#as well as the people calling the idols involved p*dos... and making JOKES about it

[bamgeut]

Hey! I just want to say, I'm also soobin biased and I pretty much landed at the exact same thought process as you after reviewing the whole situation, so I felt a lot of relief seeing someone lay it all out so well. It was a confusing and messy situation, so I just wanted to say I appreciate the effort you put into doing research and considering all the factors. I feel like a lot of people haven't done that at all (both of the side of defending and condeming), so it's been a really frustrating time.

yep, it's been a whole mess. i'm glad people are taking the time to research and think about it for themselves though. like i said whether you decide to unstan or not, it's all cool as long as it's your own decision! the extremist behavior i've seen (mostly on twitter) only does harm to everyone involved, for both sides, so it's great to see that people around here are taking a breath and taking it slow rather than jumping to one side or the other.

[qetalos]

WILLOW | 정원

p: idol!Jungwon x non idol!gn reader g: fluff

warnings! fear of being seen or getting caught (?)

note: this is inspired by the song willow by Taylor Swift<3 (also thought abt this while showering when willow played in my phone lmfao) enjoyy

Dating someone who was an idol wasn't something easy and we'd always have to be careful to not get caught, because people could end everything so easily that didn't let us relax for a moment if we decided to go out to the convenience store.

I wasn't an idol myself but just a student, already graduated from high school and the person who I got involved with being an idol was my boyfriend. Yang Jungwon was his name, is his name and I'm glad to be able to call him my boyfriend; because he's a really nice person himself. We met some time ago but that doesn't matter, because no matter the ways we ended up together.

Knowing Jungwon as a really straight and responsible person, I couldn't believe how he asked me to be his girlfriend, knowing how hard it was for him to date someone in the industry he was in. He said he'd take any risks to be with me even if he knew he could get fired for doing so, and I couldn't contradict him because it would've been useless at this time, also because I'm in love with him too. Our relationship is worth the risk. Jungwon was chill about going out together, always being careful of course, but I couldn't say the same about myself as I'd get scared of someone catching us and ruining Jungwon's career. I have to admit that sometimes I was just overthinking about the what if's but Jungwon is always there to bring me back to earth and calm me down.

"Which one do you want? Jake hyung told me this one's really good" Jungwon pointed the chocolate ice cream inside the refrigerator, I was struggling in choosing an ice cream because all of them looked good "Mhm.. okay I'll get that one" I said before grabbing the ice cream Jungwon told me Jake had recommended him, I was going to give it a try. We went to pay for everything we had grabbed and soon we were walking back home, hand in hand. I couldn't help but turn around or look for someone around when we were walking, making Jungwon confused by my sudden behavior "Is something wrong?" He asked as we walked "No no" I said trying to convince him, but I knew I couldn't because we knew each other really well "Tell me what is it, is something on?" Jungwon asked me again, the only difference that this time he stopped walking and looked at me "I don't want someone to see you walking around with me... you know if someone sees us and then takes pictures and then posts them you'll-" "Hey hey... it's okay, no one will see us because it's almost 2 am and I don't think someone would be around with a camera wanting to take pictures, would they?" He asked me with a tinge of playfulness in the end to try to calm me down, maybe that was what I needed, some reassurance and his silly jokes "Okay~" I said smiling as we started walking again but before I could hold his hand, he started to run away making me go behind him "Hey!" I shouted as I followed him until he slowed down and started walking normally again. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and I looked up at him "Why did you run away?" "I don't know but it was funny seeing how you tried to catch up" Jungwon said and I chuckled shaking my head softly at his actions. Then I realized that he had his arm around my shoulder instead of holding my hand, looking up with a pout I heard him chuckle as if he already knew why I was looking him like that, maybe he did know "Why? Do you want me to hold your hand again?" He asked me and I nodded almost instantly, cringing at the way I'd agree at whatever Jungwon would say or ask. "Okay, whatever you say~" I heard him say before grabbing my hand and intertwining his fingers with mine as we walked together with slow steps because we didn't have a reason to rush anything, we were together and that was enough for the both of us.

"Didn't you want to watch this one? Last week you told me you were looking forward to do so" Jungwon asked me as we sat together on our bed, full of snacks as we decided to have a movie night "Ah yes! I totally forgot about that, let's watch it!" I said excitedly, getting comfortable as I opened a pack of chips and started to eat while Jungwon played the movie on the tv. I don't know if I was tired or what but I ended up falling asleep after watching half of the movie, maybe it was because I was all cuddled up next to Jungwon as he'd rub circles in my back as we watched the movie. Or maybe because the movie turned out to be more boring than I had expected making me fall asleep without even finishing it.

I felt movement behind me before the mattress sank and making me recognize that it was Jungwon who was moving behind me. Before I could turn around, I felt his arms wrapping around me while pulling me to feel his chest behind my back. Trying to wash my sleepiness away, I turned around and saw Jungwon still awake looking down at me "Did I wake you up?" He asked me softly, bringing me closer to him "Yes.." I said, chuckling at my own words and before he could apologize, I talked "But it's okay, don't worry... I fell asleep while we were watching the movie, right?" I asked, seeing how Jungwon's eyes were turning into half crescents as his smile was growing too; remembering the moment I had fallen asleep "Yes.. you fell asleep but to be honest, the movie was a bit boring" he said and I laughed softly "It was, but you weren't helping either.." I smiled as I said this, referring to the way he was almost lulling me to sleep as we sat together watching the tv "I know... but you know it's already a habit of mine already~" he said, chuckling softly and I swore I wanted to keep this moment forever with me; his smile, the sound of his chuckle and the way he was holding me right now.

I smiled before hugging him closer and leaning my face in his neck, feeling how he kissed my head "I love you, rest well my love" I heard him whisper softly in my ear, careful to not talk loudly "I love you too, won.. good night" I said, already falling asleep in his arms. Jungwon whispered some more things but I couldn't understand what he said, maybe I'd ask him tomorrow...

💌゜・。。

thank you for reading!

do not copy, repost on other socials or translate. all rights reserved to @/stqrlite.

-🏷️

[heymeowmao]

2021.08.31 - https://weibo.com/l/wblive/p/show/1022:2321324676340438925530

LYN: I actually wasn’t planning on streaming today... but somehow I’m here... so let’s have fun!

Comment: Ning-ge, you got thinner? LYN: It’s not that I got thinner, the face-slimming filter is on a little high. But it doesn’t affect everyone’s view. All the filters are here to give you a better experience, anyway. I figure you’ve gotten tired of seeing my face everyday so I made it a little better looking for you. :) A little more idol-like. Comment: Turn off the filter. LYN: I WON’T!

Comment: What sort of Western style is this today? LYN: Don’t speak nonsense. No matter what I do- ... This is a Chinese-style. OK? Comment: You got new equipment. LYN: Of course! :) Doesn’t it feel like we’re in a KTV? Doesn’t the stream have more and more feeling with each passing day? It brings the atmosphere right up. LYN: Other people may stream with just their phone in a hotel room, but when you come into my stream I want to give you a sense of involvement. Right? Comment: Involvement? LYN: Right! I can see all your comments here. What were you expecting? You want to come to my room and sit next to me, participate that way??

Comment: Ge, is your microphone new? LYN: Someone finally brought it up. I’ve been streaming for 10 minutes and you’re the first person to ask about the mic. If you didn’t ask, wouldn’t I have spent my money for nothing??? You have to ask me- is your mic new? That way I can say- Yes, it’s very expensive! :)) Suddenly it makes me feel like my money was well spent. Comment: Is the red one broken? LYN: No, it’s right here. I’m leaving it for in-person events. But this (new) one should be better for streaming. Comment: Is that a new shirt. LYN: For sure. See? If no one had asked me about the shirt, I would have bought it for nothing!

/testing the sound/ LYN: ? Why do I feel like the left and right ears sound different? Bros: Ours are fine. LYN: Yours is normal? My ears are broken. What’s happening.

/cycles through a bunch of tinted glasses through the song/ LYN: (quotes Hei Ye) You want a pair of shades? :)

LYN: Let me ask, does this mic sound 7x better than my normal one? Was it worth it? It was? Comment: Raffle it. [t/n: a running joke; all his stuff is up for raffle bc viewers want a prize.] LYN: Why should I?

LYN: A lot of friends can’t admit that I’m a singer, so now I have to sing more songs for you. Actually my old trade is singing, I’ve only recently gotten into acting. I had a lot of trades, my very first was as a cook, and then a streamer, singer, and now acting.  Comment: Roasting corn. LYN: That counts as cooking. Comment: Bathing. [t/n: when you wash/scrub other people????] LYN: Let me tell you, I’m skilled at bathing. I have a towel in the bathroom ready to go whenever. A-Zuo’s specialty is.. not washing up. When we were in Beijing I told him to wash more often and he said he was saving us money. Now we’re in the hotel, so I told him to wash, but he’s saving the hotel money. He might find me to scrub him down but I don’t like accepting his commissions. I can’t take it. I think I might be able to scrub 5kg off him. Comment: Do you have a certification? LYN: Do I need one? The profession itself might require a certification but my style is- on the down-low, between friends. Comments: You do it for friends, right? I’m considered a MD friend too! LYN: This... is a little overreaching. I’ve never heard of a fan making their idol bathe them before. You can.. stop thinking about it. [...] If you’re locked out of your house, you can call me to open it. I’ll take care of everything for you. Find me for all of your daily necessities. Wow, I’m amazing. Comment: What if I gave you 100k. LYN: Are you bribing me?? Who do you take me for??? LYN: Send me your address. Send me your address, I want to know exactly who you are.

LYN: I hope that my fans don’t push me (to stream). Maybe my streams are more exciting than my music... but I still have things to do. I still have to eat and sleep. But I can tell you there’s a surprise tomorrow morning at 9a. [He’s got a collab with a cookware line!]

Comment: The red mic’s nice. Give it to me. LYN: Please don’t tell me you’re like this in real life. If you see a guy on the street eating some Pig’s Blood Cake, will you say "Hey, I like blood cake. Give me a bite.” You think he’ll give you a bite or give you a push?

LYN: No matter what, I have to remind my fans, the people who like me- I might have said it many times already but I hope you can be a little more confident in yourselves. Don’t get involved in any conflicts with people online. Even if they’re talking bad about me- just let them. It’s nothing I haven’t already seen before. It’s already much better on weibo. The platform I was on before, people came in and immediately started cursing me out. It’s fine. If they want to trash talk, let them. Don’t get involved and don’t retaliate. If you do want to get involved, don’t be aggressive- you can say “I’m begging you, please stop talking about our Ning-ge.” What I mean is, do it with kindness. LYN: Life is already full of pressure from work, from school- /DF walks in/ If I had a little piano it’d be even better- I think everyone is tired from working hard and studying hard, to be even better in the future. But I hope that online isn’t a place to relieve your frustrations but a place to find how to live a happier life. I hope you can see pleasant things, and not things that weigh even more heavily on you. I hope that my fans can be confident and can be different from other people. Not to say that other people are bad. But no matter what I do I tell myself I need to be different from others. I hope you can be different- because you each have your own way of thinking. You need to be healthy. (have healthy outlets)

/starts looking for theme music for the shit-stirrers/ LYN: I saw something- what did it say, let me see. I’ve been filming for An Le Zhuan lately, and someone’s out here saying “LYN is acting as second lead; But many of male lead’s roles have been given to second lead to please LYN.” I... I’m really speechless/helpless. It doesn’t add up. First off, GJ’s fans aren’t stupid, and secondly how can you take a male lead’s plot points and just GIVE THEM to the second lead??? How can that be possible. Our character designs are different- it’s not possible. LYN: I want to ask- how do you know things /I/ don’t even know? AND ALSO- do you think the scriptwriters/production companies owe me or something? Why would they want to please me? Why should they give me such a great opportunity??  LYN: Let me tell you, I’m very clear on my role. I always say- what’s mine is mine and what’s not will never be. I will never take something away from anyone else. I take on the second lead or support roles for a reason I am very clear on- I do what needs to be done and nothing more. I’m there to help move the plot along and to help the main lead with their personal growth. Something’s wrong if I’m the one who ends up growing. Also, most second leads have to die. Not only do I not get to mature, I have to die. How cruel. LYN: In this industry I will never take what’s not mine or fight with anyone for it. Everything I do is for the good of the drama. For the role. If you ever see anything that says otherwise, you can go report it. People who see these things could get worked up over it- but don’t go argue with those people. Just live your own happy life.

Comment: I heard that out of 5000RMB red packet, you only got 3.50RMB. LYN: You’re talking about the Zi Chuan wrap, right? The bosses sent out 5000RMB worth of red packet and I only got 3.50RMB, so I stood there unhappily pouting. Let me tell you, go find whoever spread that around right now. They’re stirring shit. This is how rumors start. LYN: On the day of the wrap or around new year’s the bosses will spread some red packets to the crew for their hard work. It’s a happy occasion no matter how much you are able to get. Someone’s saying I only got 3.50. Let me tell it straight- I wasn’t in the chat. I have no right to receive one. These are baseless lies; I’m about to go sue that person. LYN: Some people may ask, why wasn’t I in the chat? It’s a chat for the stage crew, if the actors get added to the chat they usually have to GIVE the red packets. You know? Especially since I’m the second lead- if I don’t give red packets, there’s no excuse I can give. On days like those you’d be lucky enough not to lose money, let alone gain some. What’s there to complain about?

LYN: The only crew I’ve ever given red packets to was the Heroes group, because that was for new year’s. I gave some then... we gave quite a lot, actually. We went out to eat and Yang Chaoyue had asked me, “Ning-ge. How much money should we give in the red packets tomorrow?” I told her I didn’t know, because it was my first time being an actor. We’d both never been in drama crews that spent the new year together, so we both didn’t know how it worked. I told her, “How about 1000 each? Or we could get the leads together for a collective 3000 packet?” XD Later she told me she would take care of it on her own, and that I should do the same. LYN: I gave quite a lot though. I won’t say exactly how much, but it was a 5 digit number... I didn’t even spend the new year nicely :’( (jokingly!) Everyone else spent it happily, but I was in pain for three days!  LYN: It was really good fortune to spend our new year together in such good company, though. Something money cannot buy.

/talks about how he doesn’t participate in grabbing red packets because he wants to reserve his luck. XD/

Comment: Ning-ge, what are you eating? LYN: Peaches. Someone in the crew gave it to me. I was pretty happy, thinking “He respects me?? :D” Then when I asked around I found out he gave everyone a box. I was a little too self-centered. XD 

/goes off on another rap song stint/ XDDD

/needs to go to the restroom; says his neighbors are fighting and puts on the spider man mask/ LYN: The sound can only come out from the eye hole. I can only breathe through here, too. I feel like a goldfish.

Comment: Ning-ge, my husband sends his well-wishes. LYN: Your husband... is sending me his well-wishes? Th-thank you jie-fu (older sister’s husband). Or is it mei-fu (younger sister’s husband)? I don’t know, but thank you. LYN: He did.. he said it with a smile on his face right? Like this? /acts out a friendly greeting/ Or this? /acts out a threatening greeting/ If it’s the first, ok, nice. If it’s the latter um... Someone get me a new hotel room tomorrow! I don’t think I’m very safe here right now. LYN: Just kidding! My fans’ husbands are all very nice. I remember, something that touched me during one of my concerts. I was joking with my fans, telling them to wear a wedding dress to my concert when I held one. But when I really did, they REALLY wore wedding dresses! I remember one fan- her husband brought her, and they brought their kid. A family of three. And she was wearing a wedding dress, but they all came to watch my concert together. I was happy. When I smiled I had tears in my eyes.

/thanks fans for recognizing him as a rocker at heart. t/n: ??? is it not obvious? XD/

Comment: You rubbed your belly, are you hungry? LYN: Wow, you’re so into the details. I suddenly felt warmth. I only just touched my stomach, and they asked this question. No, though. It’s simply I was drinking too much water and I dripped a little on myself. LYN: You asked if I was hungry, but I just drank so much I might even be a little full. Such a caring fan, though. Thanks.

Comment: You think you’re so funny. LYN: What do you mean? You think I’m faking it? I have a lot of friends that tell me my streams are amusing. but I don’t think I am. Actually, I don’t really talk that much privately. It’s just that when I’m streaming my.. my sickness turns its head. In normal situations I can speak normally to people, and I don’t even bite them. Just sometimes I feverishly speak without end. I’m really more of a reserved person, ok?

LYN: I have to sing some rock songs to appease my inner rocker. I feel like my inner Spongebob is gonna come out. /imitates spongebob/ So now I’m gonna sing a little rock song, ok?

