#but the creative team here is not dreaming quite that big yet

[daydreamerdrew]

The Avengers (1963) #10

[alpaca-clouds]

Solarpunk Game Ideas: (Action) Platformers & Metroidvanias

Let me talk about my absolute favorite genre of games. I love action platformers and especially I love Metroidvanias, that most of the time come along in the form of action platformers. (No, this is not the blog to discuss on whether or not a metroidvania needs to be a platformer or not.)

My own Solarpunk dream game would be a metroidvania, to be sure, though I sadly am just not capable of developing it on my own. (If you wanna help: just contact me - I would love to get a small team together for it.)

But let's go over this.

The Issue

The main issue with action platformers/metroidvanias in terms of Solarpunk is, that again, a lot of people struggle with thinking of conflicts for Solarpunk - especially conflicts that would create some sort of violence. Because action platformers almost necessarily need some sort of violence. After all it is usually about shooting or stabbing or at least jumping onto enemies of some sort.

So, how do we do that? Well, I have three ideas to offer. Mind you, my own little idea for the game I would want to make is not among those. :P

Idea #1: The Rogue AI

So, a simple idea that would work rather well in any sort of futuristic Solarpunk setting is simply a rogue AI. Imagine this: We have the Solarpunk utopia. But to archive this, we had at some point needed AI. Be it to fix the planet, or be it for certain work, or maybe AI had been used in bringing down the former capitalist system. Or heck, maybe the former capitalist system was run by an AI, that by now has been shut down.

Either way: The AI goes rogue, and it turns against humans. Maybe not worldwide (we are still on the entire action platformer thing, where usually the area is a smaller area like a big building or maybe a village/town), but maybe it starts up in a building complex or a city where the AI is kept. Something like that.

But it will start to control all sorts of robots, that then attack the humans. Maybe there are also some humansthat get possessed by the AI in some way.

And the main character is trying to get to the mainframe to shut down the AI once and for all. So the enemies fought are robots and maybe controlled humans. Simple.

Idea #2: Nature's Revenge

Another basic idea that can well work with Solarpunk ideas is one that works more on the basis of fantasy. Once more the reminder: Solarpunk can have fantasy themes. Nothing about the genre says that it has to be pure non-fantastic fantasy, and I will still argue that solarpunk does not even need to be scifi.

But to keep with the scifi optics we can still go for a futuristic world for this one. Again: We have set up the Solarpunk future, we try to fix nature, but we are not quite there yet. Because fixing nature after all the destruction is not that easy. And as nature starts to regenerate, something in it awakes. Some sort of nature spirits. And they are angry about everything humanity has done to nature. They do not care that humanity is trying to correct for this. Think something along the lines of Princess Mononoke or Nausicaä.

The protagonist is someone who is trying to protect the humans in the place where the spirits showed up. And they are forced to fight the spirit. This could also be an interesting basis for maybe being allowed to find way to then dispatch bosses non-lethally and find a solution to the conflict that does not involve destroying the spirits. Some creativity would be cool! Especially given platformers rarely offer alternatives to violence.

Idea #3: Capitalism vs Solarpunk

For the last idea, let's please remember that Solarpunk does not need to be set in a world where utopia was fully reached. In this idea we will either have a world where some parts of the world life under Solarpunk - or even the full world. But here is the thing: Just like some people want the monarchies back and wish back slavery and shit, even in this Solarpunk world there are some people who believe that they were better of under Capitalism. Because usually people idealize the past and believe they would have been among the top 5% in any other time - rather than among the exploited class. And those people try for a coup.

Maybe with guns, or - we are scifi after all - with some sort of robots or mechas. But either way, they try to grab control over some important city or piece of infrastructure. And the protagonist is of course forced to find a way to fight against them and prevent the takeover in some way.

Those are just some little ideas with how to deal with the setting and the genre. And maybe... Well, maybe I was able to inspire someone!

And if you are interested in creative Solarpunk endeavors, I would love to invite you into the Solarpunk Creatives community! :)

[honeyjars-sims]

Episode 17: Creme de la STEM

Lucy was nervous but mostly excited for her first day at Rainy Day Entertainment. She had her very own office, but she didn't spend much of her first day there. For now, Parker had advised taking some time to get to know some of her co-workers. She would need to get an idea of their strengths and weaknesses working within a team.

The loose nature of her job description was both comforting and terrifying to Lucy. Being able to work without strict deadlines and overstepping supervisors seemed like a dream, but what if the higher-ups didn't think she was doing enough? It was a delicate balance, and Lucy would have to be careful not to play it too safe.

The atmosphere at RDE was certainly very relaxed. It wasn't unusual to get pulled into a game of ping pong or asked to join in on the arcade machine. Lucy started mingling to get a feel for some of her co-workers.

Rodrigo helped her set up her computer. He seemed to enjoy figuring things out and helping others get what they needed.

Pauline was very kind but had a biting wit that assured she Lucy they would get along fabulously. "Have you met Damien?" Lucy asked her. She was quite curious about their mysterious CEO.

"Not yet," Pauline answered. She leaned towards Lucy with a mischievous grin. "Some say he doesn't really exist."

"But he's been seen at events," Lucy reminded her.

"Hologram," was Pauline's tongue-in-cheek response, and the pair laughed.

Clara was quite bubbly. "You're going to love it here!" she practically squealed in Lucy's ear. "Everyone is so creative and innovative. It's really inspiring!"

Lucy chatted for a bit with Clara and Robi, whose relaxed nature nicely complemented Clara's enthusiasm.

Norma was friendly but a bit nosy. "Your husband is really at home taking care of your babies?" she questioned Lucy.

"Sure, he's a great father and he loves spending time with our boys," Lucy countered.

"Oh, I don't know if I would feel comfortable with that," Norma replied with concern in her voice, as though Lucy had told her she'd put the boys on a rocketship and sent them to the moon for the day.

Lucy expressed her surprise at seeing so many women working at a video game company. "Apparently Damien is a big proponent of women in STEM related fields." Lila explained.

"Damien is so intriguing," Lucy responded. "I hope I get to meet him someday."

"Yeah, you and everyone else," Pauline laughed.

Previous | Beginning | Next

[bittertarot]

How do the members of TXT react to one of their freinds hobbies. (Ex; seeing their art, or listening to them singing, etc)

This is quite interesting, actually! Let's find out; How Would TXT React To Their Friends Creative Hobbies? Yeonjun : *5 of Swords* - Ideas are being represented via swords, whilst 4 talks about change and conflict. This card discusses the ideas of competition, conflict and rivalry. I feel like he wouldn't hate it or be annoyed, he'd want to be a little competitive and try out his friends hobbies to get closer to them. I feel like he would try out-do his friend and tease them, turning it into a friendly competition between the 2! He just wants to show off, not hurt anyone or take it too seriously. (Arrogant but we love that fr) Soobin : *The Chariot* - He would view this person as someone with a lot of control/direction in their life, he definitely feels like they would be able to go places or make it big with their hobby, whether it be art, singing, dance, acting, songwriting, storywriting, etc! He'll definitely encourage his friend and help them by using his personal connections, promoting them where he can, introducing them to people he feels like would help and overall just encouraging them to persue their passions! (His platonic love language is definitely acts of service, argue with the wall <3) Beomgyu : *2 of Cups* - Cups is often associated with water (his pisces energy's going feral here), as well as emotions, feelings and relationships. 2 talks about decisions and balance. I'm getting major dream-team vibes from this card, especially if his friend is interested with singing, rap, dance, acting, etc. He'd definitely want to encourage/support their dreams, he'd be the type to joke around and say things like "Wow, the way you sang almost made me fall in love with you", to tease you. He'd also perhaps ask for your autograph as a joke and tease you a lot, but he'd find your passion for your hobby very sweet and he'd be all for it! He's soso supportive and would definitely recommend you try certain things to build your skills, if it's an area he's well-versed in! Taehyun : *Queen of Pentacles* - Pentacles is associated with material options (wealth), sensuality and an earthly personality, whilst Queen can be a motherly/nurturing type figure, a natural leader. Overall, this card is saying that he would be the type of person to think about it on a practical level, if his friend wanted to persue this hobby professionally. He's the sort of friend to hand out his card and use money to help rather than be verbally supportive. He'd be supportive but not as openly as the other members and would use his own quiet methods to help via connections that people don't know about, his own money, etc. He'd chalk it all up to "coincidence", but his friend would 100% know that the reason their dreams are coming true is because of Taehyun. He'd bring you snacks and would clean your space to help you out as well, especially if you're stressing out. Very thoughtful! HueningKai : *8 of Pentacles* - As stated before, pentacles are representative of materialism and earthly nature, whilst 8 shows action and change. This card is telling us that Hyuka would definitely stress the importance of working hard and being dilligent to reach your goals, he'd definitely say something cheesy, yet sweet, like; "aim for the stars", he would be someone you could think of as a sponsor - getting you whatever resources you need to achieve your goals. If it's something he's well-versed in, he may even try take you under his wing as an apprentice of sorts! Thank you for joining me with this reading, dear soul, I definitely enjoyed looking into this! Hyuka seems to be very closed off, but his energy is starting to warm up to me <3

[workandworthcoach]

Know Your Why, Shape Your Future: A Guide for Professionals in Career Transition

This is from my "New Year, New Job Is Still Possible" Series. You can listen to the podcast episode from this series here.

Hello, my career pivoter friends! Let's talk about something that often gets buried under stacks of resumes, job postings, and LinkedIn connections: your why. Yes, that's right—understanding your life goals and the way you want to live can be the secret sauce to making big career decisions, including if you should stay or go in your existing field and "what next?" Grab your morning beverage of choice, get cozy, and let's dive into how knowing your why can guide you through the labyrinth of seemingly infinite career choices.

The Power of Knowing Your Why

Imagine you're on a road trip without a map or GPS (or pretend it's 2001 and you don't have your MapQuest printout). You might end up somewhere fun, but chances are you'll also waste a lot of time driving in circles. Similarly, having clear life goals acts like your personal GPS for career decisions. It helps you stay focused on what truly matters to you and steers you away from distractions. It's so easy to get stuck making career decisions based on what old you wanted. And sometimes old you is quite old, like 10 year old you. But a lot has changed since then! Knowing what current you wants will help you make better decisions.

When I first started coaching professionals transitioning from meaningful work fields like education and healthcare, I noticed a common theme: many were unsure about their next steps because they hadn't pinpointed their core motivations. They had gotten into their original field because it either held meaning for them or told them something about themselves, but with those initial feelings gone, folks were lost. They didn't know why they were doing what they were doing or why they didn't want to anymore so how could they possibly know what to do instead?

Reflecting on Your Life and Core Motivations

So, how do you find your why? Start by reflecting on your core motivation. What drives you? Is it creativity, helping others, financial stability, or maybe a mix of several things? List them out—no need to be fancy; just jot them down on a piece of paper or in a notes app.

Maybe your why isn't a core motivation. Instead maybe it's the way you want to live. Do you not care so much how you make your money but want to make it to your kids' soccer games? Maybe you want to spend more time with your parents while they're still able to get around well and go on trips. Perhaps you just want to not always be stressing about making your monthly bills.

I remember working with Sarah (names changed throughout to protect people's privacy), a teacher who felt burnt out but was hesitant to leave her job. A pension would be hers in just a few short years! Through our conversations, we discovered her core values weren't connected to her work, but her life. She wanted to get outside, move her body every day, and make enough money to buy a house. This realization helped her decide that it didn't matter so much what she did for work, but what the work allowed her to do.

Setting Long-Term Goals

Once you've identified your core motivation, it's time to set the practical goals that would define that life. Think big! What would does it look like?

Where do you see yourself in 5, 10, or even 20 years? Don't worry about the specifics just yet; focus on the broader picture. Do you envision leading a team, starting your own business, or perhaps working remotely while traveling the world? Where do you live? Who is with you? How do you spend your days? Really envision where we want to go.

I once worked with a small business owner named Robert who dreamed of working on big client projects where he got to execute on a full, creative vision without the penny pinching he experienced with his current small business clients. By setting this long-term goal, he was able to make smaller career moves that eventually led him to his current position heading creative marketing.

Aligning Career Choices with Life Goals

Now comes the fun part—aligning your career choices with those long-term goals. This is where knowing your why really shines. When faced with multiple opportunities or when considering a major career change, ask yourself: Does this move bring me closer to my ultimate life goals?

Do you need a job that's flexible? Do you need it to be remote? Do you need to make at least $100k? Do you need a specific benefit, like IVF coverage? Do you need a boss who doesn't need to be managed?

Write it down! Outline it. Journal your heart out. Or one of my favorites, record yourself talking through the ideas. I personally do this when I am out on a walk. Movement, being outside, and talking—my favorite activities.

Take Mary from the nonprofit sector. She loved helping people but had become disenchanted with the nonprofit industrial complex. Her core motivation was still connecting to helping people, as it was when she first started her career, but she no longer felt like there was only one way to do it. She transitioned into a lower level position that actually paid better and focused her attention on getting a degree in counseling so she could help people in a way that more closely matched her new "why."

