#but like i get it. that's a strong brand aesthetic. it's NOT something i really care for but yeah.

[britneyshakespeare]

i dont know where to scream about this but i honestly feel some sort of weird relief that r//nbow high is declining. i knoooow i know it's popular and they've been such high quality dolls and collectors have loved them and some(?) people like the web series (or do they? ive heard mixed things but ive never had any interest in watching it) but oh god. i just. sometimes it takes me awhile to appreciate modern doll lines and their aesthetics but i just could not get past their weird fish faces and in general i do not like monochrome styling themes. i realize their designers did so much with their concepts, i realize a lot of heart and effort went into them, and i completely understand why so many people were floored with the quality of the dolls and the rate at which they were being put out. even though the prices kept rising for them, you could at least see where your money was going, like they were always so well-constructed and doing new things. but like. at the end of the day. on a very basic level they were just never all that aesthetically pleasing to me and it was kind of maddening to see all that potential going towards a line of dolls that had just... like... facial proportions i could not get past lol.

[rainbowsky]

I can't help it, I have to critique this.

Disclaimer: I'm about to rip this logo to shreds. If that's is going to offend you, don't read on. Especially don't read on and then get pissed off at me, because you will only have yourself to blame. 😅

I also want to start off by saying that this has absolutely nothing to do with who designed it (or didn't design it), or who it was designed for. I love GG and DD, but ultimately my reaction to this logo design has absolutely nothing to do with either of them.

I have to say it couldn't be more disappointed with this logo. I feel that it fails on every level. Here are a few of the reasons why:

It is devoid of any personality. I guess I've been spoiled by the cool panther logo that we have known and loved, but I would have preferred to see something with more street style to it. Something with more individuality - something connected to Yibo and his aesthetic. This doesn't scream 'Yibo' to me. It just looks very conservative, like something designed for a brand (which it was, I guess). That's not to say the illustration isn't well done, because it is, and it does do a decent job of bringing in some automobile elements into the snakehead design (the geometric scales, the flames under the eye), but no matter how well illustrated something is, it's not going to make a good logo just because it's pretty. Logo design is actually a complex process that requires a lot of skill and experience, and a solid background in communications and design. Being able to draw well is only a very small part of that skillset. In fact, there are some outstanding communication designers who can't draw very well at all.

It fails as a logo design. The number one thing any logo needs to do is communicate. This doesn't communicate anything at all. It doesn't even immediately read as a snake. In fact there's really very little snake-ish about it, and all of the coolest elements of a snake - its long winding body, its forked tongue, its glassy eyes - none of those features are incorporated here. It also doesn't read as an 85, it could be an 89. Terrible - a truly inexcusable error. For a racing logo, there's really nothing speedy or fast being communicated here at all. The snake looks like it's about to fall asleep. Even the kinetic energy that could have been communicated through the position of the snake's tail is wrong. The tail is pointing in the opposite direction it should be, and the snake does not look like it's moving forward, it looks like it's draped over the logo, exhausted, and like the entire snake is maybe 5" long.

The designer doesn't seem to have respected the spirit of the original design. They should have used that original design as a starting point and built upon it rather than go in their own direction and then paste what they did on top of the existing logo. As a result the overall look is disjointed and unharmonious. It just doesn't crackle with the exciting energy that comes from a well-designed, well-balanced, aesthetically strong logo design.

I really can't stand it. Yes, the snake itself is beautifully illustrated, and the illustrator is talented, but they have failed as a logo designer in this particular case.

I love the idea of the snake being incorporated into a racing logo, but everything that makes a snake cool, everything that makes a snake well aligned with a racing brand, everything that conveys speed and energy is just completely lacking here.

Just to give you an example of some more dynamic snake logos, here are a few just from Google image search (and I'll put the Evisu one here again so you can compare). I'm not saying that I love these designs, but they are much more energetic and dynamic than this logo:

And I find this one pretty inspiring simply because it gives me ideas about creating a snake with a tire tread underbelly, which would be so cool.

And if you look at the classic Ford Shelby logo, compare that with the Evisu one you can see how much more dynamic and unique and distinctive and exciting the snake is in this one, even though its position is more static and it's not as smoothly rendered. It has style.

There's a part of me that feels a little bit bad for ripping into Yibo's new logo, but I'm angry on his behalf, because I feel like he deserves a lot better than this.

And all the designer would have needed to do to make this a more exciting logo and one that communicates what it needs to communicate is to make the snake head a little bit smaller so it's not blocking the number 5, give it a more dynamic pose where its mouth is open and its fangs are showing and its tongue is sticking out, and expand its body so that its body is visible behind - or even winding around - the numbers, and where you can see the curls of its body, and its tail is facing in the correct direction to make the snake look like it's moving forward.

Edit: here's what I mean:

I still don't feel that the illustration style is compatible with the original logo design, but I could overlook it if it was actually making any effort at all at communicating a racing theme.

Just my two cents. It's possible I will warm up to it more when I see it on the car. Placement and context can make a big difference.

I think it's cool that Yibo wants to use that green bamboo snake for a logo, I just wish it had been better designed.

Edit: more on this here.

[longing-for-rain]

I don’t even understand the character Sokka stans are stanning. It’s not even Sokka. It is like they are taking the big strong tough guy Sokka thinks he is and acting like that is his actual character when it isn’t. I know not all of them are z*kkas but it does seem like atla renaissance and z*kka popularity added to this trend of taking Katara traits and giving them to Sokka instead

Me neither? I honestly don’t dislike Sokka as a character. I never particularly related to him like I do with other characters, but what frustrates me is how the fandom treats him in relation to other characters, especially Katara.

I definitely agree with you that there was a noticeable shift with the ATLA renaissance in 2020. I was in the fandom long before then and the biggest shift I saw was character bashing taking a faux-progressive spin. For example, Mai bashing used to involve calling her ugly and abusive, but shifted into shoving her into sapphic side ships for the aesthetic instead (while still making jabs at her appearance and demeanor, of course, because people can’t be normal about lesbians). As for Katara, it’s even worse. I’ll get into that.

I remember that historically, Katara has been one of the most bashed and hated on characters in the fandom. People would call her bossy and self important, say she was too emotional, that she was too rude, that she didn’t care about other people’s problems, etc. It was blatant back then, but I honestly see the same trends now, just more covertly. People acting like Katara is not as mature as Sokka, not “mom friend,” or otherwise downplaying the responsibilities she had to take on, fundamentally, are operating on the same logic. They do it in a very jokey way a lot of the time or even act like they’re “letting her be a kid” but really it’s just erasing the nuance of her character in the same way overtly misogynistic fans once did.

Because here’s the thing. We can all recognize Katara was forced into a parental role at an early age and that wasn’t fair to her. But acting like that was something that randomly happened on its own is not addressing the problem. But these fans refuse to address the problem by answering the question of why Katara constantly has to take this role…because that would require them to hold Sokka and Aang accountable for their actions and these people will not do that.

I really do think this is tied in with zukka too. I will say that I’m not a zukka anti. I actually really enjoy some zukka content because it can give a refreshing perspective. But I do see a lot of characterizations that are deeply annoying because they really seem like they’re trying to replace Katara. They want the Zutara dynamic but want slash. And I know these characterizations are no longer unique to zukka, but I would agree they were popularized by it.

Just off the top of my head:

The character who is the first of the group to trust Zuko? That was Katara. Sokka was the one in favor of leaving him to die whereas Katara trusted him twice during Book 2.

The character who emotionally connects with Zuko? That’s Katara.

The character who Zuko feels safest letting his guard down around? That’s Katara.

The character who helps Zuko heal from his trauma? That’s Katara.

The character known for showing the most compassion to others? That’s Katara.

The character who primarily bears the burden of having to step up into a parental role? That’s Katara.

The character who represses their emotions to be strong for others? That’s Katara.

And yet, for some reason, there is this new wave of fans who take all of these traits central to Katara and give them to Sokka instead. It’s just frustrating. Sokka is his own character. He’s different. I really just think this is a new brand of misogyny where we take traits like these for granted in female characters but overemphasize them in male characters.

[trinketfairy]

SQUISHMALLOWS/BUM BUMZ ALTERNATIVE MASTERPOST

After posting my warning on Jazwares for supporting Israel, I've been asked time and time again to make my alternative plushies brands available for non-Twitter users, to which I say "absolutely, fuck that site." It's well overdue at this point, so here's my list of plush brands that are way better than Squishmallows and Bum Bumz!

Unfortunately can't provide images due to Tumblr's image limit, but I'll provide websites for you to search through when available.

Complete list is under a readmore for convenience.

Squishables: If you want that same "kawaii" aesthetic and round shapes, Squishables is your best bet. They're great too because a lot of their plush are designed by fans who are given a cut of their sales. Sign up for their email notifications, they have sales very often!

Amuse/Amufun: If you're really into the "kawaii" aesthetic, then it makes sense to look directly towards Japanese brands! You may know them for their Alpacasso line. It can be expensive to get them imported, but I think they're very much worth it.

Jellycat: I can't say I 100% recommend their newer plush anymore considering their steep decline in quality, but their older plush are still so wonderful and full of character. You're bound to find something by them that you like from their catalogue. (Editor's note: This is what my original thread said, but it seems like Jellycat has improved their quality control, so I feel much better with recommending them again!)

Mary Meyer: If JC is too much out of your price range, then Mary Meyer is what I recommend next to them! Their Marshmallow Zoo line is a huge favourite of mine, I love how full of character they are.

Aurora World: Aurora World has plenty of brands under their belt, so there's bound to be something that tickles your fancy. Brands under the Aurora World company include Palm Pals, Eco Nation, Miyoni, and their baby line, Ebba.

Steiff: Ah yes, the OG teddy bear brand, the one that started it all and is still going strong. Be warned that they can get pretty expensive depending on what you're looking at, but I hear that they're so worth every single penny.

Douglas Cuddle Toys: Probably the quintessential plush brand when it comes to realistic plush, especially cats and dogs, but they have tons of other species available too! Pretty affordable too if you're buying them at retail price

Wild Republic: Another one that does more realistic-looking plush, but I think they have a wider selection of species to choose from. If you're looking for a niche animal, Wild Republic (likely) has you covered!

Shinada Morisaka Global: Another plush brand I have yet to get my hands on, but one that I hear fantastic things about. I mean come on, how can you not love these little guys??

Pokemon Center: Jazwares unfortunately holds the license to make Pokemon plush, but that doesn't mean they're your only option when it comes to Pokeplush! TPC has been making their own Pokeplush for ages now, and they have plenty of different lines to suit your tastes.

Sunlemon: They're expensive to get imported but oh my god are they worth it. The quality is truly umatched compared to American plushies, I adore my tanuki to bits. Please get more eyes on their stuff.

Prime Shiba: Definitely a more expensive option, but I think they're cute plushies for every dog lover. Their stuff often goes on sale often so definitely take advantage of them!

Plushie Dreadfuls: You've probably seen one of their mental illness-themed bunnies before, but have you seen their Pride and Zodiac collections too? They also have many generic-looking plush if the personalization isn't up your alley! Ok so this was in my Twitter thread but apparently since then some shit has gone down with the company CEO making some offhand remarks that got misinterpreted but he acted like an ass in response to it, I recommend doing your own research on it before you buy in case that's not something you wanna support.

StrawbunnyCake: Want to go more small business? Consider supporting a fellow disabled creator, StrawbunnyCake! Their stuff is adorable, and you're sure to fall in love with their characters.

Hannimations: Also on the list of small businesses is Hannimator! Easily best known for their Pride-related Colourful Puppies/Kittens plush lines

Paleoplushies: If you're super into dinosaurs and other preshistoric animals, then Paleoplushies is sure to have something you'll like! They're all handmade by a single artist, so please show them your love and kindness

Cirquell Curiosities: Another great small business to support, most known for their high-end demon goat plushies! A lot of their stuff is one of a kind too, so they're the place to go if you're looking for a unique plush.

Snughouls: The unique and elusive Care Weres line by McMadMissile is sure to win over your heart! It originally started as just being the werewolves, but has since expanded to all kinds of demonic creatures from the Kickstarter! There's even some designs waiting to be funded!

