. That’s canon.)

Who else gains power from emotions?

Ghosts – if you subscribe to a certain headcanon, anyway. Not like Spectra rejuvenating herself; the theory goes that ghosts haunt humans in order to feed on their yummy emotions, thus growing more powerful. And halfas cannibalize their feelings, giving them an internal power source.

If accept those both as true, then it isn’t a stretch to assume ghosts and lanterns tap into the same “emotional electromagnetic spectrum” for energy. Furthermore, I propose that the color of a ghost’s ectoplasm indicates which emotion they draw from the spectrum.

Another DP headcanon: ghosts recharge within the Ghost Zone. It makes sense, if you accept that ghosts need emotional sustenance. The Zone is where they spend most of their time. Of course, this means that the GZ (or ectoplasm in general) is/contains a source of emotional energy.

I submit that the “energy field” the lanterns draw from is the Ghost Zone.

DP canon:

Doors in the GZ can lead to pocket dimensions (like the boy in front of the static TV, you know the one.)

The GZ is a mirror dimension to the “real world,” so close that natural portals open everywhere. If the GZ is destroyed, then so is Earth.

Presumably, the GZ extends beyond the Earth’s atmosphere. A sister dimension brimming with energy, spanning the universe. 

(A metaphor: the “real world” is an assembled puzzle, while the GZ is all of the pieces loose in the box. They align, but not symmetrically. If a piece of the GZ were destroyed, the corresponding piece of the assembled puzzle would be destroyed as well, but not the whole dang puzzle/universe.)

DC canon:

Corps members keep their lanterns in pocket dimensions accessible from a secret location.

This indicates that A) Lanterns are able to reach other dimensions, if very nearby ones, and B) that the location of the pocket dimension is static, relative to the rotation of the planet.

This correlates with DP canon, wherein the Ghost Portal never leads elsewhere as the Earth orbits. The lanterns would also be capable of drawing energy from the GZ.

In conclusion, this all fits together pretty damn well, imo.

But let’s get back to the ghosts.

DC canon: an emotion’s placement on the spectrum indicates how much influence it holds over the wielder. Green, in the middle, is the most stable, but can only be controlled by those of great willpower. We’re starting on the end of the spectrum, however.

Those who are capable of great love, who have lost their loves, or been rejected are capable of wielding the violet light.

Vlad’s motivation is all about love! He yearns for it, would plot and manipulate and kill for it; he feels scorned and deprived of what he deserves. He’s spent his life becoming his idea of the perfect man, all for the sake of love.

Being on the far end of the spectrum, the violet light drives the Star Sapphires to violence through their love. I’m not saying that Vlad isn’t responsible for his own actions; he definitely is. However, I think it’s indicative that he naturally bears the toxic love of the Star Sapphires.

The Star Sapphires are mostly comprised of scorned women. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Desiree uses the love that betrayed and harmed her to smite revenge upon the living.

Another common trait among the Sapphires is hatred of men – an outdated canon, imo, but it certainly rings true for this ghost.

The Indigo Tribe is a very special Corps, not only for the fact that most of their members are literal slaves to their rings – as it is said people can be slaves to their compassion. The users of this light are capable of absorbing and utilizing the lights of other Corps as they would their own.

Similarly, Ember’s guitar can emit different colors of ectoplasmic attacks, depending on its setting. (I consider Ember’s guitar as intrinsic as Johnny’s shadow.) The theme of being enslaved by a single, overwhelming emotion fits with Ember’s siren-like ability, as well. 

(Disclaimer: I’m not considering her blue hair for the same reason I’m not considering Plasmius’ red eyes. Those are more from their self-perception than the energy they draw from, imo.)

Blue power rings choose those capable of giving hope for the future to others when they have lost theirs.

Even in the depths of a frozen wasteland, Frostbite leads his people with palpable optimism. They’ve achieved science, art, and philosophy worthy of any sci-fi utopia. Their warrior culture is jovial, meant for recreation rather than conflict. He certainly gave hope to Danny.

I never said that ghosts could only use one color, did I?

Danny gained the ability to use blue ectoplasm later in his character development. After he learned to base his self-worth on himself, rather than on others’ opinions; after he wins more fights than he loses; after he gets a handle on his grades. He’s in a more positive place in his life. Most of Amity Park accepts him as a hero, and he’s even on their sign as their town hero. He’s become a symbol of hope.

Now, at this point one might say, “But Amelia, they’re blue because of ice powers.” to which I say, “bullshit.” Ice has no color, and neither does water. They reflect the sky, granting a blue appearance. IMO, their ice powers are illuminated from within by blue ectoplasm.

If you’re still not convinced, here’s another example:

Looks familiar. Pandora ain’t using ice powers; that’s blue ectoplasm. Considering she crafted a box to contain the world’s worst evils in order to make it a better place, I think she qualifies as one who brings hope.

Those of an indomitable will that can overcome great fear are capable of wielding the green light.

This kid was hunted by his parents, his government, terrifying other-dimensional ghosts, and a rich, old man smarter and stronger than himself. His own body didn’t obey him, or even the laws of physics – and that’s not even mentioning the normal perils of puberty! Bullies targeted him; teachers were biased against him; his grades, and all control over his life, were slipping.

Fear dogged his footsteps, but rather than hide, run away, or even keep his head down to make things easier on himself, he chose to fight. It would have been easy to say ‘my parents’ portal, my parents’ problem.’ He tackled his obstacles one day at a time, relentlessly putting the safety of others before his own, and relied on his friends to help him through – even if that just meant goofing off to destress.

That took serious determination – or, shall I say, willpower.