Getting Comfortable with Our New Why

Our goals shift as we grow and evolve. I personally believe that society, our families, and our schools shape our identity when we're small humans, and as we grow up, we have a chance to slowly become more and more of ourselves. With self work and healing, we become the people we would have been without those outside influences.

If we're becoming more of ourselves, of course our why, core motivation, and life goals will change.

Embracing Flexibility

Since we're changing as we become more of ourselves, we might not be done evolving when doing this work. (Will we ever be done?!?!) That’s okay! Embrace flexibility as you learn more. Change is good. Adjusting your vision will change your career choices.

If new opportunities arise that resonate with you deeply—even if they weren't part of your original plan—consider them seriously.

I once coached Tom from sports management on a career pivot where we ended up exactly where we started from, except with significantly more pay, more power, and a heck of a lot more understanding as to why this indeed was the right path for him.

Practical Steps to Implement Your Why

Alright, enough already—let's get practical! Here are some actionable steps:

Self-Assessment: Take personality tests like High 5 or Sparketype to gain insights into what you love and what makes you tick.

Vision Board: Create a vision board with images and quotes that represent your life goals and values. I like to do this in Canva.

Mentorship: Seek mentors who align with your aspirations—they've been there and done that. I wrote about finding a mentor here.

Skill Inventory: Discover your transferable skills you already have that can help pivot towards roles aligning with your why. I created a super short DIY course on transferable skills that you can find here.

Do Some Research: Listening to podcasts from your potential new field can be eye-opening.

Continuous Learning: Stay curious and keep learning through courses or workshops relevant to your evolving goals. I love LinkedIn Learning and Coursera for this, as well as taking advantage of everything your current org offers.

Conclusion: Trust the Process

Understanding your why isn't an overnight epiphany; it's a journey filled with self-discovery and reflection. But trust me—it’s worth every moment spent pondering. Whether you're contemplating leaving healthcare for tech or moving from non-profit work to corporate gigs, knowing your why and how your career choices support that will act as your North Star.

So go ahead—dig deep into what you want your life to look like and what impact you want to make in the world and let those insights guide whether you stay or go and your "what next." Life is too short to spend timing doing what doesn't serve you.

Looking for support in this process? Start a free virtual strategy session with me now.

[happy-mokka]

Stranger Things happening - or the geeks shall inherit the 🌍...well first they'll save it of course...

From Wikipedia: (looky here)

geek /ɡiːk/

The word geek is a slang term originally used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people; in current use, the word typically connotes an expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit. In the past, it had a generally pejorative meaning of a "peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, boring, or socially awkward". In the 21st century, it was reclaimed and used by many people, especially members of some fandoms, as a positive term. Some use the term self-referentially without malice or as a source of pride, often referring simply to "someone who is interested in a subject (usually intellectual or complex) for its own sake".

I guess I can consider myself being a Geek. In fact, I've been living the Geek's life for almost half a century now. That's why I had a good chuckle, when I was reading what Wikipedia had to say about my "condition": "eccentric", "non-mainstream", "obsessed with intellectual pursuit", "overly intellectual", "unfashionable", "boring" and "socially awkward"...

Check, check, check, check, check, check and check.

Funny, especially when being able to witness the changes in perception over the decades to what it is now. Worn with pride, Geeks being the backbone of every fandom and motor of their creativity and imagination.

Sure, still boring for many and socially awkward for others seeing themselves as the crown of mainstream's creation.

To hell with them. Without us geeks, where would the world stand?

No fantasy novels. Karen would never have had the chance to watch Jackson's Lord of the Rings in cinema with her cheerleader friends and football jocks.

No Science Fiction. The captain of the soccer team would never have watched the latest mediocre Star Wars clone on Netflix.

No Computer Games. Eat this, Fifa Soccer FUT addicts and Call-of-Duty wannabe soldiers.

No Disney+, Netflix, Prime, XYZ streams anywhere, fuelled by the fantasy and creativity of Writers, all of them Nerds.

Tumblr would already have sunken into oblivion without the fandoms holding it together. Geeking out here just for the sake of it and to share their love for all sorts of things amongst each other.

What triggered this sudded Geekocalypse of mine?

I just finished a rather extrem binge of Stranger Things Season 1-4 in the course of 7 days (incl. full days at the office).

Loved it. A show so made for me. Don't get me wrong. I still love my ineffable husbands above all else and the Dead Boy Detective agency didn't conquer a special place in my heart for nothing (and is here to stay...hopefully til season 2, 3, ...). But Stranger Things? That mixed group of kids/teenagers? They're basically me. I am an 80s kid. Grew up exactly in that time the things take place in Hawkins Indiana. I was the DnD playing, fantasy loving, booksmart, shy, introverted, wannabe hero in mind, sci-fy loving, angsty yet courageous Geek. I walked small but dreamed big (guess still do...). Blushed when girls even looked in my direction, at least the ones that were not mocking and bullying me (which there weren't many of the latter..almost none tbh). So watching this show triggered quite a lot. Actually this feels like a huge understatement. Letting this bunch stumble into all those strange things (pun intended). The way how the different groups of characters - some completely on opposite sides in the beginning - find together and in the end grow to something bigger...sigh. Even the few grown-ups in leading roles are basically just grown-up geeks (Hopper - David Harbour and Joyce - Winona Ryder).

They save the Earth times over without getting any acknowledgement or thank-you and the bing-bang with season 5 is yet to come...

Anyway. Consider this my shoutout to all you other Geeks out there!

Let's be geeky! Let's be creative! Let's be kind! Let's spread the love! Let's be proud! (It's pride-month afterall 🌈).

In the end, the 🌍 will be ours. First, we'll be saving it of course. No one in their right mind can trust that to those normalos out there, right?!?

(Picture ©️ of Netflix)

[megaboy335]

Manga Portion below

Like last year I'm including a section about some of the manga I've read during the year. Two brand new legal manga apps appeared on the scene this year (launching on back to back days!), KManga from Kodansha and Viz Manga from Viz Manga. KManga is the worst manga service on the market right now. It is purposefully designed to make binge reading impossible while making you buy individual chapters. I would rather get the physical volumes. I've given up reading the current Kodansha series because I don't want to encourage that business model. It doesn’t help how stingy they are with free coins too. You can save enough coins to read 1 current chapter a week if you do the daily ads. In comparison, Viz Manga is a companion to Shonen Jump but for the Shogakugan titles. Seeing Shonen Snday series simlupublished is a dream come true. It follows the exact same model as the WSJ app. I’m aiming to catch up on several Sunday series in the coming year. On the Weekly Shonen Jump front, My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen will likely conclude in the coming year. That could potentially put Yozakura as the 2nd oldest title for a period of time. One Piece is the series I currently most look forward to every week. Oda is keeping the story super engaging with developments happening in Egghead and simultaneously around the world. Horikoshi's art is better than ever as My Hero Academia  inches ever closer to its climax. Undead Unluck and Yozakura both had performed protag switch ups quite seamlessly this year. Cipher Academy managed to survive for an entire year. My favorite new series of 2023 was Tenmaku Cinema as I already discussed here. Least favorite would be Nue’s Exorcist. Maybe I’m getting out of touch with younger readers. I also really like Martial Master Asumi and I hope Mamayuyu can find its audience before it's too late. Jump+ was a little more mixed in 2023. Yumeochi seemed like it had promise but feel off at 4 volumes with a dumb ending. Service Wars was one of my personal favorites for its chuunibyou energy and silly ideas, yet sadly failed to catch on. Beat & Motion has been a big surprise in terms of how it found its groove. Recent chapters have been especially good. PPPPPP’s Mapollo3 returned this year with an abstract Madoka inspired magical girl series. It’s certainly an interesting read. Mappollo is utilizing their unique style better than ever. I would say the best new series for me this year is Blooming Love. It's a rom-com following two creatives falling in love. Think a more mature version of Nagatoro. I fear for its long term future due to its rapid pacing lately, but I’ll enjoy it as long as I can. Kaijuu #8 might end in 2024 so that’s something to keep an eye on.

Looking ahead, there's plenty of exciting things on the horizon. I’ll be curious to see how the Blue Box anime performs. Akane Banashi is quickly aging up into anime announcement territory. Speaking of, I wonder what is taking Sakamoto Days so long to reveal its anime. That’s a series that will need the right team to be done justice. I hope the recent Nisekoi bunko editions is a sign of Komi Naoshi’s return in the coming year. Lastly, quick reviews of a few older titles I read this year. Spirit Circle - This manga comes from the famed Satoshi Mizukami who has published a wealth of manga. Spirit Circle is perhaps their most famous work next to Lucifer and The Biscuit Hammer. I just want to say this series is very worthy of the praise people give it. It was a rare pager turner for me. I wanted to see all of the main character's past lives and find out where this reincarnation story was going. It did not disappoint in the slightest. It's essentially like 6 mini stories about different characters who share a throughline with the plot. It came together so perfectly. Highly recommended! Urusei Yatsura - I don't think this manga has aged well, but Lum's legacy can not be understated. She is a revolutionary character whose dna lives on to this day. It was worth reading so I could say I did. If you can see the origins of modern harem/rom-com tropes then its worth a shot.

Flames of Recca - Unlike the last 2, Recca isn't a well known series on any level. However, sometimes it can be refreshing to read a by-the-books shonen from the 90s. Tournament arcs never fail to hook me. It was nice seeing what a popular shonen in a different magazine was like during that time period. Just a very solid series from start to finish. _______________________________________________________ I think 2024 is going to be a good year. Weekly Shonen Jump is on the verge of a generational change and there are numerous anime projects to look forward to. I hope Blue Box and  Magilumiere turn out well and I’ll be curious if the Kaijuu anime gives the manga a substantial sales boost. I’m not sure about 2024’s Precure based on the theming, but I can always be surprised.  Dragonball Daima in the fall will be interesting to see. There’s a lot to be excited about for 2024!

Mega’s Top 2023 Anime (and Manga) As another year comes to a close, its time to reflect on another batch of anime in the books. My year to year watching decline leveled off in 2023 due to a strong fall season. At the same time, manga is gradually going up with the increasing number of legal manga outlets. Below are my top 5 anime (and manga thoughts) for the year of 2023. There will be spoilers.

1) Soaring Sky Precure More often than not Precure always makes my list for top 5 anime of the year. It makes a huge difference for character growth and telling a complete story when there are 46-50 episodes to work with. Soaring Sky Precure marked the 20th anniversary entry for the franchise. In order to celebrate they did a number of "firsts'' to shake up the traditional set-up. To start with, blue and pink (Sora and Mashiro) had reversed roles this year. Blue was the lead who was also the outsider coming into the human world. Yellow (Tsubasa) was the first male cure to be featured in the main group. Ageha was the first adult cure. While Elle was the first baby character to attain cure status. The story this year was about the Undergu Empire trying to invade and destroy Skyland with the overarching theme being Heroes. Soaring Sky shows how heroes come in many forms and do not necessarily wear capes. Unfortunately, I think it's lacking somewhat in character writing. Ageha especially suffers from not having much to contribute. She’s simply there to say you are never too old to be precure (while being Elle’s babysitter). Similarly, Tsubasa seeing himself as a knight to Elle prevents the group from being equals. I think they wanted the central focus to be Sora and Mashiro as a callback to the original series. In terms of plot pacing, Soaring Sky really dropped the ball after cour 2 with Battamonda. There was a little arc for Elle to become a precure. Otherwise it saved the rest of the plot for the end. It was spinning its wheels through cour 3 and most of cour 4. (I swear this happens in precure all the time where there's a lot of dead space between getting the last member and the final battle). I think it was more noticeable here due to the absence of character arcs between plot beats. However, the likable characters make the individual episodes very enjoyable. The villains even got little characters arc through their battles with the cures. That’s something we don’t get every year. A bonus “first” was a handful of episodes without monsters. There was an adult sequel for the Yes 5 series this year as well, Plus another for Mahoutsukai in 2024. It’s a good time to be a Precure fan! 2) Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 In 2021 I wrote "We are in for a treat if they maintain this quality during the Shibuya arc. As a manga reader I can only say its the moment that changes everything.", and I am pleased to report Studio Mappa not only exceeded my expectations but week after week blew them through the sky with a barrage of non-stop high energy sakuga fests. The Shibuya arc is the first major story climax of Jujutsu Kaisen. It's a Togashi inspired storyline that begins with the sealing of Satoru Gojo and the never ending unraveling of the status quo afterwards. Akutami provides minute by minute detail of how characters are constantly changing locations around Shibuya station. My favorite episode was Itadori vs. Choso for its use of color and grounded location that made the fight take full advantage of its location. Akutami sure isn’t afraid to break their characters. Without Gojo present, there was nobody to stop Sakuna from rampaging across Shibuya. Then Yuji only suffered more and more when Nanami and Nobora were killed by Mahito. I also can't forget to mention how the Hidden Inventory/Premature Death arc was presented like a 5 episode movie in tv anime form. What an incredible season from start to finish! Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the extremely rare anime that I consider better than its original manga. Not to dismiss Akutami's art or anything, it's just the animators bring it to life so vividly. They increase the spectacle of every single moment. I feel like I can understand the deeper plot of the series through the anime. Next up is the Culling Game where Akutami doubles down on the Togashi inspirations and the manga hits peak creativity. I can’t wait to see it animated.