Next are a bunch of brands that weren't personally recommended by me, but get my seal of approval:

AfternoonFika

Creep Cat Toy Co.

Weighted Wildlife

Tasty Peach Studios

Bunnies By The Bay

Snoozimals

Smoko

ChottoBonita

Honeylambs

CraftedCuddlez

Cyborutchi

Fluffnest

MarDeLunaArts (+ on Etsy)

Bellzi

B Softies by B Toys

That's all I have to share, but if you have any other brands you think are worth highlighting then by all means I invite you to reblog with your additions. Please remember that this is a collective effort and we're all counting on each other to act. Keep your head up, don't stop talking about Palestine, and remember to prioritize the official BDS brands list. From the river to the sea 🇵🇸🍉🕊️🫒

[ieatangstforbreakfast]

Pairing ೃ⁀➷ 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝟒𝟐! 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 x Fem! Reader

Summary ೃ⁀➷ Lovers have secrets of their own, no matter how much they come to trust each other, whether it be a past mistake or an unspoken trauma. For you and Miles, however, your secrets came in the form of hidden identities— one being a masked vigilante, and the other a mastermind.

Genre ೃ⁀➷ Forbidden love, mutual pining, angst♡

Tags ೃ⁀➷ Both are artists, reader is from a very wealthy family, both are living double lives, underaged smoking, reader is female and uses she/her pronouns, forbidden love (ish?), swearing, daddy issues, mommy issues, reader is unhinged, both are mentally unstable, lots of flirting.

Author's Note ೃ⁀➷ WHY IS THE HALLOWEEN CHAPTER PUBLISHED ON DECEMBER IDK IM SLOW, also politics yay ig— MENTIONS OF MY COUNTRY! 🇵🇭💥🇵🇭💥💪💪 Also uh VERY long chapter

Tag list ೃ⁀➷ @sakura-onesan @coffeeandtealol @luvjunie @noetophat @proudgojofucker @adorefavv @l0starl @depresssedcowboy

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎: 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭

Summary ೃ⁀➷ You and Montrell seem to share a few qualities. In the midst of talks of politics with Miles, you find yourself parted from the reality you were raised in, instead finding a new world in Spirit Halloween.

This chapter is not sponsored.

FIC MASTERLIST

Previous Chapter || Next Chapter

".. You should've definitely worn a coat over that."

You fiddled with your sleeve, staring comfortably past the window and out into the shining streets of Brooklyn. The comment was unnecessary , but it didn't entirely fly past your ears— in fact you swallowed it like a bad egg, making your stomach churn. As you turned your head away from the window, you're brought back to acknowledge your brother, Montrell, sitting beside you with his hand over the wheel.

"I like it as it is." You answered. "It's soft, fluffy, and big. Fragrant too." Because it belongs to Miles.

"It's the first time I've seen you wear something so.." His words trace away, but even without finishing the sentence, you knew what he meant. Unsophisticated— a little too boyish in comparison to your usual, refined clothes. The classic sort of unrefined your dearest mother taught you not to embody.

"What? It's comfortable." Was your attempt of a justification. Montrell shrugs, and you catch a twitch in his eye.

Your family had similar, refined tastes. Montrell, like you, was taught to imbue stylishness in every aspect of his life. He was often Armani-clad. Brunello Cucinelli, Hermes— and every other European household name you could recall. But in special events, he usually sported suits specially tailored to his tastes. His palette was consistently ashen, monochrome, with hints of cherry red. Like his car, which had been only recently cleaned after the staff was updated with his upcoming arrival, a slick, grey Aston Martin. It was likely the peak symbolism of his tastes.

You were never really fond of vehicles, particularly their strong, Italian leather scents (Or stench, as you called it). It was because of your sensitive nose that you often requested the seats to be replaced with anything but leather. Scentless polyester was your more preferred option. Leather alone was enough to urge your stomach to clear out your last meal, by ascending to your esophagus.

"I'm not insulting your tastes. I'm glad you're exploring new aesthetics." He manages to lure out his teeth, a compliment— a not-so-good one at that. "What is this?.. Like, street style? Grunge?.. What's that other one— e-girl, I believe? Or was it Emo?"

"You sound not twenty-five years old."

"Don't be mean. The idea of it is new to me, okay?" He clears. "I haven't seen you in three years. The last time I saw you, mom was the one in charge of your wardrobe. I only ever saw your pictures and you seemed more high-end. Saint Laurent, Dior, Dolce Gabbana."

"Those are my brands, I'm just taking a break. I'm not a walking advertisement. I don't want to get robbed in the middle of Brooklyn either."

With a three-second pause, Montrell looks at you and queried.

"Does that jacket belong to a boy?"

You sit right up, ready to defend yourself when Antonne adds. "You would have to introduce him to me immediately— I won't stand aside while some boy prances around your presence. You're sixteen, and that's a prey-able age for stupid and good-for-nothing men… Unless,” He pauses. “You’re gay.”

"What— What are you talking about!?” You feigned ignorance. “I'm not g— this is— it doesn't belong to a.. Well, it does belong to a boy, but it's my friend's jacket okay?"

Oh, the way Miles would glare at you had he been there.

"Don't try to outsmart me." He shot back. "You’ve got little to no friends.”

You parted your lips. “You’re being mean.”

“I’m only stating the truth.” He sighs. “You’re too condescending, and you hate people.”

“And your sources are what? A small interaction I had when I was twelve?”

Montrell grows uneasy a bit, tapping his nails over the thinly veiled compartment. ".. So who is he?" He starts. "From which family? Who are his parents? And how did the both of you meet?"

"That's none of your business, Mon." You sighed, running a hand across your face. "I'm not seeing him, I'm simply hanging out with another friend. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Well, it surely wouldn't hurt for me to meet this friend of yours, then? If he's not a boyfriend."

Your mouth hung open, a steady sigh escaping your lips while you sink a little deeper into your seat. As a hand runs across your cheek, you looked at Montrell as he eases the car down to a red light.

"He doesn't know that I'm a Chávez."

ＢＥＥＰ

Suddenly, you're jolted to a sudden halt— nearly flying out of your seat upon Montrell's way of hitting the brakes. You grabbed onto the board before you with widened eyes and a curse in your mouth.

He remains calm, but slightly irked.

At that moment, he pulls a finger to his lips as if to hush you. He signals with another finger as it leads up to boost the music from the radio. The song blasts, and swiftly, he takes his jug hidden by the side of his seat, unscrewing the top before pouring some of the water onto his palm, flicking at the air conditioner.

Oh, he was checking if the car was bugged.

You hold out your hand, gesturing him to give you some of the water. Together, the both of you took care of the recording devices, from the front of the wheel to the back of the car. Upon gathering all of them, you stuffed it all inside the water bottle, permanently eradicating its usage.

Finally, Montrell places his hands on the wheel and speaks.

“I want you to be honest with me, [Y/n], and cut out any of the bullshittery.”

You feared that at that moment, you and Montrell weren’t brother and sister, but rivals in a battle for power.

ＳＨＯＵＬＤ ＷＥ ＥＡＴ ＹＯＵＲ ＢＲＯＴＨＥＲ？

Your finger twitches.

Wait.

“Does he make you happy?”

The question comes off a little too similar to tasteless poison. It’s a gamble in itself— and it leaves you sitting upright and crossing your legs.

“He makes me feel alive,” Was your starter. “That’s a power no other boy could do, and it’s a rarity, since I’ve always lived for other people, but he makes me feel like I’m living for myself.”

A short hum exits his lips. “And your happiness? Does he make you happy?”

You harshly swallowed. “What difference would it make if I tell you that he does make me happy?”

Montrell’s gaze narrows a bit, the heel of his boots pressing against the gas as the green light shone. “… I ought to applaud you for your sneakiness if by now, dad still doesn’t know anything about his existence.. Unless,” Gulp. “He ordered you to spy on him.”

“And for what reason?”

“It could be anything,” His grip on the wheel tightens like the coil of a noose. “Hostage, information, any of the latter. I’m not sure why father would send you off to spy on a fifteen-year-old boy, but I’m sure the truth’s far deeper than petty business rival bullshit.”

Your mind blanks.

“It’s nothing like that. I just.. Like him, that’s all.”

“Are you sure?”

“Why would I lie to you about how much he means to me?”

“Because we’re not just siblings, [Y/n],” He whispered. “If anything, we’re not a normal family, but, I’m here for you because I think you’re a good kid, even if everyone else says you’re not.”

“Cease the speech, Mon. I’m not a good person. Stop romanticizing me.”

“But why?” He adds. “Is it because you managed the media and the hotel?”

And hearing those words, you come to face the fact that there was a reason Montrell was your father’s favorite. The effortless way he’s able to read every situation, the effortless way he managed to read through your emotions. It was a talent you could only wish for.

“It was so obvious, you know.” He chuckled. “I knew— I already knew before I came home.”

“Why?”

“Because Antonne handles things messily. He makes decisions without thinking about the consequences, and he despises planning things on the long run. Dad wouldn’t trust anyone outside the family after what happened with Mom, nor would he allow just anyone to handle such shaky affairs. It’s not like it’s beyond father’s morality to hire his own children and calling it practice.”

“What evidence do you have?”

Montrell took one look at you. “The Warehouse. It’s said that it was recently burnt, and that Antonne had to fight the Prowler, but Antonne wouldn’t have had the time to take care of all that because he was investigating you.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” You spat.

“Also, no one but family takes care of the Warehouses.”

“No— I know that, fuck that. You were going to find out one way or another, but what the fuck was Antonne investigating me for?”

Your brother simply shrugs, his shoulders dropping comically.

“It was about that boy.”

“What!?” Your voice breaks a little. “Jesus fuck, what is wrong with him!?”

“Evidently, he’s worried about you.”

You snorted. “Worried!? Worried my ass!” The vulgar way you spoke caught Montrell so off-guard that he had to look at you twice to check if you were still the same person. “I’d rather believe the world’s ending. Antonne and I stopped being siblings the moment he dropped responsibility for all those who were killed, forcing me to step up and do damage control because Dad stopped trusting everyone else.”

“Well, that’s understandable.”

“Plus, there’s nothing to be worried about. The boy I’m meeting he’s.. He’s just.. I like him. That’s it. I know it’s hard to believe since most of the time I’m a conniving bitch, but I genuinely, wholeheartedly like him. Like how a normal teenage girl ought to like a boy.”

Montrell hums. “… Alright, I’ll believe you. It’s not too far off from unusual, when I’m also facing a similar issue.”

You blinked. “What do you mean by that?”

“… You see, [Y/n], I’ve got also got a girl for myself.” He announced so suddenly. “Met her at Oxford. Like your boy, she bore no idea of who I was.. Who I am, and understandably, and I know you know about this too— but it’s a refreshing feeling to not be recognized as the potential inheritor of a business empire.”

You part your lips, processing the information with confusion all over your expression. “But— there were no reports of you being in a relationship.”

“Of course there weren’t,” He laughs. “I had her carefully hidden from everyone’s sights.”

And that could mean two things. You didn’t want to think of the latter.

“Maybe it’s genetic,” Montrell added, turning the wheel. “Father, mother, me, Antonne, you. Making stupid decisions for stupid ideals— rather, stupid romance. It’s frightening to think how Malachi’s going to inherit our tendencies.”

“I’m not,” Your heart raged within the cage of your ribs. “I’m not like that to him. I can never allow myself to trap him.”

“You can either be one of them.” Montrell sighed. “Mom or dad, I mean.”

The good ol’ bird or the cage.

“But I won’t be able to stand by and watch when that does happen,” He straightens his lips. “I can’t let anything happen to you.”

You can hear the voice whisper back in your mind.

“Which is why I’ve got to meet.. [Y/n]?”

Your hands slithered up against your ears in an attempt to block out the voice.

“[Y/n], are you okay?”

You gasped for air, a familiar voice taunting you like the one from your dreams. Except, this one didn’t speak like the voice of the symbiote, rather, it endowed this sweet allure as though it could sing you a lullaby to sleep.

Before the symbiote, there was someone else who plagued your thoughts and mind and actions.

Before the symbiote, there was your mother.

“Stop the car.” You croaked, palms still over your ears. Montrell speaks, but his words were blurred out into the void of nothingness. The more he speaks, the more your mind shreds itself into pieces. After a long second of thinking, Montrell finally pulls up by the sidewalk, taking his hands off the wheel and pulling one in front of you. He waves it hesitantly, snapping you from your thoughts.