Comment: I want to hear you drink water. LYN: See? You’re addicted now, right? It’s like... ASMR. /does an asmr program/ Comment: My ears are itchy. LYN: Oh, your ears itch? Hold on. Let me get something. /goes and comes back with ear cleaning supplies; uses it on the mic/

--

10 minute Q&A

Comment: What’s good to eat in Hengdian? LYN: Uh.. take-out. I usually get takeout and eat it at home.

Comment: Is there a S2 to Ultimate Note? LYN: Let me ask you, what do you want us to act in the second season? There’s nothing left. I haven’t heard any news, in any case.

Comment: Is there a S2 to The Long Ballad? LYN: A second season to The Long Ballad... there is none. The story’s over. How about... Leyan goes missing again. And then Hao Du goes around looking for her, again. But, you can check out the Legend of Anle, also Love Like the Galaxy. There’s all four of your Long Ballad mains.

Comment: How much was your microphone? LYN: What’s it to you? Are you going to start up a stream? You want to discuss streaming equipment with me?

Comment: When can we see you in a drama next? LYN: I’m not sure. Probably two, early next year.

Comment: Hope we can see Heroes quickly! LYN: There was a friend earlier who was surprised that I knew Yang Chaoyue. I filmed Heroes with her and Zeng Shunxi. If you like wuxia dramas, I think you can anticipate this one. It’s not big on the emotional side, though of course there is that element, but it follows the book closely and talks about a lot of things that happen in the jianghu. Comment: Will you sing the OST? LYN: Probably. I try to sing one for all the dramas I’m in. Comment: I’ll watch the cuts of Bai Choufei. LYN: Then it’s really meaningless. I hope people don’t watch the cuts- though you’re free to do what you want- I hope you don’t, because every work is made from the blood and sweat of the actors and crew. Watching the whole story makes it worthy for the cast and crew. Makes it worthy of the four months I spent filming. LYN: If you just watch my cuts then I should just film an MV and get it over with! I just want to say- every role in a drama is important. You have to respect every actor and worker in every department. If you only want to see me, than I should stop filming. I’ll make MVs; I’ll stream every day and be done with it. :|

Comment: Can Hao Du swim? LYN: No. [LYN can't swim; almost drowned as a kid and is now afraid of water.]

Comment: How many OSTs to come? LYN: There are a few (10+). You'll find out whenever the dramas get to air.

Comment: How much longer for ALZ? LYN: I think we’ll be filming until November. A couple more months to go.

Comment: Why don’t you sell your albums? LYN: I don’t... It’s not something... Look. I’m honored that people even want to listen to my songs in the first place. I won’t feel right taking your money. I want people to listen to something I worked hard on, not expect to earn money BECAUSE I worked hard on it. So how do I make money, then? Concerts. LOL LYN: Although I COULD hold a concert purely with the OSTs I’ve done, I want my second concert series to feature songs from my next album. /starts discussing concert logistics bc ppl asked if he needs any employees like security, etc. to get a “free” concert experience without buying a ticket lol/ LYN: My album is already free. My EP is free. My streams are free. You can’t expect me to give concert tickets for free too! T-T

[purpleyellow]

When my love blooms

BTS 8th member

Sunny’s masterlist

“Sunny's expeciences during When Our Love Blooms”

a/n: JUST FYI, Jinyoung plays a dude named Jaehyun and Sunny plays the character named Jisoo.  Your opinion is very important for me, send feedback and requests anytime 💜 Also, don’t be shy and interact a little, ask box is always open

DAY 1

Looking at herself in the mirror, Sunny fixed her now brown hair and snapped a quick picture. Sending it to the BTS group chat with an “I should have bangs more often :p” she quickly locked her phone and put it away, leaving the small changing trailer the stylists had led her to.

“Sunny, let’s go this way so you can do a table reading before we start shooting” One of the producers called her to one big room where most of the staff were already seated in a big table.

Looking for her name tag, she saw her empty spot next to Got7’s Jinyoung, who was already seated playing on his phone. The few times Sunny had met him before, they never really interacted that much, since she usually stuck to talking to Bambam because they’ve known each other since trainees. Bowing respectfully, she sat down next to him trying not to stay too close.

“Excited to start shooting?” Jinyoung tried to make the atmosphere less awkward, turning towards her as he took a sip of his coffee.

“Yes, a little nervous as well” Sunny nodded, suddenly trying to remember all of the acting classes she had taken the week prior.

“You’ll be fine, table readings are a great way to get used to the storyline and build confidence in your character” he smiled sweetly at her.

Smiling a thanks to him, she paid attention as the director and producers started giving out tips to the actors and fully explaining the storyline to every little detail. “It’s important all of you get in sync with the ages you’ll be interpreting” was a sentence heavily repeated, since the story would be set in two different times.

After about two hours, when the meeting ended, the two idols stood up and grabbed their stuff from the table. “Your character is really in love with mine” Jinyoung nudged her with his elbow smirking.

“He’ll be just as whipped for her in less than two episodes” Rolling her eyes, Sunny joked back and started walking side by side. 

Looking around to see if anyone was paying attention, she decided to share one of her worries with him. “I know this might seem out of nowhere, but I’m dating Sehun from EXO. And by what they said a few minutes ago there will be a lot of kissing involved. Do you think I should tell him about it?” 

With wide eyes at the sudden confession, Jinyoung assessed the situation before speaking “Does he know you’re acting and I’m the love interest?” After Sunny confirmed he shrug his shoulder, face back to its relaxed state “Then it’s implied. Mentioning it to him would only make it look like it’s a bigger deal than it actually is”

Still a bit unsure about it, Sunny tried to assure herself it would be fine, Sehun had never been the jealous type and he looked very excited when she told him about the project. Sensing her uncertainty, Jinyoung placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Look, seventy percent of the shots will be manipulating camera angles and lighting, we’ll just need to stand very close to each other” She rose an eyebrow at the last part and he sighed “I swear everything will be strictly platonic, just try to look like you’re in love with me when the cameras are rolling” With a breathy laugh, Sunny calmed down a little.

DAY4

Stepping out of the fake bedroom, the girl grabbed a tissue handed by a staff member and started to dry a few tears. Waiting for the director to tell her what to do next, she looked around and found a very excited boy jumping and waving her way. 

“Okay everyone, that’s enough for today” The middle-aged man shouted and Sunny took off towards J-Hope. 

Engulfing her in a hug, he patted the top of her head and smiled brightly “I missed you so much. You’ve been working a lot lately, we barely see each other on the dorms since you always leave way too early and come home very late”

“It’ll only be for a couple of weeks. Here let’s go to catering, I haven’t eaten yet” Sunny grabbed his arm and took him to a bunch of trailers parked. 

After she got her lunch, they sat down in a table and she started eating with him stealing a couple of bites here and there. “Jungkook said he will pay you a visit as well, he’s trying to set a date with Yugyeom so they can come together”

“He’s really tight with his 97 friends huh? I wonder if he would come at all if Jinyoung wasn’t in this” Sunny rolled her eyes remembering the many times she had to repeat what she had said because Jungkook was too absorbed in his group chat to pay attention.

“Let’s just be happy he’s making friends” Hobi smiled and Sunny laughed “I’m being serious, you were very quick to befriend other idols and do your thing, I thought Kookie would never leave our side” 

“But he did talk to other people” Sunny tried to reason with him.

“Yeah, only when V or Jimin was around, the boy took introverted to another level” he looked around and reverted his gaze to her. “And you, have you made more friends here?”

“I talk with a few actors and the staff are nice I guess” Sunny shrug her shoulders “You just said I made friends easily, why so worried out of nowhere?”

“Because I know you” Hobi smiled gently at her “You probably spend most of your day worrying about doing a good job and studying the script. Not trying to break this to you, but I don’t think you’ll ever get the chance to do this again, do you really  want to let the experience pass instead of making connections and having the time of your life?”

Sighing, Sunny placed her arms on the table and looked around as well “It’s just, people here are always working. I know that seems like heaven for me, but it gets tiring only talking about techniques and obsessing over the storyline. Also, I don’t think other people are interested in talking with an idol. I’m like a choir kid who wanted to try out the drama club”

J Hope laughed at her comparison “I’m glad you’re not leaving Bangtan to become an actress then” He smirked and she rolled her eyes with a small smile “How about the other actors? I guess Jinyoung’s on the same boat as you”

“I guess so. We talk in between shots sometimes, he’s probably the closest I have to a friend” as she said that the boy raised his arms in victory.

DAY6 (yes, it was on purpose)

“Okay, cut” The director yelled and Jinyoung retreated his lips from the corner of Sunny’s mouth “Please don’t leave the phonebooth, I’m going to check if we need to do that once again”

With the amount of space restricted, Sunny rested her back on the glass and the Got7 member tried to back away as much as possible, but it wasn’t enough to be a respectable space. 

“I’m sorry if this is awkward,”  Jinyoung said looking everywhere but at her. Not that Sunny knew because she was literally doing the same. “I’d open the door, but I’m sure he’d yell at me for doing so”

The girl didn’t have time to respond back, as someone yelled they were done for the day. Finally breathing properly, she stepped out of the small place and saw Yugyeom and Jungkook on the back watching the staff work. 

Looking at Sunny with wide eyes, her groupmate walked very fast towards her and dragged her somewhere more secluded. “Do you know how intimate that looked?” he said like he was scared making the girl laugh.

“Well, it is a romantic drama. I’m sure it was supposed to look like that” she said shrugging her shoulders and leaving to get out of her costume.

Grabbing her arm again, Jungkook prevented her from moving “Still, it’s awkward. Aren’t you uncomfortable with it? We can talk to your manager and get them to change the script or something”

“Are you crazy?” Sunny put her hands on his shoulders and shook him a little, getting him out of his shock “They signed me to play their character, I’m sure they would straight up fire me if I did anything even remotely close to changing the scenes”

“Well… I-I’m uncomfortable with it” He stuttered a bit but ended up crossing his arms and fixing his posture as if he was some kind of authority, all Sunny did was raise an eyebrow at him “Sehun Hyung won’t like this either. Plus you’re like a child, isn’t this like, illegal?”

“I’m literally a year younger than you” she reminded him,

“Well, it’s legal then” He nodded “But, Sehun? Does he know this?”

“Of course, I’m not going to lie to him about where I spend most of my day”

“I’m not talking about that” it was Jungkook’s turn to raise an eyebrow, making Sunny sigh.

“I haven’t told him about the kisses, if that’s even what they are, but he does know I have a love interest” She linked arms with him and started walking towards a trailer, she desperately wanted to get out of those clothes and go home “I’m scared if I talk too much about it it’s going to seem like I care too much about what’s going on”

“But if you don’t it might seem like you’re trying to hide something” Jungkook pointed out being led by her “If it were me I’d want to know. I would probably become petty though”

“Yeah, you would” Sunny smiled at his personality.

“What do you mean by those not being kisses by the way?”

“Oh. Fake kisses are so boring, like, lips aren’t even fully touching. Plus, the real feeling of-”

“That’s enough” He cut her off flustered “ I already know that I don’t know why I needed for you to say it. Please forget I even asked”

DAY 7

“So, that’s what has been going on” Sunny said to her phone. Pacing from one side to the other on the empty makeup trailer.

“Okay” She heard Sehun’s muffled laugh on the other side “I already know you would be doing stuff like that. It does worry me a little that something made you feel like you had to tell me this now”

“I had talked with Jinyoung about this and he told me it wasn’t a big deal, but Jungkook came yesterday and said it would be better if you were aware”

“Oh, so you asked your fake boyfriend what to do about your real boyfriend?” Sunny could feel him smirking through the phone and unconsciously rolled her eyes.

“This really isn’t going to become a problem right?” She stopped pacing and faced her brunette figure in the mirror.

“Trust me it isn’t. You’re going to give me double the kisses to make up though” Sunny smiled at his silliness “I have to go right now. I love you”

“I love you too” she blew a kiss and he hung up.

Leaving the trailer, she saw Jinyoung also walking towards the set she was going to. “Hey, settled everything with the boyfriend?” 

“Yeah, and he said he already expected it” Sunny started walking with him, the space between them enough to fit another person.

“I told you, you should have trusted Sunbae” Jinyoung smiled at her, using his nickname from the drama, and Sunny rolled her eyes once again.

“Keep talking like that, and I’ll have to start calling you Jaehyun” she spoke with a mischievous grin and it was his turn to roll his eyes.

“Aah Jisoo, your friendship means the world to me”

2 Months later

Sunny was laying on her bed while scrolling through social media and checking out people’s reviews on the latest episode when her notification bar rolled down showing a new message from Sehun 

“Come to my place, we need to talk”

(please don’t kill me, pt 2 will be coming soon)

[yyxgin]

i think the only person ive ever wanted to steal from was some lady on tiktok who ordered rare pc’s and showed tiktok and then just resold them at the same or more value. she showed a jungkook pc from a japanese release if i remember correctly and it cost her $400 and when she resold it she made profit?? like HELLO??? apparently that was what the pc collectors would call ‘a steal’ in regards to how much she paid for it.

oooh i just googled pepco apparently they own some big-ish stores here. it sounds p straight forward!! plenty of training videos i imagine 🥲 friends at work are always a good idea but apparently i have what my mother calls a ‘fuck off face’ and... she’s not wrong. not at all. it morphs into disgust easily when i garner unwanted attention. but it’s not intentional anymore i practiced for when i used to walk to school bc i hated people and the randos bc they’re so creepy when i’m clearly in uniform and underage ewwwww blergh 😫

i initially started writing how i do bc i used to love how fancy my nan’s writing looked so when she passed away and i was old enough to understand how to write in cursive i just did that. my r’s and i’s are dangerously similar but no one complains so :D

libra ☀️, leo 🌝, virgo ⬆️ !! i’m easily the flirtiest person ik and i don’t even do it on purpose it’s dangerous but there’s a boy who matches my flirt w flirt and it’s an ongoing joke so 😳😫😫 idm making decisions if it’s like,, just for me but when there’s more than one person involved i don’t like to step on toes or come off as if i haven’t considered others thoughts and feelings bc i had a day out w a girl and she said to me sumn about wanting to do something and said ‘so like 7pm, yeah?’ and i freaked out bc i was not comfortable getting the train home later than 5pm and she was just dragging me everywhere and i distinctly remember thinking never letting myself get in a situation like that again. she even brushed off my subtle comment about seeing a bookshop that looked old and that our other mutual friend would enjoy by saying ‘god no. you wouldn’t catch me dead in there.’ i died inside. i just wanted to look at books bruh 💔💔

shotaro is v cute!! gives me stray kids vibes tbh. all of stray kids are so precious to me. esp felix!! he’s just so 🥺🥺 HE MADE COOKIES!! FOR OTHER IDOLS!!!

don’t worry bestie! 🤩 we all have days like that. tbh i was v tired yesterday myself. my sleep is so restless nowadays too 🙃 and uh i’ve been doing training courses all day. it said 60 mins per course and they weren’t lying!! the other ones i’ve done before ive been able to push out in a couple of hours max but maybe bc i have actual time to dedicate to my job i have to do more courses since i’ll be there more often. anyway.

do you have plants? 🤔 ~🌻

A PC FOR  $400 ???? PEOPLE ARE INSANE THESE DAYS WHAT THE FUCK ITS LITERALLY JUST A PIECE OF PAPER W A MAN ON IT 😭😭😭 

pepco is awesome tho,, they have so much cheap useless stuff there i always leave all my money there </3 my boss said i’ll have a discount since i work there but i forgot how much it was ?? i think she said 11% or something ?? i honestly kind of zoned out during that part. i dont think i’m getting like training videos ?? we don’t quite do that here, they just show you around and tell you how stuff works around there and that’s it ?? i hope i do good i’m kind of stressed :DDD also people tell me i look really egoistic and like a bitch at first so i guess im just gonna smile nonstop or something so i make some new friends uhhh

your big three... im not really fluent in astrology lmao but libra sun leo moon sounds like a very sexc combo imo,, i am aries sun libra moon cancer rising (i think i said libra rising earlier ?? my mistake oopsies) so feel free to read me or something if you’re into that bc i just pretend i know shit about astrology all the time even tho i know nothing :(

also that friend you mentioned sounds like a real bitch,,,why didnt she let you look at old books :( meanie !! 

YES FELIX MADE COOKIES FOR OTHER IDOLS !! SWEETHEART !! I ALSO REMEMBER THAT HE SAID HE GAVE SOME TO CHENLE TELLING HIM TO SHARE W HIS MEMBERS BUT HE JUST ATE THEM BY HIMSELF LMAOOOOO 

i hope your training videos are over soon omg that sounds like such a pain in the ass. also i hope you get to sleep better soon :(( 

YES I DO i have uhhh 13 plants atm and the list is still growing. they are all alive and well and ive had them for like 2 years now so thats a record for me even tho i think one of my plants is currenlty dying and im really sad abt it i dont know how to fix it :( 

[purplesurveys]

1165

survey by xxbieberburnham

A - Accidents

Have you ever been in a car accident? Very minor ones that only caused small dents, and nothing that wrecked either car or put someone in the hospital entirely.