3) Oshi no Ko

Idols are a core part of Japanese entertainment culture. There are more idol groups in the underground scene than you can imagine. It's no wonder idol concepts found their way into anime. However, Oshi no Ko is not here for a positive look at the industry. The manga comes from the unlikely combination of Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari. Akasaka series are usually very cynical by nature as seen in Kaguya-sama with exaggerated daily occurrences that happen to potential lovers. At the same time Mengo's specialty is getting into the weeds of a character's complex emotions through facial expressions. Together this series aims to provide commentary to the idol business and Japanese entertainment industry through the lens of a murder mystery drama. The 90 minute premiere episode was a brilliant way to kick off the anime. Oshi no Ko has a unique start due to the extended prologue. Rather than hoping fans would watch through episode 3 to get the full story, they opted to present it one go. From there the anime covered the first 4 volumes up to Ruby’s first performance. I really like when the ED overlaps the final few seconds of an episode. That never fails to hype up a scene for me. The animation team brought out the best in the manga. Next is the stage play arc where the series takes everything to a new level. I hope the production values will be able to keep up.

4) The 100 Girlfriends Who Really, Really, Really, Really, Really Love You I am someone who is very well versed in anime harem, and let me tell you this takes everything you've ever known about the genre and dials it up to the extreme. 100 GFs is about exactly what it says on the title. It follows a typical harem mc who unfortunately has been told that he has 100 soulmates waiting for him. Rentarou must accept the love of each and every one of them or the rest die. The early GFs filed out the standard archetypes you see in harems such as the tsundere, kuudere, loli, and the overly horny type. However, it's the 6th girlfriend being Hakari's mother where the series fully cements itself to the mission of its premise. You never truly know who might become one of Rentaro's girlfriends. I think the anime did a great job of bringing the gags to life. They even changed a few to better suit the animation medium, I’ll need to read the manga eventually. There’s no way the anime will ever cover this entire story. (Its currently over 150 chapters in and they’ve only reached girlfriend 27)

5) Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury This is only the second Gundam Series I have seen (IBO was the first, Gundam Seed the third), and personally I would say G-Witch is my favorite so far. The plot loosely follows a similar plot structure to Utena in the first half before turning into a more typical Gundam in the back half. The main pairing Suletta and Miorine got a complete story that ended with them getting married. In terms of sheer enjoyment, I think this is up as one of the best this year due to cliffhangers every single episodes. It was one of those where the characters feel like they're half a step away from something very bad happening. And of course since it's a Gundam, very bad things do happen constantly. The cour 1 cliffhanger fully cemented the turn in tone of the series. My biggest complaint is I wish the show was longer. They really crammed the story progression in those last few episodes. Another season could have gone a long way in fleshing out everything. I remember wishing Suellta had a face-to-face confrontation with her mom rather than seemingly resolving their animosity remotely.

Honorable Mention: The Eminence in Shadow (Season 1 + Season 2) I didn't watch season 1 while it aired, but it still finished this year and season 2 aired during the fall season. The Eminence in Shadow is another one of those isekai anime that plague the anime airwaves these days, but this one something special. It's stupid and writes itself around that stupidly. The main character Cid is the ultimate self-indulgent chuunibyou. He aims to bring the edgy version of himself to life This story works so well on paper because while Cid is living out his fantasy dreams, all of his actions have real world effects. He says overly flamboyant things and the key terms are things that exist. The harem of ladies who surround him actually think Cid is being insightful which stirs them into action. So while Cid is having the time of his life, a world-shaking plot unfolds in the background which feeds back into what actions Cid chooses to take to embody the “Eminence in Shadow” persona. My favorite part was Cid planned his way through a tournament so he could wow the audience with a flashy final battle. It was a perfect tournament arc template being crafted in real ways. The lengths Cid will go to for achieving that cool pose or fight is hilarious. I think the biggest weakness is the plot being kept purposefully vague and Cid acting adjacent to the story sort of handicaps the potential what it could be. Overall, It’s still a brilliant series that embraces the absurdity of the characters and scenarios. The anime looks way better than you'd expect for something like this. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Jigokuraku: This wasn't a "bad" series but more so disappointed by how it was a low priority for Studio Mappa. After the first few episodes the production quality was left in the dust. I suppose it doesn't help either that the first third of the story is mostly exposition. However, compared to the output of other Mappa shows and given its manga popularity, you would think the final result would be better. I’m not holding my breath for future seasons to improve substantially. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Best Openings/Ending of 2023: 1. Undead Unluck Opening 1 - Visually this is the closest I've seen to a modern day Shaft anime. I love the metaphors that allude to events during the first cour. 2. Oshi no Ko Opening - Possibly the best opening of the entire year. Visually simple but the lyrics hit hard with Ai's thoughts and feelings. It only ages better as the story goes on. 3. Oshi no Ko Ending - A very visually striking ED that I think has also aged better as the manga gets deeper into the story. Not many EDs can be memorable like this. 4. Jigokuraku Opening - It's unfair when the opening looks way better the actual series. At least it makes a great case for the strong points of this series. 5. Spy x Family Season 2 Opening - Ado x Yuasa is a combination I didn’t realize I needed in my life. Its a very fun song with amusing animation to back it up which captures the status quo vibes of the series.

[yuwumeniji]

Luxiem x Persona

I am thou, Thou art I

A/N: A bullet pointed brainrot of two different fandoms i have rn.... mmmm.... many thoughts, head full ♡ also... when i think im done, i dont look back (no beta we die like men around here lmao) so im very sorry for the sloppiness lmao

EXTRA NOTES:

i'm seriously in love with this artwork and it became my muse lmao || A lot of the references will be more on Persona 5/Persona 5 Royal || Proceed under the cut!

General

Luxiem - a group of misfits turned phantom thieves who have shaken up society!

both shu and ike are third years, while mysta and luca are both second and first years respectively

vox is a student teacher at the same school as the rest of the boys. he is a history / language arts teacher.

the first palace was infiltrated by luca and shu

the last person to join was mysta due to his wariness of the others

they all meet up at vox's apartment since he's the only one out of the five that lived alone.

A people pleaser; despite his good intentions, he has yet to realize that others are just using the goodness of his heart to fulfill their evil tasks.

Codename: Novelist (He wants to overwrite his past failures and see a brighter tomorrow for himself)

What Triggered A Change Of Heart? : tired of being taken advantage of, ike had realized that he has to be able to think for himself - bearing witness to how cut-throat society really is and how fiends would use his kind-heartedness to their advantage, his persona had manifested as the strength needed to stand on his own two feet and his desire to become independent.

What Is His Persona?: A grotesque, hulking ball of tentacles. no one can see the middle of the creature. ike says that it's a reference to his untapped potential (mysta dismisses it as just something mysterious and didn't want to pry)

His Position: the brains of the operation. leave it to ike to help navigate and come up with creative plans to infiltrate palaces

a childish dreamer, blinded by his own ideals and has yet to be tainted by this cruel world.

Codename: Boss (He wanted to become Number. 1; actually based on an inside joke within their group as he is the one who usually lead discussions, thus leading to everyone in Luxiem calling him "Boss" or "The Big Boss")

What Triggered A Change Of Heart? : The realization that his dreams have long been crushed by the doings of a wicked adult. luca knew he was chasing nothing but a dream, yet it was what kept him going until he felt that it was time to face reality. the anger he feels over being stamped out like this and the idea that a new adventure awaits him had manifested as his persona.

What Is His Persona?: a humanoid like being with a lion's mane and strong arms. has the ability to stand on its hind legs. luca has thought about having a weight-lifting contest with his own persona (the others think it's a little absurd fighting himself since a persona is just an extension of oneself)

His Position: the brawn of the operation. being the massive ball of energy he is, leave the fighting to luca. even in dire situations where the team is surrounded by shadows, luca will find a way to break through via sheer will himself. he is also the most physically capable within the group.

A genius who wishes to be recognized past his intelligence.

Codename: Sleuth (He wishes to seek the truth behind the wicked desires of others)

What Triggered A Change Of Heart? : pushed over the edge, mysta had enough of people blindly praising his intelligence as if his other achievements were only due to the fact of his genius-disposition or of other means - he felt as if this was what trapped in his own fame (or infamy), he wanted to live freely. the manifestation of this desire revealed itself as his persona.

What Is His Persona?: a fox like creature that seems cute at first. if anything is known about mysta, it's that appearances are deceiving - despite the cuteness, mysta's persona is quite vicious and has the ability to rip apart even steel with it's teeth. mysta and his persona surprisingly get along well; his persona has the unique sentience about it and often is seen hanging off of his shoulder or hat when they are in the metaverse.

His Position: the escape artist. leave the escape to mysta, he's the only one capable of driving everyone to safety when the palace starts to crumble into nothingness (at least only one able to escape in time, the rest either don't have a license or don't have a sense of how quickly they need to escape - ike was the one who asked mysta if there were speed limits when escaping.)

The one who watches from the shadows, a witness to the everyday injustices.

Codename: Magician (Like a magician, his dexterity and adaptability in many and otherwise dire situations leave others in awe ; yet, he refuses to share how and why he knows such skills)

What Triggered A Change Of Heart? : the more shu bore witness to, the more he grew sick of it. he felt as though a bottomless pit had formed in his stomach as he watches wicked adults take advantage over the weak - and most importantly, how weak he was for hiding behind this fear, even if he had the means of helping others. his desire to see the world where the weak can live amongst the strong without cowering in fear has manifested into his persona.

What Is His Persona?: another humanoid like creature that stands on one leg. it appears to look like a shikigami with a magician's clothes. shu has tried drawing a face on his persona's paper-like face. he's surprised that it stays on sometimes.

His Position: intelligence master. from collecting data of the big bad they must face to finding who needed a change of heart within the depths of mementos, shu has it all covered. no one really knows how he gathers this much information and doesn't really want to know how either (shu says these are basic things you can find online about anyone, but none of the members want to question if he's actually telling the truth or not)

A young adult pressured by society, once an overachiever now weighted by the burden of life after high school.

Codename: Oni (The group named him Oni due to the appearance of his persona. He went along with the name because he couldn't think of a better one, plus he found it endearing how the group of his closest friends gave him the name.)

What Triggered A Change Of Heart? : vox's anger and desire to do more despite the now limited resources and time he has in comparision to an older adult, or a child. despite being an honours student, vox was hit with the sudden reality check that he can no longer do what he was once able to without being compared to others. he didn't like that at all and wanted to change that perspective once and for all.

What Is His Persona?: an oni-like creature that towered over the rest. powerful and all-mighty, yet regal and somewhat refined. vox wants to invite his persona to a tea party one day.

His Position: the guardian angel. despite his mean appearance, vox cares a lot about the members of the team and shines the brightest during desperate situations. he's the hope and the eldest brother of the bunch and he'll do anything to make sure the operation goes as smoothly as possible with little or no injury to the rest of the boys.

[metalandmagi]

Winter 2021 Anime Worth Watching!

Since 2020 basically sacrificed itself to give us the most stacked anime season of all time, I’m currently buried under the weight of almost 20 shows airing per week. So for anyone who’s looking for some anime to watch this winter, here’s some first impressions! I’m speed running my list this time by only talking about the new shows...because otherwise this would be my great American novel. 

If anyone’s interested, I have master lists for both 2020 anime and 2019 anime, because there’s no shortage of fun things to find. 

New Shows!

And before anyone asks, So I’m A Spider, So What? isn’t on here, because CG spiders freak me out.

Cells At Work Code Black: This...less comedic spin off of Cells At Work (made by a different studio) takes the wholesome concept of Osmosis Jones meets cute anime girls and turns it on its head. In this much more depressing version, we follow a rookie red blood cell who works in the body of an overly stressed, alcoholic smoker who puts every strain on the body imaginable. I love Red Blood Cell AA2153 and his co-workers, but man am I glad we get the regular Cells At Work airing this season too, because I need something fun and uplifting after seeing my sweet son go through hell every episode. 

*Heaven’s Design Team: Have you ever wondered how God came up with some of the weird ass animals that live on this planet? Like, what’s the deal with giraffes? And why can’t we have dragons and flying horses? Well this is a comedy about the engineers and designers in heaven creating the new animals that are going to inhabit the Earth. That’s it, that’s the show. It’s kind of in the same vein as Cells At Work, having comedy blend with a surprising amount of educational information. If you want something light and funny, this is the show for you (though I don’t think it needs to have full length episodes). I’m just hoping there’s an episode about how the hell the platypus was created. Also it’s the only new one available on Crunchyroll.

