#btw the date on which I'm posting this has significance actually

[amandabe11man]

HAPPY SIREN-MONTH TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE! 🗣🗣

Here's my first foray into fanfic-territory regarding this series. It's about Ishida (aka. silly cop man) descending into madness-- y'know, fun! Feel free to read it... haha jk, unless?

TWs for this one are namely: - suicidal ideation - alcoholism (can't have Ishida without alcoholism)

[momowoah]

To add to the seemingly endless list of Chenford/Buddie parallels: both couples had moments before they dated (and before they even truly realized their feelings) in which they opened themselves to the possibility of that relationship and truly considered moving forward with it for the first time. (aka 7x01 is to Buddie what 3x14 is to Chenford) (long-ish post)

In the S3 finale of The Rookie, Lucy and Tim are finally out of their T.O.-Boot relationship, which opens up the possibility of them having something beyond that. Lucy even acknowledges that in 3x09 when she fake confesses her feelings for Tim in order to prove she can handle UC work. Even though the confession wasn't serious, it did bring up the fact that it could've been; Tim specifically actually had to consider how he'd respond to Lucy actually having feelings for him, since he believed her. This whole ordeal resurfaces in 3x14, first when Lucy flirts with him while UC, and later when they talk at the wedding, the first time both of them manifest being interested in each other and in pursuing a relationship. Lucy breaks away from Grey and Nyla to go talk to him (and they exchange looks over it); Tim checks her out; they bring up the flirting; Tim asks Lucy to save him a dance. It feels like they crossed a line, it feels like it's going somewhere, and it probably would've if not for all that happened after. 4x01 basically confirms that by showing both Lucy and Tim laying in bed(/couch), wondering whether or not to get up and go towards each other after a hug and an almost kiss. Although the show never acknowledges what would've happened if either of them had gotten up (and we know at least Lucy would've, because she was getting up when Tim interrupted her), it is heavily implied that during those two episodes they were interested in each other, but it ultimately led to nowhere (at the time).

(Unrelated kinda but we can also establish a parallel between Chenford and mid S2 Madney here. Jackson's death ruined what they could've had back then, but they still managed to have something else.)

(Btw this paragraph will be a little chaotic and I'm too lazy to reread it and organize it sorry but I swear it makes sense) We get this kind of subconscious-ish realization of feelings and openness to a possible relationship with Buddie too. For Buck, that happens in S7. I can't find that interview again for the life of me but remember when OS mentioned a few weeks ago that Buck felt something when he thought Eddie and Marisol had split up in 7x01? I think that was the moment when he finally opened himself to the possibility of dating Eddie (even if he didn't realize that's what he was doing). He had broken up with Natalia after he had realized that their relationship would always be about his death rather than his life and was actively trying to understand how he had changed since dying (if we go by his 6b plot). I think the fact that Eddie was missing from his coma dream is specifically significant for this reason. Eddie was the one major relationship in his life that Buck didn't confront during the coma. He was absent, because Buck wasn't ready to deal with what he meant to him yet. By S7, we see Buck way more open to dealing with his feelings, evidenced by the fact that he finally figured out his bisexuality and by how light that whole plot was/is. Buck was ready to deal with it, even if subconsciously, and I think a part of that was him finally opening himself up to the possibility of Eddie. His vibes in the locker room in 7x01 are a lot like Tim in 3x14 - he wasn't overtly flirting, but he was trying to take that step forward, willing to take that step forward, and only didn't bc Eddie told him he was still with Marisol. Unlike Tim, though, I don't think he has fully closed that door yet. He's redirecting these feelings to Tommy for now, but he's still there with Eddie. He just needs some time to figure it out.

When it comes to Eddie, I think this moment came much earlier and lasted a lot longer. His feelings finally came close enough to the surface (even if they didn't surface completely) when he got shot. In that moment, he reached for Buck, and he never truly stopped. He broke up with his girlfriend really soon after that; he avoided going on dates; he pulled Buck closer to his family life (s5/6 domestic Buddie my beloved) (also by revealing the will); he actually pretty much took Buck out on a date. Eddie was moving towards a romantic relationship for almost two years, completely open to dating Buck, until the cemetery scene. Buck thinks he's finally found his place with Natalia, and Eddie decides to stop pursuing him because he realizes (wrongly in my opinion but shhhh) that he'll never be able to be that person to Buck, because Buck has yet to realize that Eddie does see him and that Eddie sees him all the time. However, he resumes his pursuit in 7x01, because Buck breaks up with Natalia, and that means that Eddie still has a chance. Even Buck's relationship with Tommy points towards it, because it means Buck can feel like that about a man. So Eddie pulls Buck back into his family life by asking for advice and help with Christopher (and probably also through whatever is going to happen with the Diaz family now), starts to fuck up his relationship with his girlfriend (by moving too fast even though he doesn't want to, which was what killed his relationship with Ana), avoids his girlfriend, and indulges Buck's every idea (as seen through the bachelor party). Since the 7x01 locker room scene, he's been fully open to Buck, and Buck has been fully open to him. In conclusion: Buddie will be canon by the end of 8A.

[kanmom51]

Jungkook 3 (or 4) Wlives on 14 March 2023

A Jikook filled event, with and without JM even being there (physically or virtually).

Let's talk about JK, the non conformist, the rebel with a cause, who decided to give us a 3 part date on White day.

And yes, I'm 100% sure most army believe he was on a date with them. Question, my friends, is which 'army' that was exactly...

One thing for sure, JK showed up on white day, and right through all three lives, scratch that, all 4 lives, he weaved in JM. JM, their relationship, was inserted into every single one of those lives, one way or another.

White day

A significant day for couples in SK (Japan and China as well). The loved one that received the gift on Valentine's day is on the giving side on White day.

