#huh. Interesting // promo

[oshygoshy]

2:07 pm

word count - 570 words

warnings - none

a/n - omg this is based off my own experience working at bath n body works BRO. i was asking this older guy if he needed anything special today and he was like, "my wife! who's pretty special to me" like alskdfhskafash let me find someone who loves me like that

sakusa kiyoomi didn't particularly like nor care for shopping, instead opting for whatever athleisure was the highest quality, or whatever the newest brand deal msby signed with. (seriously, the amount of free nike promo the team got was kind of insane.) he especially doesn’t like the bright, heavily scented body care store you frequently shopped at. the loud music, cheery (read: plastic) decor, and strong, swirling scents messed with his head, causing headaches and itchy skin. and don't get him started on the testers...! just how many people could've potentially touched them by now?

"hello! are you looking for something special today?" an employee asked with a picturesque fake customer service voice and smile voice plastered on thickly. 

he gave a brisk nod at them back. "nothing much, just my spouse." he paused. "although, you could say they're very special to me," he said, icy exterior melting and a warm smile peeping through. 

she laughed, a genuine smile appearing on her face this time. “aww, cute! well, we do have a buy 3 get 2 free sale going on right now on our full-sized body care items, so maybe you could help her shop for something special," she said before heading off to greet another customer. 

he nodded absentmindedly, glancing at some of the select items. although the store itself was too much to bear, whenever you put something scented on yourself, it was much nicer. less overbearing compared to the store, and it was like a secret surprise every time he leaned in for a hug. would he smell a hint of vanilla or pear wafting against your skin today?

"omi? you're in here?" 

he was startled at your sudden voice. "huh? oh, yeah, you were taking a while," he explained, turning around to see you peering up at him. he didn’t see anything in your hands, so he supposed nothing piqued your interest. (this time, anyway…)

"whoops! got carried away looking at the samples,” you say, abashed, as you stick out your hand. he holds it in his palm obediently. “anyways, i'm done here. i didn't find anything i liked, so we can head out now," you say, leading him out of the store. 

“have a good day, you two! and good luck on your marriage," said the employee from before, smiling at you both. he nodded back, and couldn’t help but smirk a little as he felt your steps falter. 

“m-marriage?!“

“now now dear, let’s not bother the poor working lady,” he murmured low into your ear. you gave him a flat look in return. 

“omi-omi, please-“

“don’t call me that! you know i don’t like it.”

“omi.” you stop in your tracks, frowning at him. “if you’re going to go around announcing that we're married, why don’t you at least…i don’t know…propose to me first?” you say, raising an eyebrow.

(unbeknownst to you, the ring was waiting underneath his boxers back at your shared apartment.)

“yeah, alright,” he hummed. “just wanted to test it out first.”

you hug his arm, a small smile on your face. “you’re so cute! who would've thought you’re capable of being emotive, let alone adorable?”

he gently pushed you off his arm, using just enough force to loosen your grip on him. “fuck off. i take everything i just said back.” 

“nope! no take-backsies! you’re my cute little wifey now!” 

he sighed incredulously. “i’m the wife?” 

[absolutebl]

Pit Babe - it's time for a Trash Watch!

I had to. Well, no I didn't, but COME ON. It's like Thailand is negging me. Let's burn rubber, shall we? Burn rubbers...?

The things I had been told going in about this show:

it's about car racing (this bores me)

it stars Pavel (my BL ult bias, he is my icon for a reason)

it started as an omegaverse y-novel but the A/B/O aspects would be stripped from the BL series

it's high heat

(There some chatter about whether point 3 was a mistranslation of something the author said, but don't bother me with trifles.)

Here's a definition of omegaverse:

Omegaverse, also known as A/B/O (alpha/beta/omega), is a subgenre of speculative erotic fiction, and originally a subgenre of erotic slash fan fiction. Its premise is that a dominance hierarchy exists in humans, which are divided into dominant "alphas", neutral "betas", and submissive "omegas".[1] This hierarchy determines how people interact with one another in romantic, erotic and sexual contexts.[2] (Wikipedia)

In my experience and opinion, omegaverse archetypes and tropes are often used to strip out female characters (and The Feminine) and as a tool to excuse extreme hyper-masculine behaviors without a critical feminist lens (leading to lazy characterization). Just as heat is an excuse to get nkd quickly, A/O/B is often an excuse for taboo and dubious consent actions and behaviors. Do I get why writers/readers enjoy it? Yes I do. Do I personally like it? Not particularly. (Although there are always exceptions.)

Putting all that aside, the above represents my foundational knowledge before Pit Babe started.

Oh and that the familiar BL faces appearing in this show were follows:

Pavel Naret (aka Pavel Phoom) from 2 Moons 2 & Coffee Melody - Pavel is a fluent English speaker, a bit of a drama monger, and a motorcycle rider/car-dude, this role suits him

Nut Supanut from Oxygen & Something in My Room - has an amazing voice, his somewhat wooden acting has improved steadily since Oxygen

Pon Thanapon - one of Star Hunter's stable first seen in the Gen Y series (where he stole the appeal of an intended pair), also v good in Make a Wish, I wish he'd get a lead role as he has a likable screen presence

Pop Pataraphol from La Cuisine - he's playing the Alpha rival and I'm not convinced he's suited to this role

Michael Kiettisak from Love Sick, Oxygen, Call it What You Want, Till the World Ends - playing the comic relief this time rather than his usual tortured stoic... huh

All the rest are either fresh faces or older experienced actors. Interesting mix. They must have some money behind this.

And now, get out your marshmallows! The dumpster is on fire! Let's start the roast.

Episode 1 - Platypus, Pickles, Pavel, & other Smoking Hot Problems

This first segment told with a 4 day retrospect, because I decided to do a trash watch only after @aliceisathome said I should.

My initial reaction:

the sheer audacity of Thailand being like "PitBabe is not omegaverse" and then serving "Alpha" to us on a platter in the first sex scene is

how dare

but also

what the actual fuck is going on? what world are we living in where a/b/o is LIVE ACTION ON OUR SCREENS?

we getting heat, knotting & mpreg next?

apparently this is my reality now

I'm not sure what weird quantum time stream I've jumped into but someone was all,

yes the whole world is hella screwed, but also...

Thailand has decided live action mm fanfic is gonna win it the culture wars

and I'm beginning to think they may be right

BL is now the platypus of the film industry

4 days later:

Considering how much chatter this caused there's a part of me that wondered if it was all intentional and a marketing ploy (to say it wasn't omegaverse when obviously it is). In which case... brilliant Machiavellian tactics, production.

But Thai studios are rarely this calculated in their promo. So I think it's all accidental. But it certainly caused a raucous few days on Tumblr.

On a completely different note, Babe's house looks like it started life as a particularly inventive Olive Garden. Or is that just me?

More random thoughts:

Pavel has had work done, why honey? You were the definition of perfect.

The smell thing is great, I love stuff to do with scent and necks. If omegaverse brings this to the table, fine. But...

Being all Alpha perfect butch manly man = I do not like Babe at all, I kinda want him to be brought down a peg. (Woo... pegging!) I never like narratives that glorify the captain of the football team (side eyes Cdrama CEO romances and Love O2O), Babe better have depth and damage (forget the pegging) of some kind or his behavior will get old FAST, faster than he drives (also, forget the pegging idea)

Nut is ideal in the Beta role. I mean, that's Way's character right? We all can see that. If it's not intentional, it's a miscast. I love how soft he is as as screen presence. He's great in this part.

None of the other characters are sticking out to me yet, but I'm prepared to love the side dishes in this, please make them swoon worthy!

I'm glad they didn't hold the Charlie = trickster reveal off, I like knowing he is a double agent up front.

Finally, with respect to an adequate trash watch, I'm in a pickle.

How am I going to drink for this show when there is so much else airing on Frigay? I can't keep track, if I'm drunk.

I need a strategy for this trash fire if the puns and snark are to spout forth! (HA Fourth!)

Controlled burn?

Anygay, see you all next week.

Episode 2 - Side Dish Addiction + Second Lead Syndrome are both infecting me at once

[FYI I gotta have my backup computer to watch this so that's why Imma sometimes be delayed getting the trash out to the curb.]

3 minutes! 3 minutes in and I needed to pause and wax snarkful. (Ouch, bet that hurts. Is waxing snark similar to a Brazilian but for BL? Is that why they all so hairless in The Sign?... I digress, where was I?)

Okay so the subber said Daddy but I don't think that word means what they think it means. Because Way said simply nong paa.

Usually they'll use the English word Daddy (pronounced Dah-deee) for, ya know, Actual Daddies (tm).

Wait wait:

Calling Daddy Actual

(My dumb sci-fi loving arse will see myself out the back before I start drawing Battlestar Galactica = Pit Babe connections. TOO FAR ABL. Too far.)

Look, I like the tension in this show. It's good to set up an unlikeable Alpha dog and then immediately turn him into an underdog, makes him a bit more likable. I still don't like Babe, but now at least I'm on his side.

Charlie = cute but v sus. Fortunately for him, Babe = cute but v thick.

Everyone calls Charlie Babe's dek. Yes sounds a bit like what you think but also means kid/child and SHOULD be translated as boy in this show. Why doesn't the subber get that? They a sub...ber after all. (I'll see myself out.)

Honestly, the script writers might know what they are doing with abo but our eng sub translator sadly does NOT. I'm so glad this is coming now in my BL watching life. When my ear and knowledge of Thai is so much better than it once was. Others much be SO CONFUSED.

Snicker. They just fucking with us, but it's fun to watch the mpeg speculation abound.

File this one under: Thailand's trouble with ESL plurals and also "you should have Pavel helping with these subs" sweethearts.

Production knows entirely what it's doing with this show and its omegaverse shizz (even if the subber doesn't) and I am very much enjoying the online carnage that results.

This dumpster fire continues off screen into the blogosphere and I continue to roast things over it.

Meanwhile, hi Pon! You so adorable! When you gonna lead out a BL for us?

Is Idol Factory stealing all of Star Hunter's talent? Are they the Red Racers of the BL world? These are the questions I ask myself as I watch this.

Is that AGE GAP I smell before me?

Is the 20 yr old college kid meant for the pit boss? Cause you all know I am a slut for age gaps.

Moment of a/b/o: Jeff's fear of touch/heightened personal space would be a plot marker for "baby doesn't want Alphas close cause he smells like an omega" but of course this show it not omegaverse. Not omegaverse at all.

nuh-uh

Linguistic corner!

Lung (sounds a bit like loo) is uncle(ish) it means basically a male relation older than phi. So Alan is the oldest in the crew.

Alan calls Jeff nu (which the subber translated as boy I would have gone with cutie or little one). Nu is a diminutive affectionate term that's technically gender neutral but is most often used by/on cute girls/women. Jeff did NOT like it. Then Alan sort of dodges through pronouns/particles settling on phi for I, ger for you, and ja for a particle. This is interesting because ger & ja kinda lower his age and status into a casual sphere. Not more intimate more equal to jeff... fascinating.

I love the new "Korean" red racer, he drinks my brand of soy milk. He is now my baby snake in the grass.

Get it? Snake.

He and Babe should end up together.

The fight wasn't bad, do both actors have kickbox training in their backgrounds?

Who am I kidding, I care only about Uncle Alan and Nu Jeff now. All others are irrelevant to me.

Also...

WHERE IS A BOY FOR WAY?!!! Or a Daddy. I do not care. (Methinks nether does he.)

I am now captain of the Way Appreciation Society. Let's all find a way... to get him some dick.

Also the BTS stingers are tons of fun. Looks like the set was a blast.

Finally, and I mean this kindly. Why isn't Noh Phouluang in this? He should have been cast as Winner. Bah. I'm biased.

But one should be with Noh.

Episode 3 - Side Dishes Delux

Gayest bridge n Thailand has made its obligatory appearance.

How much do I love uncle & nu? They are SO damn cute. Also nu flustered is the best kind of nu.

I could not care less about Babe and Charlie. Except I do love the smell thing.

Way will break my heart by getting his broken. He is right tho.

Tra la la. I feel like this is a bit like KP 2.0.

Charlie is a such a princess (and ace manipulator). Good thing Babe clearly likes being buttered up.

Babe's backstory was more interesting than I expected, I didn't think we would go so far into the paranormal side of a/b/o. I like it and I hope they lean into it quite a bit more. Make it part of the plot.

Unlike the kissing thing which seems to have been gotten over rather quickly.

I gotta say I'm enjoying the corporate sponsorship jockeying and tension more than I thought I would. I'm curious as to who Jef and Charlie are working for and what their motivation is. The plot itself is keeping me intrigued and that is rare for me with BL.

So no trash talk this ep, I was largely absorbed and entertained. I didn't event need booze. Shocking behavior on my part.

#giveWayaboy2023

Episode 4 - I (who never ship) am shipping the impossible

Here’s the thing. I just want this to be a better story than it is. Right now it’s kind of like a soap opera. I don’t hate lakorn, I really don't. To Sir With Love is a glorious chewing of the diamanté scenery (completed with death glitter). But...

If this is gonna be a soap opera it needs to lean into the messy side more than the tailored high concept side. Support characters and evil needs more screen time.

Instead, right now, I don’t know where I am with this show because it doesn't know where it wants to be. I’m kind of dangling in the middle of a dirty situation. It’s uncomfortable for me, and the show feels uncomfortable for the performers. 

Also... I have questions.

Yes, of course I want to know what Charlie & Jeff are up to. Why can Jeff see the future?

But more importantly I NEED to know why Babe has a flying saucer bed?

That kind of lighting makes nobody look good, especially not at that angle. It’s very traumatic and I’m not wild about the shag rug either. I have concerns about Babe's taste. I guess is what I am saying. 

On a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT note:

There’s absolutely no chemistry to justify this, but I have decided that I am going to personally advocate for, and ship, Way and the interloping not-really-Korean. They are both sort of own-moral-code types. I have tiny crush on Kim, and Nut is the prettiest, and Way is Best Boy so there it is, I would like them to hook up, please & thank you.