Do you have a lot of scars? I have some, not a lot.

Have you been in a fist fight with someone? Nope.

Have you ever seriously hurt someone by accident? I remember striking my ex in the face accidentally while we were horsing around. She was wearing glasses at the time so she ended up getting a cut in the area in between her eyes.

Have you ever had stitches? No and like I always say, I hope I’ll never need to get them.

B - Beauty

Would consider yourself beautiful? Not beautiful, but I will feel pretty on some days. Not always, though.

Are you self consicous of how you look? These days not so much, because I don’t even get to go out in the first place and there’s been little need to fix myself up most days unless I’ll get on a video call for work. I don’t get self-conscious around my family either.

Do you wear a lot of make up? I never wear makeup.

Would you ever consider getting plastic surgery? Nope. I considered having my breasts done when I was a teenager, but the thought literally never crosses my mind anymore.

What do you think makes a person beautiful? Physically, I think it differs per person. More than that, it’s the things they do when no one is looking.

C - Consequences

What is the longest you've been grounded for? Maybe around a year? Due to issues at home and, honestly, poor parental skills on my mom’s end, I ended up being a rebellious problem child and wasn’t the easiest to temper or raise.

What would you do if you became pregnant? Keep it and try to seek support from family and friends.

Do you ever think about how your actions affect people? Always a people pleaser, y’all. Of course I do.

What do you think is the worst punishment someone could give you? I guess anything that involves taking away basic essentials, like cutting off access to food and water.

What is one thing you wish you didn't do because it wasn't worth it? Stayed in a relationship that I knew was going to end at some point. She always made it clear she’d end it one day and I was just too afraid of confrontation to face it sooner (and too stubborn to handle the truth).

D - Dealing

When you're mad at someone how do you show it? Cold shoulder.

Name a time when you had to be strong. The week of my grandfather’s death, wake, and cremation was on the same week of my entrance examinations for several universities, including the two toughest ones. I had already been in the headspace to just focus on the exams and shut out everything else for the meantime then the death happened, so my life turned into a rollercoaster of emotions quickly. I ended up entertaining relatives and fervently going through my review modules at the wake.  

Have you ever dealt with divorce? Well I’ve never been married and I also live in a country where divorce is illegal, so no.

When people don't accept you, how do you react? It will definitely affect my self-esteem to an extent. I imagine being bothered by it.

Have you ever lost someone to death? Yes. Just yesterday I found out one of grand uncles did from Covid. We are very close with that side of the family, so I am still in shock and have yet to process it.

F - Family

Is there anyone in your family you don't talk to? I barely talk to one of my uncles and only do so when we greet each other at family gatherings. Still, I haven’t looked him in the eye for years now.

If you had to choose: friends or family? Probably my friends.

Do you have any siblings? Yes.

How often do you spend quality time with your family? Pretty regularly now with Covid still on the loose. We have dinner together every night, then after that we usually hang out in the living room doing our own thing. Also breakfast on weekends.

G - Growing

How tall are you? Do you wish you were taller or shorter? I’m around 5′1″. I’m fine with this height.

Do you think you've grown up in the past year? So much. I think my surveys show that too.

Do you think you're mature for your age or still childish? I want to say I’ve matured in some ways, but I don’t think I’m fully there yet. For one, I’m still scared to learn how to cook lol and I can’t even light up a match.

Are you scared to think that one day you'll turn 30, then 40 & 50? Sometimes I’ll get in those moods because it makes me realize how fast life is and how quickly people turn old. But I hate getting stressed and mulling over things I can’t control, so I also immediately return to the present and just enjoy where I am now.

Do you believe you still have a lot to learn? I’m barely in my mid-20s, so I know that for a fact.

H - Hope

Love - real or not? I want to say it’s still real. Some people just get lucky early, I guess.

Are you a pessimist or an optimist? Realist.

Do you believe in fate or that everything happens for a reason? I believe whatever things that happen are consequences of, or are at least linked to, what’s happened in the past – wherever that falls under.

Do you believe that after we die, your spirit is still alive? I don’t believe in spirits, so no.

What gives you hope when you just feel like dying? My next paycheck. Hahahaha

I - Idols

Who is your idol? I don’t have any.

What makes this person an idol to you?

Has this person done anything good to help other people?

Does this person have good style?

What does this person do for a living?

J - Jokes

Tell me an inside joke between you and your friends. “Packs a punch” is one of mine and Angela’s long-standing inside jokes. I think I’ve shared this story before, but basically in one lunch break in high school I was tasting this juice that one of our friends brought; I remarked that it “packs a punch” which no 16 year old Filipino student uses in a casual setting, so it quickly became a hit in our circle and now Angela brings it back semi-regularly to tease me.

Are you usually the person to make people laugh or the other way around? It’s mostly the other way around but occasionally I’ll be able to blurt out a joke that ends up working well.

Do you cry when you laugh hard? Haha yes. That’s the best kind of laugh.

Do you get in trouble for laughing or talking in class? Almost never. I hated causing trouble, and if I was ever called out in class it was always a classmate talking to me that I was just too shy to ask to keep quiet.

Are you good at making jokes? Depends on the person. I hold back if necessary.

K - Knowledge

The prupose of school: learn, hang with friends or cause trouble? Learn and gain new experiences, then gain friends.

Do people refer to you as dumb, smart or average? I dunno, you’ll have to ask them.

What kind of grades do you usually get? I mostly bummed around in high school just because I didn’t think grades from that early on in life wouldn’t matter in the long run, but I still did well enough to pass all my classes. I exerted a lot more effort in college since that’s when educational backgrounds start to matter, and got even better results from there.

What is your favorite subject to learn or talk about? History.

L - Love

Are you currently in love? Nope.

Do people around you show a lot of love? The people in my life who’ve chosen to stay, yes.

Is love worth it? Not always, but yes, mostly.

Do you hate it when people say "I love you" & they've been dating for a day? It might confuse me a bit since I personally don’t take that phrase lightly; but I wouldn’t be one to judge.

Does it take a lot for you to say you love someone or is it just a word? Like I said, it takes a lot for me to be able to say it. The two times I dated my ex she was always the one who ended up saying it first.

M - Money

Do you believe money makes the world go round? Yes, and that it can buy happiness.

How much money do you have on you now? I’ve been using paper money less and less frequently now, actually. I’m all cashless these days, so my wallet is literally all out of bills and the coins there are probably just piled-up centavos I’ll never use.

Are you saving up for anything? My birthday treat. I already somewhat failed lolol - I got BTS coffees, Ivy Park shoes, and four boxes of wings just this week, but I told myself I am no longer touching my bank account until it’s time to pre-order food for my birthday.

Would you rather win 1 million dollars or find true love? Give me the million dollars. 50 million pesos would last me like ten lifetimes.

On a scale 1-10, how important is money to you? 10.

N - Nothing to lose

Would you ever go on a game show? If it’s a game show I enjoy watching, like Jeopardy or Family Feud. I might not be interested  if it’s anything else I’m not too familiar with.

Do you play the lottery? Never.

Ever been to Las Vegas? Nope.

Have you ever made a bet and then lost? Nah, I don’t really make real bets; I just use the saying with my friends but we never follow through with real money.

Do you give your all in a relationship? To a fault.

O - Openess

How long does it take you to open up with someone? It depends on how long it takes for me to be comfortable with them...some people can seem standoffish, so I’d be wary about opening up about my life to them out of shyness and uncertainty if they’d be down for such a conversation. Then others can be rays of sunshine who are very easy to talk to.

What does it take for you to fully trust someone? If they’ve proven to be reliable in crises. I’ve always said I’m more of a follower than a leader, so if I see that someone’s capable of handling any sort of issue that I can’t find a way out of, I will find it a lot easier to start trusting them.

Do you trust people too easily? Probably.

Are you comfortable with everyone? Definitely not. I like keeping my circle small.

Do you tell your parents and friends everything? Just my friends.

P - Positive

Is your outlook on life positive or negative? I like to keep it positive but still grounded to reality at the end of the day. I don’t wanna drag myself down with my mindset, but I also don’t want to give myself exuberantly high expectations.

Have you ever had a moment with someone & it didn't end positively? I’ve had very few negative one-off experiences with some strangers, but yes, they’ve happened.

Do you agree with: best to have loved than never loved at all? As negative as my experience turned out to be, I still think it’s better to experience love. I grew up in a lot of ways and also learned new things about myself because I loved.

Do you see most things as negative or positive? Idk, depends on how they realistically look like.

Has anything bad happened but something good came from it? Yes.

Q - Questions

When faced with a problem, do you solve it on your own or ask for help? Ask for help.

Do you like to take quizzes? Maybe not quizzes but surveys.

If you could ask the president one question, what would it be? When he plans to stop being a disgusting misogynist pig. And also if he has an actual Covid response action plan because I am not seeing anything fucking moving in the last year.

When someone does something wrong do you ask them about it or let it go? Depends on how close I am with them, or how attached I am to the issue.

Do you own plaid shorts? Not shorts but skirt, since I had to wear a school uniform in my old school and our school skirt was plaid.

R - Respect

How do you show respect for someone? I talk nicely about them, even (and especially) behind their backs. I also refuse to act or talk like a superior around them.

What can someone do to lose respect for them? If their stances on politics and certain advocacies are questionable; if I see them treating any employee under any industry shittily; and if they excessively badmouth people behind their backs.

Do you respect your parents, teachers or authority? Yeah. I’m afraid of getting into trouble and being reprimanded, and I always like looking good in superiors’ eyes so I’ve always been a bit of a goody two shoes.

If you're disrespectful to your parents, whats your punishment? I’m 23, have a full-time job, and give them a portion of my salary twice a month so they know they can’t really do anything about it anymore lmao. I’ve definitely noticed they’ve cut back on sermons directed to me. The most that can happen these days is that I would get a mild scolding, but that’s it.

If someone is mean to you, are you mean back? Of course, but I do it very passive-aggressively. I want to make sure I get the last laugh.

S - School

If you're still in school, what grade will you be going into? Not in school anymore and no plans to apply for a postgraduate course any time soon.

When will you graduate high school/college? I graduated high school in 2016, college in 2020.

After high school, what do you plan on doing? I went straight to college, as is the common practice here.

Do you like or hate school? I honestly enjoyed it for the most part; the only thing I really had a problem with was the demanding schedule and workload – back in college, I frequently had classes at 7 or 8:30 AM (which required me to start driving by 5 or 6 AM) and then I had extracurricular activities that would end at 10 PM at the very latest; meaning I was usually in my university for 17 hours every weekday. 

The upside to all of this is that I got to attend my dream school and was surrounded with my close friends, so despite the taxing schedule I have little to no complaints about my college experience, even in retrospect.

Have you ever been expelled or suspended? Never.

T - Temptation

Have you ever done something wrong but inside it was okay? Sure, I’ve definitely had my sneaky moments. Some of them I felt guilty doing and decided I’d never repeat, like cheating on a test; some of them I felt like needed to be a part of my youth years to enjoy life a little bit more and so I was ok doing them, like skipping classes to go see my girlfriend at the time or hang out at a bar with friends.

Has anyone ever pressured you to smoke or drink? I never like using the word pressured because my friends were nothing but. They did invite me to try out drinking and smoking, but they never forced me to do anything I was uncomfortable with. My decisions were always mine to make at the end of the day.

Did you ever cheat on someone? Never.

Do you give into temptation easily or are you independent? I think I’m a good balance of it? like I will say I’m influenced easily, but I still have the self-restraint to refuse things I’m adamant about avoiding.

U - Unique

Do you do a lot of things because your friends are? That’s the case sometimes, but not for all.

Do you follow trends or do whatever you want? Again, I can be both. It’s nice to like things that can be my own thing, and it can also feel cool to follow trends because it’s easier to relate to others who are into the same things.

Do you give in easily to peer pressure? No.

What makes you different from people your age? I dunno if there is anything that sets me apart. You’d have to ask other people.

V - Value

What's the most expensive thing in your room? Right now, probably the laptop I was given by my employer for work. I never use it though because my laptop works just fine, and I’m already used to how my own laptop works like and feels like; I have little time to get accustomed to a new laptop, given how hectic my work schedule is. It’s also an older MacBook Pro model, so I don’t want to use it even more than it’s already been used by past employees. I had to sign some contract that basically tells me I have to pay for it if I ever do some damage to it, and the current value is a little above P50,000.

What's more valuable: your life or the ones around you? Others’. But I’m also slowly learning to value my own as well.

What's something you value? Not because it’s expensive but it means a lot? Handwritten letters and notes from friends. Ever since I got a corkboard for Christmas last year I’ve been saving up the ones I’ve received and putting them up on the board; I hope to one day fill it up.

If there was a fire in your house/apartment what would you grab? Kimi. Someone else in the family is in charge of Cooper.

Do you think the past or future is more valuable? I think the present is, actually.

W - Wishes

If you had three wishes, what would they be? A sushi platter, a box of macarons, and my bank account replenished hahaha.

Would you rather wish yourself to be happy or others? Again, others’.

Do you believe that wishes come true if you really believe? Sure, but you also have to do something about them if you really want them to come true. Things won’t always come your way.

Have you ever had a wish come true? Yes.

Do you find wishing on things to be a waste of time? Not really; it makes me feel hopeful and gives me a reason to keep doing the things I’m doing.

Y - You

Are you more independent or social? Social. I love being around people. But I also like recharging by myself.

What's something that makes you mad when you see it? Animal abuse, more than anything.

Do you have potential to do anything you want? I hope so.

Do you believe people are born a certain way? No.

What color are your eyes? Dark brown.

Z - Zest

Are you currently happy with your life? I could be doing more if the pandemic wasn’t around, to be honest. But given how much has happened and what I’ve been through, I’m still happy with what I have for now.

When change occurs, do you get scared? Yeah, I’m very resistant to change and I try to avoid or outright deny it as much as possible. I know it’s a problem point of mine that I have to fix.

Do you like to try new things or meet new people? Try new things, yes always. Meet new people, not all the time.

What is the most motivational thing on earth? Money.

Do you have a motto? Nope.

Last questions

Do you hate how the letters on the keyboard aren't in ABC order? No, I’ve long been used to the QWERTY order and never found myself complaining about it either at any point.

Do you drink water? ...What?

What did you have for breakfast? I skipped it today, but this morning I did have a box of these chocolate Korean snacks that was part of the ~care package~ she had sent over to my house last Thursday.

Do you like convertibles? They’re cool. I don’t need to have one of them, but they look nice.

Do you like the American or British way of spelling words? I don’t have a preference in the sense that I dislike one of these, but I tend to follow American spelling.

What colors are on your country's flag? Blue, red, white, and yellow.

Can you skateboard? Nope, I haven’t even tried getting on one.

Do you like long hair? Sure, but not too long.

Do you like Fiber One bars? I’ve never tried them but judging from the name I doubt they would be favorites of mine.

What does your sleeping bag look like? I never need to use a sleeping bag, so I don’t have one.

Do you like to save your results after a survey? Yep, which is why I opened a Tumblr for it.

Do you like Sour Patch Kids? Just some flavors. I leave the other ones because I find them too sour for my liking.

If you could have your own show, what would it be about? Fooooooooooood triiiiiiiiiiiiiiip.

Ever rode on a jet? Not yet.

[kanasmusings]

[Translation] QUELL - Believer Drama Track 3

Okay, I know that this has been translated on FB somewhere but a lot of people have asked me to continue so here it is~ I’ll be sharing all the audio in one folder in the masterpost when I reblog it ^^ 

Track 3: [東京へ] “To Tokyo”

※ Please don’t re-post the English translations without permission.

Under the cut, enjoy~

Track 3: [東京へ] “To Tokyo”

(footsteps)

SHU: Alright.

ICHIRU: (snoring)

SHU: (sits down on the bed beside Ichiru and pats him) He’s sleeping so well. It’s almost morning but I should let him sleep until he wakes up on his own.

ISSEI: I’m sorry…

SHU: Don’t worry about it. It’s normal to get sleepy after eating a lot.

ISSEI: When Ichiru wakes up, we’re going back to the institution.

SHU: (sighs) Do you think Ichiru would be okay with that?

ISSEI: I’ll make him be okay with it. Up until now, that institution was what raised us. They gave us work so we can’t cause them trouble.

ISSEI: I know that Ichiru’s aware of that, too. Plus, he only got involved in an incident about me. There’s no need for him to quit.