“Breathe, [Y/n], breathe.”

“I-I,” You lengthily stammered. “Mon, I’m sorry, but can I go?” As he’s about to answer, you add. “I’ll introduce you another day, I promise, I just, I need to be alone right now.”

“But isn’t it unsafe? We’re in the slums, you’ll never know how—“

“Mon, I can fight.” You ended the conversation with that alone. Hesitantly, he nods and unlocks the door. You reach for the handle, moving along with the click as you turned to leave.

“Can you at least message me when I can pick you up?”

You looked over to Montrell.

“… Okay.”

ＳＬＡＭ.

“Miles!”

And he could already hear you from a block away, jogging with steady and loud steps.

Without even looking up from his phone, he unconsciously opened his arms to welcome you with an embrace— closing in immediately upon your arrival. You felt like you were going to stain his jacket with your glossed lips, but you barely managed to care anymore at this point, as this hug was beyond a need. You clung onto his neck, burying your aching head into the nape of his collar, taking in this familiar scent of spice and wood. A subtle homage, or a reminder of your older brother, Montrell.

What was it about men and their perfume?

It felt like you hadn’t seen Miles in such a long, long time. It was like you were a child who’d parted from their favorite blanket for a little too long that it made you uneasy. You liked the world and space you had between his arms— it was your warmth, your only true home, and it was yours.

All yours.

“What’s wrong?” He cooed, simpering around with you in his arms.

“I just want to stay like this for a moment.” You whispered. “I need to steal the warmth off of you.”

“Well, nena, why are you only wearing my hoodie? It’s so cold out.”

“It’s not that.”

Miles’ ears metaphorically perked up upon hearing you sniffle.

“Who the fuck hurt you? I’ll kill ‘em.”

Your lips curved into a smile.

Oh, Miles, you can’t possibly kill off a multi-million dollar industry.

“Can you kill a car, then? My brother drove me here and his car’s smell made me age twenty years,” You grumbled. “I’m boutta die at thirty-seven, I swear.”

“Your brother?” He lightly jolts away, eyes journeying from road to road in search of him. “God, where is he? Is he here?”

And at that moment, Miles subsequently fixes his posture, his words suddenly endowing some strange sort of politeness. You nudge at his shoulder, “I told him to drop me off somewhere else. I didn’t want him to meet you yet.”

“Awe,” He pouted. “Well, that’s aight. I’m gonna dress up real nice when I meet your family.”

“Uhuh,” You laughed. “And what are you going to be wearing?”

“I’m gonna borrow my unc’s suit, and I’ll talk business with yo father.”

“Only business you’ll be discussing with my father is your damn funeral, Miles. My papa don’t want me out here dating, that’s why he put me in private school.”

“With a face like yours?” He smugly grinned. “Your daddy’s kinda underestimating the power of your pretty face.”

“Oh, so you like me ‘cause I’m pretty?”

“Pretty fucking unbearable, that’s what you is.” The boy joked. “M’just kidding. I like you because you’re pretty much everything to me.”

Despite the fluttering of your stomach, you persevered with your little game. “Doesn’t answer anything— what do you like about me? Did you like my face or my personality?”

“I liked you ‘cause of your pretty face, and stayed for your amazing personality.” He answered as though he’d been preparing for the question his whole life.

“Amazing personality?”

“Extravaganza bonanza personality.”

“I’m not a banana split sundae, Miles.”

“Might as well should be with yo damn split personality.”

Your hands dangle away, Miles unconsciously attempts to reach for it but instead accepts defeat when you held his hand. “So where are we going for halloween spirit, exactly?”

“Halloween spirit?” He queried.

“Yeah, didn’t ya mention something about being in halloween spirit?”

Miles paused, holding back a loud laugh in the middle of the street. “My girl, I said I was in Spirit Halloween.”

“What the fuck is a Spirit Halloween?”

“Holy shit,” He verbalized. “You’re in for a scare, nena.”

And he meant those words a little too literally.

Growing up, it wasn’t within your household to make halloween one of your yearly traditions. Your father deemed it unnecessary, while your mother was anything but fun (Same difference, really). Your brothers have celebrated halloween, one way or another, but since you were the child closest to your mother, you were anything but free of her beliefs.

So being greeted with a large, bloodied skeleton first-thing upon entering the building was a first for you.

“WHAT THE HELL IS EVEN THAT!?”

Miles simply explodes into laughter, holding his phone up just to record your reaction. You fall right back, hand still holding onto his. “Come on, nena, you can do it, let’s get past the entrance.”

“Miles, what in THE FUCK is that!?”

“Don’t be mean to your brother, ma.” He attempts to drag you inside as you sat down by the floor with petrification scribbled all over your face. “[Y/n], come on, introduce me to the rest of your family.”

“FUCK YOU!” You whisper-yelled.

“It’s not even moving yet, come on, [Y/n].”

“THAT’S SUPPOSED TO MOVE!?”

After managing to drag you past the animatronics (Which Miles described was a work out in itself), the both of you marveled at the isle where all the costumes were, skimming through the racks and looking at each and every picture. “Oh, Miles— look at this,” You pluck one out, the hanger dangling from your fingers. “It’s Emily from the corpse bride! Shit, I haven’t seen the movie since I was eight.”

“Look at this one, Ma, this shit’s so you.”

He pulls out an Elsa costume.

“Even got the white ass wig and everythin’.” He giggles as you playfully smacked his arm. “Let it go. Let it go.”

“Shut up.”

“Can’t hold this shit anymore!~”

“MILES.”

“LET IT GO!”

You tried to hush out his horrible singing, but the way he giggled was so infectious that you couldn’t help but giggle yourself. When bystanders started walking past the both of you with weird ogles in their gazes, you couldn’t help but put your hand over your mouth to muffle your laughing.

“Puñeta,” Miles added, pulling out a fucking teenage mutant ninja turtles costume. “You’ve got to fucking try this, ma.”

“Miles—“ You couldn’t even continue a sentence without wheezing.

You did eventually find a costume— unlike the original plan, the both of you couldn’t find a medieval patient dying of the bubonic plague, but Miles did manage to find a dark priestess costume along with a plague doctor costume.

“We’re like business partners. The patients go to me, and when they die, you send them off.” Was what he said.

“Wouldn’t that make you a really horrible doctor?”

“Doctor’s still a doctor, ma. I mean, it’s the police’s job to protect all of us but if that’s really the case, they’re doing a pretty fucking horrible job at it, but hey, we still call them the police.”

You looked at the mirror, watching the confusion materialize over your face as you heard Miles’ rant behind the curtain. As you clumsily tried on your costume inside the changing room, you couldn’t help but ask. “What makes you say that? That they’re doing a horrible job at protecting y’all?”

As you zipped up the bolero, you hear Miles’ curtain open.

“Well, Ma, brutality’s been upper than hell compared to the last few decades, so’s poverty. For the last four years, the economy’s been going downhill, which made us have a recession. ‘Cause of that, a lot of the cops had to kiss up some of the wealthy folks’ asses to keep their jobs.”

“So that makes them corrupt?”

“That makes them desperate,” He alluded. “No one wants to die of starvation, and they all have families to feed. It’s divide and conquer, really.”

“Divide and conquer?— oops,” You pick up the fallen headdress from the floor. “Expand on that.”

Miles hums a bit. “Imagine the crab mentality. I’ve read about it before for a philosophy research, and it’s a term used in the Philippines. Put a fuck ton of crabs in a bucket. You’re gonna see the crabs drag each other down in order to pull themselves up, but in the end, none of them ain’t gonna reach the top.

Because the true problem was never the crabs, it was the person who put those crabs inside the bucket in the first place. Same goes for us, the poor. We all have to fend for ourselves so we put others down— because if we’re too busy surviving, we don’t have to pay no attention to the rich who put us all inside the damn bucket in the first place.”

The way he described it was so familiar.

It was like he was describing you with your siblings.

ＨＥ’Ｓ ＳＭＡＲＴ. Ｉ ＬＩＫＥ ＨＩＭ.

Hearing the symbiote’s approval echo in your mind, you couldn’t help but smirk.

He’s not just smart. He’s a genius.

ＤＯＮ’Ｔ　ＯＶＥＲＰＲＡＩＳＥ　 ＨＩＭ,

ＳＷＥＥＴＨＥＡＲＴ

Don’t call me that, ever.

His experiences and your experiences were similar despite being so contradictory, and it didn’t make sense. You were rich, so extraordinarily wealthy that the recession was never a part of your problem, hell, the decline of the economy was never your problem— and Miles was struggling along with his family to keep themselves afloat.

And you could never put yourself in his shoes, as you knew nothing of the loss he felt.

But the both of you were kids in line to shape the future, and if the generational trauma ever continued, you’d only end up the oppressor, but you knew, Miles was going to tear himself apart from the title of ‘victim’, and he was going to stand up against you— maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow,

But soon, as villain versus hero.

You pushed the curtain away, unveiling the costume to Miles.

But rather than seeing him, he was nowhere to be found.

You lifted the veil, stepping out of the dressing room to take a peek at him, but you couldn’t find any trace of his broad-shouldered figure anywhere. You softly called out for his name, head spinning from constantly turning. Your feet took you forward. You try ignore the giggly and bloodily-clad animatronics whose haunting stares scared you far worse than any unwanted confrontation with any of your family members.

And there he was, talking to a girl.

That sort of closeness— the way they spoke. Laughing, catching up, or something like that. Acquaintances? Friends, maybe?

Something ugly pricked at your skin from within.

ＨＵＮＧＲＹ.

Montrell’s words began to spiral inside your mind. ‘Father, mother, me, Antonne, you. Making stupid decisions for stupid ideals— rather, stupid romance.’

ＨＵＮＧＲＹ.

The feeling seared your veins, making you dig your nails into the bed of your palm. Your knuckles quivered from the intensity, like a sort of anger you felt when you saw any of your elder brothers being praised for the bare minimum, except.. This one felt different.

ＨＵＮＧＲＹ.

You watched the way her braids fell, wondering if you could pull it off with such grace. High society’s always been too picky, which forced you to drown out most of your interests, but now you couldn’t help but feel a little envious. You wanted to wear the clothes you wanted to wear, try out the makeup you wanted to try.

It felt like your mother’s shadow was being cast on you, making you embody the very phase you feared, your mother’s daughter—

and like your mother, you were quick to get jealous.

And it devoured you, whole.

You faltered, taking a step back before fully pivoting your heel and running off back to the dressing room. You shut the curtain behind you, only now finding the symbiote staring right at you through the mirror— its grotesque body mirroring your move.

“For a girl who knows how to handle most of her emotions, you can’t seem to handle jealousy well.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m just tired.”

“And I’m Sofia Vergara.“

“How the fuck do you know who Sofia Vergara is?”

“Memories, my dear.”

You felt a surge of panic take course of you.

“This is unhealthy. I can’t be like this, I don’t even know who she is.” You exasperatedly murmured. “I need to calm down— Miles and I aren’t even official yet.”

“Exactly, so be the lady that you are and introduce yourself, damn it. You have no friends.”

“I have friends.” You seethed. “I’m popular as hell in Acadia.”

“If I had a dollar for every friend you have, I’d be the one giving you a poverty rant.”

“[Y/n]?” Miles pulled you out of your thoughts yet again.

“Y-Yeah?” You called out, whipping your head back. “You done?” He asks, shuffling a bit. You hesitantly open the curtain to reveal yourself, your sights eventually welcoming the image of Miles dressed in all black— with a long, beak-like mask over his head. As you were too busy trying to find his little acquaintance, Miles gawks at you from behind his heavy façade.

The faux black silk draped over your curves seamlessly, the crimson of the bolero gleaming beneath the light as it contrasted against the dress. You lifted the veil past the dark crown like a bride, lashes fanning up to meet him by his gaze.

“Oh, wow.” He sighed. “Wow, you— the woman that you are.”

There was something about the way he looked at you.

It was like you were all that consumed his mind and being. Nonetheless, it was the truth.

But even now, as Miles held out his hand for you to hold, you couldn’t help but wonder how many times he’ll look at you like this until it manifests from love into something else.