#giveWay2Kim2023

Arrow guy is cute, too. Will we get to see him bone?

Is he going to be another one of the adopted alpha super-kid pets?

What the hell, throw Arrow Boy a bone! All hot boys in BLs deserve bones.

Plot thickens.

Hah.

Thickens.

(I am an immature idiot.)

Episode 5 - wait wait way-t, can arrow boy have Way?

Look, BLabies, I didn’t get any screen caps this episode because frankly there wasn’t anything worth capturing.

I guess Charlie really does love Babe? Very dramatic if idiotic saving from the burning car. But Babe has gone to the broken Alpha place of extremely unlikeablability (frankly he was almost there at the start). If I were Charles B Spectacled I would be OUT by now. 

Is that?

NO.

Don't get the plastic bowl.

No white towel sponge bath. Please kill this trope.  

I mean, it's not as bad as singing, but that's because NOTHING is as bad as singing in a Thai BL.

AND the main boys are back together.

I don’t find their relationship or Babe’s lack of senses a particularly interesting aspect of the plot.

Unless, of course, Babe is pregnant and that's why he lost his Alpha sniffer.

BUT I do love the sides.

Jeff = the introvert precog who can’t/wont do people and Alan = the extrovert people person who WANTS but doesn’t understand him. 

Were Jeff and Charlie ALSO raised by Evil Daddy MacEvilPants? 

I liked the way Arrow CEO & Way looked at each other. Way, hon, give up on Babe (he sucks) and get thyself a billionaire bf with great aim and BDE.

On a completely different note, the best thing about this show is the blooper reel. That thing with the green smoothie going down his pants was hilarious!

In conclusion, this was a green smoothie down the pants episode. I was entertained, and it’s probably gonna be good for the plot in retrospect, but it was kind of squishy and unpleasant at the time.

Episode 6 - Are they actually listening to us now? Is Tumblr bugged?

This was a fun ep full of like actual racing and shizz.

Whatever.

Charlie is on the team now. All the teams, apparently.

Can we talk about Jeff and Alan?

The apology scene! Did you hear that Alan dropped to chan/ger? Eeeee!!! So cute. (He equalized their relationship in a soft way.)

Get it with that language play hottie. Next up: lengua play.

Please & thank you. 

Meanwhile, as all of the Internet knows, they went fully in for omegaverse - no bars.

I have to say, one of the greatest typos (or whatever) in existence is enigma instead of omega.

That's where I personally would rank in the omegaverse.

Hello, my gender is... enigma.

 Apparently it's a/b/o and sometimes e!  Also sometimes switch-ee 

Oh I'm very proud of myself with that one.

Funfunfun

Charlie. Babes. When a man asks to be thrown up against the wall. You throw him against that wall.

OMG is that arrow boy looking at Way in the bar?

3 seconds later.

Noooo.

Wait come back.

Noooooo.

That’s what I actually want to watch! 

OMG. Who said nu was the first step to teelak?

I flipping love Alan. 

Ah the boyfriend ep. Thank you, but I still don't trust Charlie.

Poor Way.

But nice crying jag, and I don’t say that often in Thai BL.

Now let him go, Way.

A boy with his arrows is waiting. 

(source)

Note for the future: tumblr has a bug that stops allowing edits after a certain time/number, thus my full trash often occur in 2 segments as a result. Click on the "abl trash watches bl" tag for the full thing if you're reading this and later episodes are missing.

[livsbrutalitys-blog]

Unfinished business

pt. 1 | pt. 2| pt. 3 (i highly recommend reading the previous parts first <3)

pairing(s): Rhea x f!reader, wwe x f!reader, not really but aew x f!reader

tw: eventual smut, cussing, physical violence (y’all this is wrestling what’d you expect), idk if there’s more lmk if you see any

a/n: I didn't put it in but this takes place after backlash and Rhea has her title back :)

rm| @floweirala @wiccanpriestess if you wanna be added or unadded lmk

use of y/n

After your appearance at Wrestlemania you were the hottest news in the wrestling world. It felt almost as if everyone had their eyes on you and speculating your next move. It had been a few weeks since you made your debut and now it was time to go to your first TV for Monday Night Raw. To say you were nervous would be an understatement, this was a totally different game than AEW. You had already won the fan base over, mostly anyways, now it was time for the hardest part and that was keeping them on your side.

Luckily your first night wasn't a match. You were going to cut a promo with Liv and you two would be calling Rhea out. Then you would go out for the first time by yourself and basically to put bluntly, fucking with her. You loved it. Messing with her and seeing her get all frustrated did something unexplainable to you.

You made it to the arena and went into the locker room. You said hello to everyone and you spotted Liv in a corner lacing up her air morgans (iykyk). You decided that you would go and get ready with her so, you made your way over to her little corner. She noticed you coming and beamed a smile up at you.

"Hi gorgeous! I'm so happy your finally here, I can't wait for our promo tonight!" she said standing up with one boot laced up but wanting to give you a hug anyway. You leaned in to hug her "me too, I'm so excited for the promo and the thing with Rhea" you said giving her a mischievous look while saying the last part. "Oh right I almost forgot about that. Are you good to do that alone because if not I'm sure we can talk to Pierce and I could go out with you so that way you-" she was cut off "Livy I'm all good I think this'll be good for me to do but I know why you really wanted to go out there" you paused smirking at her "you just want a front seat to the drama huh?" you said laughing because honestly you can't blame her this whole thing is pretty interesting.

She bursted out into laughter after she got caught "Ah! No! What! I wanted to y'know make.. sure..you..were...ok, and also to see it unfold up close" she rambled the last part so quick you almost didn't catch it. "Liv I don't blame you I would too" you paused as an idea popped into your head and then you gasped "I have an idea" you said staring wide eyed at Liv "What? your kinda scaring me" she said seeming a bit concerned. "Ok hear me out, What if- and I'll pitch this to Pierce- You take my place-y'know- You come out and interrupt so you'll have your moment, then, I'll be on commentary for her match" you said "Wait so you want me to take your spot and you be on commentary while I do and then- wait, what if when I come out I'll do my thing for a minute or so and then I come down and get her attention then you sneak attack her from behind" she said as her own ideas start popping up.

"LIV! you are a genius and that is why I love you!" you said excitedly almost jumping up and down. "Thank you, thank you and I love you too but you seriously need to change cause we have got to go rehearse and pitch this to Pierce." she said trying to get you to hurry up. "Ok, Ok, wait - are you coming to pitch this with me?" you said pausing what you were doing to turn around and look at her. "Yeah I mean we are a package deal and I'm not letting you do this alone, OK? Now lets go-get dressed-step on it ma'am" she said walking towards you swinging her arm to get you to speed walk to the changing area. "OK, OK, Thank you!" you said speed walking to get away from her before she hits you and she will.

Once you were changed and ready to get out of the stuffy dressing room you both headed to makeup and hair. You were sitting across from Liv, she was getting her makeup done and you were getting your hair done when all of a sudden you felt a presence behind you and then you heard a whisper in your ear. "We needa talk. Now." the accent told you immediately who it was and you turned your head to validate you suspicions. You made eye contact with her and made a confused face at her. "Uh why?" you said plainly "y/n don't play dumb with me right now" she said becoming increasingly annoyed. "Uh, ok, how about" you paused and pretended to think "No" you said smiling at her and then flipping her off. "Fine but I'm warning you y/n. You mess with anymore of my matches I'll destroy you" you looked up at her and squinted your eyes at her and sucked your teeth before speaking again. "Have fun cause I'm sure that you can't find anywhere else to have fun since nobody fucking likes you" you said laughing with Liv. Rhea was fuming if this was a cartoon she would have smoke shooting out of her ears right now.

She marched away still pissed off because Rhea wasn't used to getting this kind of push back since she had always had a charming effect on people but not you and she didn't understand but you knew why, it was because you knew her darkest secrets. Who she really was, she had completely opened up to you one night. That night is one you'll never forget. You guys had just finished training and she was giving you ride back home. Before taking you home you two decided to grab dinner since it was late and after you two ate you were sitting in her car talking about everything and nothing all at once, sharing embarrassing stories, telling each other secrets nobody knows and everything in between. When you arrived at your house she had stopped you from getting out just yet. She had grabbed your thigh and pulled back into your seat, you look at her in confusion, she looked at you with such love and admiration, she flicked her eyes down to your lips and then back up to your eyes slightly biting her bottom lip and smirking before planting a deep kiss onto your lips.

Her lips were so soft and tasted like cherries from her chapstick. You didn't want it to end so when she pulled away you opened your eyes quick to make eye contact with her and then pulling her back closer to you planting a kiss of your own. She deepened the kiss by grabbing the back of your head and pushing you into her. You melted into her like butter on a hot pan. After a few moments you both pulled away to get some much needed air but something clicked in your head, this moment changed everything. You stared into her bright blue eyes that are dulled by the dim car light. You were thinking about how you felt as you admired her beauty when you heard your thought turn into spoken words. "I love you" you heard in a deep accent, you were taken aback not because you didn't feel the same but because you were shocked she felt the same way.

"Oh no, don't worry I know that was weird- I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that out loud-" she was cut off by you placing your hand over her mouth. "Shhh...." you whispered scooting closer to her now you were almost nose to nose with her. "I love you too" you said smirking at her and you feel the breath of relief that left her body. You slowly pulled your hand away and she let out a cute little giggle "really" she said quietly, you nodded your head and planted a quick peck on her lips before quickly hopping out of her car. You shut the door and waved at her and blew her a quick kiss "wait baby come here" she said with a raised voice so you could clearly hear her or more specifically the nickname she just called you. You blushed as you turned around and walked back and then leaned down sticking your head through the open passenger side window. She unbuckled so she could reach you and when she finally could she grabbed your jaw "just one more" she whispered as her breath hit your lips. She kissed you with more passion and when she pulled away you were left wanting more.

You were now going over your promo with Liv. You were thinking about your encounter with Rhea earlier and felt kind of bad about how you talked to her. But you didn't understand why, she hurt you badly and she was nasty to everyone. But there was feeling in your heart you couldn't shake. You managed to ignore it for the time being and get back to your rehearsal.

"Hey did you wanna go talk to Pierce now?" you said trying to check boxes off on your mental to-do list. "Yeah are you good with the promo? Is there anything you wanna change?" she said making sure the promo was good to go before doing anything else. "Yeah it's all good, we should head to his office the show starts soon" you stated before grabbing your belongings off the table and heading out of the small room you had been in for a while. Liv followed beside you as you marched to the GM's office.

You finally made it and Liv knocked on the door. Pierce answered rather quickly. "Well this is a nice surprise I guess, what can I do for 'ya" he said clearly frustrated by all the other people that have come by to complain and by people I mean other wrestler and by other wrestlers I mostly mean Chelsea. After you reassured him that this wasn't bad and that it was actually making his job a little easier he let you in and you guys talked for about 45 minutes. When you left his office both of you were so happy that your idea's were accepted.

"I'm so happy he liked out pitch, maybe we should come up with some more ideas- oh shit the shows starting we are on in 15" she said as she checked her phone for the first time in what seemed like hours. "Oh shit ok, let's go to the monitor" you said and Liv started speed walking beside you. You were patting yourself down looking for your phone and you couldn't find it then you realized you left it in your bag back in the locker room. "Damn it I left my phone in the locker room, I'll be right back" you said as you started running down the halls so you wouldn't miss your segment. You busted through the door and it seemed empty so you quickly made your way over to your bag and shuffled through it until you finally found it.

"Can't wait to see what your gonna say tonight" you heard behind you. You weren't thinking clear so you didn't process who it was in time so instinctively you turned towards the voice still looking down at your phone replying to messages from a few hours ago and replied "oh thank y-" you stopped talking as soon as you made eye contact with her. She chuckled at your reaction, you huffed and dropped your head down so now you were looking at the ground. You two were all alone staring at each other. This time you got to really get a good look at her and how different she was not only in her appearance but also her energy changed something felt off but you couldn't really tell what besides the obvious.

"So can we talk now?" she said seeming sincere and genuine, you sighed and as you were about to speak you were interrupted. "Hey there you are come on we have to go" Liv said as she bursted into the room. When she was done rambling she let out a huff and then turned to look at Rhea "oh hello" she said as she grabbed your arm "and goodbye" she said as she dragged you behind her. You looked back at Rhea who seemed annoyed at the constant dismissal she was receiving.

"Ok what the hell was that y/n?" Liv said as you made it back to gorilla and about to go on. "I don't know, I didn't know she was in there she just appeared out of nowhere" you stammered. You were in a slight state of panic from what had just occurred, you think to yourself about how ridiculous this must seem but to you it was like a freight train hitting you at lightning speed all because you haven't been so close to her in so long. But now you have to remind yourself of who you are and what she did to and just like that the anger you felt for her returned. With the change of attitude you heard your music hit. You walk out and wave to the crowd and do your entrance in the ring before stepping out and making your way over to the commentary table.

"Here she is the lovely miss y/r/n" Kevin said and you smiled at him as you put the headset on. "Oh let's not forget about the wonderful Kevin Patrick" you said playfully motioning towards him. "Hey hey where's my praise" Corey said sounding a bit offended at the lack of compliments. You and KP laughed with Corey as Rhea's music hit you all stopped and looked at the ramp anticipating her entrance.

"So I hear you two have a bit of history, is that right y/r/n?" Corey asked as you glanced towards him. "Uh yeah I guess you could say that" you said not wanting to spread all your business to the whole world. You look back towards Rhea who is now on the apron with Dom standing in front of her. You watched on as her muscular arm wrapped around the upper part of Dominik's body, slowly growing more envious of his position. Wait what are you thinking right now. She destroyed you and now you have to destroy her. Once those emotions are pushed way way way down you glared at her from the table and she makes eye contact with you as she turns to walk into her corner. She smirks at you and does her little wave, you sit up straight in you seat and move forward a little bit. She looks you up and down before turning to face the entrance ramp.