Horimiya: A romantic comedy about a girl named Hori who fits the image of a perfect queen bee and a quiet bespectacled boy named Miyamura who never makes an impression at school. When the two meet by chance outside of the classroom, we see that Hori is practically raising a younger brother by herself, and Miyamura is actually a sweet guy who happens to be covered in tattoos and piercings. This show is an exercise in breaking down the images people have of others in their minds, and it’s a concept that really hits home in a fun and meaningful way. Honestly, this has become one of my immediate favorites. The characters have great chemistry, and I can’t wait to see more of them!

Monster Incidents (Kemono Jihen): When big shot Tokyo detective Inugami is called to a rural town to investigate a series of strange animal deaths, he finds a mysterious boy with the nickname Dorotabo who has been shunned by the other children in town. As the detective gets closer to Dorotabo, he discovers that there may be more...inhuman secrets to the boy than he realizes...and Dorotabo discovers that Inugami has some secrets of his own. This is a hard show to sell without spoiling the first episode, but it had twists and turns that kept me engaged from start to finish. I’m really interested to see where the plot goes, because I thought this was going to be something totally different just from the PV and series summary. If it plays its cards right, this could be a great paranormal detective show!

Wonder Egg Priority: A psychological drama about a girl named Ai who starts having dreams about a mysterious egg that promises to give her what she wants most in the world...a true friend. Before long, she begins to see how the dream world and reality are tied together, and trippy antics ensue. It’s hard to say more without spoiling anything, but I had to go back and add this one in because I made the mistake of thinking it was an OVA when it’s actually a full series. And what a series it’s starting out to be. This anime has all the psychological discomfort of a Satoshi Kon product with the beauty and style of something from Kyoani (even though it’s made by Clover Works). It’s really one of those anime you just have to see to understand.

Sk8-∞ (Skate the infinity): An original skateboarding anime from Bones, featuring a typical sports anime protagonist who takes a new transfer student who has never skateboarded in his life under his wing. Together they compete in dangerous races and take the skating community by storm. The character designs rival Appare Ranman’s in outlandish creativity, and I can smell the main characters’ ship dynamic a mile away (considering they’re exactly the same as the protagonists from Robihachi). If you’re looking for some wild and crazy fun with top notch skateboarding animation, don’t skip this!

2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu (Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Club): Yes, it’s another volleyball anime. And no, it’s not just a clone of Haikyu. This story follows Yuni Kuroba, a physically built but emotionally weak teenager who finds out his childhood friend Hajime is moving back to their hometown for high school. Yuni discovers Hajime has become an exceptional volleyball player and they join their school’s volleyball club hoping to turn the unknown team into a rising star. If anything, this anime is much more like Stars Align or Free, where the sport is a backdrop for letting the characters explore their personal problems. Or at least it seems that way after the first episode. I went into this show ready to throw it in the trash because how could anything compete against my beloved Haikyu, but I found myself really enjoying the dynamics of the main duo and I’m curious to see what the rest of the team is like.

And speaking of sports anime rip-offs…..I can’t believe I’m including this but…

Skate Leading Stars: The show where the animators clearly wanted to design another throw away idol anime but saw how popular Yuri On Ice was so they decided to make whatever the hell this show is instead. It revolves around a fictional team sport called skate leading, and we follow the world’s most insufferable main character, a former figure skater named Kensei who wants to return to the ice and join his school’s skate leading team after he finds out his childhood rival is going to compete in the sport. Look, this show is just trashy enough to get a certain type of audience hooked, and it mainly has to do with the best boy of the winter season, Hayato Sasugai, the aspiring team “coach” who pulled most of us into watching this show with his punk appearance, snide comments and smug personality. He’s basically the lovechild of Izaya Orihara and Shizuo Heiwajima in a high school sports anime setting. The show treats itself with the perfect amount of sincerity to get away with being absolutely ridiculous most of the time without making you feel like you’re watching it from a dumpster...like Try Knights. You will know after one episode whether this show is for you. All I can say is, Hayato is worth the watch, and I haven’t seen any 3D animation used for the skating scenes (yet) so that’s a win for me. 

Honorable mention:

Jobless Reincarnation ( Mushoku Tensei): Yet another isekai where the main character is hit by a car (big surprise) and gets reincarnated into a fantasy world...but he happens to remember his previous life and narrates himself growing up as a jaded adult. I’m only including this because it looked amazing animation wise, and I love the opening where getting hit by a car and dying is actually traumatic. And I love the protagonist’s parents (who are retired adventurers who just want to bang all the time). But honestly...the main character is the fucking worst, and I don’t know if I want to keep watching it because of how creepy and weird he is. Like...he’s the hit on your fantasy mom as a baby kind of creepy and weird. But for anyone who wants a cool looking isekai that had an amazing PV, it’s worth checking out. 

Continuing Series!

Because the real gold of the season is in all the established anime getting their next seasons, I’m just going to list some of the things that are also amazing and definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already (because I’ve already talked about most of them at some point and don’t know what else to say).

Attack On Titan season 4

The Promised Neverland season 2

Beastars season 2

Log Horizon season 3

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime season 2

Re: Zero season 2 (second cour)

Dr. Stone season 2

Cells at Work season 2

Osomatsu-san season 3 (second cour)

Higurashi New (second cour)

Jujutsu Kaisen (second cour) 

Not to mention all the shows I don’t watch that everyone else loves...like World Trigger (which I have seen quite a bit of, but long shounen shows are too much for me now) Quintessential Quintuplets, and Non Non Biyori. 

So there’s just some of all the anime airing this season. Hopefully, someone can find something they like. Here’s to a great year...well, of anime at least...

[tillidontneedfantasy]

A Track-by-Track Breakdown of Taylor Swift’s 9th Studio Album: ‘evermore’

“My collaborators and I are proud to announce that my 9th studio album and folklore’s sister record is here. It’s called evermore,” is how Taylor Swift introduces us to this album in its foreword. One might assume a “sister record” would entail b-sides, or tracks that didn’t quite make the cut for folklore, despite Taylor’s explanation that “we just couldn’t stop writing songs.” evermore’s release came at a strange time, upon the heels of the Folklore: Long Pond Studio Sessions film on Disney+, as well as 5 Grammy nominations for folklore. The world still captivated by folklore, it’s understandable why one might not consume evermore as critically. Even as a die-hard fan, I felt some whiplash by this announcement; I am still processing folklore! Hell, I’m still processing reputation!

If this was the Taylor from two years ago, this may have been a big enough fear of hers to hold off on releasing evermore. But as she explained upon folklore’s surprise release, life is too unpredictable now, and there are zero givens or guarantees. So she followed the same path this time (although making sure it fell in line with her birthday weekend). But it’s not just the strategic timing of the release that she’s thrown out the window for now, but also her mindset whilst making records. As she explains in the evermore album foreword,

“I’ve never done this before. In the past I’ve always treated albums as one-off eras and moved onto planning the next one as soon as an album was released. There was something different with folklore. In making it, I felt less like I was departing and more like I was returning. I loved the escapism I found in these imaginary/not imaginary tales. I loved the ways you welcomed the dreamscapes and tragedies and epic tales of love lost and found. So I just kept writing them.”

This is a revelation for Swift, to let the music lead her into artistic freedom, which is what makes evermore such a triumphant return. Truly folklore’s sister record, Taylor wrote evermore with the same creative team: Aaron Dessner of The National (Swift’s favorite band), long-time pal and collaborator Jack Antonoff, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and William Bowery aka Swift’s boyfriend, Joe Alwyn (as officially revealed in the Long Pond Studio Sessions). Additionally, former 1989 tour openers and close friends of Taylor, the HAIM sisters, join the crew, along with Marcus Mumford for some dreamy backup vocals.

The production is just as wistful and mesmerizing as it was on folklore, yet the storytelling on evermore is kicked up a notch, expanding on the topics and worldbuilding established in its sister record, with even sharper lyrics and an effective and elaborate use of alliteration. The best thing about Taylor is that no matter what she does, her masterful lyricism is always at the heart of her art, and somehow, she keeps getting better. Once again, I wanted to explore the rich stories she’s crafted in this woodsy universe. This is how I’ve interpreted the album, but I hope you find your own meaning in the songs as well.

1. willow It is fitting that the opening track to folklore’s sister album, where we wade further into the forest that is Taylor Swift’s imagination and storytelling, would center on the type of tree that is a symbol of hope, belonging, safety, stability, and healing. “willow,” one of the few more obviously autobiographical tracks on the album, is a hymn of gratitude for her man (as she wants you to know, yes, thirteen times), Joe Alwyn, and how the invisible string tethering them together pulled her to him in a time when everyone else was counting her out. Though not as present on many of the other songs later to come on this record, you can feel the lightness in her heart on this song as she embraces the way in which the willow has bent, wrecking her plans, throwing her into the water and leaving her happily lost and afloat in his current. The downward key modulation throughout the last two repetitions of the chorus is beautiful and very fitting for Swift vocally, but also sounds like the feeling of finding your comfort and settling into it, basking it in while you wait for the next place the wind pulls you. Best lyric: “Now this is an open/shut case / I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face / Every bait and switch was a work of art.”

2. champagne problems On the second track of the album, Taylor dives back into the fictional worldbuilding she began to explore on folklore. While on folklore high school relationships and dramatics took center-stage, evermore graduates from adolescence to young adulthood, not that it is any easier emotionally on the listener’s heart. “champagne problems” chronicles a rejected marriage proposal between two college sweethearts at their old dorm building. Taylor sings as the narrator, a reflective, self-deprecating young woman who jokes about belonging in a madhouse and dismisses all her turmoil as champagne problems. The term ‘champagne problems’ itself could have various meanings here: their trivial concerns, the fact that their “sister splashed out on the bottle” of champagne that they will not be using to celebrate as they had hoped, or perhaps it could even hint that excessive drinking is a piece of all the ways the narrator is “fucked in the head,” as they said. Although the person she is singing to is the one who got hurt in the story, the hurt in the narrator’s heart is just as palpable and relatable, because you only have yourself to blame when you self-destruct. Best lyric: “’She would’ve made such a lovely bride, / what a shame she’s fucked in the head,’ they said / but you’ll find the real thing instead / she’ll patch up your tapestry that I shred.”

3. gold rush On her YouTube live chat prior to the album’s release, Taylor explained that this song “takes place inside a single daydream where you get lost in thought for a minute and then snap out of it.” The daydream consists of a love story so pure that the town had never seen such a thing; it could only happen in a fantasy for the narrator. How could she possibly have the gall to call them out on their contrarian shit, or end up with her Eagles t-shirt hanging from their door, when they are so coveted by all, and when she cannot withstand the thought of even competing? She sings, “My mind turns your life into folklore / I can’t dare to dream about you anymore,” a sweet little connecting piece to this album’s older sister, effectively convincing herself out of the idea of jumping into the chaos of the gold rush because even inside her own imagination it’s too dangerous. Best lyric: “I don’t like that falling feels like flying ‘till the bone crush.”

4. ‘tis the damn season According to Aaron Dessner, Taylor had written the lyrics for “’tis the damn season” in the middle of the night amidst their Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions recording after a long night of chatting and drinking with their co-conspirator, Jack Antonoff. The lyrics perfectly encapsulate the guttural ache the track evokes. It is a tale of two people who always find their way back to one another in their hometown, which acts as the ever-returning fork in the road. The path taken, back to L.A. in pursuit of her dreams, is the one she chose and continues to choose, but whenever she returns home, she takes a ride down the road not taken, just to get a taste of what could have been, even if just for the weekend. What starts off as an icy homecoming always transforms into the warmest intimacy. The success of this track is aligned with the success of Taylor’s entire career; even with such specific details, it feels so deeply personal to the listener. You know the street you’d drive along late at night laughing, the spot you’d park the car, the person who stars in every what-if. You will never really know if the road not taken is as good as it seems, but that might be ok; sometimes, the fantasy is better than the reality, anyway. Best lyric: “It’s the kind of cold / fogs up windshield glass, but I felt it when I passed you / There’s an ache in you / put there by the ache in me.”

