#celebrity netflix k drama

[sharonanelie]

Is she the bad guy or the on the good team?

Its giving me anxiety 🙃

[fishareglorious]

I haven't touched anything related to netflix in years but i think the dealbreaker for me was the fact they took down Grimm there. Like yeah I dropped the show and never watched the final episodes because personally I really didn't enjoy the zerstorer plot thing but like. that show is my favorite of all time. I would've rewatched it at some point if they didn't remove it damn it

[sab-teraa]

I have to start Lies Hidden in my Garden + Celebrity ASAP! Everywhere I turn there’s a spoiler

[queenpiranhadon]

what are your thoughts on katsuki's reaction when he finds out his partner has the same spice tolerance as him...

A/N: Oh, anon don't worry I have MORE than just thoughts... I actually love this prompt so I'm gonna write it a little differently than usual :) Here's the masterlist!

Warning(s): Cursing, reader likes spicy food, second or third year-ish, fluff, pre-established relationship, standard partner nicknames are used - dummy, babe, baby, etc, reader is gn but is written with f!reader in mind, double dates but it's just silly goofy

Pairing(s): Bakugou Katsuki x Reader, Mina Ashido x Ejiro Kirishima

•─────•°•❀•°•──── ᴡᴀꜱᴀʙɪ ─────•°•☁︎•°•────•

So from your wording, Bakugou finds out about your spice preferences at some point during your relationship, instead of before, which I don't think is as plausible because of his insane perception skills (he probably knows more about you than even you do before you guys even start dating- my man is a closeted nerd and you can't convince me otherwise). But if he did find out while you two were dating, the outcome would be hilarious.

Let's say you're in the UA dorms, whether you're in the hero course on not, you're just chilling in the kitchen waiting for your boyfriend to meet you downstairs. Class 1-A loves you a ton, and even though they tease you and Bakugou a lot, you both end up having a lot of Netflix and chill dates in the common room since the TV there has a shit ton of streaming services.

You put down your phone, sighing, and decide to be a little more productive instead- making your way to the common room to pick out a movie. It was tradition, between you, Katsuki, Kirishima and Mina to watch movies together every now and then as a double date- something Katsuki was adverse to but you knew he secretly enjoyed the chaos that ensued whenever the four of you were together- also realizing that if they weren't in his line of sight, they'd probably end up blowing up the dorms by accident anyways. He'd only said this once though, face turning bright red as you teasingly called him a mother hen.

Mina and Kirishima had started dating a few months ago (you and Katsuki had celebrated your 1 year anniversary two weeks prior to it ) and being the friend group you were, who could pass up an opportunity?. Kirishima and Katsuki very best friends, as were you and Mina, so it was a no-brainer that the four of you would have regular get togethers like this in the first place. You thought it was nice, seeing Katsuki interact with his friends as he relaxed, even if only a little, around his close friends.

You settle yourself down in the plush couch across from the TV screen, and feel the cushions dip as a new weight is added, seeing Mina Ashido plopping down next to you.

"Movie night!" she cheers, and she nudges you with her shoulder. "Some day we gotta ditch the boys and get through a movie marathon together- I swear Eji has the worst taste in movies, if I have to watch another Star Wa-"

"Hey! My taste isn't that bad!" Kirishima whines, coming up behind the both of you with Katsuki in tow. "Plus you keep asking to watch those K-dramas that get your mascara running."

Mina raises an eyebrow. "Eji, you cry more than I do during those."

Katsuki sighs and raises his hand in an attempt for peace. "Oi, shut yer mouths and go grab the pillows and blankets. Y/N and I will order food and pick out the movie."

Mina groans but relents, looking at you pleadingly. "Please chose a good movie - no ‘to be continued’s PLEASE"."

You snort, remembering how one time Kirishima had chosen Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which prompted the four of you to binge the entire MCU on a day without classes.

Scrolling through movies, you decide to choose a classic- the Matrix, something action packed enough to keep Kirishima (and Katsuki's) attention, and something with enough romance to keep Mina hooked.

As you navigate through the countless streaming services, Katsuki's voice pops up behind you.

"Oi, babe what do ya want to eat? Got some rolls dipped in wasabi for myself...I already know Shitty Hair's gonna ask for some chicken wings- an I got some tacos for Pinky cause I know she was whinin about cravin Mexican food earlier..."" He trails off, embarrassed when you grin knowingly in his direction.

You decide to be merciful though, shrugging and returning back to the TV. "I know very well that you're going to order from three different places just so all of us get what we want so I'll just share with you." you smile, and Bakugou's heart thumps softly from your thoughtfulness.

"Tch- whatever dummy. What do ya want in them- I know my rolls are pretty fuckin spicy - avocado, shrimp, cr-" He asks, but you cut his off with a bewildered look.

"What? Why wouldn't I get it with wasabi??" You ask dumbfounded. "That's like 85% of the flavor - plus it's kinda boring without it." you say, and your boyfriend's jaw drops open- as if you'd told him you were pregnant of something.

"Marry me."

You want to burst out in giggles, but stop when you see the deadass look on his face.

"Kats-"

"Jesus Christ baby, of all the shit ya hide from me, ya hide the most important one?!" He asks incredulously and that's when you start laughing.

"If ya told me this shit sooner I would've asked yer ass out the moment I met ya."

[daisynik7]

The Apple of His Eye

Chapter 3: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Pairing: Nanami x f!reader

Word Count: ~3.9k

cw: celebration of Christmas Eve (no religion mentioned), fluff, established relationship, implied sex

Summary: You and Nanami celebrate your first Christmas Eve together. 

Author's Notes: This is the third and last fluffy side story for A Bento For Kento! Thanks for all the love and support throughout this series. Appreciate you all and happy holidays! Divider credit to @/saradika.

Previous Chapter | The Apple of His Eye Masterlist

It’s the day before Christmas Eve. Ren navigates through Netflix on your TV as you sit on the floor, wrapping presents. “Shall we do a classic Christmas movie, like Home Alone? Or should we do a horror holiday movie, like Krampus? Honestly, I could go either way,” Ren suggests, clicking on the remote to scroll through the different options. 

Distracted, you respond, “I’m down for whatever.” You finish wrapping Nanami’s gifts. With a smile, you pick them up and place it on your kitchen counter, ready to be exchanged tomorrow. Your boyfriend has been out of town since yesterday for a mission. Tomorrow, you’ll be reunited to spend Christmas Eve together, arguably the most romantic day of the year. It’s taken all your willpower to not spoil the presents you got for him. You’ve always been horrible at keeping secrets. 

“Krampus it is, then!” Ren exclaims, grabbing the bowl of popcorn off the coffee table. “Ready?”

“Yes! I finished wrapping his gifts.” You sit next to your brother on the couch, grabbing a handful to toss into your mouth. 

“I wish I could see his reaction when you give him the apron. I bet he’s not used to silly, prank gifts. Then again, I’m sure Gojo has tortured him plenty of times with pranks.” Your brother starts the movie and adds, “So, you think he’ll propose tomorrow?”

You whip around to face him with a shocked expression. “Ren! Of course not, we’ve only been dating for five months!”

He smirks. “So? Nanami is head over heels for you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a ring already and is just waiting for the appropriate time.”

“Don’t put ideas in my head.” As if you weren’t already thinking it.

To be honest, you love Nanami. Absolutely love him. Head over heels, smitten, match made in heaven, every cliché expression in the book you can think of, you feel that way about him. It’s been five months of paradise together, and not the kind that feels too good to be true. It’s natural, as if you’ve known each other for years, with the excitement of still learning more. You never thought you’d be the type of person who could fall in love so fast, but here you are, imagining the rest of your life with this man that you are completely infatuated with. 

Marriage has crossed your mind. You’d be lying if you said it didn’t. You can’t help but picture Nanami as a doting husband, the two of you starting a family, going on more vacations, growing old together. It’s a dream that is slowly looking like a reality the more time you spend with each other. 

Ren’s voice is soft as he says, “Remember what I told you, right before you two got together? I said you deserve the universe. He’s proven time and time again that he can give that to you, that he wants to give that to you. Whatever you and Nanami have is special. It’s the kind of love that I want to experience. The kind that Mom and Dad have for each other, the kind that people write movies and novels about. I know you think it’s too soon, but when you know, you know. Right?”

