#i just figured intros were eternal lol

[thesmollestsnek]

Death echoes

So a while ago, i found this dp x dc post that had a really interesting lore headcanon for Danny’s ghostly wail. Idk if I’ll be able to find it again, I’ll link it here if I do, but essentially it posited that every ghost has something called a “death echo”, which is an ability unique to them based heavily on their deaths. These echoes are the most powerful move in a ghost’s moveset, but they’re also extremely volatile and draining, typically damaging the ghost in some way when used, with Danny’s being his Wail because he died screaming. The original post then went on to some really cool halfa!Jason ideas based on these death echoes, but for this lil snippet with an extremely long intro I’d like to focus on Danny a bit more.

Edit: Apparently I may have extrapolated a lot of the actual lore behind these death echos myself? The inspiration post was a lot longer in my memories. Or I might've mushed multiple posts into one mental box and then forgot lol. So a lot of the actual detail from this point on is seemingly mostly original material? I think? Idk man, sometimes my brain spits out information without giving me any clues as to where it got that information. Anyway, this post got kinda long and since I'm... decently sure this is where I shifted from summarizing @ailithnight's post to writing all my own thoughts I figured here would be a good place to throw the cut lol.

So! with all of the context-for-the-context out of the way, let’s move on to the actual context for what I’m writing cause I can’t be bothered with writing an intro XD

Essentially, this is an au where Danny is an established member of the Justice League, or maybe one of the teen hero teams? I’m a slut for eternal teenager Danny, but maybe he’s enough of a powerhouse to be on the main team despite him both looking and acting like the dumbass fourteen year old he died as. Either way, he’s on a League/League-sanctioned mission and things go bad. Like, everyone-almost-dies bad. And so as a final desperation attack, Danny uses his Wail, a power he’s never told anyone on the league he even has. And it works, and they make it out, but after the fact everyone has. Questions. And because in this au death echoes are deeply personal, Danny dodges those questions, but the league coughbatmancough isn’t satisfied with that. So they push for answers. Answers Danny’s not willing to give, because. In my mind death echoes aren’t just based on how a person died, but also their experience of that death. What their last thoughts were. When Danny died the only thing that he could process beyond just an all-encompassing painpainpainpainpain was the sound of someone screaming. His screaming. And so his death echo is the sound of a fourteen year old child screaming in deathly pain and terror weaponized, which definitely gave the league Even More Questions than they would’ve had already. Which finally brings us to the actual snippet, which is a conversation between John Constantine, who was brought in for his experience with the supernatural once it became clear Danny wasn’t going to talk, and Danny himself. 

~~~~~~~

“So, kid. Batsy tells me you’ve been hiding some of your abilities, wanna tell me what's up with that? Call it an occultist's intuition, but somethin’ tells me you’re not just being stubborn for the hell of it.”

“It’s... complicated. And not anyone’s business, either!”

“Kid...”

“Why does it even matter?! It’s not something I want to or am even able to do on a regular basis! I saved the mission, can’t they just accept that and move on???”

Sighing, Constantine reached up to start massaging his brow. “Kid, you and I both know that ain’t gonna be enough. Now I know that some things are better left alone, but the rest of these idiots? They can’t accept that, Batsy especially. That man’s never left bloody well enough alone in his life”

He looked up just in time to see the otherworldly teen shrink into himself, looking every bit the child he was. “I know but... why? Why do they need to keep asking questions? And why do they only ask the ones that hurt to answer?”

A sharp glance. “The fuck kinda questions are they asking? Batman was speaking in more grunt than word, so I didn’t really catch all the details of what this power you’re supposedly hiding even is.”

Phantom shrinks even more into himself at that, and responds in a voice so small it’s more sigh than speech. “I... I can scream. And it breaks things and pushes people back. But it, it sounds. Bad. And it brings up bad memories and I don’t like to do it or listentoitoreventhinkaboutitandtheywon’tletmeforgetand-”

“Breathe kid. I know you don’t need to but just take a deep breath with me. Don’t you go getting lost in your own head on me now., Constantine reassured the kid automatically, the sheer hopelessness prompting action long before the words themselves could be understood. Then the rest of him caught up, and he had to pause. Looked up at the kid, saw just how distressed he was. A picture was starting to form in the back of his head, and Constantine didn’t like what he saw one bit. A last-resort power that the normally open Phantom was strangely reticent about. A scream so horrible sounding the rest of the league would not to stop asking questions about it. Terrible memories to match said scream. And one truly miserable child who couldn’t bear to even think about any of it. 

“Phantom... is that your Echo? Screaming?”

A miserable nod is his only response, the tears that had been welling up in the kid’s eyes finally starting to fall. Cursing softly to himself, Constantine stood to leave, bracing himself for the Bat’s inevitable questioning. “Well then you just take all the time you need love, and leave the rest to me. I’ll make sure the rest of those idiots know not to ask you about this ever again.”  And with that Constantine turned and strode towards the door, leaving the quietly sobbing child to collect himself in privacy.

~~~~~

I had a whole-ass lore dump conversation between Constantine and Batman planned here, explaining how death echoes are deeply personal, and asking about one is a taboo on par with, potentially even worse than, asking a ghost about their death outright. Because they are formed from an amalgamation of how a ghost died, their last thoughts, and their final emotions, in some ways asking a ghost about their Echo is like asking them to describe their death in painstaking detail. But uhhh... inspiration bug left. So yea. Side note, I’d like to apologize if my depiction of Constantine’s accent was Bad, I’m but a lowly USAmerican whose only exposure to British accents is through tv ^-^’

[magadauthan]

Ep 26: Under the Sky So Blue

Thank you to the @trigun98watchparty for making this possible, and to all of you who have been reading along with me to this point. It's been a great trip down memory lane and getting acquainted or re-acquainted with other '98 fans who watched the first Trigun and loved it despite its flaws.

Also big thank you to those who engaged in meta, especially @tiggymalvern! Finding you again was the nicest surprise of all!

Without further ado, I am plant-ing (HARF) my tongue firmly in cheek for the intro to this recap.

Knives. We need to talk.

You have spent the last 130 years working on becoming the most basic bitch on NML, and you've done a good job. You couldn't be any blonder or blue-eyed. You have (had) a loyal second-in-command who did all your dirty work for you so you didn't have to get your hair mussed. You have a Squad who secretly hates you but sticks around because they want to be on the right side of things if you win out. And you have a silly-looking pair of boots.

It's also well known that you are the Beverage Boy of NML. On your desk (which is sitting in front of a big loopy wall art stating "Live, Laugh, Murder Everyone") and next to the "Universe's #1 Brother" mug you bought yourself is a canvas frame that says "But first, coffee." You probably killed everyone else at Target so you could get the latest Stanley.

But Knives. Knives. The wine? That's a red you're drinking. Red wine doesn't get chilled. It should be decanted and served at room temperature. Plus, basic bitches drink rosé, or a white zinfandel. To make your declassé behavior worse, you're drinking it out of a martini glass. If you're going to have a Cosmo, have a Cosmo. It's no shame. But really - how are you going to claim that you're a superior breed if you don't know such simple rules of etiquette?

Get a grip, Beverage Boy.

--Aw, baby Vash.

--I wonder whether the twins need to eat and drink, or whether it's just easier for them if they do.

--You know, Knives, humans wouldn't have had to rely so heavily on the Plants if you hadn't crashed the ships. Ofc he didn't intend to have anyone survive besides himself and Vash, which sounds pretty boring. What were the two of you going to do for all eternity?

--Was Knives working on the guns before the ship crashed, and that's what he went in to find?

--I remember seeing somewhere that the little cartridge above the barrel of the Long Colts is a teeny Plant, or Plant-stuff. Anyone else recall this?

--NOW who's the big whiny baby, Knives? (my leg, it hurts! Why?)

--That must be a very young Doc on the ship. Although, there's nothing to say that a year on NML is the same as a year on Earth. It would be more surprising if it was, rather than it wasn't.

--LOL William Conrad (aka Revnunt Buskus) is from Cleveland, Ohio

--No but seriously, how did Knives get himself and Vash's severed arm out of July after getting blasted to smithereens?

--"Hi Knives! Living as a human was great! Congratulations bro, I am done with your shit!"

--Vash kept quite a few of Leonov's wires. They've come in handy.

--Knives has learned Vash's physical tricks well enough to keep up with him... and Vash has finally figured out how to control his Plant powers well enough to cancel his brother out. (Tristamp really nailed this; their battle in the final ep was fantastic)

--Vash is worn out. Not only has he been shot through the shoulder by his brother, he's likely not completely healed from the encounter with Legato.

--Even in death, WW is looking after his friend and kicking his ass to do something, damnit! I'm right here to help you!

--The peppering Knives got from the Punisher likely wouldn't have been enough to put Vash off, but Knives has never been able to handle physical pain. Vash remembers this very well and takes excellent advantage of it.

--that boy has jawlines for days

--A blast from the well, the cauldron of Rebirth. Vash is reborn to be his own person, to make the right choices for himself and his conscience, rather than for her memory.

Which is what every mother wants for her son. I should know.

--go get your man, Meryl, he won't keep you waiting. if he did you'd go find him anyway.

--Vash leaves his coat, his gun... and his sunglasses. He's done hiding behind them. He doesn't need to anymore.

--This would have been the ending scene, for most anime. Anyone who watches anime gets used to the vague ending, the things left unsaid, and the ambiguity. There's rarely a "happy ending" the way Westerners think of them. Vash could have wandered off into the sunset, leaving the viewer to wonder whether he ever saw Milly and Meryl again. That's pretty normal.

And then there's Trigun, which takes that expected ambiguity and says "nah, we're not done."

Vash comes back to town. He's made his choice to accept the girls into his life, of his own volition, and he's going to let them make their own choices about having him (and his brother) in their lives. There would be an awful lot to sort out, but he wants to try.

This is the very next scene. Don't tell me otherwise; I don't want to hear it. (credit: doujinshi circle Nail Cut Club; title Meteo Strike).

I have Big Thoughts about what could happen after this, and of course a fanfic, but my cat wants me to go to bed now. She's being very persistent.

Thanks to all of you who read this far. You're the best, and I love you all! And talk to me, I like hearing from ppl!

[taylorrama]

The Locked Tomb + mewithoutYou pt. 4/17

And she'd always weigh me down But, afraid I might need her I dragged her around

Song: My Exit, Unfair Album: Catch For Us the Foxes

Several mewithoutYou songs have long, slow intros that would make good music for a trailer for a TLT adaptation, just saying.

I think from the title, we can get several TLT vibes if we interpret "exit" as death. Unfair exit. Unfair death. Even taking "exit" to mean "exit," the only way Gideon gets to leave (exit) the Ninth House is by an agreement with Harrow that really isn't on her terms. Unfairness all around.

My exit unobserved And my homesickness absurd I said "water" expecting the Word would satisfy my thirst Talking all about the second and third When I haven't understood the first

Something something the various unfair exits/deaths of characters in a world where one soul consumes another to attain immortality might be "unobserved" if we think about off-screen deaths in Canaan House, but also the way that certain people (Harrow) refuse to accept or allow certain other people (Gideon) to be truly gone.

Homesickness. Not sure anyone in TLT really feels homesick with the exception of Nona.

Something something, more about water and the River. There might be some ways I could tease out some connection between the River and this concept of metaphorical water (scripture) being something that might promise relief, but ultimately doesn't; however, I need my reread to help me figure out the River better so I get something more than "it's Purgatory/a wormhole" out of it.

But here's a funny joke. The last two lines in this section are probably talking about some philosophical concept, but in a TLT context, it actually makes fun of all of us for not understand wtf is happening in these first three books.

I'm gonna jump now to the chorus because that's the next place where we have some interesting lines for TLT purposes.

And just like the clouds They bring a darkness And a hard rain's going to fall I felt the crowd Bring a loneliness and a hard rain A hard rain's going to fall And she'd always weigh me down But, afraid I might need her I dragged her around It's best to keep close sackcloth and ash In a whitewashed town

There's so much rain in Harrow the Ninth, but not really a crowd. Though maybe you could argue that even the small cast of characters around Harrow could feel like a crowd to her and it probably would since she finds Ianthe's and the Body's constant presence unsettling enough.

Speaking of the Body, the second half of this chorus is Harrow POV about the Body. The sackcloth and ash imagery is especially fitting given that in a Biblical context, those are used in times of mourning, and Harrow is mourning through the entirety of book 2.

She wore that phony smile on her face I guess like a bandage on a wounded place While I kept the keys to every old lock just in case

This...is Harrianthe LOL. And do we ever find out if people still have their keys from Canaan House?

Rehearsed indifference tossed aside Our narrow arms spread wide What unseen pen etched eternal things On the hearts of human kind But never let them in our minds?

"Rehearsed indifference" is totally Harrow. In general, I love these last three lines, but I've got nothing at the moment in terms of connecting it to TLT. It could be about the quest for immortality vs. the mechanisms for achieving it being so elusive, but it's not clear to me after a first read that John had initially set out to defy death before he had his powers.

The chorus again, with some differences.

Oh, the clouds they brought a darkness And a hard rain's gonna fall And all my laughter ends in emptiness And a hard rain's gonna fall My every medicine causes more illness And a hard rain's gonna fall And until I let you go Oh, I didn't know You were never mine You were never mine at all

"All my laughter ends in emptiness." If Harrow ever has any joy, this is how she feels about it and what she's experienced whenever she's had something (Gideon) that genuinely makes her happy.

"My every medicine causes more illness." I see this working in TLT in a few different ways. What is the "medicine" that Harrow gives herself to prevent herself from devouring Gideon's soul? A lobotomy that fractures her consciousness and sense of reality. Did John initially believe that his necromantic powers were some kind of medicine that could help others? Sure, a little bit. And what did that cause but a 10,000 year life that he's disillusioned with, and a paradigm that probably isn't better than the pre-Resurrection solar system.

"Until I let you go, I didn't know you were never mine at all." Lots of ways this could apply. Mostly, I think of it as a lyctor lament, but if Griddlehark ends in some type of mutual release of one another–to oppose the possession/destruction that's inherent to the lyctor state–then it could be their finalized albeit sad realization.

There's a bit more to the song after these lines, but nothing super specific comes to mind right now with TLT. Rereads and Alecto might make me go 👀 but for now, this is all I've got on this song.

---

TLT + mewithoutYou pt. 1; TLT + mewithoutYou pt. 2; TLT + mewithoutYou pt. 3; TLT + mewithoutYou pt. 5

[mercypettigrew]

Peter Perseus Pettigrew 22 | Trans Man (he/him) | Elliot Page

[pinterest] | [aesthetic tag] | [intro]

wanted connections under cut.

Childhood friend: Someone who has known Peter for as long as he can remember. Perhaps they lived nearby the village he grew up in, perhaps their parents were friends of either his mother or Miss Josephine. Preferably someone pureblood and connected to the Death Eaters. They grew apart at Hogwarts as he cleaved himself to the Marauders.

Prophet-able Acquaintance: Someone he met through work, either a coworker or someone present for an interview he did the photography on.

[psid99]

World End's Fortune.

The continuation that I dont have time to draw so I will just leave them here as a snippet lol.

The intro dj: link

------------------------------------------------------------

Childe died, and everything happened just like what he said. Celestia decided to wipe out all the existences of Teyvat, Zhongli miraclely survived and continued to live in a world that has nothing but sand and ashes.

There weren't any spiritual power left in him as everything was erased so ZL just simply exist, and wait for millions years in despair. Its foolish to think that a human like Childe, got him in this situation but sometimes ZL can't help but blame Childe.

And then he eventually give up on waiting, on seeking for a new form of life on the planet and slumped down , hoping for the sand and ashes to covered him, as he gradually turned into a bare rock.

That's when a miracle happens and he found his mind wandered through time and spaces. His mind took him to have a glimpse of himself in multiple universes, and in every of them, no matter what, theres always Childe. It's as If they were destined to meet and fall in love with each other, but is this a blessing or a shackle when hes suffering this much because of their love? What's the meaning of all those years in solitude when his Childe is already dead?

Then he finally see the image of a boy, a young Snezhnaya boy wandering in the darkness talking to an unknown figure.

"Wh- where am I?" The young boy asked.

" You are at the void,... the end of eternity." The figure in the shadow answered.

" But why?? Am I... am I dead?" The boy asked frantically."