Disclaimer: green is the natural color of ectoplasm. I am not suggesting that the murky depths of the GZ are aglow with the universe’s supply of bullheadedness. Nor do I believe that the Fright Knight’s ectoplasm-empowered/enchanted sword is made of stubborness. All that is charged with willpower is green, but not all that is green is willpower.

(No ghostly examples for these. I blame color palettes, but I’m biased.)

Yellow is close to the center, and like blue, these rings choose those capable of instilling great fear in others.

Orange can be harnessed by those whose greed knows no bounds. Wielders become twisted, obsessively guarding their property and stealing from others. 

I don’t need to tell you about the Ghost King’s breathtaking anger issues.

In DC, the red light of rage has the most profound effect on its wielders of them all. Red Lanterns are reduced to little more than rabid animals, and the rings poison their blood so that if they’re removed, the result is death.

However, ghosts are not Lanterns. They are not beings of flesh and blood overwhelmed by otherworldy power. This isn’t foreign to ghosts. This is a ghost’s natural state of existence.

For example, Vlad exibits negative traits of a Star Sapphire. But in the case of a Corps member (correct me if I’m wrong,) the ring is forcing this behavior. Not the light. The ring. Vlad is perfectly capable of changing his ways, of using the Power of Heart™ for good.

This is why I think Danny can use two different types, with green as his primary color. Not a DP post without a pun. Like when Desiree’s eyes glare crimson when she’s furious – she’s tapping into the red light, but when she attacks, it’s still violet, because love is still her source of power. I’m such a nerd, wow

If we can accept all of that, then we can get to the interesting stuff!

Danny could charge a GL’s ring, but he’d be exhausted afterward and maybe not hold his ghost form. A last resort.

Vlad’s cube thing that doesn’t let Danny use his powers? Could totally work on a Lantern. (The Plasmius Maximus, however, requires ghost biology, so no dice)

Danny’s ghost sense goes off when there’s a Lantern around, but only when the ring’s activated. Same thing with ghost shields – they work when they‘re powered up. The first time GL encounters this, they don’t know that. It’s such a stupidly simple solution they didn’t even consider, so they’re just outside trying to smash through with brute force when they could literally walk right in, its hilarious

Lanterns are basically artificial halfas. None of the really fun powers, like invisibility/intangibility, but anything that involves shaping or charging ectoplasm? They’re experts

GL could totally teach Danny how to use some of  his powers

The Oans probably have the technology to stabilize Dani

The Fenton’s portal? That engine Jack made that uses ghosts as an energy source? Or really any of their ghost tech? Is basically following the same path of technological development as the Oans! GLs can track ecto-technology on their rings, as long as its active. Imagine their shock when they find Oan-like tech on Earth! They know about the emotional spectrum, but that’s it. The Oans don’t want anyone replicating their technology, so their people have no idea where their power really comes from If the GLs report back to the Oans about ecto-tech development on Earth, things may get political real fast

If the suit Technus made for Valerie is powered by the red light, what if it starts influencing her personality/emotions?

GL could take Danny into space. GL could take Danny to visit other planets. Danny could explore space with the Lanterns and he would be so happy

Danny vs GL: if it boils down to a battle of stamina, GL wins. His ring has more lasting power than Danny. As a halfa, however, Danny has full ghost powers; if he’s tricky enough, he could squeeze out a win. GL, on the other hand, is only limited by his imagination in what he can create. I’m inclined to say GL would win, unless Danny is willing to use the Ghostly Wail to knock him out, then flee on foot – but even then, GL’s ring would have a recording of him becoming Danny Fenton (Plus GL has way more allies than Danny. Basically, our boy might win a battle, but def not the war)

The Oans and the Observants could totally be in cahoots, and neither of them like Danny

That pocket dimension GLs keep their Lanterns in could totally be behind a locked door in the GZ, and now I’m imagining Vlad scheming up a way to find one

What if GL’s space travel utilizes the GZ’s natural portals like the infi-map?

There’s so much potential here, guys!!

[perfectackeracy]

Shingeki no Kyojin chapter 90 review (+ theories)

This is it. 

We’re finally concluding the arc beginning with Grisha’s flashback at chapter 71 and ending with the basement’s discovery and the amount of deal-breaking contents, leading us to the last phase of the manga, with this month’s chapter as being the ultimate wrap-up.

Lasting 5 volumes, it would be wise to write an arc review in a separate post, since it covered the unfinished business left from the first volumes: taking back that portion of the territory surrounded by titans, the mystery between Grisha Yeager and the contents of the basement and eventually the truth behind this world. Too bad I wasn’t around when the first chapters have been published because it would’ve been fun to pick every theory around and check which ones were actually closer to the facts; remember people trying to guess the Beast Titan’s identity? Eren using the coordinate to invoke the wall titans during the battle?

But anyway, the point of this post is more about commenting the chapter in an itself and guess what happens next, as always. 

I’ll start by a general commentary: I had... mitigated views about this chapter overall. Not because it felt like a huge letdown for my birthday (because let’s face it, nothing can top Edgetolt) but because it just shows it’s a rather quick wrap-up when we’re preparing the final phase.

I’ll use the MangaStream translation while waiting for the CR scans. It’s not top-quality but the translations are usually on-point (and they seldom mess up bubble order or in this month’s case... PAGE ORDER).

This chapter can be decomposed into 4 phases:

The truth about the titans

Flocke

The ceremony

The timeskip

The ocean and Eren’s resolve

I’ll detail my review under the cut:

The truth about the titans

Historia made her mind and decided to make the information held public... If anything, that underlines the fact the basement was a turning point for the story, despite the sudden influx of information. 

