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remuswriting · 4 years ago

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So, I’ve decided to write up this post about my pet peeves even though literally no one asked. This focuses on a lot of things but the majority of it speaks about male readers. I’ve noticed the majority of people who write male reader are cishet girls and while it’s great that more male reader content is being made, the content is not always the best when it comes to accuracy. These are all things I’ve noticed as a gay man and I feel like should be addressed and fixed.

Something to keep in mind is that I say gay man throughout this but you can put in any sexuality or gender (besides cishet) in there that makes more sense for you. Obviously mlm doesn’t mean gay men but gay relationship because man loves man. Just wanted to put that disclaimer out there.

Submissive Reader

Okay, so the reader being submissive is totally cool and everything but not when it’s literally every single male reader post out there. Now, submissive in this case isn’t just sexually but ‘personality’ as well. The media depicts a lot of gay men as very feminine and over the top or incredibly soft, which everyone says is submissive. This idea feeds into heteronormativity, which means “denoting or relating to a world view that promotes heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation.” You could also just say that it’s forcing straight roles onto lgbt people, even though they’re not straight.

The reader doesn’t need to be all soft spoken and uwu just because you want the Haikyuu guy to be the dominant one in the relationship. Personality doesn’t go with what you’re like in bed because why would it be? Do girls always act like the way you’re writing submissive male readers just because they ‘bottom?’ No, they don’t. It’s very aggravating to read because it literally discredits every guy who doesn’t act or dress that way and may ‘bottom.’ I know gay guys who literally just wear ratty t-shirts, cargo shorts, and sandals they bought three years ago and drink beer like no one’s business. They’re still gay submissive men who are being looked over because people want to use heteronormativity when it shouldn’t be.

Over Sexualization + Fetishism

This is not always the case but I’m going to mention it. A lot of cishet women read or watch yaoi and find it so incredibly hot and then become obsessed with mlm relationships. If that is your reasoning for writing male reader, then don’t. It’s already disgusting enough that me being in a relationship with another man has gotten me messages asking who tops and who bottoms and what the sex is like. It’s really easy to see who sees mlm relationships as yaoi and fetishizes it and who sees mlm relationships as relationships between two men. There are blogs who are ran by gay men and them posting nsfw things dealing with mlm is completely different than a woman doing so. We are not your fetish.

Also, the over sexualization of gay men is when you’re always thinking about mlm couples having sex and you have to make everything sexual is starting to become more and more prevalent in any fandom and real life, which is disgusting and ridiculous. When a mlm couple goes to the store to get groceries, don’t find some way to make it where they’re going to have rough sex when they get home. Let them buy their fucking groceries and have a fluffy moment. You ruin the quality of the writing when making everything sexual.

If you write smut, then make them use lube and a condom. Spit hurts so fucking bad, an asshole isn’t like a vagina that self-lubricates, so use lube. I’m literally just saying that I don’t know any gay men that would rather have spit be used to prep instead of lube. Also, I know you all think it’s so hot for guys to come in each other, but it’s so unsanitary. Of course, if they’re each other’s firsts, it’s not as disgusting (still disgusting) but if they’re not each other firsts; have them wear condoms. They should be getting tested after every sexual partner to make sure they’re not getting any STDs. There are some STDs that literally never go away and they need to wear a condom any time they have sex or else they could infect that other person. Yes, I know that you’re writing where they’ve never had sex with anyone before but let’s be real with some of your prompts. Majority of men have sex in college and when they got to bars, so it’s not unlikely for them to not be a virgin.

Sexualizing Minors

I know everyone has an opinion on this, so here’s mine; don’t. I don’t give two shits if it’s fictional, you are still sexualizing minors. I don’t understand why you are all so dead set on only writing them in high school when there is literally a whole time skip to use. According to Japanese law, you become an adult when you’re 20, which means that high school guys should not have any smut written for them.

None of the Haikyuu boys were even thinking about sex in high school. The fandom has made some of them sex gods when they were all volleyball losers who only thought about school and volleyball. It’s confirmed Kuroo was in college prep classes and he also forced Kenma to be on the volleyball team. He only thinks about school and volleyball, sorry guys. Ushijima is literally only volleyball and it is so funny you guys think he’s all sexual. The guy is too stupid to realize common things about earth and it’s gravity, do you really think he’s going to be all ‘daddy’ with anyone?

Another thing is how I don’t see the appeal for anyone to have sex in the gym or club room or in public due to the number of germs there are. This goes back to people over sexualizing mlm relationships but there’s no need to have so many public sex things written about high schoolers. Instead of doing all that weird shit, write for the Haikyuu guys when they’re 20+ and do like college AUs (my favorite) or just follow the time skip. I promise you, it’s not that hard when there’s a whole Haikyuu wiki page just about the timeline that breaks everything down into years and months.

Americanization

Buckle your seatbelts boys because this is going to be a long one.

I notice in nearly everything I read is that you guys Americanize it. Sure, you don’t know Japanese culture, so you write what you know. This is really annoying though because you’re taking away from the culture Haikyuu comes from. If you want to make it like it’s in the United States, then make it an alternate universe instead of doing whatever you’re doing.

I have been writing Haikyuu fanfiction for years and have done plenty of research when it comes to Japanese culture from Googling things to intense reading to taking notes from what I notice in different animes. One thing I’ve been working on for awhile focuses on Hinata, who is a trans guy. There are a lot of people who would just make it as American as possible but I’ve been researching about how Japan is with the lgbt community. Just because I want to write a character to be something doesn’t mean I’m going to Americanize it. Let me share what I’ve read.

Gay marriage isn’t really a thing in Japan. Two prefectures have it but it literally means about nothing when it comes to the government. If they just want to get married because they really love each other, then that may work for them but they will not be seen as married to the government. It is still taboo for people to be gay in Japan, so no one really screams it from the rooftops that they’re gay and dating someone of the same gender. Transgender people are just now getting places to go to get hormone replacement therapy and if I remember correctly, it’s maybe a handful of places but at least one for sure. LGBT things in Japan are not the same as they are in the United States, so don’t write it like it is. I’ve been told I’m writing it that way to create angst when in reality it’s because that’s how it is over there.

I’m going to come off as rude here but how the fuck are you guys writing their schools wrong? They don’t go to different classrooms each period; they literally stay in one class all day and the teachers change for each period. This is one of my biggest pet peeves because why do you have to Americanize this thing when it’s literally clear as day something that doesn’t happen over in Japan. Here are some things about Japanese schools.

They start at 8:45am and end at 3:15pm. Schools in Japan go from Monday to Friday but used to be Monday through Saturday. There are three terms: April to July, September to December, and then finally January to March. Each term gets a report card and finals. Classes are 40 minutes long with 10 minute breaks in between to do whatever as long as you’re back in your seat before the next class. Elementary and middle schools always had some type of field trip, so if you could always have reader meet one of the boys on the field trip because maybe both of their schools went to the same place.

It’s not that hard to look this stuff up. To look all of that up, it took maybe 30 minutes because I was checking different sources to try to fact check somethings. I’m just one for accuracy and it drives me nuts when someone doesn’t put in the same effort I did into making things as accurate as possible.

Settings

I’ve already discussed school setting, so let’s go into some settings that are typically written incorrectly. This is usually because people don’t have actual experience with that environment.

University

I can’t find just a whole lot all about university in Japan but I’ve found some, so I’ll share what I’ve found. University students take fashion seriously because they’ve been forced to wear uniforms for the last six years. In the United States, we value comfort over fashion and I’ll admit I’ve gone to lecture in pajamas before and not cared because it was an 8am class but it’s not like that in Japan. Everyone tries to look as good as possible because they finally can.

Dorms are not like they are in the United States. My living situation right now is more like theirs than the U.S. aka I live in an apartment by myself (I need a roommate though because rent is so fucking expensive). About every student lives in an apartment and there are no dorms unless you are a foreign exchange student and you’re still technically in an apartment but you have a roommate you didn’t pick. Characters can live in the same apartment complex if you want them to but Kenma literally lived in a house in his second year of university if you want to have that accuracy.