5. tolerate it Inspired by the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, “tolerate it” is an agonizing track from the perspective of a devoted wife who polishes plates and paints portraits and waits by the door for her husband with a battle hero’s welcome, who at best tolerates all her adoration. There are few things as painful as idolization being met with indifference, when you have all this love to give to someone who just leaves it there untouched. “tolerate it” captures that desperation for the approval you know will never arrive, but you sit and watch, waiting for it just in case you’re wrong, but you know you’re not. Best lyric: “I made you my temple, my mural, my sky / now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life / drawing hearts in the byline”

6. no body, no crime feat. HAIM “no body, no crime,” the one evermore song solo-written by Taylor, has the clearest plot from beginning to end. In the same vein as the female powerhouse country classic “Goodbye Earl” by The Chicks, Taylor is out for blood to avenge her friend, Este (named for one of the HAIM sisters). The story goes as such: Este’s husband kills her for calling him out on his infidelity, and then Taylor kills the husband and frames his mistress. The HAIM girls, who are long-time friends of Taylor’s and former touring mates, lend their vocals to reinforce the accusation on the husband and to provide Taylor’s alibi. “no body, no crime” is so far the closest we’ve gotten to a return to “country Taylor,” proving that she is still the master of a killer country tune (yes, pun intended, it had to be done I’m sorry). Best lyric: “Good thing Este’s sister’s gonna swear she was with me / (she was with me, dude) / Good thing his mistress took out a big life insurance policy”

7. happiness Written a week before the album’s release, “happiness” is one of Swift’s strongest and most reflective breakup songs. Although she writes it as though it is recent, there’s a lot of power in knowing that she’s been happily in love for four years, and that she is even better now at doing the thing that has always been best at. She is finally “above the trees,” as she sings, and is able to see it all for what it is, but her character is still in the heat of it all, trying to navigate the stages of grief when a relationship ends. We see the narrator grapple with many of those stages throughout the song. Most striking is the anger displayed in the second verse when she sings: “I hope she’ll be a beautiful fool who takes my spot next to you / No, I didn’t mean that, / sorry, I can’t see facts through all of my fury.” That section is jarring and feels like one of the most honest moments in a Taylor song, the insanely difficult emotional balancing act when we are grieving a relationship. The devastation of loss can distort our perception, and a part of that is the difficulty of understanding how multiple seemingly opposing things can co-exist in our hearts, such as happiness because of someone and happiness after them. But when you leave it all behind and finally find your place above the trees, you can find happiness after someone and also look back and appreciate the happiness they once provided. Both of these things can be true. Best lyric: “Showed you all of my hiding spots / I was dancing when the music stopped.”

8. dorothea Taylor Swift has the uncanny ability to create such developed and well-rounded characters with such little information, which is what makes her storytelling so compelling. In “dorothea,” we learn much about the title character through the narrator’s eyes, and the relationship they once had. The lyric “skipping the prom just to piss off your mom and her pageant schemes” alone tells an entire story in itself. “dorothea” is also the companion song to “’tis the damn season,” just from the other person’s perspective, which helps shine even more light on the story. The narrator of “dorothea” reveres her but wonders if she’s still the same soul in L.A. as she was back in their never-changing town. Whatever the answer, they’re still willing to support her no matter where she is, but she’s always welcome back in Tupelo by her hometown love’s side if she ever just wants to be herself rather than someone known for who they know. Besides, they’re the only soul who can tell which smiles she’s faking. And you can always return to the road not taken. Best lyric: “They all wanna be ya / but are you still the same soul I met under the bleachers? / Well, I guess I’ll never know / and you’ll go on with the show.”

9. coney island feat. The National What really started the folklore / evermore journey was Taylor’s love for The National. Taylor has cited them as one of her favorite bands for many years, and as we know, this led to her beautiful new collaborative relationship with Aaron Dessner. So it would make sense for the track written with the intention of this duet to be so well executed; you can feel the love and care Taylor put into writing this song. In her press for these sister albums, she has spoken about trying to channel frontman Matt Berninger’s writing style. But what actually happened was she just produced her own signature lyricism at its sharpest. “We were like the mall before the internet, it was the one place to be / the mischief, the gift-wrapped suburban dreams / sorry for not winning you an arcade ring over and over,” is a hall of famer Swift-ian lyric. “coney island” explores the confusion, hurt, and self-reflection when a passionate affair burns out fast because you did not prioritize that person. And to top it off, Swift and Berninger’s harmonies are achingly beautiful, transporting you right there in the story, on the bench, wondering, over and over. Best lyric: “Do you miss the rogue who coaxed you into paradise and left you there? / Will you forgive my soul when you’re too wise to trust me and too old to care?”

10. ivy Leave it to Taylor Swift to make a song about an affair sound so romantic, and so sympathetic to the narrator, that you’re rooting for adultery. “ivy” tells the tale of a woman in a lifeless marriage, likening her home with him to the tombstone that the widow in town visits each day. I like to think this is the same wife whose husband was out there building other worlds without her in “tolerate it,” because then that means she found someone who celebrates her love, who holds her pain for her, who blooms all over her; they started it, but she’s fighting for it all the way to the end, nonetheless. “ivy” showcases Swift’s gorgeous vocals and her sharp lyrics, with a melody so infectious it is bound to permanently plant its roots in your dreamland. Best lyric: “Oh, I can’t stop you putting roots in my dreamland / my house of stone, your ivy grows, and now I’m covered in you.”

11. cowboy like me With the beautifully blended backing vocals of Marcus Mumford, “cowboy like me” is an entrancing love story of two con artists who lost at their own game and got conned into forever with each other. She’d gone from swindling old men for their money and fancy cars to falling victim to the danger of dancing with someone who only has eyes full of stars, and she knows she’ll pay for it. “cowboy like me” is one of the most romantic tracks on the record, proving that life never plays out quite as we plan. Best lyric: “Now you hang from my lips like the gardens of Babylon / with your boots beneath my bed / Forever is the sweetest con.”

12. long story short One of the more pop-sounding tracks on evermore, “long story short” is pretty much a summary of the long story behind reputation (2017). The song is filled with various metaphors for her reputation crumbling around her, and then finally putting her defenses down to be with her lover, someone as “rare as the glimmer of a comet in the sky.” It is a sweet ode to her boyfriend, and a gentle comfort to her past self that it will all work out. But it is also an oddly relatable example of how we shrug off our struggles and minimize them to just a “bad time,” when the time she is singing about was obviously something that deeply affected her (as will be further explored in the title track); but sometimes it actually feels good to just shrug it off as just a blip in your life, because at the end of the day, you survived, and that’s what counts- even if you’re not keeping score anymore. Best lyric: “Pushed from the precipice / clung to the nearest lips / long story short, it was the wrong guy. / Now I’m all about you.”

13. marjorie Whereas track 13 on folklore was a tribute to Swift’s paternal grandfather, evermore’s track 13 is a tribute to her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who was an opera singer in the 50s, and passed away in 2003 when Taylor was 13 years old. “marjorie” is quite possibly the most touching track Taylor has ever written thus far in her career. Grief is one of the most difficult topics to tackle in a song; the genius of “marjorie” is that it is simple, yet not understated. Swift reflects on the profound lessons she learned from her grandmother, about the difficult balances of kindness and cleverness, and politeness and power. She curses herself for not cherishing the moments she had with her, for complaining rather than understanding in the moment how admirable her spirit was, for all the amber skies she’d love but will never see. The chorus, blunt and hard-hitting, reminds us that someone does not have to be living to be alive, to be all around, to be with us. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were singing to me now,” Taylor sings towards the end of the song, right before you hear a sample of Finlay’s opera singing in the background, a truly eye-swelling moment. It is clear that Finlay played a pivotal role in Swift’s own ambitions, as she sings, “all your closets of backlogged dreams, and how you left them all to me.” Marjorie knew she was leaving them in good hands. If you haven’t yet, check out the moving lyric video for the song, where you can see photos and video clips of Marjorie, both throughout her career and in her time with Taylor. Best lyric: “Never be so polite you forget your power, / never wield such power you forget to be polite.”

14. closure On the most experimental track musically on the record, Taylor writes off her need for closure from a relationship of some sort, whether it be romantic or platonic or business, all of which can cause hurt of equal intensity. The subject of the song is trying to make nice with Taylor, and she is just not having it, as it is not coming from a genuine place, but rather to ensure that their life remains picture perfect, or to clear their guilty conscience, or to preserve their own ego. This is a deeply relatable sentiment; as valuable as forgiveness can be, sometimes the person who hurt you just doesn’t deserve it, and all you can do is forgive yourself for blocking their number or shredding their letters. Best lyric: “I know I’m just a wrinkle in your new life / staying friends would iron it out so nice.”

15. evermore feat. Bon Iver To close out the standard edition of the album, Taylor joins forces once again with Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, with whom she collaborated on the Grammy-nominated duet, “exile” for folklore. However, Swift leads most of the track this time, lamenting the difficult time she went through in 2016. The piano and Swift’s vocals are haunting, particularly when she describes this time in her life as “catching my death,” consumed by a pain that she feels will never end. If you’ve ever been depressed, you know what that feels like, and the dark places it leads you. Although she is singing about a time four years prior, it sounds so present, and it is heartbreaking to hear her in such a state. When Bon Iver comes in, the tempo of the song picks up, the piano riff becomes more erratic, like a winter storm hitting you in the face, and he voices all the anxieties of the cost of such a downfall. But through those anxieties, Taylor finds not a cure, but an anchor in love, and then the tempo slows back down. By the end of the song, Taylor has the foresight to understand that although it may not feel like it now, the pain she is experiencing is not permanent (a sentiment my therapist has been trying to instill in me for years). In her Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe, Taylor explained how the lyrics parallel the times we are in currently, and so it feels really special to have the album end with someone who knows how it feels to be imprisoned by your pain gently comfort us with the wisdom that “this pain wouldn’t be for evermore.” I hope one day soon, as we leave 2020 far behind, we can all truly believe her. Best lyric: “I was catching my breath / barefoot in the wildest winter catching my death.”

16. right where you left me (bonus track) The first bonus track on evermore, “right where you left me,” captures a moment so earth-crushing, a piece of you is trapped in it forever. In this song specifically, the narrator finds herself stuck in the same corner of a restaurant where she was told by someone she loved that they had met someone else. “Glass shattered on the white cloth, everybody moved on,” she sings in mourning. We have all experienced those moments that we could teleport back to if we just closed our eyes; the scenery, what you wore, the smell and taste of the season, the very point in your body where it felt like your insides were collapsing. Or that one particular person, who is long-gone from your life but seeing them is like time-travelling back to that person you once were, ready to pick up where you left off. But as much as you want to stay in that moment forever, just in case it changes in your favor, the cold reality is that the world stops for no one. Best lyric: “If our love died young, I can’t bear witness / And it’s been so long, but if you ever think you got it wrong / I’m right where you left me.”

17. it’s time to go (bonus track) “right where you left me” was Taylor’s cry for help to get out of restaurant, and “it’s time to go” is the answer to the call, as she sings in the first line, “when the dinner gets cold, and the chatter gets old / you ask for the tab.” This song is about gathering the strength to leave situations and relationships behind that no longer serve you. She grieves the betrayal of someone she thought to be a twin from her dreams (almost definitely referring to former friend, Karlie Kloss), acknowledges that keeping a marriage together for the sake of the kids often actually has the opposite intended effect (possibly- but not certainly- something she and her brother experienced), and recounts attempting to bargain with someone consumed by greed, only able to leave with herself (absolutely referring to the end of her fifteen-year long business relationship with Scott Borchetta, her former record-label owner). But as painful as leaving all of those situations was, Taylor has gained the wisdom to understand that walking away sometimes takes as much strength as persevering. You can’t stay at the restaurant, or at the mercy of someone else forever; you have to forge your own path, even if it��s in the opposite direction of what you envisioned for so long. And even with all her past success behind her, as folklore and evermore have proved, there is so much more ahead of her. Best lyric: “That old familiar body ache, the snaps from the same little breaks in your soul / You know when it’s time to go.”

In a time where we are all trapped in our homes and in our heads, the folklore/evermore experience has been the sweetest escape. If anything, the creation of these wonderful sister records has taught me that our most powerful tool in times of distress is our own imagination. Even just the ability to close my eyes while listening to one of these tracks and feel the character’s story is a gift. The way I’ve always been able to pick up Harry Potter and escape to Hogwarts when I’ve felt alone and friendless, I can listen to folklore and evermore when I feel scared or hopeless and escape into this enchanted forest Taylor has built, where I can climb above the trees and see it all for what it is. I feel so lucky to watch Taylor’s imaginative world unravel around me. I can’t wait to see what she creates next.

DISCLAIMER – REVIEWER’S BIAS: I would literally die for this bitch.  

[merrilark]

Honestly I'm surprised we get any extras at all given how much this "fandom" complains about absolutely everything. From the very first piece of information we get about a new season, you get all the negative Nancies shouting their opinions about how much they hate certain storylines or distrust The Writers or expect the new material to suck because they had a prophetic dream or whatever. (Maybe I’m overly dramatic but I’ve wanted to quit this fandom so many times because of all the negativity, it’s not even funny.) And this doesn’t just happen here on Tumblr but also on Twitter and Instagram (and I’m sure TIkTok as well), on the official Netflix and TUA accounts' posts. If I were on the marketing team I’d not be super enthused about engaging with the fans, either. There’s actually just been an article on Business Insider about how Netflix’s data analysis team kind of runs its creative decisions (/how-netflix-uses-data-creative-decisions-renew-tv-films-analytics-2022-9?r=US&IR=T). They advise on which shows to acquire, which to renew, and how much money to spend on them by analyzing performance but also audience insight. I wouldn’t be surprised if that included social media even though the article doesn’t outright state it. And this practice is contentious, sure. To quote the article: "Sometimes it was helpful and sometimes it was totally useless," [a former exec] said of Netflix's analytics. "If something is really unique or a risk, they're not going to say, 'Go with God,' or 'Take that risk.' They'll say, 'Our data does not support [it]." So if you’re wondering why some of Netflix’s decisions seem really random or stupid maybe it’s because someone listened to an algorithm rather than using their own brain, which is definitely a flaw Netflix needs to work on, especially for a show like TUA that does fall under the “completely unique” category imo. On top of that, ST is a Netflix-only production while TUA is actually co-owned by NBC Universal. So the reason Netflix’s own social accounts aren’t as active in advertising the show is likely because some of that responsibility falls on NBC. And the reason we don’t get more tie-in media for TUA as ST does could very well be due to Dark Horse being involved in the whole business – they gave us the S1 “making of” book and the Klaus spin-off and the National Comic Book Day poster but could definitely do a lot more in terms of cross-advertisement. So the lack of content and merch doesn’t entirely fall on Netflix’s shoulders, I think. TUA is very different from ST not only in audience appeal but also in the amount of copyright holders, businesses, and decision makers involved.