This is huge since it was the point where Eldia stepped out of their cycle of ignorance and progressively started to realize the true nature of this world. As Historia said: this is retribution.

Historia letting Eldia know - Ch. 90

Just wanting to point a funny thing here.

She really looks like her father here - Ch. 66

Since a huge war is coming, it would make even more sense. I still don’t believe in that unity spirit however. While it may be effective in times of war against a common enemy, it’s not in times of peace. 

And according to Roy and Peaure, it’s apparently too brutal to stir an episode of nationalism or more precisely, a feeling of general agreement that the world they lived on was limited to a single huge island, weren’t part of Humanity in general but as a race labeled as “the descendants of Ymir”, that they’ve been the monsters all along and they’ve been isolating themselves from each other, having the rest of the humanity as a common enemy. 

Peaure took note of three types of reactions:

People who accepted the truth as it is

People who think this is a huge joke

Conspiracy theorists who think there’s some Illuminati members in the military

The first category will be easy to rally. The second one needs some time to digest the information or need better evidence. The third one is... well...

While living with the truth seems to make things better and ready for advancement (it’s always better than a situation where people make their growth stagnate), they now realize they’re the target of the rest of humanity who isn’t ready to change their minds. There simply isn’t any room for peace.

And that’s why I’m not feeling particularly salty about the titans being nearly wiped out. Grisha’s logs were the last knee-slapper as their role as mighty oppressors. I’ve said it in a post concerning Bertolt and his role as the Colossal Titan: the same analogy can be applied when they started as being those freakish humanoid looking creatures hellbent to devour humans and forced them to retreat behind walls, decimating anybody who dared to venture in their territory. Then revelations happened:

Humans can turn into titans.

Pure titans actually don’t have a proper conscience and are either trapped in a nightmare or bent on one particular desire.

With titans being humans it means “Humanity” was killing humans all along.

Not every titan can revert back to a human. Only 9 of the whole population can.

The user of the Coordinate can use them as slaves to their bidding.

Titans as well as most humans inside the walls belong to the same people, meaning they were fighting a war against themselves all along.

Titans are only wandering on one island while the rest of the world is free from them.

The wandering titans are actually part of the oppressed minority from another country sentenced for several types of crimes, often unfairly. 

All of this implies the SC was executing already sentenced people of their own kind, essentially finishing Marley’s work.

This whole path depicts them as the mere rank of victims rather than predators. Now that they learned who the real enemy is, titans are all demoted from that position, which makes me not so regretful they were eliminated by the guillotine, not to mention the flashback made sense as to why they were all trapped between Wall Maria and Wall Rose.

Eren’s lifestyle is to hunt predators and he already fixed his next target. Notice how at the end of the chapter he referred to the crawling titan as a fellow instead of an enemy he once sworn to kill? I’ll come back to it later.

Flocke 

One of the nicest part of the chapter was getting a peek from Hitch, eventually giving Marlowe’s death closure. Jean was giving her the classical speech of how brave he was when he fought for the recapture of Wall Maria. It could’ve gone smoothly but the little problem remaining about his honors was...

...Flocke

Flocke was probably the most controversial character from the chapter. Never in the spoilers tag have I seen so much vitriol for a character who started to make himself relevant in the second-last arc. I’m going to make myself clear about him:

He’s absolutely right.

I’ve seen so many fans call him a piece of shit, him thinking too highly of himself (when he called himself a coward?) or him being too harsh but in the situation where the SC is and as a stock-filling recruit, why should he sugarcoat everything when his first operation was one where he had to brave a giant monkey throwing rocks?

He wasn’t lying when he stated those facts about Marlowe. Being honest is still better than putting on a brave face, which made Hitch go ultimate tsundere and cry while missing how much of a self-absorbed idiot Marlowe was.

“Even though Marlowe Freudenberg was only recently recruited to the Survey Corps as part of the emergency listing just like me, he was still able to help unite us all. The Survey Corps were driven into a corner and faced certain annihilation. The situation seemed hopeless. While everyone else was vulnerable and frightened, he alone kept encouraging and inspiring us.” - Ch. 81 (Pic)

“But in the end... I’m sure he regretted ever going to that place.” - Ch. 81 (Pic)

He wasn’t too happy of dropping the truth on Armin either. He wasn’t fond of Erwin but in no way he would deny him a chance to a second life when there’s a way of breaking through the crack that is despair.

Besides, it wasn’t just his opinion. Everybody else wondered why Erwin wasn’t chosen. Erwin was right in their grasp and he was denied the serum. That’s how it happened to an outsider who only read the reports. People think the SC became nuts, and Flocke nailed what the problem was. For people who dedicated their hearts about serving a cause, they let their feelings get the best of them. “Somebody who can’t sacrifice anything can’t change anything.” Flocke used the same logic Armin does and that’s why it resonated with him in that panel.

“Someone who can’t throw anything away... will never be able to change anything” - Ch. 27 (Text)

Armin thinks the “useful evil” is good, which is why it made sense for him and Flocke to bring Erwin back instead of letting emotions getting the best of them.

“The three of you let your feelings get the better of you, took the injection for your own means, and made an irrational choice. In short you just couldn’t let go of someone important to you, could you?” - Ch. 84 & 85 (Pics)

“Eren... You’re one of those people who believe deep inside they’re always right. that’s why you never give up, just like some unreasonable child.” - Ch. 84 (Pic)

“In that regard, Mikasa was the grown-up in the situation. Because when push came to shove did she give up” - Ch. 84 (Pic)

“You people... You didn’t oppose the senior staff, nor did you try to stop Eren and Mikasa. You just stood there and watched.” - Ch. 84 (Pic)

Well, in defense of Jean, Sasha and Connie: the three of them arrived late and Sasha had a shrapnel her arm, so... 