"... you were supposed to survive but its appear that you are a bit more unfortunate than the other you. So that's why you end up here, waiting to be turned into nothingness."

" what, what about you, are you going to be turned into nothingness too?"

" no, I have always been here, watching the universe moving, I... don't leave. "

" like a fish in a tank?"

The figure then stopped to say the boy is surprisingly apathetic to his situation. The boy scratched his head and laugh, saying that he already see himself end up dying .

" But I... really wanted to live."

Then the boy noticed that he and the figure in the shadow... look somewhat similar. Then he suddenly came up with an idea, he couldn't leave but the other perhaps could? He tried to convince the figure to leave in his stead, with his body.

" what's in it for me? I don't find the reason to leave this place."

" Y- You are going to live the life I am going to have, have the love I am going to received and the love I'm about to give! So please!...There's someone out there might still waiting for me to love them."

The boy keeps on insisting until the figure finally gave in, then they lay down a promise.

"Are you...immortal?" The boy asked when he was lifted up by the unknown person, they need to get on with it quick because his soul is abt to vanish.

" I supposed I am." The unknown answered.

" That's great... I have always dreamed of an eternal love, give that to them for me." Then everything turned pitch black. The unknown took the boy's body, then its as if he had turned one with the body, unable to remember anything of his past self, only with the boy's memory he lived on. Just like the promise they had, his life was a filled with love and adventures.

But he eventually meets the end of his fate, at the final moments he remembered everything, the boy, the promise, the void. Is this the end? he doesn't want to go back, he doesn't want to give up this life yet, there's still that eternal love he was promised.

So he looked at the man who's holding him tight in his arm, his beloved and thought, with you... I-

He coughed out the blood, forced out the words, and he said:

" I curse you for all the eternity-..."

—————————————————————————————————————————————

“ I want to love you for all eternity, be my loved one and no one else’s. I will make you an exception.

So when your time is ended, come find me.”

Is what he wanted to say, but the words doesn’t come out anymore. And his conscious faded away, back to the void.

————————————————————————————————————————————-

Zhongli continue to tell the mysterious voice from the void about what happened, how after that he followed the flow of time and come here.

“It’s true that I was supposed to perish on the day of the Celestial cleanse, as you can see I show up here with the appearance that I have that day, which is quite fortunate I would say… And that’s my story, what about you?”

Zhongli took a step closer to the mysterious one floating the the void and asked.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself? “

And the mysterious creatures emerged from the darkness in a figure of a beautiful young man. He stay quiet for a while then speak up.

“Are you here to blame me?”

Zhongli was surprised, but he soon put on a tender smile with a glimpse of sadness.

“ I did, it’s easier to blame you. But on that day when you laid the curse, I was the one to give in. I thought it was because of something I did that make you said that, and I was so stubborn to except the fact that everything was gone in just a blink, vanished, like it was never existed.

So that’s why I stayed, to hold on, endures all the millions of years in solitude when I should have let go, to come and… find you.” He goes on.

“ And the truth is, in all those years I had spent alone, there weren’t a day that I stopped loving you. Seeing you here like this, I’m overwhelmed with happiness. But…”

Zhongli moves towards the young man, lift a hand to caress his face but there were no touch.

“ I’m not here. It’s only my will that travel beyond the void, reach you here at the end of eternity. I’m still there, waiting in despair.”

Zhongli body started to turn transparent as he carry on.

“ To you whom only ever knows of solitude,

I hope you could let me love you.”

“ I will be waiting, come find me just like how I did. My dear, I also want all of you, you and me, together, forever.”

[mcnuggyy]

What was everyone doing before becoming a part of the Rainbow Factory?

Oc lore dump below!! It’s long… but there’s lots of doodles for you to enjoy so feel free to click that readmore for silly fun times ♡

(if you’ve read the rainbow factory doc feel free to skip this intro! If not I recommend reading, or if you just want a quick refresher of some things I mention later on then that’s cool too <3)

I feel like I should preface by saying that there are some things I’m still figuring out the names of although the concept and idea is already there and solid. For example money isn’t actually a thing, it’s more like a credit or point system that can be used to buy luxury items! Housing, food, and basic clothes and necessities will always be provided to members of unicorn society who don’t/can’t/prefer not to work! These credits are usually used for unnecessary things like drugs, drinking, entertainment, etc. However since most unicorns love those things many of them will work small odd jobs, do community service, or find other ways to make some credit to spend on fun stuff! So, concept is there! I just need to like… name it lol.

Also when I refer to the “usual” route for a unicorn it goes something like this: You appear into the world as a fully grown adult in this magical society, you get 5-10 years to kinda just learn the ropes, go to school if you want, have fun, make mistakes. After that most unicorns usually find themselves ready to decide where to go from there! Whether that’s to study magic, get a job, party all day every day for all eternity, serve the community etc. and this is of course by no means permanent or necessary but having some form a structure definitely helps when getting started! Usually around year 100 most unicorns have a pretty good sense of self and find a form they gravitate towards that feels like themselves! (sometimes things happen and it’s not unheard of to just leave everything behind and start fresh as someone completely different, so although big changes like that aren’t necessarily encouraged they’re definitely something a handful of unicorns have done and continue to do) Immortality is also like… a long time obviously so as centuries pass most either just end up chilling and making peace with the endless possibilities of their existence, try and find purpose, or do anything to try and forget the fact that they’ll live forever. But unicorns are hedonistic by nature so at the end of the day if they feel good then it’s fine (usually) <3

This also makes it fun for me as it adds an extra layer of queerness that I find interesting to explore, what it means to know yourself and how all these factors can affect how you view yourself vs how others view you, and which version of you is the “real” you. The expectations of others vs. who you actively choose to be every day. Does the ideal self have to fit these impossible standards, and if those standards were hypothetically achievable, then what? What comes next? Is it then somehow more fulfilling to be ‘imperfect’? And if we could live forever how long would it take before the person we started as was someone so so so far from where we end up? Or would our core selves truly remain unchanged despite everything? Anyways… lots to think about :o]

Enjoy!

So… What was everyone doing before becoming a part of the Rainbow Factory?

Hev

Was never adopted or taken in by anyone so they went the common route of entering the education system and learning all they could before deciding what to do with themselves. They instantly felt drawn to humans as many unicorns do in their first few years before eventually moving onto other things. But Hev’s curiosity only continued to grow, especially when they found out about Unicorn Hunters and how dangerous humans could be while still being told unicorns were the superior beings, they were determined to learn the truth about humanity. So they entered into the internship program with the goal of becoming a field operative, and with a great amount of magical potential they were clearly on the way of doing so successfully until the incident. After somehow surviving 100 years on earth The Boss decided to make a deal with Hev, keep the tragedy under wraps in exchange for a free apartment, a job with good pay, and pretty much any and all luxury expenses paid for. Hev only really cared to help humans and saw this as the perfect opportunity to hold what happened over the company´s head and get some real change going towards a better future for both humans and unicorns.

Trixie

Trixie was immediately adopted into the Princess household, a family started by one of the original Elders (said elder is no longer alive). They tend to adopt unicorns born with white-blonde hair as they are seen to be signs of great natural magical ability (not true). Under the pressures of his highly influential and successful family Trixie always felt trapped. He didn’t have as much magical ability as a lot of his siblings, had no real motivation, only really did things because he had to, and only cared to do things in the moment based on what felt good and his emotions. At the fear of being disowned by the unicorns he grew up with he decided to aim high, Field Operative, making sure to go somewhere prestigious like the Star or Rainbow factory just to ensure he would be seen as a success… despite his lackluster grades and performance he managed to get into the same internship program as Hev… though it still pisses him off that he only really got in because of the “Princess” in his name. He would continue to try and prove himself again and again, but always falling short of his families expectations even as the current number one F.O. in Unicopia.

Kay

Kay was adopted by a musician, so naturally it was no surprise when she found herself also gravitating towards music. Her “pops” only really took care of her for a few years before getting bored of fatherhood… Kay later realizing she was nothing more but a publicity stunt for him to keep his career interesting to the masses. However this would come to bite him in the ass as Kay’s band blew up with a ferocity no one could stop. Under the name Kayden Night their band Bricked In was a roaring success. She loved everything about it, the night life, her band mates, creating music she cared about, the fans, and of course the fame and money was prettyyy nice. But of course the band got so big that any little change to her physical appearance, music, or style became a big point of tension between her and her fan base. It became draining and her voice, her music, her body, her whole life, was no longer hers. So at the end of the biggest concert in her career, she thanked everyone for coming to her last show and was never seen again. She changed her name and form and entered the happy tech field shortly after. The only unicorns who knows about her past are Hev and Sprinkles.

Sprinkles

Sprinkles is what’s known as a “renaissance unicorn”, a unicorn that basically dedicates their lives to learning every skill and spell possible, every job, taking every class, every hobby, etc. in search of fulfillment. You name it, Sprinkles has done it. He met his husband while taking part of a research group focused on unicorn history and magic development in hopes of bringing back old and powerful spells now lost to time. He had reached a point of desperation, still feeling empty and alone. He became committed to finding someone who could sneak him to earth so he could leave once and for all and maybe even find the peace of death. Blue (his later to be husband) convinced him to try just one more thing, joining the Field Op’s, if he didn’t like it then he could easily just stay on earth. Sprinkles had been a Tech before and just assumed being an FO would be the same, but he decided to humor Blue anyways. Eventually he found a reason to stay, and as he fell in love with Blue he found himself falling in love with humanity as well. He settled down, got married, and has been at the Rainbow Factory ever since. (They’re hoping to adopt in the near future <3)

Butterscotch

Butterscotch was adopted by a small studio focused on getting new talent for their films. Her beauty and grace was something close to perfection and she quickly became a famous actor just a few years after her creation. She was the perfect idol, did as she was told, didn’t speak unless spoken to, and could shapeshift quickly and for long periods of times for any role she had to fill. Everything she did was for someone else’s sake, she knew nothing else but the life she was adopted into. It wasn’t until a century later that she finally found the strength to leave, she did this gracefully and without a word, as with everything else. She had no plans, no real motivations or dream, she just knew she had to start by making a choice for herself. So when she saw a flier for the internship recruitment program, she saw it as a sign and went for it. (She was in the same group as Hev and Trixie!) Of course all the fame and influence followed her but this time it was her own and nobody else’s so she was okay with it. This is why you will often hear her referred to as “The former Shining Star of Unicopia” “Unicopia’s Radiant Diamond, once actress, model, and idol” etc.

Cupcake

Cupcake was adopted by a small family, they had no parents but 3 very caring siblings! They encouraged her to go the classic route of 5-10 years of school and fun before deciding on anything major. However after just 3 years they dropped out and went to work with the rest of the family at their bakery. She loved making cute little pastries and treats and making other unicorns smile. As time passed her desire to make others happy only grew stronger. On her free time she would find herself obsessing over the time before Unicopia, when humans and unicorns lived together in harmony. In the illustrations they always looked so happy… the obsession turned to longing and the longing turned to desperation. Eventually she went back to school and worked towards becoming a Field Op! It didn’t quite work out as she was chosen for the Tech position instead but her desire to help never faltered. She hopes one day they can all go back to living on earth again, happy, loved, accepted, and free.

Mikey and Clay

These siblings have only ever had each other since the moment they were born. Mikey was always motivated and excitable, he wanted to try anything and everything, just existing felt so exciting and new to him and he wanted to do it all! Clay on the other hand was content to just follow Mikey wherever he wandered to. Ironically Mikey wasn’t very good at the things he tried… sure ey were charismatic and got along well with everyone but when it came to magic or anything too complicating he definitely struggled. On the other hand Clay sucked at the social stuff but magic and new skills came easily! Many times Mikey would try to encourage his sibling to pursue the things Clay was good at it, especially magic, but Clay refused to do anything without him. So when Mikey was set on trying for a Human Happiness Facility next, Clay was happy to follow along. Together they became the youngest team to ever reach the top 6 ranking.

Elly

Adopted by a bigger family and went into the education system, she always had a love for learning. She did some community work for a few dozen years while learning everything she could about humans. Elly thought they were so interesting and wonderful, she loved how they all looked so different and made such interesting things, she read their books, listened to their music, and watched their movies even if it had to be through illegal means. It got to the point where she would fantasize about meeting a human one day, and eventually decided to join the Rainbow Factory as a H.T! Like Cupcake and Hev, she is a believer in finding a path towards peace with the humans and eventually coming out of the shadows to live on Earth once more.

Dustin

Dustin hated school, he went for a few days, got bullied a lot and ditched. He ended up traveling through various districts before eventually finding his way to an “underground” fighting ring. I say underground but the government knows about these rings and doesn’t really care as long as it isn’t done in broad daylight and never spoken about openly. It also tends to be small groups of 10-25 unicorns and the average unicorn doesn’t even know they exist so it’s not really anyones biggest concern. There’s betting and competitions, both with magic and raw strength, testing the limits of their abilities and just how far their immortality really goes. A lot of those who end up in these groups become obsessed with death to the point where it becomes some sort of unachievable goal to either kill or be killed. However at the current happiness rate it’s impossible to ever cause any permanent damage to one another that isn’t just mental/emotional. Dustin’s obsession with death eventually lead him to become a F.O., hoping to one day achieve the impossible by becoming the first unicorn to ever kill one of their own. Nobody knows about this at all because 5 years into his job and he completely lost interest after watching one episode of Soul Eater with one of his kids… so anime, manga/comics, action movies, and shows like Wipeout, Ninja Warrior and Survivor are all he cares about now LMAO.

Craig

Craig has always been a bit unmotivated and nervous, but the first 3 years of his life spent in public dorms definitely didn’t help what would become a constant sense of anxiety. The dorms themselves are great at providing a unicorn with their basic needs but the roommates and groups Craig would end up with were somehow always the absolute worst. The lack of privacy, the constant teasing, the loud noises… he hated it so much he decided to go to school and speed-run his way into whatever career paid the most for the least amount of work just to have his own apartment, his own bed, his own clothes, etc. He is very much the complete opposite when it comes to what most unicorns enjoy (parties, drinking, loud music, drama, etc.) The peace and quiet alone will always be worth having to work as Mel’s tech in his opinion LMAO. Asides from that Craig has no real aspirations or goals, he just wants to spend his days chilling with his void (has the form of a little cat with wings and antennas) and reading whatever he can get his hands on :o] (he is currently trying to read every poem ever written jaja)

Mel

Mel got adopted by a small group of what can only be described as “human item smugglers”. There are only about 2 groups that exist like this and are completely invisible to district leaders and Unicopia society. Their sole focus is smuggling human food, clothes, movies, art, knickknacks, and oddities into Unicopia through illegal portals, handmade invisibility potions and/or human disguises, and any other means necessary. Sometimes it would even involve working with humans (while still keeping their whole unicorn existence a secret of course) to get the extra good stuff. Mel did this throughout the 1920’s to 40’s which is why her mannerisms and way of dress are heavily influenced by mobsters and pachucos. Eventually she got sick of taking orders from anyone and left the group that had taken her in. Knowing they wouldn’t let her off the hook so easily, she took a government job, changed her name and form, and has been working at the Rainbow Factory ever since. Nobody knows about this and she will probably never mention it to anyone ever.

In a lot of ways you could say Mel never had a childhood, and sadly most unicorns never really get one, most are fine without such “human” things, but I think Mel more than anyone really longs for something like that….

Thanks so much for reading ♡ immortal shapeshifters sure make for interesting situations that’s for sure jajaja! I’m not entirely sure how concrete some of these are and things might change as I figure out what kind of story I want to tell w these guys but I think digging into their pasts ( or what could be a potential past ) makes for really interesting character studies :o] <3

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

BTS at Golden Disc Awards 2021

by Admin 1

On the 9th and 10th of January 2021 BTS attended the Golden Disc Awards, and performed on the second day as well. Being there they won the Digital Bonsang for Dynamite on the 9th and the Bonsang, as well as the Album Daesang for Map of the Soul : 7, on the 10th. Amazing achievements which I sincerely congratulate them on.

When it comes to the performance, it was, most certainly, another amazing collection of stages bringing something new once more, even if they presented songs we’ve already seen at previous award shows this season. The opening came in form of Black Swan, though they didn’t sing any of it. It was more an intro showcasing the entrance of the members and highlighted Yoongi’s return to the stage, at least partially. 