Ahh, darn, the article is behind a paywall! But just from what you said, that’s fascinating. I find it heartening that Netflix seems to want to listen to fans and what they’re saying, and yet troubling that it seems it’s largely done through an algorithm. They’re missing the mark by this much! ���

A lot of big corporations seem to be leaning that way--that is, toward using algorithms rather than putting in all the elbow grease themselves, which, yeah, is rarely good. Algorithms can be clunky and they never work as well because they aren’t capable of understanding nuance. But if the algorithm is picking up a lot of negativity from people complaining about the show, then I can see how Netflix might decide pumping more money into TUA is less worth the risk.

As for the whole TUA and NBC/Dark Horse thing, yeah, I was wondering something similar about that! ST is a Netflix original, but TUA is a pre-existing IP so I would think that even if Netflix has the license to stream TUA, they would have to go through more paperwork to do the things that they do for ST, and how NBC or Dark Horse prioritizes franchises is a whole new can of worms. It’s hard to point fingers at any one responsible source, but then I also don’t really think it’s necessary to point at all. “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” and all that.

[wosocharleeeeess]

🚨NEW PERNILLE INTERVIEW 🚨

Conversation with Pernille Harder, Chelsea FC

We meet Pernille Harder in Kingston Upon Thames in London. The setting for the interview is Spring Grove. A classic sports pub in the better part of London. It is in the same area that Pernille lives with her girlfriend Magdalena Eriksson, with whom she plays on a team in Chelsea. She came to Chelsea in Sept. 2020 from Wolfsburg. It was a trade that made her the world's most expensive female football player. The price tag is obligatory, and Pernille has lived up to that.

Her performance has led to her being nominated for "The World's Best Footballer" a short time ago. One of the world's best started in Thulstrup.

Why did you actually start playing football when you were 5 years old?

“There was actually not even a girls team when I started. But I come from a real football family. Both my parents and my big sister played football, and yet I was always up in our local club. So it was very natural. That's what they did in the family. ”

Pernille Harder played in the local club before she first switched to Ikast, then Viborg and from 2010-2012 in Skovbakken, before abroad called for the great talent.

What was life like then as a female football player in Denmark?

“I had to be creative and find opportunities to get better / train enough. It was sometimes a bit of a hassle, also because I wanted to stay in Ikast, which is generally a good sports town. But back then, there was nothing for women’s soccer. So I played in Skovbakken, but was allowed to train with the boys at the Academy in FC Midtjylland. In addition, I had found a trainer who helped me train "finishes" every Friday, in addition to my training in Skovbakken (Aarhus) 4 times a week.

Who participated in the training at the FCM Academy at the time?

"I have trained with Joachim Andersen, Lasse Vigen, Viktor Fischer and Pione of those you probably also know."

Did anyone make a "plan" for you back then?

“It was probably more myself who made that plan. I already knew that when I finished high school, I wanted to go abroad and play football. It was there, the opportunities were to make a living from it. Therefore, also thought only of my development in Denmark. I did not think of titles and e.g. to establish myself in the Danish league first. ”

Who has helped you the most with your career?

Definitely my parents. I could not dream of better support. They have never pushed me for anything, but always been there. I'm just been lucky with them.

Was the ambition even then that you would become one of the best football players in the world?

"Of course. First, my dream / ambition was that I should make a living from it. Not many did then. So that was the first goal. But of course. I have also been Figo, Beckham and many others along the way. ”

The football thing speaks for itself, and as an 18-year-old Pernille went abroad to become a full-time professional. She started in Swedish Linköping. Here it was 87 goals in 90 games before German Wolfsburg called. Here, the Dane scored 68 goals in 75 matches. Pernille Harder became a big profile in the German Bundesliga, and there were offers for her from a lot of big clubs. The competition was so fierce that when she switched to Chelsea, she became the world's most expensive women's footballer. Her footballing qualities are well described elsewhere, but how did she experience the change to the English big club?

“There is a greater interest both commercially and with the media here in England. Chelsea is just a huge club. All our matches are shown on Sky, there is always media present and there is interest from all over the world around the Premier League for women. ”

“When I came to Germany, there was not much pressure on me. I had only played a few years in Sweden and had not proven myself on the big stage yet. When I came to Chelsea it was quite the opposite. Both due to the transfer you mention, Europe's best 2 times and my matches for the European Championships, Champions League and Bundesliga. I was bought in to make a difference from day 1. ”

Fortunately, it has gone well. But what's the plan at Chelsea now?

“We have to win and I have to develop. Expectations are constantly shifting. The biggest ones are definitely coming from myself still. So I have no problem with that. ”

Which development have you been most pleased with?

“It is always mentally hard to change club and change country with everything that goes with it. I think I have been good at dealing with it and I feel like I have developed personally. I have come through the difficult things and learned how to deal with adversity. ”My motivation is still in my development

How is your daily life? What is it like to live in London?

"It's great. It has helped that society is closed up more again. I moved over here in the middle of "the big lockdown". I remember we were cycling around in the middle of a completely empty London. It was very special. But otherwise it is a life where football is the focal point. We come in for training at 10 and is home again at 2 p.m. If we have free time, we might go to Covent Garden or SOHO, where we shop a bit, eat at some good restaurants, etc. These are our favorite areas in London. ”

What motivates you now?

“My motivation is still in my development. I will constantly evolve. I want to be even better. It's very simple. ”

What has been the biggest challenge been in 2021?

“As a person, I do not have a lot of patience. It all should like to play right away. It's just not always like that when you move to a new country. ”

What is the most important thing you have learned this year?

“I have got a good platform and I am very determined about that. One of the most important things for me is equality. This of course applies to football. But I also use my platform to convey my views on gender equality within e.g. sexuality and racism. ”

Who has inspired you the most this year?

I get inspired by stories where people have worked hard for a goal or cool personality mentalities. An example could be Kobe Bryant.

Where are you in 3 years?

“I honestly do not know. I have a contract here until 2023. It could very well be that I extend that agreement. At some point, it could also be cool to come to the US for a small period of time. But it lies in the future. ”

What does your media consumption look like?

“I listen to audiobooks a lot. It's limited how much I actually read.

The last book I listened to was with Rasmus Ankersen. It was called "The Gold Mine Effect."

Otherwise, I use both Instagram and Twitter. ”

What do you want more time for in 2022?

“As a football player, you have a good time in everyday life, so I actually think I use my time very well. Maybe I should look and improve my golf game a little! ” (..followed by a big smile.)

After 130+ international matches for Denmark, does it still matter to pull the red / white jersey over your head?

“It means a lot! It is something very special, and I am very proud to play for the Danish national team. ”

What do you miss most about Denmark?

“It's easy! It is without a doubt my family. ”

Are you coming home to Denmark and playing in the Women's League?

“Not right now at least. One should never say never. It is so difficult to predict the future, but it is not straightforward. ”

Are we behind in Denmark?

"I guess we are. Marketing and branding are by no means the same. I do not know where to start her. One could well miss that FC Midtjylland and FC Copenhagen had a women's team as the biggest clubs in Denmark. I am sure that great value could be created for everyone, concludes Pernille Harder.

[virghogh]

NCT Birth Charts x Hexaco Results Analyses pt. 2

recently NCT Dream were on a new reality show called Mental Training Camp where they are doing a variety of activities and all of their behavior and interactions are being analyzed by professional psychologists.

ofc my virgo sun mercury ass was thrilled and I had their birth charts pulled up the whole time to cross reference.

I wanted to share some of my personal thoughts on how the 2 might connect!

p.s. Thank u for all the likes on part one !!<3

part 1 // part 2 // part 3

**key: in the hexaco charts the blue represents the Dreamies, the orange is an average result of 300 college students who took the same test**

Renjun - “An artist down to the bones”

✨aries sun // scorpio moon // pisces mercury // pisces venus // taurus mars✨

can i just start with a wow cause!! This title is so bold and what they continued to talk about with him, and when looking at his chart... there is much to unpack here so let’s get into it

they started off his analysis focusing on how much of an “artist” he is. They said 2 qualities a great artists needs is openness and emotionality and he scored way above average in those areas, and the highest of those in his whole group. Looking at his placements I think anyone could tell this person is highly creative. With his 2 pisces placements and water moon in scorpio. There’s a lot more going on with that moon sign than just creativity, but it is a common trait amongst water moons!

I feel like his water energy is responsible for more of his imagination? If you watch a lot of NCT content you can see just how imaginative Renjun is. Especially in the relay vlogs when he was taking us through his art all I could think was wow this guy has crazy (good) imagination! the reason I mention this is because he has a taurus mars. taurus is ruled by venus where we get a lot of our creativity from and it’s a known thing that taurus placements always bring natural creativity. I really think the combination of water imagination with taurus art is a beautiful combo.

 On top of his natural talent in creativity and imagination, scorpio moons absolutely need an outlet. He was truly blessed with placements that give him that outlet <3 They mentioned he could be a poet and scorpio moons are always being recommended to write poetry. His art is essential to his mental and emotional health. 

something really interesting is how they mentioned that mark has traditional leader energy, but Renjun has a “mother-like” leader energy. I thought that was so sweet and really accurate for him. They mentioned how throughout the intro he would scan the others eyes a lot and make contact very subconsciously and with ease. Taking everyone into account. I see this a lot in his 2 pisces placements. I feel like a lot of pisces makes someone very sensitive, in-tune with people and caring/compassionate. And with the slower, calmer taurus mars it gives him a gentle approach. He has this strong bull/ram influence from his aries sun and mars, his driving forces, that gives him initiative and a strong voice. when these 2 connect I feel like it makes a mom bear kind of thing. 

They also said it seems when he scans like that he is almost analyzing and observing, “gathering opinions”. Scorpio moons have hawk eyes, they’re always observing micro-actions and reactions. He is mostly observing with care so he can pay attention and accommodate! But I think having a scorpio moon just makes him naturally tune in to people a lot more and gives him a sharper eye. 

I wanted to put him and Jisung in the same post because they’re both scorpio moon kings, and I wanted to talk about how this really intense moon sign plays out in 2 very different people. I have a scorpio moon too, so seeing 2 idols I like with their own scorpios moons is very interesting to me! 

at one point the psychologists verbal report took a turn and all i could think about was that scorpio moon! After they finished telling him about his artists traits, they said “there is one thing you should look out for”, and it was that people like him tend to get lonely easily and often/a lot and Renjun quickly agreed! They said that since he’s with good friends a lot, it helps, but in the future he could get very lonely and experience it more than the average person. This is so textbook scorpio moon I honestly felt like he was speaking right to me and my scorpio moon for a second. From one scorpio moon to another, I’m so glad he has people around him. 

then they asked him when he typically gets lonely the most and he responded with “it just comes to be out of the blue” u poor scorpio moon bb😭. I don’t know how serious he was about this word but he said he will be depressed on the nicest days sometimes. 

there was another story Mark was telling thin time about Renjun. They went out to a meal together on a beautiful day and Mark comments on how nice out it is and Renjun just responds with “I’m depressed”. There are so many traits of his scorpio moon coming through here. With the moon being in such an intense, deep and dark sign, it is in detriment here. It’s a really rough placement for your emotions. Water moons in general are known for being quite moody and sulky, sometimes it just comes out of nowhere and very randomly. There doesn’t always have to be a trigger. I feel like his pisces-scorpio are really like teaming up a lot when it comes to his expressions and emotions. 

In the last post I mentioned how I think Jeno and Mark are lucky to have fire moons because they could get really hard on themselves or down/depressed if they had earth or water moons. Renjun is a good example of what I meant. With his Taurus mars, earth signs are known for being down and hard on themselves a lot and I think the combination of a earth mars and scorpio moon is tough. taurus likes to be alone a lot too and I could see him maybe in the future develop a tendency to isolate when he’s having a scorpio moon moment and feels like the world is ending (again, being around people must be really helping him). I also see his aries sun maybe being another way to help express that scorpio moon. It might feel less like he has to keep all of these scorpio feelings to himself, it’s easier for him to let it out. It’s also worth noting that having a scorpio moon and taurus mars means they’re in opposition! Giving him even more depth and intensity. 

as for the hexaco chart, based off just his chart I don’t know if I would have guessed his openness was that high with his scorpio and taurus?? But other than that I think his hexaco is very spot on for him! His agreeableness is slightly below average👀 umm yes hi aries sun and fixed moon and mars. His extroversion is pretty much average but that average to me tells me someone is more on the extroverted side or maybe in the middle? Being in the middle would make sense to me because I think he definitely has potential to isolate. I’m curious to see what his houses are! I’ve seen a lot of talk that he’s a cancer rising and I buy it because it would put his sun in 10th, and moon in 5th but that’s a whole other topic...