They don’t change their major once they start college. As much as I could see some of them constantly changing their majors, you just don’t do that in Japan. It’s a pretty weird concept because my mother changed her major six times before she stuck with nursing and I know a guy that has been at a two year college for five years because he keeps changing his major. They decide what they want to do because they start university and have to hope they’re going to like it.

I read an article from someone who went to university in Japan and the entrance exams to universities are apparently the hardest part about university there. You don’t have to really work much to pass classes in Japan because all you need to do is show up to get the units for the course. Some classes don’t even require attendance, you just have to write a report by the end of the semester. This is so different than university in the United States where you are literally drowning in homework every single day and debate on dropping out constantly.

Hospitals

As someone who has multiple family members who worked in hospitals, which made me be in hospitals constantly as a child, and had a lot of medical issues, it is the most annoying thing to see people write hospital wrong. There is so much information online that you can look up as well as just asking people you know who have been in hospitals as either patients, visitors, or employees. This is going to based off of American hospitals because I was having a difficult time finding things about

In regular hospitals, you cannot leave the floor without anyone knowing. There is literally no way to break out of there without someone knowing. This applies to at night too because there are always nurses there at the nurses station because they have to check up on patients and give medication as well as help people go to the bathroom. Doctors don’t stay at night because their shift is during the day. You may not have the same nurse twice while in the hospital because they work 12 hour shifts. I don’t know if this is the same system as in Japan but nurses don’t work every single day if they work in a hospital, they do have days off where other nurses will take their shifts. In the United States, some hospitals have four 12 hour shift days in a row and then three free days. Nurses change patients a lot because of the people taking that shift or they have to go work on a different floor.

You are required to eat, even if it’s through an IV. Also, you always have an IV in your arm if you are admitted to the hospital because it’s just how it is. Typically regular hospitals aren’t all that pretty and I’ve been to like dozens for multiple things, but psychiatric hospitals usually have the prettiest grounds. That’s just a random thing that I’ve observed in my 21 years of going to hospitals.

#remy rants #haikyuu rant #writing rant

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chuchuroon · 5 years ago

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IKEMEN SENGOKU: FEAST THINE EYES ON STEAMPUNK WARLORDSSSS

Soooo after MM I have finally found my next Otome obsession Currently, the Taiwan server of Ikemen Sengoku is running a region-exclusive event that puts all the Warlords in a Steampunk AU. The outfits are too good, so I wanted to share this with the Western/JP server players! (Currently, I play on all 3 servers like the dumbass obsessive idiot I am)

More photos and information on the event story under the cut! (SPOILERS for the Taiwan Ikesen Steampunk Event). If you’d like to play on the Taiwan server, the app is named 美男戰國 (copy paste into your app store and search) and it doesn’t appear to be region-locked. Ikesen is licensed to/published by a different company (iSweety) in Taiwan, so they sometimes have artwork and events /merch that are exclusive to that region, as well as unique promo videos.

There wasn’t a promo page where I could grab the event artworks, so pardon my phone screenshots of dubious quality. I tried my best to take screencaps where the dialogue was minimal so you can get a better idea of their outfits. They’re all so good!

A 3/4 view of Mitsuhide’s Steampunk outfit. In this event, only stories for Nobunaga, Masamune, and Kenshin are available, and a minor collectible story for Ieyasu. In Masamune’s afterstory, he mentions that Mitsuhide has the special ability to read people’s thoughts.

*holds back nosebleed* I’m weak to men with slender waists ahhhhhghhgh. Masa’s Steampunk outfit fits him so well (Is that a man-corset? Can we make all men wear corsets?) and of course his collar is unfastened. I love the cogwheel design on his eyepatch too.

Even Kennyo looks rather dashing, that rascal, although he’s human in this story and hates the androids (and especially Nobunaga, of course) for having killed his fellow brethren.

IKESEN STEAMPUNK EVENT: STORY BACKGROUND / INTRO

You, the (human) main character, are the granddaughter of an eccentric Duke that created sentient machine life-forms called 械偶, which I will call androids for now (The name literally translates as “mechanical puppets”). Kennyo and others sometimes refers to them as merely “puppets” (人偶), likely in a derogatory manner.

The androids are sentient and are made of cogs and wheels and circuitry, and powered by a main heart-like “core” which contains a rune. The rune contained within the core is referenced as the “soul” of the androids. Runes have different names, meanings, and uses. If an android’s core is too badly damaged, they cease to function, or die in the robot sense of the word. Even if the core is repaired, if the “rune soul” is damaged, the android wouldn’t be considered living/sentient even if the rest of its mechanisms are functioning. Runes can exist in other forms, such as carved on things like doorways and rocks and hold power. There are teleportation runes which is how androids manage to quickly travel to and from the human community when necessary. Different circuits within an android serve different functions (movement, senses, etc), much like how different lobes or parts of the brain control specific bodily functions in a human. There are different types of androids, such as battle-types and healer-types, and they can have specific protocols and purposes. The story alludes to additional types, but they are not specifically named. Androids have masters, who are typically the one who created them, although this can differ. If a master dies, an android can live without a master or choose to follow another one. Androids can have multiple masters in their life, but in the story the majority of the androids live in their own community and no longer have a master.

Androids can obtain energy through consuming human food/drink, although it’s not described as their ideal or main method of obtaining energy (the main method was not specified). It’s possible for traces of human food and drink to remain in their system, which can eventually build up over time and cause them to break down. Androids have their own emotions/opinions and thoughts, and can touch and feel just like humans. However, there is tension between humans and androids, who fear that androids, being physically superior, may one day wipe out the humans, and fights often break out.

After your grandfather’s death, you go to “Elfland”, a hidden, floating island-slash-sky vessel created by your grandfather that is the last standing community of the sentient androids. Within this community, there are peaceful androids, who do not want to harm humans, and anti-human androids, who will attack humans on sight, as well as a third, neutral faction. You are here to search for your grandfather’s hidden treasure, which he left you clues to before he passed away, and you’re assisted by the androids during your search. Nobunaga, Masamune, Mitsuhide, Mitsunari, Hideyoshi, are part of the peaceful faction, while Kenshin is part of the anti-human faction. Yukimura and Ieyasu are part of the neutral faction. In Kenshin’s route, Sasuke and Shingen are also mentioned briefly, but their faction is unknown. There was no mention of Yoshimoto or Ranmaru.

CHARACTER STORY - MINOR TO MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW

Masamune:

Your grandfather the Duke had a friend and fellow android researcher whose eldest son passed away. In light of this, the Duke created Masamune in the image of that eldest son, to keep his friend company. Instead of “Master”, Masamune referred to the Duke’s friend as “Father”, and they had a close relationship.

The Duke and his friend eventually had a bad falling out that escalated to violence, and Masamune got between them to stop them from fighting each other. His “father” tried to shoot the Duke, and Masamune chose to protect the Duke. As a result of this incident, Masamune lost his right eye, and also became estranged from his father, who was upset that Masamune chose the Duke over him. Although Yasu-bot offered to fix it, Masamune declined, saying that he wanted to keep the broken eye as a reminder to himself that “all choices have consequences” (and because eyepatches are cool). When you arrive on Elfland, he has you skydiving into your target exploration area rather than take a long time to walk there, and generally shows you around and adventures alongside you, while simultaneously protecting you from skirmishes against the anti-human androids. Ieyasu mentions that while Masamune “isn’t a battle-type android, he’s pretty capable”, but doesn’t really explain just what kind of android he is. When Masamune’s father got grievously injured, he was kept alive but was on a deathbed, suffering from tremendous pain every day. When Masamune came to visit him, he begged for Masamune to put him out of his misery. Masamune decided to do so, knowing that it would result in his father’s wife and younger son resenting him and people saying horrible things about how he’s an android that killed his own master who treated him like a son. You, of course, help resolve this misunderstanding and also see past the terrible reputation this gave Masamune, and you accept him fully, ya’ll bond over war and fighting dealing with your ex-fiance (who happens to be the biological younger son of Masamune’s father, and colluded with Kennyo to try to wreck Elfland) and discovering your granpapaw’s treasure, and become lovers. In the afterstory, Masamune recalls that his father once told him to live life to the fullest. “If you’re not doing what you love and enjoying all that life has to offer, then you’re not truly living, whether you’re made of flesh or steel doesn’t matter. Otherwise, even if you have a heartbeat and you’re breathing, you’re no different than a walking corpse. If one day, I can no longer feel like I’m alive, then I’m already dead, even if my body is still functioning.” Reminiscing on this, Masamune wonders if meeting you was all fated since then. “I’ve fallen in love with an incredible woman”, he realizes, and listens to your heartbeat and makes you listen to his - “Every movement of every cog in my body is saying how much I love you, to the point of breaking. Can you hear it?” He asks. “Let me listen awhile longer, and I’ll answer,” you reply. In true Masamune fashion, he declares he can't wait any longer and decides to get his answer directly from your body. Yee haw.

