#i know part of it is the 'wise mentor' persona he's putting on but his dialogue is so much more gentle with mel

[majorpepperidge]

skelly @ zagreus: can't remember stuff? write it down idiot lmao skelly @ melinoe: omggg noooo you're fine if you can't remember, you've got it all written down you're doing amazing kiddo

[thousand-winters]

You know what I find really, really funny?

You know how Reigen drops his "oh, I don't think anybody would like me if they saw the real me" on Serizawa (that definitely was not on his job's description)? Obviously there's a whole thing there with how he sees himself but how in the end he stops lying to Mob and confesses the truth to him.

And then... he kinda just stops there.

In the spin-off he doesn't tell the truth to Tome until he thinks he has no other choice because she's putting herself in danger by working under the wrong assumption that he's a psychic, and while doing so, he asks her not to tell Serizawa. He was honest with Mob, but that was with him and only him. His default mode is still lying and hiding.

And the thing is obviously these people he has surrounded himself with, purposefully or accidentally, don't like him because they think he's an esper —at this point I don't think he's fooling even half of them, frankly—, or even because of his whole... energetic, over the top persona. They like him because of the kind of person he is, whether he's keeping his whole salesman attitude or whether he's a bit quieter and less self-assured.

Now, it's kinda easy to see why he would think he has to keep that up, initially he presented himself to Mob as this wise mentor figure, half of the other people he knows are kids for which he feels the responsibility to be a reliable adult figure, and then there are cases like Serizawa and the ex-Scars who do hold him in high regard and see him with a certain degree of admiration, all of that sort of tied with his fake psychic status.

And so it's very amusing to me that the one person who could show him VERY clearly that people care about him regardless of all of that is... Ritsu.

Because here's the thing, he was jealous of Reigen to some degree since he was someone Mob could confide in, unlike Ritsu due to the distance that had formed between them after the incident. And I think part of his irritation with Reigen was definitely that he was so evidently (to him anyway) a fraud, so that put Ritsu pre-awakening of his powers and Reigen at the same level and yet... Mob always went to Reigen for advice and guidance. It's very understandable for him to have been annoyed considering that.

Through the story it's more than evident that Ritsu is very, very aware that Reigen is a fraud, and though he's open with his distaste, at some point it feels a bit more like a normal kind of distaste. Reigen might have his morals and principles as a fraud, but he's one nonetheless, plus his personality doesn't mesh particularly well with Ritsu, and quite honestly? If I were 13yo and had to interact with someone like Reigen, I think I would be feeling a good amount of second hand embarrassment that ends up in annoyance.

But Ritsu doesn't really hate Reigen. He's comically annoyed by him, sure, but it's more than obvious he doesn't hate him.

When push comes to shove, he never wishes any actual ill will toward Reigen, he helps pull him away from Ishiguro in 7th Division Arc, for example, and when he goes to face Toichiro to help Mob, Ritsu is the one showing visible concern for what's going on when they see the explosion and the fire from down below, with his little "Reigen-san..." (as a sidenote, I love how the English dub does this with the "please, be okay").

My favorite example of this by far is Separation Arc, because Ritsu has genuine reasons to be pissed at Reigen this time around, if he sort of gathered that he mistreated Mob, and yet what he does is... he watches the press conference. It isn't even because of Mob, he's not sitting down with him or even watching with his parents or anything, it's just him, he had to have made the active choice to watch. And he could be vindictive and it would be such a reasonable posture to take because, again, Reigen was a goddamn jerk to his brother and the situation snowballed from there, but he isn't, he's visibly concerned for him.

That is NOT a boy who doesn't care, much less one who hates Reigen.

And it's so funny to me that the one person who could show Reigen all of those fears he has about that side of him he hates being a deal breaker for the people around him is also the one who makes faces at the idea of going to stay over at his apartment.

[leclerced]

Oof the idea of getting Seb roped in and Bunny bringing his rbr era cockiness out would be.. chef’s kiss.

I’m just imagining that Seb was her first crush from Formula 1 when she first started following the sport, so when he visited at Suzuka, she would just be super bashful and revert back to her old child hood self who had Seb posters up. And he’d laugh about it, teasing her about how every time he looked at her or had the smallest bit of accidental contact as they inspected the bee houses or he walked by her in hospitality, she just immediately turned red. And Mark would tease Oscar about this, letting him know that his protégé’s girlfriend wasn’t even insusceptible to Seb’s charm and it was just like the days where the other WAGS even had the smallest crush on Seb because of his outgoing and friendly personality.

Seeing Bunny’s reaction and hearing this would of course would prompt Oscar to invite Seb to “hang out” and get to know Bunny, the girl who has half of the grid wrapped around her little finger. And Seb would be curious to see why Lance would be dropping off gifts at McClaren hospitality, why Max and Charles would joke so closely with Oscar and Lando about how she seemed so tired.

But what really gets me? The way Lando would react, seeing who he thought was the most wholesome, gentlemanly grid dad revert back to the man who would openly flirt with reporters and ask their about their break plans, the way he would cockily tease and taunt Bunny during their time together and curse quietly in German and tell her she was his good girl.

I think Lando’s brain would short circuit watching the way he dommed Bunny because while he knew about Seb’s past, the only persona HE had met was the wise and generous elder on the grid who wanted a tree planted in his name for a Christmas gift, not playboy Seb who had Bunny’s ankles around his neck and her begging for more.

AHHH this is my new fav concept goodbye

bunny’s so confident w everyone else because she knows the power she holds over them, but it all slips away around seb. since he only retired a year before she would have met him before, but it all starts after he retires so like, she was okay around him before because he wouldn’t be an option. he’d know he’s one of her favorite drivers, if not her favorite, so when he returns to suzuka and she sees him for the first time after it starts, she can’t stop thinking about fucking him. she’d just stay with lando or oscar and watch seb interact with everyone, waiting for him to come over so she can rope him in. she’s thinking about the way he used to flirt with everyone and wonders if she can bring that part of him back out. planning what lines she can use to make him blush, but then he comes over and is talking to oscar and she just short circuits, she can’t function. she’s got stars in her eyes and she’s just… brainless. as soon as he walks away oscar’s teasing her over it and mark is like don’t sweat it bunny, we’ve all been there. he has that effect on women. and she’s like uhh no i mean- i’ve met him before idk what just happened??

he was charles’s mentor so he’d catch charles looking too long, or catch him with a hand on her waist, and he’d be like “charlie i have been involved with taken women, do not make the same mistakes i did. stay out of it, she doesn’t need a third boyfriend.” charles knows seb can keep a secret so he’s the one to let it slip, so when oscar’s asking him to come hang out with him and bunny… sebastian’s got ideas brewing in his head. he’s thinking about when he arrived at the paddock and was saying hello to everyone and he pulled her in for a hug and her voice was shaky and low as she said hello and then wouldn’t meet his eyes while he talked to oscar and mark. every time he sees her after that he finds a reason to touch her, like brushing her hair behind her ear, putting a hand on her waist when he’s walking by. he likes the way she reacts to him barely touching her, notices the little smirk on oscar’s face because he’s seeing her reactions too and knows what he’s doing.

bunny would be so frustrated at the end of each day, asking oscar why seb keeps touching her and oscar asks “do you want him to stop?” and she almost cries bc that is the last thing she wants. every little event he does for his bee project, he’s finding a way to get her attention, saying something dirty to oscar and looking over to see her blushing and squirming. he’d be asking her to help him with stuff, saying everyone else is too busy. maybe he wouldn’t even ask her, he’d ask oscar if he could borrow her like she’s not even there and ofc she’d follow him like a puppy dog wherever he wants. he’d be making dirty jokes, toeing the line of flirting and not. oscar and lando are reaping the benefits of all of seb’s teasing. oscar lets her get all pent up before slipping seb a room card, and he wouldn’t even need to say anything, seb takes it and shows up with condoms and lube and probably silk ties or smth.

then suddenly sebastian’s at every other race and no one even bats an eye when he’s caught flirting with bunny time and time again except lando, they’re all used to it but he can never get the sight of oscar and sebastian tag teaming her out of his head. sebastian would put her in positions he didn’t think possible, they’d fuck her until she’d gone completely silent and lando’s asking them to stop bc he’s kinda worried when she doesn’t respond to his check-in but as soon as seb and oscar back off, she’s crying for them to come back. she’d be so lost in how good she felt she didn’t hear lando, so when suddenly it stops she completely falls apart begging them not to stop and lando feels terrible for ruining what would have been an earth shattering orgasm. he’d never be able to look at him the same, and oscar would have a new best friend.

[astro-break]

Back on my copium but I love how there is a difference between pre-war Rei and !/!! Era Rei. I think it just speaks to how great of an actor Toshiki Masuda is that he can do this but I am loving the slight vocal inflections that set the two apart and how the animation team was able to animate his dancing differently as well

For clarity sake, War Era Rei will be referred to as OreRei while !/!! Era Rei will be referred to as simply Rei

I think it comes to no surprise to anyone that the 3D MV of Eccentric Party Night is set during the war. Kanata’s long hair gives it away really but take a listen at Rei’s very first line

あたりまえじゃ収まりきらない

In the original version his voice is steady and keeps the same high but stable tone. OreRei though puts emphasis on the た (ta) and growl on ま (ma) . His movements are also a lot more dramatic. The MV has Rei sweeping his hands up and out in a circle above his head and holds out his hand. Very relaxed, very in tune with his soft singing. But the 3D MV has OreRei leaning forward with sweeping hands over his face, teeth barred, putting on a grand show. There’s also the drop shadow and the brief moment where he sticks out his tongue during “Are you ready for Eccentric Party” OreRei is very obviously the leader, leading the 5 into the main stage, stepping aside for Wataru’s part, fist bumping Natsume and dragging him into their shared verse while looking back to make sure that he’s following, meeting Shu at his own pace but still offering a high-five which the other takes, he also leads them into the chorus. In contrast, Rei supports the other eccentrics by taking the camera off him in favor of more group shots. He lets the others take the spotlight and also follows the dance routine a lot more strictly. I know that a lot of it could be because these are two different animation styles they’re using so not everything will be the same, but its a very interesting difference anyways.