“It’s a halloween costume, Miles, not a wedding dress. I can’t possibly be lookin’ all that great.” You took his hand, drawing closer to the mask. “God, you look like a big bird.”

Lost in the way you looked, Miles’ hands unconsciously trailed around your waist, looking down on you with a dumb stare that you couldn’t fathom. Suddenly, the both of you were disrupted by an abrupt cough. You both turn your heads, finding the same girl you’d seen him talking to just a few minutes ago.

“Hey,” She beamed, waving her hand at you. “Hope I ain’t disturbing anything?”

“You definitely were.” Miles’ gaze narrowed. The girl laughed, her white grin wide like a crescent moon. You couldn’t help but think, she’s got such a pretty smile.

“Mind introducing me, Miles?”

With a hand still on your waist, Miles gestures towards you. “This is my lady,”

“[Y/n],” You held out your hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Both Miles and the girl stared at your open palm.

“Wow, ain’t she prim and proper? Like a princess.” She teased, accepting your hand. “I’m Amadi, nice to meet you too.”

Her palm was warm and smooth, decorated by the lacey sleeve of her periwinkle sweater. She stood in heeled boots, a couple inches taller than you— an inch or two off of Miles’ height. As she shook your hand, the girl couldn’t help but helplessly marvel at you as though you were a statue carved from marble.

“God, how in the hell did you land on Miles? You’re just,” Amadi’s hands airily traced your figure. “You’re just wow. I-Is Miles keeping you hostage or sum? You don’t look nuthin like human. You look outta this world.”

“Thank,” You stifled a laugh. “Thank you?”

“I can hear you, Madi.” Miles churned.

“M’just stating truths ‘cause—“ She clicks her long, acrylic nails. “Why she be lookin’ outta this world while you’s lookin like you snuck onto earth?”

You placed a hand over your mouth, trying your hardest, you very hardest, not to laugh. Miles pulled you back away from her with a disintegrating glare.

“Tu puta madre,” He spat. “.. Go back to Monique.”

“Monique?”

“Mi novia— love of my life, we’re off halloween shopping too. Gotta big date tomorrow, we gon be watching horror movies n shi.” Amadi added, decisively looking around. “Speaking of which, Ionno where she went.”

“She might be with Voshon.” Miles piqued.

“Voshon?” Your head started to spin with the amount of new names you were processing. “That’s a.. Interesting name.”

“Mama was gonna name him Joshua, but my dad wanted to combine or grandparents’ names together, so— Vaughn and Shontelle.. Voila, Voshon.”

“Oh, he’s your brother?” You queried. Amadi hums. “Unfortunately. I mean, I’d always preferred being an only child but we all don’t get what we want most of the time.“

“Oh, I definitely get that.”

“No way, you got brothers too?”

“Yeah, I’m the only girl.”

“Can’t imagine the mess in your house, damn.. Hey!”

Amadi soon joins a pair, one with a much brighter and pinker style and the other satisfied with a mere hoodie for marking a fashion statement. You fiddled with the skirt of your dress, evidently nervous as a million thoughts flooded your mind. You weren’t the friendliest person out there, nor were you the most likable out of all your siblings.

It was never easy for you to make friends. Too many found you overbearing, the rest condescending. Your position was overwhelming enough for any other person your age, and those who knew about you were ambitious to make connections and forge deals.

What if they won’t like me?

What if I mess up?

What if I come off as too condescending?

But Miles took your hand, grabbing your attention from the spur of your overthinking. He took off his mask, easing you with the familiarity. One look at him and home found its way back to you.

“You wanna meet ‘em, ma?” He asks.

With an anxious smile, you nodded.

“Of course.”

And like a whirlwind into the night, you were off.

For the first time, you part yourself entirely from the world you knew and entered Miles’ world.

“Oh, hello!” Bubbly and sweet, Monique greeted you with such warmth that it melted away all your previous worries. “Oh my god— don’t tell me,” She glances over to Amadi for confirmation. “Are you the [Y/n] Miles always talks about!?“

“Nica— please—“

“You ARE!”

She spoke of you as though you’d been a legend told to the latter, like a tooth fairy. “It’s so nice to finally meet you! We’ve been dying to meet you and– wow, you’re gorgeous.”

“Thank you,” Your cheeks were bound to be flushed. “I think you’re very pretty too. I-I really like your hair and your makeup, it’s super well done.”

“Awe, thank you so much!” She placed a hand over your heart, wholeheartedly touched by your compliment. Monique looks at Miles with a pout.

“… Miles, can you fight?”

“Fuck you mean ‘Can you fight?’, I will square you the fuck up r’now.”

His friends were sweet— welcoming without the need of a surname. Monique, with her free and silk-like curls, was a firecracker who liked glitter on her lids and her nails and her clothes. Amadi was ever-so loving of her, despite preferring black and chains for her aesthetic. The two girls were a stark contrast of one another— and unsurprisingly, Monique already had her mermaid costume prepared and was just helping out Amadi pick her Dracula ensemble.

Voshon, although quieter, was one you recognized as similarly withdrawn and reserved like Miles when the both of you first met. Amadi described him to be a total nerd, and quirky— later proven when he and Miles chased each other with fake swords, running across the aisles while exchanging hits.

When Voshon tosses over the sword to you, however, chaos truly ensued.

“GO GET HIM!” The girls cheered as you and Miles managed to create a questionable chase scene of a Priestess holding a Minecraft sword chasing after a Plague Doctor with a scythe. Onlookers couldn’t help but watch on as the both of you squabbled.

Like a livid cat and its cheesy mouse.

“Esto en un mamey. You too fuckin’ slow!” He teased in between a heave. “Can’t catch me for shit!”

Shit went down as you bent over to take off your boots.

“That ain’t changing, nun— aye puta.” Miles narrowly avoids one of the shoes that came flying at his direction. He looks over like a child in awe, head following the direction of wherever it went.

“I never knew you were Latina, mam– MIERDA LOCO, CEBOLLA COÑO!” And a couple other curses exit his tongue as you tackled him to the ground with a loud crash.

You let a hearty, chesty giggle escape your lips. The adrenaline got you cackling like a comical villain, that even Miles couldn’t help but laugh helplessly along with you. Seeing you like that, with your hair all wild and your smile at its wildest, it softened his whole being.

“… You’re so pretty, mami.” He airily sighed with a cough to the side.

“.. Sure.” Was all you could answer.

And of course, after getting an earful from the staff, you and Miles finally ended your tiny sword-fighting sequence. After changing out of the costumes, all five of you prompted to test out the animatronics.

It was about taking turns.

“AYE, MAMAHUEVO.”

And it was also when you realized, Amadi was Dominican.

You learned a lot of Spanish that day, especially from one step of a button to activate an animatronic.

Everyone’s mouths were.. Extraordinarily filthy.

But you liked it— from watching bursting and spinning animatronics screaming bloody murder at you, to going around talking about all kinds of things with his friends.

“God, I’ve always wanted one of those.” Amadi points at the lace parasol one of the mannequins were holding. “It’s so Morticia Addams.”

“Well, maybe you should get it.” You suggest. “It’d look great with your vampire costume.”

Amadi sighed. “I only got money for the costume, can’t buy sum like that. Maybe I’ll just DIY it with my nana’s old umbrella.”

You squinted a tiny bit, eyeing the sign that announced in bold lettering: $16.99.

And for privileged little you, the sixteen was just change for a hundred dollar bill, which made you inadvertently blurt out. “I can pay.”

“Nah, girlie, it’s gon’ take me whole two to three months ‘fore I can afford to pay you back.”

“I mean, it’s fine—“ You realized just how spoiled you were sounding. “I recently got my paycheck so I guess I can buy you something.”

“Where do you work, though?” Monique added, clinging onto your other hand as the left one was occupied by Miles. “Like do you work at a café or a restaurant?”

“Family business,” You vaguely replied. “Boring stuff. But my dad pays me well enough, so I guess I can live with it— so maybe I can pay for that.”

“No, no, no.” Amadi answered, accent thick. “Really, we can pay for it ourselves.”

But you couldn’t ignore it. Not when you could see Miles openly contemplating on buying the costume or not— as he’s been fiddling with the price tag the whole time you two were walking. And you’ve seen the way Voshon’s been eyeing the diamond sword for a while now.

So you made up your mind.

“I’m just gonna go to the bathroom for a moment— can you hold this for me, Miles?” You gently nudged your costume towards him before walking away without another word. As you did so, the group gawked in confusion.

“… Where’s she going? The bathroom’s that way.”

Ring. Ring. Ring.

“Hello, this is Mr. Chávez’s office, how may I help you?”

A simple, roundabout greeting, said over and over for the last few years. Usually followed by a “No, he’s not available at the moment” or a “I’ll take word”, but for the first time, the secretary stammers in embarrassment with her nails clutching onto the phone for dear life. The old man behind the wide, glass doors took note of his poor assistant’s sudden faltering, yet he maintains naturally unfazed.

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll put him on the phone with you right this instant.”

Stumbling in her high heels, the secretary staggers inside the man’s office with the whole telephone in her hand.

“Sir, you’ve got an important call.”

“I’m busy, Nicole.”

“It’s your daughter— Miss [Y/n]?” She uttered your name as though you’d materialize out of thin air after chanting it three times. She was horrified of you.

With a click of his tongue, your father picks up the phone.

“What do you want?” He instantly asks of you.

“Dad, remember how you’ve always claimed that the celebration of halloween is unnecessary?”

Without even uttering an answer, you decisively went on.

“Well, in November, there is a tremendously large spike of sales when it comes to anything horror-related. It’s always been capitalist to clad November as a scary month in order to convince people to buy into scary things—“ He hears something tumble in the background. “— and since late October to early November is usually one of the hotel’s lowest months, I figured my proposal would be a perfect proxy for my apology for the way I acted during dinner.”

You didn’t even know what you were talking about at this point, but you were willing to try.

“.. What are you talking about?” He snaps.

“Well, I—“ You hesitated a bit. “I researched a bit, and I’ve come with an unsure solution.”

“What is it?”

“… Can we buy Spirit Halloween?”

[fourteentrout]

ACOTAR tag game 💕

thanks for tagging me @mathiwrites ! I don't normally do these even when tagged because i never know who to tag, a lot of times everyone i think of is already tagged LOL, but i figured id start today!

I don't think I've seen one around, and figured this might be fun to do!

Answer the questions below & tag whoever you want, or make it an open tag!!

Who's your favourite ACOTAR character?

My boy tamlin!!

Who's your least favourite character?

Hm....hmmmm...oh Amren for sure.

Say something nice about your least favourite character.

She has a cool character concept and i thought it was really sweet and endearing when she gave feyre the bracelet (necklace?) to help her get through the Prison trip without panicking

Who's your favourite High Lord? (If you picked one for your fav character, then who's your second fav!)

Oooh hm not to be a copycat but I loved tarquin from the moment he was introduced, he was an instant fav and i was kind of sad that he didn't have more involvement later on that didn't have to do with the whole feyre and rhys betraying his trust thing

Favourite MINOR character?

ooh i dont know if this is minor enough but i've come to really like jurian. i didn't really have much of an opinion on him for most of the series and then for some reason in silver flames when he was in it for like 2 seconds i was like wait a minute why haven't i been more into this guy he kinda fucks

Favourite ship? (Crackships included!)

tamsand by far. though azris is becoming a close second.

Favourite court and why?

well i loved the spring court aesthetic from the first book, but at this point in the series I think I'd say maybe actually dawn. it just sounded so pretty, and i think it would be one of the subtler, less overwhelming courts while still being awe-inspiring.

Make up a brand new court RIGHT NOW, NO PREP JUST VIBES.

oh shoot um okay court of clouds?? people who specialize in wind manipulation, likely populated by a race related to the Peregryns or Drakon's race? an actual cloud court like in the sky could be a vibe I think. perhaps it would be more removed from the politics of prythian--they'd still have a High Lord, but maybe it would be more of a military government or something.

What relationship would you have wanted to see more of in the books?

oh wow i mean i am always here for more rhys and tamlin content obviously, but i would have also loved to see more of like stories and stuff about the sentries from the spring court that went over the wall, like Andras. andras and lucien's relationship in particular would be one I would have liked to know more about. I also really want to see Azriel and his mom.