Nobunaga:

He has a special ability which can disable the functions of other androids temporarily. During your research you discover that he was made in the image of the famous historical warlord Nobunaga Oda, who once united Japan. You guys are already lovers when the story begins. Human-Android tensions are high, and what’s worse is that Mitsuhide has been sneaking around meeting humans (including Kennyo) and making shady ass deals. You discover your grandfather’s treasure hidden behind a door with a riddle written in ancient Japanese, a dead language that only you know because your grandfather taught you. The riddle reads: “What can save both the humans and androids and allow them to live in peace?” and the answer is “love”, and the door opens when you write out the character for love in Japanese on the entrance. Inside the treasure box you find in the room, you learn secrets that could be used for both great and terrible deeds, including the knowledge of how to create sentient androids and how to destroy them, how Elfland was created, and various other secrets about androids. You decide to hide them again to prevent this knowledge from getting into the wrong hands.

Human-Android tensions escalate into full out war as Mitsuhide informs the humans how to gain access to Elfland and where to attack. Kennyo and Nobunaga cross swords and Nobunaga is nearly outmatched when Mitsuhide appears, revealing that he led the humans here intentionally because he wanted to herd the bulk of the anti-Android fanatics together in one location and collectively wipe them out in order to effectively stamp out future threats of war. He apologizes for being late as he was delayed by Hideyoshi-bot almost killing him. Nobunaga just laughs and tells Mitsuhide he deserves it for worrying Hideyoshi, and a spiteful Kennyo reveals that he has been modified with Android parts to become stronger, and activates this power to try to land a killing blow on Nobunaga - only to discover that Mitsuhide has even plotted everything this far back in advance, and way back when Kennyo was being modified, Mitsuhide ensured that he had faulty parts installed. Heheh. Mitsuhide:2, Kennyo: 0 In the afterstory, it’s revealed that one of the secrets you learned was the process of turning an android into a human. Androids can perform what’s called a “soul contract” with each other; when two androids perform this, they become linked and know each other’s thoughts and feelings, and if one Android dies, the other also loses power to their rune core and dies as well. However, if an Android performs a soul contract with a human, they can become a human (but there are unspecified risks involved, and success is more or less regarded as miraculous), and share a life. Since Nobunaga’s primary protocol was to protect Elfland and the vault that guarded your grandfather’s treasure, and that duty has been completed, he wishes to become a human so that he can grow old with you and share the same lifespan. You establish the contract and miraculously he’s turned into a human and ya’ll enjoy fun kinky times where you both know what the other is thinking and feel what the other is feeling (oh boy).

Ieyasu:

Healer-type android and constantly frets about the fact that he’s not a battle-type and therefore weak, and wonders why your grandfather created him this way. He claims to not like humans, and he blames himself for not being able to save the Duke, but you help him understand that it wasn’t his fault and that you are thankful he was able to stay by the Duke’s side and keep him company when he passed. He complains about having to repair Mitsunari-bot (who we never see). He is reluctant to get involved with humans, though this is revealed that it’s because he believes humans are too frail and die easily, and he didn’t want to experience heartbreak again. One of the lines he mutters to himself (well out of your earshot of course) is how the existence of people like you and your grandfather is the reason he could never bring himself to fully hate or reject the humans. He has a workshop and appears to not differentiate between factions when it comes to treating those who need it, as he mentions having repaired Ken-bot before as well, who is on the anti-human faction.

Kenshin:

The text translates to “My emotional circuits have been broken since a long time ago”. I chortled to myself for a good, long minute at that one.

Anyway, Ken-bot is a battle-type android who also happens to have “protecting you” written as his top/primary protocol by your grandfather, which is why he goes along with all your endeavors despite belonging to the anti-human faction of the androids. He constantly emphasizes the fact that, as a battle-type droid, he is only capable of fighting and causing destruction. His emotional circuits aren’t completely broken, and he still has an obsession with sake and dried plums, which, according to Sasuke-bot, Ken-bot partakes to a degree that leads Sasuke-bot to believe Ken-bot is trying to drink/eat himself into an early grave.

You learn from your grandfather’s journal that he originally created Kenshin as a battle-type android, but that he desired to have Kenshin protect his legacy (the androids on elfland, and his granddaughter) rather than simply for fighting and destruction. He saw Kenshin as a protector, not a destroyer. You try to tell his to Ken-bot and also confess your feelings, which seem to cause Ken-bot’s emotional circuits to malfunction even more. “I don’t understand what you mean when you say you like me,” he says brokenly, and during the height of the human-android battle decides to stick you in the safest place possible, which is in a... dun dun dun-geon. He then throws himself into such a battle frenzy against the humans that invaded Elfland that Yuki-bot (instructed by Sasuke-bot, who we never actually see) comes to release you from the dungeon and take you to Ken-bot in order to save him from himself. Ken-bot believes the only way to achieve lasting peace is to wipe out all the humans. You challenge him by saying he should then kill you, since you are a human. Just as you seem to be about to convince him, a shot rings out, and Kenshin shoves you out of the way, his core taking a hit from protecting you. Shingen-bot and Sasuke-bot also having taken serious injuries, the anti-human faction have no leaders, and retreat.

You take an unconscious Ken-bot to the Oda forces to seek Ieyasu’s help. He says that the rune powering Ken-bot’s core is damaged too badly, so you find the hidden treasure of the Duke, hoping to learn a way to restore Ken-bot. Ieyasu suggests attempting the soul-contract to try to convert Ken-bot into a human as a last ditch effort to save him, as it allows the bonded pair to share their lifeforce, but he stresses that there’s no known record of it succeeding, and you may shorten your lifespan as a result. Your grandfather’s records also mentions that would only work with high-level androids. Yasu-bot also adds this flavor text that by attempting the soul contract, “You will share and endure all of the hardships, feelings and memories from the past of the other person”. You, of course, plow forward without hesitation, to which Yasu-bot gives his typical sigh of annoyance. “As expected of you”, he comments simply, and adds “I can see why this emotionally-broken idiot would be changed by you.”

After what feels like a long and painful dream, you wake up to find Pinocchio - I mean Ken-bot - has become a real boy! He confesses his feelings to you, Yasu-bot fills you both in what happened with current events while you two were unconscious, and slaps on an added warning to Kenshin of “Don’t ever make her cry again. There’s more people than you can imagine who hold her in high esteem, and they’re all incredibly annoying people...and will be much more difficult for you to handle now, as a human” - to which Kenshin answers with a typical bloodthirsty threat and by grabbing and hugging you possessively. Yasu-bot shrugs and says he doesn’t want to meddle in between “an annoying couple” anyway, and makes an offhand snide remark about how neither one of you make him worry any less than Mitsunari-bot does, checks up on you two one last time, and hurries out the room like he can’t stand to be there for another moment longer. Which is smart of him, since in the Afterstory ya’ll basically exchange mushy ass words with each other and do the nasty.

annnnd there’s the Steampunk event as I experienced it. Hope to see some Steampunk AU fan creations of our favorite warlords in the future!