You stare at him, a little dumbfounded at the wisdom he just casually bestowed upon you. When you don’t speak, he just grins. “Yeah, I know stuff!”

You scooch over to him to give him a big hug. “Booger! When did you become such a romance expert?”

He tries to escape your grasp as he scoffs, “I blame it on the K-dramas I’ve been watching with my friends from school. But seriously, not that it matters or anything, but you have my approval. That is, if Nanami has the balls to actually propose tomorrow.”

“I highly doubt he’ll propose tomorrow. We haven’t even talked about marriage with each other yet. We’re just taking it one step at a time. We’re in no rush.” Before you let go of him, you add, “And for the record, it does matter. Your support means more to me than you know. I love you, booger.”

With a smooch on his head, you finally release him. He rubs the spot where you kissed him, smiling. “Love you too, sis.”

As the two of you sit back to watch the movie, you let your mind wander. You mean it when you say you’re in no rush. You’re just enjoying your time together without expectations or a timeline. The only thing you know for certain is that you love Nanami and Nanami loves you. That’s all that matters right now.

~~~

Nanami sits on the train next to Gojo. It’s the morning of Christmas Eve. They’re heading back to Tokyo after being away for a mission the last two days. He shakes his leg anxiously, excited and nervous for the night to come.

Tonight, Nanami is going to ask his girlfriend a very important question. 

He’s going to ask her to move in together. 

It makes sense to move on to this next stage in their relationship. They spend nearly every day together, either at his place or hers, mostly at hers. He dreads the few hours they are apart, whenever he needs to go to his apartment to make sure things are still running or to pick up extra clothes. Frankly, he doesn’t care much for his place; it’s always felt empty and lonely. It reminds him of his time as a bachelor. He pays rent for it every month without having any attachment to it whatsoever.

But when he’s in her home, he’s comfortable and cozy. He loves snuggling up next to her in bed, taking naps on the couch in front of the TV, cooking dinner in her kitchen. He adores the little splashes of her personality scattered throughout her house, from her solar powered Lucky Cat constantly waving at him from the windowsill to the Hello Kitty figurine displayed next to her Nintendo Switch. He’s started leaving traces of himself, like his toothbrush, clothes, an extra pair of shoes. 

He can’t get enough of her. And that’s why he wants to live with her.

Gojo nudges him. “Relax, buddy. She’s going to agree to it.”

Nanami tries to stop his leg from shaking but ends up moving his other instead. “I don’t know. She may still want her space.”

“I don’t blame her if she does, you can be so overbearing sometimes, Nanamin!” When Gojo’s joke is not received well, he reiterates, “She’ll say yes, don’t worry. She absolutely adores you.”

They love each other. Nanami knows that for sure. But he still can’t help but feel nervous. What if she’s not ready? What if she still needs time? What if she still really wants her own space?

He sighs, unable to shake the nerves that are getting the best of him. Thankfully, Gojo takes the hint and leaves him alone for the rest of the train ride. When they get off the train to part ways, his friend says, “Merry Christmas, Nanamin. Tomorrow is going to go great. Also, please tell her thank you again for the gift. I already texted her, but I want you to tell her again. I love it.” They gave Gojo a new pair of sunglasses, that he is currently donning as they speak. “See you guys on New Year’s!” 

Nanami walks the rest of the way to her house, luggage in hand and heart beating a tiny bit faster. He’ll pop the question tonight, after dinner, when they are exchanging gifts. They plan to order takeout from their favorite sushi restaurant and celebrate at home. 

He unlocks the door, to which he already has his own set of keys for, and enters the house. The familiar scent fills his nostrils and gives him a sense of warmth and happiness. When he doesn’t see her in the kitchen or the living room, he yells out her name. 

“Kento? Hold on! I’m changing!” he hears her shout from the hallway. 

He removes his shoes and places them next to his other pair by the door. He hangs his coat on the rack, right on top of another jacket of his. Everywhere he looks, there is something of his right next to something of hers. He sees the newspaper that she started subscribing to for him, on the table, next to her empty coffee mug. The bottle of wine they opened a few nights ago sitting on the countertop, next to the Hello Kitty bento box that hasn’t been packed since he left. A pair of his slippers that he wears around the house right by the couch, where he last left them. 

He wants to call this place his home. This is the realization he comes to. 

When he sees her, his jaw almost drops. She walks out from the bathroom in one of his dress shirts and boxers with a bright smile on her face. “Baby! I missed you! Welcome home!” Her arms wrap around his neck as she presses her lips to his. 

He kisses her back eagerly, linking his arms around her waist tightly. She looks so good in his clothes. He can’t hold back. “Why are you wearing this?” 

She giggles, pulling away from him to answer, “I wanted to surprise you. It’s part one of my Christmas present to you.”

He chuckles. “This certainly is a wonderful treat.” He pulls her back towards him to scatter kisses on her neck, reaching his hands over her butt to give it a nice squeeze. “I missed you so much, sweetie. Can I unwrap my beautiful gift now?” he whispers into her ear, fingers sliding to the waistband of the boxers, tugging them down slightly. 

She smiles, unbuttoning the dress shirt from the top. They both stagger into the bedroom, Nanami leaving his luggage by the front door, forgotten and abandoned as they start their Christmas Eve celebration making love in bed.

Two hours later, after some post-coital cuddling, napping, and showering, they sit on the couch, looking through the menu of their favorite sushi restaurant. Nanami has his arm wrapped around her as they scroll through her phone, selecting a variety of dishes to order for dinner. She’s still wearing his dress shirt, but with sweatpants this time.

As they wait for their food to arrive, she asks him, “Can I give you part two now?”

“Why did you get me so many things?”

“These are small! Please don’t feel bad.” She gets up to walk to the kitchen counter and returns with a small gift bag in hand. “Open it.”

It’s a dark blue tie with little foxes as the pattern. He grins. “A fox tie?”

“Yes. Because you’re foxy.”

He sputters a laugh. How can she be so cheesy and adorable all at once? He leans in to kiss her cheek.

“Do you hate it? It’s just a little gag, you don’t have to actually wear it.”

“A gag?”

“Yeah, a gag gift. Like a prank. A joke. I honestly think it’s rather stylish.”

“Ahhh, a prank. I thought you meant…Never mind.”

“Kento Nanami, what are you thinking?” she looks at him with a raised brow and a slightly amused smile. 

“No. I shouldn’t say. It’s naughty.”

“Kento!”

“I love it. I promise I’ll wear it. You’re right, it is rather stylish. We’ll just have to use one of my other ties as a gag next time. I mean, a gag gift.”

“Nanami!” she responds, using his surname for emphasis, shoving his bicep playfully, chortling over his racy joke. 

“Seriously. I love it. It’s from you, so naturally, it holds a very special place in my heart.” 

She beams at him, cheeks round and cute with joy. He’ll never get tired of making her smile. Never. He takes a mental snapshot each time, memorizing all the different reasons and ways he’s managed to make her happy, to make her laugh. He takes her hand in his and raises it up to his lips, placing a soft kiss inside her wrist. “Do you want yours now?”

“Not yet! I have one more small one I want you to open. We can do our big gifts after dinner.” She walks over to the countertop again to retrieve another bag. How did he get so lucky to meet such a kind and generous woman? He constantly thanks the universe for this serendipity. 

Giggling, she hands him the bag. He eyes her suspiciously with an amused grin and comments, “You’re making me nervous. What’s in here?”

“Just open it!” More giggling. He loves her so much. 

Inside is a folded black apron. As he unravels it, he turns it over to the front to see the cause of her impish behavior. “Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin’…?” he reads out loud, warmth creeping to his cheeks, unable to contain his smile. 

“Please put it on! I want to take a picture for Ren.”

“I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”

Pouting, she whines, “Why not?!”

“Because knowing your brother, that picture will end up in Gojo’s hands. And he will harass me about it well into the new year.” Even as he explains himself, he pulls the apron over his head and ties it around his waist. 

“What can Gojo even say to you? You are good looking! And you do cook! There’s nothing wrong with that statement! Please, baby? For me?”

Ahhh, his weakness. How can he deny her when those words come out of her sweet lips? The magic words that turn him into putty right into her hands? Chuckling, he relents. “Fine. Take the picture. If Gojo says something at the New Year’s party, you owe me.” 

“I’ll give you whatever you want,” she smirks, taking the photo. 

In all honestly, he loves the presents so far. Knowing she put thought into each one, no matter how silly it is, makes his heart swell with affection. He should have known that the same charm she exudes in her everyday life, the charm he fell in love with and continues to love each passing moment, would translate well into her gifts.

They cuddle and chat on the couch for a few more minutes until the doorbell rings, signaling that their dinner has been delivered. Nanami gets up to fetch the food and starts opening the bags to set on the table. 

“Honey! Change of plans. I actually want to give you your last gift now, before we start eating. Is that okay?”

Confused, he replies, “Sure.”

“I just realized how perfect of an opportunity this is. You’ll understand as soon as you open it.” With a mischievous grin, she disappears into her bedroom. “Oh! And let’s eat on the couch! You can set the food up on the coffee table,” she yells through the closed door. 

At her suggestion, he moves the setup over to the coffee table and starts playing a random holiday movie on the TV as he waits for her big reveal. After a few minutes, she comes out wearing her set of wasabi green sushi pajamas, a medium-sized wrapped box in her hands. 

He loves these pajamas. They hold a special place in his heart. During their summer lessons, Ren showed Nanami a picture of her holding up giant meatballs with the brightest smile on her face. These were the pajamas she was wearing. It was the second thing that caught his attention, after her beautiful smile. It captivated him so much in that moment, he even imagined a scenario where she stood in front of him in those pajamas, with an offering of a bento box and a smile. The world is a better place with you in it. Always remember that. I love you, Nanami. 

She walks up to him, smiling, holding the box out to him. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” A scene almost exact to what he conjured in his head months ago, before they even met. But it’s better this time; it’s real.

He unwraps the box carefully, sliding his finger under the folds and creases, savoring each second of this wonderful gift. There’s no inkling in his head as to what it could be, but regardless, he’s going to love it. Almost instantly, he notices the wasabi green color poking through the tissue paper as he opens the box. It’s a matching set of sushi pajamas in his size. 

He’s speechless as he marvels at the fabric, taking it all in. There’s a familiar tightness in his chest, similar to the first time they said “I love you” to each other. He’s not exactly sure why he is so emotional from this. It’ll silly how flustered he’s getting. Maybe it’s because this is the first time in a long time that he received a gift that had so much thought put into it. So much love behind it. 

They are officially the kind of couple that has matching pajamas. Nanami never thought he’d be in a relationship like this. He’s thrilled. 

She breaks the silence first. “Do you like it? You always say how cute these pajamas are on me, so I wanted us to be cute together. And sushi is our favorite food to eat. I thought this would be fitting.”

Gulping loudly, trying to keep his composure, he responds, “I love it.” He lets out a small laugh. “I absolutely love it.” He drops the clothes on the couch to wrap his arms around her. Kissing the top of her head as he rubs her back, he whispers, “I love you so much.” 

Nanami never thought a pair of wasabi green sushi pajamas could bring him to the verge of tears, but here he is, nearly in shambles in front of her. He thinks back on his life before this. If he knew then what the future had in store for him, he wouldn’t have wasted so much time brooding. Having her in his life has been well worth the wait. And if he had to, he’d wait decades more to have this kind of happiness in his life, to have her in his life. 

They continue hugging for a while longer until he finally releases her, feeling calm again. He picks up the pajamas and says, “Let me go get changed and we can start eating.”

She claps her hands giddily. “You read my mind!”

A few minutes later, they sit beside each other on the couch, filling their plates with different sashimi and nigiri, all while wearing their matching sushi pajamas. The TV is on, volume low but enough to hear the buzz of whatever classic movie is playing. 

Domestic bliss with the person he loves the most. It’s everything he’s ever hoped. After years of working endlessly, living through monotony, he’s finally made it. All because of her.