"Did anyone else see the way Rhea was eyeing y/r/n here on commentary?" KP said into the headset and Corey turned to face KP. "What are you trying to say KP? That mami's intimidated? No way!" Corey said totally flabbergasted at Kevin's insinuations. "Let's be real Corey I am the only one who can take that title of her. I've beaten her plenty of times and I don't have a problem doing in again" you said oozing confidence as you spoke to Corey. KP laughed at your quick retort "Whatever helps you sleep at night y/r/n" Corey said sounding kind of defeated.

The match was nearing the end and you and Rhea had shared some moments during the match. Her eyes lingering on you for a second too long. The way you glared at her from your seat while making various comments about the match and dropping hints about things to happen in the future then her just smirking at you.

"1,2,3, *ding ding ding* and here's your winner the womens world champion Rhea Ripley!" the match ending as it usually does with Rhea hitting a rip tide then folding the person into a suggestive position but she was facing you and staring at you the entire time. You didn't let it show but it gave you butterflies.

But her victory wasn't celebrated for long before Liv's music hit. The crowd erupted into a loud cheer as she came out, not even bothering to do her little pose at the top of the ramp. Liv was a woman on a mission. Liv had her own personal issues with Rhea and so did you do this was perfect. You smirked as you and Liv made eye contact and she smirked back at you as she climbed onto the apron of the ring.

"What'd you want?" Rhea shouted slowly walking to meet Liv. "I think you know what I want Rhea" Liv said as she held intense eye contact with the tall woman that's moving closer to her. "You want it, that one wants it-" Rhea turned to point at you but was surprised to see that you were directly behind her. You moved like a mouse careful to not make any noise or sudden movements.

You smirked as you came face to face with her once again, just like old times. "What? didn't see me comin'" you said as you chuckled. "Get out of my ring!" she yelled her accent thicker than ever, she was getting your face. You didn't move back you planted yourself like a tree not budging as she got closer. She was centimeters from your face, she was laughing at you. You had muted out everyone around you, only hearing her. You had enough, she was getting personal, almost telling thousands of people your deepest secrets. So you did the only thing you could think of while this feeling of being trapped and cornered, you decked you right in the nose. She looked at you, shocked, she didn't expect you to actually hit her. You looked just as baffled by your sudden hit. But just as soon as you were shocked you felt the fire inside reignite, the rage filled your body. You knew what you were now capable of and wanted to take full advantage. You pushed her to the ground and got on top of her and let loose. You weren't sure if anything was actually making contact but you didn't care you just needed to keep going.

Suddenly you felt your arms being pulled back so instinctively you jumped back ready to attack them. But when you saw that it was Liv your emotions came down and you huffed suddenly out of breath. You stared a Rhea who was laid out on the floor and you decided to walk towards but you were yanked back Liv muttering to you to let it go and to not push it. You didn't pay any mind to her pleas and gently pulled your arm back to your side she gave you a final pleading look but you turned back to look at Rhea. You stood over her your feet on either side of her body, you squatted down almost sitting on her. You looked down making eye contact once again. You chuckled lightly at the sight, "I hope you missed me, cause I'm not going anywhere." you shouted before leaning in closer just as close as she got before she ended up in this position. "Count your days mami, and get used to this cause i'm coming for you bitch" you loudly whispered in her face, you stood up staring down at her as you made your way out of the ring.

You swiftly made your way to the back leaving Liv to chase after you. "Y/n, Y/n-" she finally caught up to you and roughly grabbed your arm stopping you dead in your tracks. "What Liv" you said in an annoyed tone "what happened back there? what's going on with you? I've never seen you act like this" she said pleading for you to give her some kind of explanation. You sighed " Liv I don't wanna talk about it ok?" you said trying to dismiss the subject entirely. "Ok I get that but I'm just really confused and I need to know that your ok" she said and you understood where she was coming from and you wanted to tell her but you needed to clear your head first, "I know and I want to tell you just not right now, I need some space- I just need to be alone right now" you said begging her to understand even a little bit.

"Ok that's fine how about you take the rental and I'll get a ride back to the hotel, do what you gotta do just let me know if you need me" you sighed in relief tears almost falling. "Thank you for understanding, I'll see you later" you said going in for a hug. "Of course, I got you, your my girl" she said hugging you tightly. Liv made you feel sane, like you weren't crazy for being so hurt, she understood you in a way nobody has before she was like the sister you never had and no matter what you will always back her up and you know she would do the exact same thing.

You went back to the locker room and got changed. You grabbed all your things and the keys from Liv's bag making your way out of the arena you passed by medical. As you walked past you just glanced over and saw her getting bandaged up she saw you and gave you a look that cut right through you and you knew in that moment you fucked up big time. You drove around for a bit, taking the long way back to the hotel. Needless to say you felt a lot better when you got there, You gathered your things once again and headed into the building and up to your room. When you got there Liv was in the shower so you had sometime to relax before you had to face your best friend again so you decided to lay on the bed and stare at the ceiling. You began to go over the events that happened tonight in your head over and over again.

You heard the bathroom door open and her voice was soft when she saw you laying on the bed, in complete silence.

"Hey are you ok?" she asked as she sat beside you on the bed, softly grabbing your arm to give you a reassuring squeeze. You felt so many emotions and just broke down. You sat up so you could talk to her but the words wouldn't come out, she seemed to understand and just wrapped her arms around you as you sobbed. She brushed your hair out of your face so she could see you. "Hey it's gonna be ok y/n" she said just above a whisper you looked at her and nodded your head as your mind started to clear.

"I don't know why- why she has this effect on me" you said through broken cries. "It's just being so close to her- I just felt all the pain she caused me- y'know" you said looking up at her while you were still hugging her. "Yeah I get it y/n, everythings gonna be ok I promise she's never gonna do what she did to you again" she said promising you that she'd never let that happen again. "I love you Liv, thank you for putting up with all this" you said sitting up and finally collecting yourself. "I love you too y/n, and I'm not 'putting up with this'" she said with air quotes around the last part. "You are my best friend in this entire world, I don't think I could've done this return without you." she said making you feel so grateful for her, you didn't deserve her but she was your best friend and nothing is going to come between you two.

[happylikeasadsong]

i have a question! (but is mostly me rumbling)

i genuinely wanna know why this was one of the first promo photos to come out if they weren't hiting a sydcarmy at least something not so *platonic* in season 2? (granted, this scene is featured in the first episode of season 2)

bear with me (pun intended)

this photo just might have confirmed them with capital letters, cause...

why would they give us this photo? this scene????

"uhmm, w-what are you gonna..."

silence. they stare at each other. then,

"i have no idea"

he doesn't wanna go home, he's dragging this moment in their little moment. He wonders if he can do anything to just not go home. Maybe he can do something, he can do something with sydney and just not go home, but i think maybe he knows it feels diferent somehow (why it doesn't come out as easy as when he so nonchalantly just asked if she wanted to work on his apartment?)

the scene alone has so many unspoken things, i mean, you could NOT convince me that carmy wasn't about to ask her out here! the pauses? the silence? the awkwardness between them? his face watching her leave? him froze in place thinking about how he messed that up? I could literally hear carmy's loud as hell thoughts from the other side of the screen!

this wasn't just two colleagues naturally asking what the other is up to after work for a pint, this is something else.

and then later we see him anxious at his apartment, thinking about work work work (he really didn't want to come back alone to his apartment, huh?) and then he comes back and syd and nat are already there thinking the same as him.

but mostly, i just wonder why this scene in the begining of the season. we see most series and movies using the narrative principle called chekov's gun, which is according to google: 'any seemingly unimportant element that becomes significant later on in the story.' i like to think that fits perfectly in this case where we see an interesting dynamic between them in the begining of the season, syd's come back to the bear and carmy can't be doing the shit he was doing in s1, so yeah, something's changed (specifically in this scene where carmy is very awkward around her. why?).

having that in mind, we later see carmy then go on to date claire, feel something's not right, have a panic attack, only to maybe put a name to what he was feeling in episode 1, hence, his very own chekov's gun.

idk, maybe you guys have a more reasonable answer to this, but i'm thinkng these thoughts lately

[alicenpai]

hi! ive been a big fan of your work for a while now, and i was just wondering if you have any tips or anything for selling merch online? :>

hi anon! so you want to be a con artist huh 👁👁 ...

^ a real con artist..

i’m not sure if you wanted online specific tips or general merch tips, but i compiled a bit of both! (also not sure if you're a beginner to art in general, there's a difference between a more experienced artist doing merch for the first time + beginner artists trying merch for the first time bc the risks involved are different)

i wrote more on the subject but i cut some out because it seemed too long.. and i tend to ramble ^__T it's hard to answer questions like these because they're so generalized, but if you had any more specific questions feel free to send another ask!

^ random image for visual interest

general tips for beginners(?)

merch can be fun, and it is! but in the end always remind yourself you're running a business, and it's real money you're going to be spending. it's good to take risks (on things like, new product types if you think your art is ready for it, or less popular series/more experimental designs, etc.) as you learn a lot from them, but always think over financial decisions carefully at the same time.

what helped me grow a lot as both a merch artist (and as a general artist) over 10 years is - a lot of reflection. and i mean a LOT of it. in terms of art in general i don't personally do a lot of studies (which is probably my downfall and i need to get back to it) but i think im pretty observant and introspective which helps me improve a lot. i often write my silly little blog posts on tumblr, I'll write notes on my phone if i have a train of thought i need to get down quickly.

i also often discuss merch things with friends and it really helps to get varying perspectives. (though i admit i should really share wips more, i used to but not as much anymore. blame the working life haha, not as many people have time to discuss non-work art anymore ;_;). all of these things keep me on my toes and weigh my strengths and weaknesses. if anyone is interested i could write more on the specific topics i reflect on after every con/shop opening.

stick to the tried and true 5-10 copies per design for beginners! this range sounds too little, but don't forget the big picture as well... you'll likely also have multiple different designs, across different product types.

e.g. 5 copies x 4 characters/designs, and let's say you do this for every product type (e.g. postcards, stickers, charms), 5 x 4 x 3 = 60 individual pieces of merch. that's a pretty solid number for a first timer!

i also personally print 5-10 copies of designs im doing for a test print run, or for characters that don't seem particularly popular.

15 is the average amount for me for a short run product (1 con season)

i certainly reprint often + go higher sometimes if i dont mind the product being in my catalogue for years.

15 is not too many in case the design is unpopular and doesn't sell, and it's also not too little that it won't be enough sales to break even.

promo images & taking photos (online specific)

i'm not a professional photographer and these photos might be absolute ass to some people. i will accept that, and honestly id agree with you. this is just my advice for straightforward, simple photos.

good quality and clear photos are best. it's great fun to use props in photos, and they can certainly turn your photos from plain to impressive. but it's easy to get carried away with props and fancy scrapbook paper imo, and i prefer to let the artwork speak for itself. honestly keeping it simple can be the best option sometimes. i used to take a lot more photos back in 2022 when i had less new products, but nowadays i find that i have too many products to take photos of, so i prefer to just keep my photos simple with a white piece of paper as my backdrop. i just. shrimply cannot be bothered taking out all of the props anymore...

above: the backdrop in this photo is bad, it's distracting and takes away from the artwork. (fe charms from 2016)

this are photos taken on a sunny day.

if you don't have a good phone camera (mine is ~5 years old), ive found that taking photos on a sunny day, either inside or outside, work great for me, as it shows off the natural colour of your product best. i either take it to the garden or i like to find a patch of sunlight filtering through the window. be wary of glare or too much light reflecting on your merch in photos though, because it can be distracting and take away from visibility on the product. but i can understand if a bit of glare ends up on one's finalized merch photos.

this is an example of utilizing light at a certain angle to show off the holographic film on this charm.

sunny photo vs cloudy photo.

taking photos inside on a cloudy day during daylight hours is also a popular option, especially if you live in an area where there isn't much direct sunlight/cloudy season, but for me personally i find cloudy day photos come out a bit dull and do take a bit of colour correcting. all of my cloudy day photos are tweaked and i find the colours to be a bit off from the original products, but that's just how it is with taking photos i guess.

because i don't have a great phone camera, my personal alternative is to make graphics! i just think of it as a collage to use fun textures and PNGs! im obviously not a professional, and these probably look very bad in a professional's eye. but i think it's fun. i like to incorporate the aesthetic or visual style of the series into the graphic if i do make em. ^_^

store platform

each one has their pros and cons. many store platforms have trial periods/free plans for people to try out.

bigcartel is what i use and i'm familiar with, and i would honestly recommend it. (i'm too lazy to move or try another platform right now...) for big store openings ill pay for a month or two of the basic $15 plan. ill use the free gold plan on bigcartel if im only planning to open my store for a limited time and don't want to commit to a full monthly plan.

storenvy: i've used storenvy from about 2014-16. i moved from storenvy for issues such as charging customers fees for purchasing from storenvy's marketplace page (and not from your actual personalized storefront) and urging me to use stripe even though it wasn't supported in canada at that time. im not sure if theyve fixed these issues but they were pervasive issues at the time that honestly forced me to quit. it also has a kind of outdated UI (e.g. can't zoom into pics on mobile?).

i think storenvy is a very easy to use platform for beginners because it's very basic! but i wouldn't recommend it if you have a great number of products, or if you're looking for more advanced features.

tictail isn't available anymore, i couldn't recommend it for that reason. i used it from around 2016-18.

i don't have any experience on shopify or etsy. shopify i heard is great because of all of the neat features you can implement, which you can use to really make your store yours. etsy has a huge marketplace which helps discoverability, but i have also heard there are many fees, so a lot of artists unfortunately make their prices a bit higher on etsy.

ecwid is also one that i've heard pop up. some also host shops on weebly or squarespace.

shipping

if you don't already have a kitchen scale, it's a good idea to get one if you think you'll be using it a lot to weigh packages! a postage scale is probably better. i just have a kitchen scale because it's cheap. as long as the measurements are precise (don't use a bathroom scale with a dial like me when i started out lmao).