もう誰もたどり着けない

again you get a growl with 誰 (dare) while 着けない (tsukenai) is a lot raspier in comparison to his solid soft singing style in the next year. Rei is a lot like a steady presence in the ! version of Eccentric Party Night and his singing reflects how he’s settled into the role of the “Wise old mentor” as he keeps a solid base for everyone else to build up off of. OreRei on the other hand is very in your face, always ready to take the head and charge forward. Even in the second “Eccentric Party Night!” that he shares with Wataru, he is in front of everyone except Wataru who is taking up the whole damn screen. He’s doing his best to protect them all ;^; He’s noticeably also very energetic here, his kick right into the camera being a perfect example. OreRei also has a lot more control of his expressions, his wide grin for the audience, soft indulgence for the eccentrics, he even jumps higher and with more energy, knees pressed together rather than apart as Rei does in the regular MV. Even with all of his straight lines in the dace segments, Rei tends to bend his arms and knees a lot more than OreRei does, having that sense of softness and lethargy. Rei does channel a little but of his old Demon King persona in the final 踊れ (odore) Party Night, spreading out his hands as if to show off his chosen family as to camera solely focus on him. OreRei does the same, but the camera instead focuses on all 5 of them and their united nature.

One interesting change from the MV though is that its Kanata and Natsume who are on the right and left of OreRei while its Wataru and Shu who are beside Rei. Could it be that because Eccentric Part Night was Natsume’s pipe dream that he stands beside the leader while Wataru was the one who put into motion Origin vs Altered? I’m not sure the creative process behind this one since I would assume it would be Wataru on the right, Kanata on the left bc of their 3 Gods position while Itsuki is beside Wataru and Natsume with Kanata. That formation just makes more sense with how the 5 Eccentrics operated as a group but I guess we’ll find out in the new event

regardless, i do very much love OreRei. its very nice to hear those vocal inflections that set him apart from regular Rei. He’s very cool I think when he’s playing up that demon king persona. Just hearing the difference, I think I understand why Koga looked up to him so much, his OreRei voice is perfect for a rock band. He’s also generally a lot cooler as OreRei and carries a lot more stage presence, fitting for the former Student President and Leader of the Eccentrics. Rei on the other hand is not a pathetic wet noodle ^^

[2sleepy4dis]

╰┈➤ ❝ The Chain as Social Link ❞

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° yesss, let's go with the puuuun lmao. The big reason why I wanted to make this crossover ahah;;; I swear this was a difficult one. "Once you know a Link, you've known them all '' and that couldn't be truer while I was giving them the arcana— anyways, I managed to play and fit it!

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° I'll put the symbolism, game-wise and story-wise!

┊ ➶ ｡˚ ° Linked Universe x Persona Crossover

»»-----------►

┊・❥ Time - The Hermit

Symbolizes wisdom, introspection, solitude, retreat and philosophical searches.

Gameplay-wise they deal with mental-ailments and are hermit figures...

Story-wise, I was debating whether to put Hermit or Hierophant but in the end I chose the former!

Both plays the "wise mentor" however the Hierophant leans more on a religious figure which I suppose Time tries to stay out of for reasons.

So, Hermit Arcana! Time spent his life "hidden" voluntarily and involuntarily.

Was hidden in the forest, was hidden in a sacred realm, his adventure became a story in the adult timeline and forgotten in the child timeline— that's probably a few of it!

┊・❥ Twilight - The Moon

There's a lot to unpack but in short it represent being attuned subconsciously to the world and gaining the ability to sense things

Kinda like psych which works with Twilight becoming a wolf

Was thinking if to give this or not since story-wise of persona this arcana tends to project their fears or faults on others, which mainly the protagonist.

Gameplay-wise this arcana excels in physical abilities with average magic which fits Twilight!

But I could see some way this would work with all the shadow and other world stuff going on.

I feel like because of his experience with shadows he is more sensitive to the Reader who is in contact with them too.

And due to his supportive side he tends to look out more to the reader. Like, uh, platonically explained? He is a protective big bro!

┊・❥ Warrior - The Chariot

Symbol of victory, conquest, self-assertion, self-confidence, control, war and command.

It's fitting just on-point for Warrior.

Gameplay-wise they excels in physical attacks and figures of warriors.

They also have special physical skills! Which Idk how to implement since all Link have it. I think Warrior gives special effects like how in-game of HW the weapons have elemental skills.

Edit: I remembered that skill which instant-kill the enemy. With Warrior who's game is more hack&slash.

Story-wise figures also tend to hide their doubts and weaknesses. This is Warrior we talkin' about. He hides them with smug, flirts and jokes. That mistake of power getting through his head was a scar on his back. Ouch.

Please give him a pat on the shoulder to reassure him ó_ò)

I'd also like to imagine Warrior being the one to teach the Reader about fighting instead of just being Time ^^) he trained with the knights so he does have the experience in teaching and sparring!

┊・❥ Wild - The Hanged Man

OH BOI HERE WE GO— MY FAVOURITE—

Symbolize self-sacrifice for the sake of enlightenment and paradoxes that hangs between sky and earth and also renewal.

Gameplay-wise they excels in survivability!

I guess he could provide Reader about the necessity? Like Iwai who can provide weapons to the Protag—

Story-wise, this the card of the martyr.

Wild life is surrounded by sacrifices. For the champions who sacrificed themselves, Zelda, the King, Hyrule itself.

Wild was in a situation which he had little control over. Not only the calamity, but also the burden he has. The eyes on him.

Yet once the eyes and expectations were gone, he still held on to his task and ended what's left.

Also what I like about this is the hanged man have a leg crossed to the other forming a "4" which makes me think of Wild and the four champions 🫠

Anyways, characters with this cards are in dilemma about their loss. Unable to move on, they can't choose without making sacrificing part of their identity.

So the relationship that the Reader build with them is to face the problem head-on.

Doesn't mean in the end, it's gone. The characters problem with consequences that remain but won't burden them (*cough*tearsofthekingdom*cough*)

┊・❥ Sky - The Justice

Symbolizes the strict allegory of justice, objectivity, rationality and analysis.

The card represent up-coming trials which are fitting for Sky's journey.

Gameplay-wise they excels in light-ability which fits on Sky since he is more close on the divine ones: Zelda as the reincarnation of Hylia, he is the first reincarnation of the hero, if we go to joke he lives literally above the clouds, a very lightened place lol

I have no idea what kind if ability Sky can give to the Reader and I can hear y'all yelling that Sky have more affinity at sword-wielding probably more than Warrior but listen—! ...Maybe I'll give him the bonus: detecting enemy stats, better communication and increasing critical hits 😊

Uuh, story-wise… for those who played persona, knows the tendency what this arcana has and I don't want to spoil others.

Sky. He is just there standing in the background and is mostly viewed as the soft-sky boi but when you push that anger too far?

Funny fact, this characters tend to be stoic individuals but when pushed too far they tend to take drastic measures.

He did have to deal with bullies, unfairness in competitions, his bird being treated unjustly— he gone for blood during his battle with Demise—

Anyways, I'm curious how to implement this in the story 👀

┊・❥ Legend - The Star

The arcana also symbolizes hope, fitting for Legend who brought the timeline in its Golden Era.

Gameplay-wise they excel in elemental attacks and represent multi-talented figures.

So I was thinking about skills gained by Hifum* Tog* since Legend have more experience (and worked in team in TriforceHeroes) to leave battle strategy with him instead of Four and Warrior.

Story-wise they are also multi-talented individuals which can resonate with Legend's journey. He ain't called "vet" for nothing!

Although they also deal with internal and external struggles.

┊・❥ Hyrule - The Magician

It symbolizes power, potential, and the unification of the physical and spiritual worlds.

Uhm, basically stern will and unfailing determination, also a resourceful individual which fits Hyrule so well... if you played his game (I saw a gameplay and that's...that requires a loooot of determination to finish;;;)

Gameplay-wise they excel in magic!

In simple words, he can teach Reader magic.

Also story-wise, they also tends to be the protagonist first friend.

Warrior deals with physical combat teaching so if Reader wants to learn magic Hyrule would be the one and be glad to help! And it's a good form of bonding since you both are gonna be together for.. knows how long.

┊・❥ Four - The Temperance

Symbol of synthesis, prudence, harmony, and the merging of opposites.

Gameplay-wise its figure is well-rounded and figures associated with balance

Story-wise, Four is probably the most balanced in the group, through and through.

Perhaps it's just me but he hasn't got a lot going on with him… on the outside!

He is good at hiding it and has to remind himself about self-control to not use the four sword.

┊・❥ Wind - The Sun

Symbolizes happiness, joy, energy, optimism, and accomplishment

It literally represented by a child riding a horse (in Wind's case a boat)

Story-wise, these characters find themselves in severe terrible situations but they still manage to keep optimistic despite the tragedy of their past.

No one has been this arcana in team-party in persona so game-play wise idk how they are besides being associated with light, sun and fire.

This is kinda like every Link ngl.

Unlike in Declined Hyrule which focuses more on hopefulness, the New World does focuses more on optimism to find something else beyond in the Great Sea.

Perhaps Wind didn't have a tragic story like Wild or a big one like Time. And the light-hearted style of the game (with dark story) but it does have it's message of letting go of the past and moving on to a better tomorrow.