The stage featured big metal winds, low lighting, and the members clad in black and white clothing including leather elbow length gloves for Namjoon and Yoongi, and pretty chockers for Taehyung and Jimin. The highlight though was Jungkook’s hair which isn’t dark anymore, but instead has been bleached and dyed a pretty blond. Personally I think it suits him pretty well. 

More below the cut since this is shaping up to be pretty long:

Next up was ON, which was powerful and fierce, though still missing Yoongi, which is all too understandable. Even though he can stand on stage again and hold his mic in his left hand (his surgery was on the left shoulder), it will still be a while until he’ll be able to dance with the members. ON has certainly grown a lot on me and I enjoy their performances of it immensely, and it was much the case this time as well.

The transition from ON to Life Goes On came in form of the stage being made to look like their individual rooms from BE which appeared on the digital walls around them. Their clothes were mostly comfy, though Jimin’s resembled their outfits from all the way back during I NEED U/RUN era. The transition/VCR like moment ended with the instrumental to We Are Bulletproof : The Eternal and the stage looking much the way the MV did with the whale swimming around them in an ocean of shades of purple, blue and pink.

For Life Goes On they had miniature versions of some of their most iconic MV sets on pedestals. It was a really cute idea and I enjoyed the execution a lot. The members seemed relaxed and enjoying themselves, Jimin and Taehyung even having their little moment of looking at each other twice, these moments certainly having become something I always kind of look forward to when it comes to LGO stages. 

Another tiny Jimin and Taehyung detail was Jimin sending a brief, barely noticeable (by the viewer) finger heart which I hadn’t even noticed until my fourth rewatch. It definitely fits with all these other small gestures we’ve seen from these two in recent months, like the finger hearts and kissy faces during their Lotte Family Concert performance of Boy with Luv or hugging each other on day 1 and doing a fun handshake and dance on day 2 during Dionysus at the MOTS ON:E concert visible only on one of the side cameras, not the main one.

The grand finale was the Slow Jam remix of Dynamite which worked perfectly with the chill out lounge/bar atmosphere created on stage fitting with the Great Gatsby theme. The members wore mostly suits in white, blue in Namjoon’s case, and a bright yellow when it comes to Taehyung, as well as Hoseok who had a white button down which Tae did not. While a normal person would look ridiculous in it, Taehyung looked absolutely stunning and made it more than work. After so many energetic performances of Dynamite since its release, seeing such a calm version was really nice and refreshing, showing how versatile BTS and their music are, how they can captivate an audience with fast songs made for big choreographies and stage productions, but also these slow, more chill types of tracks. A marvelous idea, truly.

There was also an encore stage where they sang ON again but this time along with Yoongi on stage which had some hilarious moments, especially Namjoon and Seokjin being silly waving their arms around while kneeling opposite each other on stage during Jungkook’s bridge. Cute.

Afterward the members were at something like a red carpet after interview where they took pictures with their awards (Jungkook and Taehyung even making their Bonsang and Daesang awards kiss much the way film director Bong Joon Ho made his two Oscars kiss last year) and were asked to do a relay of saying something to each other. 

All translations of their words are taken from Vernal_Bom on twitter.

J-hope to Jimin 

“I didn’t feel lonely in 2020 thanks to Jimin. Thank you for making me laugh. Give me happiness and laugh in 2021 as well.”  Jimin (turning to Namjoon): “It seems he can never live without me” 

Honestly the bond between Jimin and Hoseok is so cute and wonderful and you can see, and hear in their words, how important they are to each other, and how grateful Hobi is. We know the members were having a really hard time in 2020 so it doesn’t surprise me that Hobi would highlight the other members, or in this case Jimin, as one of the main reasons why he made it through it. After all we also know that those two made a song together which unfortunately didn’t make it onto BE. Hopefully we might get it one day at least as SoundCloud release, or perhaps on the next album instead.

Jimin to RM 

It was you who made us pull ourselves together to go through 2020. I am always grateful, and it’d be nice if you share you height a little with me in 2021, be healthy and happy. RM: Okay thank you

I love how Jimin used this (public) opportunity to tell/remind Namjoon of how important he was for them especially in 2020, as leader and surely also as friend, yet still also made a little joke to still keep the atmosphere light. After he was done speaking Jimin also hugged Namjoon, which showed once more how tiny he is in comparison.

RM to JK 

It’s finally today, Jungkook-si, in 10 years! You are Golden Maknae! The day that you will prove your nickname! You are proving it right now with your hair color, but in 2021, I hope the year will be filled with gold, like your nickname. Stay healthy. Let’s ‘Jje-kkit-up’ together this year too! (check it up.. the usual Namjoon saying lol)

It’s quite something to think about and realize, isn’t it, this year 10 years pass since Jungkook became a BigHit trainee and moved into their first dorm with Namjoon, Hoseok, Yoongi and Seokjin. I’m curious if Bangtan, as well as BigHit, have some kind of plan for JK specifically for this year that Namjoon chose to highlight his Golden Maknae nickname in such a way, or if it was more of a reminder to JK, that he’s so worthy despite how he doubts himself, and despite how he himself said he’s been going through tough times in 2020.

JK to V 

V hyung, when we were trainees we were getting along so well, (V: We are not now???) No!!! i didn’t mean it. You are becoming so much of an stand-up (reliable, I assume in this context) guy. Thank you for doing all the schedules with us.  jhope: who’s hyung here?

The bond these two share might just be one of the biggest mysteries and causes for conflicts and fights within the fandom, or particular parts of it. After their conversation In The SOOP, I’d like to believe they’ve figured out whatever issue might've arisen between them in the past, found a way to solve and move past it slowly, and rekindled their friendship once more. Seeing at how well they’ve been getting along (on camera) these past few months, I think it might've been so. It’s curious to me though that JK chose to say this instead of something more akin to what Jimin said to Namjoon, or Hoseok to Jimin.

V to Jin 

V: (turns to Jin)  Jin: This is too close V: I listened to Abyss and that makes my heart ache too... Jin: Thank you V: hyung, your song is so good. Make more songs in 2021, let Army and us listen to your song more. Jin: Okayokay  V: and I play game with you to relieve stress.... sorry for talking in ban-mal (informal form). —(also speaking in informal way) Jin: No no it was so fun V: I love you Jin: I love you too

I absolutely adore the bond these two share and I love that Tae chose to say what he did. We know Seokjin has been going through a hard time in 2020, that he dealt with something I’d call imposter syndrome, so I’m glad we got to know even more about how Tae was there for him, something we otherwise would’ve never known. Certain people try to portray Tae as the one member that is almost estranged from his other members, who barely has anything to do with the group outside of schedules, and yet it’s moments like this--as well as Seokjin telling us in his birthday vlive that Tae organized for everyone including his non-BTS friends to send Seokjin birthday wishes in video form to show him how loved and appreciated he is--are the proof that those people are wrong. Tae is very close with his members, and he’s the ambassador of OT7 or nothing, the members his closest friends and brothers, his found and chosen family.

Jin to Suga 

Jin: Yoongi ya, do it well. Suga: Okay.... Jin: Do well on your rehab, and...uh... let’s do well going forward. Suga: Okay.. I will...

These two are so close yet due to their introverted nature their interactions such as this one are just so hilarious and adorable at the same time. Their dynamic is wonderful and this just seems like peak Yoongi-Jin behavior.

Suga to j-hope 

SG: (unable to look into hobi’s eyes) Our hobi JH: Suga! SG: You did work hard in 2020 (evading eye contact) JH: hahhahahah and? SG: Let’s not fall sick in 2021, and hwaiting...  JH: “Hwaiting hyung, and take good care of your health!”

The saga of Yoongi being unable to look Hoseok in the eye continues and it’s just as precious as ever. They stood so close, and while Yoongi wasn’t able to look into Hoseok’s eyes, it’s funny how he was the one who initiated the whole “them standing so close together” thing. I love the difference between how Seokjin didn’t even try to make eye-contact while Hoseok playfully challenged Yoongi and tried to coax him into it anyway knowing it’ll make Yoongi laugh and smile. It’s such a Yoongi-Hoseok thing, I love it.

And with that, the award was over and now also my post. I hope you enjoyed reading it! :3

[justthishumanheart]

A million years ago after I got my driver’s license, I was driving around the neighborhood. Driving has always been one of my very favorite things. I love driving and listening to music and exploring neighborhoods. I was with a friend and it was late. Probably around 1am. We drove up this dead end street. We were listening to the album What’s the Story Morning Glory by Oasis. I’m pretty sure it was Champagne Supernova because I was obsessed with that song and every time I think of this memory the intro of that song with the waves and the acoustic guitar are in my head. Where were you while we were getting high? I never got high in high school. That was dumb of me. But also probably smart. It took a special person to finally get me to smoke.

The street had a big incline. Pretty steep. It went straight for about half mile and then curved to the north where it ended in a cul-de-sac. As we started up the hill I could see something moving ahead of us but I couldn’t tell what it was - totally looked like some Hollywood alien. Like a human, but with a big protrusion at the top. Like a giant walking flower or something.

Someday you will find me

Caught beneath the landsliii-iii-iide…

We were pretty terrified. We were doing that nervous teenage boy thing where inside you’re trying so hard to be stoic and brave on the surface so the other dudes didn’t think you were a wuss. Yeah we used that word lol. And you never want to be the wuss. Or I didn’t anyway.

Slowly walkin' down the hall

Faster than a cannonball

We got closer and it was obviously a human. We could finally make out the shape. She was holding something behind her head and…wait, is that an umbrella?? Yup. Omg she is carrying an open umbrella over her head in the middle of summer with no clouds or sun in the sky at 1am. We started laughing and slowed down and totally stared. It was bad. I feel really dumb about it now. We were just so confused. Could not compute. We got to the circle, followed it around and back toward her down the hill. We were obviously making her nervous but I think my curiosity was just so much the more dominant feeling.

'Cause people believe

That they're gonna get away for the summer

But you and I, we live and die

The world's still spinnin' 'round, we don't know why

Why, why, why, why

I kept driving that street all summer. At first I treated her like some carnival attraction. I told all of my friends and we would go drive and watch her walk. I went so many times that I finally noticed that she walked the streets in figure 8’s. It was so bizarre to me at 16. I knew nothing of obsession or depression or hurt or heartbreak at that age. The world was bright and shiny and good. That was my experience. Or what I wanted to believe anyway. Why would this woman walk figure 8’s every night on a dead end street beneath her open umbrella?

Wake up the dawn and ask her why

A dreamer dreams she never dies

Wipe that tear away now from your eye

I get it now. The walking. The endless chasing of infinity in the street. Over and over again. I understand that pain. I understand the heartbreak that makes a person compulsive. We make our prayers to the gods in so many ways. This was hers. I don’t know what eternity she was chasing. I hope she found it.

Someday you will find me

Caught beneath the landslide

In a champagne supernova in the sky

I walk. I walk and I walk and I walk. Every day. I’ve done it every day for nearly two years. I don’t know if I walk to forget or to remember or to see something new or see the same things over and over. I don’t know what drives me to it every day. Or, well, I don’t know why I think this is helping. I just know that I’m lost and I walk because I’m not found and I want to be found but I also just want to walk myself into oblivion. Or forgetfulness or peace or numbness or…or until I grow wings like Solomon and learn to fly. Let my arms finally do some work. The legs are tired. I walk my eternities in figure 8s all across this damn city. I like to think of Sisyphus happy like Camus did. I feel a pleasure and sense of worth at my eternal drive to walk nowhere. There’s something about the way I grind my feet into the roads and sidewalks and parks. Maybe Flann O’Brien had hit on some truth with that thing about riding bicycles over and over - maybe I’m just trying to leave small traces as far and wide as I can. Disperse myself and become part of the city. Maybe that’s what being found is - losing parts of yourself everywhere so as to meet yourself everywhere.

How many special people change?

How many lives are livin' strange?

Where were you while we were getting high?

Slowly walkin' down the hall

Faster than a cannonball

Where were you while we were getting high?

Someday you will find me

Caught beneath the landslide

In a champagne supernova in the sky

Someday you will find me

Caught beneath the landslide

In a champagne supernova

A champagne supernova in the sky

I miss crazy eights lady.

[yakocchi]

Be My Princess Social // Yakov Chernenkov, Season 1, Episode 1

// The Great Prince of the Country of Ice

o wats this, self-indulgent crap?? haha the joke is that all the translations i post are self-indulgent crap, thank you for coming to the press conference

This is going to be part of a translation of the Yakov Chernenkov route for the Be My Princess Social Platforms (GREE, Joshige, Eternal Kiss, etc.)

I figured this should be… relatively all right given that it seems like Voltage is done with BMP Social games forever in terms having English versions. tbh kinda surprised no one ever took the task of doing it. publicly at least? i searched a bit, found nothing. if someone already did it pls tell me lol  …..but i guess something like this is a stan’s job to do, right (ﾟ▽ﾟ*) 

idk, we’ll see how this goes… only did 1 ep as a test run to see if i feel like doing this rn lol this is lengthy endeavor

Image-heavy!! Please credit if you take any of it, thenk u (･ω･*)

Intro & Legend

This route is similar to Zain’s in that they wipe just about everything from the Paid version (the one with Sergei and the Anastasia backstory…lol that was wild thinking abt it) and start anew with the character. But Yakov is different from all the other BMP1 characters in that they also changed his personality almost completely. This is reflected in his profile when they change his blood type and age from the Paid version (B → O, 25 → 31)

If you’re familiar with the Social Zain route, you can kinda see through his bits how they changed him. A BMP fansite master describes him as “high-handed, but charismatic - a person with the character of a king” which sums it up better than anything I could ever think up

So I guess it would be a good idea to not carry over expectations from the Paid app route to this route because that’s just a recipe for disappointment lol. i know a lot of people like the Yakov from the Paid route, so I wanted to put that out there. It’s a shame bc that character is effectively “gone” but… the yakov i stan is the social one, so if that had to happen so my 2d man could come into existence…well…

thank u for ur sacrifice

➤ are my own commentary.

➢ are the choices that pop up. For the most part I have both (iirc I don’t have one near the end bc I forgot I was trying to pick the wrong ones on purpose lol). Note that all my wrong answers are from the original version’s text and thus they may have been changed for EK. Correct answers are labeled with ❆

➼ at the end of a line signals that the choice text has “ended” and it returns back to the general text. The general text resumes on the line that begins with a ➼. This is mostly just for organization on my part - the docs I type+format these on get very, very annoying to scroll through, so

Bolded dialogue reflect the screencaps.

I hope you enjoy some part of it! ( ´◡` ) Thanks for reading

Episode 1 // The Great Prince of the Country of Ice

➤ Interestingly, the original title they used for GREE and Joshige is The Cold, Rational Prince of Sanct Sybil Kingdom. I dunno why they would change it except maybe it was too long for the title card to look pretty lol

When I opened the door at the sound of the chime, there stood a man wearing a gentle smile on his face. Taking note of my presence, he places his hand to his breast and gracefully bows.

[Zain]: “You must be Miss Kara Go. I am Zain, the personal steward of Nobel Michel Castle.” [Zain]: “As promised, I have come to pick you up.” [Kara]: “Y-Yes. I am indeed Kara Go.” [Kara]: “To go out of your way to come here - thank you so much.” (Am I really… not just dreaming here?) Pulling a letter out from my pocket, I recall the events over the past few days that had led up to today.

I had torn the seal of a blank-white envelope that had no written return address, and my eyes widened in shock. “I want you to become an exclusive designer.” In the enclosed message - along with a bit of contact information, the end of the letter had been signed by Nobel the XIII, the lord of Nobel Michel Castle. (This must be some sort of mistake… A-Anyhow, I should try to verify it.) Thinking that, I call the contact number on the letter…

But, indeed - the letter was not a mistake, and they spoke to me about wanting to have a proper consultation about the position. I was told that Lord Nobel wanted some time to talk in-person with me, and eventually the promised day where I felt that my dreams were coming over the horizon… finally came. (Even when it’s finally here, in front of me of like this, I still can’t believe it��) [Zain]: “Thus, His Grace awaits. Let us depart.” [Kara]: “O-Okay…” With a spring to my step, I get onto the limousine with Zain.

(It would’ve never crossed my mind that I’d be going to Nobel Michel Castle for a second time.) (And on top of that, I’ve been called here in terms of being a designer of all things…) I was pretty nervous the time I had come here for Jean Pierre’s errand, but now I’m even more nervous compared to that day. I felt my heart noisily thumping as I waited for Lord Nobel, and eventually the parlor door opened.