That emotionality is wonderfully high. His openness and expression/ reactions are one of my favorite things about him. He’s truly a little aries hot head at times. I feel like aries in big 6 often gives this kind of ease with expression and straightforwardness like I was saying about mark. Similar to Chenle though, I think even though Renjun is open, he isn’t an open book and has his deep thoughts and secrets. I see his openness more in that he will always be there for people and listen/help peoples problems. He’s the kind of person to meet someone and if he can tell they’re struggling he’d offer his ear or shoulder even if they’re not close. He’s welcoming. 

tldr; has intense imagination and creative abilities, he is very welcoming, compassionate, attentive and caring. Mom vibes. He is very moody and gets down a lot, his friends and artistic expression are essential. He is very expressive, passionate and hot headed but has a lot of patience.

Jisung - “Shy Perfectionist” 

✨aquarius sun // scorpio moon // aquarius mercury // aquarius venus // aries mars✨

Jisungs section in this show was reallyyy short they didn’t say much and moved on kinda quick😅 I’ll be honest Jisung has always kinda confused me especially when I try to understand his chart and what i see in the videos. So not getting a lot of information from this episode either (yet! the show is ongoing) is tough

As far as the title they gave him🥺chart or no chart I think it’s a good title for him and how he appears in content and stuff he is true baby. In their verbal report they basically just said he’s shy and then talked a lot about how he has very good “follower” qualities. They were saying having a good follower is also a really important quality in a group though. And jisung agreed with what they were saying. That’s pretty much all we got from them😅

Honestly if I could only have one members guaranteed full chart I’d want it to be Jaemins or Jisungs because Jisung has an aquarius stellium! And the house it’s in could tell us so much more about him. Typically when I think of or meet aquarius I don’t pin them as a shy type? I could see some of them preferring to stick to themselves but they still operate pretty well in social situations. So Jisung’s painfully shy personality we see is interesting to me. Where I definitely do see his aqua and scorpio working together is in how anxious and nervous he is. He’s a worrier too and has admitted it. Also I’ve heard the combination of aquarius and scorpio makes someone intensely intuitive to future events, so I feel like if jisung is unaware of this gift it could contribute to his high anxiety. Maybe he gets feelings of “something bad is about to happen” a lot for seemingly no reason👀

Another very aquarius trait is of course they’re weirdooos through and through! And what I’ve noticed about the aquarius weird trait is how many different kinds of weird there are because aquarians are always weird in such different ways. I definitely think Jisung is a weird guy, or quirky? You can almost see the gears grinding in his head when he’s contemplating and then he’ll do something “weird” after that! Weird, or just off beat. And what I love about the way jisungs lil aquarius mind works is you can tell those weird moments are purely just how he really is and thinks, and it’s not to be funny or for the cameras, he just processes information and thinks completely different from everyone else. 

Since we know jisung is shy I feel like a lot of his aquarius and scorpio mood comes out off camera so we won’t get to see that side! But I’m sure it’s there.

I think Jisung’s scorpio moon is a good example of how different it can be. To go from a very emotionally charged chart to one that is being dominated by air is quite different. With Renjun, I was talking about how his water and fire give him the ability to be in touch with and express his scorpio moon more. But with an air dominant chart I feel like hinders that ability and creates a more detached person. Not that he’s cold, not emotional, or not compassionate. But just that he probably prefers to “just not think” about certain stressful or emotional topics. But the problem with that is it doesn’t mean emotions are gone and scorpio is very hard to ignore, so he’s probably internalizing a lot of stuff v deeply or is surprised when emotions come, what feels like, out of nowhere,.. Jisung also has an aries mars though! I feel like the openness of the aries mars combining with the detachment of Aquarius sun could also contribute to sudden releases of emotion🤔 but be back to normal in minutes

I also wanna add that I feel like jisungs very follower personality and ability to just kinda let things happen or not take charge must be a result of the industry and being the maknae tbh, or it at least accentuated it 

For the hexaco chart I really want to comment on how high the honesty-humility is! In the first part I mentioned how aquarius and aries can be quite righteous signs. So this trait must be really played up in his chart because it seems he cares a lot about following the rules (could also be a result of industry). His emotionality is higher than average! For his chart I don’t know if I would have expected that but from watching him I think it totally lines up, maybe his aries mars is proving more of an outlet. 

I also wanna finish by adding that jisung is still super young and has been in this “baby” position for most of his life, and is literally the youngest out of a 23 person group lol and grew up in the industry so there’s more going on with that than just astrology <3

tldr; very shy, anxious and nervous, intuitive, an oddball, his community is important and helpful to him, easily reactive, but not very emotionally expressive, he’s level-headed, has a lot of growing to do🥺<3

part 3 coming soon!

feedback and thoughts are always welcome!

[13uswntimagines]

Great Motivation (Soran x Reader)

Request: R like it if you were able to keep to the same premise, but like change it to where R finally gets the adoption papers and surprises Emily and Lindsey. waits until before the final of the World Cup when Lindsey and Emily are having anxiety and are on the verge o f freaking out. R tells them about how their baby would be proud no matter the outcome... Theyve been trying for a while and it finally goes through

You chanced another glance away from your pacing wives and towards your bag. You understood that this was a big moment and that there was a lot of pressure, but they were taking this whole thing way too far. If you had to hear them talk about slipping the Netherlands left defenders one more time you were going to strangle one (or both) of them. 

“You guys are starting to give me a headache,” You mumbled, pinching the bridge of your nose and running a frustrated hand through your hair. “Like I know you’re trying to help, but if you tell me about the defensive line and which paths I should take again, I’m going to rip all my hair out”

It was a coping mechanism. You understood that. With so many things out of their control, they had to focus on the one thing they had power over. They were fixers after all, but they couldn’t fix this. They couldn’t make the fight you faced for the adoption go through easier, just like they couldn’t make your opponent any less nerve-wracking. 

Both fights had been long and difficult. One had already come to the end, and now you just had to finish the other. 

The women shared a long glance. The process had been hard on you too, you were just better at hiding your stress. They nodded, settling down on either side of you in the bed. 

“Sorry baby,” Lindsey murmured, rubbing your back and pulling you into her. Emily ran a hand down your arm and pulled your left hand into her lap, playing with your fingers. 

“Hmm,” You hummed, leaning into your taller girlfriend, enjoying her strong arms around you. 

“It’s just stressful. This whole thing,” She whispered into your hair, kissing the crown of your head. You closed your eyes tightly, 

“The cup, waiting to see if we’re approved. It’s just all so much at once,” Emily added, her lips caressing the back of your hand, and running your knuckles over her cheeks. 

You nodded. You understood that, but running formations over and over was only adding to your stress. You needed to relax if this whole thing was gonna work, and you might have the answer to help the loves of your life out just a touch. 

“I get that, but we can’t win if you two keep on stressing about the numbers. You’ll take all the creativity off the pitch,” You said softly, and your wives shared another look. 

You did your best work when you were relaxed. When they gave you the space to set up shots and make banking runs behind the defense. Creativity was your best friend in the pitch, and your play style thrived under Vlatko (unlike how you wilted under Jill's desire for a singular playstyle and path to goal). 

“We know, it’s just hard watching you go after people so much bigger than you,” Emily said softly. 

You rolled your eyes. At least the Dutch team was nicer than the Germans. That was a game you never wanted to relive if you were honest. You had a plan to tell them the good news, but maybe they needed it now a little more. Something to set them at ease before the big game. 

You bit your lip, looking up at your wives through your lashes. “Well, I was going to wait until after we won to tell you, but I think I have something that will take a bit of the stress off and give you two something else to fixate on. Someone else to impress,” 

You almost smiled at the way your wife's eyebrows furrowed. It was thrilling that you could surprise them after all this time together. 

“What do you mean?” Lindsey asked you, placing another kiss behind your ear. 

You smiled wildly, untangling yourself from them and padding over to your bag. You threw a little smirk over your shoulder as you dug for the folder that held the key to your family's future. 

Ever since you were young, you knew you wanted to adopt. You wanted to give a kid the life you wished your parents could give you, and you were relieved when your wives agreed. (Though Lindsey did make a good point for how sexy Em would look pregnant). 

Two days ago your agent had finally come through. Finally found a match for you, and though your little bundle wasn’t quite here yet, the papers were all signed. You were going to get to live out your longest dream. 

You held the red folder with reverence, hugging it to your chest for just a second before you extended it towards the women. 

“Here,” You said softly, as Lindsey took the folder. Emily scooted closer to her to get a look at the file. Lindsey flipped it open, and the two women held it carefully between them. You could see the tears gather in their eyes as they read through the first page. 

“Is this what I think it is?” Emily asked breathless, looking up from the file. 

You nodded, blinking away tears of your own. “It is,”

Lindsey covered her mouth to curb the sobs as she reached for you. “Oh my god,” 

“Now we have to win, so our munchkin can say their mamas are World Cup winners,” Your chuckle was echoed by the watery laughs of your wives as they pulled you into their laps. 

“That means you have to get a goal for them,” Emily hummed, kissing your neck. 

You nodded. You would get more than a goal. You would put every defender you knew on their ass if it meant you made your future child proud. 

“That’s something for motivation,” 

It would be tough, but now the three of you had a reason to fight. A reason to go out there and win. You were going to start your family. 

[justlookingvm]

Tessa Virtue’s leap from Figure Skating Olympic Champion to Executive MBA | Kneading Dough Canada

https://youtu.be/JAAkEDRFJ1A

Host: Vinay Virmani

T: If you’re going to build something, you need options in your life. I’ll say this especially as females, it’s important to be independent. To feel like you can be self-reliant and to take care of yourself.

[Intro presented by Tangerine]

V: Tessa, welcome to Kneading Dough Canada.

T: Thank you so much for having me.

V: It’s a pleasure. Kneading Dough Canada is a financial empowerment platform as you know, where we talk money, we talk mindset, we talk about financial lessons that you’ve learned along the way to hopefully inspire the next generation.

T: Well I’m so grateful to be on, I really appreciate it. I think it’s always refreshing to hopefully lend that female lens but also maybe that perspective from the amateur sport world too.

V: Yeah, you know Tessa you’ve accomplished so much, both in your personal and in your professional life. As an athlete you have achieved so many incredible honours, you’ve represented us, this country of Canada at the highest of international levels, but what I’m really excited about is you’re about to add another accomplishment in the form of three very special letters, MBA behind your name. Talk to me about that decision.

T: It’s been you know lingering in my mind for a long time. Education was always a priority in my household growing up in my family, and I thought about law school for quite some time and then I retired at 28 or 29 and thought maybe that’s too long (giggle) and realized also I wanted to flex a bit of a creative muscle. So this MBA program has been a dream of mine for quite some time. I want to be a student again in every sense of the word and I’m eager to learn the ins and outs of the business realm and that corporate sphere that I’ve had a unique perspective of, you know for 10 15 years, but if I’m going to take on a new role whatever that may be then I really want to feel like I’ve adopted that rookie mindset once again, and earned my stripes, I’ve gotten the credibility to to deserve a place there.

V: I want to take it to the world of figure skating though, because the world of figure skating is so glamorous as a sport. You know

T: I wasn’t sure where that sentence was going to land. It could have gone so many directions.

V: I I’m so like fascinated by the world of figure skating because the glamour, the imagination, the costumes, the drama, the whole production value. It looks so beautiful and elegant, but behind it there’s also rigorous routine, training and it’s not cheap.

T: Uh huh

V: So growing up, dd you have those conversations with your family and did you understand the investment that it was taking to sort of put you through the highest levels of figure skating.

T: The 2 things that my parents were always wiling to invest in or prioritize were education and sport. And it was important to them that we were exposed to as much as we could be. I’m the youngest of four. You know I’m of two minds because on one hand I do believe they tried to shield me from the burden of that sacrifice, that they made for all kids and for you know all of these adventures. But I was also keenly aware of it. I knew the the toll and I knew the cost and um you know I felt that responsibility…

V: Was there anything that you remember early on where there was an incident or a moment where you were like, I recognize like you talked about the toll.

T: My parents were so conscious to ensure that I wasn’t carrying that weight, and yet I moved away from home  when I was 13 and I was kind of budgeting at that age for groceries and 7-eleven runs (laughs), whatever it is that a 13 year old needs. Taking taxis everywhere and I made a decision when I was 15 um to be able to do it on my own. My mom was always quick to say you know you have to look after yourself and you always have to make your own way and she was all about sort of creating that sense of security and freedom, so that I had options.

To be honest I had a tumultuous relationship with my father when I was a teen and I think it was just a decision, at that point. I didn’t feel right.

V: Yeah

T: I didn’t feel right accepting that kind of support anymore um and maybe it was a bit of pride you know, not wanting to

V: You don’t want to be dependent on anybody.