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kirinda-ondo · 4 years ago

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Personal Astro Verse Part 1 - World, Story and Themes

World

Everything is very much based on the 60s version in terms of characters, in-universe media, designs, and aesthetics. Just about everything and everyone looks like it's still in the 60s, but with modern technology that more accurately reflects our current day (though certain things, i.e.; transportation, are basically their cheesy 60s sci-fi equivalents unless a more realistic version is called for.) Basically, it wouldn't be weird in this universe to see someone who clearly looks like they're from the 60s using a smartphone, or characters watching black and white TV on a flatscreen. Essentially, it's a slightly updated retrofuture.

The setting is Metro City, which is in an unspecified location. Culturally speaking, it takes elements from both America and Japan during the decade. If a plot requires real world places, their location in relation to Metro City will always be vague. Canon characters will generally retain their Japanese names, though dub names can and will be used as nicknames (the biggest example being Atom as "Astro") or in-jokes. Some minor or self-contained story original characters may have more western names, as well as Japanese names. It's sort of a mixed bag.

In universe, there's a popular cartoon called Astronomy Lad; the first cartoon by robots, for robots. It basically functions as a parody of different aspects of Astro's various adaptations (usually the corny dubs and weird plot things), as well as occasionally being a mirror for Astro's own adventures in universe. Characters may comment on it as well, mirroring and poking fun at various sentiments from the actual Astro Boy fandom. However, no one is actually allowed to outright comment about how this is basically a dumb parody of their own lives; that ruins the joke. :(

Robot-human relations in this world are slightly better than they have been in previous adaptations. Robots have rights, and have been integrated into schools, workplaces, etc. for awhile now. However, there's still some underlying tension between robots and humans that occasionally bubbles up to the surface, revealing that while society's come a long way, it still has a long way to go.

Story and Themes

There is no large overarching plot, but there are a number of character driven plot threads happening concurrently, the specifics of which will be elaborated more in the character sections.

The focus is mainly on just the day to day lives of our favorite robot kids. My writing philosophy is basically, "Yeah, they're super robots, but they're kids first." So while there would ideally be your typical Astro Boy episode level of action every so often (hypothetically written by someone who isn't me because I can't write good action), there would be a larger focus on slice of life things. They just happen to have super robot powers which makes their kid antics all the more ridiculous.

Tone-wise, it's fairly lighthearted and silly and maybe even a bit nostalgic, as at its core, it's essentially a look at childhood (with the added flair of super robot action). Of course, childhood isn't always easy, so there's also some more serious themes and bittersweet moments. These are largely about family dynamics as well the expectations that different kids in the same family can have put on them versus who they are and who they want to be. However, there would also obviously be some themes about discrimination, as per Astro Boy tradition.

#kateh rambles #personal astro verse

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mmysbathotw · 4 years ago

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Hi! I want to get into ouji fashion but I live in the middle of nowhere! Do you know any good stores (preferably on the sharper side) that I could buy clothes? Or techniques and stuff to learn how to make my own?

Hi there! I just want to start by saying I’m not an expert on the subject of buying but I’m happy to share what I know ^^ I will say that buying ouji be prepared to find that in most egl spaces ouji is the minority. I find a lot of the time I spend browsing is just waiting for the perfect item. I am also 30, and I have a good paying job. I have been interested in the fashion for awhile but only been able to make my first significant purchase about 5 years ago. So I know in some cases throwing down 70 dollars for a vest may not be justifiable in your budget. Believe me I’ve been there. BUT! egl pieces are clothing that you’re meant to cherish, and for the most part, very well made. Especially if they are created by an indie brand or designer. Usually the first place I point people is Lace Market. It’s like eBay for EGL. https://egl.circlly.com, people are pretty accommodating for questions and shipping quotes. It’s great for people just starting to get into the fashion because high quality pieces can be deeply discounted. Immortal Thorn, Little Dipper, and Alice and the Pirates are some of my favorite brands to search for on there. Next is https://www.my-lolita-dress.com they’re a reseller, which some people take issue with because they will often charge more to handle and be the go between for consumer and brand. But I will say it’s convenient if you are intimidated by shipping services like I am. I’ve ordered from here a few times, they have cancelled a pre-order on me before (I was refunded) but i just wanted to call that out. I have also bought from Clobba https://www.clobbaonline.com/ Right now they don’t have much of a selection but I have purchased form them without issue. Same for https://www.lolitawardrobe.com/ another reseller I have bought from without issue. https://www.devilinspired.com is another reseller, I haven’t ordered here myself but a big time ouji I follow recommends them. Also LovelyLor an egl youtuber promotes them as well. https://www.wunderwelt.jp/buy/ also is a good egl seller based out of japan. They have both new and used variants of their website. Haven’t ordered here myself but they seem very easy to use for overseas buyer. Not sure where you’re located but I would double check that they are shipping overseas, because a lot of Japanese brands are not. As far as indie brands I will sing the praises of http://www.elegyclothing.com/ till the end of time. A one woman shop based in Ohio(?) I think, she makes the most amazing garments and she frequently will have ouji styles paired up with her dress releases. Another helpful thing I’ve found is instagram, a lot of like minded creators will sort of band together, or people who wear a certain substyle will share similar brands. This is how I found out about https://www.idodeclareshop.com/ who did a limited run on an vest and pants set that have become absolute favorites of my wardrobe. I also have supplemented my wardrobe with a few pieces from amazon, some staples like knee high socks and blouses are easy to find. The black blouse that I’m wearing in those vampire pics was from Amazon. ‘Victorian’ is a good keyword to include in searches. From there its up to your personal taste, but I tend to look for piece with higher collars and ruffles down the front. (Egl vests tend to cross rather low on the chest, having a ruffles or a cravat can help fill the space) A basic pirate, wide brimmed hat or bowler can also be purchased from Amazon or other more mainstay stores to help bring a look together. (I’m trying to use amazon less but you can also use these same sort of rules in other mainstream stores, or on Etsy buying second hand or handmade.) As for non-sanctioned egl official sites. I would say I’ve seen some excellent thrifted coords, that used plaids and other solid colors for their pants and vests. Long shorts that hit the knee definitely read as ouji. ‘Pumpkin Pants’ are also a term used for the poofy shorts that brands will make, cosplayers have plenty of tutorials online http://dr-cos.info/fp-pumpkinpants.html < I believe this one I used for my Ms. Muffet cosplay, but I’m using that same pattern for a new pair of ouji shorts. I would say investing in some vests and building outwards would be my strategy if I had to start over. Ouji’s get a lot of flexibility when it comes to our coords but you can use one statement piece to really define your look and build out from there. So be creative! Look to history and other ouji’s for inspiration. Good luck I hope this helped!

#the-cutest-trashcan #ask #egl #eglfashion #ouji #ouji fashion

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mirkwoodshewolf · 6 years ago

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Rock Angel takes Japan; Queen x reader

*Author’s note*

Hello my fellow readers of my “Rock Angel” series I have yet another chapter for you and this time this comes from an actual event the boys of Queen got to experience in Japan 1975 so click the linked video to see and you’ll get an idea, especially during the tea ceremony. Anyways I am so happy more people are taking an interest in this series and loving it and as always tag list is always open. I’ve already done multiple parts already but they are more for the future so once I do include an introduction to another character, then I may or may not post the chaps. I’ve got done already in the past 2 days. Alright just one swear word but overall FLUFF enjoy my darlings :)

Taglist *open*:

@phantom-fangirl-stuff

@mr-badguymercury

@onebigfangirlworld

@labessieisallama

@starswin

@naturalswifty89

@isabella-bby

_______________________________________________________

*April 2nd, 1982*

I had been invited over to Freddie’s place along with the other boys just to do a little catching up. Ever since my big break out, I had recorded my single “Set it all free” plus my very first album which took about three months to finish up, had it not been for the boys coming over to help me I might’ve burned myself out and probably want to crawl in under a rock and die.

My single had been recorded while the guys were still on tour and was released last October when I was still recording my first album. I still have yet to hear the results of my single and I was getting worried that if no one world wide liked it, would they even like my first album.