[Zain]: “My Lady, we must deeply apologize.” [Zain]: “His Grace’s conference is going longer than expected, so it seems you will have to wait a few moments longer.” [Kara]: “I see…” [Zain]: “Since you took your most valued time to come here― Would you like to take a look around the castle gardens until the conference is over?” [Kara]: “Castle gardens… you say?” [Zain]: “Indeed. Several varieties of the rare flowers we raise are currently in bloom– so if it pleases you, I can guide you around.” (You don’t get the chance to tour the Nobel Castle gardens everyday.) [Kara]: “Then, if you may.” [Zain]: “Very well. Shall we go now?” With Zain as my guide, I get to visit the castle gardens.

[Kara]: “Wow… it’s absolutely stunning.” [Zain]: “Thank you. Everyone who visits these gardens tend to voice similar sentiments about it.” The courtyard stretched over a vast space, and it was a feast for the eyes even with a simple glance. (In a way, it’s as if I’ve been sucked into a fairy tale.) As Zain explained the parts and features within it, I was completely enamored by the beautiful garden― When an teenage boy clad in a butler’s uniform comes running to us from the castle.

[???]: “Zain! So this is where you were.” [Zain]: “…Theo, you are before a guest.” [Zain]: “I must apologize, My Lady.” [Zain]: “This is Theo, who is training in this castle as an apprentice steward.” The boy called Theo – at being scolded by Zain, straightened his posture accordingly.

➤ i can’t believe bmp2 stans denied us from having the wacky family sitcom a theo route would have smh my head bro

[Theo]: “…I am Theo.” [Kara]: “I’m Kara. Nice to meet you, Theo.” [Theo]: “M-Mhm…” Theo, whose face still held remnants of childlike youth, averted his eyes shyly. Then Zain, who had witnessed all of this, lightly presses the boy in a gentle tone. [Zain]: “Theo, did you have any matters to discuss with me?” [Theo]: “Ah-, right! I was sent by His Grace to relay this message to you.” [Theo]: “He urgently wants your input on something, so you gotta come to the conference room.” [Zain]: “His Grace does?” [Zain]: “But, right now…” His eyebrows knit together, as if troubled. With a smile I turn to him. [Kara]: “I’ll be all right by myself. Though while I wait, may I take a look around the garden?” [Zain]: “Yes, of course.” [Zain]: “I apologize for being unable to guide you around myself for now– but if you could meet with me afterwards…” [Zain]: “Can you wait just a moment?” [Kara]: “All right.” Sounding apologetic in his words, he then goes with Theo towards the castle. (Being the exclusive butler to Lord Nobel must be quite the busy job…) I thought about that as I took a stroll around the calm gardens, sunlight beaming… When―

[Man]: “Please, at least, once more– Please consider thinking about it…!” The cries of a man at his wits’ end cut through the silence of the courtyard. (Is something going on…?) Looking in the direction of the voice, I find three men standing from the other side of the building. The shouting from earlier seems to have come from a man who looked slightly older from other two, and said man also seemed to be desperately calling for something. [Man]: “…The state of the administration right now still is unstable.” [Man]: “If we act too carelessly, the balance of the three nations could collapse once more!” [???]: “…I have long past made a decision.” The words that had answered the aggravated man were bound to a terribly icy voice. As this man stood with his back facing me, I was unable to see his face; but from pitch alone he seemed to be a young man. With his long, platinum-blond hair having been pleated into a single braid, he silently rebuffs the rage of the older one.

[???]: “Even if you did indeed manage to chase me all the way here― Decisions are not something to turn back from.” [???]: “That is all that need be said, so I shall leave first.” [Man]: “…Yakov–Sir, why are you this impatient?!” [Man]: “It can't be that you don’t realize that now is a crucial time for the country, is it…?!”  In pure exasperation, the older man grabs onto the man called Yakov. But in doing so, a man in a butler’s uniform that had stood across from him swiftly yanks the man off.

[Butler]: “What are you thinking in that head of yours, grabbing onto someone of his (Yakov’s) status?” [Butler]: “Even if you get imprisoned for disrespecting the state, this is an inexcusable situation you’ve found yourself in.”

➤ so the term he uses is specifically for lèse-majesté, which is the fancy term for insulting the ruling sovereign, monarchy, ruling state, etc. etc. but i didn’t want to just throw in that term bc i felt like it’s not… very common? idk i feel like the bmp mc wouldn’t know what that is granted i guess you could do the galaxy brain take and be like “she doesn’t know what that term is and that’s why she couldn’t piece together that yakov is royalty” 

[Man]: “Urgh…!”   The older man was then pinned to the ground, and as his arms were confined behind his back, he groans in pain. The moment I see the expression on his face, a cry spills out from my lips.

[Kara]: “Ah…!” [Yakov]: “…!” Hearing my voice, the platinum-blond man whips his head around. 

His eyes, peeking out from behind his long bangs and deep blue like the sea, then sharply leveled at me. [Yakov]: “…What is your business?” [Kara]: “Uh…”

(What should I answer with?) Menacingly asked to speak, I…

➢ I’m unable to say anything. ➢ “He’s in pain.” ❆

➢ I’m unable to say anything. (This person… has an awfully intimidating air to him.) Unable to say anything particularly impactful, I only turn my eyes to the man held to the ground. ➼

➢ “He’s in pain.” [Kara]: “I don’t know what’s going on here, but you’ve gone too far… He’s in pain.” [Yuri]: “Of course. It’s only natural for it to hurt when you’re bound down like this.” The man in the butler’s uniform answers me with a smile plastered on his face. (What the-… He’s smiling, but it’s honestly quite frightening-) [Kara]: “B-But… if you end up injuring him, that’d be terrible, no…?!” While paralyzed with fear, I managed to raise my voice at him. ➼ 

➼ With that, the platinum-blond man shifts his eyes to the man in the butler’s uniform. [Yakov]: “―Yuri, release him.” [Yuri]: “…” At his words, the one called Yuri immediately relinquishes his hold.

➤ Yuri’s name might actually be Urey, as one of Ivan’s Birthday Event routes note how Ivan’s wolf Urey and butler Yuri have the same name (by coincidence). But the JPN version always spells it as Yuri so I’m just used to it. Not that you should really be taking the app’s romanization as official though given they have stuff like “Lewis” (Louis), “Jean” (Jan), and the occasional “Robert” for Roberto ( ´_ゝ｀) 

As the older man staggers back up from the ground, the blond man speaks to the two of them. [Yakov]: “Do not start trouble in the castle grounds of other kingdoms.” [Yakov]: “ ―Regarding what happened here today, I shall overlook it this time. Good?” [Yuri]: “Understood.” [Man]: “…My sincere apologies.” As the two men lower their heads, the man called Yakov then directs his piercing gaze towards me.

[Yakov]: “Forget what you just saw and heard here. Not a word to anyone.” With only those words to me, he leaves with the other two following behind him. (That “Yakov” person, and “Yuri” too… what terrifying people.) Alone in the garden, I was completely petrified to the spot from the overwhelming pressure those men had left me with.

[Theo]: “―Miss Kara, here is where His Grace’s been hanging o– awaiting your presence, rather.” Afterwards, Lord Nobel’s conference had ended and Theo had come to take me to him. While heading to the parlor where His Grace was waiting, Theo’s innocent self causes a smile to crack my features. [Kara]: “Just ‘Kara’ is fine, Theo. On that note, you don’t have to speak so formally with me.” [Theo]: “Uh- But…” [Kara]: “I’ll be more at ease and less nervous that way.” [Kara]: “Besides, I’m in a similar situation as you.” [Theo]: “‘Similar’?” [Kara]: “I’m only a rookie designer.” [Kara]: “So like how you’re an apprentice butler, it’s kind of a similar position.” [Theo]: “Gotcha…” At my explanation, Theo, apparently happy about some part of it, breaks into a smile. [Theo]: “…I get you. Then- When we’re together like this, I’ll be sure to do it.” [Theo]: “Since only super-distinguished people ever come to this castle, I get pretty stressed out.” [Kara]: “Hehe, I’m feeling the same too. Just entering this castle makes me anxious.”

[Theo]: “Right?! Lord Nobel and Zain treat me really well so it’s all right for now, but…” Theo wore a smile that was quite fitting for a young boy like himself. Calmed by his pure sincerity, I enter the reception room.

[Theo]: “…Your Grace, I have brought Miss Kara Go.” [Nobel]: “Thank you for your hard work.” [Nobel]: “Kara, sorry for making you have to wait on me when I was the one who called you up here.” Lord Nobel wears a merry smile on his face as he kindly welcomes me. I bow my head down in gratitude. [Kara]: “I am, indeed, Kara Go.” [Kara]: “Thank you for inviting me to such a meeting.” [Nobel]: “You don’t have to greet me so formally,”  [Nobel]: “as the truth still stands that I was the one who summoned you today. I just wanted to talk with ya about something.” [Nobel]: “―So, Kara, do you know of the country of Sanct Sybil?” [Kara]: “Yes. I’m only knowledgeable with news and info that’s been reported to the public, but…”

Sanctis, Sybil, Versurk― Those three countries had united into one, and the resulting nation is apparently called “Sanct Sybil” from what I’ve heard. With this as my sole knowledge of the country, Lord Nobel speeds up the conversation.

[Nobel]: “Then I’ll cut to the chase.” [Nobel]: “The truth is that Sanct Sybil is planning to join the Nobel Michel Alliance.” [Nobel]: “As they’re still a new nation, they’re searching for talent both inside and outside the country.” [Nobel]: “In pursuit of capable individuals, the prince of Sanct Sybil has come to me for some guidance, so…” Cutting his own words short, a smile then markedly graces his features.

[Nobel]: “Kara, you are to be the exclusive designer of Sanct Sybil Castle.” [Nobel]: “I thought that I’d like to go see you work there.” [Kara]: “Uh-…” (I’m… going to be the exclusive designer… for a royal castle?!)

[Nobel]: “Besides yourself, I’ve been in talks with other talented folks in all sorts of industries.” [Nobel]: “It’s only the designer position that’s yet to be decided.” [Nobel]: “I personally wanted to recommend you, but… what do you think?” [Kara]: “Um… I’m truly grateful to be able to have this conversation with you, but…” [Kara]: “Since I’m still new to this, I don’t have any achievements to show for anything.” [Kara]: “Knowing that, why did you call on me for this…?” I can’t hide my own utter confusion from his sudden invitation. Voicing my bewildered thoughts with that question, the corners of his lips quirk up into a smile.

[Nobel]: “I learned about you through a list I asked from Jean Pierre.” Lord Nobel, upon consulting with the prince of Sanct Sybil, requested Jean Pierre to produce a list of designers with promising futures. (Jean Pierre himself put me on that list…) [Nobel]: “Certainly, you don’t have any prior accolades… but within the multitude of applicants, I saw your design sketches,” [Nobel]: “and I was considerably charmed by them.” [Nobel]: “I grew delighted just from simply looking at that design.” [Nobel]: “And for that reason I wish to bring you to Sanct Sybil, a nation newly born into this world.” [Nobel]: “I think that a person full of zeal like yourself is necessary for such a place.”   [Kara]: “Your Grace…” [Nobel]: “By all means, please consider it for me.” (I’m simply unworthy to be having this sort of discussion…)

At Lord Nobel’s invitation, I…

➢ “Give me some time.” ❆ ➢ “If it is all right with the other party…”

➢ "Give me some time.” Having heard all of this from Lord Nobel so far, the feeling of wanting to give it a shot comes to me. (But…) [Kara]: “…Could you give me a bit of time to think about it?” [Nobel]: ”Of course. You should go ponder it a great deal before coming to a decision.”  ➼

➢ “If it is all right with the other party…” [Kara]: “If it is all right with the other party, I feel that I would like to accept this offer.” [Kara]: “However…” There’s an uneasy feeling in my heart about it, and my words drift off. Then Lord Nobel, as if he understood my thoughts nods his head once. [Nobel]: “It’s all right if you don’t rush yourself to a decision.”  ➼

➼ [Nobel]: “Can you give Zain an answer a few days from now?” [Kara]: “Understood.” Putting my answer on hold for a moment, I depart Nobel Castle.

(The chance to be the exclusive designer for a royal castle won’t ever come by me again, but…) (While Jean Pierre is having a hard time, I can’t just leave him like this.) Turning down the offer to be dropped off at my apartment, I head towards the office of Jean Pierre.

[Jean Pierre]: “Oh my, is that ma petite?” [Kara]: “Pierre!” Not expecting to meet him like this, I’m surprised to see him here. As if he had sensed something about me, he smiles.

[Jean Pierre]: “…With a face like that, looks like you got something to talk about, hmm?” [Jean Pierre]: “Instead of standing around outside to chat, please just come on in.”

Pierre unlocks the door to his office and I come inside. [Jean Pierre]: “You somehow came all the way here… Could it be that you had talked with Lord Nobel?” [Kara]: “…Yes.” [Kara]: “I received an invitation to work as the exclusive designer of Sanct Sybil Castle.” [Kara]: “But for someone like me, who has no experience nor achievements, to take up such a grand job is…”  [Kara]: “I don’t really have the confidence that I can do something like that.” [Kara]: “And on top of that, I want to be further taught by you…”

[Jean Pierre]: “What are you saying?! Is this not a good thing? This is your big chance!” He looks at me with a serious expression. [Jean Pierre]: “In that list I submitted to Lord Nobel, there were also designers that had prior achievements.” [Jean Pierre]: “Despite that, I was convinced that you would be the one to be chosen.” [Kara]: “Why… is that?” [Jean Pierre]: “From your designs, I feel this power to them.” [Jean Pierre]: “There are some parts that are rough around the edges, but there’s this energy, one that can completely transform people, hidden within!” [Jean Pierre]: “Lord Nobel definitely sensed that too, I bet.” [Kara]: “Ah…” (Thinking about it, Lord Nobel did say something along those lines…) (He said that the designs- from simply looking at them, he grew delighted…)

[Jean Pierre]: “Please believe in yourself.” [Jean Pierre]: “I, as well as His Grace, would never recommend someone who we’d feel couldn’t do the job.”  [Jean Pierre]: “I believe in your potential, ma petite.” [Kara]: “Pierre…” Even though he himself is in a difficult position, he’s so firmly supporting me in this. With my heart overwhelmed with such emotion that I couldn’t speak, Jean Pierre smiles. [Jean Pierre]: “I’m also going to use this moment as a source of encouragement for myself, as I plan to work hard as a designer once more.” [Jean Pierre]: “One day, no doubt in my mind― the offices of Jean Pierre will be restored!” [Jean Pierre]: “And that’s why, ma petite… without worrying about these offices, please just go and try what you want to try.” [Kara]: “…Thank you!” (I can’t let this chance from Jean Pierre and Lord Nobel just pass me by.) Urged on by Jean Pierre, a smile appears on my face as my chest is enveloped in this determination. 

―That night. Resolute in accepting the offer of exclusive designer, I contact Zain as soon as I return to the apartment. [Kara]: “Concerning the aforementioned position of Sanct Sybil’s designer… I think that I will accept the invitation.” [Zain]: “Thank you very much. I think that His Grace will be quite pleased to hear that.” In a soft tone - As if thinking for a moment, Zain continues to speak. [Zain]: “If I can be honest with you, the prince of Sanct Sybil himself is actually coming to stay at the castle for official business.” [Zain]: “Normally, we would hold your interview over at Sanct Sybil, but…” [Zain]: “Since the prince will be coming over, how about you two introduce each other here at Nobel Castle instead?” (Is that so?) (Even if Lord Nobel is recommending me, it could become a situation where the prince of Sanct Sybil is not too impressed by me.) [Kara]: “I see… If you could reserve some time for that, that’d be great.” [Zain]: “Then, I shall make the proper arrangements and contact you again.” And with that, it was decided that I would meet the prince of Sanct Sybil.