~~~

After dinner, the two you digest on the couch, watching the remainder of the movie in peace. You’re snuggled next to each other under a fleece blanket, wearing the matching pajamas. His hand rests on your thigh as you lay your head on his shoulder. Every so often, he’ll turn his to give you a soft peck on the cheek.

When the film is over, you sigh. “What should we watch now?”

Turning off the TV, Nanami gets up from the couch. “I want to give you your present now.”

“Oh yeah! Okay. Let’s do it.”

He walks over to his luggage by the front door and rummages through his belongings. When he comes back, he takes his spot next to you on the couch and hands you a bag. “Merry Christmas, sweetie.”

Excited, you dig through and the first thing you find are two lacey slip dresses, one in a forest green color, the other in maroon. These look very similar to one he bought you not that long ago, during your first vacation together at the hot springs resort. The steamy memories from that weekend come rushing back as you smirk at him. “Are you sure this is a gift for me? Or more of a gift for you?”

He chuckles. “Okay, I’ll admit it. It’s a treat for the both of us. I’m sure we’ll make use of it tonight.” He leans in to kiss you, his hand sliding up your thigh suggestively. 

You push him away, laughing. “From sushi pajamas to lingerie. We have quite the range, don’t we, Mr. Good Lookin’?” Setting the dresses aside, you search through the gift bag to make sure you didn’t miss anything. There’s a small box at the bottom that you notice. When you open it, you find a dainty gold chain bracelet inside. You let out a small gasp, taken aback by the beauty of it. “Kento, I love it. I love it so much.” 

“Good. I know how much you like this style of jewelry, but I wasn’t sure if you had something like this yet.”

“I absolutely do love this kind of jewelry and I definitely don’t have something like this yet. Thank you, baby. It’s so pretty,” you muse as he helps you clasp it around your wrist. 

When it’s on, instead of pulling away, he holds your hand in between his. “There’s one more thing.” The look in his eyes is serious as he clears his throat. He always clears his throat when he’s nervous about something. “I love you. So much. More than you’ll ever know. More than I’m able to express to you in words or actions or gifts. And I want to move forward to the next step in our relationship.” He pauses, gauging your reaction so far. Your eyes are wide, full of anticipation for what he’s going to say next. 

“I want us to move in together. I want to live here with you.”

Fireworks, butterflies, confetti. Every cliché reaction to happiness bursts through your body. Kento Nanami, you’re very handsome, extremely sweet and thoughtful amazing boyfriend wants to live with you! You fling yourself on him, laughing. “Kento! Yes! Let’s move in together!” Grabbing his face in your hands, you pepper his cheek with kisses, smiling and giggling, unable to contain your emotions. 

“You mean it?” His voice is soft and precious. 

“Yes!” You kiss him full on the lips now, sitting in his lap. “I’m so happy. I’m so, so happy. I’d love to live you. I love you.”

“You’re okay with me moving in here? In your home?”

“I’m more than okay. And our home. It’s our home now, Kento.”