Flocke was mostly narrating what really happened on that roof, which in perspective makes the situation look like a complete dramatic joke, which eventually gives the SC a bad rep where its only members are just a bunch of teenagers who only care about themselves.

Notice the stares from the other officiers oriented in the same direction than Flocke’s. It’s pretty telling the future recruits should watch out for the SC.

On another note, Flocke calls himself a coward. While it’s true he cried about him not wanting to die and not being remembered, he was the only one advocating for Erwin to be brought back before Hange showed up, even standing in front of a Mikasa ready to slice him. He faced Zeke’s attack alongside Erwin and Marlowe, survived miraculously and lost every single one of his comrades in the process. He has the right to have a word in this whole mess.

Armin also nods, making the same disappointed face than the one from chapter 85:

I swear to god, it’s the exact same - Ch. 90 & 85

Armin’s opinion didn’t change since chapter 85: Erwin should’ve lived. Eren this time tried to rile him back in by bringing up the exact same tirade he brought up when he was talking about the outside world, completely cut by his own intentions, associated with a picture of Faye being eaten by the dogs: freedom.

The ceremony

I have no idea why it popped up in his mind but as he touched Historia’s hand and had that detailed flashback with Grisha and Frieda, maybe using trigger words serves as a means to make the memories of a certain person flow through your brain:

When Eren pronounced the word “freedom”, he immediately shifted on Kruger’s perspective, seeing Fay eaten by the dogs.

When Frieda and Grandpa Reiss heard demands about solving the titan problem, the memories of the First King flowed through.

That would explain why Eren began having visions of Grisha and Kruger’s memories: the logs probably contained a lot of trigger words invoking the memories of both men, hence why Eren got a better hold of the coordinate when he couldn’t before.

Thanks to those flashbacks he managed to discover the real key to trigger the coordinate and still hasn’t told anybody about this. Not fully believing to be able to stop the imminent treat, you have two pages dedicated to his self-doubt, him feeling down.

...That expression reverted to anger when he got the full input of Grisha’s memories and perspective. The flashback wasn’t over.

Frieda, as the First King, must have ushered words so powerful they were enough to amp up Eren’s morale to the max. They were also powerful enough to make Grisha lose it, steal the power and make sure nobody from the Reiss family would seize it again. The details apparently made Eren keep the power to himself, as he initially believed the Reiss line was the only one able to defeat the titans with a bit of conviction.

Eren believing Grisha did wrong - Ch. 65

Remember how Kruger and the other restorationists stated how cowardly the King was? That probably what made Grisha lose his marbles and steal the power.

The timeskip

This is where my biggest complaint came from and while it doesn’t represent a huge portion of the chapter (two to thee pages), it was the major detail I was unhappy with. While the way they got rid of titans was understandable, it would’ve been nice to get at least a couple of pictures of everybody’s situation inside the walls during these months. Maybe (and I’m saying maybe) it’ll be used as an opening for next chapter but in any case it feels inappropriate.

Isayama mostly detailed that under the scenes of the seasons in Trost. It at least indicates the Shiganshina battle happened in late autumn/early winter (if that’s any indication for character’s birthdays, because I definitely believe Reiner and Bertolt are born the same year, Annie’s born a year later, the rest is born two years after Reiner and Bertolt and Armin turned 16 between the Uprising and the Battle of Shiganshina arcs). I still find that more underwhelming than having a picture of a ceremony for the fallen, the rest of the titans being wiped out by the military, giving Rico a cameo, Hange falling asleep on their desk after too much paperwork, Levi staring at the window remembering Erwin, Jean/Sasha/Connie paying visit/homage to their families, Armin staring at Eren being concerned but he coordinate shenanigans... All of this could’ve sat nicely on a page, just like this one:

The situation in the walls - Ch. 82

It really feels like nothing important happened and they reached the coast as if it was just the day after, while it’s probably the biggest timeskip of the manga.

Speaking of the ocean...

The ocean and Eren’s resolve

Y’know what? My theory was that the ocean was permanently out of reach because of the tensions inside the walls or it would be saved for the very last chapter. Instead, it was shown in the last chapter of the current arc and the issue was quickly buckled up at the end by Eren’s interruption.

Discovering the ocean also contributed to the underwhelming feeling, but after Isayama posted an entry about it, I’m wondering if closing the matter on six pages and not the ending of the series was actually intentional? The goal of the story was never about reaching the ocean but it felt more like a whim from one character who turned out to be overwhelmed with a major sin at the price of one life that should’ve been selected instead. When Armin reaches the ocean, he isn’t staring at it with the same “dreamy” eyes Eren envied. It’s only after Mikasa stepped in the water he felt joy again.

And of course Eren doesn’t even remotely care. As expected. Instead, he’s focused solely on finding a way to reach Marley and destroy every citizen here. I think that shell Armin found symbolized the beginning of the parting Isayama wanted to illustrate. Armin was probably riddled by survivor’s guilt because of Levi’s choice. Eren told him in this chapter he had to see the ocean he himself already saw but it’s eventually revealed it mattered so little to him. The shell represents Armin’s discovery about things no living Eldian has ever seen before but Eren immediately turns away, preferring finding a future where he walks around and nobody can stop him. It looks like Armin’s actually holding the shell back, isn’t he?

Anyway, that seals my review and I suppose the final arc will be solved on Marley: there’s literally nothing else to do on Paradis and the catastrophe is bound to repeat again. Eren made his mind and follows into his father’s footsteps, knowing how to trigger the coordinate. Getting into Marley is either going to be through infiltration or complete invasion. Since the SC has few members, the former is easier to accomplish if they can hijack a boat.