SHU: You two really get along well, huh? I’m a little jealous.

ISSEI: You don’t have siblings?

SHU: Probably.

ISSEI: “Probably?”

SHU: My mom never married. And she died when I was six years old. I don’t know who my father is.

ISSEI: That… Is that written on your public profile?

SHU: Ah, um, no it isn’t. I don’t really mind talking about it but the agency’s probably worried about my image so they didn’t make it public.

SHU: Are you interested in the entertainment industry, Issei?

ISSEI: Not really… But, even if I wasn’t interested, anyone would recognize your face.

SHU: Though Ichiru looks like he hasn’t noticed yet.

ISSEI: That’s… A lot has happened and he probably didn’t think that an idol would be walking around those parts.

ISSEI: Actually, Ichiru’s very knowledgeable about stuff like that…

SHU: It’s true. It’s not easily noticeable in a crowded area like that. Normally, I wouldn’t go there in private, too.

SHU: Compared to overseas paparazzi, Japan’s press is comparatively small.

ISSEI: Even so… Someone famous like you took us in and even brought us to a hotel you’re staying in…

ISSEI: Would that be okay…? Though I don’t think I’m in any position to ask…

SHU: Now that you mention it, it does seem a little inappropriate.

ISSEI: Is this… Are you just killing time or doing this on a whim?

SHU: No, I’m not. I told you, right? I couldn’t leave you alone. That’s all there is to it.

SHU: I guess you could call it an adult’s responsibility. If a child’s being troubled, we’re here to help. It’s an obvious thing, isn’t it?

ISSEI: Obvious…?

ISSEI: If that’s always the case then that would be great…

SHU: Plus, after seeing your closeness to each other, I couldn’t leave you alone.

SHU: I can tell that you two are tied with a strong bond. Is that normal between twins? I’m a little jealous.

ISSEI: It’s strange for someone like you who can afford to stay in a hotel like this to say that you’re jealous of us…

ISSEI: Bonds can’t fill empty stomachs and you can’t live on it alone.

SHU: I see. To me, it looks like what you are to Ichiru and what Ichiru is to you is enough for a reason to live.

ISSEI: That’s… That’s because we have nothing else… If we’re going to have to live then at least it’s good to have a reason to.

ISSEI: That’s what I think.

SHU: That may be so. But, sacrificing everything you have isn’t ideal.

SHU: To me, being able to be born with something that you’ll treasure all your life is an undeniable luxury.

SHU: Even if you sacrifice blood or money, it’s not something that everyone can get their hands on. It’s definitely got value, you know?

ISSEI: You say such romantic things, don’t you? As expected from a celebrity…

SHU: Ah… That’s right. There’s one more.

ISSEI: One more?

SHU: Another reason why I took you in. I just remembered it.

SHU: I’m… I’m a little lost now, too. I have nowhere to return to.

SHU: “Sympathy”, it’s compassion.

ISSEI: You’re… lost…?

ISSEI: … I don’t understand.

SHU: (chuckles) I can understand why. Anyway, it would be better if you rested a little bit more.

SHU: Would it be alright if you took a shower after you woke up? You sweated quite a bit a while ago so at least change clothes for now.

ISSEI: Yes…

SHU: I’ll take your clothes to get cleaned. It should be back here by noon.

ISSEI: We’ll definitely pay you back for this kindness.

SHU: There’s no need. I did this on my own decision after all.

ISSEI: I don’t like leaving favors unreturned… Me and Ichiru both…

SHU: You’re very honest, aren’t you? (Shu stands up) Then, I’ll be looking forward to that.

ISSEI: … Where are you going…?

SHU: You’d feel uncomfortable if I’m here if you’re sleeping, won’t you? There’s another room inside the room where Ichiru’s sleeping. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call.

ISSEI: Isn’t this room a little bit too big…?

SHU: I thought so too at first but it turned out really well, huh? Alright then, good night.

(Shu leaves and closes the door behind him)

ISSEI: … He’s such a strange person.

(Issei sits down on the bed)

ISSEI: Izumi Shu, huh…

(Shu speaking on the phone)

SHU: Thank you for your hard work. I’m so sorry for calling this late.

SHU: What happened to the drinking party?

SHU: If that’s so then you have some free time, don’t you? There’s something I would like you to please look up.

SHU: I would like to rely on someone local so…

ICHIRU: (stretches and yawns) I slept a lot… The futon’s so fluffly~…

ICHIRU: What’s this place…? Is it heaven…?

ICHIRU: Ah, that’s right! Issei! (Ichiru gets up and starts running) Issei!

ICHIRU: Issei, Issei!

ISSEI: Hm…

ICHIRU: (sighs from relief) Your fever’s gone down… That’s great.

SHU: Good morning, Ichiru.

ICHIRU: Hello…

SHU: Is Issei still sleeping?

ICHIRU: He’s always been bad at waking up in the mornings so…

SHU: Well, I’d figure that he’s still a little tired after recovering from sickness. Let’s let him sleep for a while.

ICHIRU: …

ICHIRU: You… What are you planning?

SHU: Hm?

ICHIRU: I mean, it’s suspicious no matter how you look at it, isn’t it?

ICHIRU: Doing all this when we’re simply strangers to you… And um… Uh… Showing us all this kindness…

SHU: Issei told me the same thing. He asked me if I’m just killing time or if it’s just my whim.

ICHIRU: Do you have a lot of free time or something?

SHU: I wonder. I don’t know about the future but for now I’m very busy is what I think.

ICHIRU: And you’re rich, right…? I mean, you’re staying in this kind of room after all.

SHU: Well, I won’t disagree.

ICHIRU: Don’t tell me… You’re yakuza or something…?

SHU: (laughs)

ICHIRU: What?!

SHU: (laughs) No, I’m sorry. It’s true that it’s easy to be mistaken for yakuza under these circumstances.

ICHIRU: Don’t tell me… A-are you p-planning on selling us…?!

SHU: Selling… Ah, I see. (in a teasing voice) There’s that method, too~

ICHIRU: (panicking) Hey, wake up, Issei!

ICHIRU: Issei, wake up, I tell you!

ISSEI: What…?

ICHIRU: We’re running away!

ISSEI: Where…?

ICHIRU: I don’t care where! This guy’s dangerous!

ISSEI: Dangerous…?

ICHIRU: Come on, just wake up!

SHU: (laughs) I’m just joking. Don’t be in such a panic.

ICHIRU: Stay away from Issei! If you’re gonna sell someone then just sell me!

ISSEI: Sell…? What are you talking about?

SHU: Good morning, Issei.

ISSEI: (sleepily) Good morning…

ICHIRU: This isn’t the time for casual greetings!

SHU: Which would you prefer for breakfast? Omelets or scrambled eggs?

ISSEI: … Scrambled eggs…

ICHIRU: ISSEI!!

SHU: Got it. Would that be alright with you too, Ichiru?

ICHIRU: I won’t be lured in by food again!

SHU: Your clothes have come back from the laundry service. When you’re done eating, we’ll be on our way.

ISSEI: On our way…? Where?

SHU: To Tokyo.

ISSEI: Tokyo?

ICHIRU: We’re gonna be sold…!

SHU: I asked someone to talk to the institution where you work for you to quit smoothly.

ICHIRU: Hah…?

SHU: I contacted them, too. It seems like they were worried and felt relieved after hearing what happened.

SHU: They didn’t seem all bad to me.

ISSEI: Eh…?

SHU: You two, would you please come to Tokyo with me?

ISSEI: I don’t understand…

SHU: I know of a good job. Something that would provide you with meals and a place to stay, too.

SHU: I think it’s quite a good deal, don’t you?

ISSEI/ICHIRU: Huh…?

 ==END==

[clownmoontoon]

I'm interested in watching Osomatsu-san, but I have a few questions, if that's ok. 1. Sub or dub? 2. How do I know who's who? I already know some of the easy ones, thanks to you. Thank you in advance! (P.s. Thanks for telling me about BNHA!)

ITS A REALLY GREAT ANIME AND IT HAS SOME OF THE BEST CHARACTER WRITING I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT IS ABSOLUTELY ONE OF MY TOP FAVE ANIMES EVER

HOWEVER

idk how old you are (or the age of anyone possibly reading this) so i feel i should say Osomatsu-san has a lot of mature themes and is CLEARLY meant for a more mature audience of the adult/college age/MAYBE later teen variety

all the main and most important side characters in the show are at least in their 20′s.

im not recommending this show to kids is what im saying haha

its nowhere near as wholesome as hero aca

ANYWAY ONTO YOUR QUESTIONS

1. Sub or Dub?

as of right now there is no dub Viz Media, who most recently did the redub of sailor moon (AND ITS FANTASTIC BTW SO IT GIVES ME HIGH HOPES FOR MATSUS), had sent out a tweet saying that the dub was going to be released some time in October of this year but …nothing happened?? my buddy @arr-jim-lad even contacted them about it, and they responded that there were no updates to mention. ://///SO right now sub is all we got haha

ITS REALLY GOOD THO SO ITS NOT LIKE A NEGATIVE OR ANYTHING BC THESE VOICE ACTORS ARE AMAZINGdef my fave voice actors of any sub ive watched (and ive watched quite a few)

2. How do I know who’s who? I already know some of the easy ones, thanks to you.

one of my fave aspects of this show is that after a few eps, despite them all having the same face, it becomes VERY EASY to tell them apart haha this is part of why the character writing is so strong imo!

but here’s a few tips and tricks to look for just in case you cant tell right away!

🌈COLORS!!!🌈

❤️Osomatsu -  the eldest of the sextuplets and the show’s namesake - RED

💙Karamatsu - 2nd eldest - BLUE

💚Choromatsu - 3rd eldest - GREEN

💜Ichimatsu - 4th brother - PURPLE

💛Jyushimatsu - 5th brother - YELLOW

💖Todomatsu - 6th and youngest brother - PINK

the easiest thing to get the hang of first when it comes to noticing the matsus is def their designated colors! Even when theyre not in their trademark hoodies they can usually be seen wearing their colors somewhere on themselves so if you cant tell who’s who right away LOOK FOR THE COLORS!!

if theyre all wearing matching outfits you can look at their hair shinies bc they’ll usually be their color when nothing else is! (tho those are a bit more subtle in coloring bc ..well..shinies haha)

😄EXPRESSIONS and QUIRKS😎

each of the bros has a standard neutral expression, and some of them have fun quirks that make it very easy to tell who’s who! lets start backwards this time \(ouo)/ (mostly bc from the start the youngest bros are def easiest to recognize…besides karamatsu ofc)

this got quite long so check under the cut for all the bro details and fun collages i made for each bro bc i love this show too much! \(>u

💖Todomatsu (pinky boi)💖

he’s the designated “cute” boy, and the worst/best self-centered millennial stereotype. actually a total mean girl in disguise, and (according to his bros) a “vile monster”. i love him and he’s a cute demon. not the worst bro but pretty darn close.

neutral expression: :3voice: highest pitch of the bros and often whiny quirks: - can usually be seen w his smartphone - acts the most feminine (covers his chest if naked or topless)- always has eye shinies - two hairs sticking out on the top of his head - calls all his bros “niisan” since he’s the youngest

next up MY BOOOYYYYY

💛Jyushimatsu (YELLOW SUNSHINE LIGHT OF MY LIFE)💛

the hyper-active, forever smiling, incredibly powerful, baseball boy! if something weird and crazy is going on jyushimatsu is either directly involved or about to be. he’s always laughing, smiling and making weird jokes/noises. a very sweet boy who is entirely too powerful. He often dresses as animals, and is used as an “attack dog” to torture whichever brother he’s commanded to (usually oso). A very unpredictable boy to say the least. Its hard to imagine an ooc version of him bc there isnt much he would not do or say.HE IS MY FAVE BEST SUNSHINE BOY

neutral expression: 8Dvoice: lowest pitch of the bros but also the loudest, often making weird/nonsensical sounds/noises such as: BBBBOEHBA!! 8Dquirks: - often goes cross eyed - is incredibly strong, can lift and throw his adult brothers like nbd - never has eye shinies in the anime unless he’s about to cry - wears shorts when everyone else is wearing pants, also some times wears a traffic cone on his head- wiggly arms and sleeves too long (even when its not the hoodie, usually his sleeves are always too long haha)- only one hair sticking out on the top of his head

((MANY THANKS TO @arr-jim-lad​ FOR THE TILTED PIC IDEA ITS ADORABLE))

next up my second fave, NEKOMATSU

💜Ichimatsu (purple cat man)💜

the designated darkmatsu, ichi is the slow moving, constantly slouching, quietest boy who thinks cats are way better than people. the least motivated matsu, even going out to do fun things (like drinking or gambling) is some times too much trouble. for him a good time is laying on the floor and thinking about death (and also cats). a fan of torture, if the situation calls for causing trauma he’s suddenly very talkative and plays w his voice a lot. he is the second brother (after my boy jyushi) that is often called upon when one of the other brothers (or anyone) needs to be tortured. i love this boy and he is good to my fave boy god bless suujimatsu

neutral expression: B(voice: usually very low, slow and monotone quirks: - eyes always half lidded, no shinies - always slouched- messy hair (some times w cat ears)- only bro to wear track pants (w the line on the side)- has a diff cat in his lap almost every ep, but does not actually own one- two hairs sticking out on the top of his head

up next everyone’s fave otaku,

💚Choromatsu (green frog weeb man)💚

the resident brother mom and a total idol otaku, choromatsu isnt concerned w much else besides his idol obsession and proving he’s way more responsible than his brothers. he often walks todomatsu to the bathroom at night and waits for him to finish since youngest bro is scared of the dark (reminder theyre both grown men in their 20′s). he thinks he’s better suited to be the oldest brother and leader rather than osomatsu and even points it out once, with agreements from both todomatsu and ichimatsu.if anything crazy happens choro is the first to scream about it not being ok. he’s got the strongest will of all the brothers and can never be persuaded to change his mind about a situation. he’s not a fighter at all and usually chooses to stay on the sidelines even if he agrees w whatever the bros are fighting about (killing god for instance).he’s under constant stress bc he’s pretending to do his best while his brothers are terrible i love him give this poor green man a vacation

neutral expression: :voice: higher pitched, not as high as todo but still higher among the bros, and usually using it to yell @ brosquirks: - smallest pupils, no shinies (in the anime)- usually has a worried expression- wears plaid a lot- is irritated almost all the time - wont look for a job bc he’s determined to be an idol manager- no hairs sticking out on top of his head

AND NEXT MY THIRD FAVE AND EASILY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MATSU

💙 KARAMATSU 💙

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL MAN, THIS PAINFUL ADONIS OF MATSUS!! IS THAT A GLITTER CROP TOP THAT DOESNT COVER THE CHEST?? IT SURE IS!! ARE THOSE JEAN BOOTY SHORTS?? YOURE DAMN RIGHT THEY ARE!!!

karamatsu is EASILY the most recognizable matsu. w those amazing eyebrows, constant use and abuse of anime eyes, wild variety of glittery, revealing, and leather clothing its no wonder he’s called painful oh my god i love this man DID I MENTION HE SPEAKS RANDOM ENGLISH FOR NO REASON AND ITS GREATalso he’s probably the most caring brother who genuinely wants his brothers to be happy and know theyre loved very much by him ;;

if you cant immediately spot this matsu i dont know what to say to you tbqh

neutral expression: >:Dvoice: he makes his voice deep to sound cool p much all the time but its actually higher pitched than it seems quirks: - wears sunglasses, skulls, a leather jacket, sparkly everything, and p much anything he thinks is “cool”- easily the most expressive matsu just look for those eyebrows haha- puts his finger under his chin a lot - “BURAZAHS” - "heh!”- two hairs sticking out on the top of his head

and now on to the final, the oldest, and arguably the worst matsu

💔Osomatsu💔

THERE HE IS!!!! THE TRASH KING BROTHER!!!!i kid, i kid sort ofimplying that the matsus are not all trash boys is just a joke tbqhfor me osomatsu was absolutely the hardest bro to recognize when i first watched the show, and i think the biggest tip i can give for him is just to look for the red boy scratching under his nose. also the boy who looks like he would buy and sell you. he’s a pretty brilliant con man and a good fighter too, but his laziness outweighs anything that he could possibly achieve in. he’s absolute trash but in a way still lovable?? OH ACTUALLY if youre familiar w the anime Lupin the Third just look for the brother that makes the most Lupin-esque faces he’s got that classic-anime-comedy-male-lead look more than any of the other bros so that might help you recognize him!

could literally be lupin’s little bro haha

neutral expression: its like a stretched version of this :3 w teeth showingvoice: higher pitched, he plays w his voice almost as much as jyushimatsu, very playful and teasing, hardly ever serious sounding quirks: - scratching under his noise- obsessed w money and women (and never has either)- the most addicted to gambling of all the bros (this is sounding less like quirks and more like serious problems omg), favors horse races and pachinko- the “leader”, usually the one telling the others what to do (even if they rarely listen)- calls no one “niisan” since he’s the oldest - two hairs sticking out on top of his head

WOW THIS CAME OUT MUCH LONGER THAN I MEANT IT TO!! if im not careful people might think i love these trash neets or smth oh no

but ye! i hope this helps! or was at least an entertaining read haha❤️💙💚💜💛💖

[chanzicoup]

A/N: I’ll probably get a request to do Ravi as well so I’ll just make one for both him and N. totally not because i am a total piece of garbage for daddy!vixx I got this template from tenseoyong and I could not find the original creator to give proper credit to.