thermal labels are also a good investment if you think youll need em!! i actually don't personally use them, because i have way too much hand-me-down stacks of paper in my home, so i don't see the need to make an extra investment. the downside to printing shipping labels on paper is taking the time to cut and stick them on packages.

i'm from canada (surprising the amount of people who think im from the US T__T) so these tips will be canadian specific, but you can hopefully get the gist.

when i was starting out, i used canada post (usps is the american equivalent) to send out store orders. however shipping labels from your govt post office can be pricey. which is why it's a good option to join their small business program if they have one, where you'll receive discounts on shipping labels. i don't use canada post shipping anymore, but i will use them for countries that my shipping agent doesn't ship to.

also take advantage of their free shipping tuesdays for domestic packages in october!! i believe you can receive 2 free labels per tuesday, up to 4 or 5 tuesdays for the entire month = 8-10 free labels in october.

next step is shipping agents!! if you live close to a chitchats or stallion express facility, they're great, and they usually provide tracking on shipping by default. in my opinion, tracking on orders is a MUST, so customers can have peace of mind! (minus like sticker-only shipping because that could be sent with postage stamps)

they also do home pickup if you have a bunch of packages in bulk/can't get to a facility. i believe americans have pirate ship.

you print and stick on your shipping labels at home, then you just travel to the shipping facility and throw your packages in the right bins (e.g. domestic, US, international). that's it! easy as pie!

i personally use chitchats because that is closer to me. i had heard stallion provides better rates for international shipping, which i'll have to look at at a later date.

most of my orders come from the US and canada. (funnily enough it is unfortunately cheaper to send packages from canada to USA, than it is for me to send packages within canada.) international orders are a bit of a pain, and you will need to know tariff codes for your product types (e.g. prints have a diff code than buttons) while writing the customs form. people in some countries will get taxed on all imported packages (e.g. packages marked as "sold goods" and not "gifts"). an alternative to this is to use etsy, so that customers can pre-pay for the tariffs before the order is processed. this is something i'll also look into for the future.

posting

wow now you're now done organizing your shop and promo images and you're ready to post! a good strategy is to post across multiple platforms to see what sticks. it takes effort and time but it can have a solid turnout! (i forget sometimes, don't be like me)

i don't know if this is true, but a lot of keywords words such as "shop", "store", "link" and etc. are apparently suppressed on social media (particularly twitter). don't take my word for it however.

shop posts don't generally do as well as regular art posts for most artists. but disregarding censored words for a second, it can also be attributed to psychological reasons, generally people don't like to be advertised to. (e.g. tumblr doesn't have an algorithm and shop posts usually dont do as well here either. tumblr users are just not receptive to clicking on links apparently).

personally, writing alternate terms like "sh0p" just isn't for me, but no shade though, bc i do understand workarounds are hard and everyone needs to make a living somehow. ill instead use words like, "leftovers are in" or "new items are up!" something more vague, but with the accompaniment of merch images, will still be clear to people that it's a shop update.

sharing your shop promo posts in artist alley discord servers also help a lot, especially if you don't know too many artists when starting out. they're a great resource and community full of passionate individuals who will boost your art. if you're not familiar with them, you can find some public ones on google or maybe even artist communities on reddit. a big one is Artist Alley Network International.

if there are some topics you think i've missed, feel free to send em over to my inbox!! ill also think more about this in the coming days and edit this post as i see fit 🫡

[pensat-i-fet]

Wrong first impression, Part 2 (Ferran Torres x Reader)

**I wrote part 1, which you can find here, a while ago and a few people asked me to either write more for Ferran in general or to do a part 2. Well, both things will happen 😅 but part 2 comes first. I actually adore this little story, so I hope you all like it too ❤️**

Word count: 4182

Masterlist

Wattpad

A month has passed since Ferran and I met in Valencia. I started to follow him on Instagram and sent him a DM like he asked. And we've texted ever since but…it's just weird. First, he was on holiday and then left for pre-season. And I've been so busy getting ready for the next competitions I'll be a part of that the excitement of our first meetings sort of fizzled out. Until now.

My brother Jorge and I are currently at the train station waiting to go to Barcelona for a small competition. It's below my level but I'm still recovering from my injury so baby steps.

"What are you waiting for?"

"Huh?"

"You're staring at your phone. Are you waiting for a call or something?"

"No, just checking the time".

I'm not waiting for a call but for a text. A text back from Ferran after I told him I'm going to Barcelona. This is what he wanted, right? To meet in Barcelona. To go on a date. Hard to forget when someone like him mentions that word. But now…he doesn't answer back.

Of course, it's been a month. He's been to so many different places, probably promising so many other girls to take them on dates. And they all probably were stupid enough to think they were special like I did.

"I'm going to grab a coffee. Want one?"

"Decaf, please".

I get up to go get our coffees, leaving my phone behind so I keep some of my dignity intact. Me, glued to my phone to see if a guy texts me? Pathetic.

"It's 5.70, please", tells me the barista and I frown.

"Is there some promotion? I think you're charging me less than you should".

He laughs and shakes his head. "I appreciate the honesty but no, no promo. Just me wanting to gift the muffin to a pretty girl".

I blush slightly. "Thank you".

I give him the money, not pointing out the muffin is actually for my brother, and then go back to meet Jorge.

"I got us a free muffin".

"How?"

"By being pretty, apparently".

"Is that all you can get?"

"Maybe I'm not pretty enough to also get free coffee. I'll brush my hair next time".

He laughs, picking up my coffee instead of his and he shushes me when I complain. "Look", he says, showing me what's underneath the sleeve, "his phone number".

I snort. "Appreciate the effort but I'm not interested".

"Right. Too busy hooking up with Ferran Torres?"

I almost choke on my coffee, which I also spill on my dress. My, thankfully, navy blue dress. The stain won't be that obvious.

"Where is that coming from?"

"Your phone kept getting notifications and I took a little peek because I just did. I'm not going to look for excuses. And I saw Ferran was writing about how happy he was that you were going to be in Barcelona".

He did? "It's not like that".

"Sure, baby sis. Sure".

I'm itching to pick my phone up to read the texts but won't give Jorge the satisfaction.

"Can I have a bite of your muffin? It's technically mine after all".

"Sure", he tells me, bringing the muffin closer to my face. "I'm sure Ferran will also let you take a bite if you ask nicely".

Now I choke on the muffin, getting little crumbs everywhere.

"Stop it!"

"But it's so funny. And also my revenge for not telling me".

"There's nothing to tell".

Jorge gets a tissue and offers it to me.

"Nothing? I left you on the beach with him for 20 minutes and now you text about meeting in Barcelona. When did you even get his phone number?"

"We met the next day by coincidence and he asked me to tell him my number so we could chat. That's it".

"To chat about what? Your favourite beaches in Valencia?"

Well, we actually have chatted about that too. But I won't tell Jorge that. "Just to chat".

"Just not before the competition, ok?"

"You're not making sense. What about before the competition?"

"No sex. Save the energy for competing and then do whatever you want".

I glare at him, thankful I wasn't eating or drinking anything this time.

And then, finally, our train is here. Jorge always buys tickets for us to sit where the tables are so he can do some work on the way to our destination. And that's a perfect moment to check my phone.

[Me]: so I'm actually going to Barcelona. Very last minute but I'll be competing there.

[Me]: just thought I'd mention. Are you in Barcelona at the moment?

I know he is in Barcelona but I try to be a bit subtle at least.

[Ferran]: I am! When will you get here?

[Ferran]: Will your brother travel with you? Be honest. Is he still mad at me?

[Ferran]: we're playing the Gamper on Wednesday. Wanna come?

[Ferran]: actually so happy you're finally visiting Barcelona 😉

Not the winky face. I feel like hiding under the table. My brother definitely saw that emoji.

[Me]: we're on the train now on our way there. And no, he's not mad at you 😅

[Me]: is the Gamper our date?

The moment I press send, I regret it. We've been bantering. And we've definitely been flirting. But we haven't mentioned the "date" again. Now I'll sound desperate. Great.

[Ferran]: I prefer taking you out for dinner or something but if that's what you want 🤷

I bite my lip, looking up to see Jorge is still busy responding to emails or whatever it is he does on his laptop.

[Me]: we could do both? Match and then dinner? Unless you already have plans.

[Ferran]: I just cancelled them.

I can't help the giggle that comes out of me reading that and Jorge stares at me for a few seconds.

"Tell me you're not sexting".

"Oh my God".

**

My first day in Barcelona is spent training…and texting with Ferran. My second day in Barcelona is spent training…and texting with Ferran. On my third day, it's finally time to compete.

"You got this", tells me Jorge. And I'm not so sure.

But I go out anyway and manage to get 3rd place in the first category. That helps with my confidence and I slowly forget the injury and keep improving. Until I get the results necessary to qualify for the next tournament.

"You were great".

"Thanks. That felt good".

"I bet. What's the plan for today? Do you want to go celebrate somewhere?"

"I…".

I still didn't tell my brother about my date with Ferran but seeing his face, there might be no need.

"Meeting him today then?"

"He invited me to the match. You can come too".

"I don't want to third wheel my sister".

"It's not like that…", it would totally be like that.

But Jorge just picks up my bag and puts his arm around my shoulders while we walk out of the building.

"Just be careful".

"I always am".

"And remind him he'll have to go back to Valencia at some point. He can't hide forever if he messes up".

I roll my eyes, but I appreciate his concern.

Back at the hotel, I wash my hair again and get ready for the match. I know we'll sort of go on a date after the match but I don't want to wear anything too fancy to a match. So I end up picking some jean shorts that are high-waisted and make my figure look great. And I pair them with a nice pink blouse.

I don't know what to do with my hair but it's pretty hot and humid so a ponytail is probably a good idea. Just to get the hair away from my face. A face that I can't do much with because my makeup knowledge ends at putting on some mascara trying not to poke my eye out and putting some lipstick on.

"This will do", I tell myself while looking in the mirror and I finish the look by spraying some perfume on.

I mean, the first time Ferran saw me I was wearing gym clothes and sweating while working out so…this is a huge improvement.

I went to a match at the Camp Nou once but that's not where today's match will be played. We have to go to Montjuïc and when I get there everyone is complaining about how to get to the stadium. I opt for the escalators and keep looking around at the nice views. It also helps me avoid overthinking what will happen next.

Ferran told me what gate to go to because they'll have my name on a list. The only time that happens to me is when I go to a competition. This feels way fancier. And weirder.

The guy who I have to talk to looks at my ID, then at the list, then back to the ID and then back at me.

"Are you family?"

"No, a friend".

He looks at me with a sceptical look when I say the word friend but gives me a piece of paper with my name on it and points at the area I should go to.

I like football. I really do. Do I enjoy seeing a friendly between Barça and Tottenham? Maybe not so much. But in the second half, Ferran finally plays some minutes so I at least get to see him. It brings back memories of when he played in Mestalla. We had so many hopes for him. But he's here now and, same as during preseason, he's here to score goals.

After a nice little comeback, Barça win the match and I make my way to where I think I'll meet Ferran. He wasn't that clear with his explanation because he hasn't been here before either. So we can only hope he actually finds me.

Even though we've seen each other in person before, and we've been chatting for a while, it's odd to now be face to face again. For both of us. It's not just me being a shy mess.

"Hi. Congrats on the goal".

"Thank you. Did you enjoy the match?"

"Sure. Better than most of Valencia's matches last season", I try to joke.

"Yeah. So…what did you want to do now? I didn't really have time to book a table anywhere nice. But I've got options".

"Tell me the options then".

"It's just two", he laughs. "We could go to my place and order food. Or go get some street food and just walk around the city. I remember you mentioning you liked doing that".

I did mention it. "Option B sounds good".

"Cool. Let's go to my car. And then I can drive you to your hotel or wherever you want to go".

I chuckle. "Let's see how the night goes".

Barcelona has always been one of my favourite cities but walking around it at night truly is something else.

"I'm not sure this is the best food to eat after we've both competed today but…".

"No one needs to know. I won't tell Xavi if you don't tell my brother".

"I'm definitely not telling your brother, he's scary".

My brother is anything but scary. But Ferran doesn't know him.

"Oh", I say, stopping to look at a drinks stand.

"What?"

"They have horchata".

"You don't like it? They'll kick you out of Valencia if they find out".

"I love it. But it's never good outside of Valencia".

"That's not true".

I look at Ferran offended by his lack of knowledge. "I dare you to try it, then".

"Ok", he shrugs and we go buy a cup of the famous drink adored by us Valencians.

Ferran looks more sceptical every second. He looks at the liquid on the cup, smells it and then finally takes a little sip.

"It's alright".

"Take another sip then".

"I'm not thirsty".

"Admit it's bad".

"It isn't great…", he concedes. "Wanna try?"

Curiosity killed the cat and might give me a stomachache now but I try it anyway. "God! That's worse than I expected".

"I know".

"I need something to get rid of this taste in my mouth".

"I have an idea".

I have to give it to him. He isn't just inspired on the pitch but out of it too. It was a brilliant idea to kiss me.

"Better?"

"I might need a bit more help".

Our kisses only make me even more hyper-aware of the people around us. I’m a nobody but he plays for Barça and the national team.

"Everyone is looking at us because of you. This is so weird".

"They're looking at you, not me".

"How do you know?"

"Because I can tell and because when people look at me, they either ask for a photo or tell me how shit I am. They are looking at you".

"Why? Do I have something in my face?"

"Yes".

And he didn't think about telling me before? "What is it? Where? Help me clean it. I have tissues…".

"I can't. It's this thing called being really pretty. It’s permanent".

I smack him on the chest but he only laughs at his joke. I don't feel like laughing as much, remembering what he said.

"Does that really happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"People telling you to your face that you aren't good".

"I was exaggerating a bit…", he says, but looks away, which gives me the answer to my question.