It’s weird we haven’t heard signs of Reiner or Zeke during these months. They have to be up to something and they’re probably luring the SC into a trap, where Zeke expects Eren to come to Marley by himself. The two of them have to meet in order for chaos to go down, because Marley is ridiculously powerful compared to Eldia. 

For some reason I’m expecting Eren to not only touch Zeke but also eat him as well. There’s many points we need to solve about Marley as well. I’m paraphrasing this post here:

What pushed Zeke to join the Marley warriors?

How were the warriors trained?

Were they several promotions?

Is Zeke actually an exception to the rule (somehow answered with Ymir Fritz dying 13 years after but contradicted by Zeke being recruited at least in his late teens)?

If so how did he manage to have a word with the higher-ups? Was he a vet in a previous war? An experimental test?

Is Marley aware Zeke is the last Fritz?

How was the original promotion of the seven warriors?

How did they organize themselves in two parties, with Zeke being the titan outside and Reiner, Bertolt and Annie as the infiltrates?

How come Zeke only manifested himself after Annie’s crystalization?

How is Marley dealing with their enemies in the East?

What about that Titan Chemistry society?

How come Reiner’s last name figure on the Armored serum Eren swallowed?

Is the fact that Reiner and Zeke share the same birthdays nothing more than a joke?

Speaking of Reiner, how come he and Bertolt never mention their family? Orphans? Taken in at a young age?

How did they keep the seven shifters in control?

How did Kruger get his shifter power?

[puppy-byun]

Versace on the Floor (pt. 2)

Jimin x you

“After a night of partying and spilled drinks lead to royal heir Park Jimin entering your life, he’s insistent on making it hard for you to get rid of him.”

Pt. 2/5, rated K for Kill me, Jimin

“Oh, baby, look what you’ve done to me Look what you’ve done now I’ll never leave if you keep holding me this way”

You rolled onto your stomach with a groan. Your face pressed into the pillow didn’t do anything to smother the prominent smell of cold smoke and alcohol that hit your nose. Pulling a grimace, you tried bunching the pillow closer around your cheeks, trying desperately to get rid of the smell, to no avail. It stuck to everything you’d touched.

“I hate myself”, you whined, to no one in particular, not moving despite the very uncomfortable circumstances. It took at least another five minutes before you felt ready to open your eyes, the ray of sunlight that fell through the curtains making you groan again. You tried squinting a little, so the light wouldn’t hurt your eyes as much, and put yourself on your elbows. Immediately a wave of nausea hit you and you clutched your stomach, scared you’d end up throwing up into your bed.

You sat upright slowly, keeping your hand pressed to your stomach until it had settled down enough for you to notice that your already obnoxiously loud alarm clock was still beeping, and you really had to stop ignoring it or else your head would explode. You forced yourself out of your self-pity, rolling off the bed instead with a dramatic sigh. You plopped onto the floor unceremoniously, right on top of a pile of lasts night’s clothes - tights, bra, and a very crumpled dress. You tried blowing a wayward strand of unkempt hair out of your face, sinking your head against the bed frame. Technically you knew you were already late for work, but your colleague wouldn’t actually kill you, and if he did it might actually be a relief compared to this state. You chuckled, amused by the amount of self pity you could muster, when actually it was your fault anyway. You weren’t one to be completely wasted every weekend unless there was a special occasion that called for it - you halted, the memory of a kiss flashing up. Out of instinct your hand moved up to your lips and you tried recollecting a little more information. All you could come up with though was a blur of shots, more shots, and a lot of loud giggling. Frustrated with yourself you jumped up, checking the bed first just a little alarmed. It was blissfully empty, and there wasn’t even a second blanket anywhere within sight. Just in case, and ignoring your hangover, you hurried to the bathroom anyway, just to make sure you were indeed alone. A relieved sigh escaped your mouth when you’d checked, and you patted yourself on the shoulder.

“Congrats on not taking home any fuckboys”, you chuckled sarcastically, snorting when you heard your husky voice. A long, hot shower and two coffees later you felt sobered up enough to leave your flat, looking a lot better than you could’ve hoped for.

It wasn’t like you to be carelessly late because of partying, but you couldn’t really focus on hurrying to work because you had a feeling that it hadn’t just been a kiss with a random guy. You tried catching snippets of the previous night when suddenly you remembered – you might not had taken anyone home, but you did hand out your number.

“Well that’s just great”, you muttered angrily, fishing your phone from your bag with a little reluctance. You tried consoling yourself that really, what were the chances any guy would actually text if you hadn’t taken him home, and turned on your data. It took a few seconds before it started vibrating like crazy and you had trouble keeping up with all the messages from your friends flashing up on your screen. They were jumping down on the screen so fast you almost missed it when in between random capslock, a number you weren’t familiar with showed up. You cursed, contemplating your options for a moment before curiosity won and you opened it. 

[9:32] From: Unknown

Why did you let me wake up alone 🙁

You sucked in a sharp breath when you saw it wasn’t just a message. Jimin had sent a selfie and a wave of nervous panic and excitement washed over you. You tapped the pic, opening it on full screen and couldn’t help but involuntarily bite your lip. He was even more gorgeous when sober. He had sent a simple selfie, judging by the soft looking, gray pillow behind him, straight from his bed. You tried to ignore the flush on your cheeks, when your eyes were automatically drawn to the flash of skin. He didn’t actually show anything but the creamy skin of his neck and exposed collarbones was enough to be tempting. You tried to fight down a smile. He looked utterly adorable. He seemed to have just woken up, and not left bed yet, his phone held in front of him. His hair was pushed back in soft waves and his was casual enough to reveal his forehead. He’d sucked in his bottom lip, looking cutely pouty and the thought of kissing him until he stopped pouting and was moaning your name instead crossed your mind.