White day 2022 JM posted this pic on his IG

We also know they went out to a restaurant with friends, a restaurant they used to frequent and ever since the photo of them there leaked they stopped visiting.

Oh, and yes, lest forget JK's cover to Only then was gifted to 'army' on White day 2018.

Yeah, this wasn't a song for army, unless it was JM 'army', that is.

So, white day is meaningful to couples and is meaningful to JM and JK as well.

8/11

I know that there are many that don't believe in the Jikook number theories. Think it is a coincidence. Think that 8 November has no significance to them and that they don't seem to conveniently keep coincidently mentioning these numbers or seemingly mention numbers that have to do with said date. All a coincidence.

So, my friends, let's talk about the 8/11 coincidences during these three lives, why don't we?

Live 1

14.3.2023 - starting time: 8:11 PM.

1+4+3+2+2+3=15

8/11/15

Some might say a coincidence.

I say hell no.

Just like this was no coincidence:

No math, no calculating needed. It's right there for all of us to see.

Live 2

14.3.2023 live starting at 21:20 or 9:20 pm.

So yeah, did he do the 8:11 again???

9+2=11

1+4+3=8

8/11

Live 3

14.3.2023 live starting at 22:44 or 10:44 pm.

4+4=8

2+2+4+3=11

and yet again we get

8/11

Now, although there could be discussion, legitimately, about the second and third lives and the 8/11 - you either believe they do the math or you don't - but there can be no discussion as to the first live. Nope. Spin it around as much as you will, the numbers still land on 8/11, no surprise what so ever.

JK's outfits:

Live 1

We get the black and white combo sweatshirt (jersey).

Were we symbolising the black and white couple?

All I'm saying is that it's an interesting choice.

Live 2

Wearing the white airy loose fitting collared button up shirt. White day obviously comes to mind.

White shirt black pants. Again the black and white.

What also comes to mind is his JM birthday message to JM way back in 2022. Same vibe.

The playing with the hair, the showing of the tattoos, the glasses at one point. Couldn't help but think of that JK created clip. Especially after JK tells us he could actually see properly and only brought the glasses because he thought he'd look good in them, lol.

Live 3

Purple jacket (nothing underneath, ahm...) and white beanie, for the winter, ski lodge, vibe.

Purple a colour we know they both revert to many times. It's army, it's JK and JM (purple and yellow).

And the white, well white day again?

JK's special necklace

Looks like that showed up for us in the first 2 lives (third one he was all covered up, so no telling if he still had it on).

It's a little hard to tell if it's the same chain. Especially because it's a plain silver chain with no pendant. But it definitely looks similar. 🤷‍♀️

Timing, outfits, accessories, all good and well, just more brush strokes to that big ass neon coloured sign JK was painting for us telling us this was no coincidence. The lives on white day, a date with 'army' when 'army' was far far away.

But if those were the brush strokes to the sign, where is the sign itself, you ask.

So what else did JK do? Say? Play? Show?

Soundtrack

Live 1

First, let me mention that JK knit picked his playlist in this live. He was sitting there just passing song after song choosing the songs he wanted to listen to, was in the mood to listen to (within a playlist he had already going).

There for you

talking about the tokyo trip, soundtrack for gcft that happened to be uploaded 8/11/2017.

And do we talk about the amount of times either he or JM have mentioned that trip? Must have been some heck of a brotherly trip for the mates to remember it and talk about it non stop.

And do I mention this specific time that comes to mind?

Edited but cute, lol.

Btw, he sat there listening to almost the full song, only to say it's not the right vibe for the live towards the end part ("running just to keep my hands on you" part).

Christmas day

Bruno major Nothing

Question: If a documentary about yourself was produced, which song would you like to use for ending credit?

 🐥: Bruno Major's "Nothing". I think the mood of the song suits me well.

Live 2

Hate everything

JK, out of no where says there's a song he never sang for us live, and goes looking for this song (it didn't come up on his playlist, he went looking for it).

It felt to me like JK doesn't frequently listen to this song. It's not on his playlist, he didn't know the lyrics (unlike other songs he did know the lyrics to).

Remember this cover of his?

You know, the one he posted when JM just got released from hospital Feb 2022. Same cover that he timed at 1:18 min.

Felt it was an interesting choice of song, given it just come up on his playlist, nor seemingly, is it one he listens to too much (the second part is my conclusion).

Live 3

Falling

Singing Falling, knowing the lyrics kind of proves my previous point. A song listened to a lot as opposed to one that probably isn't but suited a point JK wanted to make or suited a mood JK was in at the time.

This is a song liked by JM and JK, we got to hear JM singing it during Festa 2020.

Anyway, JK released this song on the 4th anniversary of his and JM's trip to Tokyo.

Another coincidence? I don't think so.

JM

Well, obviously we got JK mentioning JM in the first live when There for you came up.

In live 2 JM actually shows up. And JK finds the need to explain to him about how this is part two and how he changed outfits for this part, lol.

Nice use of honorifics there JK.

NOT.

Well, not at first. He rectifies it by opening the next sentence with hyung, lol.

First instance JK rectified. But when JK thought JM left the live he got all commando on him, this time leaving the honorifics behind completely, calling him to come back.

@KMFACT summed the whole interaction so well in her 2 minute clip:

Live 3

Foreshadowing?

Fly away butterfly.

Live 4

Let's talk about live 4. Because JK wasn't going to come back for another part 4. Given, he ended part 3 while crying (yes, he was crying) and I'm assuming forgot to convey the message he wanted to and for which he came back with live 4, which was around 5 minutes long.

In live 4 he tells us he wanted to say goodbye properly. It's not that he didn't say goodbye at the end of part 3. Just saying.

He continues to say that he wants us to be happy. Be happy even if they aren't there. The translation here is a little different on Weverse than it was from the translation accounts. Weverse translation being happy even if they aren't "here", while the accounts were translating it as be happy "even without us". Kind of rings differently.