A = Announcement.- How do you tell him and the world that you’re expecting?

You had been feeling a bit under the weather lately and N would be concerned and make you take time off of work to get rest. When you started vomiting every morning his worries over came him and he took you to a doctor. That was where you found out you and him were 2 months pregnant! He'd be in shock but he's still very proud. He'd keep things simple and tell Starlights over social media or through an interview, but for people close to him and you he'd prefer to tell them in person.

B = Books.- Did he read the books?

Since N is pretty good at taking care of VIXX and of his many nieces and nephews he probably wouldn't need the books.

C = Cuddles.- Who cuddles the baby more?

N would hog the baby 24/7. Even when he's at work and you visited to drop something off he'd kiss your cheek and the baby is in his arms??? Even if it's for a minute he'd be happy.

D = Daddy.- His reaction to being called Daddy and it setting in.

When he told the fans about you and him becoming parents he was afraid they'd be upset you didn't tell them at the beginning even though you guys found out later on as well, but when he got good reactions and encouragement he would feel relieved and would make every VIXX TV somehow related to the baby that was soon to come.

E = Empty.- Who goes to the store when you guys run out of supplies?

Both you and him are busy so most likely neither of you would have the time to go to the store so N would probably make Leo do it, since he is the Vixx Uncle who is the most soft for the baby. Like if Leo was originally going to say no N would guilt him into doing it because the baby needs his Uncle Leo.

F = Feeding time- Who does feeding time?

N would encourage hard foods too early and give hot milk to the baby by mistake so you'd probably have to do it most of the time.

G = Grumpy baby. - Who is better at dealing with a grumpy baby?

N can't seem to get a break because after all day being teased by his band members his grumpy baby only gets worse when he tries making faces and silly noises. When you come in with the baby's favorite toy and blanket they stop crying and are back to normal. N isn't salty at all.

H = How?- how many kids does he want?

He comes from a big family with not only his older siblings but their children as well so N would want quite a few of his own as well. To my knowledge most of his siblings have sat least 2 children so N would want four or five to have a full house. But he'd want to wait a few years in between so that the older kids can help out with the younger ones.

Jokes.- best dad joke?

"I would tell a joke about Pizza but it's a bit cheesy."

K = Kisses.- His favorite place to kiss the baby.

He's really affectionate and while N would be the one to not have one spot that he kisses he'd probably kiss the baby's face more because it's always out there and not covered by anything.

L = Little.- How he feels when he holds the baby for the first time.

N would literally be bouncing in his spot from enthusiasm. After months and months of waiting the baby was finally here! You'd be in the hospital bed still and N would be roaming around the room flying the baby like an airplane.

"Honey slow down! They were just born!"

"But we're having fun!"

M = Mommy.- what does he call you?

When in the presence or the baby he and you will some how start talking in the third person but when there are the few moments you two have together he'll be cringy and call you "sweetheart" or something.

N = Nappies.- who deals with the really bad diapers?

He'd have the most experience with babies and if you're the one doing feeding time he's doing diapers.

O = Onesies- Who likes to dress the baby in ridiculous outfits?

N has a pretty keen sense of style but when he tries to put your son or daughter in a jean jacket during the summer time you'll have to draw the line.

P = Pet names- names he calls the baby.

He'd probably call them their name tbh. It will be the VIXX members who are the ones that have their own unique nicknames for their leader's kid.

Q = Questions.- How many questions does he ask the nurse?

He wouldn't need to ask any really. If there's something that pops into his head that goes off of what the nurse said then he'll ask but honestly he kind of knew the answer but just wanted to be sure.

R = Rely- what is the biggest thing you rely on each other for?

You guys share the hardships of parenthood and all of the tasks that go along with it but every so often you both need a break. You'd two rely on each other to take care of the baby when you take a "mental health day" because those do exist @schoolsandparents

S = Sleep duty. - who gets up when it’s really late at night?

N is super caring and would put your health before his own any day so he'll do most of the night time feedings and diaper checks. You'll have to make him lay back down when he's already gotten up about five or six times.

T = Trepidation.- fears as a new parent.

He'd be scared he wouldn't be able to handle being both an idol and a father. As much as he wants to be involved he knows that one day he'll have a big concert on the same day as an event your child is participating in. He just doesn't want to miss anything his child does especially if it's something they worked hard on.

U = Ultra sounds.- His reactions to the ultrasounds.

You guys got an ultrasound at three months into the pregnancy and since you found out about the baby at two months it would be so quick to N, like is this how it'll be at the next two ultrasounds? Will time just fly by so quickly neither of you can enjoy it? None the less he'll like going to these appointment for support and to check in on the baby but he'll probably put all of the pictures in a scrapbook so you two can enjoy it again in the future.

V = Values.- what is the most important value he wants to teach your child.

He'd want his child to know that they can't let people who will talk them down get in their way of doing great things. N's son or daughter may inherit his dark skin and shortish height (they are both gorgeous qualities about N fight me) but he wants their child to remember that whatever is on the inside is what is most important.

W = Water.- Who gives the babe the baths?

N would want the both of you to do it because play time can be brought into bath time. Also N would like the extra airs of eyes watching the baby when he turns his back to grab a towel.

X = X-mas- what do you guys plan for the holidays?

You know how Jellyfish Ent. does those Christmas videos? Yeah well aside from spending time with family N would want you, the baby, and him to do one of those photo shoot videos too. You get pictures done and a video for the fans, win-win!

Y = Yelling.- How many fights do the two of you get in?

Since N nags a lot i could see you guys getting into fights pretty often but they are never too serious. Literally five minutes after one of you storm off you act like nothing has even happened and the whole argument was forgotten.

Z = Zoo- How crazy is the house after the birth?

He is good at housekeeping so I can tell that the house is normally clean, at least the parts that guests would see like the living room, bathroom, and kitchen. But the other parts of the houses i.e bedrooms and closets are atrocious.

~Blake

[fly-pow-bye]

Powerpuff Girls 2016 - Home, Sweet Homesick

Written by: Haley Mancini, Jake Goldman

Written and Storyboarded by: Alicia Chan

Directed by: Nick Jennings, Bob Boyle

I'd make a joke about how I'm sick of something here, but I don't think it would fit.

This episode starts with a bad guy committing a crime, and the Powerpuff Girls coming in to save the day. Seems like an ordinary Powerpuff Girls episode if such a beginning wasn't so rare in this reboot. In this case, it's Reboot Jojo robbing the bank on his hover-scooter, causing some property damage along the way.

Of course, the Powerpuff Girls come in and beat him up. Surprisingly, not only does this scene exist, not only does it not have any hit flashes, but he's lying in a bruised state in the end of it! Sure, some of the hits look like Jojo is selling it too early, but baby steps.

The Professor smoothly drives his car where this carnage is taking place, and tells the girls it’s almost time for a two week stay at Camp Big Dipper. Buttercup shrugs, calling it a nerd camp. The nerdy little red smart person that apparently isn't as good at coding or math than her sisters, on the other hand, is super excited! To her, it's going to be a huge academic institution, with all of the greatest minds of tomorrow! Maybe there's even going to be some pop quizzes!

They do this entire conversation while they’re still punching Reboot Jojo to the ground, his body a lightly bruised mess. Reboot Jojo doesn’t seem to mind too much; it's just a normal day for him. He even takes the time to call the camp a "super nerd camp" after Blossom explains what it is. This doesn’t end well for him, as I'm sure she'll call him a bad monkey.

Or she could break his hand, complete with a bone cracking sound! This whole scene seems to exist only to show that, indeed, this is a show about kindergarten first grader school-without-grader superheroines who fight crime. The rest of the episode doesn't really do that, and with all the Monster Punch Girls Down and Superheroine In Distress situations, that's not necessary bad.

After Blossom makes Rorschach proud, and a terrible impression of an opera singer singing "SPACE CAMP", the Professor and the Puffs arrive at Camp Big Dipper. The Professor won't be going with them, much to the chagrin of Bubbles, who practically turns into a demon demanding he'd come with them. They throw away this joke pretty much immediately, for this episode’s benefit, as Buttercup carries Bubbles out of the scene. The Professor tells the girls that they can call or text him any time.

While Bubbles is still sad from the previous scene and has to be carried by a bored Buttercup who thinks this is all "lame", Blossom can’t wait to check out everything in this space camp! She hopes it's going to be full of learning and advanced rocket science, inspired by her idol of the week, Dr. Wendy Q. Dallen. Last name and a middle initial. I don't know if she's supposed to be a reference to anything.

Unfortunately for Blossom, and only Blossom, the attractions are all fun fare for the kiddies: a jumpy house with a moon theme, a bumper car ride where the cars are shaped like Mars rovers, and a petting zoo with animals that are made to look like aliens. There's even an attraction that just involves a guy in a spacesuit with a sign that says "kick the moon man". The show itself takes it time to point out how rediculous this is.

Bubbles and Buttercup immediately start liking camp now that it's not as much of a nerd camp as Blossom made it out to be. Blossom isn't liking it, and wants to talk to the camp director about how everyone is goofing off.

Camp Director Joey: Did someone say GOOFING OFF?!

Because the show hasn't established enough that this space camp is lame to Blossom, we get Joey, a jokey camp director voiced by Robbie "Cousin Oliver" Rist. At least, I think; the credits only credit him as an additional voice, but they don't say who voiced him. He looks like a cross between David Bowie and Donny the Hell-Horn. More like the latter than the former. Outside of one scene in particular, when this guy is on screen, you want him off. Even Bubbles and Buttercup realizes this eventually, so it's probably intentional.

Blossom literally gets thrown into the audience of a laser light show with this guy talking about how everyone is ready to have lots of moon fun! The reboot goes out of its way to do the most predictable joke they can do with that, though sparing us the actual butt. Blossom booes him asking for real science, and Joey outright asks who's booing him. Bubbles and Buttercup try to save face by saying she meant boo-yah. Yeah, I'm sure that's what I mean when I boo this show.

At night, we see Blossom sitting on the porch of the cabin they're going to stay in, sad that everyone is having fun but she'd rather not have fun. She decides to text the Professor about how everyone is having fun but she'd rather not have fun. Unfortunately, there's no good cell phone reception at the camp, ruining both of Professor Utonium's suggestions.

A week passes by, and Blossom has done nothing but read her Dr. Wendy Q. Dallen book. They really put a lot of importance on that name, because she's the reason why Blossom looked forward to this place. It's not another co-worker insert as far as I can tell, which is a shock. Bubbles and Buttercup show up with glitter crafts and garbage crafts, respectively, and Buttercup tells Blossom that she should just have fun.

Camp Director Joey: Did someone say FUN?!

Did someone say running gag? He talks about a big carnival, but Blossom is not interested. That sounds like too much fun. She wonders why Dr. Wendy Q. Dallen would even want to be associated with this place with its fun and games.

Blossom wanders around to find a locked road to an abandoned rocket museum. She opens the doors, and she finally finds things that she's interested in: models of rockets! She even finds a life-size scale Apollo rocket model. She can go inside it like a real rocket! It even has all the buttons like a real rocket! It's just like a real rocket!

Blossom decides, in this lifelike simulation, to press the buttons to launch a rocket. Blossom even outright talks to herself about how she read about Apollo rockets, so people don't need to ask how a 6 year old knows how to launch one.

It turns out, this isn't a fake rocket, it's an actual rocket donated by NASA. She is instantly strapped in, and gets to experience 3gs of force as the rocket escapes the Earth's atmosphere. I guess nobody was really interested in that rocket museum. One would think someone would say "what does this button dooo?" and cause the camp to get sued for launching someone's kid into space.

The other kids see this rocket launch, and just see it as something cool. They even get the parts of the rocket that fall off raining on them later in the episode, and nobody wanted to investigate.

Blossom initally loves seeing the sights of space, until seconds later, when she realizes it's just so lonely out there.

She looks out the window of the rocket, and she starts hallucinating a Space Joey. Just like in that classic movie, RocketMan, Blossom is clearly going nuts from the isolation. Soon, she'll be making paintings using the ketchup and mustard on the ceiling. Nah, I'm just kidding.

Being the David Bowie-like person that he is, Space Joey starts to sing a song. Of course, it's a parody of the David Bowie's Space Oddity, right down to starting with "can you hear me, Captain Bloss?" To be honest...it's really good. I am not kidding, this is one of the few legitimately good moments this show has brought me.

We have scenes of Blossom slowly flying around in the lonely rocket. We have some good singing from Space Joey; it helps that Robbie Rist is also a musician. We even have Space Bubbles and Space Buttercup show up to tell her the fun they're having back on Earth. Hopefully this reboot can give us more of this in the future.

The screen shows an old video, not triggered by anything but plot convienence, showing Dr. Wendy Q. Dallen at the same space camp in her younger years. Blossom sees that it's always been a fun camp, and that it inspired her to further her advancements in astronomy. This reinterates the message of this episode: there's a time for learning, and a time for fun. This is actually the same lesson Painbow had, and this episode can't be further in both content and quality.

With the song and video, Blossom finally realizes the lesson of the episodes, and decides to go home. She flies the rocket back to Earth.

Blossom is reunited, who reveal that they missed her so much, they read her Dr. Wendy Q. Dallen book. Joey shows up again, apparently not worried at all that a kid just wandered into an abandoned place and went into a rocket that just flew into space. It's a good thing she was able to survive in a vaccuum, even if she never needed that ability! Buttercup tells him not to ruin the moment.

The episode ends with a pan to the stars, with some shooting stars. Hopefully they're wishing there's no monster attacks while they're at camp. Considering how rare that seems to be, it's likely they don't need to make those wishes. Maybe they should wish for more episodes like this.

Does the title fit?

Not really. Bubbles is initially homesick because the Professor isn’t coming with her, but that’s as close as that title gets. Blossom is more sick of the camp not being as “scientifically accurate” as she thought it was. There was a moment where Blossom looked at a picture of the Professor and her with sad eyes, but that’s as close as we get.

The TV Guide description is a flat out lie, too; Blossom never worries about her schoolwork in this episode.

How does it stack up?

This episode has an actual good song number, and a good use of a lesson that was done extremely poorly before.

The only issue is that it's not really a episode that requires superheroes. As said before, it's not a big issue. A lot of the worst aspects about this reboot revolves around the show's premise. The one scene that does follow that premise is practically unneeded in the episode, but may have been needed when it comes to the reboot as a whole.

I was originally going to give up on this series after the Season 1 finale, but I decided to keep going. I decided to keep going because, well, it wasn’t right to stop at People Pleaser. There’s two kinds of episodes that don’t make me regret that decision: awesomely bad episodes like Snow Month that give me lots of material to work with, and episodes that are surprisingly decent. Yes, they exist, and this is one of them.

Next week, the show will take a look back to the past...and probably not learn anything.

← Buttercup vs. Math ☆ Memory Lane of Pain →

[purple-possibilities]

11 More Questions

First mate @letliv3 tagged me back, so here I am again with TMI. This got really long, so buckle up lovelies!

1. What is your favorite movie soundtrack and why?

I have two movie soundtracks on my phone. One is the soundtrack for Sweeney Todd (the one with Johnny Depp—is that how you spell his name? Idc) which I love because the lyrics are clever and I have been a member of many choirs in my life and we’ve sang this musical. The other is for Sucker Punch, the movie with the girl in a school girl outfit and a katana, because there are awesome covers of amazing songs, and they’re so relaxing omg. But other than those, I don’t really pay attention to movie soundtracks. But wait, hang on! When Batman Forever (I think? One of the Batmans from the 90s) came out, my brother, who was is obsessed with Batman bought it, and we used to listen to it all the time. So for nostalgia sake, that one. Kiss From a Rose is like, the greatest song (we never really listened past that track lol!)