What's your unpopular opinion?

god what ISN'T my unpopular opinion. hm. i think feyre's whole reasoning for wanting a baby out of seemingly nowhere is dumb. like i get it, yolo, life can be cut short, but like i really do not feel like she picked a good time to have a baby, nor do i think she is remotely ready to be a mother. when she realized she wanted kids in acofas, it wasn't a strong enough argument for me to actually like get behind her decision.

What's your favourite headcanon/fan canon?

omg i have so many I literally started a list lol. the first one on it is kind of silly, it's that Helion is actually the faerie romance author sellyn drake that nesta, emerie, and gwyn like

If you were swept away to Prythian, what's ONE thing you would want to do?

go to a festival! not necessarily something as crazy as calanmai, but i would love to go to some sort of celebration. maybe starfall?

If you could have ONE faerie ability seen in the books, which would it be?

shapeshifting without a doubt

thanks again for the tag! ill tag @cheap-spirits @achaotichuman @thedickgraysons @wingsdippedingold @hugevanserrass @lady-of-sevenwaters @the-darkestminds @msbrownwithacrown @tamlinsnailtech and anyone else who wants to contribute!! if were mutuals and i didnt tag u im sorry i tried to think of as many as possible LOL but yeah definitely feel free to contribute if you want to! this was fun

[seventhcallisto]

World building; scents for Deep Down !

You can find the masterlist for Deep Down right here > ☆

"happy new year calli! i’m really enjoying deep down as i am “thee biggest a/b/o enjoyer” and i have spent at least every other minute of my life since you posted it thinking about it. i wanted to ask if you could describe each of the members and oc’s scents, since scents are such a cool part of abo world building and it’s another thing i can bounce around in my brain hehe" — asked anon !!

Hi Noni!! Thank you for the new year wishes, and happy New Year to u !!! I'm happy to see my fic runs rent-free in ur mind skawjdj I'm so glad to grant your request cause I've been meaning to write a full detail explanation of the scents for our precious boys and reader !!!! So here it is !! Also pardon how messy this isss. Also im sorry i had to redo your request tumblr messed up the aesthetic and it was an eye sore. I hope you find this tho! —calli

To get started, I have mentioned on occasion their scents, especially in the "Why didn't you answer my calls?" Chapter. Recently, I've kinda been neglecting the scents and scenting in the story, sorry !! Hopefully, this makes up for it until I get the next chapter out. P.s. these are my personal opinions on how the guys would smell in my fic!

The whole "alphas having more masculine scents" really don't apply to ateez imo for some of them. Musky alphas are seen as the most desirable cause it means they're tough and strong and have the capability to fight if needed. (It's very old-fashioned and inaccurate now, although different throughout the world in deep down) so ateez being the softest of alphas is really my agenda here. No matter their scent. They can be rough if need-be.

P.SH. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Seonghwa— "He smells like leather, dark coffee, and vanilla cream." end quote. Like fresh leather from the dealer, a timeless classic you'll smell in any brand new car. I'm not saying he smells like a car, just the comfort of new leather seats, lol. Or a leather jacket from the thrift store or- or- an expensive clothing rack. Something about seonghwa has me feeling this way, I don't know exactly what it is, but it just makes me think, "Yeah, I can see seonghwa smelling like leather" and coffee- I don't remember if he enjoys coffee much, but the thought of seonghwa smelling like dark roast, just reminds me of him being in the kitchen making a coffee for himself whilst he finishes up breakfast for the two of you— all domestic and providing like an alpha prefers, especially an alpha like seonghwa. And the vanilla cream could be taken as vanilla creamer from the store or creamer you both made in the comfort of your home. Grading the vanilla beans and mixing it into a concoction, seonghwas hand slapping against his mouth and laughing at the mess on your hands. —the coffee and the vanilla is also a hint to his perfume "black opium." There's also hints of white florals in there and a herbal shampoo that he uses. He smells so pretty, but also, it really is gender neutral.

A bit nsfw- but when it comes to kissing and sex. His scent enhances x 1000(that goes for all of them). The overwhelming taste of sweet vanilla on his tongue and the deep way it lingers in your mouth. Or the way if he's sweating, the leather smell will get deeper and more fresh. The coffee and florals are a middle ground when it comes to his scent, just there under the surface when he's calm and collected. I see the coffee coming to surface more when he's sleeping, his skin covered in the scent of dark roast, so it's easy to tell when he wakes up, cause it shifts and slowly washes away to a more floral garden-ey smell, just as his eyes flutter open. His herbal shampoo lingering on his hair, which is the most distant scent overall. Cause the only time you'll smell it intensely is when he showers. It'll overpower all his fresh scents as soon as he steps out of the bathroom. And immediately be buried and pushed down 30 minutes later.

K.HJ. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Hongjoong —"Hongjoong smells.. like a ripe pear, tahitian vanilla, the heat from the sun, and sweet spices." End quote. Somehow, I feel as if I made hongjoong smell like an actual pirate captain. Like he smells tropical and sea-like. Tahitian vanilla is one of the rarest in the world, so it makes sense that joongie has that scent. It's deep and rich, and it enhances everything it's combined with. With also the hint of caramel under it, something that takes a good hard smell to recognize. So the combination of sweet spices and vanilla would be oh so prominent on joong every day. The scent of pear lingers under his skin, just under those spices and vanilla. His pear scent smells a little sour- like the fruit isn't ripe when he's upset. Have you ever smelt the heat from the sun as well? If you haven't, then the next part will definitely be confusing. But his actual skin lingers with it, warm and comfortable and inviting. Perfect to rest on as if you're genuinely resting under the sun. He'll radiate warmth when you sleep on him. It'll feel like the sun is kissing your skin.

Unlike seonghwa, hongjoong's combination of scents are always on his skin, they don't fight to be the first one you can smell, a little more prominent in different parts of him, but they work together to create the perfect blend. As well as when he kisses, the first thing you'll always get is the sweetest taste of a pear, powered by the tone of slowly sweetening vanilla the more he leans into the kiss and explores. And when it comes to sweating, the spices definitely come through. Dripping off his skin and lingering on the thing he uses to wipe it away, making the alpha seem a bit more handsome when he does. He radiates all of his scents so well.

J.YH. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Yunho— "You know exactly who it is. The whiff of vanilla and sandalwood following." End Quote. Scrap that, yunho doesn't smell like that (can you tell I love vanilla). To base directly off the smell of his Eau De Toilette scent —his signature scent - rather than perfume because he doesn't like strong smells apparently— his scent is very light and inviting. Completely open and welcoming. Woodsy fruity scent. Sandalwood, freesia, notes of lime, and green apple. I can see yunho smelling like wood. An earthy aroma with hints of sweet, smoky undertones when he wakes for the day, clinging on his shoulders and following his sleepy body wherever it goes until he's awake enough. It then subtly rubs off and is mixed with sandalwood, most noticeable, the scent of amber, and then it leaning into freesia. Freesia smelling like fresh strawberries (just the tiniest bit) and as he goes about his day, small, almost unnoticeable bits of lime on his fingertips and green apple lingering under his clothing. It's like he has layers. And yet he doesn't smell very strong. An uncommon trait for alphas. It means he's secure in his identity, perfectly capable of being the alpha he knows he can be, so his scent is perfectly made for him.

His attitude is the type to change with his scent, changing and pushing a certain one out depending on his mood. Lime fronting when he's being mischievous. Freesia when he's being lovey dovey or affectionate. And the smell of smokey (almost burning) wood when he's tired or upset, Green apple is the middle ground for when he's casually being himself, calm and collected. There's always something to differentiate the scent between his feelings and attitude. Even if it's the most subtle change.

K.YS. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Yeosang — "The deepest scents you can pick out are cocoa butter and honeyed citrus, like lemonade. There's the distant scent of strong tea." End Quote. Cutting half this off, and adding this up with his perfume scent(oud wood). Yeosang would smell like cocoa butter, beeswax, warm wood (cedar), earthy tea like herbs, and rosewood, definitely with some musky and not too strong undertones. It's a perfect combination of soft and strong. Just like yeosang. His scent is deep and warm. Imagining his skin smells like this as he goes to caress your cheek - I'd die. The woody scents stick to his clothes while his skin smells more like cocoa butter and beeswax. Earthy tones lingering on both. The woody scent sticking to his clothing is more likely to come from his scent glands or his sweat. It's just essence on him.

His skin will always smell like cocoa butter. As well as him having a honey citrus undertone, It's as if he's trying to bring a cute bee to pollinate him. I see omegas really loving his scent. Perfect for an alpha who's soft and caring but can also switch up if he needs to. But his scent being more unisex is what really sells it for me. Despite how musky the woodsy scent can be. The honey, cocoa, and even the smallest hint of citrus under the earthy tones accompanying him can hide how intense the musk can get. As well as when he sweats- and when he does- those musky woody smells come to front, dripping off his skin and making him seem more masculine than intended. And as soon as he's cleaned up it's like he's back to smelling androgynous. There's honey on his lips, and his tongue tastes like- god, it's so hard to explain, but y'know when you get that essence of bitter burnt wood ? Something along those lines but more pleasant. You can either hate or love it but it's addictive either way.

(God, I love yeosang,, please let me have him at some point, or I will curl over and melt into the floor like the monster in the thing.)

C.S. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I have no quotes about sannies scent :( so to start from scratch. Sanie smells very complex, more so than anyone in the group. Musky and masculine, borderline like spicy rum, bergamot, sweet black plum, ylang ylang, black truffle, with hints of chocolate, woody patchouli and creamy orange so his scent isn't so strong and overpowering. San might have the most masculine scent overall, it can hardly be considered unisex in a/b/o universe but here I am saying oh yes, it is, in fact, unisex. And it lingers the most. His scent, just like his personality, can be overpowering depending on his attitude and confidence. Say on stage, the black truffle, rum, and bergamot come forth to shine. Addicting on skin, drawing most in. His scent can be almost like an aphrodisiac. Anyway, it's almost like his second gender is trying to counteract that with heavily sweet scents. Chocolate and creamy orange. Like a creamsicle on a hot day, or chocolate to satiate the need for some sweets. It's like his skin is trying to produce the most sensual and alluring scent. I see him smelling the most heavy on the masculine scents in bed (iykyk) or performing and the softest of his scents when he's doing aftercare or more domestic things.

There is no middle ground because all of his scents and all of the combinations happen to be that middle ground, more masculine though. He started off with the orange and chocolate being more fronting earlier in their career, and as san bulked up I can see his scent changing. Like his second gender knew he was becoming sculpted to the heavens the more time went on. Don't get me started on the way his mouth tastes, cause that, in itself, is also an aphrodisiac. Creamy and yummy and all so consuming on your senses the more you sink into him.

(Perfect time to hint at the idea of san being a “true” alpha)

S.MG. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Mingi — “missing the smell of sea salt and jasmine.” End Quote. Mingi smelling like sea salt, jasmine, ambrette seed, woody sage, citrus-ey mint. Earthy and mineral. It's not that his scent is lackluster. It's just that it's perfectly mingi. Like a breeze by the ocean that flows through the surrounding trees. Or a morning spent in a hotel room just off the beach. Fruity, and sweet on the surface with the deep nutty and musk to back it up. To explain in detail over how mingi smells sweet when he's being the cutest most lovable puppy, with the occasional hint of nutty to make you realize this big puppy can be a complete alpha when need be. His undertones being the main capturing thing about mingi. White Musk, and woody. Minerals layered on top, followed by the smell of the sea salt, mint and citrus. And lastly the sweet, rich and sensual smell of jasmine to completely wash it all to a gentle tone that can make you forget the aphrodisiac like smell he has under all of it. I don't see mingi getting upset often as an alpha. So his hard scents don't come through unless he's genuinely pissed off (which makes even the most secure of alphas kinda crumble from how strong he smells ngl).

Mingi in the sheets can go either way. Gentle mornings of his sweet scent lingering under his skin and the nutty fresh scent on his more prominent features. (His jaw, his nose, his Adam's apple, his abs- etc) his soft skin is more likely to be coated in the softness of his smell, like his cheeks, his lips, his fingertips. And when he's on stage?? God his scent is also an aphrodisiac along with his aura, just like san, they can be sirens on stage just based on their smells luring everyone in. The mint and citrus coming to front the cheekier he gets.