Him bringing it up then and there made me think that perhaps that's what was one of the things on his mind when he was pensive prior to the tears forming in live 3.

Anyways, JK came back to also (or perhaps to mainly) convey another message:

So yeah, JK telling us to look forward to midnight, something amazing is coming, "please look forward to that".

He meant this amazing thing, btw:

Hyping up the boyfie.

All while knowing what's coming is truly amazing.

And were we forshadowing here

The tears

Fake tears, not the real ones that came at the end.

Pause for a second, I'm over here ugly crying a little.

Throughout the 3 lives JK makes use of those fake tears.

Funny story he tells us, that he actually bought a whole lot of them for Bam, who was having issues with his eyes. Laughing at how similar the two are, eye problems, skin problems...

It does look like he's having issues with dry eyes.

But, when seeing it, every single time he pulled out those eye drops, I couldn't help but think about this:

Lol, even more so in the second live.

Showing us the hand tatts.

Ok, so this, to me, is a big one, and as usual kind of overlooked.

As opposed to many that think so, I really really don't think this was about showing us his ARMY tattoo, or being proud of his ARMY tattoo.

Why don't I think it's the army tattoo he's showing us?

Maybe because of everything going on? Maybe because he told us he wasn't too happy with the army tattoo itself.

Maybe because he picks the song, Golden hour by JVKE (when showing us the hand).

Maybe because he sits and listens to it, lingering on.

Maybe because he plays around with the candle, placing it just in the right place to showcase the tattoos he was planning to show us and when he was done he pulls it back towards himself.

Maybe because he clearly knew the song, and the lyrics as well.

Maybe because of how he timed it, showing us the tattoos at the exact timing that he did.

Maybe because of the way he showed them to us, the way he wiggled his fingers.

And maybe, just maybe because just as he finished showing us those tattoos, the JM clearly darker and thicker than the other letters, he also sang specific lyrics from the song he knew, complimenting showing us the tattoos with:

"... the love of my life..."

humming the continuation, omitting the lyrics which are female directed.

Maybe.

[khai-luvs-to-write]

"I hear your symphony."

(okay, this one is actually posted from a comment I made on a different story, that is not mine btw. try and find it, I dare you. and yes, I did write this while listening to the song.)

You and Iida have been dating for a while, right? You guys are comfortable with each other, as far as you knew. One evening(most likely past curfew, cause rules? Who's she? we don't know her), you go to check up on him because Midoriya told you he was acting differently. As you're approaching his dorm room you hear a voice you almost recognize singing a song you're all too familiar with.

"I used to hear a simple song...that was until you came along..."

You walk towards the door and hear what sounds like the strum...of a guitar? It was almost 11pm, Iida would be sound asleep right now, right?

"Now in its place is something new...I hear it when I look at you."

You sit and quietly listen by his door, the voice smoother than high-gloss paint, which is a really weird and random analogy, but it works. Before you knew it, the song was over, and you could hear a zipper and low strum of a guitar. You backed away from the door when you heard footsteps approaching where you were currently seated outside of your boyfriend's dorm room, just to hear something drop by the door. Tired, and afraid of getting caught, you begin to get up from your spot to head back to your room when you hear: "It's getting late, I can continue this tomorrow after school is done." in your boyfriend's voice. After that, everything seemed to click (even though it should have around 20 minutes ago, but your brain has problems processing things when you need it to).