“Darling your as jumpy as a cricket, what’s gotten you so frightened darling?”

“Guys, how long was it to hear the results of your first single?”

“Oh it was awhile love, the longest we had to wait was maybe 8-9 months.” Answered Brian.

“You worried about yours?” asked Deacy. I looked down shamefully and told them.

“I mean sure America loved the song, but what about the rest of the world? I mean….sure there are female singers out there now but—what if they don’t like me because it’s just me and not an entire band I’m performing with?”

“Then fuck them.” Proclaimed Freddie.

“I agree with Fred, you’re incredibly talented love, and we’re not just saying that because we’re your friends. We’re speaking as four musicians to another rising one. You sing what the world needs to hear but refuses to acknowledge it. Even if the world doesn’t love your music, we will always love it, as well as you.” Roger said as he came up behind me and wrapped an arm around me.

I smiled softly and placed my hands on his arm as I felt him kiss my temple and I thanked him. Freddie’s phone soon rang and he picked it up and said.

“Freddie Mercury darling, oh Miami what a pleasant surprise, couldn’t resist hearing my voice could you?” We all rolled our eyes at Fred and soon he continued, “Yeah she’s right here, okay I’ll put her on,” he held the phone out to me and he said, “He wants to talk to you darling,” suddenly my heart began to speed up as I got out of Roger’s one armed hug and took the phone.

“Hey, Jim what’s up?” I held the phone close to my ear as I paced around and said, “Uh-huh, yeah….okay. Yeah, uh-huh okay thanks. Yeah you too, bye.” I then hung up the phone and I collapsed onto Fred’s couch right where Delilah was sitting.

“What’d he say love?” asked Deacy.

“Was it your single? Did you sell out?” demanded Freddie. I remained silent trying to take what Miami had told me all in.

“(Y/n)? Love are you okay? Is it bad news?” asked Roger in pure concern as he looked at me with worried eyes. I finally then decided to tell them by first asking a question.

“Tell me what it was like when you guys went to Japan back in ’75?”

“Ohh I still get tears remembering our welcome there. We just had no idea what to expect and the sheer amount of people that came to welcome us was just overwhelming.” Brian said.

“Why do you ask?” asked Deacy.

“Well you guys got some competition because my single just sold out in Japan. They want me to perform live in Tokyo, Japan!” The boys all cheered as Freddie picked me up spinning me around leaving me in a laughing fit as I embraced him as tightly as I could.

I was soon engulfed in a Queen group hug as they all cheered for me. Once I was free Brian said.

“That’s incredible love, when do you leave?”

“Oh shit I gotta go home and pack! Jim’s hoping to get the first nonstop flight to Japan tonight. Sorry gotta cut this visit short you guys, I’ll call you as soon as I reach Japan bye!” I quickly raced out of Freddie’s house and got on my bike and revved it up before taking off back to my flat.

Once I got home, I began packing up for the week tour of Japan. Packing all my clothes, hats, heath and beauty stuff, shoes and minor accessories like a couple of rings, my fingerless gloves, bracelets and necklaces. When I was sure I had everything I heard a limo honk and I knew my ride was here.

Grabbing my suitcases and a couple of my guitars, I opened my door and soon my stage handler Hank came up and helped me pack up the stuff into the limo. José my driver opened up the door and I thanked him as I stepped inside to see Miami sitting inside the back.

“Hello (y/n), so you got everything?”

“I’m pretty sure. Oh my god I can’t believe this is really happening. I mean the last time I went to Japan I was still your intern, now I’m one of your many clients.”

“It’s unbelievable how much has changed. And I couldn’t be more proud of you, I knew I chose right when I picked you. I knew you’d become more than just an intern to me one day.” I smiled at him and then Jim told José to get us to the airport.

We reached the airport and for the first time ever, I would get to experience a private airline where I am the star and not just part of the crew. The limo stopped right by the plane that I would be taking all the way to Japan.

“Alright now just head on straight into the plane, I’ll take care of everything with the rest of the crew. You just find a seat okay love?” I nodded then our doors opened up and I went out first and raced towards the plane and quickly raced up the stairs until I reached the plane.

“Good afternoon Miss, I’m Captain Trevor and I will be your pilot for the nonstop flight to Japan. You will be in safe hands with us Ms. (l/n).”

“Thank you Captain Trevor.” I saluted to him before walking further in the plane and see the luxurious interior of the plane. I picked me a spot and one of the flight attendants came up to me and said.

“Can I offer you any refreshments Ms. (l/n)?”

“I’ll just take a water for now,” she nodded then went to the back room to get my drink. Jim soon came in with a few more assistants who were going to help me get through the airport.

“You ready love?” asked Jim. I nodded as I fastened my seatbelt and soon the flight attendants went over the basic checklists for safety procedures and within about 5-10 minutes we were taking off.

I was currently reading my old English-Japanese dictionary that I had to have for a class for my foreign language credit I still had to take and practiced some basic greets that I was going to say. Hours ticked by and soon it was getting pretty late and there was still about 6hrs left of the 11hr flight so I decided to sleep the rest of the trip.

As I got myself situated, I pulled out my locket that I always kept around my neck and opened it up to reveal the picture of me with the boys at the Madison Square Garden show. This picture was taken right after the concert after my first outbreak performance.

“I already miss you guys, I sure wish you could be here.” I closed the locket up and tucked it back under my shirt and covered myself up with my favorite blanket and soon fell fast asleep.

After six hours at 4am in the morning, we arrived at Japan. Jim woke me up and I got myself woken up so that way I wouldn’t risk any embarrassing photos of me getting out. I re-did my makeup and eat me some M&M’s to get myself woken up since they always did the trick for me.

Our plane landed right at Tokyo International airport right in the private plane landing parking lot. I grabbed my bags and we all left the plane and headed on inside the airport.

We met up with the representatives of Japan as well as my translator.

“Ms. (l/n) I am Yamamoto Kaizo your translator, it is a pleasure to meet you. My daughters are big fans of yours.”

“Arigato Yamamoto, I’m honored. And I can’t wait to see all of Japan, my friends of Queen spoke so highly of this country so many times.”

“Come on (y/n) the car’s waiting to get us to the hotel to drop off your things, then we need to get you ready for the press conference.” Jim said. I nodded then we all raced down the hallways out of the gates.

And as soon as I could be seen coming out of the gates all I heard were loud screams. Over my security I saw hundreds of pictures from some of my photoshoots that I’ve been involved in, signs with my name saying “Welcome” or the word “Rock” with two angel wings sprouting out either side of the word.

Oh my god Brian was right, I felt like I was about ready to cry. No other place in the world has ever greeted me like this, I mean it’s almost as if I were suddenly royalty to them now. I waved to them and I wished that I could stop and sign autographs for them but I was on a tight schedule and they wouldn’t allow me as I was rushed out of the airport and into the car.

Crowds of Japanese fangirls and boys were trying to get through hoping to even catch a glimpse of me, press were snapping pictures like crazy and security was trying to keep them back as I finally got in the limo and was in the safe zone and the driver took off.

I waved to them and I saw some of the fans trying to chase after the car and I leaned back sighing deeply as I said.

“Wow that was….insane.”

“Life of a Rockstar love, I’m sure the boys have told you a lot about Japan” said Miami.

“That they have, okay now this press conference. What exactly do I have to do for it?”

“Alright, well first they’ll talk about a bit about your history and then we’ll open it up for a brief Q&A. Then they will present to you a platinum of your single just like they did with the boys when they sold out here back in 75, then they’ve invited you for a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where you will give Japan a thank you message and to help promote more people for coming to the concert which will happen tonight at the center of the capital right near the Tokyo tower.” I nodded and soon we arrived at the hotel where we quickly got checked in and I did a quick shower.

Once I was done and blow dried my hair up and straightened it out. When I was presentable and cleaned up I redid my makeup and quickly raced out of my room and met Jim downstairs in the lobby and we left for the press conference together.

We arrived at the building at around 8:15am and the conference was to start at 9. I was staying in the back room where I finally got the chance to meet my Japanese fans. Some of the girls were dressed up like me with the same leather jacket, long flapped jeans and having highlights in their hair.