»»———-　　———-«

That's it! That's all! For now!

A/N: Thanks for reading all the way here! I'm thinking to separate the list in parts because it's too long but at the same time I don't wanna to not... flood the tags about my crossover junk QwQ) What do you guys think?

Next time I'll give info how the Reader summons their, uh, persona UwU)

[hadoriel]

Hi hello my friends and super nerds

I would like to write or do something with a Spy x Family + His Dark Materials crossover... aka ‘what if the Forgers had daemons’ scenario. I’m not great at form finding, especially on fictional characters, so I really hope some daemians can help me out .w.

I’m gonna preface this with two things: - I personally believe daemons would react to trauma and stress in bizarre ways. Most of the cast of SxF is severely traumatized so uh there’s some fun I want to do, like Twilight having never settled, Anya’s never taking a ‘real’ animal form etc - I’d ideally like a mix of symbolic and realistic form stuff. I haven’t been in the HDM/daemonism community too much for a good decade now, but I’ve seen some people say they’re different things so uh... I’d like to just blend it

Twilight (Loid + [REDACTED]): Due to the massive trauma early in life, his daemon has never settled. It basically gives him the master of disguise superpower easily, as it’s extremely rare (and bad!) when that happens. Even so, not many people know of it, just some WISE higher-ups like Sylvia, maybe Franky As Twilight, he’s very independent, detached, meticulous, solitary, detail-oriented, with a brain moving a mile a minute. His ‘default’ form would reflect this. As Loid, however, he’d need something more gentle and approachable, that cares deeply for family, but still very intelligent The fun part would be that he doesn’t realize he’s settling slowly by acting as Loid. I’m not sure if he’d really fit exactly what Loid’s persona daemon is, but we know ‘on the inside’ he’s very loyal, manipulative, crazy smart, anxious

Yor: We don’t know exactly what happened to Yor’s parents, but I think it was likely around settling years (onset of puberty). Having to take over an adult role for Yuri, I’d think she settled early and suddenly. She’s also fiercely loyal (even more than Twilight), cares deeply for family, worried about not being normal enough or not being good enough constantly, act first think later, scary when threatened When we first meet her, Yor’s daemon would be sickly, skinny, mottled. But through the story, they’d get healthier

Anya: Since Anya’s a child, she doesn’t have a defined form yet. I do want to note that, since she’s a human experiment, something is still very wrong with her daemon, though. I’m mostly going with that her forms are always mythical animals and chimeras, never a ‘real’ animal, but open to feedback if anyone thinks something different?

Yuri: His is ‘normal’... relatively. He probably also settled early but not weirdly or suddenly. He’s obsessive, overly protective, uses intelligence as power, aggressive, absolutely dedicated, only vulnerable to their loved ones

Franky: Probably the most normal daemon situation in the whole cast tbh. He’s a jokester but very smart and weirdly wise. He’s like the most typical ENTP ever, if you know your MBTI. Social and savvy, but not very charming

Sylvia (Handler): Her daemon would be quiet and stoic with an aggressive side. She’s a mentor and a leader, who deals with the unfortunate ugly situations, so she’s very dedicated and hard working. There’s a softer side to her, but rarely seen. Not as tunnel-vision as Yuri at all, but probably a form in the same vein

Nightfall (Fiona): Super quiet, super dedicated, super antisocial and unemotional. Except that she’s obsessed with Twilight, of course, just that she never shows it ever. I have an idea that her daemon likes to make ‘weirdly aggressive’ moves at Twilight’s, like laying on them, which Twilight is always slightly alarmed by but it’s just Fiona’s very miscommunicated adoration lmao

Donovan: He’s severed. Nobody knows this. They just think his daemon hides in his suit all the time

Damian: Wants to settle asap and tries to take ‘noble’ forms like lions and wolves and eagles, due to pressure

Becky: Is weird and tries to put accessories on her daemon. The forms are always extra pretty animals

Okay so now that I kinda wrote down the jist of the cast... Anyone wanna help me with form finding for them? .w.;;;;;;;;;;

[nightswithkookmin]

Hey Goldy, i'm positive Yoongi isn't straight and has been fairly open about it from the early years. So do u think that Yoongi could've influenced Jikook (especially Jimin cuz he is very close to him) in any sort of way on their journey?

Jimin is VERY close to Yoongi

Thank you so much for this statement😭

I feel seen and heard🤧

Not a lot of Jokers out here appreciate Yoonmin's bond😭😭😭😭

The disrespect! How dare they!

In reality, Yoonmin is one of the best ships that reflects the hyung dongsaeng dynamic perfectly in BTS in my opinion- Jinkook and Yoonkook, NamTae are heavy contenders I'd say but Yoonmin is right up there with them. Love Jihope too- if they could cut down on the flirting chilee.

No JHOPE I don't want you to call Jimin sexy or look at him like you want to gobble him with a glass of Sprite- it's weird😭😭😭

But also don't stop

From Suga 'bullying' Jimin, teasing him, praising him, mentoring him, the bickering- he is the biggest PJM right next to JK and Namjoon. I said what I said.

So thank you for this. I literally cried.

Feel so good to hear someone say that.

I'm having an existential crisis at the moment and Yoonmin is what is getting me through it at the moment.

People need to stop invalidating the members' bond. Seriously. Not cool. They all have beautiful dynamics real or not.

But he's gay? 🤔

You believe Suga is gay??

Damn.

He's queer and has been pretty open about it from the beginning???

A lot of people assume that about him actually. I think it's interesting.

Did he influence Jikook, Jimin in anyway...

If by influence you mean support then yes. I think he was and has been very supportive of Jimin and JK individually and has helped them embrace and make sense of certain aspects of themselves.

I think he's more understanding than most of the challenges and difficulties of being young and uncertain of who you are growing up under public scrutiny and in a highly hostile environment.

I think he is wise beyond his age and I have a ton of love and respect for him as both a person and an artist.

I love 'People' so much...

I think the most Iconic thing he's said so far to me is this totally woke, fanservice questioning and ridiculing statement:

'I didn't want to wear the maid outfit. I was surprised when they said it's for the fans. We don't have any interest in seeing girls wear men's clothes so why does the fans want us to wear women's clothes?'

It's weird. Fanservice is weird.

My least favorite moment of his is when he admonished JK not to say things like he'd want a tattoo when he grows up because the fans wouldn't like that.

I found that very contradictory for someone who's life motto is nevermind- or is it I don't give a shit?😏

Find it equally triggering whenever he teases JK about crying too much or being a cry baby as if it's wrong for men to cry. There's nothing wrong with shedding tears. Men cry too.

Then the bit about him not wanting tattoos or just a dot on his toe or feet or something because he has things he might want to do post BTS that having a tattoo would just be an inconvenience... quite conservative I'd say.

He don't give a fuck but then he gives a fuck?

Mans gotta be a realist or I'd chalk up these inconsistencies in his values to the clash between his Persona and his real self.

To be fair, he's not the only one. That conflict plays out in almost every member's outlook.

I see Yoongi as that one person who'd say to a person, go for it but end that advice with a caveat such as, 'but understand people will hate you for it' or some truth along those lies.

He places consequences right next to desire and as long as the person is not oblivious to and can bare the consequences of their actions, decisions and choices then I think he'd ask them to go for it and stand in their truth.

That much I know is his value and I can see how that might have impacted both JM and JK. But rather than encourage them to take risks, I think he pushes them to seize opportunities and put themselves outside- there's a difference there. Their not one and the same.

More than anyone in BTS, I think he understands the gravity of being queer, closeted or being in a relationship with a bandmate in the industry they work in.

I think he is much mature enough to understand the consequences of over attachment and risks of detachment and that too plays out in the way Jikook carry themselves around in the group.

Other than that, I think he minds his business most times.

Do I think he is open minded about conversations on sexuality? Absolutely.

But that's as far as I can go on the topic.

I do not believe he is queer and I'm not convinced in anyway he is pansexual or bisexual either- don't quote his song lyrics to me I already know. Lol.

Boy or girl my tongue will send you to hongkong....

And then his interviews about what he finds attractive in women??

'... it's not limited to boys or girls?'

Lolololololololol

I think that bit was heavily misconstrued.

'I'M NOT GAY'

This was his response when he was asked to talk about moments his heart skipped because of JHOPE. Similar to moments when the members had said their they almost fell for a band mate perhaps.

Other translations of that statement he made in the interview was, 'since we are both men, how can my heart throb for a man' and then he laughs it off.

Knowing Suga, I think he probably meant that in the most ridiculing, most mocking way possible- these interviewers be asking some stupid questions sometimes.

But imagine Suga saying that with two gay members sitting right next to him in that interview and how these members would feel hearing him say that about homosexuality.

One thing about BTS, if they be making loud openly 'woke' statements, take a shovel to their past- it's usually because they've messed up somewhere and are simply acting conscious of the things they say that can come across as problematic. In my opinion.

They do learn and grow from their mistakes. That's one thing I love about BTS.

They've all had their problematic moments as I keep saying.

To me, this interview moment would be one of such said problematic moments if not one very homophobic moment of Suga's- if the translations were right I mean. chileee. Lemme shut up. Lol.

And before anyone says but JK said the same thing too...

JK had a 'fear' of coming across as Gay in his early years. Part of the reason he wanted JM on the west of his east when the cameras came around- in my opinion.

He'd stutter when similar 'gay' questions were thrown his way- prompting Jimin to ask him straight away not to answer said question when an interviewer asked him.

You pair that with some of the members describing him as 'wanting to be manly' or appear like a manly man and it's not hard to figure out what was going on with him.

He'd pause and look at JM funny when JM would describe their relationship as in between friends and romance...