Was that Iida singing?

~~~~~~~~

The next morning, while everyone is getting breakfast before leaving for the school, you pull your boyfriend aside to ask him a question.

"I was walking to your dorm sometime last night because Midoriya said you'd been acting differently and heard singing coming from your dorm. Was that you?" His face went red, and his eyes slightly widened before calmly responding:

"I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about, my love. Are you sure you didn't have your headphones on and forgot about it?" he kissed your temple and grabbed his blazer to complete his uniform, and walked towards the door. You did have your headphones in last night, but you were sure nothing was playing, right?

Right?

Regardless of whether your headphones were on or not, you and Iida both agreed to never speak on the subject again.

Or so he thought.

[A/N] Hey guys! It's been a loooong while since I wrote anything, let alone anything good. I apologize for the the wait, but life's had other plans for me as of late, school and my schoolwork's been really draining me so I haven't been able to produce anything for a significant amount of time. Hoooopefully the work lightens up so I can write more.

509 words, counting the author's note.

[crypt1dcorv1dae]

Edit cus I forgot to put a read more so nobody has to scroll down my MILE of vent post, sorry

I've come to realize that the reason my mom completely failed to socialize me properly as a child or encourage me to make friends was because she genuinely never really wanted or needed friends and didn't understand that I, her child, might have. She genuinely didn't realize how lonely I was growing up, how lonely I still am, with how hard it is to make friends especially now as an adult, especially with my selective mutism (which is a term I fucking hate btw) and the fact that my natural, neutral, resting vocal tone makes me sound like a raging douche canoe because I sound condescending even though i literally never actually am!!!! I also have a bit of a RBF and all this makes it very difficult to meet new people!!!

Most people don't look any deeper than the surface and what they assume about me, and by most people I mean everyone literally all the time. I haven't made a friend irl since I was like 15 and I haven't kept a single one I made before that because nobody ever wants to stick around the guy that sounds like a raging douche canoe even when he's having a perfectly pleasant time.

Like yeah I CAN make myself sound more pleasant, more palatable, but it's a constant, conscious effort to do so and honestly makes my throat fucking hurt after a while, and honestly I'm just fucking sick of having to change a basic fundamental aspect of myself just to not be wrongfully perceived to be an asshole. I'm not being an asshole!!! This is just the way my voice sounds!!!!!!!!!!

Like... All I want is someone who understands that, yeah, the tone of my voice may sound a certain way, but that's not how I actually feel or think and it's in no way indicative of who I am as a person, it's just .. the way air vibrates in my throat to make noise. And look a little deeper and see me for who I am without me having to change myself.

And the only people I hang out with are my family, or my family's significant others, I don't have a single person IRL in my life who's actually.... Here for me. Like. Yeah sure I'm kinda friends with my brothers gf but I'm not the reason she's here. She's not here for me. And my family doesn't fucking count!!! I know I'm closer with them than most people, and I love that, but like... They aren't really mt *friends* at all. I can't really be open or honest or MYSELF with them because at the end of the day they're my family, not friends, and theres boundaries and barriers I don't want to cross there

I just want friends!!! I want people who hang out with me because they like *me*, not because they're dating my sibling, I want people who think I'm funny, who care about me as a whole person, who actively seek me out too, who don't mind that I sound dry and sarcastic and even sometimes harsh sometimes, because nobody can control the tone of their voice ALL THE TIME, that's literally not possible, and they know that its not reflective of how I actually feel and is just how my voice naturally sounds. I want people who care enough to tell me when I've done something wrong, instead of just silently resenting me for not reading their mind and fixing the problem I didn't know existed. I want people who care enough to talk to me even when it's hard, because they know I care too and never want to hurt them. I just want my people. Even just one person who I could call *my* friend would be enough tbh.

Sometimes I wonder if it would be better if I never started talking again at all, and just stayed totally nonverbal, if my life would be easier without my stupid voice getting in the way, but I know it wouldn't be.

Well, maybe I would have been given more accommodations growing up, cus most people didn't even realize I was nonverbal because I talked when I was with my mom and... I was always with my mom. So yeah I would have been treated like shit still, especially by people who assumed I couldn't hear them (I still got plenty of that) and people who thought not talking meant I was developmentally disabled, and talked down to me like I was some kind of idiot (which, yeah, developmentally disabled people don't fucking deserve that either) but maybe at least someone would have told my family about some of the accessibility tools and resources for deaf/HOH/NV/mute people instead of just assuming I would eventually grow out of it and be "normal"

Man being like... Half-verbal fucking sucks. Cus I still need all this help but I feel like a fucking leech for having to ask for it, because yeah physically I should absolutely be able to call my own doctors office but I CANT and I DONT KNOW WHY and I really wish I could cus I would take the 5 minutes of anxiety having a phone call over the lifetime of guilt and shame of not being able to any day!!!!! If I could do it I fucking would!!!! It would make my life so much easier!!!!! But my stupid fucking brain decided Nuh uh that's not allowed!!! Can't talk unless these people are present, can't talk over the phone at all, can't talk over video call, can't say certain words (I still say "doggy" instead of dog, among other things) and I don't even understand WHY. Sure I had some traumatic brain issues cause of some seizures but where the fuck did ALL THIS WEIRD SPECIFIC SHIT come into play???? Why????? What the fuck made it so I'm unable to say my own siblings' actual names and I had to give them all stupid nicknames instead????? What made me unable to say "mom" or "dad" instead of the more diminutive alternatives??????? Why can't I just DO IT????? WHAT IS STOPPING ME??????? CUS I CANT!!!! I CANT!!!!!!!!

And the most frustrating thing??????????

I'm fucking completely fine if I'm alone. But only if I'm alone. And even then doing things. That "breaks the rules" still gives me anxiety but the wall becomes climbable. It's not impossible. But around literally ANYONE??? Right back to square one.

But anyway. Back to my original point. The reason I grew up lonely and sad and friendless was because my parents never actually tried to encourage me to make friends, or at least not to KEEP friends. I MADE friends, briefly, occasionally, I would meet other kids at the playground and sometimes hit it off, I even went to one girl's birthday party!!! But... Nobody ever tried to keep in contact, make any more playdates or anything, I have no clue where that girl is today, I hope she's doing okay, and I wish with all my heart we could have stayed friends at least a little while longer, she seemed really cool!!! I wish I remembered her name atm but unfortunately my brain hurts cus I cried earlier cus I'm lonely and sad and nobody wants to be friends with me. Maybe someday I'll make a post to see if she's out there somewhere lol