A few days later―

I’ve been called to Nobel Castle once more. While having a spot of tea with Lord Nobel and Theo, I bow my head again. [Kara]: “―Thank you for granting me an opportunity like this.” [Nobel]: “Ohohoho.” [Nobel]: “At any rate.. you’ve become quite resolute about this.” [Kara]: “…Yes. Your Grace has given me words of immense appreciation, and Jean Pierre has also encouraged me.” [Kara]: “I think, as a designer, I want to take advantage of these chances given to me.”  (But… with no��achievements of my own, I wonder if the Prince will approve of me…) Anxiety running through my heart, Lord Nobel smiles while stroking his beard. [Nobel]: “I also have hopes for you, Miss Kara.” [Nobel]: “I believe that, surely, the prince of Sanct Sybil will indeed require your power.” [Kara]: “Thank you…!” When I beam at Lord Nobel’s kind words, Theo then cuts into the conversation.

[Theo]: “So Kara… really is a designer, huh.”

[Theo]: “But… if it were possible, I was hoping that you’d become the designer for this castle.” [Kara]: “Hehe, thank you.” [Kara]: “I think that I definitely wouldn’t be able to be the designer for Nobel Michel, but I hope one day I’ll be able to make clothes for you, Theo.” Replying to Theo with a smile, Lord Nobel watches us with a gentle look on face. [Nobel]: “Ho ho, looks like you two have become quite close.” [Nobel]: “As I thought, Kara, you seem to have this charm that just mellows out everything around you.” He laughed heartily when there came a knock on the door. [Zain]: “Please excuse the interruption,”

[Zain]: “For I have brought Prince Yakov of Sanct Sybil.” 

➤ “op are u just making excuses to post caps of zain as much as possible” perhaps PERHAPS if im gonna need to break down the blobs of text, zain is nice to look at

(Ah…) I get up from my chair, and face the doorway nervously.  But at the next moment, my eyes instinctively open wide. (That, person…) The figures that followed behind Zain were two men I was familiar with― 

The platinum-blond man with the air of intimidating beauty, and the man in the butler uniform who had worn a smile on his face― 

The people I had witnessed in the courtyard days before.

[Prince Yakov]: “―As I have heard that you have found a candidate for the designer position, I have come.” [Prince Yakov]: “Your Grace, I give you my humble gratitude for granting my request.” [Kara]: “Eh…” [Prince Yakov]: “…” I inadvertently let out a small cry of surprise, and the Prince finally meets my eyes. For a split second his eyes had widened, but almost immediately after it shifts into a sharp gaze. (A person like him is the prince of Sanct Sybil, of all things…)

Steeped in the shocking reality of it all, I stare dumbfounded at Prince Yakov―

➤ now part of me was thinking, do people really need all the screencaps of when he makes the -_- face but honestly him doing the -_- face for half of his portraits on this route is part of the experience

To be continued…

(Letter)

➤ so uh this might be a crapshoot in terms of placement bc there’s diff letters based on the special story you choose, and also i forget where the last few letters go loool but that won’t be a problem until later

From: Yakov Title: (untitled)

…So you are the designer recommended by Lord Nobel? If you come to my country, you will be treated to the finest hospitality. Therefore you should not ponder over unnecessary matters and just bring yourself here. Good?

―Yakov

holy fucc idk why this is more tiring to translate than other stuff. maybe bc this is a slow route where we have exposition and non-romantic chara development we have to tread thru first. also lol translating the bmp writers’ style seems like more work? vs stuff like cybird? idk it’s hard to explain.  i’m not a super big fan of what i have rn…. in fact i’m like wtf what is this incomprehensible garbage i made... but i’m too tired to do revisions rn…… aye… but i’ll definitely look over it again in attempt to give it more clarity+readability so yea. there’s nothing’s “wrong” in terms of the literal meaning per se - it’s more like i’d like to make it flow better and actually follow grammar rules instead of cheating with dashes and line breaks hahaaa 

anyway guess ill see u at the next part when (if?) i bother to do it. hrmmm i should try to make the chunks larger given that this story is 15 eps + 3 special stories (with ~3 variations for each story) + epilogue but fuuu ill get there when i get there

Next Episode…

“If you wish to hear of my tastes - you will have to ask me in a more alluring voice.”

yea thats rite im hitting u with the azn drama cliffhanger. well now i have to do this translation or else this would be mean….. this is a psychological effort to get me to not leave this unfinished

Again, thanks for reading!

[fromzerotoeuphoria]

me watching Free! Eternal Summer

(reposted from original blog, July 22, 2020)

An incoherent and unorganized scribbling of my thoughts while watching Free! Eternal Summer before I really came to grips with how in love I am with RIN MATSUOKA this anime. (so plz excuse how haphazard and unorganized this is, I wasn't really planning on journaling this but found myself doing it anyway)

✧ ✧ ✧

Free! Eternal Summer ☼

7/16/20, 2:39AM

Okay okay okay I know I should be sleeping because we're driving to the beach in the morning but I really wanted to check out the first episode of Free! Season 2 and OMG sooooo the intro theme song showed this new guy who seems to be on Rin's team and, ahem... He's rather very good looking 👀 Best looking boy so far, and that's saying something because you got Haru and Rin and even lowkey Rin's ex-team captain so...yeah. Welp I'm looking forward to this season 😁

☀

7/22/20, 2:11AM

So I believe I've watched up to Episode 4 now, and I know I haven't been commenting recently but sometimes I just wanna watch without any journaling interruption :P But okay so far OMG, so Rin's friend Sousuke (the big tall buff good-looking guy) is kind of a jerk, I mean I get that he was friends with Rin first back in elementary and ngl, I'd feel slighted too of my old best friend abandoned me for some new kids. But he doesn't have to be such a...jerk about it.

AND HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ALL POSSESSIVE EITHER 👀 👀 👀 👀

Hahahahaha yeaaahhh, so there's legit like this friend-triangle going on where Sousuke is acting all possessive over Rin and then there's Haru who's just happy to have his Rin back in his life and there's Rin who's just the It boy it seems who cares for both friends and is totally oblivious to the battle going on over him 😏😆 And am I loving it?? Absolutely yes.

I just...ugh I just love the dynamic between Rin and Haru, and though high-school Rin isn't my favorite anime character, elementary-school Rin IS and idk why but I love the idea of everyone loving and wanting him and just ugh I love that aloof, expressionless Haru gets all emo over Rin like Rin is his bestest friend without him actually ever being his bestest friend, like Haru secretly admired Rin so much and was inspired by him and came to love him though Haru, being the non-emotional-don't-show-feelings guy and kid he is, never indicated how he felt about Rin and UGHHH the feels in this show are too much.

Elementary school-Rin literally is one of my most favorite characters ever in anime, I love him so much; he's like a shining light to the world.

Anyways, gonna check out the next ep! (aaaaand I'm actually really exhausted and have to run errands tomorrow, so maybe I'll just be going to sleep, idk :P)

☀

Episode 6

OMG...is Makoto starting to question whether he's Haru's best friend anymore in comparison to Rin???!?! I'm like sad but also like eeeeeeek because I literally love RinHaru so much but I also love Makoto and don't want him to be sad :(((( He hinted at it when Nagisa asked him why he competed against Haru, and Mako said that he just wanted to try a serious race against Haru...but then, while watching Rin and Haru standing next to each other chatting after their race, with wistful eyes added, "I’m not sure. Was I jealous of Rin?" ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

And then Sousuke had a similar look in his eyes when Rin was talking about Haru beating him in their race. Methinks these friends are feeling like Haru and Rin have this special bond/connection with each other, and like they're being left out in a way.

Idk, this is just my initial impression without thinking too deeply into it.

Welp onto ep7!

☀

7/22/20, 6:03 AM

I FINISHED SEASON 2 😭💙🌊

I have some things to say but I'm too tired and wanna figure out what the heck season 3 is all about (and my eyes are about to fall out of my head because yet again, I pretty much binged the entire season yet again 😵💀💤)

☀

7/22/2020, 1:40PM

IN SUMMARY...

Okay, so let me talk a little bit about Season 2.

So yeah, I enjoyed it, and I absolutely LOVE my bois so much <333, but I'll admit, it wasn't as emotionally intense as Season 1. Yeah, Haru had a couple of meltdowns with his whole "I don't know what I want to do in the future so stop trying to force me to choose a dream" personal drama, but outside of that there wasn't too much interpersonal drama, not like in Season 1 :( And honestly, that’s what sucked me into this anime, as I was livinggg for all the emo drama between Haru and Rin lol.

But it felt like this season lacked in that department. Of course, it makes sense since Rin has already reconciled with the others, but I guess I expected to see more of elementary-school Rin in high-school Rin, but there were only hints of little Rin in older Rin :/ Still love Rin ofc (my boyyyy) but he wasn't as charismatic, as outgoing and idealistic and happy and shining as his elementary-school self :( And I guess I was expecting that, so maybe in a way I set my own self up.

But back to the RinHaru lack, like don't get me wrong there was a ton of RinHaru-ness (I mean, Australia) but it wasn't as emo and intense as last season's. I wanted Rin and Haru to spend more time together, to see more of that need they had for each other that they had in Season 1. But it just…lacked. And not gonna lie, I'm sad about it :( I want Haru to need Rin and Rin to need Haru, and yeah we already know they do, but I want them to show it. I want HARU to show it.

(I want to indulge in my feels some more lol.)

And now that they're in totally different countries in Season 3, my RinHaru heart is so frustrated, like there better be some texting/skype calls/letter writing/something between these two because y’all can’t just give us all that emo angsty “YOU WILL SWIM FOR ME” “I WANT TO SWIM WITH YOU” “I KNOW WHO I SWIM FOR” “LET ME SHOW YOU A SIGHT YOU’VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE” drama and then separate the two after you spent an entire season telling us how much they need each other like, come on KyoAni! You’re killing me here!

I wonder if this means we won’t be getting much RinHaru in season 3?? Rin is in Australia while Haru is going to college in Tokyo (as well as Makoto, so happy for you babe!). If Rin is the one who lights a fire in Haru when swimming and vice versa...how're they supposed to do that 4k+ miles away from each other? I’m hoping KyoAni’s got something up their sleeve because RinHaru was the very reason I fell for this anime, please don’t deprive me now!

Season 3 also has some old-but-new characters come in: Haru and Makoto’s old middle school swim teammates. And apparently there will be drama there, while some new character comes into Rin's life and there's a story there, too. Not to be such a fangirl, but…I don't want them only interacting with new characters and then having separate stories from each other; call me greedy (because when it comes to RinHaru, I totally am, no shame) but I want RinHaru, not Rin in his own world and Haru in his.

Anyways, I'm going to watch the OVAs and then the middle school movie before starting Season 3. Maybe those "new" characters in Season 3 will be in the middle school movie, and then we'll get some story set up for Season 3. Also, I think it's absolutely hilarifreakinous that at the beginning of all this I literally was like, “Meh, gonna check this anime out, don't expect to fall for these characters like I did with Haikyuu*" and yet here I am with elementary-school Rin as my best boi after Levi and my first ever anime ship ahahahaha funny how the cookie crumbles 🙂

*note: I still love Haikyuu more overall, for I fell hard for the entire friggin volleyball team, not just two three characters (Gou is best girl, Gou >>>> Haikyuu girls), but I definitely feel more emo towards Rin and RinHaru and I really like Gou. I don't think I'd even really consider Free! one my top animes in regards to overall story 'cause it's honestly not all that remarkable, but the characters; I just love and little Rin is definitely one of my favorite anime characters ever, GAH I LOVE HIM SO MUCH 😭   edit 8/20/20 - pfftskdjkkklds wow how naive I was lollllll (I still love Karasuno OFC, but as of now I've been more emotionally involved by and absolutely obsessed with RinHaru than I have with Karasuno, but it doesn't necessarily mean I love one over the other. They're both the loml <3)

[regalbanshee]

Sebastian x Blaine - I Want You Back

A random piece I found that I wrote a while back, so it’s probably really bad lol

Fandom: Glee Cast

Pairing: Sebastian Smythe x Blaine ‘Warbler’ Anderson

Word count: 1,459. Wow! long one today I guess lol

I hope you enjoy, and without further ado……

Sebastian's POV

*flashback*

Blaine had come back to Dalton Academy with some of his so called 'friends' from the New Directions. I am a little hurt that he left the Warblers to join the New Directions just so he could be with his boyfriend. Not only was he a great singer (at least that's what I've heard from Trent and David and the others), but he helped keep the group together. Earlier, when he was walking down the hallway, all I could do was stare at him. I had been told by Niff (Jeff and Nick) that he was 'sex-on-a-stick' and boy were they right! He was my teenage dream (A/N notice what I did there ☺). When everyone started singing the intro to the song I remembered what I was meant to do. I was a bit late, so I had to squeeze through the two guys at the front of our formation so I could get to Blaine. He was standing next to Kurt (who I am totally not jealous of - notice the jealousy). I couldn't help giving Blaine 'the eye' and checking him out. He looked amazing. Perfect, even.  

I never ever broke eye contact with Blaine, even when we had finished the routine. Then I asked him the one question that I wanted to know the answer to. I only hoped he would say yes.

"So Blaine, will you join the group you abandoned." What he said next hurt me so much.  

"I joined the Warblers because they were classy. None of that" He gestured behind me with a flick of his wrist "was classy." I don't know why it hurt me so much. I never even knew him, but the fact he had said no to coming back to his brothers just broke me. My heart shattered in that moment and the Blaine turned to his 'friends' (uhhgg - I hate them) and said "let's go". They left and then the Warblers all left the room gradually, until it was just me, Jeff and Nick. They had always stuck to my side ever since I joined Dalton and I was incredibly grateful for them.

Nick walked over to me where I was sitting with my head in my hands - close to tears - sunken into one of the sofas. He put a comforting hand on my shoulder and when I didn't respond he sat down. I didn't know where Jeff was in all of this but when I looked up, eyes bloodshot, Jeff wasn't in the room. I looked over at Nick and smiled weakly at him.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know. It just hurts so much. It broke me that he said no." I trailed off, figuring there wasn't much else to it except had we had eternally lost a member of the Warblers. Nick didn't say anything for a while, so I looked at him again, prompting him to talk.  

"You're gonna hate me for this, but I think you're in love with him. I know it's crazy, but that's the only logical explanation."

"You really think so? Even if I was in love with him, there's no chance that he would ever love me back. He has a fucking boyfriend for goodness' sake."

"You'll never know any answers to all your questions if you never at least try to find the answers. They may hurt but you'll feel better after a while. Trust me."

*end of flashback*

I had chosen to listen to what Nick said two days ago. I got Blaine's phone number off of one of the other Warblers - to be honest, I can't remember his name - and I texted Blaine, asking him to meet me at the Lima Bean Café. He said he would be there, so that is why I was sitting by myself holding a steaming hot cup of almond milk latte, in the Lima Bean. Blaine walked through the door and I waved to him. He gave a nod of acknowledgment in my direction then walked up to the counter, ordered his drink and walked over to the table I was sat at.  

"So what did you want to talk about?" He had a slight accent I couldn't quite recognise. All I knew was that I loved it.

"Ummmm....I don't know exactly. I suppose I should ask you how you are. So, how are you?"

"I'm fine. What about you?"

There was a pause as I thought about what to say. "Okay. Blaine, I may not know you, but I can tell when you're lying. So, tell me the truth. How are you?"

"To be honest, not great. I hate myself and my body, and when Kurt found out, he immediately broke up with me. But when he told everyone else, he twisted the whole thing and said that I was taking all my hate out on him and being abusive to him, which was totally not true, and now everyone hates me and whenever I try to talk to anyone they just walk away from me or ignore me. I just want someone to talk to because I have no one." (A/N I love Kurt with all my heart, and I never wanted to write him as a mean character, but it kind of just happened. Please don't kill me.)

I looked over at Blaine and saw that he was very close to crying. I knew he wouldn't want to break down in public so I stood up, grabbed his arm and walked outside into the fresh air. I walked round to the back of the café to the little back alley, where all the bins were (I know - not nice - but it's better than exposed to everyone) (this is me just checking before I post, but like this is absolutely DISGUSTING ahah what was I thinking). When I turned back to him, he was getting really worked up and I think he was starting to have a panic attack. I held both of his shoulders and looked him in the eyes.  

"Look at me. Think of something happy. Like friends." He looked at me. "Crap. Yeah. OK.  Not a good thing. OK. OK. What do I do? Ummmm..." I was just thinking out loud at this point. Then I had an idea. I crashed my lips to his. I held the kiss for a second or two before I pulled away. I looked down at Blaine, who was flustered and still had his eyes closed.  

"What just happened?"  

"You were having a panic attack and then I kissed you."