Honestly, it’s felt like home for the both of you for a while now. Nanami is everywhere around the house, blending in seamlessly with you. His coats hanging next to yours on the rack. His toothbrush set next to yours in the bathroom. His clothes next to yours in the closet. Everyone you are, he’s right there, by your side. And as much as you like visiting his apartment with his king-sized bed, something about being here at home with him is comforting. As if this is where the two of you are meant to be together. 

~~~

Our home. It’s our home now, Kento.

Nanami can’t stop replaying the words in his head as he continues to kiss her passionately, unable to hold back any longer. They celebrate with another round of love making, this time on the couch, with his gorgeous girlfriend wearing the maroon dress and the golden bracelet around her wrist. In their home. Not his, not hers. But theirs.

Home is wherever she is. He’s finally home. 

Taglist: @moonmalice @bloombb @strawberry1042

[fauxkaren]

Lovely Runner - 10/10

The Platonic ideal of a fantasy romcom K-drama. Like... holy shit this was so good. The leads were so charming and had great chemistry. The way the story unfolded and reveals happened was so satisfying. The time travel aspect actually held together logically (or at least like it wasn't so egregious that I noticed it and it detracted from the experience). The soundtrack was amazing. The secondary characters were cute. There were fun comedic moments and also some genuinely moving emotional scenes. A lot of dramas will stumble at the finish line, but Lovely Runner absolutely sticks the landing.

Right. So. What is it about? I will do my best to lay out the premise, but I promise that the show itself does an excellent job of holding the viewers hand so it never feels confusing. The show opens in 2009 with Sol in a rehabilitation hospital after an accident where she lost use of her legs. She is angry and despairing until she hears a radio interview with Sun-jae, the vocalist of a rookie band that gives her hope and a desire to keep on living. Fifteen years later, Sun-jae is a wildly successful celebrity who is unhappy in life and Sol is a Sun-jae Super Fan. When Sun-jae dies by suicide, Sol is devastated and while clutching a watch of his that she'd bought at auction, Sol travels back in time to her body in 2008. Given the chance to change the future, Sol is determined to do so.

The show explores the 'what-ifs' of life. What if Sun-jae never suffered the career ending injury that caused him to leave swimming behind and started him on the path to stardom? What if Sol can avoid the accident that paralyzed her? But maybe some things are fate and cannot be avoided. And if you can change one thing, how could that create a domino effect that impacts everything else? The writing is so tight as it takes the audience through reveals and the timelines so I never felt lost or confused.

And like it's not just the writing that is excellent. The two leads are SO GOOD. They have great chemistry (which the show is NOT afraid to lean into!) and are compelling individual characters too. Kim Hye-yoon especially sparkles on screen as Sol. Outside of the leads, the world is populated with memorable minor characters that add even more life and fullness to the world. It was absolutely a joy to watch and I cannot recommend this highly enough. The only downside is that, in the US, Lovely Runner is not on Netflix or Hulu or Amazon so I uh... I had to sail the high seas to watch it. (It was on Viki but I was NOT about to subscribe to yet another goddamn streaming service.)

[cartermagazine]

The Incomparable Michale K. Williams

Michael K. Williams brought a hard-edge charisma to his portrayal of Omar Little, the sawed-off-shotgun-wielding stickup man on the pioneering HBO series “The Wire.”

He grew up in the East Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, and in his words, he had never envisioned a life outside the borough. But before he was 30, he parlayed his love for dance into dancing roles with singers George Michael and Madonna, and choreographed and performed in the music video for Crystal Waters’s hit single “100% Pure Love.” He landed his first acting opportunity when he caught the eye of Tupac Shakur.

When Mr. Shakur saw a Polaroid photo of him in a production office, he decided that Mr. Williams was the person to play his character’s brother in the 1996 film “Bullet,” in which Mr. Shakur starred opposite Mickey Rourke.

Williams also played Albert “Chalky” White on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire from 2010 to 2014. He earned five Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his performances in the HBO television biopic Bessie (2015), the Netflix drama series When They See Us (2019), and the HBO series The Night Of (2016) and Lovecraft Country (2020). He had a recurring role in the NBC sitcom Community from 2011 to 2012. He also had supporting roles in a number of films including Gone Baby Gone (2006), The Road (2009), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Inherent Vice (2014), and Motherless Brooklyn (2019).

Michales most personal project came with the series BLACK MARKET with VICE television. Michael K. Williams journeys into the dangerous world of illicit trade.

Michael K. Williams used his celebrity status to promote several causes, most notably criminal justice reform, both in the United States and in the Bahamas. He was the American Civil Liberties Union’s ambassador for ending mass incarceration, appearing in an ad campaign.

His legacy will forever live in the hearts of love ones, friends and fans like CARTER™️ Magazine.

A true loving and amazing human being.

CARTER™️ Magazine carter-mag.com #michaelkwilliams #wherehistoryandhiphopmeet #cartermagazine #carter #rip #sip #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #history #staywoke

[softkiseu]

hi lovelies, nabis and moots. i know i already drop a hint that i 'll host another event when i hit a biggest milestone i been waiting for a very long time and finally, it happened. yes, we hit 2k everyone! also it's alr 2.1k+ since i posted my ms post,all thanks to you guys that i love and adore so much. now I'm sorry for making everyone waiting. work made me busy and exhausted.

now to celebrate this beautiful milestone, also because endlesslywe did reach it's first hundred, slowly climbing to 200 ( i need to be active there again) while renjwoo is it's in four hundred almost it's five soon. i planned to make a event titled " k pop films event ".

what's the themed about and how it works?

films are about series and movies that we love to watch when it's our free time. mostly in netflix, so how it will connect to kpop?

STEPS TO FOLLOW :

✨🎥 you need to make a moodboard that will be themed from any movie or series that already been released to the public. i wanna set your freedom to choose so more access to a great masterpiece + i might have a chance to know new films to watch if you ever pick a title that i don't have a chance to watch yet.

✨🎥 pick a kpop idol (from any gg, bg or even soloist) that will be a good match to your made up character in your choosen title film that will be the final concept of your mb.

🎬 to make it even clearer, here are the sample of mbs with film themed in the past that i made, for your guidance purposes.

✨🎥 make sure that your moodboard is pure themed of the movie or series you'll pick or else your mb will instantly lose it chance to win even it have a good color scheme.

✨🎥 try to be unique and be creative.

✨🎥 don't forget to put the tags #k pop films event #(idol name) x (title of the film) #genre (can be one or more) sample of genre : action, drama, horror, thriller, science fiction, romance, fantasy, comedy, adventure, animation, historical, myster and many more. The example of tags are also in the pics above.

✨🎥 leave a comment if joining, tag two or even more of your friends you think will join. my own tags (@w-oun @y-ves @koosuvi @isamired @interstellarz @tookio + more)

✨🎥 please tag me @softkiseu in your mb too. it's fine if its in anyplace of your mb or in the comment section. It easier for me to see your entry (i forgot to include this one ;;)

🎬 again, we will have six winners for this event, i, @/y-ves and @/isamired that are also admins of endlesslywe will choose two each to enter the top six.

✨the rewards!

🔖 a shout out

🔖 one gif set (idol of your choice)

🔖 two customized mbs- to give myself a challenge too, i ll make one of the mbs a film themed mb (the idol is your choice)

🔖 50 reblogs of one of your post.

🔖 a follow if I'm not following yet.

🔖 to be added in coming days.

🎬 the end of sending your entry for the event will be oct 8 (20 days from now) and i ll announce the winner with the help of my two moots after a week or two.

🎬 lastly, good luck and hope who participate will enjoy the event I planned. all the mb entries will be rb at @/damidarari.

lastly, this only for fun. hope to see you join and i able to have a chance to see a beautiful stunning themed film mbs that you nabis, moots, and other lovelies possible can make. i know everyone here in our mb community are so talented. fightin!

[joshualunacreations]

The US and its propaganda arm, Hollywood, have always been anti-Asian. Although opportunities are opening up for Asian actors, the underlying messaging—that divides and hurts Asians—hasn't changed.

Not too long ago, AsAms seemed united in outrage against racism and white-washed casting such as Scarlet Johannsen in Ghost in the Shell, Tilda Swinton in Dr. Strange, or Netflix’s Deathnote. Yet as more projects with AAPI leads and casts were produced, this so-called unity proved to be a lie.

The illusion of AsAm unity fell apart with To All the Boys I Loved Before—which was widely celebrated despite its blatant white-worship. The most recent blow comes from Hulu's The Company You Keep, a U.S. remake of a k-drama that replaced the male love interest with a white man.