Jimin had to tell him to relax and that it was normal for men to say 'love' to men without it being weird or gay.

He knew gayism was a thing. He simply didn't want to be viewed as one- either because of his own repressed homosexual desires, in which case that would be internalized homophobia or he really really didn't like being thought of as gay- homophobia.

Suga's is different.

He either genuinely didn't know gay was a thing or that some men's heart actually beat for other men- seems to me he thought the idea of a man's heart skipping for another man absurd or impossible- or dude thought he was being a smart pants with that remark. Lol.

Baring his age in mind at the time of the interview, that in anyway reflects his ideals or assumptions about sexuality. That heterosexuality is D norm. That straight is all he can be or should be thought of as- He clearly hasn't read the blogs. He's in for a rude awakening.

If JK had this ideology about sexuality I think he would have been able to hide his sexuality better and not freak out each time people made jokes about it💀

Suga's said explicitly he is attracted to gal's who wear headphones, doesn't like gals who play hard to get- said he'd kick em if they didn't quit playing hard to get (misogynistic and abusive lyrics there but it's hiphop- let's not talk about that) finds it ridiculous that men should wear female clothes, thinks 'men' shouldn't cry.... all the making of a fine gay man😃

Should we chalk it up to internalized homophobia then??

I wouldn't.

A very dedicated Sope shipper will tell you, he said what he said to cover the fact he is gay so there's that. Lol.

I'm just not convinced Suga is part of the community but I think he is open minded now, leans less into his conservative values and more towards progressive values and thoughts.

I don't think he in any way shape or form 'influenced' Jikook to be gay or to do the gay if that's what you were asking.

But I do respect your opinion on Suga. I think we are all free to assume whatever we want in this case.

I might be wrong about him. You might be wrong about him or we could all be right. We will never know.

Thanks for the ask.

Wasn't comfortable answering it though. Lol.

I don't like when I have to watch what I say.

Sigh.

Signed,

GOLDY

[thrillridesz]

This is completely unnecessary and completely dumb but as an avid fan of six of crows, I’m going to assign a crow + shadow and bone character to my moots today for no particular reason other than the fact I feel like it. (if you haven’t already read Leigh Bardugo’s six of crows duology, what are you doing. I haven’t yet read S&B so I’ll base it completely off the Netflix show.)

!NO SPOILERS! (So rest assured)

+ also consider this a love letter to y’all.

[My moots as SoC crows + Shadow and Bone characters]

Kaz Brekker - @timextoxhajima

Resourceful, ingenious and cunning - these are all words that describe Ketterdam’s infamous ‘Dirtyhands’. Having single-handedly led the Crow Club to its esteemed, notorious status in the Barrel in a matter of a few short years, this man is shrewd and nothing can get past him. Determined in everything he does and well-prepared for any obstacles that stand in his way, Kaz Brekker is a crook to be well-respected, valued and feared. 

Just like Kaz, I think Dana is a very clever person and I’ve never really seen her break a sweat over anything even when under intense pressure. She’s strong and very dedicated to everything she does which is super admirable. I feel like both Kaz and Dana give me the vibes that if they’re around, everything will be fine because they are able to handle anything thrown in their way.

Inej Ghafa - @sunqnyu

Inej, for a wraith, is probably one of the characters with the strongest moral compass I’ve ever seen in a book about a heist. She is kind, sensitive and merciful. When she’s after something she really wants, she doesn’t hold back and charges ahead (and she's great at what she does) but will never hurt others on her way there. Inej is a crow that cares about the people around her, especially the ones she loves, sometimes putting their own needs above her own. 

To me, Bella and Inej have a lot in common when it comes to their kind personalities and ability to see the good in everyone. They don’t treat people differently and are never mean to others. They may be soft hearted at times but can also be some of the most headstrong, competent people. Sometimes, I read SoC again and think of the similarities between Bella and Inej. It's uncanny.

Jesper Fahey - @yangyanghater

The best way to describe Jesper, the sharpshooter would be that of a volatile, crackling firecracker. Restless, full of chaotic energy and teasing, this man has a silver tongue and can quite literally chat his way either into trouble or out of. He lives on adrenaline rushes and when you talk to Jesper, you never know what you’re going to get. Laughter would be a good bet.

Cal and Jesper should just be twins at this point. Seriously, when it came to Jesper, I was just immediately like ‘Ok, Cal. No doubt about it.’ They both radiate such chaotic energy, I HAD TO. The sarcasm that they both have are one of a kind and I think talking to Cal would be very much like talking to Jesper. You always feel excited or intrigued. 

Nina Zenik - @moonsunwoojoong

A Grisha heartrender, Nina does more than practice the small sciences and is able to quite literally charm others just by being herself! She is confident, witty and very strong at heart. Never one to care about what others have to say about her, she expresses herself freely and openly. Her flirtatious wiles endear to everyone and she is truly a people’s person. Loyal to a fault, Nina never leaves her own people in a rut.

Amber and Nina... God, they would make an amazing pair. I feel like they would both sort of ‘get’ each other? Like they would both understand each other because of how similar their views are. Amber gives me very confident, segcy vibes just like Nina does and like Nina, Amber’s loyalty and softness for her ‘own people’ (like friends, family) is super endearing. 

Matthias Helvar - @berrysungie

Matthias was my favourite character in the SoC duology when I was first reading it, and he still is. Courageous and protective of those he loves, this Drüskelle will stop at nothing to defend those he considers dear to his heart from any danger out there even if it meant putting himself in harm’s way. He is a fighter, noble and though frigid and misunderstood at times, he only truly loosens up around his loved ones and will never, ever betray his allegiances.

Daisy and Matthias are both FIGHTERS. They never give up without a fight and firmly stand by their beliefs but are also very open to new opinions and are in no way, close-minded. They both strike me as very noble people and not gonna lie, sometimes I’m intimidated by Daisy as I am when I read about Matthias sometimes. It’s like they’re both so cool and I’m a potato.

Alina Starkov - @nyuwings​

Alina is upright, inquisitive and brave. We’re talking about a girl who chooses to face almost imminent death for the sake of a close friend. She may be naive at first but she learns quickly and she learns well. When she puts her heart into something, she excels at it. At the end of the day, no matter what happens, her loyalties are firm and she knows her rights from her wrongs. Willing to learn from her mistakes, that’s what makes the Sun Summoner so great compared to the other Grishas who are largely blinded by their own egos.

Elle always gave me main character vibes, I swear. Especially when we’re talking about main characters like Alina Starkov. When I talk to her, I sometimes feel like she has this untouchable, special aura? Like I want to tell her everything and I trust her. Like Alina, she's got a good head on her shoulders and I’m not sure honestly... Could it be the ‘Chosen One’ vibes?

Wylan Van Eck - @lsangyeons

Another gravely misunderstood character. Wylan is first seen as timid, afraid and constantly underestimated. Yet, what hides beneath this facade is an intelligent, tenacious soul. He is polite, considerate and full of good mannerisms despite being a part of the Dregs which honestly should have taken all of that from him but somehow they didn’t. Very kind and friendly, one should not take this sweet persona as something to be picked on because this man can quite literally blow your minds.

Yu and Wylan are to me both very overlooked. Not enough people appreciate them and it sucks because they deserve SO MUCH. They are the people that everyone takes for granted. They do not choose to make themselves known or try to take the spotlight away from their friends, but rather choose to support them from the back. They are talented but often don’t realise that they are. Very, very admirable.

Malyen Oretsev - @hhjs

Malyen to me is a very hotheaded, bold and valiant character. He never backs down from a fight and stand firm for what he believes to be right and doesn't care if there’s a thousand men going against him. This is what makes him so appealing. He does what he want when he wants and has a very strong sense of what is right and wrong.

I feel like Amal and Mal have a lot in common such that they are both very daring and firm people. They don’t let their opinions get swayed by anyone - what is right is right. They are unafraid to stand up to injustice and voice their opinions. Both exude a lot of confidence and somehow they just seem like people you like or look up to.

Genya Safin - @experimentalwrites

Genya is very much like a mentor. Her personality is gentle, encouraging and sweet. As a Grisha tailor, most of her job is focused on helping people and helpful she is. She is caring towards everyone and never discriminates. Good-natured and wise, she is the perfect definition of what a great role model should act and be like. 

Like Genya, Nabi exudes mentor like vibes to me. Around her, I feel like I can talk about my problems and seek sound advice from her. She doesn’t judge and can be depended upon. Her friendship is one I treasure a lot and her caring nature is what makes her so extremely attractive and amazing.

Zoya Nazyalensky - @sly-merlin

Zoya is what comes to mind when I think of a strong, independent woman whose leadership qualities far surpass that of others. Although prickly towards those she considers her enemies, she is very kind and forgiving towards the people she cares for. Even in great pressure, she is able to think clearly and exercise logical thinking. Her mere presence comforts those around her.

Simmi was the first person I thought of when I was thinking of Zoya. Competent, strategic and giving to her friends. They both have boss lady/queen vibes and though both may seem intimidating, are actually very sweet people. They have a hard exterior but a very soft, endearing interior. Precious beans, seriously.

[rhetorical-ink]

Haikyuu!! Top 5 Ships: Oikawa

** SOUTH AMERICAN SPOILERS BELOW **

Haikyuu!! is wonderful, in part because unlike other series, the sky’s the limit on how many ships can set sail and be embraced by the fandom. I wanted to go through some of my favorite characters from the series and my Top 5 favorite ships for them! 

Of course, we have to start with my favorite “Trash King”: Toru Oikawa! 

5. Kuroo x Oikawa

The rarest of the pairs in this post, but I find it hilarious that despite these two never sharing a panel of screen time together, Furudate loves to constantly sketch these two characters together. 