I happily signed all their stuff and I was given so many presents like bouquets upon bouquets of roses red or white, Japanese yo-yos, a spinning top, painting of me as an angel holding a guitar shooting out bolts of lighting, just so many sweet gifts and I thanked them all in Japanese which all the girls were amazed and clapped for me smiling.

Finally at 9am sharp, the press conference began. I left the backroom and was guided towards the front and as soon as the doors opened and I walked onto the platform stage where a large table was set up for me, I was bombarded by flashes from cameras. As I took my seat the press conference began.

As the conference went on just like Miami said, I told them about my process of making the single, what the song meant to me (without giving too much detail, even though I could publicly humiliate Adam at this rate but I didn’t want to.) and then what was next for me.

I was then given by one of the top record producers of Japan a large framed platinum cover of my single “Set it all free” to which we shook hands and we posed for pictures with it. At around 11:30am the conference was over and I was then taken out to a park near the Tokyo tower where I would be taking part of the tea ceremony, just like the boys were.

We finally arrived at about 12:20pm and I was one hungry girl, but I still wanted to be respectful. Women in traditional Japanese kimonos surrounded the blanket along with photographers and camera crew people.

I took off my shoes and I sat down on the blanket and one of the girls came over to me and set down my tea as another one was instructing me the proper way to drink their tea.

It was a nice spring day, the cheery blossoms were in full bloom, the wind was blowing at a nice, gentle breeze and I was given some cakes and tea. All the while the photographers were getting pictures for their magazine and the camera crew were filming me. I was talking to the girls asking them questions about Japan and what other traditions they partake in.

They were friendly and told me all the tea ceremonies they helped out in for the summer festivals, the cherry blossom festival, and they themselves told me this but these girls also gave my boys the exact tea ceremony they were giving me right now.

After the ceremony I was playing with some of my presents and taking pictures of the beautiful park for my own keeping so that one day I could look back on this and remember exactly what Japan had done for me. Finally it was time for my thank you message before I got ready for the concert tonight.

I stood where the camera people wanted me to stand and they emphasized to me repeatedly to not turn around, just look right at the camera and not look at anything else. At first I was a little scared at the fact the man kept emphasizing it and looking me dead in the eye as he said it, so I did what he asked.

Once the camera started filming I gave my message to the people of Japan.

“Kon'nichiwa Nihon, watashi wa (l/n) (y/n). Hopefully I said that right hahaha. Anyways I just want to thank all of you for such a warm welcome to Japan. You all have been so kind and I can’t repay for making me feel so comfortable. Thanks for all the presents,” I said as I held up my yoyo, “And umm—”

Little did I know as I began my message, someone with shaggy blonde hair was photobombing me in the background going across the shot with his arms raised in the air.

“I hope you all come out to see the concert later tonight or any show that I’ll do in the near future. Heck I may just even move here.” As I continued, two men one with wild curly hair like a poodle and another with shorter poofy hair both came up behind me and crouched down so that they wouldn’t be seen in the shot.

The poodle haired fellow raised his arms up like wings while the other one kept his arms low, so the shot would look like I had two different wings in the back. Before peeking out on either side of me and making funny faces or sticking out their tongues.

For some reason I kept feeling someone was behind me so I quickly turned around and let out a squeak and laughed as did the rest of the crew. I fell to my knees laughing and crying at the same time. John picked me up and held me in his arms swaying me back and forth as Freddie came into the shot and he said.

“Come see this lovely angel perform tonight. She is a saint and a true angel. Let her grace you with her wonderful voice darlings. She has the Queen seal of approval.” With that the camera shut off. I turned and hugged Deacy as tightly as I could before I separated and I said.

“What are you guys doing here?”

“Did you really think we’d miss you making it as big as we did here in Japan?” asked Brian.

“Plus Miami called us and thought we’d give you a good surprise so—surprise!” Freddie said as he did the jazz hands at the end of his statement.

“Oh my God!” I cried out. “You lot better not have made me look stupid in that video.”

“Oh you wound us darling, why would we ever do that to you deliberately?” Roger said as he came up and wrapped his arms around me swaying me just like Deacy did earlier before playfully giving me a noogie and bopping my nose. I shook my head at him as he hugged me closer to him before releasing me.

After the tea ceremony it was time to head to the concert arena and do soundchecks and get ready for my concert at 6pm. After going over and making sure everything checked out, I was now in my makeup room getting all pretty for my show when I heard the door knock.

“Who is it?”

“(Y/n) (l/n) Rock angel fan club, party of 4.” I heard Freddie’s voice say. I smiled and said.

“Come right on in.” The boys entered inside my huge dressing room and Freddie made himself comfortable right on the couch.

“You nervous darling?” he asked me.

“A bit.” I admitted.

“Well don’t be, you’ll do great, you always bring the rock in Rock n roll, especially to the younger fans since you know how to connect with them.” I smiled at him and then I turned to see Brian holding up a long wrapped up present.

“What’s that Bri?”

“Just a little something for you.” He handed it over to me and I set it down on the table in front of the couch and I asked him.

“Can I open it now or do I have to wait till after the concert?”

“I’d really love to see you open it now.” He said. I knelt down and began to rip up the paper slowly.

“Come on love are we saving the wrapping paper just rip it off!” Roger teased which made me laugh as I took a big chunk of the wrapping paper and threw it at him which made the boys laugh. After ripping the last of it off, there in front of me was a black case. I looked up at Brian before unbuckling it and slowly opening it up and I let out a gasp.

Inside was a red special guitar. At first I almost thought it was his own red special since it was the exact same pattern of red and black design but I noticed that at the red portion tattooed in black into the guitar itself was the word ROCK with angel wings on either side.

“Ohh….”

“It took a while to make it with the time I had, I…..was almost afraid I wouldn’t have it ready in time. Give it a go,” I delicately took the red special out of the case and adjusted the strap to my size and held onto it before giving it a gentle strum.

After giving it a couple of tunes and strumming it until finally it gave out a beautiful hum.

“Oh Brian this…..this is the sweetest thing anyone’s ever done for me.” I set my red special back in the case and sat up and hugged him tightly, burying my face into his chest. “Thank you so much.”

“I’m glad you like it love, it would be an honor if you were to play with that red special tonight for Japan.”

“Of course, I’ll play it at every performance I’ll ever do. Ohh I love you guys I’m so glad you all came.” The boys soon wrapped me in a group hug as I happily wept and as we separated I whimpered out, “Fuck now my makeups ruined.” The boys laughed so Deacy guided me back to my chair, Brian took the wipes and wiped away any strays of makeup and both Roger and Freddie reapplied my makeup making me all pretty again.

A knock was soon heard and one of the stage crew members told me that it was showtime. I grabbed my newly gifted red special and I put it around my shoulder and the boys and I walked out onto the stage. I stood backstage getting myself pumped up as the boys gave me final words of good luck until finally a Japanese announcer came over the speaker and I heard my stage name being called and I came onto the stage hearing thousands of people scream my name.

And with that the concert began.

I sang “Set it all free” and seeing all the Japanese girls bouncing up and down singing along to the song even though they probably didn’t know English, it made me feel so happy inside. And by permission as long as I didn’t give too much away, I was allowed to do one song from my new upcoming album so I sang a song that I titled “So good.”

Which felt like the perfect song since it was all about shining through in the spotlight even after having the dream of reaching for your dreams, but you had to have the courage and strength to achieve them.

I also went ahead and sang a couple of my favorite Queen songs just to show my boys my love for them. I sang my all-time favorite “Somebody to love”, my next cover song was “Don’t stop me now” and finally to end the show I did “You’re my best friend” and I even told the audience that I dedicated this cover to my boys of Queen.

After the end of the concert everyone cheered loudly holding up signs of my name or of my stage name.

“Arigato Nihon! You’ve been a great crowd!” I said into the microphone as I took my final bow and ran off stage. I met up with the guys who each one by one embraced me and gave me a kiss of congratulations on either my cheek, temple, forehead or the top of my head.