Anyway.... I'm gonna maybe find a snack, some aspirin, and go to bed

[romilly-jay]

THIS ONE ALSO REALLY LANDED FOR ME (and - why?)

***spoilers*** [probably - mild ones, anyway - safer to assume there WILL be some :) - yeah, actually on reflection need some if I'm serious about trying to pin down why this was //IMO// successful ]

Just a reminder that the intention with these pages is for ME to work out for ME which kinds of stories land for me and why they do.

Even the reminder is mainly for my own benefit, honestly.

I've sat here for a few minutes wondering who cares what I think and I realise that, if no-one else, Future Me is going to be grateful that Present Me took the time to tease this apart.

Frankly, Future Me is highly unlikely to remember that Present Me wrote this but I have to continue to believe that there's, nonetheless, a benefit to going through the cognitive process. That words are not, in the end, wasted, but contribute to future insight and possibilities.

Understand from the Wikipedia page that this is the first Amazon Prime movie shot in Australia - which chimes with discussions I've heard on The Rest is Entertainment about the streamers as "the world's TV channels" - actually I think that was in context of Baby Reindeer and the issues with relatively light compliance on shows across multiple legal frameworks and jurisdictions. (And, incidentally, bless you, Wikipedia contributors - you are a most wonderful first port of call in an increasingly bonkers and unreliable internet.)

LOVE that the lead female actor, Shuang Hu, is also the co-writer with Nathan Ramos-Park and for me this is closely reflected in the significant (I think?) screen time / plot time given to Hu's character, Lia, and her gay current/Sydney-based BFF, Mason. Not too hard to imagine the writers putting snippy, comedic avatars of themselves into the centre of the action?? And Mason definitely has the best This Is Not A Hallmark Movie lines, shows up A Lot and *marginally* succeeds in having a life that isn't simply about supporting her.

BTW, think it's sort of hilarious that I assumed Townsville was a made up place - it SOUNDS like a name you would make up, Hallmark style? Like - Valleydale (surely not an actual place?) or Christmaston?

Though I don't know that the Australian setting is so hard to tune into that the movie requires an entire translation/remake. Apparently it's getting one, just the same - Picture This, fronted by Simone Ashley of Bridgerton, Sex Education, and, I'm sure, plenty of other things, too :) *pic below, from sth else. Already in post-production at March 2024?

I prefer to think that this is more about good ideas being in relatively short supply* - do I mean that? - or an idea that works in one place having potential to work, suitably tweaked, somewhere else, too.

*Ah, okay, I think it's terror about finding *bankable* good ideas. There's such a proliferation of Great Content today, non? - BUT more content than audience or, at least, more content than attention span?

This article by Carla Teng of the Asia Media Centre gives a breakdown of the plot and a link to the trailer, ahead of transitioning into an interview with actor Yoson An, who plays the ex-best friend.

It talks explicitly about the influence (existence and rising profile) of Asian diaspora citizens in Australia and New Zealand. And - thank you! - one of the things that I really enjoyed, after a lengthy diet of Hallmark-adjacent Amazon offerings, was the all-Asian lead cast.

Inevitable hat-tip to Crazy Rich Asians and *one* of the characters certainly walked right out of that movie world. The rest, not so much.

[LOL token white guy who is referred to by the fortune teller as a good catch specifically because he's a "lapdog" of a man - and v nice that they still gave him a little scene later on that shows genuine warmth between the lead and her new bro-in-law and portrays him as genuinely sweet, plus holder of a key piece of missing intel for her.]

So, what worked [IMO] in this movie? LOTS of things.

The article I've shared above uses this pic of Lia and Richard which references a really nice piece of character work from early on, from the sister's PINK engagement party, which Lia attends in a black suit/white shirt combo, meaning that she starkly stands out from everyone else, while also looking cute AF - and it gives the "we understand each other" moment with the ex BF because he's the only one who remarks on the Reservoir Dogs reference ("Why am I Mister Pink?"). Loved this. Thought it worked. And it's a far-from-subtle hint that What Lia Wants Was Right In Front Of Her All Along. Actually, she knew that and so did he, but they had to sort out their historic misunderstanding and also find a way to Be Together in [Place].

Although some very traddy romcom elements were there /// she runs a tea shop! - her sister's getting married! - she doesn't have a date! - her parents want her to settle down! /// the underlying dilemma feels real, significant, relatable: Namely, tradition versus independence? Nicely twisted around the idea that Lia isn't running away from ALL aspects of tradition - she's specifically trying to make a traditional concept Chinese tea shop work in a modern city context.

So, thank goodness, it's absolutely not a story of "all my childhood influences were bad // but wait, my new life isn't working out // must be because all my childhood influences were Right After All // back to a traditional life and a traditional role for me!" Rather it's about finding away to integrate suburban and urban influences together.

This HEA has her still running a tea shop - but she's embraced Taiwanese bubble tea and takeaway tea orders. And she's still living in Sydney - and this time the ex-best friend is there with her.

This actually IS a pretty much ideal HEA for me. Living her truth works out for her - and her confrontation with her family leads to apologies and acts of reconciliation from both directions <3 <3.

[sehnsuchts-trunken]

here are some random minho headcanons I got inspired to write today because, well, minho, lol

btw, as I said I wrote these because I randomly got motivated - they're not nearly as seriously written as anything else I posted on here ever. I just wanted to get some thoughts out. if that's not the kind of thing you like to read, no need to do so

- Despite always being up early and getting back only just before sundown, Minho is totally up for midnight adventures. He falls asleep so damn fast because he's always exhausted, but when he hasn't run or when he's not as tired, he's usually always roaming around the glade doing things he never gets to do otherwise. And with a significant other? He's setting up dates in the Deadheads at 3am under the stars and wakes you up just so that he can fall asleep next to you after you've gone on a walk and almost stumbled into like thirty trees (it's highly amusing but the potential to get hurt is ten times higher than usual, and that means something when talking about the Deadheads).