2. What is your favorite smell and why?

I like French Lavender because it just smells nice, but the best smell is a mixture of freshly cut wood and sawdust, metal and tools, the dark green Polo cologne, fresh, crisp spring air and a hint of cigarette smoke. That’s how my dad used to smell when I was a child. He doesn’t smell like that anymore. A few years ago, when I was walking under a construction site, I got a whiff of it. From what seemed like a dream I was slammed with childhood emotions, memories of love and safety, bike riding on Saturday afternoons that ended with cherry-flavoured popsicles, laying in a pile, squished on the couch, wrapped up in blankets and surrounded by pillows on top of my dad, while my mom joked about us being as lazy as the lions we were watching on the Discovery Channel. It was a piece of nostalgia wafting over on the breeze. If I could bottle it, I would in a heartbeat.

3. If you could eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

ONLY one? Forever? Ugh I would totally hate that food after a week. So let’s go with something healthy and maybe with a variety of ingredients so I could pick some out if I got bored. But my fav food is hot and sour soup, which doesn’t have much variety. I think actually I’d pick steak. Because you could marinate it differently, but even if you were limited to salt and pepper, you can still make it taste different enough. And different cuts taste different so I’m gonna cheat that way. I will greatly miss that soup though.

4. What teacher has most influenced you in your life?

Good or bad or memorable?

Good: my grade 7 science teacher subtly told me off for being a judgemental 12/13 year old and I still feel the shame of that sharp glance and flat retort. I’ve been much kinder since then.

Bad: my grade 11 art teacher made me feel worthless because the art I produced didn’t fit his idea of how he thought I should be interpreting his ridiculous prompts. I had to do a mixed media piece which explained “The Economic Crisis in China.” And my interpretation wasn’t “art,” but the person who got to chose their topic, chose “Global Warming,” and painted a tiny polar bear in the centre of a canvas with a white background got an A+. I’m not bitter at all, what are you talking about? I hated that he wouldn’t talk about it with me. He expected me to know what he wanted and to just do it, and that’s such a horrible thing for any teacher. In my whole life I have never disliked a teacher. I even like the teachers that everyone else calls hardasses. He and I just didn’t get along.

Memorable: My grade 11 English teacher gets an honourable mention because he was a babe and damn if I didn’t have the hugest crush on him. We used to get into conversations about the origins of words and the history of language and if that isn’t what makes the ideal man then idk what is. Talk nerdy to me 😘

5. Who was your idol as a child? Why did you admire this person?

Samus Aran, from the Metroid video game series. That was my favourite video game, my dad’s fav game, my bro, my male cousins, my uncles…everyone in the family loves that series. It was about a bounty hunter in a set of impressive, head-to-toe armour, who was just the biggest badass; a human trained by an extinct alien species to use their advanced technology and weapons. And the major “reveal” of the game? Samus is a woman. There were no female characters that were playable back then, or that weren’t just princesses that needed saving. There was no game more fun to play, that was as unanimously loved (in my small world) than Super Metroid. And I wanted to be her. We had the same colour hair (they’re changed her design now which upsets the little girl in me) and I wanted to be a badass bounty hunter that defeated space aliens and had the last being of an alien species—that was typically a deadly menace—imprint on me and think I was it’s mother. Little girls have strange dreams ok, and honestly I don’t think that dream will ever leave me. I want to cosplay as her one day, I just have to get the confidence to do so.

6. What kind of coloring books go you like? The simple and succinct ones or the intricate and detailed ones?

Eh, well I’m an artist so I much prefer to draw. But both have their ups and downs. The intricate ones can be very relaxing, as you can easily colour in pleasing patterns. But the simple ones give you more space to “freestyle” so to speak. But I love co-op colouring with children. When my cousins were super young I used to draw them pictures to colour in, and their mom has kept them all.

7. What are your go-to pair of shoes?

Slip on flats, when the weather permits it. I can take them on and off without any fuss, no ties or buckles. I have a pair now from sketchers which are plain black…something. They’re accidentally (yes, accidentally is the right word) construction shoes. They can withstand over 30k volts of electricity or something, idfk I don’t understand safety shoes. All I know is that I’m not getting electrocuted any time soon. Try me, lightening. I dare you! ⚡️⛈🌩

8. What would you name your Direwolf if you had one?

I want to say “Lucky” only because those guys don’t have much, but if we’re not being superstitious, then probably “Paul.” Because of a Family Guy joke.

9. If you could change one event in the past, what would it be? (It doesn’t have to involve you in any way.)

I…I’m really sorry, but I can’t answer this with complete honesty. My first and second responses are too personal. But my third? Hmm, if I’m being selfish, I’d close my eyes (so vague mwahaha). If not…there’s too many to chose. So many tragedies the world has faced, I can’t choose one that weighs heavier than any other, or would make the biggest impact. Because you also have to consider that some good came out of those tragedies. And if you stopped one event, then whatever tensions were being built up would just break at another time. Maybe I’d stop a natural disaster from occurring, save a bunch of lives. I’d actually love it if the Library of Alexandria still existed, or the Colossus of Rhodes wasn’t destroyed by an earthquake, or that giant statue of Athena that used to be in the Parthenon wasn’t torn down…I have a soft spot for pieces of history that were destroyed.

10. What is your favorite memory you have with your group of friends?

Not my current group, or a group really. But my fav memory with a friend is with my first roommate in university. We bought a pumpkin to carve for Halloween that turned into a ridiculous photo shoot featuring pumpkin entrails, pizza, and the stars of CSI New York on our shitty tv.

11. If you could become part of your favorite series/ movie etc. would you?

Well, first I have to pick a favourite, which is just impossible. But for the sake of the question, since I’m very involved with the Naruto fandom atm, I suppose I’ll just use that in place of “favourite.” On the one hand, it seems like a drag. Any war-torn place seems horrible in comparison to this world. But then again, magical powers are pretty sick. Would I be born into the world, or transported there? Would I have powers, or be just normal me? Would I have “foresight” based on my knowledge of the series, or be a “tabula rasa?” So many things to consider! When in the series would I be injected? Post the Fourth War, sign me up as I am now, and even as a civvy; so long as there’s some Rokudaime in my life I’ll be fine 😜. Before that? Ehhh…it depends. I’d probably miss everyone in my life over here, and with no guarantee that I’d make new bonds in the new world…ok so I’d def want my friends and family there (well, some of them lol). So maybe, depending on the situation when I got there. Which is pretty much a non-answer. Sorry!

I’m not making more questions or tagging anyone since I’ve done it once already. If you want to answer the questions I laid out in the last one, or answer these questions, just tag me! I’d love to read people’s responses. It’s all so fascinating!

[clusterassets]

New world news from Time: These Meghan Markle Lookalikes Are Making Thousands Per Gig — And They’re Booked Into 2019

Has anyone ever told you that you look just like Meghan Markle? If so, that might be more than a compliment — it could be a royally weird job opportunity.

Business is booming worldwide for anyone who can believably impersonate Markle, the 36-year-old American actress set to wed Britain’s Prince Harry on May 19. Talent agencies in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom say Markle lookalikes are in high demand due to skyrocketing interest in the soon-to-be newest member of the royal family. If you can walk and talk like Markle, you can earn hundreds of dollars an hour.

And judging by the continued success of Duchess of Cambridge doubles, the cottage — or should we say palace? — industry isn’t going to die out anytime soon.

“It’s a bit of a frenzy,” says Dot Findlater, the founder of California-based celebrity lookalike agency Mirror Images.

courtesy of Mirror ImagesMeghan Markle lookalike from Mirror Images

Finding That Markle Sparkle

Landing a job as a Markle impersonator isn’t as easy as you might think.

At Findlater’s company, for example, she says the first step is submitting photos of yourself (if you’re selling yourself as Markle, you’ll need almond-shaped eyes, long brown hair and freckles, among other attributes). The Mirror Images team will set up a phone call or a Skype interview with you, and if you pass muster, you’ll be professionally photographed. Only then will the firm start promoting your availability for bookings, which can include anything from a photoshoot in a tea shop to a British Invasion corporate event.

Mirror Images has two Markles, one in the U.S. and one in the U.K. Both joined the agency within the last year.

“It’s hard. Lookalikes aren’t on every street corner,” Findlater says, ticking off deciding factors like height, weight and posture. “Our business is illusion — not to trick anybody, but to make sure if a client is hiring a lookalike that they get the closest thing possible.”

Authenticity is critical for Markle doppelgängers like Lukwesa Morin, a 26-year-old graduate student who recently won a Markle lookalike contest on beautifulpeople.com. Morin says she often gets stopped on the street in Washington, D.C., by people who mistake her for the actress — and that has been a deciding factor for her to try and jump into the world of Markle lookalikedom.

For Olivia Marsden, a 22-year-old who lives near London, nailing the Markle look involves dressing almost exactly like her. The daughter of a Madonna impersonator, Marsden says she’s assembled a second wardrobe modeled after ensembles Markle has worn.

“I have the engagement outfit pretty much down to a T,” adds Marsden, of Ofavision Talent Management.

Marsden used to have blonde highlights, but she dyed her hair back to its natural color so she’d look more like Markle. Perhaps the biggest challenge for her is mimicking Markle’s American accent, which she says can be “a little bit tricky.”

courtesy of Lukwesa Morin

Interest in an American Idol

Findlater says she’s seeing more requests for Markle than she did for Kate Middleton ahead of her 2011 royal wedding to Prince William. And she has a theory as to why.

“There’s a lot more interest in the U.S. now because Markle’s American,” Findlater says. “They’re feeling closer to the royal family because of that.”

In the U.K., where much of the public is already obsessed with the royals, Helena Chard tells MONEY she’s getting up to 20 calls a day from clients who want to book Markle doubles.

As the casting director for Susan Scott Lookalikes, Chard says many customers are artists hoping to see “Markle” from a certain angle or social secretaries planning mixers. The agency offers up its talent for bachelor parties, bar mitzvahs, movie nights, conferences, anniversaries, reality shows, weddings and more.

Some companies even use doubles to stage PR stunts: “They’ll have Harry and Meghan [lookalikes] in front of the palace and film them walking through, and everyone goes completely mad and swarms them and takes photographs,” she adds.

Her agency’s website boasts 18 Markles, as well as 20 Harrys. If you want to complete the set, you can choose from seven Queen Elizabeths, 22 Kate Middletons, 19 Prince Williams, 9 Prince Georges and two Princess Charlottes.

Meghan Markle lookalike from Mirror Images

The Princess and the Gs

Posing as Markle can be a lucrative gig.

Findlater says her lookalikes generally earn between $800 and $1,200 for up to three hours of local work. If the client wants the talent to travel out of town, fees start at $2,000, and customers are generally responsible for hotel, transportation and meal costs. In some cases, the price can reach $20,000.

Findlater’s agency typically takes 20% of whatever the Markle clones make on a gig.

Chard says her Markle impersonators usually make about £400, or about $540, for a few hours, but it depends on the booking.

“I think more people are realizing there’s a market in being a lookalike, especially of the royals,” she says. “These events are such fun that the artists go to. It’s more than the money. They can go along, they actually have a good time, and they meet some incredible people on these high-profile jobs.”

Lookalike Marsden declined to discuss her rates, but she did say she has Markle events booked into 2019 — a solid indication that the fervor won’t die off once the royal wedding is over. Marsden jokes that hiring her for lookalike work is “not cheap, but it’s a lot cheaper than the real thing.”

For people like Marsden, whose day job is being an airline cabin crew member, capitalizing on the Markle mania is an ideal way to make extra cash.

“Before I became a Meghan lookalike, I would sit at home, thinking like, ‘I need another job,'” Marsden says. “It’s great to have a side job I really enjoy doing, and I get something out of it.”

May 16, 2018 at 08:45PM ClusterAssets Inc., https://ClusterAssets.wordpress.com

[oovitus]

1 + 1 = 21: The Power of Collaboration

“We have an opportunity here to have one plus one equal 21.”

Fred Ramos, Highmark Health’s senior vice president of corporate communications, uses this phrase while recounting conversations with several partners who came together in ongoing efforts to help their fellow U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

It’s not just his way of tying relief efforts to the spirit of Pirates’ great and humanitarian Roberto Clemente, who wore number 21. Whether it’s disaster relief, improving health care, or just being a good neighbor, Ramos believes that when you get collaboration right, the impact becomes greater than the sum of the individual parts.

“If you get the focus right initially, and people come together because they want to do the right thing, and do it well, for patients or customers or their fellow human beings, that in itself creates a powerful sense of purpose,” he explains. “As a result, more people say, ‘I want to be part of that, here is what I bring to the table — and, oh, I know this other person who can help.’ As everyone starts to realize that we can make a difference together, and it feels good, even more people want to join the effort, so it continues growing exponentially. That’s what happened with the response to Hurricane Maria.”

“Hurricane Fred”

Ramos knows about catastrophes — and resilience. At nine, as he and his family returned from visiting other family members on New Year’s Eve, his father pulled their car over and walked back up the road to search for a gas cap that he thought had flown off. He never made it back, dying in a tragic roadside accident.

“My father was an entrepreneur who came to Chicago in one of the early waves of migration from Puerto Rico, because he thought he could do better by us — it was really the American Dream,” Ramos says. “I admired his business savvy, his persistence, his very personal approach — he defined ‘putting the customer first’ to me. Suddenly, I had lost my beacon, and I had to grow up quick.”

Corporate communications senior vice president Fred Ramos visiting the Roberto Clemente museum in Pittsburgh.

An avid baseball fan, Ramos also idolized Roberto Clemente — and still has photos of “The Great One” hanging in his office. “Even though I was a Cubs fan growing up, here was this Puerto Rican, like me, who played baseball like a man possessed — passionate, persistent, all in — and loved his family and was an inspiration on and off the field,” Ramos says.

Clemente died in a plane crash, during an earthquake disaster mission to deliver relief supplies to Nicaragua. Like Ramos’ father, he died on New Year’s Eve.

“I had these early losses, but Clemente and my father had a lasting influence,” Ramos says. “And still, every New Year’s eve, I remember and acknowledge them with a nod and a wink up to heaven.”

Their influence is part of Ramos’ “all in” approach to life and to helping others, as well as his capacity to remain calm in the midst of a storm. These traits served him well in positions where responding to disasters was part of the job description, including as executive director for The Allstate Foundation earlier in his career.

“We had the best catastrophe management and response team in the industry — first on the ground in just about any catastrophe,” he says. “When the San Francisco earthquake hit in 1989, we were there the next day driving around looking for people who we could help. It’s in my DNA — catastrophe, you go and respond. That kicked in with the hurricanes in 2017. My natural response is to think about how we could help.”

His vocal advocacy for disaster relief contributions and personal involvement in support efforts led Highmark Health executive vice president Dan Onorato to start calling him “Hurricane Fred.”

Highmark Health and its affiliates responded to each disaster that hit the nation in the fall of 2017, including several hundred thousand dollars in corporate and employee donations. Allegheny Health Network (AHN) employees were part of the nation’s Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) providing relief in each area. But the response to Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico has been, well, living proof that one plus one can equal 21. Ramos is exactly the person to explain this magical math.

“How Can I Help?”

“Our CEO, David Holmberg, always says when you’re facing a challenge, you have to ‘work the problem,’” Ramos says. “I believe we can overcome any challenges if we stay calm, cool and collected in the face of the storm, learn, and remain focused on working the problem. In every crisis, it really comes down to asking, ‘how can I help?’”

Ramos came to Highmark Health, and Pittsburgh, in the spring of 2016. He describes the opportunity to be part of Highmark Health’s work to transform health care with great passion. He adds that he also felt drawn to the city where Clemente had played — “a place that grieved for him like I’d grieved for him, and still reveres him as I and millions of others still do.”

At the first Pirates game he attended after moving to Pittsburgh, he met Ron Alvarado, chairman of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. “It was like talking to my brother,” Ramos says. “Puerto Rican, loves salsa dancing, passionate Clemente fan.” They also talked about how to help other area Hispanic professionals and businesses, and Ramos accepted an invitation to join the Chamber’s board of directors.

At another game later in 2016, Ramos met Pirates president Frank Coonelly — and predicted a Cubs World Series championship…which the Cubs went on to win that year. The next time he saw Coonelly, at a pre-game event in September of 2017 for Roberto Clemente Day at PNC Park, the Pirates president joked that maybe Ramos could use his predictive powers to help the Pirates.

“I told him that could be a conflict of interest since the Cubs were in town, but that I would do anything else to help the Pirates, and that he and the Pirates had a friend across the bridge at Highmark Health,” Ramos says.

On Roberto Clemente night, September 6, 2017, Ramos took this photo of the Clemente statue outside PNC Park — with the Highmark building across the river in the background.

He adds that many people who have collaborated on the response to Hurricane Maria were at that game — including Alvarado, Luis Clemente (one of Roberto’s sons), Coonelly, and numerous Highmark Health and AHN leaders and staff.