You groaned, frustrated by your own mind. This was exactly why you had escaped. You did not need a pretty boy to wrap you around his fingers and make you loose your mind only to get you to drop your pants. You stuck your tongue out at the selfie in childish defiance, deciding to end this as soon as possible. Maybe you needed to be a little more direct since simply running away apparently hadn’t worked.

[11:56]

Can’t be the only thing in your life that’s cheap 🙃

Satisfied by your amount of passive rudeness in the short text, you shoved your phone into the back-pocket of your pants as deep as possible, deciding on sweet ignorance.

The way from your apartment to the small coffee shop you were working at was short enough to walk, and it had reached just the right temperature for perfect sweater weather. And anyway, a little fresh air couldn’t hurt. Rightly so, your short walk was rewarded with an almost-sober feeling when you opened the front door of the shop and were hit with the prominent smell of coffee and cheap croissants. You grinned back at your coworker when he caught one glimpse of your rather dishelved hair and raised an eyebrow knowingly.

“Sorry”, you offered with a sweet smile, moving next to him behind the counter. “I’d say I overslept but honestly, I had to learn how to move again”.

He laughed at your honesty, shoving the apron into your hands with a shrug, glad to get out at last. You shook your head, looking after him with a little smile, grateful that he wasn’t mad and threw your bag - your phone included - into an empty shelf at your feet carelessly. The monotony of shoving croissants into the oven and brewing one cappuccino after another was enough to make your eyes droopy again in no time, but it wasn’t enough to enable you to ignore the constant buzzing coming from you clutch. Accepting that you couldn’t avoid your phone forever you gave in during a less busy moment, kneeling down to get your phone again. Praying that it would just be the typical group message spam, you were relieved to see the amount of notifications. However, your relief was crushed abruptly when you saw that it was more than just that. Text messages, and not just one, all of them from Jimin. The first two or three messages were casual but you couldn’t suppress a laugh at the fourth one.

[13:47] From: Versace on the Floor


“U could’ve at least left me a shoe so I can go on a mad search for you…” 

You were almost convinced that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to get into this this after all, and maybe he was truly as much of a sweetheart as he let on to be (expect for when he had kissed you, there had been nothing sweet about that), when another customer came in, preventing you from going down that path. After all he had wanted to take you home. He has coaxed your number from you with his smooth talking and plumb lips and that wicked mouth. This was Park Jimin’s number, and he wanted to text. And giving him what he wanted would mean big trouble.

You quickly jumped up, plastering a fake smile on your face and shoving your phone next to the register and out of view. The messages were still opened, and you almost felt like they were waiting there, pushing you to reconsider. You served the customer, your thoughts anywhere but on the task at hand and as soon as he had left you dived back to your phone, staring at the screen again. Why was he texting you, did it just no sit right with him that he had been stood up on? You honestly couldn’t figure it out. If you hadn’t actually met him last night you would’ve believed without doubt that he was downright adorable, but the fact that you had met him, made it seem a lot less likely to be true. You were sure if you asked your friends they would just tell you that there was „no harm in trying“. Only there was. He was a public figure, he was constantly surrounded by paparazzi, greedy crowds and people just looking for a chance to expose something new about him. It wasn’t a world you were sure you wanted to enter, not even a good fuck. You barely remembered half the things that you’d said to him, and the things you did remember had been the alcohol talking, mostly. They seemed downright ridiculous.

He was so far out of your league he interests couldn’t possibly go further than one night. However, the letters on your phone screen said otherwise. With one final sigh you threw a quick glance at the shop, making sure everyone seemed content with themselves, before you dived behind the cheap plastic curtain dividing the shop from the employees room. It took you three tries before you could finally settle on what to reply.

[15:34]

“I already gave you my number, what more could you want? 🤔”

Now you were eager for him to reply. Since apparently simply being downright rude did not work, he had made you curious after all. If anything, at least so you knew you weren’t making a mistake. It didn’t take more than a few seconds before you saw the little bubble with three points show up, signalling he was writing. 

[15:34] From: Versace on the Floor

“A lot… I would list it all but I might come off a little strong then”

There came another one right after, making you chuckle.

 “I realize this could be taken the wrong way.”

You were about to reply what exactly the wrong way was, because if it wasn’t a list of all the places he wanted to fuck you at, then you could get over it with a clean conscience. You didn’t get to that when you heard the front door jingle and hurried back out, leaving your phone in the backroom with a little bit of regret because why the hell did this have to be drawn out. Your self restraint didn’t last long before you threw all care into the wind and decided that a bit of texting wouldn’t harm anyone, even if the customers saw. Jimin had beaten you to it though, already having sent another message. It was almost cute how fast he spammed, making you smile slightly. Until you read the text.

[15:39] From: Versace on the Floor

“Where are you? Are you free? Wanna grab a coffee? Lunch?”

 You looked up from the phone with a sigh, taking in your surroundings before looking down at yourself. You remembered the look of his obviously expensive clothes, the fine, chiselled features of his face, and how soft his silver hair looked. He wouldn’t just stick out in here. The thought of him, of Park Jimin, standing in this small coffee shop with the cheap linoleum floor and the washed out wooden chairs was laughable. He would instantly regret texting if he saw where you worked, or even more so, if he saw you in all of your hangover glory, wrapped in a white apron with coffee stains. With a little reluctance you replied, telling him that you had to work and had absolutely no time, telling yourself that despite not having your question answered, this was what was best.