- Minho is one hundred percent the type of guy to share a space. He's a keeper, he sleeps in the homestead, and he's more than happy to have you next to him in his little,,,, well, room. Whether that means a hammock and a chair or maybe even a makeshift bed, he's definitely up for not being apart more than you have to be. If you're a runner that's not too much of a problem anyway, but if you're not- you just don't see each other as often. You don't get to spend as much time together. So every second and every minute that you do have the chance to be with him, you try to use well. Whatever that means.

- Also I'm convinced that this man is a showering/swimming kinda guy. He gets back and needs to shower, so you're coming with. No need to get dirty at all, it's really just once more because he's away all day in the maze, and the time that he gets to spend with you he's not gonna waste, not as long as you agree to come showering with him. And if it's warm, he is absolutely the first one to jump into the pond. Not even to wash or anything, just because. Because he's Minho.

- That he's always focused on running definitely also is mirrored in the way he sleeps. He's fallen out of the hammock at least five times (which is why I'm convinced he has a bed) simply because he tosses and turns so much. Personally I do too, especially before I fall asleep because I can't find a good position for shit, but Minho almost gets worse when he eventually does doze off. Nobody knows if he's dreaming of running or if it's literally just his head telling him that he needs to move, but nobody can do anything against it either, and as long as you're not a light sleeper you're fine.

- He's basically unconscious when he's asleep. Mans would not notice even if someone stabbed him. Which is wonderful for example when you also toss and turn so much when you sleep. Like, as long as neither of you are waking each other up with that, great! He will not be woken up at least, not until you dump cold water onto him or scream into his ears. Though he does have a built-in alarm clock that has him waking up SO early, I swear to god. He's a runner, he needs to be up early, and his body has adapted to that so well that he wakes up at the same time everyday (unless he was drunk the night before, but that's another story.)

yes by the way, I have thought a lot about how he sleeps for some reason. idk I like to analyse that. tells a lot about personality and stuff.

- Minho sings. Not very well but he loves to just sing as a joke. Just break out into song to annoy people. Which he by the way also loves to do. Just, annoy people, like, pranking them or being sarcastic or whatever. Singing is one of those methods. He memorizes quite easily, so he also memorizes song texts very quickly, which means that he can sing like twenty songs randomly at all times. All. Times.

- He's actually really strong. That should be common knowledge but I feel like many people forget about it. Like, he might not be as strong as other gladers, but this bitch almost got hit by lighting and just stood up again after. And I mean strong in a very broad physical sense here - he has muscles, he has stamina, but he also has just a damn strong body in the sense of surviving shit. He doesn't get hurt as easily as other people. But if he does- man, when he gets hurt- There's two ways to go with this guy and only two ways to go. Either this absolute dramatic bitch will not stop complaining about the smallest cut for four days straight, or he has a sprained goddamn ankle and tells you that he's fine while literally dragging his leg behind him. There's no inbetween. And it wholly depends on whether he wants your attention or doesn't want you to worry.

[trueishcolours]

I'm on the same wavelength with Kim. Like...what he's doing with Porchay just rubs me the wrong way in a way nothing else in the show has so far. Maybe because (like you said) it's the closest of the situations to reality--a teacher crossing some serious lines. I find his character so interesting because I don't like him. Like, Kim's actions have sincerely not put me on his side as a person. Everything this man does is eithr suspicious, or makes me mad because he's being dismissive of or outright emotionally manipulating Porchay who has CLEARLY fallen for him and KIM KNOWS IT.

That said I also want to see more between Korn and Kim because they seem to have the most...like. adult isn't the right word, but their relationship rings the most of "this is a father and his adult son interacting." Idk I just kind of really like how they've portrayed the father-son relationships in this show because honestly, I really expected Mr. Korn to be that classic "tough love" mafia type character and he is, but he clearly cares about and loves his children and I like that.

Also Vegas needs to stay in his lane. He is doing everything he can to drive a wedge into the whole major family and he keeps actually succeeding (although it's a one-step-forward-two-steps-back kind of success). I'm actually kind of eager to see Vegas and Kim interact only because we haven't seen it before and they seem to have relatively similar approaches (although different goals) with Porsche and Porchay. Kim does not seem to actively share any of the same issues the rest of his family seems to have with the minor family (that we've seen so far) and that's just interesting. But anyways Vegas. He's. Just. Every time I see him I'm like "oh what now?!" And he's changed tactics every time. Every time he has a new and different plan.

Idk how much you are interested in/pay attention to costumes but it has been interesting to see Kinn's color palette change throughout the show especially in conjunction with Vegas, who we almost always see in red. Kinn started out in a lot of red (his pajamas, the first suit we see him in) but now he seems to be dressed in a significant amount of blue (like him and Porsche's first date WHICH WAS SO CUTE BTW).

Anyway I hope this all made sense. I just finished episode 8 and I'm mad I have to wait a whole week for the next episode.

Once again, I am so delighted that my fanfic got you into this whole show!

I think what's so frustrating about Kim as a character is that he could so easily adjust his behaviour to be more convincing, but doesn't. Like, as a private tutor, teaching at your student's house is actually acceptable. Just give them some notice first! You can probably borrow an adult student's phone in an emergency - but not five minutes into a lesson when you're supposed to be teaching! Please be a bit more sneaky bro.

I think you're dead on about his relationship with Korn seeming more adult-child-and-parent than the other two, though. He really does give the vibe of the kid who's moved out and is living life on his own terms, and whose parent has come to see him as an adult.

But if Vegas stayed in his lane, there wouldn't be a plot :(.

I don't personally tend to pay much attention to costume, but now you've pointed it out I can definitely see it, and I think it's a great point! Kim really does just step into Porsche's style for ep. 8, both in terms of colour palette and in terms of the more informal cut of his clothes. I think for this episode, he's trying to step into an idealised version of Porsche's world, where before Porsche has been violently dragged into his. But I think they both know it can't last. Life is going to come and get them.

Anyway if you want more of my thoughts I wrote a very long post on how characters signal status in KinnPorsche.

[mattdcblog]

hey! you mention liking quarterly (same btw). Do you have any particular favorites?

Ok before I get into this I wanna say something really fun: YOU got me into the quarterlies! A while back when you were taking questions about JLI you said some really good stuff (and true, too!) about #1 that made me want to read it again, but pay closer attention. So I did, and I loved it even more. I encourage anybody reading this to find your post about it because otherwise I'm just gonna be restating what you've already said, but a lot less eloquently, lol.