Personality-wise, these two actually have a lot in common. Kuroo gives off that “con man” vibe in Chapter 401 to those around him, and Oikawa is constantly being described as putting on a “fake persona” in public by Iwaizumi. But, both former captains have the respect of their team and are great leaders. 

These two together would be like two gossipy high school drama queens sent on a trip to the shopping mall together. Both physically exude that “sexy, too-hot-to-handle” persona, but in reality are a pair of nerds obsessing over aliens and docosahexaenoic acid. Maybe it would’ve been too much for the universe to handle had they shared a scene in the series together. At least we have Furudate’s sketches...

4. Ushijima x Oikawa

Okay, so I’ll be honest. I was not originally a fan of this pairing -- I mean, Ushijima’s practically Oikawa’s biggest rival outside of Kageyama, so how could anyone picture them romantically involved? 

Well, then I read this fan fiction, and I realized that there could be something there. Unlike Oikawa’s dislike/rivalry with Kageyama, that basically stems from his jealousy and insecurity that his kouhai will succeed him as the better setter, Oikawa’s main rivalry with Ushijima is just beating him in a match. Sure, Ushijima aggravates Oikawa in the series by labeling his pride as “worthless,” but we all know how our Grand King comes back to make Ushijima eat those words later on, don’t we?

I think there’s an aspect of this ship that is similar to the Iwaoi pairing -- in that Ushijima’s stoic, genuine, and grounded personality is polar opposite Oikawa’s calculating, put-on, and often petty persona. Ushijima is basically the antithesis of Oikawa in the series, but as a ship, his quiet reserve opens up a lot of avenues for Oikawa to be himself and -- fan fiction-wise -- have a platform to open up and monologue his way through personal growth. It’s not my favorite ship for Oikawa, but after reading the linked fan fiction, I can see the appeal.

3. Sugawara x Oikawa

Okay, so this ship is just fun. There’s such a creative fandom with OiSuga, whether it’s them as Slytherin wizards in a Hogwarts AU, or as college roommates, or pretty much any scenario, there is so much creativity with this pairing, partially because of just how intriguing a concept this ship is!

I think the draw of this pairing is how different it is from the more popular Oikawa ships, like Iwaoi. Sugawara is a “team mom” kind of like Iwaizumi, but Suga’s personality couldn’t be more different than Iwaizumi’s. Sugawara has a fiercely supportive stance as a teammate, but he’s also a setter, and a calculating/manipulative one at that -- much like Oikawa. It’s canon that Oikawa nicknames him “Mr. Refreshing,” because he’s so different from Kageyama in terms of communicating and reading his team -- similarly to Oikawa, it could be noted. And you have two pretty setter squad members who are easy on the eyes, but have much more going on under the surface in terms of insecurities, pride, and goals as third years. 

And you wouldn’t think that Oikawa would work paired with another setter, but since Sugawara isn’t a “Kageyama-level prodigy,” it gives Oikawa the ability to be the better player on the court, so his pride isn’t hurt, but leaves Sugawara available as the more emotionally stable, “cool” partner. Plus, the two can share their own insecurities about being “replaced” by Kageyama as the better setter, but Sugawara can shut down any trash talk by Oikawa if it gets too overbearing. 

Basically, you have two characters who are more similar than they appear, but still have enough differences to be an interesting duo. It’s like if a sour patch kid and a candy apple hooked up. I’ll let you decide which is which. 

2. Hinata x Oikawa

So...Furudate has laid the groundwork for this ship since the first time Hinata spiked that ball past “The Great King,” but it wasn’t until the Rio mini arc that we really got this ship to come into its own. Hence why I put a spoiler tag on this post, for you anime-only’s who haven’t been blessed with the greatness that is the Rio Arc. 

Of any pairing in Haikyuu!! One could argue Hinata and Oikawa have done the most “shippy” things, with the exception of #1 below. I mean, they’ve:

* Taken the most epic, beautiful selfie together and sent to their exes rivals * Went on multiple dinner dates together (during the day and at night) * Are on a literal first-name basis  * Played two-on-two beach volleyball together (multiple times) * HUGGED ON LIVE TV DURING THE OLYMPICS 

I’ve wanted to post more on this, but Oikawa and Hinata actually have a lot in common, besides being Kageyama’s rival. They’re both naturally athletic, though definitely not “geniuses” or “prodigies” like Kageyama or Hoshiumi. They’re just two individuals who literally live and breathe volleyball and try to push themselves to their limits at being the best they can be. And their dynamic works really well -- Oikawa may be petty and snarky, but Hinata takes it all in stride and is a literal walking ball of unphased sunshine. Oikawa would probably think he has the upper hand in the relationship; at least, until Hinata speaks up and shows he’s not quite as naive as he appears. He’s just literally that optimistic/nice. One can definitely see the appeal of shipping these two similar-but-different characters. 

While some ship it as just a “fling in Rio,” and some ship it more as a fantastically developed friendship -- I mean, Hinata went on to play for Brazil, so you KNOW those two kept playing each other in matches and at training camps -- it’s still become one of the most unexpected, yet welcomed Oikawa pairing!

1. Iwaizumi x Oikawa

Okay, so this shouldn’t surprise anyone. But yeah, Iwaizumi and Oikawa have been paired up since the start of this series, and for good reason. 

There is so much to like about the pairing: The childhood friend aspect; the Setter/Spiker dynamic Haikyuu!! is so infamous for; how Iwaizumi takes none of Oikawa’s dramatic self and pushes past the “bs” to make sure Oikawa takes care of himself; how Oikawa teases Iwaizumi, yet is always by his side; how the two are so in sync, despite their different personalities; godzilla vs aliens...

...but I think I love best how they, similar to Hinata and Kageyama, are rivals who pursued their dreams: Oikawa making it to the Olympics on the team of his idol and mentor, and Iwaizumi as an Athletic Trainer on the team of his idol and mentor’s son. It’s so poetic, and I love in the final chapter that they finally get to face each other...even if it’s not “technically” against each other in a game.

This ship is probably one of the most iconic in Haikyuu!! and it’s hard to say anything that hasn’t already been stated, but I love it. There’s a reason it works so well, and Furudate has blessed us with all the hints and crumbles of canon for us fans to work with. Again, the greatest gift Haikyuu!! has given us is the fact that we can ship so many different characters together, and it all for the most part fits. ^^

[cinanamon]

nct dream’s hogwarts house analysis

I decided to make this because I’ve had opinions on their houses for years and there are some specific moments that I’ve had in mind for my reasoning, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to spill my two cents with links when necessary! In this essay I will discuss from my point of view what things they’ve done/parts of their personalities that place them in their specific hogwarts house. this is based off of my observations and opinions, but feel free to hit up my ask box to talk about it!

word count | 2.5K

MARK — GRYFFINDOR

this shouldn’t really surprise anyone, should it? Mark has been in the spotlight of nct for a long time: nct 127, nct u, nct dream, super m—he’s an ace.

And though sometimes he may act shy or serious, overall he’s very confident, esp. in himself. That self-assurance is what places him in Gryffindor. Yes, he’s also hardworking and ambitious and smart, but when you look at him, you can’t help but be charmed by his confidence in his own skin; even if he’s awkward or nervous, it’s what shines through the most.

On stage when he’s performing, he’s very focused and honestly just feeling himself; his fortitude is admirable for the simple fact that he doesn’t seem bothered to have all eyes on him, but this self-confidence is intrinsic, for the most part. Remember that one time backstage he said “don’t be nervous” to the camera? He’s incredibly self-reliant and doesn’t need a lot of outside assurance. (x) (x)

He’s also a very chivalrous kind of guy who looks out for his members and is very open and friendly, like a Gryffindor. They’re the kind of people to stick up for others, which I personally believe mark wouldn’t hesitate to do. (He’s also a Christian which I want to suggest that, since he’s strong in his faith, he probably also tries to follow the word of the Bible on being a good person. Just a thought). (x)

Other than that, he’s also just a very outgoing person and I think his overall demeanor fits Gryffindor rather well. He’d probably laugh loudly in the dining hall with his friends, help the first years around (mostly likely a Perfect), and he’d stick up for the quieter kids, no matter their house. He gives me Harry Potter + Oliver Wood vibes.

RENJUN — RAVENCLAW

this was kind of close not going to lie; he was almost Slytherin. But even though he can be rather snarky with good comebacks, a Ravenclaw can do the same. After all, Ravenclaws are known for their wit and Renjun has many many funny comments and witty banter. (x)

ultimately I put Renjun in Ravenclaw because he is very very wise. He’s had that “pure boy” imagine clouding him but underneath, he is young, yes, but he has a lot of knowledge. He gives good advice, is very talented on many things (possibly due to research), and actually makes for a good mentor sometimes.

I want to talk about the wisdom thing very quickly though. There’s one reply to a fan he did where he made amazing comparisons and addressed the issue very thoughtfully; when someone is willing to take the time to think about an issue very seriously to give the best advice possible, I can only imagine him as a Ravenclaw. (x)

He is also very independent and self-assured like Mark, but there is a difference: I believe Mark’s stems from natural confidence while Renjun’s stems from introspection. Do you remember when asked which idol he wanted to be, and he said he wanted to be himself with his own path? That was, again, a very thoughtful response, and a very wise and intelligent thing to say which rounds out my upper two points. I think everyone really admired him for saying that after. (x 4th pic)

Renjun is also a very creative and artsy/crafty person (likes to paint) which places him in Ravenclaw as well. I can see Renjun sketching away during class, doing well when debating with students (who may have just wanted to mock him), and being professors’ favorite because of his wit/wisdom and good grades. (x)

JENO — HUFFLEPUFF

Again this shouldn’t be a surprise. I think Jeno fits everything Hufflepuffs stand for: honestly, kindness, fairness, loyalty, patience, and hard work. He is legit an angel.