J.WY. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

I also don't have a quote for wooyoung wtf. I can see wooyoung definitely having a musky powdery scent, his musk isn't super prominent, it's under the surface, he's not pushing out masculinity. woody, Iris and roses and floral, he smells very flowery, heavy on the rose plus pink pepper! And even the smell of creamy coconut. And fig bitterness. Creamy coconut on his fingertips. Bitter fig with his attitude, and flirty pink pepper comments. His attitude is always shifting and so is his scent, attempting to push one more than the other. So it's hard to grasp how he's feeling based on his scent- which is very commonly used to check. It's like his scent is always being mixed and interchanged. There's no touching on the specifics on what comes to front most often. But since wooyoung is a very flirty and playful guy(especially with you) most of the time it's roses, pink pepper, and fig, with the tiniest deep down smell of a campfire.

With every passing day it's like he's a combination of new scents. One or the other taking charge that day. It doesn't mean he's unstable, it just means he's comfortable, and that's just how it works for his second gender. He's also a fan favorite of omegas, the rose and sweet flowery esk smell makes people swoon, as if wooyoung is walking passion. I can see others being more surprised by his scent when he's introduced to people. It's almost a contrast to everyone else.

C.JH. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Jongho — “Laundry, florals, all consuming” End Quote. shut up cause I'm so fr when I say jongho smells like fresh laundry. His scent is very herbal, a classical woodsy and wilderness scent. Full of moss and tree bark. He might genuinely smell more like sunflowers and dried seeds, and even bergamot and chamomile. Paired along with like a fresh sheet or the thought of going on a picnic. I see him being more in tune with his scent when he's outside more. If he's inside most days he smells more like earthy stones and laundry detergent. He's just very natural in his earthy smell. And then there's some orange blossom and natural cinnamon in there which is such a sweet note on his skin. In his gentleness you can always feel how calm his scent makes you. Then in his more chaotic, mischievous moments he smells like fig and woods- a bit more musky. Sunflowers more often in the morning, along with the scent of nature when he gets out of the shower, he just smells sooooo good like the ground after rain or a cottage with soft fabrics on a hanger outside. Maybe, if he's upset, you'll get the scent of oakmoss. Under it all, is definitely allspice. If you've got a keen nose you'll definitely notice the cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg lingering on his sweaty skin. Especially when he's performing, it might surprise you when it comes out of nowhere, but it's very pleasant and suiting for him.

And his kisses are exactly like french toast- cinnamon and orange blossom, a tasty mixture thanks to the lingering taste of everything edible in his bergamot scent, it makes kissing him feel like a taste testing competition. Switching you every which way between the two competitive tastes on your tongue. His arms are heavy with the woody scent when he wraps them around you. I can see his muscular bits smelling more like woodsy, outdoor musk. And his softer features smell like laundry, sunflowers, bergamot and chamomile.

Reader. ─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Beta!reader —”Distant Vetiver. Soft Pumpkin. ambrette, and morning rain. He didn't know morning rain could smell like anything, but it's you.” End Quote. Vetiver smells warm, dry, and earthy, very forest-y. For some reason I imagined the reader smelling like fall when she was a beta. Morning rain !! It can either be comforting or sad, as most of the time the reader spent with the boys she was upset at herself for not being able to get rid of her crush on them. So the morning rain became apparent in her signature scent. And with pumpkin, it's just a very comforting scent in general to pair with her second gender. I didn't do much thinking when it came to her scent. Ambrette also smells foral-musky.

Omega!Reader —now, I'm leaving it up to you to decide what she smells like as an omega. I have hinted at her smelling sweet though but that's about it(I think). What I imagine her smelling like (this is my personal opinion) she smells like milk chocolate covered toffee —toffee more often than not- gets wedged in your teeth and I can just imagine the reader wedging herself into people's thoughts, especially as an omega. You all see how whipped the guys are for her, and I'm not saying it's just because of her second gender. But maybe how sweet they are to her hints at how her scent is very intoxicating and encouraging. Making them want to be the best alphas for her. She's like a butterfinger lol. I could also see her scent smelling like a strawberry shortcake or cheesecake. Y'know in the Simpson movie how Ned makes the hot coco drink for bart? Imagine that but how the reader smells lmao. So I'm imagining the reader smells like a hot coco, layered with strawberry shortcake and toffee. It's honestly as sweet and yummy as it gets. Even if any of the guys aren't sweet lovers, they'll definitely love what she's serving.

Anyway that's about it! I'm very grateful for this request I had a blast.

[shiraishi--kanade]

KWKO BACKBACKS ‼️‼️

You asked and I shall deliver...

Maki has one of those funny backpacks in bright colors, a ton of pockets and a couple transparent windows to put fandom stuff into. Which she does! She always has some fandom/manga/cartoon merch showing off in there, as well as as many keychains as possible. Unfortunately at some point people at Miyaji got annoyed with her colourful backpack and told her to "clean it up", so no more merch at school. Boo. She still has it and puts it back on after school for her commute, but it's more lame this way.

She also has a "surprisingly normal" phone case & no stickers, but puts a morbid amount of those on her violin case. You'd expect Karin to protest that but she actually doesn't really care. "A case is just a case, as long as you don't put those on the actual instrument."

Karin herself has one of these leather satchel bags that look very fancy but don't really hold much, like this:

It's dark blue in color and is in the same condition it was on buying. Karin never customises anything because that would ruin her Serious Image, you see. As well as having just a default phone background. The only thing she even bothered customising is adding a profile picture on Nightcord & most group chats, because everyone deserves to see her pretty face.

Kairi has something similar except his shoulder bag is a little bigger and less pretentious, big enough to fit his laptop. He also never customises stuff, but more out of having nothing to say than dislike of doing so. His laptop has a ton of stickers on it, though; mostly just aesthetic photos or paintings. You know that one girl whose laptop is covered in Van Gogh stickers? Kairi's the one. He also is the only one of the group to not carry an instrument case, so whenever they're traveling as a group, his nice bag helps him create an illusion of Hey I'm Doing Something (he only carries his music). His phone background? Kitty. Default profile picture everywhere. He's not even here.

Suzuka probably has one of the brand, 16' or more backpacks, because she's an overpacker and needs to have Everything with her. It almost looks like her backpack is bigger than she is. If you look close enough, you can notice she has a couple supposedly matching keychains on there (nobody from the group matches though?), but nothing outright eye-catching. Just like, normal stuff. It's what's inside that matters, because aside from textbooks she has a fully stuffed first aid kit, weekly amount of snacks, unfinished crochet project & spare clothes. Why is she like this. She will literally never use those. And how is she strong enough to carry that thing. She also never lets anyone see her phone picture. Look Away please!!

Akari has one of those black "urban backpacks" with a roll-top that looks like It's Seen Stuff, and it has indeed seen stuff. It's covered in scratches, cat fur, tears and washed out spots. Akari doesn't care much because it does its role well enough & she things it's cute, but Reishi tries to convince her to get a new one on weekly. Hasn't changed her profile picture since middle school anywhere. Her phone background is a picture of her and Megumi, thought you'd not be able to tell right off the bat (blurry!)

Reishi himself has a normal, minimalist canvas backpack, something neutral in color. It has a couple key chains, like a treble clef on a chain, but nothing else of note. Just completely neutral stuff that doesn't stand out. It looks neat and tidy but is also noticeably not new; there are some repairs here and there if you look close enough. He has a flute case that is lovingly nicknamed The Noodle by Maki, because like, look at this thing.

Why is it so long. Deeply unserious behaviour as far as Maki's concerned. His phone background is a photo of a sunset he took himself, but he has no profile picture anywhere.

[ribbononline]

Oh yeah! Since I have no clue if/when I'm ever finishing these and I've had them laying around for forever by now- here's the adult IT metaverse outfits I've made! They're all based on their ultimate personas and the concept of heros! Since these were made for an aged up p4 cast, these aren't quite what I'd put their during p4 time selves in- some changing more then others- but if you wanna follow me into design details, that'll all be under the cut!

First off to get em out of the way- Teddie is very largely the same as his p4 time metaverse outfit I made for him back here . The design is still meant to be inspired by magical girls, but the biggest change is that while the old one was meant to look like a magical girl protagonists outfit, this one I tried to lean a bit more into the older/more experienced cast member of the magical girl group type design. Overall a pretty minor change (and I will admit, largely because I'm still incredibly happy with that old design) but it felt fitting!

Chie and Yukiko were, as always when I work on them, designed to match. Their masks specifically mirror eachother with the opposites sides sticking out, and they both have a golden dragon pattern on their clothes as a reference to the twin dragons move! Chie was... honestly one where I had to sacrifice my goals a bit. Like mentioned before, these were meant specifically for an aged up cast. And while p4 era Chie I would absolutely imagine in a kung fu Chung-Li type outfit, we know what a more mature version of her action hero dreams look like; the police! And I.... really did not want to put her in a cop outfit, Ill be real. Instead I just tried focusing on making the outfit look more mature. Also tried to combine a practical and strong look with a more feminine aesthetic, since she struggles pretty badly with her femininity in p4 and I like to think she'd grow more comfortable with her own brand of it over time!

Yukiko is perhaps one of the most drastic one for changes compared to her younger self- if you asked me to design a p4 era outfit for her, it would look nothing like this, hah. Anyways, she's definitely inspired by onna-musha! Compared to Tomoe who was a full on commander of an army going out there, for Yukiko the idea was more the women taking up arms to protect their home when the battle comes their way. Fully having embraced the role she has as the next owner of the Amagi Inn and the responsibility and want to protect it, it's meant to be somewhat of an outing of that!

Fun fact: She has two color schemes! Because uhh I did not know what to go for at all. Her ultimate persona is like a single solid color and I kind of panicked and just ended up winging the colorscheme. One is more red since, y'know, thats her color! The other is more white gold to match her actual persona better. Included at the end of this post for the curious

Rise was based on a greek goddess- though not any particular one, moreso how they're commonly depicteed in art and old statues. Pretty, holy, someone you'd go to for advice and help (someone just out of reach from the general public) It just felt like a good combination of something she'd like to be seen as and percieved as as well. She gets two outfits- for scan and fight mode! Kouzeon has no canon fight mode, thats just for Himiko, but man it exists in my heart. The transistion between the two is literally just her throwing off the long overskirt, hah.

How does her mask work? Excellent question. The p5 idea of having it there when vibing but gone when the persona is out feels a little awkward when her persona's whole thing is putting a visor over her face. Quite frankly I have no idea. Sorry folks. Have all concept sketches for the outfits I've done as compensation with a bonus Noot in there that I never continued on and finished.

[indie-ttrpg-of-the-week]

Apocalypse World

Did you know that some early PBTA games used to have *Blank* world as a naming scheme? it never really caught on

Touchstones: Fallout, Mad Max

Genre: Post-Apocalypse, Drama

What is this game?: Apocalypse World is a roleplay focused post-apocalyptic roleplaying game, its also the game that spawned the very popular PBTA framework

CWs: Apocalypse world deals with many dark themes, it's considered an "R-Rated" game citing Language, Sex, and Violence, it also features Mind control, mentions of drug use, and general post-apocalyptic horribleness, however I will attempt to stray away from those themes if possible

How's the gameplay?: OK, I'll likely actually link back to this review a few more times as we talk about other PBTA games, just so we can skip explaining the PBTA gameplay every time, so we're gonna try to be pretty thorough this time Apocalypse World's primary mechanic focuses on the use of Moves, Playbooks, and a 2d6 resolution system, where 1-6 is a miss, 7-9 is a weak hit, and 10-12 is a Strong hit, however your roll will always progress the story in some way, this way even failure can be fun! Moves trigger when doing specific actions, and they all interact with mechanics in some way, the prototypical move in Apocalypse world reads like this: "When Narrative trigger: gameplay effect", then this will either help you with a roll around the gameplay effect, or have you roll for a new gameplay effect, whereupon it'll read like this: "On a 1-6, Failure with consequences, on a 7-9 Success with Consequences, on a 10-12 Success with no consequences" Moves will usually add a stat to them, Apocalypse world's stats are Cool, Hard, Hot, Sharp, Weird, and HX, HX being an asymmetrical stat determining your relationship with other characters.