“There were dark clouds, like a storm forming, but the moon was as bright as the sun lighting up the Pittsburgh skyline,” he says, recalling the game. “The grounds crew had cut Clemente’s number ‘21’ into the outfield grass, and the light made it look like the ‘21’ was on fire. Hurricane Irma went through the Caribbean that night, and hit Florida a few days later. A couple weeks later — Hurricane Maria. Reflecting back, I felt like Roberto Clemente was there that night telling us, ‘get prepared, we’re going to need your help.’”

Hurricane Maria left Puerto Rico without power or drinkable water for days. Much of the island did not regain power for months; some areas still lack power as we publish this article six months later. In the early days, Ramos notes that focusing on how to help was the only way for people like him and Alvarado to offset the frustration of not being able to reach loved ones in Puerto Rico to find out if they were safe.

It was Alvarado who first contacted a Pittsburgh-based organization that became central to collaborative relief efforts: Brother’s Brother Foundation.

“Brother’s Brother was the organization waiting in Nicaragua for the relief plane that crashed with Roberto Clemente on it,” Ramos says. “Luke Hinson, who runs the organization now, is the son of the man who was waiting for Clemente. He has done that same good work for his whole life, and now here they are working to help Clemente’s homeland.”

As Brother’s Brother, Luis Clemente, Roberto Clemente, Jr., the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Highmark Health, and others began to coordinate relief efforts, they decided to hold a press conference in hopes that it would “serve as a catalyst for others to join our ‘coalition of the willing.’”

The coalition began expanding even before the event officially started. As the scheduled speakers were huddled off camera comparing notes, Ramos says, “all of a sudden, this almost angelic woman walks in and comes toward us. I introduce myself, and she says she is Yasdet Maldonado, a doctor at an AHN hospital. She had seen the press release for the event, and so she just came right over and asked, ‘How can I help?’”

This connection had some extra magic. Maldonado was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico — Clemente’s birthplace. She had done her internship and residency with the person heading up the anesthesiology department at the biggest hospital in Puerto Rico — from whom she had already received a list of critically needed medical supplies and prescription medicines.

The next day, relief efforts took another leap forward: Frank Coonelly reached out to Highmark Health. Asking, “What would Roberto Clemente do?” Pirates third-base coach Joey Cora — who lived just minutes from where Ramos had been born in Puerto Rico — and other players had decided to fill up a plane with supplies and deliver them personally to the people of Puerto Rico. Coonelly was waiting to get confirmation from FedEx about providing a cargo plane.

“I told Frank about Brother’s Brother, the Hispanic Chamber, being in contact with Luis and Roberto Clemente Jr. on the ground, and our connection at the hospital in San Juan,” Ramos says. “I said let’s all work together on this, because this is an opportunity to have one plus one equal 21. You get that cargo plane and we’ll help fill it up with humanitarian and medical supplies.”

In just days, the greater Pittsburgh community collected enough supplies to load up the Pirates’ first disaster relief cargo plane. Multiple plane loads were delivered from Pittsburgh and other locations to Puerto Rico in the weeks after Hurricane Maria.

That Saturday, Ramos spoke to 400 people attending a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce gala for which Highmark Health was the presenting sponsor. A conscious decision was made to preserve the event’s celebratory tone, but it was impossible not to bring up a disaster that impacted the families of many in attendance. Ramos built a bridge to connect the sentiments in his introductory remarks: “This is a celebration, so let us celebrate tonight the resilience of a people who are going to rise up from disaster. Let us rise up to the challenge of supporting our fellow citizens and friends and colleagues. There’s a saying in Puerto Rico right now — ‘Puerto Rico Se Levanta.’ Puerto Rico will rise up. Let’s help them rise up.”

Sunday, Ramos got a text from Coonelly: FedEx had officially committed to providing a plane. Within days, the greater Pittsburgh community, Highmark Health, AHN, Brother’s Brother, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and others had gathered a full cargo plane of supplies, including nearly all the medical supplies on Dr. Maldonado’s list. Before that plane touched down, plans were underway for additional planes and rounds of help.

21 Degrees of Connection

Those first weeks after Hurricane Maria included multiple plane loads of supplies delivered from the Pittsburgh region, as well as other parts of the country. But the collaborative math whereby “one plus one equals 21” was just getting started.

On a corporate level, Ramos recalls a conversation in which David Holmberg asked him about “the longer-term play” in helping the island recover.

“I told him I’d like to see if we could broaden the coalition,” Ramos says. “He had just heard from Jennifer Vachon, chief of staff to Scott Serota, the CEO of the BCBSA. Like us, they had been in contact with Triple-S, the Blues plan in Puerto Rico, whose development vice president, Francisco ‘Kiki’ Mantorell-Basanta, had been coordinating relief efforts. David suggested that I connect with Jennifer and Kiki and see if there would be a way to work together.”

During a conference call with BCBSA Blues plans nationwide, Mantorell-Basanta and Ramos presented what Triple-S and Highmark Health had been doing. They encouraged other Blues to leverage the strength and scale of the Blues network to broaden the coalition already in place, achieving greater humanitarian response efficiency and effectiveness in the short term, and boosting the recovery phase in the long term. A dozen plans did. In February, Ramos, Holmberg and other leaders visited Triple-S in Puerto Rico, and Ramos says that the collaboration has made a big difference in getting supplies to those in need and continuing the recovery.

Non-corporate collaborations have been just as inspiring. Ramos had read about and supported Carnegie-Mellon University (CMU) student Rosana Guernica’s crowdfunding campaign to pay for multiple charter planes to deliver supplies to Puerto Rico, then return with patients needing to get to the mainland for care. Like Dr. Maldonado, Guernica was born in Clemente’s hometown, and they knew each other. Soon after the disaster, Dr. Maldonado asked Ramos to meet with Guernica and other Puerto Rican students at CMU and the University of Pittsburgh, many of whom still hadn’t been able to connect with their families.

“We met at a restaurant near the campuses — and I’m just trying to be a father figure and bring them some comfort, and a little levity,” Ramos explains. “I joked with the waitress about the menu lacking tostones, and one student said that there is no good Puerto Rican food in Pittsburgh. I said, oh, yes there is. At my house. My wife is the best cook, and my personal specialty is tostones. So I will invite you all to my house once we get through this thing and we’ll break some bread to honor our family and friends in Puerto Rico.” He later got the group tickets to a Penguins hockey game, and plans to take them to a baseball game in the spring.

Bringing the connections full circle, Ramos also introduced Guernica and Alvarado. Through the early relief efforts, Alvarado had been unable to get in touch with his mother, and then had been concerned about getting her to the U.S. to ensure access to needed health care services. When Guernica’s second chartered plane returned from Puerto Rico, Alvarado’s mother was on it.

“It’s just been one connection after another, with people that have been connected by trying to do the right thing in a moment of truth,” Ramos says, “and, I think, also by the spirit and guiding hand of Roberto Clemente.”

A doctor at the Centro Medico in Puerto Rico holds up a “thank you” sign after receiving much-needed medical supplies.

“Moving Mountains to Do Right”

Ramos adds that he doesn’t see Highmark Health’s disaster relief efforts as a special case, but as one more manifestation of the organization’s culture. “Putting people first, collaborating, taking bold action as leaders, purposefully executing our mission — this is who we are and what we stand for, and it’s why I’m excited to be here,” he says. “Whether it’s disaster relief or getting health care right, it comes back to putting yourself in the shoes of the customer, the patient, the health plan member, the community member, your fellow human being. It’s the Golden Rule — treat people like you’d like to be treated. If you have that as your core principle, it will serve you and everyone else well. I’m heartened by the fact that despite apparent shortcomings in the initial federal response to the crisis, people have been moving mountains to do right, and help, when people have needed help the most.”

1 + 1 = 21: The Power of Collaboration published first on

[cold-war-essay-blog]

Marriage in Hollywood essay

'Essay motion:\n\nThe general c one timept of the contemporaneous Hollywood matrimonys.\n\nEssay Questions:\n\nWhat is contemporary Hollywood conjugation uniform? How do Hollywood corresponds own set off married? In what way argon the old(a) take spousals traditions diametrical from the upstart Hollywood marital traditions?\n\n thesis Statement:\n\nThe much(prenominal) the decision is weight down the large is the prospect of a beaming matrimony. Of air, on that point suffer perpetually been exceptions; further man and wife is definitely non some involvement to whoremonger with.\n\n \n spousal affinity in Hollywood adjudicate\n\n \n\nTable of table of contents:\n\n1. Introduction\n\n2. modern Hollywood and union.\n\n3. Hollywood couples tucker emerge married.\n\n4. grey-haired groom vs. modern nuptials traditions.\n\n5. expiration\n\n1. Introduction.\n\nMarriage has eternally been an regulart in the purport of e truly(prenominal) single existence non depending on his roots or origins. The decision to move to married is nonp aril of those that require non solitary(prenominal) the horny aspect of plebeian feelings, which are suppositional to exist, nonwithstanding as well the ability to touch sensation around and infer whether the choice is right. In other piece of musicner of speaking hymeneals party in all cultures is the start-point of a new purport, estimable of care, love and faithfulness to the chosen person. It is something genuinely sequestered. The to a greater extent the decision is weighted the bigger is the probability of a beaming matrimony. Of course, t here(predicate) befool always been exceptions; nevertheless join is definitely not something to joke with. And it is really to a great extent not to agree that the to a greater extent or less all-important(a) stem for a marriage is love.\n\n \n\n2. contemporaneous Hollywood and marriage.\n\nWhat is marriage for Hollywood celebrities? Is love the madcap force of acquiring married in Hollywood? Lately, the marriage boom has contribute through al virtually every(prenominal) adult part of this elite. multitudinous marriages and divorces are seen here and there. They happen so quickly that sometimes it is veritable(a) hard to engage the updates. The life story of Hollywood celebrities trunk much as well a dope up opera while with numerous crushs and espousals ceremonies, which are followed by tragic breaking-ups and children with disassociate parents. Of course, it does pr act uponiced inter interpolateable a unretentive exaggeration of the maintenance situation. Nevertheless, it is hard to revoke the changes that arouse happened in Hollywood celebrities closed-door life word-painting for the drop at rest(predicate) couple of decades. Everything is put downting very public, including love relations. Marriage is exploited in Hollywood as a believe of getting abundant publicity and receiving special rating in the list of starts. some(prenominal) of this effects bring popularity, which straightaway is more often gained by scandalous marriages thus by talents. Hollywood stars: singers and actors are the idols of teenagers. In case of absence seizure of proper parent- mannikin, the farthermost tend to simulate not precisely the celebrities c destinyhes and haircuts but likewise deportment concerning important and it whitethorn be even said unearthly aspects, like marriage. So what example is Hollywood put nowadays and is the marriage growing somehow serviceable for ordinary tribe?\n\n3. Hollywood couples get married. Hollywood couples do get married. It is no surprise for anybody. The headspring that comes up is: How do they get married?. To answer this inquire a man simply of necessity to analyze the fresh spousal relationship- skirmish Hollywood news. For showcase:\n\n1. The 24-year-old famous inheritress and The Simple sprightliness star capital of France Hilton is engaged to the 27-year-old classic exile heritor capital of France Latsis since the twenty-ninth of May 2005. devil young spate being enough ache do the most of their appointment. genus genus capital of France has been offered to choose from cardinal engagement peal with the cost commencement from $2 cardinal dollars. The engagement seems to be an integration of dickens monetary empires. It has make a volume of noise which is very useful for Paris and her afterlife TV-projects. sight comes to a dead end severe to create images of Pariss future wed ceremony. Does not it sound more like a Paris Hiltons suit?\n\n2. And what closely Britney Spears? Her shortstop marriage to her childishness acquaintanceship, a 22-year-old Jason black lovage lasted only 55 hours according to BBC intelligence agency . It was both unpredicted for public and for Britney and Alexander, too. It was average a relish to something wild, crazy as Mr. Alexander tell for BBC. This short marriage is only one and only(a) drop in the series of Las Vegas unions that perpetually occur in Hollywood. Nowadays, Britney is married to Kevin Federline, her co-occurrence dancer, after a surprise wedding ceremony in a private home in California. USA at once states that it was her second marriage during one year, as she married and split up Jason Alexander in January, met Kevin Federline in April, denote their engagement in June and married him October 2004. She is enceinte at the implication and after her marriage gets as much attention as she never has got out front.\n\n3. A 20-year-old come offy Hilton, Pariss younger babe. Has in like manner been involved in a Las Vegas wedding ceremony with a 33-year-old Todd Andrew Meister . Todd Andrew Meister is a millionaire businessman. Nicky and him are known to shoot had a year-long on-off relationship. Their decision to get married was never set in stone or just in an engagement and seems to be one of the crazy-wild blasts of famous flock.\n\n4. Another example of a Hollywood marriage is Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey. This union is a union of cardinal singers that have even dedicated their songs to from each one other on their wedding day. In spite of a modest wedding in Texas for 350 personas, Jessica managed to get acquire from it by writing a book closely her wedding: I Do: Achieving Your halluci commonwealth Wedding .\n\n5. unrivaled of the quietest engagements is the engagement of 23 year-old Nicole Richie, Lionels Richie adoptive daughter, and the DJ ten Goldstein. Thought Nicoles best friend Paris Hilton disapproved this union, Nicole seems to be very happy and her father desire Adams traditionalism concerning the engagement a lot before announcing their engagement Adam or simply AD asked Lionel Richie for his daughters hand.\n\n4. Old instill vs. modern marriage traditions\n\nThe old tame differs from how marriage is explicated in Holl ywood now. And archetype much(prenominal) popularity of weddings inwardness that more nation start aliment in sanctioned marriages it withal indicates that such(prenominal) casual marriages do not last long. So, why to have a wedding if the marriage may last only 55 hours? Contemporary Hollywood makes cash out of something that use to be sanctified for every person. Of course being a celebrity equals impression to public, nevertheless it is important to withdraw that a wedding or an engagement is not a financial swindle.\n\nThe old Hollywood did employ even to traverse the fact of marriages of its most popular people. pot married once for a living and it also was a weighed decision. It was not an act make in outrank to get attention. Hollywood stars did not call for to be famous for their private life, but for their talents in the first mail. Unfortunately, some values do change with time. only if is marriage a value that should change? This is the primary questi on, which Hollywood should keep in mind before making a scandal of persons lordly wedding. Private life of Hollywood celebrities is the parentage of additional scratch for the stars themselves. As these people are the representatives of the nation their behavior also represents the morality of the nation. hence the old prepare ways are more allow at to the lowest degree for the growing generation, which take positive examples so desperately.\n\n5. Conclusion\n\nTurns out that the exploitation of marriage is not such an uncommon thing nowadays and Hollywood has especially succeeded in it. It has definitely do marriage more popular lately. exclusively at the kindred time it has made light-mindedness popular, too. It propagandizes the simmpleness of things that should not be made irresponsibly. The immortal examples of engagements and weddings of famous people do not just post this supposition, but also convert it into something regular. forward-looking celebrities shou ld not close up old school examples. They are to remember that they are setting examples for the whole sphere and marriage is not something to get profit of, except religious profit. Talents should be what Hollywood is famous for and not the private life of its celebrities. Marriage has to be real and not an act to get money or more publicity. ring old technical Hollywood. That is an example to follow!\n\n \n\nParis and Latsis have been dating for almost 8 months, and the romance reportedly began at a forward-looking York party. Latsis is heir to a reported $7.5 billion Greek shipping fortune.\n\nBritneys lawyers filed for an annulment by the courts. Plaintiff Spears lacked grounds of her actions to the extent that she was incapable(p) of agreeing to the marriage, the annulment crave said.-\n\nThe wedding place at the Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, in the strawman of her Simple manner star sister Paris and actress Bijou Phillips.-\n\nIt is a book about how you can have a exc iting celebrity-style wedding on a budget.If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Looking for a place to buy a cheap paper online? Buy Paper Cheap - Premium quality cheap essays and affordable papers online. Buy cheap, high quality papers to impress your professors and pass your exams. Do it online right now! '

[iwishiwasabigstrawberry-blog]

Fandom as audience in popular culture (blog#3)

This last blog will also discuss fandom of K-pop stars and how they act in the digital world. There will be four sections in this blog, first, there will be examples about media rituals in my family and how I react differently in context as home and concert, then I will introduce few narrative styles of fanfictions and other production of fans as they engage with the media texts. This section also related to the left two following,  I will connect fans as SME and try to describe how they interact with each other. At last, going back to the first blog I will again argue that audiences are active and in charge of the media.