To start it off, Jeno is very patient. Though he teases the other members sometimes, he take a good brunt of their jokes. He took being called “no fun/nojam” in stride and went along with it, and even with his asmr videos, plenty of the members would be very loud to mess with him. You could tell by his face he wasn’t too pleased, but he smiled through it and didn’t get very mad at them. (x) (x)

Jeno is also a very welcoming, open, and kind individual. He cares for his friends a lot and tries very hard to make sure they’re comfortable, even if it ends up putting himself at a disadvantage. Esp with his “angelic” persona, he just makes a very good, loyal friend.

Jeno is very hard working and talented as well. He does other dance videos, an asmr channel/videos, and acts as a host for shows. Even though these may be solo activities/work, he has consistently been cheery and patient and attentive for each and all. (x) (x) (x)

Last of all, have you seen this man smile? He can warm the darkest of days? He instantly brightens a room and I’m sure at hogwarts he would be a school favorite, kind to everyone, help out in the library or cleaning classrooms, and having the strongest plants in herbology class because of how much care he gave them. Jeno belongs in Hufflepuff.

DONGHYUCK — SLYTHERIN

This also shouldn’t be nothing new lol! I think Hyuck is a great example of a Slytherin tbh, in a more...immature way? Like not demeaning towards others, but his way of acting and treating others has a flair of drama, if that makes sense? Not necessarily in a bad way, but he is considered more “high maintenance” because he himself said he can be clingy/annoying to the other members. (x)

Haechan is “full-sun” because he’s funny, loud, bright, playful, and as I said he’s more dramatic/extra and makes a show of pouting and being (mock)petty. I think the way he treats his friends is peak Slytherin behavior because if you remember how he mocked mark on dream vs dream saying mark didn’t care about him/he didn’t care about mark? That kind of “self-centered” humor seems very Slytherin. (x) (x)

Esp in terms of purebloods, Slytherins are very sure of themselves and Hyuck is no exception to being cocky. He thinks he’s hot shit sometimes, whether he thinks he’s looking hot or dancing well and he doesn’t disguise his expressions. Even during dance practices, he makes sure to smirk at the camera and his movements/expressions practically scream that he’s feeling himself. And, quite honestly, it’s part of his charm, and it makes him hard to resist. (x) (x)

Hyuck is very clever, and even when he loses he doesn’t seem to think he did, or he doesn’t count it as a loss. As a Slytherin, his self-confidence is very high like a Gryffindor, but it’s more proud and sly. Hyuck isn’t afraid to cheat/bend the rules (which Slytherins are known to do) and, since Slytherins are self-preserving, he’s very cunning and careful in how he acts/play his cards to get what he wants, such as pretending to cry as he went to Johnny on weekly idol. (x)

Even with these attributes, Haechan is still a good, caring, loyal individual and he isn’t a stranger to doubt or sensitivity, that’s not what I’m saying through this. His “Slytherin” traits aren’t all he is/defining, but they are strong enough to classify him. At hogwarts, I can imagine Hyuck sneaking through the secret passageways after curfew to snack on the every-flavor-jellybeans, he’d play light pranks on the other dreamies, and he’d be a jokingly arrogant quidditch player.

JAEMIN — SLYTHERIN

I feel like this is potentially controversial because I personally can see Jaemin in every house because he has a shifting persona and vibe depending on the circumstances, and no one part of him sticks too much.

Firstly I’d like to say that I don’t think Jaemin is an extrovert, so I wouldn’t say Gryffindor or Hufflepuff as my first choice since one of their main points is to help others/socialize/be outgoing. Not to say he couldn’t be in these houses, but he would definitely need to recharge. My point being is that Jaemin is a very cute, funny, caring individual and is sometimes very loud/energetic—we’ve seen how he interacts with the members. But he’s said himself he needs to recharge, he tends to stick in his room a lot/get serious at the dorms, and I think it’s because he exerts so much energy to uphold a persona for the camera, and I’ve always thought this. You can tell in vlives or interviews too that he gets quiet and contemplative, which has me think Slytherin (or Ravenclaw) for his maturity and seriousness when allowed to be himself. Not to say that Jaemin isn’t happy or naturally funny/caring, but I think he exaggerates a lot for the fans and he burns out quickly. (x)

We know that Jaemin thinks about quitting school to be an idol a lot, and by choosing sm he was ambitious in his pursuit of singing. Yes, every nct dream member had to give it up, but from how much he talks about it, I think it still bothers him. But by pushing through to be an idol, we can see his goal-oriented choices and dedication poke through, making him a Slytherin, even though it cost him potential friendships and a normal life. This also adds into the Slytherin self-preservation because he weighed his options to determine the best outcome for himself (also goes with hesitation=introversion). (x)

We know Jaemin is caring and can become very energetic/cute (for the camera) such as performing aegyo or teasing the members, but I feel like he’s very resourceful and sneaky about the way he does it? He seems to know exactly what will embarrass the members and uses it to his advantage, without any sense of doubt or bashfulness. He is also similar to Hyuck, in that regard, about being clingy/cute/annoying to the other members (when he is feeling energetic) and he also can be jokingly petty/complaining to the members and I think he takes pride/joy from embarrassing/annoying the members too, which is more of a Slytherin-friendship thing than any other house imo. (x)

I think if Jaemin went to Hogwarts, he’d be quite popular and well-liked but I always imagined him as not having many close friends and sometimes even being in the background even though he’s so well-known. I think he’d like and need a lot of alone time in the library/astronomy tower/owl sanctuary, but he’d have a lot of situational/class friends. Like Chenle too, I think he would also aid in changing the stereotype that Slytherins are all mean. I actually always wanted to write a long fic for him because he kind of gives me Draco vibes, but we’ll have to see. (And I can elaborate more on the Draco/Jaemin thing if you’d like to send an ask!)

CHENLE — SLYTHERIN

I already know some people are going to fight me on this, but hear me out!! Yes, Chenle is a very kind, bright, helpful person, but that doesn’t strictly place him in Hufflepuff: those personality traits aren’t necessarily only one house. So Chenle can be a bright and bubbly person in Slytherin just as well.

So first of all, Chenle is highly ambitious. He likes to win, he likes to progress, he likes to do well, and he’s not afraid to cheat or bend the rules to get his way (which is very un-Hufflepuff who believe in fairness even though his hard work/determination is (because it’s misplaced)). In one interview, all of the members ratted Chenle out for not accepting defeat by refusing to agree when he lost/said it wasn’t fair. And in dream v. dream with Jaemin, he made the game unfair because he asked a question he didn’t even know the answer to (not maliciously, I’m sure, but still unfair). (x) (x)

If you also remember the game nct played where if you smiled you lost, Chenle was very happy to be winning and was cunning like a Slytherin to get there. Though it was cute and fun, it didn’t change the fact that Chenle wanted to “advance” and was focused on the prize much like a Slytherin would. (x)

On top of that, we have to remember that Chenle has been in the entertainer game the longest. From a very young age, he’s sung and played instruments and been the object of media’s attention. This gives me “pureblood” vibes because he’s almost an old-money who is used to the amount of attention. Also please just assess his vibes when he’s not smiling. (x) (x)

Again, I would just like to reiterate that Chenle is a very bright and kind and funny person so it makes sense based on those traits to put him in Hufflepuff, but it’s his goal-oriented actions that place him in Slytherin, and his house shouldn’t impact his personality. I think it’d be cool to see a bright Slytherin walking down the hall and greeting other houses with a smile, playing games with the Gryffindors, studying on the hill with Hufflepuffs, and overall destroying the stereotype that Slytherins are all evil.

JISUNG — GRYFFINDOR

I was also considering Hufflepuff because Jisung is so sweet and hardworking, but I ultimately chose Gryffindor because he had a lot of potential to be an ace like Mark. He has a natural kind of charisma, though it takes him longer to warm up.

is not super loud or confident, but neither was Neville, was he? Jisung can still be “awkward” but so can anyone, and it seems to only be with strangers. He has a sense of humor and charm to him, and he had a willingness to be outgoing once he’s comfortable. (x)

I’d like to point off his stage presence and confidence when performing real quick. When Jisung is dancing, he gets in the zone and when he focuses, nothing can stop him. That kind of self-assurance and determination places him in Gryffindor. Even when he did the “Lemon” dance, it took bravery to create the video and post it. He just seems to be a little shyer with recognition. (x) (x)

There’s also something about dorky behavior that seems so Gryffindor? Jisung constantly does different hand motions, gen z vibes, cute smiles—it seems so make him charming and it really makes someone stick out and seem true to themselves (which takes confidence). (x)

So overall I can see Jisung as a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff but I settled on the former because of his vibes and potential! He’d be the type to play with the mythical creatures after class, to hide out in the back of the library (to study and snack), and for older classmates to be unable to resist messing up his hair (bc he’s so genuine and wholesome). I really think he’d grow a lot while in Gryffindor.

[vasoula]

The Peepshow (chapter two)

Summary: Two months after his redemption journey, Sasuke is back to Konoha and Sakura couldn’t be more happy about them spending a lot of time together. However, things take a hard turn when Sakura is assigned a special mission and she has to hide it from the rest of Team 7. Everything comes spiraling down when Sasuke finds out exactly what she has to do. 

Tags: hard rated m, blank period, kinda AU-ish

Chapter one here, ffnet, Ao3.