T: Totally. Yeah, and that’s not to say that I’m not aware of the privilege that I had growing up to have those opportunities. It was just a real marker of OK, if this is the path I’m choosing, um and I really need to make sure that I can I can do it on my own or in a way that really isn’t such a burden.

V: You know talking to you today has reinforced independence. You know being independent, not being dependent and and just being self-sufficient. And how gratifying that is, you know I think a lot of people, especially as you said, I hope a lot of young women watch this show and and really listen to your advice. And the fact that you took that decision at such an early age.

T: You know it’s interesting I found old journals not too long ago, and there was a page in one and I don’t know, judging by my handwriting I might have been 12? 11 or 12? And I had written my goals and that were, you know the to win the Olympics, be on Oprah, which I’ll settle for uninterrupted and Kneading Dough, uh buy a cottage, like buy a family cottage

V: Right

T: And at 12 that was on my mind and the feeling of walking into this cottage that my mom and I were able to dream of and then buy together, is so visceral and it’s it’s so much about, like I think back to being young and maybe not having, especially for her like that sense of security and and just really feeling like that can be a safe place now. Um so again it’s more of the representation of that.

V: I’ve heard you say something that has really resonated with me always because it’s something that I believe in. That the highs are so much better when you’ve experienced the lows. And obviously Scott Moir and yourself accomplished so many great things together. Something that I always try to tell the younger generation is, sometimes you have to just sit back celebrate your failures.

T: Well we learned to embrace it by making it part of our process, in that, not only did we anticipate failure and expect it and embrace it, well, we practiced it. So we learned to fall on demand, get back up, refocus, and

V: OK

T: be back into our program still trying to amalgamate as many points as possible.

V: You know I remember once um I must have been in grade school and I and I failed a few subjects. I was never a good student.

T: OK

V: And you know we didn’t have a lot of money at the time and I remember my my dad, I was really afraid to tell him that you know I’ve failed these courses and blah blah blah, but he said to the family, he said, alright everybody get ready we’re going for dinner. And we went to this restaurant that was only saved for like birthdays or anniversaries. And so we get there and he’s ordering all these great things on the menu and I’m like “dad, I don’t think you heard me like I failed, like I failed and here you are taking it t the restaurant.” And I remember he looked at me and he said “You know I want you to celebrate this failure. I want you to take it in because if you’re winning all the time, you’re not going to learn anything.”

T: Wow, and obviously that stayed with you

V: Oh yeah, you’re always going to learn so much more from the losses.

This next set of questions is called the two cents round, so you can’t overthink these things.

Tessa, we all know about your discipline but what do you splurge on?

T: Clothes

V: Clothes, OK, all right. What part of your budget are you working on lowering?

T: Clothes (big laugh). Actually not really because I will say, it’s more what it represents like part of that is like my I love it and it’s become also intertwined with my career and my brand if you will. Um

V: Its an investment in yourself.

T: I think so, that’s how I twist it

V: So, what is us the best financial decision you’ve made so far?

T: Hire the right people

V: Building the right team around you.

T: Yeah absolutely.

V: Describe your financial persona in just one word.

T: I want to say careful?

V: Careful.

T: Careful in that I’m strategic

V: I like that, OK

T: But I’m willing to have some fun.

V: OK, all right. Tessa if you could run any business, what would it be?

T:  My own.

V: Your own. OK. All right I’m not going to push you more. [Tessa laughs]. They say patience is a virtue, how long did your first paycheck last?

T: I mean I spent my whole career basically operating at a deficit, so everything went back into training. I worked towards certain things and the you know I was really fortunate to get some funding and bursary grants, and then eventually sponsors and um was able to build this little nest egg, but mostly  it went right back into training.

V: Tessa, this year we’ve been having such important and meaningful conversations about women in sport. And you know of course there’s such a long way to go for those conversations really to achieve equality, but as somebody who’s such a big advocate for women’s empowerment in sport, how do you feel that you want to lend your voice to those conversations?

T: I think, currently the biggest impact I feel I can have is really connecting with those young female athletes at that precipice of maybe dropping out um for all the heart breaking reasons that we’re learning about through research. Whether that is you know body image, or lack of self-confidence, lack of self-worth, it’s just not good enough. Like the access to resources, there are opportunities, um I think those conversations are really important and that’s where I’ve been feeling most fulfilled, when I’m able to connect with those athletes and you know I’ve been able to benefit from all of the lessons and the opportunities that sport has lended it uh to my life. And I just so want that for other female athletes. And you know we’re seeing that there are more mentors, more representation, more access to viewing these formidable female athletes, and I hope that resonates.

V: Tessa, we’ve uh had the opportunity to work on a few branded campaigns together. There’s this Tessa grace, and there’s this element of everything being held to a certain standard. In everything that you do, especially things that are public facing. Talk to me a bit about that.

T: I hate the word brand but I’m going to say it, my brand has been

V: I mean you definitely have a very strong brand

T: Well it’s been built on the very foundation of me and my personality and if those values aren’t upheld in every sense of you know the word, then I’m I’m not useful to anyone. Then I’m then no brand would want to hire me, um because it if it gets diluted, then I then I just think um it’s losing the very essence of what resonates with people. And I’m really careful about that like I only partner and pair with brands that I would authentically stand behind and feel really good about promoting.  

V: I love that

T: And I’m conscious of where I lend my voice and my likeness, a very clear mission statement, and you know I love to be hands on but that’s where like the creative fulfilment comes in

V: Right

T: And honestly that’s where the most successful engagement also comes. If I’m involved and it’s a collaborative process, um it’s much more successful for the brand too.

V: You know, over this past year, there’s been such a strong connection to mental health and financial wellness. Many Canadians have a very high debt to income ratio, which can be very stressful. For you, how do you protect not only your mental health, but when it comes to financial wellness. How do you really protect your sanity?

T: As an amateur athlete I grappled with that um day after day. I think it’s important to find purpose in saving and planning. So, you know my mom started those conversations with me when I was young but that was all to sort of plant the seed of like you need to plan for this. And if you’re going to build something you need options in your life. For me you know it’s helped having a corporation for example, because a lot of my money is tied up there and it it’s great um but, it’s also made me very careful and strategic in how I spend it.

V: What is your one big piece of financial advice to all young women out there?

T: Surround yourself with the right people and set yourself up for independence.

V: I love that. Financial freedom.

T: Financial freedom.

[hermit-pistol]

Guido Mista Fluff Alphabet:

Okay Mista fans, here’s your food. Only one more alphabet and this series will be one! Make sure to show love and read under the cut!

A ctivities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Mista has a super adventurous personality and this also shows in the activities that you two take part in. He always likes to do things that others would usually think of as silly, like going to the zoo. But! He always finds a way to make it entertaining and unforgettable. (Who wants to hold the baby kangarooooo)

B eauty - What do they admire about their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

He loves your laugh, and whenever he gets to hear it, it feels like the best reward for him. While he may have flirted with his fair share of girls in the past, looks aren't most important to him. In order to get you rolling around on the floor, he'll have to pull out the big guns, of course. Sometimes he'll tag team with Narancia to pull pranks just to get a rise out of you.

C omfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Mista absolutely hates when you're sad because that also makes him feel sad. When he sees you sulking on the couch, he joins you, wrapping his large arms around you. He'll keep asking you why you're sad while sticking out his lower lip, (which was absolutely lethal for you). Soon after, you forgot why you were down in the dumps, which was Mista's main goal the whole time.

D reams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

He's a romantic, so he's always thinking about the future and what it will bring in regards to his love life. Within a few years of dating, he'll already want to move in and get a dog. Maybe two dogs, who knows. He sees marriage, children, grandchildren...all of it.

E qual - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Mista can be pretty stubborn in certain situations. He will make the plans for dates and activities that the two of you can enjoy. He'll always ask you for your input, of course. Overall, the balance of power in the relationship is equal.

F ight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Mista can be a little childish when disagreements are involved. There's a possibility that he'll use humor to get out of a sticky situation, but don't let him get away with this all the time. If he's in the wrong let him know, or else things can get blown out of proportion easily.

G ratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

Mista thanks you for the companionship and happiness that you've brought into his life. You are the longest relationship that he's had in quite some time given his current line of work, and he loves that you have the patience to stick around with him. Even though his stand keeps him company most of the time, he's glad to share time with another human.

H onesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Mista is very honest with you. Whether it be where he's going on a mission (sometimes, Bruno yells at him for telling you this), or telling you about his past before joining the organization, he's very transparent with you. You appreciate this, and make sure that you do the same. Hardly any secrets are kept between you.

I nspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Like R mentions 👀, you inspire him to keep himself clean. Of course, a normal person would want to keep up with appearances but Mista is a very special guy.... While he was cheerful before the relationship he's over the moon when he sees you and prioritizes your time together.

J ealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Mista will be quiet, which is very uncharacteristic of him. His stand will always manifest and say whatever he’s thinking, probably along the lines of taunting and verbally harassing the person you’re talking to before they eventually grow frustrated and walk away. The Pistols would cheer, celebrating their victory.

K iss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Mista's kisses are very eager and wanting. In addition, he doesn't care who's around and has absolutely no problem with kissing in public. Even if you blush and get embarrassed this only give him another reason to hold you tighter and go to town. Prepare yourself... 😳

L ove Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

Mista will literally confess to you on the street. The first time he tells you that he loves you is actually in casual conversation. You had to do a double take, and he merely shrugged in response. It would take some getting used to, but you were elated that he felt the same as you!

M arriage - Do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?

He'll want to get married after his time in Passione is over, or at least has settled down to where he can live comfortably with you. The ceremony will be small, with only a few family members attending. Even if you haven't yet upgraded to a larger living space, he'll want to start a family right away. If you decide you're not ready you remind him that the Pistols are already his children.

N icknames - What do they call their s/o?

Every name invented is fair game. He loves using stupid niche names too that come up after a few months of dating. Examples include but are not limited to: "green bean", "lil mami", and "bicycle crusher" (the last refers to your thighs in a related incident).

O n Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

He tells the gang that he's crushing on someone all the time, so when he first reveals that he's in love they really don't believe him at first. Although he "always says that", it's the Pistols that escalate the situation even further. Whenever you're along with him they'll come out and start egging him on with kissy noises and the like. He'll turn as red as a tomato when you grant him his wish.

P DA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

Mista LOVES to show you off in public, and he loves watching the reactions of the passerby as he has an arm slung around your waist traveling dangerously close to your butt. It drives him nuts that out of all of the guys in Italy you chose him, and now that you two are a couple he wants to show the world.

Q uirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

While many other guys may hate the concept of hugging, Mista loves it wholeheartedly. Whenever you're having a bad day, a good day, or are just walking around he won't hesitate to wrap his arms around you and smile. Sometimes the Pistols will even join in for a group hug! He's basically the hug king, and you're not opposed to that role.

R omance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Very romantic babey. Since he’s so smelly he would suggest taking a bath or shower with you. This will take some extreme confidence from both of you. Whether it becomes sexual or not, just being intimate in this way is so special to him.

S upport - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

He believes in you like nobody's business. Also, he loves seeing when you follow through with your goals and sees your dreams coming to fruition! It's extremely exciting for him, and you love seeing his reactions to watching you succeed.

T hrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Mista loves the thrill that life and living provides. There's something new that arises every day you spend with him, and you never get bored. Loves booking hotel rooms for trips and the like and not telling you until the night before, which can be stressful yet cute.

U nderstanding - How well do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

Mista is stupid but means well. Sometimes you can quiz him, and he'll still forget something as simple as your favorite food, or your favorite color. In time, he'll learn more about you and your emotions, but for now every time you tell him a fact about yourself he'll write it in his phone so he doesn't forget. 🥺

V alue - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Mista will be so cheesy about telling you how much you mean to him. -"How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...."- <-- If he pulls anything like this he usually givers you permission to slap him. You're one of the only partners that's stuck around with him for this long, and he's not planning on letting you go any time soon.

W ild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

Mista insists that he should help around the house at times, and this means that he's going to help with the chores in any way that he can. You end up assigning him grocery shopping (a big mistake). He is so unorganized and claims that he doesn’t need a list to go off of, and this usually results in him buying whatever he wants. Watch him get all the way home and still manage to forget the milk and bread. Good thing he bought the family pack of ice cream sandwiches though.

X OXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

If you look up affectionate in the dictionary, there's a very good chance that you'll see Mista's name. He loves to cuddle with you and especially loves to nap with you because of the intimacy. Mista can nap anywhere, anytime, but he prefers falling asleep with you in his arms!

Y earning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

Mista will be soooo needy when you are away, and so will the Pistols. When you have the free time between class or meetings he'll call you begging for you to come home with his six children screaming in the background. Eventually, it'll get to be too much and you have no choice but to come home, much to his delight. He'll never let you go.

Z eal - Are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

Mista will definitely buy you presents if he has the money at hand. Expect lavish gifts like jewelry and clothes from him, whether it's a special occasion or not. If he could, he'd give you the world, but at times you have to remind him that you have more than enough and you don't need to be impressed by physical possessions.