The boys and I stayed in Japan for the rest of the week exploring all of Japan. The boys taking me to their favorite places or restaurants they ate in years ago. And I did a show in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. To show my love for the boys, I had them come up on a couple of songs and I performed alongside them and let me tell you sharing the stage with them, that’s what truly made me alive.

And singing alongside Fred on some of their songs, it’s a blast and an honor when Freddie Mercury allows you to take the stage and sing a verse of a Queen song.

At the end of the short Japan tour it was time to go home. The boys and I waved goodbye to Japan and took final pictures together of us both getting on and in the plane.

Of course Fred high-jacked the camera and wouldn’t stop taking pictures of me all the while acting like a photographer telling me to show him the stuff and to work it like I owned this plane.

As we were now in the air, Deacy and Bri were already out like lightbulbs while Fred was reading through a magazine and I was sitting next to Roger now.

“Does it only go up from here?” I asked myself.

“So long as you keep giving the fans what they want, you’re already the talk of the world love, just make sure you don’t get a big head like Fred over there.” He whispered the last part which made me giggle softly.

“I promise Rog, I’ll stay humble and not act like a hysterical queen.”

“Good, cause god knows we don’t need another one.”

“Oh so you’re not talking about yourself?” I teased. He glared at me before flicking my forehead making me whimper out “ow! I was joking.” I rubbed the spot where he had flicked me and he smirked at me.

“Serves you right.” I rolled my eyes at him before letting out a soft yawn. “You’ve had a long week love, you should get some sleep.”

“Yeah you’re right.” I then got myself comfortable by leaning up against his chest and he immediately brought my blanket back over my shoulders and wrapped his arms around me. One hand stroking my head while the other wrapped around my shoulders gently stroking my arms with his thumb.

I could hear him softly humming “Somebody to love” all the while he’d kiss the top of my head every now and then until finally I fell asleep to Roger’s humming, the sound of his heartbeat and the gentle strokes and massages he was giving to my head.

#bohemian rhapsody #bohemian rhapsody imagines #bohemian rapsody movie #bohemian rhapsody imagine #bohemian rhapsody x reader #roger taylor #freddie mercury #brian may #john deacon #freddie mercury x reader #roger taylor x reader #brian may x reader #john deacon x reader #queen fanfiction #queen imagine #queen imagines

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horistans · 4 years ago

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hello friends uwu it’s been some time!

Been filling up the queue every once in awhile and I’ve updated the blog’s theme! Please feel free to take a look at it! I am using a glenthemes theme.

I am still in the process of updating everything (such as adding announcements, properly making a change log, etc)

It’s quite an unceremonious return, but I can’t wait to share stuff with you all again!!

I might be asking for feedback on this blog (specifically in regards to tagging) if that’s okay. If you have any suggestions for me, I’d love to hear them! The interface hasn’t seemed to change TOO much since I left, but with the new characters, I’m wondering if I should change the tags again...

If you’re interested, keep reading to get details on what I have done so far and what I’ve been up to during my hiatus!

On the desktop theme, I’m planning on keeping a similar format! With links on the side to where you can read GSNK, the taglist, and my fanfics. I intend on updating the announcements page for important dates (when gsnk ch are released on GanGan, when the most recent CMC chapter was released, character birthdays, etc). The News container will later be updated to contain blog changes (so, a change log) at some point.

I removed the submissions feature on this blog, since it was never used!

I’ve already updated the About page and was surprised to be reminded of the original intent of this blog! It won’t be happening anytime soon, but if we can host more events in the future, I think it would be very fun.

When I read the old About, I was reminded the original purpose of horisexual was actually to host fanfic competitions! Your love and engagement with my old fics made me really nostalgic, and a few on the GSNK discord convinced me to jump back into tumblr. I am glad that everyone is still so friendly and nice!

Re: the submissions feature (mentioned above), if we ever get to a point where we host a fanfic contest, I will likely be using the submissions as the way to submit.

(Speaking of events, will you be participating in GSNK Week? I’ve planned out what I want to draw already and I’m super excited~~)

I have also updated my Fanfics page using code from namjooneh but will continue to work on it so it fits horisexual better. I might have implemented this new format, but the filters don’t seem to work, so I’ve already found a backup that I just need to enter the fic information into.

You may also note that none of the long chapter fics are in there (except for one) because I’ve only decided to rewrite one of them (for now! We’ll see where that motivation goes, haha)

That being said, are there any ways you would like the fics to be filtered? I don’t believe the new format has a filter system, but it would be nice to know what information you would like me to add to the blurbs and previews!

As for an explanation for my hiatus:

I was receiving a lot of hate on my personal blog around mid-2016. A lot of the attacks were about information I overshared, which as a minor, I should have been more mindful of. I am ashamed of how I acted back then (refusing to simply ignore/block and instead kept responding && the information that I was freely giving out), but I’d like to think I’ve healed a lot since then. I have since went in, deleted all my posts on my personal blog from 2016, deleted the few remaining hate messages still in my inbox from that time, and am ready to start again.

What I’ve been up to:

In the past 4 years, I’ve been attending university within my state! Our GameDev program is apparently one of the best programs nationally, but no one seems to know that outside of our university (we were told to put it on our resume and bring it up in cover letters haha) so it’s a bit weird to talk about. I have made some games! This is a link to my portfolio if you want to know a little about them.

I’ve also started a ko-fi page! I used to be a dual major until recently, so I am taking an extra semester (plus this summer semester) to finish up my credits as I graduate. Graduating later than 4 years isn’t a big deal, but it’s very hard financially. Student loans are no longer willing to help support me, I will be a part-time student in the fall (little to no financial aid), and I’ve been barely been able to support myself as of late since my job assigned me on a project with a $2 pay cut from my regular rate.

I also got accepted into an internship program in Japan! As mentioned before, financing the rest of my tuition is hard enough, and now I need to be able to afford my plane ticket, the program fees and living expenses. I am currently studying Japanese for the N3 certification, but we’ll see how that goes (I’m going to stay hopeful!! I still have time!!)

If you want to know more about Ko-fi and the program I’m doing, I made a YT video a month ago. It also briefly explains why I find this internship so important to my professional development. If you have the time, resources, and would like to support me, I would greatly appreciate it! I even have a sticker club reward for monthly supporters, and a portion of those sales goes to Project COVID-19, a fundraising project by a few of my colleagues who are raising money to purchase PPE for health facilities nationwide (US).

I would like to explain more, but covering the past 4 years is a long time (haha)... and you’re here for the GSNK content! I am sure there will be loads of more opportunities to talk about myself (apologies if I do so...) so I will end it here.

Thank you for being a follower of horisexual for so long. And if you’re new here, welcome!

I am currently taking summer courses and working (remotely), so I do not know how active I will be, but I will definitely return to fill up the queue a few times a week- if not every day. I have a few asks from before I left/received during hiatus. You can still submit prompts to me via ask and I will try to get to them!

If you want to talk I am also on discord ( JamKats#9424) and twitter @/jamkataclysms (note my twitter is mostly art & games). I also have a ko-fi account where I post GSNK fanart sometimes! https://ko-fi.com/jamkats

I hope you have a great day! As a reward for reaching the end of this long post, here’s a recent redraw of one of the gsnk omakes! (from vol 10)

If you’re in the GSNK server, you’ve probably seen it already, so I guess it’s not that good of an award...The other (the first) redraw I did has been queued so it will go up sometime this week!

I spent all night studying, so I’ll probably go to sleep now <3 thank you again :)

#modpost #im technically still semihiatus cuz im behind in schoolwork again but i #i was excited to post and see all the good gsnk content :3c #if anyone wants to help mod by queueing posts and keeping my tags straight lmk!#im glad to be back but am unsure about the amount of time ill be able to dedicate... which makes me sad haha #also you can still send prompts via ask for fanfics... again unsure when they'll get done but i would love to see them!#i've been editing this post all week and decide to post it when... im on an hour of sleep ?? on brand

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kekabumi · 7 years ago

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Gulab Jamun

Gulab Jamun is a popular dessert in the Indian subcontinent and our personalities are just as sweet and lovable as the dessert.