Next chapter

Author's notes: An alternate title to this chapter could be "take a drink everytime sasuke activates his sharingan because of sakura" ;) I tried to keep my boy as much as in character as possible! My girl Saku is easier to approach thought wise. This the point of the three chaptered fic that things really take off :P Man, writing pole dancing is HARD ;) Enjoy some slowburn denial seduction sasusaku with a dose of humor, my loves! Also, big thank to everyone who read this, especially to those who left lovely comments! Thank you so much for your support! :D See ya next week! Just in case, english is not my first language and this chapter is only edited by me :D

“Act two: Seducing one jealous Uchiha”

Sasuke Uchiha, for the first time in years, sees red.

He feels his eye power activate before he can control it as his chakra flares at the images flashing before him.

Sakura, his lovely Sakura, up the stage right in front the pole, looking straight at him in the most alluring way possible. Her body on full display and her face looking so different from her usual choice of make up he almost would tell you this is not her. But, those unmistakably beautiful eyes belong only to one person.

The glass of whiskey in his hand is close to breaking when Kakashi's voice cuts through his rage filled haze.

"Sasuke, stop." His mentor warns in a serious voice, just in time before they are detected by other people. It has the desired effect because Sasuke deactivates his sharingan instantly.

Naruto places his arm on his friend's stump, feeling the chakra pulsating there. The blond man says nothing although a crease in his brow has formed. He looks at Sasuke worriedly awaiting his reaction, averting his eyes from the stage where Sakura is dancing as if she does not have a care in the world.

Sasuke is clenching his jaw so hard, his teeth are aching from the pressure he is putting them on. He cannot believe what his eyes are seeing right now. Sakura who is supposed to be back in Konoha is up there on stage dancing for a target she is supposed to seduce and she has not told him a single fucking thing about this.

In fact, no, she lied to him and told him she would be staying at Tsunade for some medical bullshit she supposedly had to do with her mentor. He remembers the fifth Hokage calling him an arrogant brat for disliking this kind of mission.

Taking a deep breath, he tries to calm his nerves, before he does something risky.

He feels his heart beating ridiculously fast in his chest for some reason as he looks up at the stage. Trying to see her face, he wants her to look him in the eye and tell him how does she feel now that she is making him hurt.

Does she not trust him enough with this information that she knew could potentially affect what they have? Why did she have to lie about it? Sasuke knows that there is some shinobi mission confidentiality, but they both know between them the barrier is drawn and she could tell him anything. Especially something that could potentially strain their feelings. Maybe knowing his nature she knew he would not like what she would have to do, but the outcome is the same anyways. Is he supposed to feel like this? What is the word again? Jealous, he thought.

Sasuke clicks his tongue and ticks his head to the right side. "I see," he says in venomous voice, uncharacteristic of him nowadays.

Acting unbothered, his eyes stay focused on the stage where the most important woman in his life is dressed in a skimpy lingerie trying to bait the target with her high class skills.

Naruto shakes his head knowingly and rests his forehead on his open palm, leaning on the armchair he is sitting on. "Man, this is bad," he says mournfully.

Kakashi finally breaks the ice by speaking again, trying to mend things in the worst way possible, "Damn didn't know she had it in her."

The gray haired man feels the Uchiha's rage before the sizzling stare reaches him.

"Shut it," Sasuke mutters angrily.

All their heads turn instantly when they hear a man shout in excitement exclaiming how hot Sakura is by throwing a bunch of money her way.

Sasuke feels the beginnings of a headache starting to form.

The heavy beat of the song is pounding strongly in his ears and he cannot help it when his eyes focus on Sakura once again. If he is being completely honest with himself, he did not know she had it in her either.

If you had told Sakura Haruno in the past that she would be pole dancing in front of Sasuke Uchiha, she would laughed straight at your face and call you an idiot.

But now, as she grinds her hips on the pole, she feels like she is the idiot. And the butt of her own jokes apparently.

She is really feeling herself actually. The lingerie she is wearing is top notch and it fits her body perfectly like it was made for her. It is dark red in color with stripes both on her chest and belly creating Xs. Her heels are not killing her like she imagined they would and she really likes the sparkle in them. And even though she is starting to sweat, she knows her make up will stay in place because she put all her time and effort on it to make it look bomb. It does look amazing on her as it accentuates her eyes in the best way possible. A red lip and black smokey look will do that to your face. Sakura also thinks her long curly hair really added a whole new vibe to her look.

Sakura grabs the steel in front of her and arches back. She rolls her head, moving her body and spinning around the pole. Her chest glistens teasingly thanks to the light and she pushes her hips forward to gain some momentum. She abandons the pole for now and dances a little around the stage to gain the attention of the crowd.

Stepping left and right, Sakura juts her pelvic side to side to create some form of belly dancing while her hands feel her body sensually, at last leading them to course through hair in an attempt to look sexier.

With all that effort she really feels like she is actually Misty Jade, the persona she is supposed to be impersonating. The pink haired ninja puts her hands on her hips and poses seductively. She looks around and spots her target right away.

Time to put on a show, she thinks bitterly and lifts her hands in air to grab the pole behind her. She pushes her butt against the pole and leans back in an effort to look like she is trapped and the pole is like a man who is holding her captive in a stimulating pose.

A happy yell confirms her move had the desired effect both on the crowd and the target as well.

But as she feels that familiar hot stare on her, she also knows how she fucked up big time. It seems her move had another effect as well. The making Uchiha very angry, hot, and bothered effect.

When she looks in his direction, Sakura regrets it immediately. Even though he is at the back of the club, she would recognize him right away no matter how far he is or what clothes he wears. She does not like the expression on his face one bit.

The moment she had turned around after being introduced she had felt his chakra spike up. It intrigued her how she had that effect on him when she knows for a fact the man is super calm and collected. Sakura will not lie to herself and pretend like she did not take great enjoyment from the fact that he reacted like that to her.

But, but, but.

He is very angry with her right now and it is apparent.

Sakura closes her eyes and pretends everything is fine. She knows the other members of Team 7, who look a lot more at peace than he is, will handle him if he gets too upset.

She decides it is time for some impressive tricks that will need her to use some core strength. She makes a quick spin with her hips sticking out and she starts to circle the pole and like it is a prey and she is ready to pounce. Her left hand reaches up and grabs the top of the metallic bar while she puts all her strength in her right hand which grabs the lower part near the base. Then, her left leg comes forward and almost warps around the pole.

Sakura closes her eyes as her right leg pushes her forward and the rest of her body gets send upwards. The beautiful woman feels her hair falling down to her face obscuring it from view for a few agonizing seconds as she stays upside down. With both legs secured on the poll she begins her ascend upwards trying to match her movements with the beat of the song to gain some momentum.

After climbing on top of the pole, Sakura starts spinning around using her hands as leverage. Putting her body in a fetal position, she locks her thighs together and descends towards the ground with her hands upwards pretending like she is falling down from the pole.

In flash, she squeezes her thighs together in an attempt to stop her body from falling down. Right before she reaches the base of the stage, her impeding fall halts.

With her body now close to the ground, she loosens and throws herself in compromising position on the floor. Her palms are flat on the stage, her chest squished together between concrete and her body. Her ass is high up in the air and she slowly goes forward like she is cat crawling her way towards the front row.

In the meantime the crowd has completely lost it. It takes athletic skills to do that and everyone is impressed.

Halfway through the song now with the performance reaching its peak, Sakura decides to pull out the big guns. In order to gain the attention of the target specifically, she will need to find a way to get him to focus on her. Even though he found her skills highly admirable, to him, she was just another girl pole dancing. That is why she has to act interested in him first.

Right now, Misao Takashi is smoking a cigarette like there is no care in the world and he is looking down at some papers.

Way to be inconspicuous, Sakura thought, dropping into a split right at the edge of the stage.

On the other side of the club, right at the back, Naruto is about to cry. He is so confused at the moment, it is not even funny. On one hand, he is really shocked by Sakura and the unknown skills she is displaying, however, he finds himself inwardly cringing because while she is very good at it, he sees her as a very dear friend to him. While he wants to hype her up because she is very impressive, he also wants to go up there and drag her far away from the leeching crowd and hide her from the world with a really big blanket.

On the other hand, he is very scared, because Sasuke Uchiha is about to have the biggest bitch fit of the year right next to him.

The blond man looks at his teacher for comfort only to find him staring him back with a desperate expression on his face which means he is also having a similar thought process. This leads to them having a battle of wills, holding intense eye contact, until one of them crumbles and has to be the one to take care of the green eyed monster that is Sasuke Uchiha.

"Both." Naruto silently mouths, pleading, not wanting to deal with this alone.

Kakashi clears his throat, taking the first step.

"Well, Sasuke, it looks like we won't be needed here," He says in a casual tone, although his voice cracks during the dialogue due to the fact the situation is awkward.

He feels uncomfortable, but he continues on speaking, "The Anbu specialist," he raises his tone slightly at this as if to reprimand him, "is doing a pretty good job on her own."

He folds his hands on top of his crossed knees after finishing his statement.

"I said help, not kill us," Naruto sweat drops and half whispers more to himself than anybody else.

They both hear Sasuke silently growl at this.

Naruto gulps down his saliva loudly and begins, "Look Sasuke, I know this looks bad," he pauses checking for a reaction. Seeing his friend only slightly pissed, he continues, "But, you have to look at the positive side!"

The black haired man looks at his best friend for a split second, his eyes glinting in the dark and says, "And that is?", he questions angrily.

"It is th-the fact that Sakura-chan is strong and she can handle herself!", he tries to explain lamely, "right Kakashi-sensei?"

"Of course, yes." Kakashi agrees quickly.

Sasuke sticks his tongue inside his cheek, pushing it outwards, trying to remain calm.

He wants to curse them, throw water at them or maybe punch them both in the throat, but he will not do it because Sakura would not want that.

His attention diverts back to her dancing on the stage.