"I was going to say you'll prove them wrong soon but you already kind of are doing that…little shark".

"My self-esteem would appreciate it if you removed the little from the nickname".

"You need a few more goals, preferably against Madrid, for me to do that".

"Challenge accepted".

The more time passes, the more I think this night couldn't be more perfect. Gone is the initial awkwardness. Being with Ferran is so…easy.

I even forget to check my phone but when I pick it up to take a photo, I notice some texts from Jorge.

"My brother wants to know if you kidnapped me".

"I did. And no amount of money will convince me to give you back to him".

"I can outrun you, Torres".

"You can't", he says, stepping in front of me so I can't keep walking. "But…what were you thinking about doing now? I could drive you back to the hotel. Or you could come with me".

"What a kind kidnapper you are. Giving me options".

"That's me. So…which one do you choose?"

"Well, since you've been so kind, I guess I should stay with you".

"Perfect choice".

**

Life as an athlete is too complicated for serious relationships. That's why my life lately has been one-night stand after one-night stand. Easy, non-commitment fun. And this will be the same. Even if this time I don't want it to be the same. But I wasn't born yesterday. I know how football players are. Even those as nice as Ferran. He got what he wanted and now he'll move on. And so will I.

"I thought you had left", he says, joining me in his kitchen.

"I wanted some water".

Ferran comes closer so he can hug me and place his chin on my shoulder. I turn to look at him and see his eyes are closed. Well, this doesn't help me face the reality of the situation.

"I should leave soon".

"Me too. I can drive you to the hotel before going to train. What's your plan for today?"

"I have to do a recovery session".

"Same".

"Really? After just 10 minutes? And you didn't even do that much".

"I scored a goal…", he says. But his frown turns into a curious look when he sees I'm trying not to laugh.

"I didn't mean your performance on the pitch", I manage to say before I burst out laughing. "Sorry, I had to".

"Did you?", he asks, pretending to be all serious before he starts to tickle me.

When my stomach starts to hurt from laughing so much, I beg for him to stop and he does.

"Can we see each other today at some point then?"

I'm still a little breathless when I answer. "Maybe tonight? We leave tomorrow morning".

"Already", he says more to himself. "Ok, let's meet tonight. I could try and find us a nice place to go to by using the I play for Barça card but I rather stay home and order. Your choice, though".

"I like the staying-in plan".

"Perfect".

Not much later, we're on our way to my hotel. And this weird feeling I have only keeps getting worse.

"Here we are. I'll see you later, ok? I can pick you up around 7 if that's ok".

I nod. "Sounds good".

Then I try to leave the car but Ferran grabs my arm and I sit back down.

"You're not going to say goodbye to me?"

"I was going to when I got out of the car…".

"Too far away for a proper goodbye".

"I don't…".

"I meant a kiss".

I laugh nervously before leaning down to kiss him. Yeah, that feeling is getting worse and worse …and worse.

Not even five minutes after I get back to the hotel, Jorge is already knocking on my door.

"Had fun then?"

"Yeah".

"You don't look so sure", and here comes the overprotective brother. "Everything ok?"

"Yes. I'm meeting Ferran again later".

"But…".

"There's no but".

"There is. Tell me".

I sigh, sitting down next to my brother. "But then we leave and I won't see him again".

"Says who? Did he tell you he didn't want to see you again?"

"No", not only did he not do that, he sent me signals that told me he wanted the complete opposite of not seeing me again. "But I don't live here, we are both busy…".

"We don't live that far away. Just don't write this off before it's over. You're always too much of an extremist".

Jorge isn't wrong but I feel like this is different and I have a reason to feel the way I do.

Thankfully, training allows me to distract myself from any thoughts about Ferran. There is time to do that while I get ready to see him again.

"Too cute, too cute, too sexy, too cute…".

Jorge is going through my outfits, helping me pick one. I didn't ask for his opinion but he's here to give the opinion anyway.

"How is this dress too sexy?"

"Too short".

"You do realise he's already seen it all, right?"

"La la la la la laaaa", he says, pretending not to listen.

"You're the one who wants me to see him after this. Don't be dramatic".

"You're still my little sister. I'm aware of what happened but don't need to know more or think about it".

"You were joking about it a couple of days ago!"

"It's ok to joke before it happens. Not after".

"You're so weird".

"Must be a family thing".

I shake my head, picking a dress from the too cute pile and putting it on. And while Jorge is helping me do my hair, and only causing a mess, I get a text from Ferran saying he's waiting for me outside.

"Gotta go!"

"Be safe!"

I roll my eyes and get inside the lift, where I try to fix my hair as much as I can after all the experiments Jorge tried.

"Hey!"

"Hi".

Ferran is waiting outside the car and grabs me by the waist to bring me closer and kiss me.

"You look really cute".

I laugh and can see his confusion right away. "Inside joke with my brother. You wouldn't get it".

"Ok …let's go home then".

Even though I thought it was impossible, tonight is even better than the previous night. Because we know each other better and a part of me starts to think Jorge might have a point. But the reality will hit me in the face so better to stay realistic.

That's why sleeping is so hard. For me, anyway. Ferran is sleeping like a baby. But I keep staring at him and then at the ceiling. Trying to think. But I still haven't reached a good conclusion when I finally fall asleep.

In the morning, it's him that wakes up before I do. And then he wakes me up in the most glorious way possible. I feel the kisses on the back of my neck while I start to leave dreamland. And two strong arms hold me closer to him at the same time.

"How about you never leave?"

I can feel the heat in my face at his words. And also the way my stomach almost hurts because I know the answer to that request.

"I can't. I need to be at the train station soon".

"I know", he whines, falling back in the bed and allowing me to take a final peek at him. It'll be a nice memory to have.

The sooner I leave, the better. That's my reasoning. So I start to get dressed quickly.

"Do you know if you'll come to Barcelona again soon?"

"No".

"Will you be in Valencia? I need to visit my family soon…".

"Ferran, what are you doing?"

He's still lying down in bed, hands behind his head. "Asking when I'll see you again".

"Why? I mean…this is it, right? We finally saw each other, we slept together, we move on".

"Is that what you want?"

What I want? He almost looks hurt when he says it.

I finish putting on my shoes and gathering my messy hair in a ponytail before I turn to face him again.

"I assumed it would be what you want".

"Me? Have I ever made you feel like that?"

"No, but…".

"So you were letting your wrong assumptions about me get in the way again? I thought we were passed that moment when I made the bad first impression or whatever".

"We are but …we don't live in the same place. And we have to travel for our careers and…".

"And if you want to find excuses, I'm sure you'll find plenty".

"You don't get it".

"I do. And I get your worries but wouldn't it be worth it to at least try?"

Would it? Probably. But I'm not brave enough for this.

"Not right now".

He nods. "I'll make you change your mind".

And with that promise, I leave.

**

Ferran didn't lie when he said he would try to change my mind. And he seems to have help from my brother.

When we go to Rome to compete, I find a bouquet of flowers back at the hotel. When I get back to Valencia, it so happens to be the same week Ferran travels there to visit family and we spend some time together again. By the end of his time there he asks me if it's the right time then and I say that not yet.

But that never giving up mentality everyone praises about this new him isn't just reserved for the pitch.

"You are in Granada", he says when I answer his call.

"Yes".

"I'll be there on Tuesday".

"Why? Do you have days off?"

"No. A few players got injured and I'm joining the national team. We're playing there and you're coming to see me".

I laugh at his confidence. "Says who? What if you play at the same time I'm competing? I'm not here on holiday?"

"I asked Jorge and you are both free to come see me play".

What? "No way you convinced him to go to a football match!"

"I did. And I have an idea".

"What kind of idea?"

"If I score a goal, you'll give this, us, a chance".

"Ferran…".

"Ok, make it two. I score two goals, you stop this nonsense and finally do what you really want to do".

How easy will it be for him to score two goals? It's Cyprus but still…he might not even play. But he's in such good form…and who am I kidding? I'm hoping he scores those two goals. And more.

"Ok".

**

"One down", laughs Jorge after Ferran scores his first goal against Cyprus. It didn't take him long. "It's like he's extra motivated, you know".

"Are you going to date him or something?"

"Baby sis, I wish. But the sibling he likes is you".

I shake my head and keep watching the match. Whenever Ferran gets closer to the goal, I can feel my heart beating faster. And whenever I don't see the ball hit the back of the net, I feel disappointed.

And then…

"Goal!", screams Jorge and I just stare at the players celebrating as if not knowing what to do. But when Jorge sits down next to me, he can see how big I'm smiling.

When the referee signals the end of the match, I stand up and turn to see if Jorge is following me. He isn’t but he winks at me when he sees me looking.

“Go see your man”.

[wwereaderinserts]

Hello!! I want to request a Jon Moxley fic where he and the oc are dating and they are both AEW wrestlers. In a promo, Jon's opposing fighter (can be anyone of his choosing) uses the oc to provoke Jon, insinuating sexual things and being very disrespectful and Mox gets very angry about it.

A/N: I'd like to preface this by saying this will be a one-off thing - I don't watch AEW which is partly why this took me so long to get around to, sorry! Title: Rising Fury Pairing: Jon Moxley x Reader Word Count: 992

Tension crackles in the air like electricity throughout the arena as MJF lowers his mic once his promo has drawn to a close, squaring up to Jon with intensity blazing in his eyes. You’re not sure if he’s expecting Jon to back down and leave the ring or not, but he certainly doesn’t get the desired reaction from him. Instead, Jon remains firmly planted in the centre of the ring with you loyally right beside your partner, his gaze unwavering from MJF’s.

The crowd roars with anticipation of what’s to follow the silent exchange between the pair ahead of their match next week, but amidst the chaos, you notice MJF do a double take towards you. A calculated, slow smirk spreads across his face, almost as though a lightbulb has just sparked up in his head, and he steadily raises his mic back up to his mouth despite him being done with his initial promo.

“Y’know, I actually just thought of something,” MJF begins, taking a step back from Jon to look you both up and down, like he’s sizing the pair of you up, “Something I think you’re too blind to even pick up on.”

You know he’s addressing Jon, but you still quirk a brow out of curiosity and fold your arms, wanting to see where he’s going with this. Jon doesn’t hesitate in scooping his mic back up off the canvas to indulge his upcoming opponent, his interest clearly being equally as piqued as yours.

“Yeah? What’s that? C’mon, don’t get shy on me now.”

Jon eggs him on, and MJF lets out a chuckle with a brief and subtle shake of his head, turning his attention towards you before he speaks again.

“It’s actually not about you. Don’t flatter yourself, you’re not that important. It’s actually about your lovely little girlfriend here.”

MJF;s eyes are fixed on you, and he looks and sounds so smug that it almost makes you want to slap the smile clean off his face before Jon can even think about beating you to the punch. But despite your heart racing with a mix of fear and anger, you let him continue. Jon stands beside you, his fists clenched at his side in irritation at the mere mention of you.

“What about her? Why is she-”

“I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to her.” MJF interjects and stares you down, treating Jon like he doesn’t exist, “Didn’t you rise up out of nowhere, huh?”

He smirks and casts you a glance, almost as if he knows something that you don’t. You’re still as bewildered as you were to start off with, and you take a second to turn towards Jon in a swift attempt to placate him, willing him to not intervene here for a moment as you take the mic out of his grasp.

“Well, not really. I worked my ass off to make it here, if you didn’t already know.”

You stand your ground, your heart still racing as you lock eyes with MJF. He scoffs and rolls his eyes at you, barely missing a beat as he fires back at you.

“Oh, is that what they’re calling it these days? It’s okay, you can tell everyone you slept your way to the top. We all know that’s what it really is, anyway. It’s why you’re even with him in the first place. No need to keep bullshitting us all, we all know you’ll move onto the next one soon enough.”

MJF stuns you into silence, any and all words of retaliation you wanted to use to defend yourself with completely abandoning your train of thought. Jon, on the other hand, does not waste a single second in defending your honour, not willing to listen to any more of the bullshit that will inevitably spew from his mouth.

He’d kept his composure the entire time he’d been sharing the ring with MJF during this segment, but Jon finally snaps the moment MJF puts disrespect on your name the way he did. Jon almost instantly lunges at him, unleashing a barrage of punches on him, and you’re almost caught in the crossfire of it all.

“That’s bullshit! You don’t get to fucking talk about her like that! Keep her name out of your mouth!”

Jon screams, finally flooring him with no intention of stopping his assault on him. You know better than to get involved immediately, saving yourself from inadvertently catching a stray punch from either of the two men. Instead, you back off and let Jon blow off steam, only even considering approaching him when the blows almost come to a complete halt.

“Jon…Jon! He’s done, he’s not getting up!” you call out to him, kneeling by his side, “Let’s just go, get out of here-”

Jon heeds your words, wiping his now bloodied knuckles on his pants before he rises back up to his feet. He’s panting now, hands trembling in pure rage as he gazes down at the aftermath of his outburst.

MJF lays flat on the canvas, his forearm shielding his face from any further blows that may come his way. But they don’t. Instead, Jon snatches the mic back up from where it lays, truly being the one to get the last words in on this heated exchange.

“You ever, and I mean ever talk about my girlfriend like that again, I’ll kill you!” he snarls, barely holding back from kicking MJF when he’s already down, “I promise you, that was just a taster of what I’m gonna do to you next week!”

Jon throws the mic down for good as soon as he’s done, taking a breather to compose himself once more before he turns towards you and takes your hand in his. The crowd erupt with support for you both as you exit the ring together, triumphant and ready to both face and conquer the challenge that lies ahead of you both next week.

[jujumin-translates]

[A3!] ★ Main Story | Act 14 - DREAM CATCHER | Episode 1 - To The Next Season

Ibuki: Hmm… Something’s off.

Ibuki: If I angle it like this… Hmm.

Ibuki: (I just can’t decide… I wonder if I can find any good inspo anywhere.)

Ibuki: …

Ibuki: (TikTak’s also been all about theater company promo vids lately.)