"Yeah I know that. But how? Why? Why me? Why kiss me?" He looked scared. Like a three-year old who's just woken up from a bad dream.

"To answer your first question, I read somewhere that holding your breath can stop a panic attack so yeah... In answer to your second, third and fourth questions, I kissed you because I like you. And you shouldn't feel alone - like no one likes you, cos that’s just not true. Because they do. I like you. And I get it if you don't want to see me again, but I'm not leaving you until I know you are home and OK."

"No. Please don't leave. I want you to stay."

"Whatever you want. Anything."

"Really? Anything?" He smirked.

"Yes."

"Then kiss me again." He smiled shyly, and I smiled back at him.  

I put two fingers under his chin and lifted it up a little, then I leaned in and he did the same. The second our lips touched, it seemed as if it was only us and there was no one else in the world. Our lips moved in sync and I put my hands on his hips, pulling him closer to me. He gasped at the sudden movement, and I used this as my chance to slip my tongue into his mouth. He moaned and wrapped his arms around my neck, followed shortly by his legs around my waist when I picked him up and pushed him back into the wall. We kissed for a few more seconds before I pulled away.

"Wow." We both said once we had got our breath back.

"Come back to Dalton. Please. We need you. I need you."  

"Yes. Yes I will.  Of course I will."

*2 weeks later*

So that was the story of how I, Sebastian Smythe, fell in love with Blaine Anderson, and how he came back to Dalton Academy and the Warblers. Also, the day after our first kiss, he, very hesitantly, asked me on a date, and then, at the end of the date, asked me to be his boyfriend. So there you have it. I have a boyfriend who loves me for who I truly am, and whom I love so much, no matter what happens to either of us.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I hope you like this. My other Tumblr blog is imperialpirates, my Wattpad is regalbanshee and my Instagram is badassbanshee1819.

A/N: also, I feel terrible for making Kurt a not nice person, but it was the only way I could have a Seblaine one shot this way.  Please don't kill me.

I really hope you enjoyed this one. Do send in your requests and I will get them done as soon as possible.

Remember to always be yourself over anything else and always have fun.

[peterstanslizzie]

Re-watching Lizzie Mcguire: Episode 1.7 (Here Comes Aaron Carter)

Aaron Carter Hype

- During lunch break, Lizzie storms into the school cafeteria and eagerly informs Gordo and Miranda that tween pop star, Aaron Carter is coming to their town to shoot a Christmas-themed music video. Our favorite ‘know-it-all‘ Gordo doesn’t know who Aaron Carter is. Really, Gordo? You know x,y and z about everything else but you aren’t aware of one of the biggest teen heartthrobs to emerge in the late 90s and early 2000s? Oh wait, it’s because he’s a 13-year old straight boy. No shade though.

- I also want to know why Aaron and his team decided to film their video in that specific town? Where does Lizzie and co. live anyways? I’m thinking it’s some small town in California.

- Lizzie is curious to know where exactly the filming location will be and this opens up the opportunity for Gordo to utilize his knowledge of film and set locations to help her figure it out. Besides meeting him, Lizzie wants to also interview Aaron for the school web-zine and Miranda wants to sing for him in person. Gordo is thinking of using this opportunity to make a behind-the-scenes video of the video shoot.

Brainstorming Session

Let’s go get the tea on this video shoot location

- Our trio are coming up with possible locations for the filming to take place. They do a good job brainstorming places that are big enough for production but the problem is, they have a least a list of 40 locations to narrow down from.

- Matt enters Lizzie’s room and observes what they have been doing and he seems to know where exactly the filming location is because Lanny, his silent but not mute best friend told him. This is the first ever mention of Lanny in the series. I actually like Lanny; He is just as playful and adventurous as Matt but I think he has more charm to him than Matt. I think it’s because he doesn’t talk, like at all lol. But this might be an unpopular opinion.

- I don’t know why they trust in him and Lanny knowing where this place exactly is but regardless, they decide to ask Matt to reveal the location and he will only do that if he is able to come along with them. They agree and he tells them that it will be held at a warehouse and as siblings usually do, Lizzie double crosses Matt and tells him he can’t go but Matt does a comeback and threatens to rat them out to their mom. Lizzie gives in and Matt is able to tag along. 

- So what if their mom knows? It’s not like she would be against the idea since Lizzie is planning to interview Aaron for the school web-zine. It’s kinda like a class assignment but only cooler.

Plot Twist

It’s such a random coincidence that Sam got backstage passes from his client

- Sam Mcguire comes home late from work and reveals to Jo that his client gave him 2 backstage passes to Aaron Carter’s Winter Wonderland-themed music video shoot. Jo, elated by this, tells him that they should surprise Lizzie and her pals with those passes but in fact, we know that they are planning to lie to her parents and go to the video shoot and leave a note saying they are out working on a school project. Again, Lizzie should have been honest and told her parents the truth from the get go.

Operation Sneak-In

- Lizzie, her friends and Matt arrive at the compound of Ren-Mar warehouses and they devise a plan to walk right up to the entrance and walk past security like they own the place.

Doesn’t this scene remind you of the Beatles album cover where they were walking along a pedestrian crossing on Abbey Road?

- They do a good job at first but when a security officer lays his eyes on them, they panicked and bumped into one another. He requests for them to show their passes but Lizzie says that she a member of the press and she’s allowed to be there. That’s great and all but when your press badge is a measely piece of paper that looks cheap, it’s just not gonna cut it. And as expected, they are denied entry.

- Sam and Jo Mcguire reads Lizzie’s note about being away for a school project and Jo suggests to her husband to head over first to the video shoot while she waits for them to come back home so that she can bring them over. Yikes! This doesn’t look so good for Lizzie and her friends.

- Matt tells the group he devised a Plan B and takes out an elf costume from a sack he’s been carrying around. Apparently, he kept elf costumes since last Christmas when he and his family took pictures for their family Christmas card. He suggests they dress up like elves so that they can blend in with the Christmas-themed set and performers.

Matt isn’t going to dress himself up as an elf. Nope, he is going in as Aaron Carter. At first, I thought he was joking but he was actually serious and tricked a producer to think that he is a stand-in for Aaron. Good job Matt but the producer needs to get his eyes checked asap.

- Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda weren’t so lucky and were denied entry once again. Lizzie isn’t quick to lose hope and she comes up with another plan to get them in. She spots a car pulling up to the security check and leads her friends to hide by the side of the car, away from the security officer’s view. I’m guessing they haven’t installed security cameras in the area yet because they successfully manage to sneak their way in.

- Turns out, the person driving that car was her father, Sam! He spots Lizzie for a second but she quickly ducks away before he could realize that it was actually her. This adds on to the list of things Lizzie needs to worry about today.

Looks like things are getting more complicated than before

Getting In Was Hard, But Staying In Is Harder

- Just when Gordo is about to film a short video intro of Lizzie and Miranda for his documentary, the same security officer spots them and we then get a funny but childish chase sequence. They find themselves at the waiting area for the video shoot that is also used for crafts service and Lizzie’s dad is also at the same area.

- Meanwhile at the Mcguire home, Jo listens to a voice message left by the security officer at Ren-Mar warehouses who tells her that Lizzie is causing some trouble over there. Jo immediately goes into ‘mom mode’ and starts charging her way to find her daughter and probably ground her for all of eternity.

- Lizzie, who is hiding under a red sack on a sleigh spots ‘Aaron’ when it was actually Matt. I don’t get how she manages to confuse the two; Matt is way shorter than the real Aaron and she should know that. They stumble onto the stage where rehearsals are taking place and they are spotted by the director of the shoot and the same security officer who has been giving them a tough time.

- We then get the same, stereotypical troupe of the overweight security guy chasing a bunch of kids and the kids are too fast for him. I probably enjoyed this chase-scene when I was younger but now as an adult, I am just not amused.

- But I did enjoy the scene where the security officer tells Jo that he doesn’t know where Lizzie is and she freaks out on him. That was gold! But she was detained afterwards and held in a detention room. Sam joins her pretty soon afterward because he tried to eat one of the donuts from the crafts service table.

Aaron Carter!

- Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda are hiding inside a room, which turns out to be Aaron Carter’s dressing room. Convenient much? Is the security around here that incompetent? Suddenly, Aaron’s manager enters the room and demands to know what are these kids doing here.

- Lizzie tries to butter her up and explains to her that meeting Aaron would be the best thing ever and it would mean a lot to them if at least one of them gets to meet him. The manager agrees and Lizzie actually sacrifices her chance to meet him by giving it to Miranda.

Lizzie, you really did not have to give up your chance like that.

- WHAT!? Lizzie really did not have to do that. She did most of the work to get them there and she was the one who first heard about Aaron coming to town. And she gives it up just to let Miranda sing to him and get his autograph? That’s being too much of a good friend. Miranda should have insisted Lizzie went instead. I’m beginning to understand why Miranda is not such a liked character overall by the fandom.

- Luckily, everything ends up being A-okay because we have another convenient plot point where Lizzie left her tape recorder at Aaron’s dressing room and goes back to find it. She knocks on the door and standing in front of her with Lizzie’s tape recorder in his hand is Aaron in the flesh.

Rant Time!

Ohh puh-leaze!

- He gives her tape recorder back and he wishes her Merry Christmas and they share a KISS under a Mistletoe!!!??? I love Lizzie Mcguire and all but that moment was completely and utterly ridiculous! I’ve never heard of a fan meeting their idol-crush and then 5 seconds later, he gives that fan a kiss on the LIPS (NOT CHEEKS), LIPS without asking their permission. It’s so mind-boggling and unrealistic, even for a tween show on Disney.

- It’s very clear that Hilary Duff and Aaron Carter were dating at that time and the producers just had to slip in a kiss scene between the two of them in this episode to take advantage of their cute relationship. 

I Want Candy!

- The video director and Matt find Lizzie and her friends and all thanks to Matt, they also get to be a part of Aaron Carter’s music video.

Cue the music video

Overall Thoughts

- I think this was a fan favorite episode of Lizzie Mcguire due to how they managed to bring in Aaron Carter to guest star and perform his ‘I Want Candy’ song. It’s a really cute and fun episode to watch. But obviously, this episode lacks real substance. The kiss scene between Lizzie and Aaron was cute but totally unnecessary (read my Rant section). It also felt weird seeing Lizzie having no problem or showing no remorse when easily lying to her parents and disobeying authoritative figures and such. It was a little out of character, don’t you think?

- Despite all of my complaints about this episode, I will give it a pass because this is considered to be a ‘special’ episode in a way and certain things should be brushed aside for entertainment value. Plus, it was nice to see a young and adorable Aaron Carter thrive in a time before going through so much difficulties in his life from drug abuse to his various personal health issues.

[jq37]

oh my GOD the new ep!!!! like!!!!!!!!! SO MUCH happened but then also the preview for the next ep looks SO GOOD

**spoilers for first kisses and last words**

Hoo boy this was, as I predicted, a BIG one. Not that I needed to be an oracle to figure that out since there’s only a few eps left but man did it deliver.

I still think that Cool Kids, Cold Case had the most off the wall nonsense happening in the shortest period of time but this ep I think was overall the most consistently wild ep.

So let’s take it from the top.

I think I forgot to mention it before but Adaine’s, “I go into a rage,” hardcore cracked me up.

“I have hold person.”/”I stuff a sock in her mouth.” Insult to injury Adaine. 

The entire group dunking on Aelwen, forgetting that Riz is literally bleeding out, half dead.

“sausage festival” 

Adaine really was dead serious about her snitching threat huh?

Ally miming a boom mic.

I love how everyone including Siobhan mess up Aelwen’s name or mix it up with Adaine’s half the time.

And speaking of, wow. What a rise and fall for her in 3 eps (and about an hour in game time). She’s queen of the nerds. She’s not even cool at her own school. And terrified of whoever she made whatever shady deal with. I know she literally tried to kill the whole party last ep and that she’s the worst but I almost feel for her.

Almost.

“This is not on you. This is on the world within which you inhabit.”

I love Adaine’s semi-indigent, “We’re not going to kill you,” because Alwen was 100% ready to murder them which, side note, imagine how much on an international incident that would have been.

Lol at the group tag team bullying Aelwen about going to Mumple and Adaine using her magic jacket for super petty BS.

“Hey mom!”/”GodDAMMIT honey.”

The parent/kid relationships are so good in this show.

Everyone but Kristen parkouring off the roof when Sklonda specifically set up a ladder. 

“The put a girl in a palimpsest,” followed immediately by, “She went to a party,” as if those are on the same level.

Sklonda Gukgak DUNKING Aelwen into the squad car with a technical assist from Adaine. I knew she was gonna be my fave parent from her intro scene and I love her even more than I thought.

“With all due respect, (A/N: Which is none), suck my dick, fuck you.”

“She tried to murder me.”/”BE THAT AS IT IS.”

“Eh, you carry a gun.”

“No one who’s detecting maidens is a maiden.”

I feel like I’m quoting a lot today but there were so many money lines this episode. 

Everyone always loses it when Brennan starts doing the Identify spell voice and I love it. 

Adaine’s dad is T R A S H

Adaine’s mom on the other hand…I’ve been wondering about her for a little while because usually the outright emotional abuse has been from her dad while her mom is either not there or not saying anything. So I’ve been wondering was her deal is and we finally got the start of an answer. I know we only have a few eps left but I hope we go a little deeper into what exactly is going on there. It seems like Adaine’s parents are gonna be a big factor in whatever endgame is planned so fingers crossed,

Everyone cracking up as Emily backs Fig into a corner talking to Penelope. 

I love Gorgug so freaking much. Just his good natured, lumbering self. EVery time Zac opens his mouth gold falls out. 

Emily MAXED out her deception huh?

I think Siobhan must have forgotten that she took the crystal with Ostentasia away from Aelwen at the end of last ep. Either that or they willingly gave it to the cops and I forgot (but I think it’s the former because she said in this ep that it was in Aelwen’s pocket when at the end of the last ep she def took it).

My autocorrect keeps wanting me to type Ellen for Aelwen. I WISH.

I knew it! He’s a PIRATE. Suck it Fabian. (lol at Adaine stirring the pot. That was like Adaine being sincerely polite and Siobhan trying to cause problems and I love mixed motive player/character decisions). 

I wonder if the banker is named after John Hughes. 

I can’t believe the dumb bank is actually a huge plot point.

Yikes, re: Bill and Fabian. That got tense. Though I’ve kinda been waiting for some kind of blowout for a while. His dad runs very hot and cold and I figured it would only be a matter of time before we saw some of the cold.

Also, Lou breaking character in the middle of that very intense moment to clarify a plot point. 

Sidenote: For a hot sec after reading the title of the ep and remembering how Sklonda is competent to the point of (probably) breaking the original plot, I was so concerned she was gonna eat it this ep. So glad she didn’t.

Anyway, the idea of swinging sadly on a rope is so freaking funny.

Fig: Can I offer you a sad song in this trying time?

Huge portrait of Bill Seacaster in Fabian’s room. 

Adaine is gonna bring up him kissing her sister very time she needs to get out of something w/ Fabian for the rest of her immortal life. 

Another sidenote: This is a little thing but I always think it’s interesting when fantasy worlds have the same months and days as us when they’re named after like Norse Gods and Roman statesmen that wouldn’t exist in their world. Same with Roman numerals and Irish coffee. 

“Am I allowed to smoke in here?”/”Of course.”

I really like the character detail that Adaine is always really polite to everyone, including/especially people like Fabian’s maid and Basrar. People that she wouldn’t necessarily “have to” be polite to, you know? It’s like she’s trying to make up for the fact that her family is a bag of dicks. 

“Fantasy Google”

The whole bit with Fabian’s porn stash was so good. This group is so good w/ yes-adning each other.

“Privateer me a new one.” Emily is so good.

“Special investment” Suspicious  

I was thinking “I can’t believe looking at a bank’s FAQs is part of this game,” right as Brennan said it.

So I went back and watched Siobhan’s face from when Emily first mentioned Kal Vaxis to when she got the connection to KVX and it took her 22 seconds. I also missed the quick cut to Brennan when Gorgug asks, “What is Kal Vaxis,” and you can tell he knows they’re so close to breaking it with the little grin on his face. I wish we had gotten a reaction shot right after she got it. Anyway, great team solve w/ the MVP trophy to Siobhan/Adaine. 