Under a readmore again for this one because as it seems I've got the gift of the gab lalala

I'm just gonna point out the little things I liked: the conglomerate jackets (weirdly draw a LOT of attention to boosters basically skin-tight BRIGHT YELLOW PANTS, but at least he's not alone on that front, as reverbs got the same situation but at least has a visible belt to balance it out.)

I'm a HUGE sucker for Bob Pinaha's letters, and I'm surprised they don't get talked about more. He does letters for a lot of the quarterly issues, and I really love how rounded and clear all of his writing is. It's a noticable difference from the regular JLI issues having the very thin letters of Bob Lappan, and I can instantly identify it as being his lettering. Side note: did not realize there were two bobs doing letters. Ain't that something!

And lastly (because all good things come in threes,) a lot of the dialogue in this issue is AMAZING. Page 21 and 22 where booster and beetle are arguing is, imo, the best example of this. You can read this dialogue aloud and get the sense that it's something people would actually say to each other (at least on TV hdmfndf what I'm trying to say is that it's dialogue with a purpose, and it's being propelled by these characters personalities.) It's everything to me, from beetle calling booster "a walking ad for the military industrial complex" (which you pointed out in your response,) to the second panel exchange on page 22. I've said it before but I kinda love when they fight lol, it's like catharsis for me.

But as for the OTHER quarterly issues...!

Kind of ashamed to admit I still have to sit down and really READ them. What I mean is that, for my initial read through of all the JLI stuff, I was skimming like crazy. I missed a LOT, and it was only when I went back and read panel by panel that i started to really Get It. it's kind of the same here, my apologies.

I do like the amount of screen time fire and ice get in the quarterlies though! That's really fun. The story about them in issue #5 is the highlight of that issue for me haha.

Issue #7 with Ted's class reunion is another solid story imo! Lots of very nice team dynamic going on during the fight, lots of spotlight on Ted that imo does a good job of showing off his skills and intelligence without making him seem above human (esp page 27.) I also love that he calls guy for help and even though he's gotta kinda egg him on to show up, guy still does what he asked. Also the image of him carrying the JLE in a bubble makes me laugh lol.

Also fun fact about the device Ted uses to tap into the phone line on page 14: that's a real thing! It looks more like this in real life:

It's called a butt set (seriously!) And while it's for the most part used to test if a phone line is active (ie has a dial tone,) there IS a way to use it to listen in on other people's phone calls. Or, well. There was. Mobile phones kind of destroyed that application of it for home use. I think this is the one and only time the tools I use at work has ever had any significance on my comic interests lol

I still need to read the Dmitri story in the same issue, it looks sweet!

I really like the story "when titans date" in issue #10. I like the art (even if wally and booster look almost exactly the same apart from Wally's hair being like two shades darker.) It's kind of a silly story all around, but I like a LOT of the dialogue. The little stuff like Bea recognizing Ted in the first page and immediately waving to him...ok imo Bea is really well in this one, I like the way she's written a lot. This page especially is my favorite:

Shout out to Ted's jacket too. A good leather jacket goes a long way. Meanwhile boosters kinda got that Charlie brown thing going on. ..anyway...

I love that the whole story is kinda cyclical too, like the set up with the car paying off (booster: "you were in the parking lot? Did you see the car? Is it okay?!?" Wally: "are you kidding? That car saved my life!")

It's silly for sure, but for me the writing and the art really sell it.

I stopped reading around issue #12 because if I remember right it started to get a bit more conglomerate focused (and the art wasn't really doing it any favors.) But I am definitely going to try to get all of the issues up to that point, and am definitely going to read them in full! Who knows, I may come back to this ask and have completely new opinions!

Thank you for the ask, and for being so knowledgeable on comics in general!

[tardytothesimspardy]

In Which Flat Broke Makes Many Discoveries

And I Have to Type This Out for the Second Time

Today I played through Prankster Day and Love Day, but I'll focus on Love Day, since nothing really of note happened on Prankster Day (aside from Buck casually electrocuting a random Sim who showed up at the door).

There were two big objectives for Love Day: securing the relationships of Flo and Flat, and Laurie and Summer. I know in my last post I (very briefly) wondering about pairing them together, but today I just jumped on the possibility. Rich keeps getting the moodlet of "feeling confined" by the relationship (he and Laurie aren't even engaged, he is completely overreacting), and Summer and Laurie get along well, so I just decided to try it.

Flat and Flo's date was the first one, the more secure and established of the relationship, so that was easy enough. I had them hold the date at Flo's house (Johnny Zest's old house, btw. He died some time ago) for two reasons: 1) I am incredibly tired, every time, of random Sims wedging themselves into conversations between my Sims while they are flirting, and then the random Sim gets all weird and awkward and then the whole conversation is made awkward. It wouldn't be awkward if you have just!! NOT!! DONE THAT!!! (Please tell me people don't randomly do that in real life I do not have the skeletal integrity for such information, I will simply collapse), and 2) I very recently discovered that I could just hold a date at the other Sim's house instead of going to a public space.

They had a nice date, it got the golden reward, and it was nice. Flat even managed to get the whim to ask another Sim to go steady, so I was able to have them be together of their own decision, rather than me just playing Barbies with them. I personally am pretty excited for them, and I hope that their relationship goes well. They honestly don't really have the time for their relationship go to badly, they're actually behind schedule, all things considered.

I actually like the third picture, right before they go into that weird pose of taking a selfie but their faces look weird and their necks are far too long and bendy, it makes them look kinda nervous. I like that because, y'know, they're teenagers, and this is the first time either have had a significant other, much less making it official to Flat's 70 followers (how does he manage to get 12 followers every post, that's insane).

Last thing about their date before I move onto Laurie and Summer's date, I,, (sigh), I,, hm. They "messed around". Nothing will come out of it, it's not like Flo would get gregnant or anything. If there is to be any teen pregurnt in this family, it'll be with Buck and Mary Lu, later down the line. I'm not even sure why I'm mentioning it, it's honestly really weird to point it out, but I guess it's my effort to kinda,,, push them, I guess, into the young adulthood that they'll be facing soon (like end of spring soon, they have less than two weeks of being a teenager left), and apparently this is something that people do. I wouldn't know, I don't think about stuff like that.