Ibuki: Ah, “MANKAI Company Intro Video”?

Ibuki: (MANKAI Company, huh…)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Iv has entered the chat.

momo: Aaaa… I might’ve done something… Iv: whatdja do? momo: I… uhhh… might’ve done something in the heat of the moment

Kar: That’s cryptic

shiki: If something’s bothering you, you can always talk to us, okay?

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Sakuya In The Video: “Thank you so much!”

Masumi In The Video: “Thank you so much.”

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Muku: Haah… I really loved the RomiJuli sequel.

Tenma: It really is moving to think back to the first show, huh?

Kumon: They’re the same roles, but it’s really crazy to see how much they’ve grown!

Yuki: I feel like the growth of the actor is linked to the growth of the role.

Kazunari: For realsies. There’s a real synergistic effect that it gives off, y’know~.

Misumi: I can’t wait for us to perform the “Water me!” sequel~.

Muku: Same here! I wonder what kind of story it’ll be.

Tenma: We’ve gotta show everyone that we’ve grown just as much as Spring Troupe.

Muku: …Huh?

Izumi: What is it?

Muku: This guy in the audience in this video… That’s the one who’s Masumi’s fan, right?

Izumi: Ah, you’re right. That’s Towa-kun.

Tenma: That’s the same fan who came to talk to Tsuzuru-san directly the other day, isn’t it?

Izumi: Yep, that’s the one.

Muku: I see that he was able to get tickets for opening day. I’m glad.

Izumi: He said it was his first time actually seeing a performance in a theater, so he was really moved by it all.

Izumi: (He might’ve been a little TOO moved. I never thought he would’ve ended up saying something like that…)

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Towa: …Tsuzuru Minagi-sensei!! Please write a script for my theater troupe!! I’m begging you!!

Tsuzuru: Huh? …WHAT!?

Tsuzuru: A script? Me?

Towa: Yeah!

Sakuya: That’s amazing! Did you start a theater troupe?

Towa: Umm, I’m planning on creating one soon…

Izumi: Do you have any members?

Towa: N-No… I’m planning on gathering some soon.

Masumi: So what you’re saying is it’s just you?

Towa: But… I wanna start a theater troupe that’s like MANKAI Company!

Towa: When I participated in Spring Troupe’s workshop, I was able to get a feel for how theater is done and what it feels like to be on stage…

Towa: I got to know a little bit more and it got me way more interested in theater.

Towa: And then I actually saw Spring Troupe’s performance at the theater, and I was so completely blown away and moved beyond belief.

Towa: The way the play was brought to life up there on stage thanks to so many different people, and the way all the actors were truly sparkling…

Towa: I realized I also want to be on stage. I want to shine like everyone did…

Towa: Maybe I’m being too simple and this is all just wishful thinking, but…

Towa: To come here and discover theater and figure out what I want to do, I feel like it was my destiny!

Tsuzuru: …Gotcha. Destiny, huh?

Towa: Sorry, I probably sound really stupid, huh…

Izumi: Not at all.

Tsuzuru: I know how you feel because I felt the same way.

Sakuya: I felt the same way when I first encountered theater.

Citron: We very much understand your feelings, Towa~!

Izumi: We all have moments like that. I think just the fact that you felt like you were destined for theater means that you’ve already got some kind of knack for it.

Tsuzuru: I get that you’re motivated, and I’d really love to help you, but when you’ve only got one troupe member…

Tsuzuru: It’s quite the challenge to perform a one-man show with no experience, so ideally, you’d probably want at least four total troupe members.

Towa: So I need three more…

Towa: …Got it! I’ll gather them up!

Tsuzuru: Great. I’ll be waiting.

Izumi: Good luck.

Sakuya: You’ve got our support!

Towa: Thank you so much!

· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·

Izumi: (I am curious about how things are going with Towa-kun’s troupe, but we need to focus more on Summer Troupe’s next performance.)

Izumi: (And although our rank has improved, it’s still a far cry from the Fleur Award…)

Izumi: (The new troupes are all gaining momentum, so we need to stay on our toes while we start working on the second quarter…)

[ Next Part ⇢ ]

[mrghostrat]

hi bilv!

i’m curious, do u ever go back and reread your own works? for me, i can be suuuper critical of my writing during the process and it’s rly interesting revisiting old projects several months later and realizing “huh. these actually don’t suck.” just wondering what it’s like for you!

hope you’re having a lovely day :)

I DOOOO. i love my stories a lot and i write what i want to read, so i've reread my fics to hell and back 😂 usually only when i first finish them tho

i'm kind of the opposite, i get so into flow that i like pretty much everything i'm writing, but when i come back to it later i find everything wrong with it. it makes it hard for me to feel confident about my earlier stories, so i rarely promo Black Vitrum knowing the prose is objectively much weaker than what i write now 😩

[sylveriasarcana]

The Passenger Scene Analysis: Benson's in Charge, Now

Happy birthday, The Passenger! Wow, a whole year of The Passenger. A year since "Lisaaaa, like the Simpson". A year since stealing away into the night. A year since the dick and balls giraffe. Oh man. Time flies.

In honour of this special day, I wanted to do some more analysis. I've talked a bit before about how I think this movie really works as an allegory for OCD recovery in terms of the Randy character, and today I wanted to talk a bit more about Benson. So, I figured I'd share something that's been rattling around in my head: an analysis of the cinematography before, during and after the shooting scene and how Benson is slowly introduced to us through it! Specifically, why this shot is so good:

You've probably seen this shot before even if you haven't seen the movie, it's used in a lot of promo material. And for good reason! Everything that leads up to it is great! Let's talk about it!

The Passenger is about two characters that live in the shadows. For Randy, it's somewhat by choice; I've talked before about how and why Randy doesn't engage with life due to overwhelming fear and anxiety (he has OCD, I can pROVE IT-). For Benson, it's not by choice at all. Benson is overlooked a lot during the movie, and it pisses him off. The most prominent example of this is when the audience meets Sheppard. Sheppard traumatised Benson so badly it's affected him all of his life, and yet Sheppard doesn't even remember him. Benson is considered so inconsequential by everyone around him that his own abuser didn't bother to remember him. That's infuriating to him.

But there are hints of this long before we meet Sheppard; from the moment Benson is introduced, he is not treated as someone worth paying attention to. That very quickly changes through the shooting scene, and within 15 minutes, Benson has gone from practically an extra to one of the point of view characters. Let's talk about how this happens!

So, take a look at the first time the audience sees Benson.

Benson is introduced to the audience in silhouette, with his back to the camera. We know his name now because Randy greets him, but the camera doesn't linger on him and we continue following Randy into the coat room and back out onto the restaurant floor. Nothing unusual, Randy's the main character and we've been following him for a while by this point. Randy addresses Benson again to ask who's working, and Benson doesn't answer him, but he does see a car pull up that answers his question. The car and the people in it are the focus of the shot. Benson is still in the shadows, off to the side. He's not important to this scene, or so we are being led to believe.

Randy reacts in a way that suggests he's not looking forward to working with whoever's in that car, and the audience thinks, "oh okay, so whatever happens next is largely going to focus on the dynamic between Randy and whoever's driving that car". Yes, but also very much no!

And then we're in the staff room, and the focus continues to be on Randy, and then Chris. But then, something interesting happens: Benson is standing at the very back of the room in this scene, far behind everyone else, next to an open door, off to the side.

Nothing unusual, Benson's always been off to the side/standing with his back to the camera up until now. But then, this happens: even though there's a conversation happening between Chris and Hardy during this scene, the camera positions itself outside the doorway Benson's standing next to, and Benson looks off to the side, away from the action, right into it.

...Huh? Why are we suddenly focusing on this guy? Why's he looking into the camera right now? Well, perhaps the camera has noticed something about Benson. This is our first hint that maybe the quiet guy is not quite as unimportant to the story as he appears to be.

Then, this scene happens, which is really interesting in hindsight. Randy is summoned to Hardy's office and offered a manager position in another store because, according to Hardy, Randy is the only one that gives a shit about his job.

But wait... that's not true. Benson does, too. We just saw that he was the first one to arrive at work (according to Randy's alarm clock, long before 5:45 in the morning) and had already got to work mopping the floor before being assigned his job for the day. It's very likely that Randy is being offered this position because it would be pretty easy to strongarm him into being paid less or being forced into a role he doesn't really want, but still; Benson isn't even being considered for this despite evidence of a good work ethic. This tells us something about Benson immediately: he is often overlooked. The audience might wonder at this point how he feels about that. We will soon find out!

Then, the whole "I'm gonna say pussy whenever I feel like saying pussy" scene happens (god Chris is such a freedom fighter am I right), and throughout the whole thing, we keep cutting to Benson, even though he is not contributing or even reacting much at all at first. Back still to the camera, not in the centre of the frame, still mopping like he was when we met him, but not in the shadows anymore. The camera isn't ignoring him anymore either; we're actively checking in on him now.

Then, we finally hear him speak when he tells Chris to stop. Centre frame now.

Something interesting here: when Chris goes to confront him, Jess tries to stop it. We've got another hint now as to the kind of person Benson is: according to Jess's reaction, one of two things. He is either not someone worth bothering with (the camera has led us to believe this might be the case), or someone who could react badly to being confronted. Well! She was certainly right about one of those things!

And then, something interesting happens: after the whole moldy burger scene happens, Benson becomes the point of view character.

We spend a solid minute or so following Benson walking out to his car, lighting up a cigarette and then retrieving an unknown item from his trunk. It's a single shot, no cutaways. No more silhouettes, cold light of day. No more back to the camera, he's fully facing us now. Wait a minute, why are we following him now? Isn't this Randy's story? What's so important about Benson all of a sudden? He's not important to this!

Oh, but he is.

This shot: Benson's still at the very back, behind everyone else, just like he was in the staff room scene. But now, the grand reveal of the mystery item: Benson has a gun now and he's about to kill almost everyone we've met so far. In this shot, he's still in the background, but is clearly holding all the cards.

The shooting is brutal and quick, and we barely see Randy for any of it. We get very quick shots of his reactions, but for the most part, the camera is focused entirely on Benson.

In the next two minutes, Benson flips the script entirely. Not fifteen minutes ago, the audience was led to believe he was so unimportant and inconsequential to the story that he wasn't even worth being shot with his face to the camera, or in good lighting. The film itself ignored Benson. And now, he's making everyone who's been overlooking him regret it. Including the audience.

Chris, Jess, and Hardy are all dead. We're down to just two named characters now. And then, Benson approaches Randy, our point of view character who we've barely seen for the past five minutes or so. Benson stares him down. He stares us down. And now, we've arrived at That Shot.

This is a great shot, but what makes it exceptional is everything that came before. We're not just looking at Benson, we're seeing him for the first time. We've had all these little hints about who he is, and now we know. He is someone that's not going to live in the shadows anymore, no matter what it takes. Benson stares you down, and without words, lets you know:

"I'm in charge now. You're not going to ignore me again."

We're in for a ride!

[lovecolibri]

Thank you for answering question regarding buck and Chris. It’s truly amazing to see how the discourse shifted within like 2 months. It’s so interesting especially seeing that one TikTok account and just attempting and failing at “proving” how buck is a” fun uncle”. For reference below

https://x.com/buckprotector/status/1802246051673358561?s=46

https://x.com/bucksdaylight/status/1800876967061008885?s=46

Just a few days ago, Ryan discussed how ever since Shannon is gone, buck is there. To quote ““I believe there’s an offer of comfort to Eddie knowing that even though Shannon isn’t there, he has somebody else in his life that he can kind of pass the reins to and say, ‘Hey, I need another perspective. Please help my son out”. HOW is this, a FUN UNCLE.??? To add, ever since temu has been back on our screen, we aren’t even allowed to discuss eddies sexuality or buddie because “it’s not canon”. It just sucks. Like, the whole pride post? And all the occurred… for YEARS we as a fandom have identified with buck and Eddie and viewed them as queer coded/queer and WERE SO HAPPY when we got confirmation. But now, we can’t view Eddie as gay because it’s “disrespectful” and “not canon”. Like huh? If THOSE people were happy about bibuck, they are the biggest hypocrites. Because how can you be happy about bibuck if you never viewed him as bi? (Right? Because it’s not canon). Shouldn’t you have been shocked, angry, or confused? Make it MAKE SENSE!!!!!!! The way they dismiss temus actions and try and rewrite history and make him besties with chim and hen? Like yes, 2x14 chim called him for A FAVOR. then, 3x16 proved that he hadn’t reached back out or talked in over a year (even attempted to make contact) and both chim and hen said they wouldn’t consider their old teammates “friends”. Plus, he was never mentioned again. Also, temu calling him Howie vs chim. Again!!!!!!!! The way they talk about T and honestly i ask myself, “is my tv not showing these scenes”. The way they accuse the cast of being “forced” to like/hang out with Ryan or the “reason” as to why Oliver doesn’t post about BT is due to the buddie shippers???? Like he was POSTING CONTENT about bucktaylor at the PEAK of buddie. What’s stopping him now? Why did he post a screenshot of 7x09 regarding buddie+chris when he easily could have added a SS of chimney+buck+ T or Buck+ravi+T? But didn’t. Nothing for 7x10 besides liking a buddie post… hell, even after 7x04, he never once posted the kiss or their scenes, but simply the basketball scene and then in 7x05 the buddie karaoke. Nor did he post the hospital kiss.

lol. you KNOW some of the people being pissy about that pride post this year were former Buddies who re-tweeted something like it last year 🙄

Also, the cast so, SO clearly LOVES Ryan, and love hanging out with him! They have a great time on set together! They're always goofing off and joking around! It's just a fact that we have seen from videos cast and crew have taken BTS! Please, be so for real right now.