I loved when Zac, Emily, and Siobhan all whipped out their laminated maps in tandem to figure out what was happening. 

The hard mood change from Adaine dropping the bomb about Riz’s dad and to forming a committee to help Gorgug flirt with Zelda was wild.

Kristen telling anyone to be suave is hysterical. 

What a DISASTER of a committee Gorgug’s friends are. Well meaning but so trash

Fig: Tell her you got a SICK tattoo

Adaine: Bring her to see art in the middle of the night

Fabian: You cannot date this person (Kristen: You absolutely have to)

Kristen: Actually not garbage advice but she is in no position to be giving dating advice to anyone 

Riz: Having a literal existential crisis 

“Who else is he gonna date?” WOW, savage Adaine.

I meant to say this before but I love how Adaine’s go-to is immediately ice cream and she’s always on board to go to Basrar’s. Like how when she texted everyone 2 eps ago she was like, “Let’s get ice cream now.”

Mmm, don’t love that Gorthalax isn’t answering his phone. I have been waiting for a significant adult to die for a while now.

OK, look, the whole thing about Penelope and Dayne being eternal prom king/queen. Is it wild? Yes. Is it implausible? No. No it’s not. Even Murph, most veteran player, was kind of like, “Wait, does that make sense?” Because, in this setting, it kind of would? I’m not sure it fits within the story so far and I’d have to go back and listen to the more lore-y stuff again but the conceit itself is like the exact right amount of crazy to fit in this setting? And they never cut to Brennan like I wanted so I could judge his face for any kind of tell. But anyway, you guys know I’ve been predicting a prom finale and this would fit right into a prom finale. 

The girls giving Gorgug a pep talk before his date was ADORABLE. 

Gorgug having to check his phone to remember three words, “You look nice.”

“Your friends are popular and loud” True

Zelda’s a BARBARIAN! She’s a MEGA BARBARIAN! 

I know they mean ecstasy like intense emotion but I kept thinking, like, molly.

Hmm, so Penelope wanted to know if Zelda had hooked up w/ Gorgug, ie: if she was a maiden. Can they only palimpsest maidens? Or (as we will get to later) does nice guy Biz only want virginal maidens for his creepy reverse Weird Science arcade setup?

Zelda listing off every type of metal and then Gorgug’s, “Same stuff,” was perfect comic timing on Zac’s part.

Imagine the Hangman screaming down the road on fire, Zelda completely terrified. 

I love the Hangman so freaking much.

“DO NOT GIVE TREATS TO MY MOTORCYCLE.”

I can’t believe everyone is living at the freaking crappy apartments. I knew they were all gonna end up hanging at one persons’ house but I kinda figured it would be Fabian’s house or Gorgug’s house. 

I”m also concerned about Bill. I feel like we keep getting reminded that he’s mortal a LOT.

Did Gorgug’s parents have indoor fireworks on tap for Gorgug’s first date?

Oh my God the whole docking conversation. Never play chicken with Brennan because the dude will not blink.

“We didn’t do that.” That’s his other best comic timing moment of the ep.

“Polishing my axe”

Kristen this episode 

I really wish they’d made the roll to find Ragh later in the ep. Fig is so ride or die for Gilear now and I love it.

“I fall asleep.”

Adaine almost making her parents dunk on Gilear but then pulling back.

But also, Adaine and Gilear going off the the oracle together.

“Fig pack it in.”

Affirmations with Fig and Gilear.

Fig, do you really think platonically cuddling with Kristen is the move?

Riz setting himself up for a dramatic entrance is so fantastic.

Hmm, so Biz and Zayne were attacked at the same time. That’s why that cold pill detail was in there way back. I’ve been trying to figure out what was always planned and what was quick re-working but Brennan is so good I can never really tell.

Are multiple unrelated groups just getting into palimpsests at the same time? Or mostly unrelated groups tied to one person?

“We are not gonna get our security deposit back.”

RIZ’S DAD IS JAMES BOND! YES! I didn’t know I wanted that to be the case until it happened and now that’s the only acceptable option. 

Riz didn’t get the 20′s he needed when fighting Aelwen but man he got it at the best story moment this week.

Oh man that home movie

The pearl is grey. Interesting. 

“Mom our family is so awesome Mom we’re all so badass, I thought it was just us but Dad is awesome too, why didn’t you tell me Mom?”

Sklonda: Internally screaming. 

Man he went full Inigo Montoya.

“I’ve got nimble escape so…”

“I guess we have a two bedroom,” I think was a really underrated funny line.

Did Riz ever tell his mom about the time of death thing.

Everyone inundating Gilear with overlapping chatter.

lol the Hangman likes Zelda’s family

Ally’s panicked, “FUCK” is always hilarious. 

Why are all the adults in Gorgug’s life trying to get him laid?

OK so the elementals were conjured by Aelwn’s magic Brennan said. He said by Aelwen’s magic, not by Aelwen. I wonder if that turn of phrase was specific or arbitrary. Like, we were told where Aelwen is but we don’t know. Was she forced to do it (either by threat or by magic)? Clearly someone (Biz?) is pulling her strings to at least some degree. 

“It’s probably about marriage.” “WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED.”

That happened fast

Fun fact from my International Law class: When a government kidnaps someone, it’s called rendition. 

“There’s a war, fuck school.”

Yeah it is wild that Adaine’s parents didn’t call her.

OK so did the Elves get Aelwen back but also go, “But you still need to go to jail.” Because they cut Brennan off before the end of that sentence which might have had more clues in it.

“I text my mom k”

I also wanna know who gave Kristen a slushy marg (It’s war times. I bet things are looser now)

Murph’s face when Brennan said, “Lucky Stones” was so good. That was so Riz.

S/O to Ally for pre-casting Guardian of Faith. Good instinct. 

AHHHHHH BIZ

As I said in an earlier conversation s/o to Adaine for DUNKING on him at every opportunity because he DESERVED IT. Also, her instincts for who sucks in this game have been spot on.

Another s/o to Riz for having the presence of mind to not pull a Star Lord and to pretend to be on the bad dude’s side for long enough to gain some kind of upper hand.

OK, wow was not expecting that twist. I feel like I need to go back and rewatch some stuff to get a better handle of the timeline and stuff. Like, when exactly did the girls start going missing again? And what year is Biz? Has he been masterminding this whole thing? I feel like no but I feel like he’s masterminding his own thing which happens to a puzzle piece in something bigger? BUT IT’S A PRETTY DAMN BIG PIECE. Who opened the new arcade? Is it connected to the bank?  How did Biz get involved? Who’s his supplier? Did someone hook up Biz, Daybreak, Penelope, and Aelwen with Palimpsests to do their own separate things, hoping that at least one of them would succeed which would somehow be good for the mystery person? I am so excited to find out and I really hope Brennan and the cast do a Q+A sesh after S1 is over to hash some stuff out.

Siobhan’s face when Biz said he was going after Adaine.

ALSO, you’re just gonna TELL RIZ and you wanna PUT ONE OF HIS BEST FRIENDS into a MAGIC CRYSTAL???? AND YOU THOUGHT HE’D BE ON BOARD? Like, even if he was, what about the 4 other people who are there?????

(sidenote, wild Gorgug’s parents just left them alone, no questions asked)

Theme-wise, this is the fight ep I’m most excited for. It seems rad as hell.

All that yelling in the promo for next week. Either the raddest thing possible happened or there was a TPK. There is no other option.

Wow, that was a stellar ep and this is a really long post. I really can’t wait for next week’s!

Edit: I meant to say before, is Penelope’s FB album like…a hit list? Like does whoever’s doing the actual dirty work (Biz? S/o else?) know that whoever she takes a picture with is who they should target?

[anon-luv]

Countdown To Us (Chpt 2 PREVIEW)

Author’s Note: Glimpse into the next Chapter. Hope you all enjoy this little sneak peek. I am sorry it took me so long. Remember this is unedited and the final draft might have a few changes, so yes you will have to reread the intro on the final lol. Let me know what you all think. Any song recommendations or quotes are greatly accepted as well. This story will be full of angst, and I promise it will be less confusing as the story goes on. Let me know if you all have any questions as well :D. Love you all!!

It’s like I told you; If you stay, I stay. —  Lana Del Rey

It was like a ticking time bomb. It marked the beginning of what our society had deemed as normal, and it marked the end of what I had classified as my normal.

Taehyung's brown eyes had not left my figure the whole way home, and now as we laid in bed his voice was silent, but his trembling hand as it traced the darkened ‘50’ in my palm communicated the internal dilemma tonight had pitched our way.

“You know I love you… nothing has changed” my quiet raspy voice rang through the quiet room shocking us both.

“Nothing has changed... yet” Taehyung replied in a stronger voice than that of my own. Taehyung had always been brave, he had traveled through cities and forests bringing back full notebooks with stories of high mountaintops filled with white cold snow and drawings of an endless row of lit up buildings. Everything in my imagination vivid with the descriptions he planted to bloom within my brain. Trails I could only visit in my dreams for now because I had been condemned with strict, close-minded parents.

“No, don’t say that… we have battled through rougher storms”, I replied grasping his sun-kissed face between my hands, “You and I are not just for nows. We are forevers. We are eternal”

Taehyung avoided my eyes as he sat up, “Do you really believe that (y/n), you think we can go on like nothing happened while that clock in your hand ticks synchronized with each of his heartbeats. This soulmate shit is not a joke”

I looked at him petrified, “I will not hurt him. I will not misbehave and have his years stolen if that is what you think…”

Taehyung nodded, “(Y/N) you can’t fight fate”

“I know I can’t. A new year is about to begin, and you will be expected at the soulmate ceremony.  You will meet your soulmate that night, what are you going to do about that??” I asked as fear and rage consumed me from the inside out.

“I am going to talk to her, and I will explain my heart already belongs to someone else.  I will be her friend; not her lover.” Taehyung confidently replied, “I am strong”

I gulped down nervously. I had almost forgotten the soulmate ceremony would arrive along with the strongest storms of winter, and with our 25th year of life, it would be our turn to walk on forward to be matched if we had n’t run into our other halves yet. Young adults from all over the world met up in the largest ceremony of the year in the capital/holy city where The Fates and Aphrodite made a guest appearance to finish matching the lone souls who had yet to have their mark burn into their skin.

The ‘50’. The Curse. The countdown in my palm. Each number down is one less year, not for me but for him…. my soulmate. I had behaved in the eyes of my peers and superiors to keep his years intact for when I would finally encounter him, I would be able to move on forward without guilt. His lifespan untouched. 50 years from when our eyes would meet for this first time his would end. My soulmate would have a full life.

“I am strong too” I stubbornly said as my eyes watered and voice trembled. The sting in my palm pulsating.

“Did he have a 50 too??” Taehyung asked trying to drop the subject of his own soulmate that was still somewhere out there walking unknown to him in this world.

I shrugged my shoulders, I had not bothered to check at the moment with everything that was going, “I am not sure”

Taehyung stood up from the bed quickly rushing towards his sweater, “Wait, Where are you doing??”

“We have to find him” he rushed out, “I will go, you stay here it is almost morning”

“No Tae, wait…” I rushed to him, “It is late, he probably isn’t there anymore. We can go tomorrow. Together.”

Taehyung stayed silent at the suggestion, his eyes glimmering with the internal battle brimming from these nights events.

“Please babe. He didn’t look like a bad person. I highly doubt he would sabotage my years by misbehaving. He didn’t seem very scared of the demigods either which is a good sign….yes??”

Taehyung nodded, “Fine, but tomorrow we will head that way around the time we last saw him alright?? Together??”

I nodded, “Together”

I lied. During the night as I rested entangled within Taehyung’s warmth, I didn’t think about those brown orbs or rosy lips against the pale skin of my soulmate. I didn’t dream about his deep voice or long slender fingers interlacing with mine. I didn’t dream about him, but as soon as the warm rays from the sun tickled my skin awake everything about the stranger from last night intrigued me. The bed was empty beside me, just like it was almost every morning after a night spend with Taehyung. My mom’s frightening yells would scare him away from the comfort of my bed sheets and into the cool early dim mornings.

I stretched as my bare feet hit the floor, my impulsive ass had always been curious about what fate had chosen for me. Clearly, Fate was blind to not see my one and truly soulmate had been with me all along; Taehyung.

I put on one of Taehyung’s old hoodies, the sleeves long enough to cover my hands from curious eyes.

“Mom I am heading out” I yelled loudly and jogged away before I could hear her scream out a response.

I traveled the street and allys quickly, not bothering to stop and interact with neighbors or acquaintances. My mind had a mission, and that was to find the stranger and get rid of these nagging thoughts that had been attacking me since my eyes opened this morning.

A fluttering feeling of what I was declaring to be just nerves had doubled with every step, the dialogue I had relentlessly practiced over and over again on the way to the convenience store had been thrown out the window as soon as it came in sight. I pulled up the hoodie trying to block my face from the world as I walked on in. I took a deep breath of encouragement as I stepped into the lonely store. His silhouette taunting you from outside the window throwing doubts my way as I fast paced into the candy aisle. A lollipop hung from his mouth as he read a magazine.

“Welcome, Let me know if you need help” his deep voice traveled throughout the small store shaking the daylights outta me, goosebumps traveled up my arm as my eyes found his.

I deviated my line of sight quickly hoping not to get recognized only to miserably fail as I saw him walking towards me, the magazine left abandoned at the counter. I turned to face him with a KitKat chocolate bar in hand.

His dark brown hair was silkier than I had remembered, the need to run my fingers through it had me cracking my knuckles nervously, completely forgetting about the candy in my hand that now lay on the floor.

The handsome stranger/soulmate bend down to pick it up before it was left abandoned. He looked into my eyes as he cautiously touched my arm pulling it towards him. He very slowly and carefully pulled up my sleeve revealing the mark in my palm as he placed the forgotten candy on it.

I looked towards his hand then, the dark 50 printed on his own reflecting my life intact and mesmerizing at the same time. A sigh of relief escaped my lips, the fear that had gathered in the pit of my stomach released with that lone deep breath.

“My name is Yoongi” he stated with a deep voice and a nervous bite of his lip.

“(Y/N)” I said trying to sound strong yet spilling out a small tremble at the end of my name.

Yoongi’s eyes traveled along my face making me self-conscious as I lowered down my hoodie allowing him to get the full image of what fate had put in his path. Yoongi looked at my palm once again and then back to his own. I could hear the gears turning in his head with the way his eyes traveled from my hand to his.

I stayed silent. I was unsure of what to say as I let my own eyes travel along his handsome features. I couldn’t help but compare Taehyung to Yoongi. They were both so different, yet they both had an unknown power over me. I had to look at the facts though. Taehyung had been slow to grow. Natural. Yoongi had been fast and unexpected. Fate/Fake.

Yoongi’s deep timbre brought me back to the present, “We need to talk”

I nodded reluctantly, “That we do”

The universe, I’d learned, was never, ever kidding. It would take whatever it wanted and it would never give it back.

—  Cheryl Strayed

[redgreenbluesforloco]

Daisuke, Takahiko & Nobunari (3BK) Interview on QuadAxel Pt.1/2

This interview didn’t feel long when I read it, but it sure as hell does now that I’m trying to translate and format it, so I’ll split it in half :P  

Some notes: I’ve honestly no idea how Takahiko came to call Nobunari “Naru-kun” but it’s adorable and I refuse to alter it, so Naru-kun = Nobunari. I had to let myself use lol and ahahaha for laughter (it’s what the magazine editors did!). Haven’t had anyone proofread it for me yet so there might be some minor edits later.  Part 2 here

The Vancouver Team: An everlasting bond

Daisuke Takahashi, Nobunari Oda and Takahiko Kozuka, eternal friends and rivals who helped popularize the sport, discuss the first time they met, their memories of the Vancouver Olympics, future plans for their skating careers. [summarized intro]

Thank you for granting us this precious opportunity today. Is this the first sit-down with all 3 of you since the 2009 program (Figure Skating Opening of the Season Special by TV Asahi)?

Dai: Oh, is it?

Nobu: Yeah, we haven’t had one since then, right?

Dai: I guess not.

Taka: Right. Do you remember on that program there was a question about what Doraemon items you wanted? And when I answered, “The Dictator Switch” [“Dokusai Switch” a switch to erase the existence of bothersome people], you both went, “Wow, how scary!” lol.

Dai: I don’t remember.

Nobu: I don’t remember.

Takahiko: I remember very well.