Anyway.

Before I brought Laurie to Summer and Liberty's house, I gave it a makeover. Just a little one, I didn't even change the flooring or wallpaper anywhere, but one to acknowledge and accommodate the fact that 1) there is a child living here, and 2) there is a dog living here. The bonus good news is that I made the house like, way brighter than it was before, so now I can actually see the house, holy crap.

I had Laurie bring Summer to the park in Willow Creek, where I don't think Laurie has ever been. She's truly an Oasis Springs native, that's for sure. They had a decent date, but to be honest I was almost unsure if anything was going to happen. (If nothing ended up happening, I would've just done the "Ask to be just friends" thing, which doesn't clear everything, but it works enough) But then Laurie confessed her feelings to Summer, and everything else fell into place. If I'm being honest, part of me was kinda nervous to have Laurie do that, since I've heard that interaction usually goes sour, but this time it worked great! So cool.

Without further adieu, here are the pictures from Laurie and Summer's date! (when ever i try to type "date" i type "fate" which honestly is only slightly ominous)

They also ended with a golden reward date, and when I took Summer home (to make sure she didn't get like, lost, or whatever. Idk), this happened autonomously

You can't see it, but Liberty had a little thought bubble of lips, so either she was watching a rom-com, or she was stuck listening to her roommate and some lady that only talked her to earlier that morning making out behind her. Oh, and that girl is Shawna, the daughter of Summer and Malcolm Landgraab. (Spoilers, she ends up looking like Malcolm)

So yeah, I would say that Love Day was fairly successful. I'm now wondering how long it will take for Summer to show up at the Broke's door, then flirt with Laurie in front of Rich, or vice versa. Something could definitely happen, I wonder who Laurie will choose, when it comes down to it? (I haven't figured it out yet lmao)

[noro-noro-noro]

i had a bunch of really cool dreams but they've all withered away except like... just one.

and that one was a dream there was like some kind of sequel to encanto (which I've never seen btw I only looked up we don't talk about bruno bc people were raving about it & it's so okay. it's the most mediocre song I ever heard.) where it was in the future & the reincarnations ? children of the original family? were joking to each other like "haha what if I wanted to go in a date with someone & I climbed this tree do you think that'd be a good make out spot? & the other one waslike "idk maybe not on the first date but further along if you make up a story about how this spot has significance maybe it's be worthwhile". then they/we climbed the tree to check it out - the younger brother was like the engineer of deep rock galactic & could shoot platforms which helped, & then we ran into a dude up there that was older than us. we were actually planning on meeting him here all along. we had a shitty video of our family performing that song from ages ago & we had tried to recreate it just the two of us for a school performance a while ago & it was like..okay. we had a lot of the words wrong but it was an okay performance. we wanted to know the actual lyrics, & we eventually reached out to this dude o the internet who seemed to know shit, & we were going to meet him & talk in this tree. this was briefly framed with the YouTube UI bc I had looked up "encanto 2 reunion scene", but it turns out this was people uploading the entire movie & this was part like 5/7 but it was also 58 minutes long. anyway we met & talked. he knew all the lyrics. we talked more & found out he was our long lost brother or smth?? we all took our hair down & we had the same curls & it waslike a wow moment. anyway after that it was from that guy's perspective while he was in college, there was some kind of con going on, the older sister of the first two snuck into his school bc she couldn't be seen at that college fsr & she was dressed head to toe as Noro. I was hyped up I was like "YO!! no way they put Noro in encanto!!!" as Noro she tried to get the guys attention (his name was trevor) & give him a gift, but he was just like ??? what ?? & didn't take the box & kept walking. the dream now followed Noro who was literally just Noro from Tokyo ghoul now surrounded by people. he was going for a walk & being so normal. terashi was there bc I remembered that post I made where I said "Noro and terashi should be friends" & they shook hands like from fma

I cannot remember the rest of the dreams I had. I'm pretty sure my second dream was like me thinking to myself "I need to write the first dream down so I can't forget it" & then the third one was a little it based on the Kirby game where I was exploring some area with a similar vibe but also there were like 5 simultaneous natural disasters & the monsters were worse.

[takeanotherpieceofmyhartwin]

Hey I'm not the other anon but I do want to bring something up that most people haven't when talking on this topic. The reason I couldn't get behind the couple is bc T*lde's portrayal is incredibly sexist. She is the Crown Princess of Sweden. I mean go look at the actual Crown Princess of Sweden. She has basic military training. She's highly educated. She will be the first Queen Regent since the 1700s. She's Head of State when her father is out of the country. She's a representative for (1/3)

(2/3) global affairs. She has obligations. Her husband is a commoner but a SWEDISH commoner and they dated for four years (plus a year engagement) bc he’s going to be King Consort one day and who she marries is very significant. Plus Vaughn put all of the agency on Eggsy when in reality who the Crown Princess marries can see her disinherited from the throne if her father disapproves. You, as well as Vaughn, frame Eggsy not lying to Tilde’s parents as a good thing but in reality their opinion is

(3/3) tantamount to her future. T*lde in the film could easily be any random rich girl. She was brought back to hang on Eggsy’s arm and be a good girlfriend. To laugh at his jokes at dinner and be the cool girl around his friends. To offer him anal sex and give a ticking clock, two things that he shouldn’t actually NEED to want to save 50% of the population which btw included some of his friends.

(Additional note) I hope none of this came off as hateful toward you. I’m just really frustrated with the growing argument between ‘was this relationship healthy or wasn’t it’ and no one talking about how T*lde was treated to an incredibly sexist portrayal. Tho others are totally welcome to try and fix this in fandom, for me it just left a bad taste in my mouth that I still can’t shake.

That’s perfectly understandable!

What ticked me off about the other anon was how they dismissed the entire relationship as “not healthy” and “not normal” without any actual points other than a few subjective throwaway observations. 

Not liking a ship based on the characterization of a character due to it’s inaccuracy and the misogynistic way they are portrayed is an incredibly valid argument that I can’t and won’t argue with.

I know nothing about the real life Swedish royalty, or royalty in general, so my post about the relationship was almost purely on the emotional level between the two. 

I’ll leave this here for if anyone else would like to add to your points!