Once it seemed like AAPI women were getting roles and being “humanized” (i.e. garnering attention and approval from white men on-screen and off) AAPI with media power were satisfied. It didn't matter that AAPI men were still erased and dehumanized—even in supposedly pro-AAPI projects.

Not only do AAPI with media power not care about the continuing harm against AAPI men, they exacerbate it. When AsAms critique anti-Asian narratives—especially ones erasing or targeting AsAm men like TATBILB—they're gaslit, harassed, censored and even permanently blacklisted.

This is because AsAm media is held hostage by the racist framework of the U.S. government's 1942-43 Mixed Marriage Policy. White men's hierarchy—based on perceived threat levels and receptiveness to white assimilation—still dictates Hollywood narratives.

Research confirms that the MMP persists today. A 2015 study shows how gendered racism leads to severe under-representation of Asian men (and Black women). Whereas monoracial Asian men face significant barriers in dating, a 2014 study shows mixed-white Asians get a "bonus effect."

This is why Hollywood execs know there will be less uproar if monoracial Asian men aren't represented—it's been the status quo for decades. In the few roles made for Asian men, they still fall into two categories: pathetic loser or toxic man/villain. In some cases, both.

The hatred and erasure of Asian men is so deeply embedded that it's led to the widespread erasure of AAPI men as victims of anti-Asian hate crimes in recorded stats and media narratives. AAPI journalists know this, yet continue to do nothing to correct it.

So what's next for AsAm representation? In 2022, Janet Yang became president of the Oscars. She's co-founder of Gold House—an AsAm Hollywood collective—and executive producer of Joy Luck Club, a seminal work bashing Asian men as irredeemable misogynists compared to "good" white men.

Many AsAms like Yang want more of Joy Luck Club and similar stories. Amy Tan, author of JLC, has been pushing for years for a sequel with the original cast. A TV series was optioned in 2017, and as of 2022 a movie sequel is to be written by white male screenwriter, Ron Bass.

Stories like Joy Luck Club aren't just bad media—they're dangerous. Arthur Martunovich randomly hammered three AsAm men to death because he saw a movie depicting Chinese men as abusers and he wanted to "protect Chinese women". There's a high chance that movie was JLC.

Hollywood has figured out it’s easy to make anti-Asian films and stifle criticism by hiring Asian tokens to give stamps of approval. An article from 1986 (40 years ago) about AsAm criticism of racism in Big Trouble in Little China shows there's a history of sowing division among AAPI and using government resources to do it. I understand the allure of the Hollywood dream because I used to believe in it myself. From an early age, all marginalized groups—POC, women, LGBTQ+—are taught to fantasize about how we'll finally be accepted and heal the hurt once we get on a big stage and give an award speech. Having experience in Hollywood as a comic creator, I know how people in power (esp. white men) behave. Their goal is to wear you down until you internalize their bigoted messaging, regurgitate it yourself, and then thank them for it. They hate the word "no." Awards don't matter if the content that gets you there ultimately serves bigoted and harmful purposes. In 2020, I made a test for AAPI media. None of the projects so far have passed. That's by design. We think we’re holding the statue, but really, it’s holding us.

Correction: I just noticed a typo in the comic. Inside the Hollywood sign's letter "Y" I meant to say "non-Asians" not "non-whites." Sorry, it was a lot of drawing and writing, and I got tired 🥴 (Please don’t repost or edit my art. Reblogs are always appreciated.)

If you enjoy my comics, please pledge to my Patreon or donate to my Paypal.

https://twitter.com/Joshua_Luna/status/1134522555744866304 https://patreon.com/joshualuna https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/JoshuaLunaComics

[fymoonbyul]

[ARTICLE] Netflix picks up MAMAMOO K-pop doc for Southeast Asian premiere

Netflix has picked up MAMAMOO: Where Are We Now, a documentary about the K-pop girl group, for premiere in Southeast Asia.

Produced by ZanyBros and distributed by TVF International, the title is available as a 1 x 120-minute special or 4 x 24-minute series.

With exclusive access, the doc follows the South Korean pop group’s journey from debut to global triumph, culminating in their world tour, which will bring them to the US this summer.

The acquisition comes as Netflix prepares to go all-in on South Korean content, with co-CEO Ted Sarandos last month revealing that the streaming giant plans to spend $2.5bn in programming from the country over the next four years.

This in turn followed the January unveiling of a huge slate of 34 new and returning South Korean titles, including drama Bloodhounds and true crime doc In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal.

Commenting on the Mamamoo doc, Serafina Pang, sales manager at TVF International, said: “With K-pop taking the world by storm, Mamamoo stands as an unmissable documentary. It celebrates the group’s bold personalities, boundless creativity, and ground-breaking impact on the traditional stereotype of K-pop artists.”

“This Mamamoo documentary series is the outcome of ZanyBros’s 20 years’ experience in producing K-pop content, such as music videos, concerts, reality shows and more,” added ZanyBros, Kim Joon Hong.

“We couldn’t be happier with the fact that it has been picked by such a seasoned distributor as TVF international and will have the opportunity to tell the true story of these K-pop artists and their footprint around the world.”

[whenthegoldrays]

hiii elly <3

kinda bored lately and wanted to watch something so came here for recs :) could be of any kind btw like movies, tv shows (any language)

also maybe not something from your top ten kdramas post lol i've already watched most of the shows on there

also how're you doing?

hope you're doing well <33

Hey girl hey! Thank you for asking, I'm doing well! Terribly busy, but on the whole things are good. How about you?

Oooh okay this is quite a thing to ask me, I'm going to get decision paralysis dhdvdvdg but let me think of some less-common things I can recommend!

Available on Prime Video.

The Surprise (2015). Also available on Tubi. After inking their own death warrants, an eccentric millionaire and distraught woman fall in love and find voiding their contracts isn't an option. Romance! Dark humor! The k-drama truck of doom, except it's a Dutch movie! (Disclaimer: I do not recommend watching this film if one is suicidal)

From Prada to Nada (2011). A modern Mexican-American adaptation of Sense and Sensibility that surprisingly really works?? The title is woeful but the movie is pretty darn good.

The Lady Vanishes (2013). Iris Carr is traveling across Europe by train when she befriends Miss Froy, an elderly English woman. But when she wakes up from a few hours' sleep, Miss Froy has vanished. As fellow passengers claim the lady never existed, Iris fights to discover the fate of Miss Froy - and prove that she's not going mad.

Love and Friendship (2016). Adaptation of Jane Austen's Lady Susan, starring Kate Beckinsdale. The main character is the definition of gaslight gatekeep girlboss, and the supporting characters are all just. so funny.

To Tell The Truth (1961). If you just want something to distract you that doesn't take a lot of thinking, old game shows are ideal. In this one, a celebrity panel tries to guess which of three strangers is the person they claim to be.

Masterpiece/PBS Passport Shows.

All Creatures Great and Small (since 2020). Season 4 currently airing. A feel-good (but unafraid to get real and sad) show about the misadventures of a country vet practice in Yorkshire.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke (since 2020). Season 4 currently airing. In 1880s London, the daughter of a private investigator decides to take over his detective business after his untimely death. Mystery series that also has just about the BEST opening titles ever.

Available on Tubi (which is free!)

Forever Young (1992). The movie where I realized that Mel Gibson was cute, actually. In 1939, a heartbroken Army pilot volunteers for a cryogenics experiment and wakes up in 1992, where he gets a second shot at love.

The Space Between Us (2017). On his first visit to Earth, a man born and raised on Mars bonds with a street-smart young woman while unraveling the mysteries of how he came to be. To quote my mutual Chris: "wanna cry? 🥰"

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1960s). Some of the stuff hasn't aged well, but this is still one my top favorite old sitcoms. All the characters are so fun and endearing. You probably won't want to sift through all five seasons, so my top episode recommendations are "The Curious Thing About Women" (s1 e16), "The Two Faces of Rob" (s2 e2), "That's My Boy??" (s3 e1), "Big Max Calvada" (s3 e9), "October Eve" (s3 e28), "My Mother Can Beat Up My Father" (s4 e1), "4 1/2" (s4 e7), "The Impractical Joke" (s4 e16), and "Coast to Coast Big Mouth" (s5 e1).

(I got a little too excited with those episode recs, oopsie 🤭)

The Surprise, like I mentioned.

I just found out that they have some episodes of The Flintstones and Tom and Jerry on Tubi, if you want some good nostalgic laughs.

Available on Netflix.

Love At First Sight (2023). Cute romance about taking a chance on a good feeling.

The Adam Project (2022). You've probably seen it, but I will mention it anyway! Time travel. Annoying and precocious 12-year-old child. Ryan Reynolds and Zoe Saldaña. Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo! FIVE STARS.