Playbooks are your character's narrative role, it will give your characters their narrative abilities, gameplay moves, relationships, appearances, basically everything about your character beyond things such as name (and even then, some games remove THAT distinction too), you pick one at the start and generally stick with them the whole game, think of it as a class, in Apocalypse World specifically every playbook has a "Special", a move that generally triggers when characters have sex, this might seem like the type of thing that other games in the framework dumpster pretty quick, but you'd be surprised it actually took a bit for people to get rid of that one

What's the setting (If any) like?: It has one Ok, in all seriousness, Apocalypse World's setting assumes you're playing in an edgy, presumably nuclear, mad max inspired post apocalypse, characters are grimy, aesthetics are leathery and gritty, mutations are common, and shit's BAD. Otherwise, feel free to work on the specifics, maybe you just want to play 1-to-1 fallout, or maybe you want to create your own fully original apocalyptic version of The Butt, Coventry, UK

What's the tone?: Dark. Apocalypse World makes it very clear that the world sucks, and the characters (probably) suck, while you could play a ragtag group of do-gooders, the game assumes a morally gray cast in a world that is actively hostile towards them. Apocalypse World's tone is, not for the faint of heart

Session length: Variable but 3 hours is usually enough to do quite a bit

Number of Players:  3 Minimum, but obviously more can help

Malleability: Apocalypse World's setting is generic to non existant, letting you play a ton of post apocalyptic settings, while branded apocalypses like Fallout or Mad Max might be difficult due to the inclusion of overt supernatural elements, you could really do any nuclear apocalyptic setting within this framework.

Resources: Apocalypse World has quite a few resources just due to being one of the oldest PBTA games, a google sheet exists, I've seen some short scenarios, and the game provides you with Move and Playbook cheat sheets, fan playbooks also exist and there's some pretty good ones if you look around enough, it's not a lot but it's enough for what the game is And here's the big cheese! While most modern PBTA design comes from Monsterhearts and Masks, this is the game that started it all, its gritty and very rough around the edges, but I still really like it

[monarchisms]

i am not immune to being apprehensive to change when it comes to something i really like getting a redesign/rebrand/what have you, but i think what the try guys have been doing lately is an exception. in my opinion, the best like, refreshes of a long-lasting brand/group are the ones that have (at least some of) the same recognizable elements of its previous iteration(s):

from day one, branding with the try guys has had a heavy emphasis on color, with the blue/red/green/purple scheme representing keith/ned/zach/eugene, respectively. the colors were in their intro and outro to their videos, they're still especially present in their merchandise, the whole nine yards. with ned rightfully getting kicked out of the group for his "consensual workplace relationship" (jesus), it made sense that they had to stop and change their branding after this sudden event.

the orange era serves as a good bridge between the quartet group icon they started with and the neon triangle icon we have now, but it was kinda temporary. in a way, the try guys as a brand were having an identity crisis, having lost both a founding member and a (now former) friend. i think the current rebrand is a solid mix of their past and future, the blue/green/purple making a return + the triceratops remaining in the center, and the new elements with the triangles and general neon aesthetic (sidenote: triangle + triceratops + try/tri guys makes me go insane. i love it)

i also really like how the orange is reincorporated with the portraits for each of the guys in the pictures shared on their social accounts. alongside this, their poses showcasing their general personalities with the fact that the triangles are play buttons (which i didn't know until i read some alt text on one of their their tweets, whoops!):

overall present a strong sense of familiarity with the boys, but Also the excitement they have on moving forward with whatever the future brings, and i just think that's neat :)

*i didn't know where to fit this bit besides the very end,

but i like the idea that the triangles can also represent a fast forward button, further pushing the idea of the guys moving forward. likely more of a coincidence here but still cool nonetheless :P

[heretherebedork]

I’d love to enjoyed Wandee Goodday fully but I’m disappointed with ignored topics such as Kao’s asexuality - we didn’t get really to see him talking about his crushes, his love life or going on dates and Wandee’s support, father situation - they forgave him too soon and wasn’t it too perfect? You change like that immediately? Without proper talk or time? Ter wasn’t even punished properly, why didn’t they report sexual assault? And putting goofy funny music when Dee was kissed without his permission? Big no from me…

No show is perfect. Ever. Especially when GMMTV is involved. Honestly, this has been a good show for GMMTV, no denials.

It's not perfect.

Kao was a minor character, meant to be Dee's friend and to provide a bit of support and comedy and contrast. His asexuality that made him a fan favorite was not meant to be a big part of the show. Look, I am the first person who wanted him to have a boyfriend but it was very obvious in the show that there was not going to be a tertiary pairing. (Now, to be clear, I wonder if some of that is possibly due to GMMTV's very strong pair branding aesthetic right now and if that's preventing actors from getting pairings that won't lead anywhere for the company but boy howdy do I know nothing about that please don't send me asks about it.)

Yak and Yei's father needed more time. I can see what they were going for but that needed to be a multi-episode arc and we could have skipped over a lot of Ter stuff for it, especially since the show doesn't seem to be focusing on that outside of a lot of those moments and parts were unneeded. It would have been good to see the father return several episodes ago and to get a better feel for his relationship with both his sons, with Cher, with the gym, everything... instead of just one night together. Which didn't add a lot and gave us no room to see the change or to believe that he means anything of what he says.

As for Ter, this is an ongoing issue in BL and just generally, where a man being assaulted is downplayed compared to a woman. Like... it's just a whole thing. Let's be honest here, if Ter was in a MAME romance people would be cheering for him. So... let's not pretend the show isn't just playing into what people have enjoyed in other places. It wasn't well done and it's not right but it is, sadly, common. Other shows are making jokes about being boyfriends automatically meaning consent and laughing about 'no means no but only when I say it, not when you do, hahaha' so... it's just really common and it's frustrating but it's going to be there.

See, you didn't touch on my biggest issue which is that, apparently, Cher is unbothered by Yei lying to him. Like... not even a little? Nothing? No conversation? Not a single word? Nothing? Cher was so desperately trying to get Yei to talk to him and he finds out that not only did Yei lie to him but lost their home and we get... just loving support? Wonderful, so sweet, but nothing? He deserved to at least whack him on the head.

And having Dee literally watch a single video of his parents loving him as an infant and deciding that meant they loved him forever and his trauma was over? Rough. I was hoping it would be something, like, his parents collecting things he had made for them or writing him letters as they traveled or just... anything. But a video of them loving an infant and then, apparently, never interacting with him again? Ever?! Really!?

Look, I love this show deeply. It's a good show. It's fun and it's romcom and I like how the relationship grew and how the characters fell in love and all of that... but it's not perfect. Nothing is perfect. And there's nothing wrong with talking about that. And sometimes the imperfections you notice are the ones that matter to you because you care about the show otherwise and wish it was better.

[byemambo]

We Are Lead Actors as K-Pop Boy Group Concept Photos: A Deep Dive [2/2]

We are so back, so strap up and enjoy the ride!

Aou Thanaboon as MONSTA X - Shoot Out

The way I almost ripped my hair out from this photoshoot should be studied because I learned about his existence literally three months ago when the first episode of We Are even dropped. Since then, the trajectory of my life has changed and clearly for the better, but to think that this man hasn't had an editorial cover yet (we all know why @/GMMTV so hurry up and give him his lead!) and this photoshoot is almost two years old, I need someone to hurry and do set some lights up because it's not a want but a need. Aou's image to me is the best of both worlds because of his range, from silly and wholesome to sultry and straight up sexy, and I think GMMTV needs to really consider his star value since it seems like his popularity is coming up as he appears in more series as a fan favorite. Aou's look for this photoshoot definitely screamed MONSTA X to me, especially with the styling of his hair and makeup. With MONSTA X having a grip on the industry for their strong approach to their styling and group image, Aou has the flexibility to market his visual image in that manner similar to my interpretation of Satang's edgy image in comparison to the characters they portray in the first part.

What I'd Love to See: MONSTA X - FOLLOW

Knowing Aou's dance backgroud, I'd love if he ever gets the chance of covering more songs to definitely check out MONSTA X's choreography since he's a dancer with powerful execution. Since Aou's current wardrobe and styling leans more towards neutral black and white, experimenting with lighting would be amazing for him, especially since whenever we do see him in color, blue suits his features well (not like I'm referring to his outfit during the Love Pride Parade or anything ya silly goose..!)

Boom Tharatorn as SF9 - Trauma

You're telling me this man hasn't been on an editorial cover yet...y'all need to do something about that before I start counting your days because this gorgeous man deserves a cover! Boom's aesthetic has always been very classy and put together, which I think is a great juxtaposition with Aou who's more casual with his streetwear. When I think class: SF9 comes to mind. Not only does Boom fit well height wise, but he's also within their age range to be another secret member like how I approached Satang with P1Harmony. SF9's styling once FNC Entertainment adapted them to the more mature and classic man look, their image as a group elevated away from the popularity of "louder" sound of the later half of the 2010s. Since Boom already has a more mature approach to his appearance, I think he'd also benefit from transitioning that style into his editorial when the blessed day comes.

What I'd Love to See: SF9 - Tear Drop

Y'all literally had to be there when this song dropped in real time, it was truly an experience. Tear Drop from their TURN OVER EP solidified their sultry and regal image shortly after their appearance on Kingdom: Legendary War. Boom's styling would go insane if they capitalized the possibilities of his accessories: necklace, earrings, rings, the whole nine yard. Just from his appearance on We Are as Khaofang, besides his cardigans, his necklaces were most memorable to me, which GMMTV really needs to highlight him through editorials/fashion brands specializing in accessories such as jewelry. In terms of wardrobe: take on his current style and elevate it through embellishments and ornate materials. Silk, lace, fur, you name it.

Marc Natarit as 2PM - 해야 해 (Make It)

Marc having these images was not something I was expecting, but upon viewing it: 2PM immediately resonated with me. Similar to Aou's comparison to MONSTA X, Marc has a more manly and mature vibe to him, but a heavier emphasis on his physique over his aura. 2PM had always been deemed the original "beast idols," which I think aligns with Marc if we take away his characterization in We Are as the teddy bear safe space. If given more editorial opportunities, I think he'd benefit from how 2PM has always been styled, keeping the clothing material and pattern simple but accentuating his physique through certain lines or cuts.

What I'd Love to See: 2PM - Heartbeat

If we take our fashion back a few decades: bring back heavier make up and accessories. I'd love to see Marc experiment with his make up, specifically eye makeup like eye shadow and liner. But if not make up: suits or sets with statement alterations or patterns that are specific to each individual look. Since Marc plays basketball and golf: wardrobe to emphasize his arms and/legs.

Poon Mitpakdee as SHINee - I Want You

Poon's image to me has a great duality of casual and dapper, which is similar to the juxtaposition AouBoom have but in this case, for MarcPoon. I think SHINee's concept suits him best due to their ability to walk the thin line between casual and put together, since SHINee also has a wide range of genres from boyish to mature and military like. I also associate Poon with some nostalgic wonder from his aura and facial features, which are all soft except his face shape being more angular. I think if Poon were to have more editorial opportunities, he suits a more conceptual route versus commercial, emphasis on the photographer's personal artistic style/voice. Lighting, quirky techniques like motion blur or double exposure would be interesting.

What I'd Like to See: SHINee - Sherlock•셜록 (Clue + Note)

Leaning more into the more conceptual and artistic approach to photography, I think Poon would really suit a concept that leans into boyhood/childlike wonder and nostalgia. Whether they achieve it through the stylistic choices of the photographer or through the creative choices of the stylist, I think the concept should emphasize fun, curiosity, or wonder beyond what meets the eye and can only be described in a dreamlike state. TOMORROW X TOGETHER would be my next contender.

If you made it thus far, thank you for stopping by and hearing my thoughts! This had been a thought in the back of my mind since We Are took over my life for as long as it did and has, but if you haven't seen the first part showcasing Pond, Phuwin, Winny, and Satang: you can find it here.