It was already getting dark outside, and a glance to the clock on the opposite wall told you that you were as good as done. With a relived sigh you collected the dish towels, piling them on your hand to bring them to the backroom. You were too busy with the washing machine to hear the doorbell jingle.

„I’m sorry we’re closing up-„, you shouted, but stopped dead in your tracks halfway out of the backroom.  Jimin was standing in front of the counter, head tilted downwards to his phone. He was wrapped in a black coat and a shawl that looked so soft you wished you could just press your face into it without coming off as weird. It matched his hair perfectly, giving his whole look a touch of perfection that made your heart ache. He had one hand shoved into the pocket of his coat, while he was seemingly busy checking his phone with the other one. You didn’t know how to react, glad he hadn’t looked up yet. The thought of hiding in the backroom crossed your mind, but you shoved it away, knowing it would be ridiculous. You had been right though. He did stick out like a sore thumb, polished and impeccable. You bit your lip, using the opportunity to let your eyes wander over his sharp jawline, admiring how his neck moved when he swallowed. He didn’t seem to notice you at all, and you took a step forward, clearing your throat. 

He jumped a little, quickly slipping his phone into his coat pocket. “The service is terrible.”, he stated dryly, and you looked a bit taken aback. A sly smile slid onto his face, the glint in his eyes giving him a mischievous edge. “I’m just kidding”, he added, and you let out a relived breath you hadn’t known you were holding. You took a couple of steps towards the counter, still a little unsure of how to react. Eventually, curiosity got the better of you and you blurted out quite bluntly: “What are you doing here?”

“You’re closing up, don’t you?”, he said with a nonchalant shrug, as if it was the most obvious thing to say.

“Yes. But what are you doing here, at my workplace, which I definitely haven’t told you about?”, you prodded, furrowing your brows suspiciously. Even with hazy details you were pretty sure you had not mentioned workplace or schedule last night.

“I’m Park Jimin.”, he stated, and you tried ignoring the fact that it felt a little condescending. “You wouldn’t tell me so I had to find out myself.”

“You mean you had someone else find out for you?”, you corrected, causing him to shrug again.

“Same difference.”

The air between the two of you felt uncomfortably awkward, mostly because he wasn’t saying anything else and you were a little lost as to what you were supposed to say. Eventually you settled on the most obvious thing. “Want a coffee?”

Your words made him smile a little, especially because he obviously hadn’t failed to notice the slight squeak at the end of your question. His eyes wandered over the room and settled back to you, and the uncomfortable cringe on his face finally managed to cause you to chuckle. 
“No offense, but not really.”

You put the coffee pots and milk cans in the dishwasher with a laugh, turning back to him. He seemed a lot more relaxed now, and so did you. 
“Can’t really blame you. So why are you here?”

His expression became a lot more serious in an instant, and you stopped to look at him, not daring to turn your back.

“Let me take you out.”

The blunt statement caused you to snort more than unladylike, and you shook your head at him. “Yeah sorry, but that’s not going to happen.” He pushed his lower lip out in an adorable pout, and you almost took back your words. A selfie had been one thing, but when he was standing in front of you, probing his bottom lip out and making all the thoughts of sucking it between your teeth rush back to your had, it was downright unfair. You forced yourself to turn away, partly to hide the head in your face. You tried focusing on untying the knot in your apron instead.

“Why not?”

He sounded adorably upset, and you couldn’t help but sigh, wanting to give in badly. You set the apron down, running a hand through your hair and leaning back against the counter. “Because. Look at you, you look ridiculously out of place. I don’t. Leaving here with you would make me look out of place just as much.”

Jimin didn’t deny that you were right, and you knew you were, but he showed no sign of defeat either. He actually didn’t really seem to care at all. You shook your head, throwing one last glance at him before moving to the employee room to lock up the cash register. When you’d closed the safe and grabbed your warm sweater you almost bumped face first into his chest.  You cursed, shoving him out of the room and calming your breath. “You’re not supposed to be back here, geez Jimin.”

He let you push him out of the room, but as soon as you were both in front of the curtain he dug his heels into the floor, making it unable for you to push him back further or brush past him. You were trapped between him and the counter, and you knew you had no choice but to listen.

“Give me at least a chance.”, he started, and you didn’t want to acknowledge the plea in his voice. It was beyond adorable. “You ruined my shirt. And then you bolted. Twice. You owe me at least a chance, even if I have to guilt trip you into it.”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at how stubborn he sounded. Dropping your hand from his chest you reached for your bag, wrapping it over your shoulder. “Fine, one chance, you spoiled boy.”, you agreed, holding up your index finger for emphasis. The bright smile on his face was so worth it.

„So, is it your usual go to club when you sneak out? Can you even afford to have a „usual club“?“ Once you had warmed up to Jimin, it seemed impossible that there were moments not long ago when you’d thought being around him would be awkward. „Honestly? Jungkook dragged us there, I think he wanted to get laid.“

You chuckled in response, remembering how fast his friends had vanished last night.

„I’m not too big on clubs, you always have to be on the lookout, be careful who you talk to, who you’re seen with, it’s usually not worth it. And I’m already the family’s black sheep compare to my brothers, so I like to keep it simple and away from the public’s eyes.“ You pressed your lips together in disapproval at how he apparently had to hold back a lot more than he led on.