Trevor Noah: I Wish You Would (2022). The best Trevor Noah special, in my opinion. The curry story??? Iconic forever and ever.

The Full-Time Wife Escapist (2018). A woman takes a job as a housekeeper, but in order to stay in it, she and her boss agree to a contract marriage. If you've ever seen the k-drama Because This Is My First Life... This is the better version of that show, imo. The ML is suchhh a sweetheart.

Indian Matchmaking (since 2020). I never watch reality TV, so I don't know how I started seeing this show, but it's SO good and super bingeable.

Omg the Jurassic Park movies are on Netflix right now

Available on Hulu.

Wild Mountain Thyme (2020). It's a love story, and it's so silly and enjoyable. The resolution is just shdhfhshshsg

The Giver (2014). Jonas learns the secrets of the past, and the utopia he's grown up in begins to look more and more dystopian. Also, Taylor Swift is there for some reason.

Flamin' Hot (2023). It wasn't until I watched this that I realized how much I need movies about Mexican success stories in my life. File this under ✨inspirational✨

If you haven't yet watched The Artful Dodger (2023), you absolutely should. Come for the romance, stay for the absolutely bonkers, insane hijinks.

I barely started watching Timeless (2016), but it looks really fun and good. It's about time travel, unsurprisingly for me 🤭

Available on Disney+

Baby's Day Out (1994). A childhood CLASSIC of mine. The cuteness is just. so much. The humor is standard slapstick, but really fun, and the mom has some of the most gorgeous 90s outfits omggg

Hidden Figures (2016). I love this movie endlesslyyy. Awesome intelligent Black women overcoming the odds, space race setting, and even a side of cute romance.

The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019). Dare I say, best dog movie I've seen?

The Call of the Wild (2020). Another dog movie, with Harrison Ford. I don't remember much of it but I remember really enjoying it.

Milo Murphy's Law (2017–2018). Have you seen this follow-up to Phineas and Ferb? If you haven't, you need to. The comedy is so gold tier and the music slaps.

Delicacies Destiny (2022). I kind of stopped watching this c-drama about 1/3 of the way through, but I totally should pick it up again, and it's worth watching even if just for all the gorgeous food scenes.

And of course, anything from my top ten k-dramas that you haven't seen yet is an automatic recommendation 😌

This got. so long. I hope you find something here that you like and thank you for asking @milkteawithrusk!! This was so fun to put together! 🫶🏼

[georgiapeach30513]

Hey Jen:

So some random but kinda ironic tea for you. It makes me smile because of the discourse your blog and others have about certain celebs and relationships.

During Covid I moved back in with my parents for a bit (just like many others) and since everyone was on their phones celeb gossip was at an all time high visibility.

I’m Asian, my parents are immigrants and it’s funny because as boomery as they are to me, when they hear American celebrity gossip they laugh and tell me it’s actually worse in Asia. And yes, all of this stuff happens over there too and the fans and gossip circuit is just as rabid.

I didn’t think they knew anything about PR stunts but my parents went as far as to say “they think, and there’s talk” - I have no confirmation of this as I don’t follow the Korean drama/Asian celeb gossip space - that the two main actors/who played love interests from the Netflix show, crash landing on you (an extremely popular Korean drama that came out/got worldwide recognition during Covid) - who actually got married and had a baby in real life - was a stunt and it’s not actually real. My parents said that in Asia’s celeb gossip circles, there were rumors that since the actors had great chemistry on screen they wanted to translate this love story into real life to help promote the show even more. Not sure if Netflix was involved but with Korea’s recent cinematic influence in the entertainment industry and Hollywood, I wouldn’t really be THAT surprised.

I laughed a bit because the thought that my own parents think two Asian celebs who are married and had a child are doing it for show is kind of hilariously ironic.

Moral of this story: When it comes to entertainment, all bets are off. And no, marriage and kids and even showing up to award shows together and concerts together does not necessarily mean more real or not.

You won’t know the truth unless they want you to. 😉

Korean celebrities did what? 👀 I don’t follow them in the slightest. I know of some K-Pop artists, but it stops at BTS and Black Pink. But…what??? I would hope that wasn’t a stunt, but ya know, Korean entertainment is a different beast.

That last statement though…correct!

[mystarmyangel]

[FULL TRANS] 240201 YoonA – Vogue Hong Kong February 2024 Issue Interview

February cover story | YoonA : “Love can make this world a lot warmer” Editor note: Anyone who loves K-pop will know Lim YoonA’s name. YoonA has been standing at the forefront of the Hallyu wave since she debuted in 2007 with Girls’ Generation (SNSD), becoming the most dazzling presence be it on stage or on screen, and more so becoming the global idol of many. In our February issue, she exudes limitless charms in Miu Miu’s latest wear and Qeelin’s jewellery. After all, she is the one and only Lim YoonA.  YoonA has recently once again become a hot topic as ‘King The Land’, the Korean drama that she starred in, topped the Netflix’s non-English TV chart. In the drama, she plays as the bright and cheerful hotelier Cheon Sarang, and this name means ‘love’ in Korean. This time, she poses as the cover girl for our February issue with the theme ‘love’ as well. In YoonA’s heart, what is the meaning of ‘love’? She said: “I think love is something so necessary and important in life, no matter what form it takes as love can make this world a lot warmer.” Q1: You recently starred as the female lead of ‘King The Land’ that was ranked number 1 globally on Netflix. Were there any unforgettable moments when you were filming this project? Also, can you share with us some of the behind story? What I remembered vividly the most was the super cold weather, it is especially so when we were filming for outdoor scenes, we were like fighting a battle in the cold. (Laughs) The behind story that I thought of right now was that when we were doing interview before the drama aired, I said that I hope that ‘King The Land’ can be ranked first globally on Netflix, and this wish indeed came true.

Q2: What is the one distinguishing feature you like about your character Cheon Sarang? Do you two have any similarities? What I like most is her positive and professional attitude. I think our smiles are similar.

Q3: The drama ‘Big Mouth’ was a noir genre, which was a huge contrast to the ‘King The Land’ which is a romantic comedy drama. As an actress, how do you prepare yourself when acting different characters? I would consider stylings that fit the characters, and also portraying emotions that suit the character’s personality. I will also do my research on how to best convey the character’s emotions and story to the viewers.

Q4: You first stepped into the limelight when you debut as a member of SNSD in 2007. It has been 18 years since then, looking back, what insights and growth have you gained? I do not think that I have make major transformation, my personality is still the same as before, but I have matured a lot in this 18 years. The insights and wisdom I have gained through experiences over the years have make me grown to who I am today.

Q5: As a celebrity, how do you constantly grow and improve yourself? I think that I am steadily walking forward, a step at a time. As my filmography continues to expand with each passing year, I have also continued to grow constantly, among them, there were new challenges as well as projects that are well received by the audience. I hope that in the future I would be able to welcome more meaningful challenges that will allow me to grow even more, and to continue to work hard and move forward.

Q6: What is the most memorable moment you spent with SNSD members? There was a period of time when we were really busy, we travelled to numerous places due to our global concert tour, for example going to the hot springs and amusement parks, those left me with really beautiful memories, that I would cherish deep in my heart.

Q7: How would you describe your personal styling? What is the one item that you like the most? During winter, I like to wear comfortable and warm knitwear, and in summer, I especially like wearing one piece dress, because you can complete the whole styling with just a piece of clothing.

Q8: What role does jewellery plays in your everyday styling? How do you match your outfits with jewellery? If the outfits that I’m wearing are fanciful, I would pick simple jewellery to match, and if my outfits are minimalistic, then I would use jewellery to add flavour to it. Just like what people always say, “simplicity is the best” (Laughs)

Q9: If you can say one sentence to the 17 years old Lim YoonA that just debut, what would it be? I will say, “I hope that you can continue to walk every step steadily according to your own thoughts, just as how you have been doing right now.”

Q10: What is the next plan for Lim YoonA? Are there any new things you would like to try, be it in music or acting field? Whenever I am in touch with a new project, I would always feel like I am challenging myself. I do not restrict myself in a certain field, instead I will work hard to explore every different sides of me. My next project is a movie called ‘2 O’Clock Date’, I believe that everyone would see a refreshing side of me, please look forward to it!

Source: Vogue HK Trans: mystarmyangel

[bebepac]

Six Sentence Sunday 03/12/23