[pastafossa]

Hey I just wanted to ask a writer question. I really admire your writing and the amount of work and dedication you put into your stories and characters. You are one of my favourite authors ever. I have been wanting to get into writing and I was wondering how you flesh out your characters? For example you have a character that you’ve thought out, do you have a template that you fill in? Or just write a whole bunch of points about the character in a Google doc? I know that question might not make the most sense but I have a few characters that I’ve given quirks and backstories in my mind but I have no idea how to transfer them onto paper? Like Jane from TRT, is there just a big template or doc where you randomly put points into or some other type of organization? I know it’s not an easy thing to answer on text or even something you might not want to answer but even one sentence of advice is much appreciated :) Thank you so much for everything! I appreciate you. I will also put this into the ask thingy if you want to answer on there instead of PM 😁

I've managed to hammer this out in bits and pieces over the moments I've been more coherent so I think I'll make sense. First, thank you so, so, so much! I honestly love these characters so I'm always happy to hear someone likes it, even if I enjoy the work! 😭

Second - I do in fact have a template in doc form that I use to keep things organized! It's one I've been using since I took a novel writing course years ago by a published author, and in one particular class we went over character development, which is where I learned the template. The way I was taught (and the way I develop major characters) - first, even before filling in the template, I figure out their archetype(s). What story role are they filling? Who will they be a foil for? I like to think of those as your foundation, because every character is an archetype of some kind, and you can use that to build them up. To use Jane as an example, she's an antihero archetype, yes, but I've also pulled elements from: the Unscrupulous Hero, the Sympathetic Murderer, the Combat Pragmatist, and the Ineffectual Loner. Compared to Matt's hero archetype, she's the Lancer. Archetypes can help you if you're struggling to build up from the bottom.

Once I have the archetype, I start filling in the Major Character/Hero template, which roughly looks like this (if you don't fill it all right away, that's fine, because there's a step after this to fill it in the rest of the way). I like this one because I feel like it covers VERY important things that a lot of online character profiles skip, and has much less of a focus on looks (which I find way less important from a writing perspective):

Name: Age: Family History: Career: Physical Description: (include things like scars, notable or unusual features) Preferred Style of Clothing: (instead of listing brands, try to instead describe their style of clothing as it relates to their character - ex: Jane wears upper-end pantsuits in muted colors when meeting clients, because they carry a strong emphasis on professionalism; when hunting things down, she wears what is practical over anything to do with aesthetic) Goal: (every character should have one; what are they trying to do?) Motivation: (WHY do they want that goal?) Big Secret: (if it were Jane, it'd be what happened in Los Angeles; so what are they hiding? Keeping to themselves?) Self-image: (How do they see themselves? Are they confident and secure? Insecure and depressed?) Internal Conflict: (what are they struggling with?) Game: (What's some little game they enjoy?) Pet: (if applicable) Temptation: (what's aaaalways going to lure them in?) Vehicle: (if applicable; alternatively, how do they prefer to get around?) What makes them unique: (our fake post-apocalyptic character we made as a class had his teeth sharpened into points to scare people; Jane is often fidgeting with threads; just anything that stands out) How do they speak: (do they speak very precisely? Use lots of slang? Do they have an accent?) Quote: (What quote sums them up, or what quote do they relate to most? I have an entire folder of these for Jane tbh, and some for Ciro as well) Lesson Learned: (All characters should grow in some way, rather than stagnating. So how do they grow? What do they learn through the story?)

Now, this is something I was encouraged to do after the template, and also something I was already doing on my own. Once you have the template as finished as you feel comfortable with, you might feel like you need to develop the character a little further to fill in the rest, or solidify what you already have. The way you can do that? Write something short with this character. It doesn't have to be anything you need to post; it can be based on a short scene, based on a prompt, things like that. I like dumping them into: humorous scenarios, angsty scenarios, and Action Oriented (TM) scenes. Those really help you get into the meat of the character (aka: how they react to teasing/flirting/jokes; how they react to strong emotion; how they react in situations that might cause panic). Basically, it's your way of introducing yourself to them and becoming more comfortable writing them, because often a character might act a certain way in a cold, rigid template, but behave entirely differently once you drop them into a scene. Alternatively, you might get to writing and realize you need to make an adjustment so that they have better chemistry with the other characters. Writing a new character's a dance, and you're both going to step on each other's toes in the beginning, but once you learn how they move, it gets easier. And it helps them develop and grow as you learn about them!

[regallibellbright]

"Equipment stats tied to clothes are an in-universe thing that characters are at least loosely aware of, even if they don't understand it mechanically the way we do" is the TWEWY headcanon I will die for because you can get SO MUCH out of it. Like, for humor, if you want to treat any given character as actually dressing in the completely uncoordinated equipment you've put them in for stats, it's very easy to do it with "yeah, they know these clothes make them stronger somehow and they decided to put that above 'not looking ridiculous'." Fun as hell. But it's also really interesting when you think about it with Shiki, especially in the context of Neo and Gatto Nero as the replacement brand for Gatito.

Gatto Nero is a really interesting brand mechanically for two reasons. The first, obvious one is how it's the mechanical successor to Gatito, not just filling the same zodiac role - both brands’ pins come exclusively in sets. Gatito's the only brand that uses sets in the original DS version, along with the unbranded Crimson Kingdoms set added in Final Remix. In Neo, quite a few other brands make two-pin sets, but the only bigger ensembles are the Unbranded Stop and Go ensemble and Gatto Nero's Year-round and Black Cat sets. This is something we can just assume characters know and understand by default - pins are special, pin sets are super strong and good.

The second is less obvious: Gatto Nero has a LOT of items that have character-specific abilities, relative to the other brands. There are obvious reasons why Shoka and Neku both have items there (and Rindo and Minamimoto both have aesthetics that fit well with the brand,) but it's still interesting. Adding up all of Gatto Nero's items, eight out of nineteen are character-specific, or about 42%. The second is Hog Fang, with seven out of twenty three items, and third is Monocrow with five of seventeen, both just under a third. Other brands have three, maybe four character-specific items. It suggests Gatto Nero’s a brand where the people who like it LOVE it, and connect hard to specific pieces in particular. (Just look at Shoka’s love of her hoodie.)

So. Taking my headcanon that the characters know clothes have power, I don't think they'd recognize it the same way the players do, with numbers and stats and knowing various status effects. But they could in-universe notice something like HP Drain, and they might recognize "oh I never get stunned when I'm wearing this," or "this feels like attacks hurt less," or "it seems easier to sync in this for whatever reason." I also think they'd notice when something they like seems to work better on them than their Partner, especially when Neku played for three weeks with three different people and could compare.

In other words, the aspiring fashion designer could realize that clothes that people LOVE, things they connect to specifically and deeply, would be particularly valuable in the UG. And I can’t imagine Shiki wouldn’t keep that knowledge in mind while designing once she gets back, and try to impress that knowledge on Eri, because “the thing I love and want to do with my life is psychically vital to people fighting to come back to life in a purgatorial death game” is uh. Probably the most validating thing one could ever learn about their chosen vocation. This is something she’d probably be thinking about no matter what.

And then A New Day happens. For most of the time between games, one of Shiki’s most important people is missing, and they have no idea where Neku is beyond "probably the UG." But maybe she can still help him, if her clothes can get his way. Maybe, if she tries to make pins that are especially useful to him, he’ll find them. (This also gives an easy way for Shiki and Joshua to know each other come Neo if you like that headcanon - Shiki doesn't have any special knowledge of pins, Joshua as Composer has to know at least a few things about how they work. Cue grudging alliance-turned-eventual-friendship as Shiki grits her teeth and asks him for help for Neku's sake.)

There's just SO MUCH room to play with the game's equipment system being something that characters know about and try to work with in-universe, especially with Shiki.

[accio-victuuri]

CANDIES Round-Up: Weibo TV & Internet Awards

so glad to see the 31-year old xiao zhan walk his first red carpet, the first of many, i hope. despite the stress this event brought us upto the last minute— i’m sure we are all happy to get a glimpse of our dearest xiao laoshi.

now let’s look at all the clowning potential brought to us by this event. all of this is CPN. I may miss some things but if it’s interesting enough I will make a separate post about it.

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

The “day” started off with XZS sharing photos of ZZ and what most of us noticed is the brooch/pin he is wearing. It is GUCCI, which is on brand for him but what’s special is that it is a 🐝 , similar to the one he wore during 2020 Weibo Night. Guess who he was with that time? As per the wardrobe accounts, it’s not a pin but is something embroidered on his tie. But it really says alot that BXGs have one braincell and we collectively thought of the same event.

Also look at the time on his watch. Is he doing some Kadian again? I see 8:50? Or maybe i’m hallucinating and that’s the lack of sleep talking. 😂

• We had some ChenWei potential aesthetic going on because of this. HAHAHAHAHA! WeiWei borrowing his husband’s clothes to wear at an event. There is a galaxy CPN to this cause that blue top is not tagged by any wardrobe account. So it might be his own — which is usual for inner wear like this. But gives us hope that it’s a shoutout to Chen Yu. LOL.

• Plus we had the same stage, or should i say their works were show next to each other in one of the videos shown @ the event. Awwww. 🤍

• If you add all the photos that XZS posted tonight, it is 28. Love Bo ( Yibo ) in kadian. His first photoset also had the 3rd and 8th photo with a “reflection” effect to it. 3 for Zan and 8 for Bo.

Same energy :

• My favorite clowning tho involves ZZ’s necklace. You know i’m obsessed ( derogatory ) with the accessories they wear and what could it possibly mean. especially if there are similarities. Now this one appears to have the same details as WYB’s in last year’s Weibo Night which they both attended. It’s not the same, GG’s is a Gucci Heart Necklace. but that tiny detail and similarity makes me happy ☺️

The theme in ZZ’s GUCCI jewelry is filled with hearts, and it’s a coincidence that when you look at the logo, it can be the number 8. Bo. Yibo. Let me repeat, the heart shape. That’s Yibo’s favorite. Heart with a mole. Snow Heart. GG’s heart drawing last 2020. I can go on and on, it’s a recurring symbol that we CPN.

• If you wanna clown some more, if you look at his Alexander McQueen outfit, it spells out W. Is it for Mister Wang? 🤡🤡🤡

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

The second part of this post is about what you probably have been seeing bxgs share on weibo— GG who was sat next to Chen Feiyu / Arthur Chen. I won’t go into detail about all the rumors from a long time ago, but there were talk of CFY dissing WYB. If this is true and to what extent, we don’t know. What was documented tho is for a time WYB’s solo fans were mad at CFY, but the older fans stopped the online attacks because CFY has strong connections ( his parents ) in the industry. At the time, WYB was not as prominent as he is now so he can’t really protect himself. The CPN is ZZ is knows this and does not like CFY because of what he did to WYB. Or maybe he just doesn’t like nepotism babies like I do. LOL.

Now look at XZ’s face when CFY sits next to him and judge for yourself:

XZ is usually mister polite but this is not his usual reaction at awards ( or any event ) like this. Even if we don’t know about the whole WYB and CFY incident before, I will be wondering what’s going on. I mean, he didn’t even acknowledge him. XZ will usually give a bow/ nod to people even if he doesn’t know them. I saw fan cams of him greeting other people in this area so I know that the gracious XZ is still there. This is pretty sus and I understand why BXGs picked up on it. When we got photos of the seating arrangement, people were already talking about him being next to CFY and the implications of it. We all didn’t expect for an interaction like this to happen. The Chongqing Pepper really came out. If you watched his dramas, you will recognize this face that he is making and when he uses it.

On the flipside, I also don’t advise any talk about XZ having a grudge on CFY. As I said, this person has strong connections. I don’t want to imply that XZ has beef with a person with just this video alone. If anything, just take it as a double standard. Lol. with WYB, he is all smiley and scooting closer. With others, he has his bitch face on and he is moving away. 😂😂😂

A deja vu moment we also had was this one. ZZ with his award and all alone. I truly hope one day he can be at an event with WYB and he can laugh freely. I know that both their fame now forces them to be extra cautious of what they do. Be careful of who they interact with and all that. I think I’m not the only one who wants to see him laughing and genuinely enjoying an event. The nice thing tho is GG was spotted outside the venue with his team, he was chilling and texting. Who are you texting? The love of your life? Awwwww. This is a nice change from his 2020 stolen photo where he was texting and looked super stressed.

-END.