„But come on, we’re young.“, you argued stubbornly. „We’re bound to go out, get drunk, have at least one public sexual encounter, that kind of thing“, you half joked, feeling bad when his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

„You can’t imagine the shit storm that would cause. I’m in enough trouble already because one of your friends and a couple of other people tweeted some pics, and twenty minutes later I was escorted by my family’s bodyguards like a middle-schooler.”, he finished, making you laugh a little at how upset he sounded. He was walking next to you, little smoke clouds puffing in front of his mouth with every word because it had gotten quite dark and just a little cold by now. You had to suppress light shivers, but the way Jimin’s fingers brushed yours from time to time made it absolutely worth it. Once past the awkwardness, you couldn’t help but admit that he wasn’t as arrogant and cocky as he looked, nowhere near it actually. He was talkative, and open, and his tendency to pout every other sentence made your tummy flutter with warmth. You pulled a face, hiding your laugh at his attitude behind your hand. 

“Sorry about that”, you offered weakly, not feeling all that sorry. His reaction was sort of worth it. “My friends where a tad enthusiastic about our little incident.” Your understatement caused him to laugh, flashing his perfectly white teeth. The way his hair fell against his forehead, and his eyes became tiny crescents made butterflies churn in your stomach even more. He was painfully gorgeous.

“You weren’t all that chill about it yourself”, he teased, making you cringe at the memory of all your giggling.

“I was embarrassed!”, you tried defending yourself. “Your friends were intimating, to be honest, and I was a little too tipsy to assess the situation rationally.”

He shook his head with a warm smile, brushing your shoulder with his. “They’re not intimidating, they’re a bunch of idiots”, Jimin argued back. His affectionate tone made you chuckle.

“Sure, but a bunch of ridiculously good looking idiots, with the world at their feet”, you countered, pursing your lips. He argued against you with a sassy “nuh-uh”, and you rolled your eyes with a laugh. “You had someone find out my workplace, if that’s not saying everything then I don’t know what does!”

It was meant to be a joke, but the way he was biting his lower lip harshly you could tell he was embarrassed.

“Are you mad about it?”, Jimin asked, sounding a lot more timid than he did seconds ago. You contemplated your answer, not sure whether to be honest or not. Eventually you decided that going with the truth was probably for the best.

“Honestly? It was a bit weird.” You glanced at Jimin from under your hair, catching the little blush creeping on his cheeks. It could have been from the cold, but the way he was scratching his neck told you it wasn’t.

“But”, you quickly added, not wanting to tease him, “I’m glad you did. I didn’t think this would be so nice. Or you would be, for that matter.”, you admitted sheepishly, the last part more of a whisper than anything. He had heard though, and it made him smile like Christmas had come early. “Good. You’re not too bad either.”, he stated, sounding entirely too pleased with himself. “But what did you think I’d be like?”

You looked down at your hands, wringing them together before you decided that it was probably now or never.

„I wasn’t thinking so much about what you’re like, rather than what you’re after, you know?“, you stated, glancing at him quickly. He looked honestly a little lost, and you sighed. „A quick fuck.“, you added bluntly, realization dawning on his face. His smile was something between sweet and cocky, and he ran his hand through his hair, making you swoon just a little too much.

„Well actually, there’s a store around here that has great soundproof bathrooms…“

You punched his shoulder lightly with a laugh, realizing that - thank god - he was joking.

„Don’t screw it up Jimin, you were doing so well until now.“, you teased him, when he suddenly slowed down, turning towards you to. You stopped, catching him glance at your lips. “I was hoping you’d come around eventually.”

His voice had gotten a lot lower, and a shiver that wasn’t from the temperatures at all ran through your body. You quickly dropped your gaze to your feet, not sure what to say. You hadn’t been lying, you had enjoyed yourself. But it didn’t change that he was Park Jimin, and you were you, and this was not normal. You felt his cold, soft fingertips under your chin, gently pulling your face upward so he could catch your gaze.

“Jimin, I-“, you started weakly, not sure what you even wanted to say. He caught your obvious hesitation though, dropping his hand back to his side, a flash of disappointment crossing his face.

“I should really get home.”, you ended lamely, immediately regretting it when you saw his shoulders visibly slump. He agreed nonetheless, insisting on walking you home all the way to your doorstep. You felt bad for the awkward silence you had caused, the whole walk back to your door wrapped in it. It wasn’t that you didn’t like this, or him, but it wasn’t going to work out and getting yourself into it was stupid. Someone was bound to get you hurt. If only he weren’t so beautiful and sweet, it would have been a much easier decision. You were lost in your thoughts, trying to decide on what to do until you reached your doorstep. You stopped with an awkward cough, unsure how to leave. You were definitely not going to invite him in – for many reasons – but the beautiful smile he had worn had vanished and you couldn’t stand the thought that this was your doing.

“Hey Jimin uhm…”, you tried to start, breaking off when you realized you weren’t sure what you’d even wanted to say.

“Nah, don’t worry about it”, he waved off, already turning on the doorstep. Before he could fully turn you caught his wrist, pulling him back towards you. You leaned in, placing your lips on his cold cheek, but close enough to the corner of his mouth that he was sure to know that this wasn’t rejection. You let your lips linger a little too long but he didn’t make any move either. Against better judgment, you pressed a quick, chaste kiss to his lips as well before leaning away slightly.

“I’m a little overwhelmed.”, you whispered, your breath brushing his lips. He only grumbled in reply, and you felt his lips move into another tiny pout. It was enough to make you throw all caution into the wind. You gave in, reducing the little space between you. You added a little pressure to the kiss, lingering long enough for him to react and move his lips with yours before you pulled away. Jimin’s cheeks were coloured with a rosy pink, and it made him look so much more vibrant and beautiful, you felt like the air was almost knocked out of your lungs. You bit your lip, fighting down your own smile. “But you’ve convinced me not to resist.”