As for Oliver posting things, I would even argue that the ONLY reason he posted tay kay stuff was because the network forcibly shut down bi Buck/Buddie and he was told he HAD to promo that relationship in interviews. Same with L and the thousand and one interviews we got there when the network was trying to force something there, desperately trying to get the GA to like literally ANY woman with Buck so they could swerve from what we all saw building since 2x01. The fact that the show put zero effort into BT 2.0 and Oliver wasn't posting with a gun to his head about it speaks volumes to me about what is planned for s8 🤷🏻‍♀️

[2n2n]

ch. 110

brutality, no survivors.... incredible suffering for the girlies (you, me, JP twitter)

and here I thought shenanigans would continue... this promo image was an immediate punch at 6AM

and yet this was all things considered the easy part...? ugh, but... please a moment to drink it in... all of my beliefs in the true power exchange... it's so satisfying to see it like this. it's easy, simple to still Tsukasa, isn't it... towering, presiding older brother.... his joudai trailing... touch your seal... the virtue by which you are kept safe, kept his. Poor Tsukasa. covetous object...!

a rascal....! uhh I love pocket-sanding Akane with old man parts ... amazing technique ahaha, Tsukasa knows how to make people lose focus huh? he's in such a good mood isn't he~ not as resentful as he was towards Mirai pestering him...

mirai explode lol.... I can't say I feel much personally, I guessed she might do this ... it's sweet of her to protect Akane, but I can't think much of it, beyond what it contributes to how we should feel about her. Noble rat after all? not so dumb as Akane had said before?

Mirai holding the yorishiro makes sense, for why she's typically locked in their boundary without any freedom. sure... easy. another key to haunt us! more keys why NOT

I like to see Natsuhiko being cool like this ... ♥

but this is so interesting...

I'm never sure how much Mitsuba really understood about the Broadcast club's greater plans... I wonder if Natsuhiko is being literal here, and Mitsuba DID know what he had to do, but had settled on his suicidal ennui.... ah, having to analyze your life for something precious is grim... he has an issue of not appreciating what he has while he has it, and being unable to state it...

.... and there's nobody to correct him. This is such a manga about... 'reasons'....

among the things even possible.. that poor keychain was destroyed. I wonder if there were a few things going on in Mitsuba's mind even then...

I really like... that mysteries, kaii need something anchoring them... I like that it's not enough, to exist... I like that the body naturally dilapidates, 'wants' to move on or become something else. It's a great metaphor....! In this manga... the most important thing, is loving something. If you don't love something, you can't stay alive. You won't....

I'm still wondering if the original thing Kou gave Mitsuba back in vol. 7 will ever come back around... or if it just gave him a complex or curiosity about the 'old' Mitsuba (who he snoops on in PP after this, so....) ... and can't itself be precious so much as worming...

anyhow... I like this turn of events, but it is so shocking we're stacking handling No. 3 and also No. 1!!!! I can't believe it!!!! IT'S ALL HAPPENINGGGG?????!?!? We haven't stacked mysteries like this before ~~!!!! It's so exciting.... I like Natsuhiko a lot in all of this ♥ I don't know... like with Tsukasa and Mitsuba, I believe him that he found it all charming in its own way, and that he wanted to offer what he could to Mitsuba for the timebeing. It's not as if there are other options, here... Mitsuba... really was never doing the things that needed to be done.... or letting others know what he needed to do.

I suppose Natsuhiko could wake up Kou to watch this if he wanted, but I find it much funnier if Kou just has to wake up at the end of this and Mitsuba is eradicated... lol...

can't say I really understand Teru's position about the mysteries...

you understand the mysteries are a kind of structural pillar for this region, but the pressure that was weighing on Hanako at least seemed to be the Minamoto ... it was that imperative the Broadcast Club's been taking advantage of. The rumors created an excuse to justify the sense of mistrust in the mysteries. But I'll never quite know what Teru is even capable of ... since he shouldn't be able to touch yorishiro ... but directly threatens to exorcize mysteries. Can you have extant yorishiro without the mysteries utilizing them.... ??? Well, I just don't understand it yet.... must put it aside.

back to what really matters...

I love how peaceful, relieved, serene he looks here.... finally, you've been so patient, Tsukasa... every little step of this has taken so long.... holding the last yorishiro in your hands... trusting Amane to handle you, after... it must feel good. The end in sight....

I really love this reach for Amane's knife...

back in this position, are we?

ah.... poor Amane. For a moment... I appreciate what he's trying to do, here. He sounds patient... he sounds like an older brother. Explaining so cleanly...

you want to be sure Tsukasa understands... maybe you think-- he hasn't thought this through, or he doesn't get the consequences, he's being childish, or reckless, maybe he's misunderstood how it happened before ... I love to hear Amane, say something so direct as... won't see you again.... won't be able to save you ... everything he did last time! to ensure... that you wouldn't be apart! the binding of their souls! tying Tsukasa down to him like a ship in a storm! protection, mooring... keeping you, where he can see you! remaining together, at all costs! that's important to you too, right, Tsukasa? don't you want to see each other?

it's as if you're saying you don't want to be together, don't want to be saved... what do we do with people who don't ask you to save them? why must they insist on leaving you behind?

Mitsuba won't ask Kou to save him. Sumire wouldn't ask Hakubo to save her. Aoi didn't want Akane to save her. I wonder if Tsukasa didn't ask Amane to save him, but Amane did it anyway... her certainly wasn't asking for a hero in the Red House, or to live on coming back.

it's a kind of rejection, isn't it? When someone is so ambivalent about the life you love so much... the life you want with them... it's as if they're saying, "I don't want to be with you enough to live for you."

Of course, every time, they're really saying ... "I just don't know what I mean to you." Mitsuba doesn't feel valuable to Kou; only a replacement, a reminder of something he once cared about. Best to give up. Sumire imagined Hakubo was only placating her, and could only wish not for his earnest sadness, but for him to pretend to be sad for her. Best to let death happen. and Aoi didn't feel Akane knew the real her, imagined he would reject the real Aoi, only in love with his grand projection of her. Best to step away now.

Of course, Tsukasa thought his brother hated him, so...

It all feels so simple and logical! It's saving trouble, right?

Amane made such a gesture last time... in their shinjuu... he tried, he really tried, to say something ... to Tsukasa.

but, the message didn't go through...

but I can only be so sympathetic to Amane, as he's an incredible hypocrite. Of course, Amane has put Nene-chan through everything Tsukasa puts him through.

You also try to grant your beloved a wish for a future that explicitly doesn't involve you, and make her feel rejected, abandoned, given no choice...

Amane...

oh, Yugi twins....

.... why can't you understand when you're precious? Why can't you understand how bad it hurts, to abandon somebody? Amane-chan really suffered without you, Tsukasa. You're always the one leaving him, and getting to feel sacrificial about it. He's trying to tie you down....

.... it's a natural response... to lash out. Rejected... misunderstood... abandoned... why is Tsukasa asking you to give up on him? Why can't he understand, even with that seal on his cheek... even as you died with him....

兄の思いは届かず…

I really love that for the chapter's end.

Amane's feelings never did reach Tsukasa. It wasn't understood, what he had tried to do, his sadness now. But... Amaneeeee....

maybe you could use a taste of your own medicine....

we think we know just how to make someone else's wish come true, don't we?

isn't it such an insult! WHY!!!!!! """"WHY""""""??????

..... I'm out of images, so I'll continue in a reblog, for a couple more thoughts I'm having ....

but for this post... ahhhh. It's unbelievable we're at least starting to tackle... this. I feel bad for Amane, I really do... I feel bad for Tsukasa, too. It's hard to not hurt someone you love ... in an attempt to only hurt yourself. If we hurt ourselves, we hurt the thing our lover adores ... we spit on their love for us.

I can understand why and how Amane can say "I hate you" ... to Tsukasa. As much as Akane could childishly say it to Aoi ... and you know, it is that same unimaginable love which makes it possible. Years of familiarity, it makes you more liable to lash out. There is such a greater sense of betrayal, when you've expended so much effort... when you try so hard for someone... when you're in so much pain about them....! After all I've done... you CAN'T say this or that to me.... etc, etc! Those intense emotions... can make you feel entitled, to never be hurt... you can't hurt me, after all I've hurt for you!

and I do think it's being said extremely childishly... daikirai... he's just, unable to be any more constructive with his feelings, he's so... hurt, mad. As much as Nene-chan is so mad, hearing Hanako spit on all of her efforts she made to reach him... BIG SLAP!!!

Amane, he's maybe endured 50 years of effort and an awful lot of physical suffering for Tsukasa, and it's not gotten through... wwww! I'm sorry, I'm worried Tsukasa might have a PROFOUND amount of suicidal urge. Might be an uphill battle, Amane... you might just need to save Tsukasa because you are selfish, and you want him for yourself. There might be no easier reason ... to keep him by your side. We can't make Tsukasa beg to stay with you... but you won't beg him to stay, will you? I think that would actually do a lot of good, Amane... but you really won't do that....

meanwhile, I love the juxtaposition of Nene-chan's incredibly childish DAI DAI DAISUKIII and this daikirai lol... we all have big feelings don't we lol....! well...

[accio-victuuri]

SBMS Clowning Series ☀️ v.4

I can’t believe we’re so close to the finale which is episode 36. It’s always so fast when these dramas are released but i’m not complaining that we got it faster than his other dramas. We also have a lot of content — from photos, bts and interviews. 💪🏼

The reason why I want to make this part of the round up is this scene in SBMS, it’s the last scene that the crew shot which is when SY and JB were watching fireworks. Especially the line JB said. I think i’m not the only BXG who thought of XZ’s wish for WYB when they heard this : “I hope you don’t come to the complicated and boring world of adulthood soon. It means i hope you grow up slowly.”

It’s a pretty popular CPN that the long bday messages are made by ZZ so to hear something similar in the show is sus. You can say that it’s a usual “wish” or that ZZ is not the scriptwriter. and that’s right. However, ZZ has improvised a couple of scenes in this drama. ZZ has worked closely with the scriptwriter and director of the drama — so we cannot remove the possibility that he may have brought up this line or idea.

there are instances in this drama when we CPNd and thought that ZZ improvised it and we were right. for example accidentally holding JB’s hand @ the subway or the thing about you s/o being your “charger”. so i’m not gonna be surprised if one way or another we get a confirmation about this. 💓

anyway, moving on to other stuff…

SOME SIMILARITIES/ Coincidence:

• “Eating” the tissue after eating. Normal people will just wipe it or will do that but not for long like they do. With the examples, it looks like WYB does this more and GG was infected. Lol.

• The BGM of recent douyin posts from both sides is the same 🙃. I don’t know how popular this song is now in douyin, cause this is tiktok after all certain sound clips become popular and everyone start using it. But it’s interesting that it’s videos posted the same day.

some are saying that since the SBMS post was “romantic”, this is WYB’s answer. He is matching the BGM. Also the caption ( YBO official ) had a star emoji in it. Why didn’t he just make it the sun 😂😂😂 I think the star can be connected to the Douyin update from the day before, where ZZ was holding a star toy.

• This will make the most sense to those who watched the recent episode, but there is a scene where SY asks the “bear” if Jian Bing is the most beautiful and it lights up meaning yes. Lol. That kind of shamelessness in praising reminded us so much of WYB!!!!!

• XZ WHERE DID YOU LEARN THIS MOVE HUH? Is this one of your improvs? I’m screaming!!!!

It’s like he got tips from the things WYB did before, who was younger than him and what worked to make him like/love the gremlin more. 🤣🤣🤣

• For some next level clowning, in ZZ’s weibo video post — what number do you see? 8? 👀

==============================

Interview highlights. This covers ZZ’s recent content for SBMS promos. Ones that remind us of bjyx clues and symbols. Just to disclaimer that the purpose of this is not to portray ZZ as someone who can’t be his own person. How we always have to connect things back to WYB in everything he says does not mean any harm. It’s all CPN. We are very much aware that ZZ is his own person. 😌

SINA INTERVIEW:

What stood out to me was when he talked about evaluating himself everyday so he can improve. This is something similar that he has with WYB. They only want to be better and expand their skill set. They are also open to criticism.

There was also a part where he talked about equality in relationships when there is an age gap.

“being equal in any relationship, no one is higher or lower than anyone else, everyone is in a very fair and equal relationship and in getting along.”

Do you have some experience in this ge? I have to say they are equal — especially in spoiling each other. ^^

AND LASTLY HOW HE expressed his interest in playing a charming and cute villain. Lol. He said a couple of times already, someone please listen. WYB already did Mister Ye who is sort of the villain. I hope ZZ can play something like that too.

RUXI INTERVIEW

His answers tend to very similar in these interviews and i think that’s largely because the questions are similar. Especially they ask about his experience in the drama or his interpretation of Shengyang as a character.

But in this interview, he was asked about being an actor and his answer 😭😭😭

I’m definitely still on the road to acting and becoming an actor myself. This road is still very long. I have to walk it step by step in a down-to-earth manner. It’s more interesting to me.

I mean. Just look at the tagline of my blog. Yep, the road ahead is long. We will be here for you ^^

FOX FACTORY INTERVIEW

How he talked about memorizing his co stars line as well. Some CPFs are speculating that this started with CQL. It’s because him and WYB were sharing one script book. Which btw, he never did again with his other co stars.

THIS PART which made me giggle. They were asking about the heroine he would want to play with and he completely goes back to his desire of playing the villain 🤭 If you don’t wanna answer it, just say something else. Of course a co star is important, but I think for ZZ, he is more into his role as an actor. He is focused on himself.

Also this one. A very thrifty GG! Practical. It’s in line with the fake rumors that he scolds WYB for impulse buying 😅😅😅

-END.

[sgiandubh]

Why do you think all of a sudden they are showing so much bts before the season ends ? They used to get into so much sh!t. And SC? They want to show they are besties now ?

Do you think what the actors post need to be approved first ?

Dear Interjection Anon,

So many questions, all of a sudden. Panic much, in Mordor?