So a friend of mine introduced me to K dramas  and now it’s completely changed my netflix viewing experience.  I’m currently Watching Twenty Five / Twenty One, I highly recommend, I just finished within the last week to ten days Vincenzo and  Move to Heaven.  So if you have any recommendations, please let me know. I’m going for more dubbed right now, the only reason why is because I don’t have much spare time, so I need something I can listen while I might step away from the television a bit doing chores.  

I know it’s been a while since I’ve done an official Six Sentence Sunday but I actually do have some stuff to share! And here’s to hoping I get some of these if not all of them posted in their entirety in the next few weeks!!!!

I know I’ve been slow to post new stories but here is what I’ve posted in the last little bit: 

The Galentine’s Day Queens

School Dayz: Tornado Taylor 🌪

Original Post: 03/12/23 at 8:46PM

Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler (Special) The Book:  TRR x The Freshman Series Series: Mia’s 🌎 World Pairings:  Mia x Jaiden (TRR MC x M!OC) / Chris x Emily (The Freshman)  Status: Still in the Writing process

Raucous laughter and ear splitting shouts followed by squeals and high pitched howls broke over the street as what had to be fifty obviously already drunken people bore down on them in a thundering herd. They were naked, all of them. Wearing only footwear and what had to be thirty pounds of beads each, the partygoers plowed through the group heedless of separating them.

The naked people, men, and women alike danced and twirled through the throng of onlookers crowding the street while the booming of a band that had been distant background noise became louder and louder. Suddenly the two sides of the street were separated by one of the seemingly endless parades that were part and parcel of the Mardi Gras experience.

As the horde of naked people finished filtering down one side of the street, a conga line swept down the other. The middle of the street filled with floats as music and shouts filled the air and beads rained down on the crowd like mana from heaven.

When they finally had a chance to look around, they each found themselves separated from the group, adrift in a strange city during a jubilant celebration.

Chris and Emily

“MIA!”  Emily called out.  

A random woman grabbed her arm dancing in front of her. 

“I’ll be your Mia.”  

Chris smiled  and gently pulled  Emily’s arm from the grasp of the scantily clad dressed woman with scores of beads around her neck.  

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”  

The woman shrugged her shoulders and walked away.

“How did we lose everyone so quickly?”  

“No, the question you should be asking is why didn’t we lose each other, and I’ll tell you why right now Em, it’s our matching shirts.  I’m so glad I had these made. I told you matching shirts was the only way to go.”  

Ah the gem of a shirt the both of them were wearing, Blaze Neon Green Shirts with black writing on them, the front  saying “Laissez le bon temps rouler,” with the back saying “Oui cher,” which they had really gotten good at saying this afternoon.   Emily had yet to figure out what Chris’s fascination with matching shirts exactly was.  

Part 6: Shattered Heart The Series: The Cordonian Arrangement  The Book: TRH/TRF Pairings:  Riley x Nico (TRR MC x M!OC) / past pairing Liam x Riley Status: In the editing process

The infusion of her friends and family around her in the coming weeks greatly helped Riley. He thought at times she still looked numb and going through the motions, but he could still hear her crying at night when everything was quiet and she was alone.

“Riley?”  

“I’m okay,”  she said through the door.

“May I come in?”  

Riley opened the door.

“I brought you a slice of galaktoboureko.”

He knew from Nico that it was Riley’s favorite dessert now, but Liam had remembered that Riley always had a sweet tooth.  

“I’m really okay.”  She said through the sniffles.

After a few minutes of silence, Riley whispered.  “I’m not okay.”  

“I know. I wouldn’t expect you to be so soon after…..”  

“My husband died.”

Riley wiped away the tears once more.

“You’ve been really kind Liam, and helping with Angelo, some days when I don’t feel like getting up you’ve been there to help. I’m grateful. Thank you.”  

“You don’t have to thank me for this.”  

“Yes I do, you’ve been here the better part of a month, running a country from a distance, just to be here for me, Angelo, and little one.”  

“Because…. You are my family, and this is where I felt I needed to be.”

“We haven’t talked about it…. What Nico asked of you....”

“Yes…”

“I’m being honest, I can’t see myself leaving Greece any time soon. Just like you know you need to be here, I need to be here to properly grieve him.  I can't get up and leave his family, after everything we’ve lost, and take the last living part of him with me. I won’t do that to them.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to do that Riley.”

“As for us…. I can’t think of that right now.  I need to focus on Angelo and having a healthy pregnancy with as little stress as possible.”

The Last Part The Book: TRH Series:  The Rotten Apple 🍎 Pairings:  Eleanor x Nico / (Eleanor x M!OC)  Status: Still in the writing process

Nico patted his stomach.  “I’ve gained over four kilos since she’s been home.”

“And I don’t mind that at all.  We both have gained some. The food just tastes better here.”  

“But that’s happiness. You two are happy together.”

“We are.”  

“Speaking of, would you mind taking a walk with me King Liam, there are some things I wanted to discuss with you.”  

“Of course. Let me just finish….”  He took a few more bites from his plate.  

“There is dessert father.  Your favorite.”

“Let’s get this walk in Nico, it might need to be a spirited run.”  

“We’ll start  at a fast paced walk and see how that goes."

Elle and Libby laughed as the two started to jog down the driveway.

"What do you think they're going  to talk about?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Libby stared at Ellie in silence waiting for her to connect the dots.

"You silly!!!!  Father insisted all the way here on the jet that the two of you have an announcement to make since you invited him here. Are you engaged? I know you're not wearing a ring unless you’re hiding it?  Are you engaged Ellie?”  

“No, he hasn’t asked.”

“Would you say yes if he did?”

Elle opened her mouth to speak but Libby immediately cut her off.  

“Of course you would!  I don’t even know why I even asked that. Well if you’re not engaged….”  Liberty’s eyes went wide.

“Are you pregnant again?”  

Elle choked on her drink.  “Why would you say that?”

“Could it be your mini me, that’s playing in the yard with your dog Icarus right now? You’re not denying it.  And you’re drinking water, not wine.”  

“So what? Nico is drinking water too.  He doesn’t drink anymore.  He only keeps wine in the house for company.”  

“You’re still not denying it Ellie….”

[dynared]

Random notes from the Netflix Engagement Report and the viewing habits of Planet Earth

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-the-second-half-of-2023

A lot of families ended up watching Cocomelon. That's a lot of parents putting it on in the background or just shaking their heads.

The highest rated live-action adaptation of animation is the most watched show, period, One Piece at #1. Yu Yu Hakusho was at #60, which is still relatively impressive.

Adult Animation was dominated by Baki Hanma at #80. For perspective, Blue Eye Samurai came in at #119, My Happy Marriage at #89, the newest season of Demon Slayer at #169 (not available in all markets), Castlevania Nocturne at #209, and just for fun, the canceled Captain Fall at #391. In a reversal of things from Adult Swim a few years ago, the top anime beat the ever living hell out of Netflix's top adult Western cartoons.

K-Dramas continue to be huge business. Mask Girl came in at #48, rounding out the top 50 TV shows with Celebrity.

Have I mentioned Castlevania Nocturne bombed yet?

[away-ward]

Thank you for your reply, KO! This is the anon from #asked and answered 176.

1 yes i like your fics, i like no apologies the most because we had insights to emmy's career and life in sf. Emmy might find herself boring, but ive always been a busy body reader so i would eat up everything about her personal and professional life in sf. I still hated will there, but thanks to you i hated him 5% less

2 "Ummm. I do think it’s a little weird that you’ve read multiple PD books, and even finished the DN series… especially since you were looking forward to Will. Because I hated Will for the first three books and if I weren’t curious about Emory, I wouldn’t have finished the series at all."

KO, you've underestimated a loyal hate reader's journey of hate reading 😂 i love pd's writing and i love some of their books that were not DN because of the chemistry of the main lovers (theyre not bad as many have said actually), but i still hated the ongoing misogynistic dynamic that they always had in their books. Its like having an author that you majorly like what they do, but their side mistakes were big enough to irritate you so you remember them, kinda thing. Do you have these kinds of author that feel like this towards? To answer this simply: pd's books are like worms for brain for me. Like when i read books by Colleen hoover, or hd carlton, sophie lark, lauren asher, or susanne valnti &peckham. It's the kind of toxicity you need from time to time but still get mad and disappointed by your low expectation at their shit ass plot and mfcs and fmcs anyway, yk. 

KO, i cant lie, im just a hater first, a hate reader second and a reader third 🤣 once i stop, i cnat quit. Like damon torrance, that punk ass devils night philosopher said, sometimes you just want to feel everything including the ugly ones you know, and like michael crist the logician, you just gotta own it, before it owns you, GOD HAHAHAH i cant believe im using them as my metaphors right now!! Please bare with me here.