In conjunction with the Festival of Lights, Kekabumi presents: Gulab Jamun, a photo journal of 4 very different gulabos*, each with their own unique twist and flavour as we explore their take on being a Malaysian Indian.

*term of endearment

GULABO #1: ANJALI NIJJAR VENUGOPAL, 22 Artist, Actor, Poet, Freelance Publicist

“Is your name inspired from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai?” I threw the first question to break the ice.

“No,” she replied with a sweet smile. “I was born before that!”

Anjali, despite being young is a quadruple-threat. She’s an artist, actor, poet and a freelance publicist. Her artwork have been exhibited in Tokyo and she is as passionate as one can be. She also recently competed in SHORT+SWEET staged at Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) if she’s not performing at poetry gigs like ‘If Walls Could Talk’.

“I’ve always liked the stage,” she admits.

Born and bred in Sabah, Anjali pursued her tertiary education in Film & TV. Her favourite film is Scott Pilgrim vs The World and she described her style as a fine line between pastel goth and sporty.

As a theater actor, Anjali said that she has to open up and be vulnerable when she is on stage in order to put on a good show. The intense training she had during Theatre for Young People (T4YP) had allow her to do just that.

“I’ve become much, much, braver.” she added.

A lot of people would never guess that she’s actually a Sikh because to her, there is not enough Sikh representation in Malaysia even though there are a few Gurdwaras in KL itself.

“It’s also unfortunate that the Vaisakhi (a major religious celebration in Sikhism) is not given Public Holiday here. Sometimes I had to choose between classes or work and going to temple. I wish that wasn’t the case.”

Anjali, whose dream home would be a studio apartment where she can turn into a creative space wasn’t afraid to speak up about the struggles she had growing too.

“I used to not like my name because people was making fun of it when I was a kid. They made me feel like I’m horrible and ugly for being Indian.”

“It was not until I see the representation (of POC) in the western media that I thought to myself wow, I could actually look good in that (outfit).”

Anjali’s play “TIGA” will be staged at Five Arts Centre from 23rd – 26th November. Make sure you don’t miss it!

Instagram/Twitter: @pertatos Website: http://pertatos.blogspot.my/

GULABO #2: AZAAD, 25 Videographer

Azaad was 30 minutes late to our shoot but his personality is so bright we couldn't be upset about it. Our conversation started when we went to 7Eleven together to get some drinks and snacks. He told me that one day, he wants to prank the 7E guy too. Throughout our 15-minute walk, we talked about a lot of random things - from car drifting, to parkour, to suicide.

"Every day I wake up to be a better person than I was yesterday," he told me. "That's what keeps me going.”

Born in an Indian-Muslim family from Penang, the Media Technology graduate from SAE International emphasized on the importance of family by saying that there will never be a place like home.

“Growing up, my friends are 60% Chinese, 30% Indians and only 10% Malays but I have never experienced racial clashing. I see it happening around, but never to me.”

When asked about his thoughts on the minority in Malaysia – Indians especially, Azaad said that he wish the Indians realised how important they are as the people here in Malaysia and that they should never feel sideline. Azaad speaks fervently of his dissatisfaction with the IT and Medicine stereotype often imposed onto Indian individuals as he hope to see more Indians in the creative line of work.

While digging deeper into his own heritage, Azaad also enlightened us about what it means to be an Indian Muslim in Malaysia.

“I think the Indian culture is amazing. The heritage is really something to be proud of and celebrated. And the colours are just so beautiful” said Azaad. “However, one of two things people often ask when they find out that I’m Indian-Muslim is either: Which one of your parents is malay? Or are you a convert?”

As Azaad explains about the Indian Muslim community within Malaysia, we learnt that it is a small minority that often get mixed up with Mamaks, who are individuals of mixed Indian-Malay heritage. Azaad laments on the interchangeability of the Malay and Muslim identity, which gives way to a form of ignorance towards others that don’t fall under the same label.

Azaad notices that Indian Muslims are at risk of losing their unique culture due to the pressure of trying to fit into modern Malaysian society, but they may also be at risk of losing a part of their identity as well if they do not. As Azaad mentions, “If you can’t beat the rest, join the rest but of course there are those who still stay true to their roots.”

The enthusiastic 25 year-old who loves his current job told me that if not a videographer, he’d probably be in aviation as a fighter pilot or a professional motor sport driver if he ever runs out of creative juice. Well, I guess we have to wait and see what’s in store for this Penangite creative.

Instagram: @ahmedazaad

GULABO #3: VARSHA, 20 Musician, lawyer-to-be

When I first arrived at the studio, I noticed a girl with sharp face feature doing her make-up and I thought “Woah, she’s beautiful.” It took me awhile to approach her because not only she was doing her make-up, she also has this stern look that made me feel a little scared. But as the hour pass by and everyone was all warmed up, Varsha turned out to be a very pleasant person to have conversations with. And quite chatty too!

So when I had her to tell me a bit about herself, it was very surprising to know that this 20 year-old is currently pursuing her degree in law despite having a pure-science A-level qualification. So why the drastic change?

“Well, I’ve been learning science since I was 16 and the thought of having to spend the rest in my life in the lab is just not something I am quite comfortable with. I mean, I really, really, love Biology and all but maybe not as a professional.” she told me as we were hanging out at the balcony.

Three fun facts about Varsha that I learnt:

When she was 10, she had a skateboarding phase but never really got into it because she was just stoked to have Spiderman design on her skateboard instead of the actual thing.

When she was 13, her guilty pleasure show to watch is Keeping Up With The Kardashians (KUWTK)

She was obsessed with High School Musical (HSM) so much that she had posters all over her room that she has not yet taken down.

Varsha who views John Mayer as one of her sources of inspiration recently released two songs on her Spotify – ‘Real’ and ‘Fool for You’. But her achievements to this date definitely didn’t come easy.

“I feel like no matter how good I am, I will always have to push a bit extra in everything I do. For example, I did great in my SPM but not great enough to land me a scholarship because of the race quota. I totally understand that the majority should have more seats but yeah.” she explained.

To Varsha, Malaysia is a country where you have to conform to the majority. You are forced to follow the flow but if you are a salmon who swims upstream, that wouldn’t be too easy.

“Honestly, I don’t think coerce is good for you spiritually or mentally. I wish people can just be their own person regardless their preferences,” Varsha added. Well, we agree with you on that, girl.

Instagram & Twitter: @thatssovarsha Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2X1RsyKi5IRhAPyKAa8o3m

GULABO #4: KEITH NOEL RAJ, 22 Musician

“Passionate. Rational. Naïve.”

Those were the words that came out of Keith’s when I asked him to describe himself in three words. Started playing music since he was 13, he told me he never learned how to read notes despite being able to play instruments well.

Throughout the photoshoot, Keith wasn’t the loudest person in the room but he exuberates this calm aura that made it easy to approach him. Young and talented, Keith believes that if you put in a lot of effort, time and details in what you do, you will be great at it.

Speaking of great, he will be releasing his EP really soon and we wish him nothing but the best!

“So what do you think about the Indians in Malaysia?” curious, I asked. “I do think that our representation in this country is a concern especially with all the stereotypes that people have on Indians.”

“But a way to rise above that than getting proper education. Those who are financially stable are lucky, but what about those who are not? They need to get out of the cycle and see the world.”

To Keith, the inability to see life in a bigger picture will restrict your reality. Which is why if he had to write a letter to his future self he would ask if the older Keith is okay and hope he is not having a stagnant life at that point of his life.

“Hopefully you don’t have a wife and kids too!” he added.

This young musician who would like to visit Japan one day told us that there’s just something about the way Japanese do things that he loves. Contrary to the Western world, Japanese people don’t have problem with routine and he think it’s very interesting how they live life there.

Twitter/Instagram: @keithhateskids

We hope you enjoy this feature as much as we do. We had a really good time working with the personalities and super glad that we get to share their stories with all of you!

Love, Kekabumi.

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