So be it. Let's unpack:

I wouldn't go as far as saying we're flooded with BTS "all of a sudden". This is a rather decent rhythm of release in my book, with a clear double objective:

1) keep people engaged/interested, as this bumper season has been split in two by some marketing Einstein at Starz (someday, I might write something about the sadistic streak of their sales strategy, to cool off)

and

2) boost audience ratings, during this summer season when people usually go to the beach/host barbecues in their backyards/fall in love/whatever.

No comprendo "they used to get into so much shit".

Besties now, huh? Let me count the ways, Anon: tweetheart, #1 in my book, single occurrence, bubs, boo, babe, S's name heard from Pretoria to Vladivostok in The Reckoning (don't bother to retcon that, she confirmed), hubby, wifey, me wife, give her all the prizes, etc. etc. etc. But also and more so after the Great Schism of 2016, tele-wifey, tele-hubby, sister (ugh, no), co-star and yes, best friend. This I will not deny: it is on record and I don't deal in mystification. I do remember, however, my feisty, diminutive grandmother telling me after Grandpa died suddenly: you know, I lost my best friend. She meant feelings, there. But I digress: I should hope only your blind faith in what is said, not in what you see or in what your instincts tell you, is prompting this question. As far as I am concerned, I didn't allow anyone, ever, to tell me what to think. So no, I don't believe that poorly conceived propaganda, delivered with the cheer of oral surgery. S&C don't mean anything new. They simply parrot those talking points. And if you think these people are just best friends, I pity you, Anon.

This is 2023, not 1950. These two are Executive Producers, with complicated personal lives and a (by now internalized) self censorship reflex. I would therefore suppose that what they post is not necessarily/always vetted by TPTB. What secondary players post is far more valuable to me. Less spotlight means more freedom to be yourself and this is where we did find the biggest nuggets during this promo season.

[pavaal]

mari mobamenco masterpost

unlike most of the masagoto conversations, a lot of these were not retranslated because i no longer have the original japanese, but i just wanted to compile them! i did find a couple things that i never translated that were sitting in a word document so those are new, but mostly they're just cleaned up to make them easier to understand and less clunky to read.

my next plan for translation stuff is to tackle the mini-dramas in yomecolle! i have some of the cards already translated in my tag, but there are a few things i skipped, and i'd like to put together a proper script for the cards where masayoshi and goto were specifically talking to each other. after that, i bought some magazines that i'd like to translate the blurbs from!

for now, enjoy mari+masayoshi and goto+mari having inane chats about nothing.

MARI+MASAYOSHI

Masayoshi: When you’re trying to persuade someone to do the right thing, you absolutely can’t give up! Mari: That’s sooo boooooring. Masayoshi: I’m sure everyone could understand each other if we just tried to communicate! Mari: Well, I’ll leave the talking to you!

Mari: Omawari-san wa inu ~ ♪ Masayoshi: What are you singing? Mari: "Inu no Policeman!" It's my new song. Masayoshi: It's… interesting… Mari: It's good, right?

Masayoshi: You're very cat-like. Mari: You think so? I guess I've worn cat ears in promos and things like that. Masayoshi: Now that I think about it, you were such a kitten when we first met! Mari: Are you trying to give me a compliment? (Another one that needs some explanation. Masayoshi says that Mari was 猫をかぶってた, which literally means "wearing a cat [costume, in the case of Masayoshi and Mari's first meeting]" but has the idiomatic meaning of something similar to "a wolf in sheep's clothing." Masayoshi accidentally (?) said that Mari was only pretending to be sweet, but he literally meant that she was dressed as a cat.)

Mari: I heard you refuse to use an umbrella. Masayoshi: Actually, there's a very profound reason for this… Mari: That's okay. I don't need to know. Masayoshi: If you're going to bring it up, please listen until the end.

Masayoshi: What are you doing? Mari: I’m preparing outfits for our police friend~ Masayoshi: Oh… Goto-san would look good in this one! Mari: Right?!

Masayoshi: Cats are pretty cute, huh? Mari: Oh, are you a cat lover? Masayoshi: No, I actually prefer dogs. Mari: Yeah, I can see that… you do seem like a big puppy. Masayoshi: D… do I really come off that way?

Masayoshi: What do you like to do in your free time? Mari: I like to cause a little trouble! Masayoshi: Can you really call yourself a hero with an attitude like that?! Mari: It was a joke! A jooooke!

Masayoshi: It's dangerous for girls like you to go out alone at night! Mari: Don't worry! I mean, I save YOU all the time. Masayoshi: Um, that's a different issue entirely. Mari: Anyway, let's make this city safe for everyone to go out at night! Masayoshi: Yes… you're right! Let's do our best!

Mari: I need some advice! Masayoshi: Yes? What is it? Mari: I don't know what kind of attack to debut next. A taser? Blunt force? Or maybe… an explosion would be best? Masayoshi: Um… I'd like to recommend something more gentle…

Mari: I've been in a great mood recently! Masayoshi: Me too! Mari: I wonder if it's because I got to see a certain officer the other day…? Masayoshi: I also saw Goto-san a few days ago!

Mar: I've been in a great mood recently! Masayoshi: Oh, really? Mari: Yeah, I kind of feel like… maybe I'm the most important person in the world? It's like I can do anything!

Masayoshi: Last night, I dreamt Goto-san made me curry. Mari: Huh?! Invite me next time! Masayoshi: But it was only a dream… Mari: Yeah, and I wanna have this dream too!

Mari: What type of person is that policeman interested in? Masayoshi: Goto-san? Um… His girlfriend, and people who email him a lot, I suppose… Mari: So I'll start by sending him 100 emails a day! Masayoshi: That'll just make him angry!

Masayoshi: I'll take care of things here! You go ahead! Mari: Huh? Isn't that what a sidekick would say? Masayoshi: No way! It's a hero's line! Mari: Then… I'll take care of things here. You go ahead, junior!

Mari: Do you have many friends? Masayoshi: No, not really. Mari: Is that so? Masayoshi: It's hard to find people to share my hobbies with. Mari: I hate to say it, but I know that feeling…

MARI+GOTO

Mari: I wanna eat your cooking. Goto: Anything in particular? Mari: Anything that you make is fine by me! Goto: Then I'll heat up some instant curry later. Mari: You know, when I said "anything," that wasn't exactly what I meant…

Mari: Who do you like more, me or Samumenco? Goto: I don’t like either of you. Mari: Then… who do you like more, Samumenco or your girlfriend?! Goto: Huh? Why wouldn’t I pick my girlfriend?! Mari: You hesitated just now! Goto: I didn’t hesitate!!

Goto: What do you do in your spare time? Mari: I don't actually have that much free time… I have to compose songs, learn routines, things like that. Goto: Right, your job keeps you busy. Mari: Lately, I've also had to prepare a variety of uniforms for you! Goto: I never asked you to do that!

Mari: Now that I think about it, I had a bounty on my head too, didn't I? Goto: Yeah, when everyone was running around for information. Mari: Honestly, the amount was way too low! Goto: THAT'S what bothers you? Mari: It should've been 100 million, at least!

Goto: I haven't been able to take a break in forever because of you guys. Mari: Got it! Let me apologize by taking you on vacation! Goto: What kind of vacation would THAT be?!

Goto: What do you think about getting cosmetic surgery and stuff like that? Mari: Ick! I would never. Goto: That's actually quite sensible of you. Mari: It's because my body is already 100% perfect!

Goto: Being an idol seems really busy. You must be exhausted. Mari: I find a way to make time! Goto: Don't you ever sleep? Mari: Well, you know, in meetings and stuff. Goto: Don't do that!

Goto: Do you even have a license? Mari: Of course! Goto: For driving? Mari: Yeah! My most recent driving instructor even said that my driving was the best it's ever been! Goto: Somehow… I feel bad for him.

Goto: You and Masayoshi kind of have similar tastes, huh? Mari: What do you mean? Goto: Like your costumes, for example. Mari: Don't be stupid! My costume is ten thousand times better than his! Right? Goto: …no, they're pretty much the same.

Mari: Omawari-san wa inu ~ ♪ Goto: What are you singing? Mari: It’s my new song—“Inu no Policeman!” Goto: Huh. (There’s no way it could be about me, right?)

Goto: What is it about me that makes freaks like me so much? Mari: You’d call me a freak when I'm standing right in front of you? Goto: Ah… sorry. I was thinking about Masayoshi. Mari: So you totally ignore that I like you too, huh…

Mari: Don't you want to join us heroes? Goto: I'm already a cop, so that's like a hero of the common people. Mari: Well, the uniform is good, but it's a little plain… Goto: It's plain work, supporting society.

Mari: Hey, officer? Where can I buy a gun? Goto: No way. Don't buy one, don't use one, don't even WANT one. Mari: Yeah, that's what I thought you'd say… I guess I'll just have to use my shock baton and explosives! Goto: Don't use those either!

Goto: Whenever you get photographed as Flamenco Girl, you always face the camera and strike a pose. Mari: Of course I'm gonna pose for the camera! Goto: I guess that comes with being an idol. Mari: No, I've been this way since I was a little girl!

Goto: Do you want to see a movie sometime? Mari: I've only got the Red Axe movie, but guys like that, right? Goto: Why do both of you only have these hero show theatrical releases…?

Goto: You and Masayoshi both live in really nice places. Mari: Why don't you spend the night sometime? Any time you want is okay with me! Goto: Absolutely not.

Goto: Ever since I met you, it feels like it's been nothing but losing tickets. Mari: You don't think meeting me was like winning the lottery?! Goto: No, it was more like blowing my savings on nothing. Mari: You're supposed to be happy we met.

[baddygab-bi]

My mom’s a general audience member in her sixties. Doesn’t read articles. Doesn’t watch interviews. Had NO spoilers. A very casual watcher. She once said “they’re not gay” when I told her about how “some gay people” (hi, yeah, me but she doesn’t know I ship nor that I’m bi) ship Buck and Eddie as buddie.

Here’s her thoughts:

Helicopter scene: “huh. Interesting.” Then about Tommy “who’s that guy? I remember him from last episode, but who is he?”

Sewer scene: “that’s funny. That’s cute.” About Buck watching Chris. She also was confused about Eddie suddenly having another car that’s not his truck. She thinks Ravi is adorable and funny.

Maddie and Buck at home: “so he’s jealous, what can you do?” “There’s nothing you can do.” “I don’t know why Buck is at Maddie’s house… I know they’re siblings.” “What’s the big deal, so what? Eddie has a new best friend, you can have many best friends.”

After pressing about Tommy: “He’s not gay, is he?” I said: You can’t just ask someone if they’re gay. “They’re getting really buddy-buddy”

Amazon prime scene: when Buck was doing the weights, she was mumbling something that looked like “no. Stupid. No” (we’re on FaceTime and only unmute on commercial breaks). She thought the Prime ad was funny. “Apparently the other guy (she means Eddie) isn’t interested.” “Buck is going to be lonely if he doesn’t find another friend to play, that’s all.” “I thought he was gonna kill himself with the bar weights.” “He’s not gonna come to your rescue, dude.” “He wanted his friend to spot him and look at him, not the other guy (Ravi).” “But Eddie’s busy with Tony.” (Yes she said Tony.)

She’s more invested in the mom shooting her son and Harry and Athena than I want her to be. I need her to be IN THESE BISEXUAL BUCK TRENCHES. Also is this my coming out moment lmao? I’m just gonna say I like his acting.

Basketball: “that was a killer move. He had so much anger and he wanted to really hurt him and he did.” “He’s jealous! And they were winning!” (Huh, they were winning.) “it’s all about the bonding, the guy things. He’s jealous, that’s all there is to it.” “And sooner or later, Eddie isn’t going to want to be around Buck, he’s gonna want to be around Tommy.” I asked her about the song that was playing, she didn’t hear it. Rewatched the scene to hear the song. Song thoughts: “oh there was music.” I bet she won’t understand the words. I was right, verbatim. She put on the captions. “Just because Eddie gets a broken ankle, I don’t want him to leave the show.” She thinks someone is gonna leave at the end or die, I kinda tricked her into thinking Tommy’s gonna die. She asked what a beard is. Told her. “Let me ask you something—no—wait—Eddie’s not gay. Neither is Chimney. So why would he be a beard?” I asked why she thought Eddie was gay. “Not Eddie. Buck! Buck’s not gay.” I told her nobody on the court is gay (not a lie technically). “Exactly. Nobody is gay.” Still listening to the song: she likes the song. She’s into this scene that I made her watch three times. “Ooohh he drove him.” “They’re not gonna be friends any more.”

Buck and Maddie at lunch: Liked Maddie going blonde and the Sarah story. Thinks Maddie was right he was acting like a kid, so jealous. “I want to be your friend too. Include me.”

The SCENE: she has no clue what’s about to happen. No idea. Is nodding when Buck said he was jealous. “Wow” about Buck wanting to get to know Tommy. “That was funny!” After they kissed. “Buck was trying to get his attention and he just kissed him.” “It’s nice. Good. It’s an interesting ending. So now those two will be friends.” I asked if she missed the end of that scene. “No! They’re going out on Saturday at 8am to learn to fly a helicopter.” I told her to rewind it. On the rewatch: “You can have more than one friend!” After Buck said he thinks Tommy is cool “He likes him… okay.” “Tommy went in for the kiss.” She smiling now. “They’re gonna get a beer.. and kiss.”

Promo for next week: she gasped when Buck said it was his first date with a guy. She thought it was just two guys going out for a drink. She didn’t realize they were romantically involved. “Who did Eddie bring to the restaurant?” I said it was his girlfriend “when did she get on the show?”

And on Buck being bi? “It’s nice.”

Was she expecting it? “I thought Buck was more interested in Eddie. Because of the jealousy. I thought Buck and Eddie would be kissing. And then Tommy comes along and he’s gonna kiss one of them.” “Tommy is cute, he’s gonna kiss somebody. Once they add another character it has to be someone to kiss Eddie or Buck.” “I was waiting for them to have a threesome.” “They’re just men having fun! All three of them!” “I thought Tommy and Eddie were gonna kiss. I forgot about the girlfriend.”