3 "I also find it equally weird that your first impulse after finishing a series you hate is to go to the tag of the character you hated the most? I mean, I’ve definitely clicked on hot-takes I know I’m going to disagree with and hate-read things, but it’s not my go-to."

hmm? KO, i think... youre just not as toxic of a reader than me, ohmygod, im so sorry! 🤣☠️ im really of those people that will immideately look up one and two star ratings on goodreads so that i know my feelings and thoughts were validated by other haters, lmao! Do not mind me, its not a good thing, but like damon torrance said, live, love, laugh, and hate, you know 🤩

4 thank you so much for your recs, i also actually grew up watching hana yori dongo! I watched the kdrama version too but idk if i'll watch the thai version. I have less patient for dramas now unfortunately, and the last drama i watched was "celebrity" on netflix, and i still havent finished it, even after 3 month ☠️ I used to love kdramas and lee minho was so popular back then, so i also watched him in "the heirs" too. Ohmygod his hairsyles in both dramas (boys over flowers and the heirs) were so funny, but i remember enjoying these stories a lot. I believe these two kdramas were released during the time where kdramas were having a lot more angsty romantic relationship than platonic ones and they both stood out among many others, not only because of lee minho, park shinhye and bunch of k-idols acting there, but also because of the friendships and platonic relationships shown that were fun to watch. It's a break from other dramas like moon embracing the sun, or my love from another star that were romance-heavy, yk. But tbh, i prefer my love from another star and moon embracing the sun more than bof/hyd and the heirs. If there are two recs i'd like to give you, they would be "hotel del luna" and "sky castle". God damn, i cried in every single episode watching these two dramas. They really touched my soul, everything was so good!

5 i havent scrolled through your blog and notice your recs for sempre, but from your recs, i checked and saw its goodreads rating and it's pretty high! Maybe i'll check it out if im interested. Seems like a mafia gang story? I need to be in the mood to be reading mafia stories because my first ones were from reading kpop mafia fanfics from years ago and the latest and the last one were the made series by danielle lori. The made series were entertaining but i noticed that i didnt care much about mafias? Hahahahah idk, and idc much about vampires, and wolf stories either, but i like faes. Not Sarah j maas type of faes, but holly black's and cassandra clare's. The ones that are beautiful, creepy, complicated and loves/have to lie but cant. So yeah, thanks for recommending sempre!

6 as for alex, im tired of her, and honestly i dont want to think about her anymore. I'll pretend nightfall alex never existed, and nightfall will grayson fucking died a gruesome death, becoming of two stupid selfish best friends who think theyre the only suffering in this world. You know this reminded me of a quote by madeline miller's Circe that really fits will's selfish behaviour especially in blackchurch: “He showed me his scars, and in return he let me pretend that I had none.” thats exctly how i felt throughout blackchurch. Because emmy always had to heavylift whatever bullshit that alexwillaydin put out to her. And as someone who was so used to just move forward and not caring about her small losses because she had suffered worse, emmy just had to act like she was okay with all the little hurts and cruelty cause by people, just because she loved them/will and wanted to not give up on him and give him a second chance, because he was hurting and she understood that he cared then (🙄). Good thing, she admitted she was at fault partly too, but god, i hated when she felt like she need to go above and beyond for a man who admitted didnt care enough about her. Gods, these mf men need therapy frfr.

7 "I truly am sorry that it was such a bad experience for you. You’re welcome to stick around, but I’m sure since you hated so much, you’re ready to move on after unloading like that. But it’s all good either way. I hope you’re on to better and better things." 

No need to be sorry, but you're right, i'm starting some new reads right now, and idk why, but kandi steiner, liz tomforde and laura pavlov really do be hitting with their releases!! Like their stories are not dark romance so tat cleansed me from devils night series a bit, and they are so fun to read! They gave me melanie harlow's vibes. If anyone's interested, i suggest checking out Blindside by Kandi Steiner, Right Move by Liz Tomforde, and all of these four authors backlogs tbh. Kandi Steiner even have like a college frat series? Which i havent checked out but it sounds fun, and its called Palm South University series.

I dont have anything else to add as well, thank you for reading my rants, have a nice day! I think this will be my last one, so goodbye!

KO, you've underestimated a loyal hate reader's journey of hate reading

Hey!! Okay. This is very helpful! Thank you for the insight. I’m not a stranger to hate watching/reading and (used to) do it frequently. And I would complain to all my friends about all the horrible stuff that was happening, but they knew I was having a good time.

It’s harder when I don’t really know who I’m talking to, to tell if I should take it seriously or if they’re enjoying the trash like me. We’re completely on the same page in that case so ignore very thing I said about not getting it. If you’re having a good time hating it, I got you!

i think... youre just not as toxic of a reader than me, ohmygod, im so sorry!

I might not be anymore but I definitely used to be, ngl. And I don’t know if you can end up running a DN blog without having some toxicity left in you??? I mean. We’re not here because this work was a masterpiece, am I right?

I don’t currently have any authors I must read/hate-read. Like I’ve said, I haven’t had the time to get into a lot of new stuff lately, and my tastes have changed. They could always change back, since reading is a mood-based activity. For now, though, I’ve left the dark and toxic behind for something that makes me feel good about the world.

i also actually grew up watching hana yori dongo! I watched the kdrama version too but idk if i'll watch the thai version. I have less patient for dramas now unfortunately

Oh my god the Kdrama! It was my first Kdrama. Fond memories. And no worries, I haven’t touched any drama in years. Truthfully, I think the only reason I can get into the Thai version is because of the familiarity.

but from your recs, i checked and saw its goodreads rating and it's pretty high! Maybe i'll check it out if im interested. Seems like a mafia gang story?  

It is, kinda? But it’s really layered, with a good plot and great characters. I could ramble about it for a while, but I don’t think anyone is interested currently, so I won’t burden you with it 😂

holly black's and cassandra clare's

I did really like the folk of the air series, and I read the spiderwick chronicles in middle school, but I haven’t gone back to holly black in a long time. I did want to read the new one but haven’t had the chance.

--

Oof Alex. Now that I know where you’re coming from, I can completely agree. I’ve been re-reading and analyzing her intro in Nightfall and how weird it was; how it derailed everything in the worse way. Sometimes, when writers are stuck on where to go with a scene or plot, there’s a tactic that’s recommended: have someone walk in with a gun. It causes enough of a upheaval to keep the plot moving. I’m not sure if that was what Alex was supposed to do, but it really didn’t work for me for a lot of reasons.

Because emmy always had to heavylift whatever bullshit that alexwillaydin put out to her. And as someone who was so used to just move forward and not caring about her small losses because she had suffered worse, emmy just had to act like she was okay with all the little hurts and cruelty cause by people,

Yes! She had to work so hard just for a little, and what killed me the most is reading her scenes where she agrees with them.

She has the moments of clarity, where it seems she remembers why she did what she did, and she's not sorry, and that she wasn’t to blame for what happened to Will. Then next minute… she’s back to blaming herself for no reason? I’ve said many times before that Emory’s guilt is misplaced, and at certain times, it can’t be ignored that it was really PD pushing this “Emory deserves this” narrative, but I just can’t jive with it at all. There's a question on her good reads page where she says that she thinks Will is the most justified in his hatred.

And just... no. He's not. Literally none of them were justified in their hatred. They had the right to feel wronged. Sometimes we feel wronged, even if we carry some of the blame for what happened. But to say they were justified is just over the line. I really wish PD had more balance when it come to assigning blame. I think this series would have benefitted if one of the themes of the story was that everyone makes decisions, and right or wrong, we have to living with them. These are the consequences.

Like their stories are not dark romance so tat cleansed me from devils night series a bit, and they are so fun to read!

Yeah, it’s always nice to find something new that works! Thanks for the recs. I hope if anyone is looking, they’ll look them up. Sorry I didn’t have more strong female friendships, but they can be tough to find in todays romance climate.

I totally get you not coming back. It was absolutely a blast talking to you and thanks for the clarification! It always helps.

Have a great one, KO