Dai/Nobu: Ahahaha LOL

Anyway, I would like to start by asking you about when you first met. Between the 3 of you, were Takahashi-san and Oda-san the first to meet?

Dai: Wasn’t the first time we met at that competition in Kyoto?

Nobu: Yeah, the Western Japan Elementary and Middle School Championships.

Dai: Yeah! That was the first time I saw Nobu.

Nobu: Yeah, that’s right. My impression back then was, ‘Wow, there are some talented guys coming from Okayama.”

Dai: And then I started to commute to the Takatsuki rink, and we started talking in the 1st  or 2nd year of Middle School.

Nobu: Yeah, it was around that time we started getting closer [talking more intimately].

What did you call each other back then?

Nobu: Everyone was already calling him Dai-chan back then.

Dai: What did I call Nobu back then?

Nobu: Didn’t you call me “Nobunari-kun”? Yeah, it was “Nobunari-kun” lol. Back then, Dai-chan already had the status of a junior champion. When his music came on during practice, everyone would scramble to get closer to the walls, like “I’ll get in trouble if I get in his way.” So I already had the image of him, like, “Wow, what an amazing person.” But even so, I still called him Dai-chan lol.

Dai: Everyone called me Dai-chan.

Nobu: Yeah. And then I think I first saw Takahiko at the Novice Japanese National Championships (1998). He’s two years younger than me, so he was in the Novice B championships. That was the first time I caught a glimpse of him.

Taka: Yeah.

Nobu: I had been hearing people talk like, “Kozuka-san’s son is so talented,” so I thought, “Ah, so this is Kozuka-san’s kid.”

Taka: When I first met Naru-kun it was at the Osaka Junior Nats (1999). You were there, right?

Nobu: Yeah, I was! I was eliminated from the preliminary rounds after the short program. My first Junior competition, I ended up 27th lol.

Dai: Ahahaha lol

Nobu: That was when I performed at a Junior event by invitation for the first time coming from Novice, and I was so excited to compete in Osaka, I ended up putting too much energy into everything and screwed up all the jumps lol.  

Taka (looking straight at Nobu): You kinda always did that, you put too much energy into it lol.

Nobu: Yeah, yeah! That’s why I’m skating better now lol. Way back then it was like I’d get too tense.

At that time, were you at a point where you’d share lodgings and meet at competitions and stuff?

Nobu: I went to a competition in Belgium with Takahiko. That was my first international event.

Taka: Oh, that’s right.

Nobu: Takahiko had already gone to many international events and knew how to get by overseas, so he taught me all sorts of things. I was just about to start high school and I was studying for the entrance exam. While we were abroad, he’d always sit next to me and tutor me.

Dai: LOL

Nobu: I’d be like, “I really don’t get math!!” lol.

Dai: Really?

Nobu: He was always in my room, solving my math problems for me. He’d teach me math the entire time.

Dai: LOOL

Taka: I’d get lonely on my own, so we’d just stay together the whole time lol

Nobu: Takahiko’s mother (Coach Kozuka Sachiko) and my mother (Coach Oda Noriko) were really close, so we’d often have meals together, too.

Taka: We had waffles too, right?

Nobu: We did, we did!

Taka: They wouldn’t let us give any to the girls. We were told that it was only for the guys.  

Nobu: Yeah, that’s right! We were with Aki Sawada and Nana Takeda and the others.

Dai: Ah, that’s nostalgic.

Nobu: Yeah.

Taka: And everyone’s gotten married already. It’s been a long time. And then, the first time I met Dai-chan at a competition, it was in Croatia, right?

Dai: Right. With Hirokazu Kobayashi and others.

Taka: Hirokazu was a senpai from my rink, so I became friends with Dai-chan through him.

Dai: Right, starting from there.

And when did you first start to become aware of each other as rivals?

Nobu: It was the season after I won the Junior World Championships (2005). Even if I wasn’t really aware [of a rivalry], people around me started comparing me to Dai-chan.

Dai: There was also the fact that it was the Torino Olympic (2006) season.

Nobu: And that spring I got into the same university (Kansai University), so that drew even more attention.

Dai: Right, yeah.

Nobu: And, when I was asked, “Who is your rival?” I’d answer, “It’s Dai-chan.” Because I knew that was the answer they were looking for lol.

Dai: And that was when we started appearing in competitions together more often.

Nobu: Right, yeah.

Dai: There wasn’t a lot of overlap during Juniors right? Because I went to Seniors early.

Nobu: We didn’t overlap at all.

Taka: At what age did you rise to Seniors, Dai-chan?

Dai: I think I was 16?

Nobu: At the Kyoto NHK Cup (2002) when Dai was competing, I was really excited to go and root for him. I was yelling, “Go, Dai-chan!” with everyone else from the rink.

Dai: Hahahaha.

Nobu: Now that I think about it, I didn’t run into Takahiko much at Junior competitions, right?

Taka: There was some overlap, but I messed up a bunch of things, so it was very scattered. I played soccer too much, I did too much warming-up…

Nobu: And you forgot your costume…

Taka: That was at Nats, actually!

Nobu: At Nats, huh!

Taka: Yeah, the Nagoya one (in 2006). That was so bad, man.

Dai: Ahahaha LOL.

As Takahashi-san and Oda-san were being called “rivals,” Kozuka-san joined in, and the three you of you went on to fight fiercely against one another for a long period of time. Looking back, what are your thoughts now?

Nobu: We were always told that we were “in a fierce battle against each other” but that’s not how it felt to us, right?

Dai: Right, yeah.

Taka: Yeah.

Nobu: Dai-chan was always great at the interpretation and steps, Takahiko had amazing skating skills, so what I felt the most was that I wanted to absorb their skills.

Dai: We were at the same rink so we had a lot of opportunities to watch each other train. When you notice the other person is working hard, it makes you work hard, too. So it was good to receive that kind of stimulation. The thing is, when it’s time to compete, you can only think about your own performance.

Nobu: Right.

Taka: Yeah, that’s right. When we were together in competitions, we weren’t that aware of each other, it was more when we were in different competitions and I heard someone got good results that I’d think, “I better do my best, too!” That was often good motivation for me.

Nobu: When I found out that people from other sports, both men and women, don’t speak to their rivals that much, I was surprised. After I retired, I realized that in figure skating the atmosphere doesn’t get tense like that.

Dai: That’s true.

Nobu: People are so surprised, like, “Wow, you get along really well.” And for us that was just normal.

Taka: Yeah, that’s normal.

Nobu: That’s why when people asked me about rivals, I think my true feeling was that it didn’t quite make sense.

Was that because you’ve been seeing each other often since you were little?

Dai: And I think it’s also because our sport isn’t 1 vs 1 [there is no direct confrontation].

Taka: Because it’s an individual competition, yeah.

Dai: You get your results from what you do on your own.

Taka: Since it’s a competition where judges decide the scores, it makes it easier.

Dai: Right, since other people are giving you the scores.

Nobu: Yeah, that’s right.

Dai: And it’s whether you yourself were able to get good results or not.

Taka: Sometimes you get results, sometimes you don’t. When you do, you’re happy, when you don’t, you’re sad…

Nobu: It’s all your responsibility. It felt more like fighting against yourself. 

Out of the many competitions in which you were all together, which one left the biggest impression?

Dai: For me it was probably the NHK Cup in Nagano, when the three of us got 1st  (Takahashi-san), 2nd (Oda-san) and 3rd  (Kozuka-san) places.

Taka: In 2006, right?

Nobu: Right, all 3 of us skated the FS clean! I went after Takahiko, and I saw that he did so well and I thought, “Aaaah, I better work hard!”

Taka: That was when I came in 4th in the SP. Chengjiang Li was 3rd.

Dai: Chengjiang Li! Ah, that takes me back!

Nobu: I wonder how he’s doing these days.

Taka: Back then, during the press conference, somebody asked, “Are the rumors that you’re practicing a Quad-Quad true?” And he said, “Yes, I am.”

Dai: Seriously?!

Taka: Really!

Nobu: That time in Nagano, Takahiko and I went to the bathhouse every night, didn’t we?

Taka: Oh yeah! We did lol. We asked Dai-chan, “Won’t you come?” and he said, “My body feels sluggish, I’m not going.” Lol

Nobu: Oh yeah, yeah, we got rejected, didn’t we! We got rejected and went by ourselves lol.

Dai: LOL. Oh, but there was also Vancouver (Olympics 2010), of course.  

Taka: Vancouver was so much fun.

Nobu: I have some hilarious memories from after the competition was over lol

Dai & Taka: LOL

Nobu: We kept using skype nonstop lol.

Dai: Even though we were right next to each other lol.

Taka: I was using Skype, and Dai-chan was like "What's that?" So I set it up, and it was like, "let's try it out, let's all try it." "There is also a chat function." "Let's try that, let's!"

Nobu: Even though the distance was like this [measures with his hands].

Dai: LOOL We were right next to each other!

Taka: Yeah.

Nobu: And we kept using the chat but somehow we were silent. No one would say anything.

Taka: We would just talk through the text chat instead.

Dai: Yeah, we were just quiet the whole time!

Nobu: That will always be funny lol

Taka: It was so funny, right? lol

Nobu: And then we went to the Olympic village to stuff ourselves with McDonald’s lol.

Dai: It was like, "Do we go?!"

Nobu: What time was that? It was quite late wasn't it. I feel like it was the middle of the night.

Dai: It was.

Taka: It was like 3 or 4AM.

Nobu: Yeah, yeah!

Taka: The McDonald’s was open 24/7, so we went to grab a bite.

Nobu: It was so much fun.

Dai: So much fun.

Taka: And then when we were going to support the girls at the ladies' event, we put on face-paint lol.

Nobu: We did, we did lol.

Taka: Dai was going to write Japan on his cheek, but he wrote it backwards lol.

Dai: LOOL Because I was writing it while looking in the mirror so I got it wrong!

Nobu: And we were like, "No, Dai-chan, no! It's wrong!" lol

Taka:  Yeah, like, “That clearly just says ‘today’!” lol

Dai: “Today” LOL

(T/N: 日本 (Japan) backwards becomes 本日 which means “today”)

Was there a service in the Olympic village where you could get your face painted?

Nobu: Well, we decided we all wanted to paint our faces, so we bought art supplies and did it ourselves in the men's bathroom of the Pacific Colosseum (Sports Arena).

Dai: Wasn't it Takahiko who went to buy the art supplies?

Taka: Yeah!

Dai: That was a lot of fun. And at the closing ceremony there was a ball flying around for some reason lol.

Nobu, Taka: Ahahahaha yeah!!

Nobu: Before I knew it, we were chasing after it LOL. It was so cold that day, right?

Taka: Yeah, at the closing ceremony it was freezing cold.

You three chasing the ball in the closing ceremony became a hot topic among fans.

Dai: Really?

Nobu: I didn't think they would film that!

Dai: We didn't know, yeah.

Nobu: Chasing after a giant ball...

Taka: Like it was Sports Day or something.

Dai: We were running after it with all our might lol

Taka: We were so hyped up.

Nobu: Now that I think about it, we were so innocent when we did that, right? Even though we were all over 20.

Dai: Ahahaha I was well over twenty lol.

You were able to make such good memories because the three of you were able to go together, isn't that so?

Dai: Yeah, that's right.

Nobu: I don’t think we could even imagine not going together, all three of us.

Dai: Yeah, and not doing all this weird stuff lol.

Taka: Yeah, we wanted to go together.

The season before that (2008-09) was when Takahashi-san sustained an injury. What kind of effect did that end up having on Oda-san and Kozuka-san?

Nobu: That year there was the Worlds in Los Angeles (2009, when the number of spots for the Vancouver Olympics would be decided). Back then, I went thinking that we had to get the 3 spots also for Dai-chan’s sake. But then I just crashed and burned; I jumped too many times, and it was like, “Oh, crap, this is bad!”

Dai & Taka: LOL

Nobu: And then Takahiko really put in the work for us. Somehow we were able to save the 3 spots by the skin of our teeth, because our combined placements were exactly 13.

Taka: We were 7th (Oda) and 6th (Kozuka). That was really nerve-wrecking.

Nobu: If either of us dropped a spot, it’d be hopeless.

Taka: I was in the last group at the time, and Naru-kun was the last of the 3rd group.

Nobu: Yeah, yeah! And I thought I’d skated clean!

Taka: You even did a fist bump and everything.

Nobu: I jumped too much...

Taka: I can never forget the look on the coach’s face when you came back.

Dai: LOL

Nobu: And then I just watched the last group kind of like in prayer. It was such a feeling of relief when we just barely secured the 3 spots.

Taka: The Worlds from the year before (2008) was in Sweden and that was my first appearance at Worlds. And the year before (2007), it was just Dai-chan and Naru-kun, right?

Dai: Yeah, it was in Tokyo.

Nobu: Ah, I remember!

Taka: I was in the audience rooting really hard for you guys. And then Naru-kun found me and was like, “We got the 3 spots for you, kiddo, so do your best!”

Nobu: I wasn’t really in a position to say something so arrogant lol.

Taka: But I was thankful you worked so hard.

Dai: He worked hard.  

Part 2/2 posted here: Their thoughts on the popularity of men’s figure skating, what they admire about each other, their views on their careers after retirement, plans for the future, how to contribute to the development of the sport, Quad revolution, Pyeongchang Olympics, what kind of ice show they would create if given the chance.

[byebyeballoon]

I guess I never made an intro post for this blog, so here we go!

I’m in my early 30’s. Very outgoing and would love to chat with others about these shows! Feel free to drop me an ask or pm. Fun fact my first kdramas were My Lovely Samsoon and then The Hotelier. Both aired on the AZN network on comcast with English subtitles all the way back when I was in high school. The channel has been gone for years.

Fast forward to Covid, and being in quarantine as an immune compromised person. I got back into kdramas thanks to them showing up on Netflix, and when I couldn’t get my fill there I found Xumo, Viki, and Kocowa. I stick to the shows that are free if you don’t have membership, so I will be posting memes about those. I only have a Netflix subscription (for now, we’ll see what the future holds!). I can’t say for sure why I ended up pretty much giving up American shows these last two years, but I think it’s because I finally grew tired of shows that had been around 5-10 (or even in some cases more) seasons. I like that most k-dramas last one season and have an average of between 8-20 episodes instead, so the plot has to be wrapped up nicely in that amount of time. They have a better end in most cases bc they know the show won’t continue. Even if some (like Hotel Del Luna) have a cliff hanger clip at the end that leaves you wanting more of that world or story.

I ended up dragging my bestie @terminalsecondleadsyndrome into kdramas bc I wouldn’t shut up about the shows, and I’d send her clips that cracked me up. Our sense of humor is pretty similar. Plus we are both attracted to a lot of the leads. Eventually I roped her into it, especially when I mentioned Bride of Habaek bc she read the comics when younger. She sent me a couple of memes while we watched, and I felt that they were too funny not to be shared with the community on tumblr. She had a thing for the second lead in BoH, and I told her about the term Second Lead Syndrome, and thus her URL was born. Anyway, then I introduced her to Vincenzo and she was just pumping out the memes (over 100 in total!). 😂 So go check her blog out! Also my URL is from that show!

I am especially drawn towards paranormal and science fiction plots. I have been since my teenage years. Fun fact: I met one of the Twilight actors bc of this (technically more than one, I met three at a meet n greet, but met another ‘out in the wild’ so to speak lol). So I’ve enjoyed the likes of Sweet Home, King Eternal Monarch, All of Us Are Dead, Korean Odyssey, Mystic Pop-up Bar, Goblin: the Lonely and Great God, Bulgasal, and more.

Because I’ve been enjoying countless shows the last two years and had figured out certain phrases by hearing them so often, I ended up installing Duolingo (and a few other language apps), and started learning Korean. The alphabet was pretty easy to learn, and I can read it now (still likely have awful pronunciation since I’m not speaking it with anyone… 😅 And I know I wouldn’t be able to hold a proper conversation yet. Hopefully I get there soon!). I also decided to brush up on my Spanish since I took it in high school and college. I’m actually Puerto Rican, which was why I wanted to learn Spanish originally. I was proud of myself for remembering so much. It’s been nice having these things to distract me from my chronic pain issues. If you can’t tell, I like talking. 😅 And I’ve probably talked your ears off (or eyes in this case), so that’s it for this intro post. Hope you are having a good one!