Reception contexts and media rituals

Sullivan argued that “Television continues to be the most important and widely used media technology in the domestic context. The introduction of new media technologies has not fundamentally altered the amount of television use in the home” (p. 171) Because my father is always busy, in my childhood memory I always watched TV with my mother. However, there was a period when I got my new smartphone and became more willing to spend time on that rather than stay with my mother on the sofa. For now, because I study in Canada, me and my mom shared our lives with each other through WeChat, such as what we eat that day and what drama we were watching at that time. I still remember that when I started to watch Breaking Bad and recommended her to watch, but she watched faster than me and there was one day she called me for spoiler. Because of that, I didn’t watch season 5 till now. I became a fan of BTS in the summer back to China and watch a TV show with her, and BTS’s song was BGM of that show. And II searched that song and learned more about them while sharing with my mother. Even she became an “army” as well. She even can repost things on Weibo (Chinese version of Twitter) about BTS and @ me recently. I went to 2017 Beijing concert of BTS with my friends who is also an “army” and we knew each other on BTS’s fan BBS. As we travel we watched their program shows together.  It is different when watch it by myself and when someone set beside me, we laugh out loud some of the jokes they made. Because we should be quite on the KTX, we tried so hard to hold back the laugh which made us laugh even harder. “Differences between theater and home viewing are screen size, image quality, audio quality of the theater, viewing condition, and cheering atmosphere” (Kim, 392) I could feel it in the concert that day, within the Cheering Atmosphere, which we all sang with them and that added realism to the viewing experience. I cried in that moment, it was the first time that I felt that they are not only some people in my electronic devices, there are right there in front my face. My tears would be physiological responses, and when BTS said “how are you?” in Chinese, we all screamed which made every “army” felt involved can be an example of immersion. As a Fan, I like to see BTS in their concert rather than setting in my room watching iPad. There is no wonder why people say “fans will never forget their first concert”.

Fandom and audience subcultures

In this section, I would explain fandom on a continuum with my own experience of being an “army” as consumer, enthusiast, fan, and producer. When I first knew BTS in the TV show, I was a consumer paying attention to their music. After that, I started to download all their albums and watch their MV on YouTube again and again, at this stage I was an enthusiast. Regard the four positions as Sullivan argued that “fan audiences are deeply engaged in their favorite media text. And fans often reinterpret media content and create their own culture.” (p. 193)  Then, as I turned into a fan of them, I started to get information about each member. “This ‘Spimatic’ appreciation of the process of fandom highlights changing paradigms of fan viewership as a form of participatory culture” (Booth, 2015, p. 151) In this stage I watch their MV not only because I like but also for increasing their view, as I said in the second blog, these numbers are rating which reflects how much attention they get. According to Sullivan, “The difference between watching a [television] series and becoming a fan lies in the intensity of their emotional and intellectual involvement” (p. 198) As a fan, I feel emotionally involved with them, especially when they won awards and get famous I feel so proud and I feel upset when people say something bad about them. It can be in a wrong way when fans get so emotional that they think that there is some relationship between them and their idols which beyond just fandom. There is a group of fan called 사생팬(Sasaeng Fan), this word came from Korean fandom that refers fans who are so over-obsessive that has engaged in stalking or other behavior that constitutes an invasion of privacy. Once BTS when to Europe and chased by Sasaeng Fans for hours. These crazy fans still just a few of fans, most active fans make their own fan-made products such as MV reaction and MV analysis which I mentioned on the last blog. There is also a YouTuber who does “0 budget version of BTS’s MV” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=629fMYD6RC4

So hilarious! I am a producer as well, I and my friends sometimes record our dance cover videos of K pop groups and post them online. I also wrote fan fiction when I was in junior high, I like SHINee and I wrote bromance between two of SHINee’s members. I post my fanfictions on BBS, where lots of other fans write theirs.  When fans do fanfictions what we usually do is called “Recontextualization”, which means “short stories or “missing scenes” that fill in gaps in the existing media text (TV program, film, etc.)” and “expanding the timeline”, which means “Explores characters’ backgrounds or rewrites unpopular endings to the existing media narrative” (Sullivan, 205) Take BTS as an example, there is a scene in Run MV that Suga and Jungkook is having fight with each other. In fanfictions, they add plot as Suga’s girlfriend left him and Jungkook wanted to cheer him up because Jungkook loves Suga as well. But it didn’t go well, they had a big fight and Suga left all the other members. Some wrote that they were having a fight because Suga wants to leave Jungkook, at the end, Jungkook lets go of Suga and send him to Jimin’s side, and he goes to another country for healing his broken heart. 

There is another style of narrative called personalization, in this style fans write themselves into the narratives.  I know a Weibo account which specifically posts love stories between “I” and members of BTS. I followed it without telling anyone, some of the stories are well wrote so that I really feel like I am in relationship with them.

Besides, like I said in blog 1 and 2, “army” also write theory to explain what happened in their MV, here are two article they wrote about Run and I need U MV.

https://thebangtantheory.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/bts-run-explained/

https://k-pop.aminoapps.com/page/blog/bts-prologue-i-need-u-run-epilogue-theory/DYIP_ue6LYxrYBnB1bZM33BoxM2PR

When fans connect two or more of the media texts together, that are “crossovers” which means “blurring boundaries between distinct media texts; introducing characters from one media narrative into another”(Sullivan, 205).

 Fandom in a digital media world

This section will focus on fandom’s behaviors on Twitter because of its uniqueness and suitability for audience interaction.  Since I am from China so that I don’t know much about Twitter so I would go with Weibo, which is basically the same thing. It indeed proves the development of technology now people can get on the internet so easy. “In general, most SMEs are young, tech-savvy, and geared towards the tech world.” (Wasike, p. 19) SME here refers to social media editors, they can be loosely defined as “tech-savvy journalists appointed by news agencies to act as the newsroom liaisons to the digital world, also called the social media sphere… Specifically, their main functions are: to monitor the social media sphere for latest trends; to procure relevant material for editors; to maintain the organization’s online presence; to interact with the readers and to post news articles online.” (Wasike, p6) Fans can also be seen as SME as they giving and tracking the latest movement of their idols on the social media, such as me. I live in Canada but they are in Korea so that I need to search them on the internet and get information about them, there are people in Korea who have time can take pictures or videos of them and post on social media for us. Because “army” are all around the world, we keep on-line mode for anything new. Also, we can interact with each other by comment under other’s post and reply, I even know one of my friends on Weibo. As Sullivan said, “media audiences today have come to expect the ability to provide instant feedback to media producers and to other audiences.” As audiences become an integral part of the media production apparatus itself,  there appear a lot of “prosumers” who are consumers and producers at the same time. As for me, to go along with the point of the last section. I consume BTS’s media production on the internet such as music, MV and photos then inspired by the lyrics and writing reviews on the internet. Other “army” will find my reviews from #BTS so that we can have conversations with them.  During this process, I can be seen as a free labor of promoting BTS.

I also find that there is a BTS emoji on Twitter! 

Passive or active?

In the textbook Sullivan had explored the concept of media audiences from multiple perspectives: as objects of media influence, as quantified constructions of institutions, as active users, and as subcultures and media producers, the word “audience” seems not as much as the meaning as before. According to Astigarraga, “Thanks to the digitalization of television

and the expansion of broadband internet, the supply of contents has multiplied exponentially,

and the fragmentation of the audience is such that some authors suggest that the term “audience” (understood as a collective of people and not as the sum of individuals) should be abandoned as an ‘outdated’ concept” (p,133) We now use electronic devices such as smartphones which can be seen as a collection of many different kinds of  devices. For example, I can not only call and text people through my phone, I can also watch BTS’s MV in YouTube APP and even write a blog about BTS on my phone. Different from the past, audiences not just set in front of the TV and receive the messages in TV passively, it is normal that people search character’s name or discuss plots on the internet while watching TV. Example of this in Fandom will be live shows, fans can interact with their idols right away. It also brings up the question that because of how fast can the internet be. I said in the previous blogs that star system updated so fast to catch up with the flavor of fans, any other news can also be forgotten quickly. Recently, there was a severe criminal case in China that explore in Weibo, people start to get information and talk about this case. Then after about two weeks, people’s attention moved to a female celebrity who cuts her hair. We indeed can choose what we want to look or produce on the internet actively, however, with the change of the network environment, people are changing too.

 References

Astigarraga, I., Pavon, A., & Zuberogoitia, A. (2016). Active audience?: Interaction of young people with television and online video content.   Communication and Society, 29(3), 133‐147.

Booth, P. (2105). Crowdfunding: A spimatic application of digital fandom. New Media and Society, 17(2), 149-166.

Kim, K., Cheong, Y., & Kim, H. (2016).  The influences of sports viewing conditions on enjoyment from watching televised sports: An analysis of the FIFA World Cup audiences in theater vs. home.  Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 60(3), 389–409.

Sullivan, J. L. (2012). media audiences: Effects, users, institutions, and power. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE publications.

Wasike, B. (2013).  Framing news in 140 Characters: How social media editors frame the news and interact with audiences via Twitter.   Global Media Journal ‐ Canadian Edition, 6(1), 5‐ 23.

[adventuresofarilamadperson]

Growth and rest

It’s been almost 9 months since we left Singapore, and we are about due for a return soon. I’ve been reflecting on what God has done in my life so far – the changes look slow and small and are barely noticeable from moment to moment, but looking back I can see some changes. 

Two themes: Growth and Rest. 

Growth: 

For some reasons I realised that I’ve always been uncomfortable around people who are more than a few years older than me. Growing up in the Singapore school system and even in church, you tend to hang out with people who are in the same school year as you religiously. Especially when one was younger, a year apart meant seniority and some form of superiority. 

I realised I hadn’t had a very good impression of older people generally. Being a critical little girl, I grew up realising how certain unhappiness or things I felt were unjust in my life were a consequence of how my parents brought me up – too strict, not encouraging enough, emotionally absent etc. While my parents must have had good intentions in having me and bringing me up, and while many things they did were admirable, at the same time I can’t deny that I received certain things in a hurtful way. I had a very bad impression of teachers as well, thinking that they were there to assess and grade me and assign homework, instead of being someone whom I could relate to and ask for help from. It was only in junior college that I started asking teachers questions earnestly (I remember getting my poor friend to help me ask questions in secondary school), and my Knowledge & Inquiry teacher was the first one I knew who actually invited us over to his house and inspired me to learn more. 

So I always kept my distance from people older than me, thinking that they were usually there to manipulate or to be critical of me. And having grown up hating teachers, I never wanted to be a teacher in any way, even though in the period between junior college and university, giving tuition or being a relief teacher was a lot more lucrative than administrative work.  I suppose the only older adults I became close with to any measure were those who actively took the initiative to treat me as a peer and who were able to relate with me in a casual, natural manner.

Well, when we joined a church here, I was hopeful of being put in the graduate students ministry (Impact) or the international students ministry (Global Access), having aspirations to be a graduate student the next academic year as well as being comfortable associating with international students from my time on exchange. But S and I were put in Covenant, the married couples ministry. 

I was pretty horrified actually. Other than the older adult barrier, I’ve never had a particular chemistry with kids. Growing up as an older part of the generation with respect to my extended family, I remember writing poems about babies being gross and putting “babies keep out” stickers on my door when my extended family came over for family events, primarily because my room and in particular my bed would be taken over as a diaper changing area. In my own life, I’ve also observed how for many Christians, family was an idol that stumbled them in ministry – it was “my family first, the rest of the world can take care of itself”, and I frequently got the sense that the spiritual family we have in God was subordinate to the actual biological family (c.f. many Christian families who reconcile themselves to adoption after not being able to have their first choice of biological kid). 

I’m really glad to have met families who have taught me that having a family doesn’t mean not having space for others, and being older doesn’t mean you don’t treasure relating to the young in a spirit of family instead of critical judgment. 

In particular, L&V were generous in checking in on us, offering to send us to and from Ikea so we could get household goods, even passing to us a microwave they didn’t use anymore. 

P&J meanwhile, committed to giving us lifts to Life Group at their house every week, and were happy to include us in their lives, whether it be going to the library with their kids or even learning how to carry their kids. 

J&R, while having their second child though R was at a late age and it was a difficult pregnancy, continued to send a member of their family as a representative every week, and remembered all the birthdays in the Life Group so that the person who brought refreshments every week would bring a cake for special occasions. 

T, who while her husband was attending a different church and she’s probably the second oldest member in our young student-focused church, would share realistically about her struggles and need for prayer, and joke with us. 

At the same time, I was glad for other newly-wed couples joining the Life Group, so that we could all establish our new married lives together. 

While S is still the quintessential baby whisperer and he likes to tease me about how kids like him and not me (trying to incite envy, tsk), it makes me glad to now be able to functionally play with kids (lol) and look out for them when they are falling over learning to walk. And even housesit, in cases where there are sleeping kids, so that the parents can have some time to spend relating to each other without juggling and fighting fires! 

Meanwhile, our church here has this thing called LCG (Life Change Group) which is someone you’re paired with to spiritually journey with in particular. I was blessed to get matched with my friend J (different from the J above, although she is similarly awesome hee), who was amazing in being open about her own struggles and caring and prayerful about even things like our relationship. While I’ve been involved in marketplace prayer groups and through that, God has brought me to various sisters in Singapore whom I can pray with, I’m so glad that He established this constant, spiritual relationship even in this foreign land to allow me to reflect and share my life. 

So that’s one way I feel I have grown. Learning to realise that everything can be reclaimed by God for His kingdom of shalom, and also realising that no one is perfect, yet we all can relate to each other as sinners in need of grace. 

Another way I’ve grown is being more open to new ideas and learning more about people who are different from me. Having the chance to explore what I can learn next, I have learnt that there is so much more out there than I know exists. For example, that social work isn’t merely an interpersonal or policy discipline. And that there are at least 15 types of engineering courses, all of them different (the North Campus at the University of Michigan has a ton of different buildings for each one). I still have this button in my head that kinda turns off when people talk about engineering or finance or healthcare, for example, but I try to catch it a bit more nowadays. :P 

Rest: 

Before I came here, I felt like it was ages since I had rested properly. I had transited 3 jobs over 3.5 years, of which one of those jobs was actually 2 jobs each taking half the normal workload. I had had a multitude of bosses (small and big bosses both), probably like 10 or more in those various jobs, and have had to deal with different working styles and unexpected transitions. Each of my jobs required fundamentally different skills and exposed me to new areas. In the midst of that, I continued to be involved in various activities that I pursued out of work, such as church and para-church activities (e.g. coordinating the logistics of an overseas 3D2N camp, including being a huge part of setting direction and organising the various sessions, while transiting into a new policy job!). I hardly went home for dinner at all. 

Most recently before coming here, S and I had had to plan our wedding in 2 months (including navigating parents and friend politics! Cause they will all have their own idea of what should be done and how they want to be involved), and had to wrap up our jobs in 3 months or so while juggling this, and packing up our whole lives (literally, my mom decided that my brother would take over my  room that I’d stayed in since I was 7 years old, and nothing was to be left behind; and S cleared all his things too) and preparing to move over (visa, securing a place to stay and flights, packing things to bring over for the wintry weather, announcing big changes and saying goodbye to each friend, etc!).

Even back in law school, partly because I thought most “normal” law subjects were boring and liked working for common causes with friends, I was involved in a myriad of extracurricular activities and pursuing different courses in new and diverse areas (e.g. Korean, Public Administration, Competition Law, UN Law, Mediation, Family Law). If you saw my resume you might think I was doing all these random things for credit, instead of doing them just because I enjoyed doing them and wanted to learn more. 

Part of me genuinely is interested in all these different things and enjoys doing them. At the same time though, my dad liked to say I was burning the candle on both ends, and I definitely needed time to rest and explore ideas more deeply. And my identity was inevitably becoming very linked with what I was doing, instead of in the fact that I don’t need to please or impress anyone or even do anything constructive with my life, to be accepted by God and others. 

Coming here was putting a stop to all of that. There were opportunities to do more at work, and I felt that if I accepted them I would be going down a spiral of achievement after achievement, with no room to think what I really wanted or was uniquely able to do, that no one else would do. Of course it’s a privilege to even have the ability to rest or pursue things outside of work, with many being systemically deprived of such things by threats to survival. And I am thankful to God for that privilege, that I hope to use well. 

This rest has enabled me to reflect, and to offer more to others, and to question more deeply. I still learn again and again the lesson of the need to rest in God, because worry, while based in things you may actually logically believe you need to do, can be consuming and counter-productive and very self-idolatrous (in the sense that you think you can control more than you actually can). Rest is not a bad word, and leisure is not a bad word, and joy in just being can be a deep mark of grace.

So that is one view of my 9 months here, which while sometimes new and crazy and cold and awkward for me, I acknowledge as a time from God indeed.