"Tsk," he lets out a familiar annoyed sound.

Right at that moment, she decides it is the perfect time to do a split on the floor.

Sasuke feels a vein popping on his forehead while the other two screech like school girls next to him.

He watches as Sakura takes another route to her seduction game and she starts to rely on more sexual tactics. The last Uchiha observes as she starts to sensually rub her back against the pole, her knees slightly bend forward, in an almost squat.

Her right hand goes to her mouth, and she darts her tongue out as if to lick her long manicured fingers while she stares hotly at her target with hooded eyes. In the meantime, her free hand dangles teasingly in front of her torso and begins its descend down towards her pelvic area. Her green nails a stark contrast to her daring burgundy lingerie.

Sasuke almost wants to activate his sharingan just so he could commit that image to his memory forever. He has never felt more jealous and needy than in that moment.

Despite all this unfolding before his eyes, he know this is just a mission, but he cannot help the emotions he is feeling.

The song is about to end, but he knows the torture will not end here. It will continue when she shows up again to lure her target away.

He cannot help but stare as she strikes a pose around the pole; her legs crossed around it and her body circled around the rod like snake hanging from a tree. Her arms are stretched out evenly and her voluminous hair hangs from one side.

Sakura looks amazing, her abs straining against her skin and her muscles showing in all the right places. His imagination of her naked body did not do the real thing justice; so much beauty on that tiny body of hers.

Sasuke heaves a sigh of relief just as the songs ends and the crowd cheers like never before.

"Finally," Kakashi whispers, coursing his hand through his hair.

Naruto plops down on the armchair loudly after hanging on the edge of it for so long.

It feels like a relief for all of them, but they know it is far from over. The lights of the stage close and Sakura disappears in the darkness. Their trained ears hear her heels clanking away despite the buzz she left behind. Everyone is complimenting her and the target looks very interested in her, as his eyes keep searching for her ever since the lights have opened again.

"Op, there it is, it worked, he is into her," Kakashi comments. The red haired male just signaled at a bartender - possibly asking for her company.

"Of course he liked her," Naruto shouts and stretches his hands out in exasperation, "oh my god she looked amazing, I can't believe I just witnessed that," the blond continues to mumble incoherently about their female teammate.

"Did you see that?", The tailed beast owner exclaims loudly, hands coming at top of his head in silent plea for salvation. From the corner of his blue eye, he anticipates his friend's reaction.

"I did," Sasuke responds, "fuck, I know, I did, okay," he says, his voice raising an octave.

He knows the other did it on purpose to gauge a reaction out of him, but he cannot keep hiding from them anymore. It is obvious they both know how he feels about her; except for Sakura of course.

"Op, there it is again," Kakashi jokes this time, his mask hiding his grin. He takes great pleasure in watching his greatest student fall apart in front of him.

"You are both enjoying this, aren't you?", Sasuke asks a question he knows the answer to. He is grimacing, trying to wallow in self pity alone.

"Of course we are," Naruto answers proudly,"have you seen your face?", he wriggles his eyebrows and points an accusing finger at Sasuke's face.

"I hate you both," He says detestably, "Leave me alone."

Before any more banter could continue however, they notice Sakura walking out of the changing rooms in a nice long dress with a slit on the side. It is light pink in color, almost transparent, and it has fuchsia fur on its collar. She is strutting towards the red haired man in very determined steps, getting his attention right away. The pink haired girl sits next to the target and strikes conversation. They watch the scene play out like movie, their eyes and ears alert and attune to everything those two do. Whenever he or she moves, their attention is solely on them - like a hawk which is watching its prey.

Sasuke focuses on Sakura, his eyes calculating every move she makes. He watches as the civilian says something probably funny to her and she laughs heartily, one hand covering her mouth. The woman cocks her head to her right cutely and she blinks her pretty eyes at him while her other hand which is not covering her mouth works in other dirtier ways.

Touch is very important in order to seduce any man. She pats his knee in an attempt to hold her laughter in. To any other person it looks like she is enjoying his company and she is comfortable with him.

But, Sasuke knows, this is her way of making him fall right into her beautifully crafted trap. Her subtle flirting looks like it is working because they both decide to get up at that moment. He does not have a clue what she could have possibly said to him, but the foolish guy grabs her extended hand and follows her to the back rooms.

"She is going in for the kill," Kakashi speaks suddenly, "we better stay alert now in case something bad happens."

It seems he is not the only one interested in how things play out.

The black haired man feels the temperature of the room skyrocket to new heights and he decides it is high time he took off his jacket. In one swift movement the annoying garment is off him and he undoes one more button of his blouse which is straining against his chest.

"Ugh I don't like this at all," Naruto whines and chooses to look anywhere else to divert his attention from Sakura.

Sasuke sits up straighter on his chair, finishes his drink in one shot and puts the empty glass on the nearby table. He feels his throat burning from the sudden consumption of the strong alcoholic beverage. The Uchiha welcomes the pain and cracks his neck to the side.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow at this and he inches his body closer to the outer part of his armchair as if he is ready to get up at any given moment. Naruto quickly catches on and puts his hand on top of Sasuke's bicep.

He grabs the flimsy material of his white shirt, but rearranges his hand in flash in order to grip Sasuke better.

"No," Naruto warns.

The blond's palm discreetly emits some chakra, trying to cool down the raging Uchiha.

Sasuke turns to look at them, his mismatched eyes cold and detached. They see his rinnegan flash in the dark despite being hidden by his fringe.

The brooding male shakes his head slightly and looks down. "I am only going to make things faster," he tries to reason with them.

"Sasuke, no," Kakashi tries to explain calmly. They must not alert anyone in here with their status or their cover will be blown. "We are the back-up, remember?"

"My abilities are more useful than Sakura's right now." Sasuke continues as if he did not hear them, "One look from me and it's over. Tsunade should have thought this through better."

"Sakura-chan can do this, bastard," Naruto speaks in a serious tone and continues, "Don't ruin this for her."

Sasuke stays still for a few seconds, his immobile form having both men on edge.

Before any of them could react fast enough though, they feel Sasuke's chakra flare and they see him disappear in a flash right in front of their eyes. In his place there is a broken bottle of vodka on the armchair.

"Fuck," Naruto curses and Kakashi lets out an indignant sound.

They avert their eyes from the bottle and look towards the changing rooms near the bar. Sasuke smirks, the purple stardust of his eye power blending in with the lights. He bends his head down and steps inside the dark entrance into the hallway behind him.

From their periphery they have no idea what it is going on in there anymore.

Naruto lifts his hands up in the air and says, "I give up."

"I have to admit these events unfolding before me have a more interesting plot than the Icha-Icha Paradise books," Kakashi shrugs his shoulders.

Both of them let out long sighs and fall back into their armchairs.

Meanwhile inside the changing rooms, Sakura has led her target in the quiet corner of her room. She has him pinned against the wall, kunai against his throat, her chakra infused fist holding him captive by his shirt.

"Tell me everything I need to know if you want to live to see another day," she spits out, her glare a complete one eighty compared to the sweet eyes she was batting at him earlier.

"I-I- Who are you lady?" The man trembles in her grip, her threat working.

Sakura pushes him harder against the wall to make him hurt.

"Quit stalling," She keeps the kunai on his throat as her other hand searches his pockets for the key and the papers. "What information do have?" The kunoichi in disguise asks and feels the cold metal of the keys at the tips of her fingers.

Just when she was about to get the juicy info out of him, Sakura feels Sasuke's strong chakra presence behind her.

"You heard her," his velvety baritone voice comes through as he flash steps behind them, both of his eye prowess glinting dangerously in the dark.

The man in question is sweating profusely now as he is faced with two scary looking ninja who look to be very powerful. He knows if he spills out the information the feud lords will come for his ass, but right now as he feels the tip of the kunai on his throat and looks at the threatening eyes of the man next to his beholder, he knows he is dead either way.

"I will tell you everything," He pleads, "don't kill me!"

The red haired man's knees buckle beneath him and he falls down to the ground with a thud. Sakura lets him fall, huffs and stands back.

As she crosses her arms in front of her chest, Sasuke bends down to be at eye level with the target and activates his sharingan, tomoes spinning lazily.

"I could do this on my own, you know," Sakura says annoyed. She is pursing her lips, her eyes going to slits.

"I know," Sasuke admits and stands up. The man on the floor is under a genjutsu, spilling all the information they need.

Sasuke's sharingan still activated records everything the man says that is useful to them. Sakura dangles the keys and puts them inside her pouch. With the man passed out on the floor, Sasuke and Sakura hold eye contact for a few minutes, both silent.

"How did you get in here without me noticing?" She breaks the silence first, taking a few steps closer to the black haired shinobi.

"I concealed my chakra well," Sasuke says laconically, glad for his nimble fingers because he locked the door silently as well.

Sakura hates the way he is so aloof about this as if he did not interrupt her own mission. She is so pissed off right now, the woman can barely hold her wits together. The kunoichi feels herself popping off the moment Sasuke decides to turn his back on her.

"I am not a weak little girl anymore," She spits out fiercely, trying to keep her tone down, "I don't need you going all macho on me!"

Her dress flutters around when she moves suddenly and starts pacing around the room. Sasuke looks at her from the corner of his eye, his visual power no longer activated.

He pretends to ignore her anger and stays mute instead. Unfortunately for her, Sasuke could not help himself and stay put. His jealousy pushed him to go in here with her because the thought of another man even possibly touching her sent him reeling.

Sasuke is glad nothing more had to happen, but god, he is such a coward still and he will not admit to her right now why he did it. He knows she is strong, but her being alone with somebody else, anybody else who is not him...It is eating him away from the inside.

Sakura is furious right now, but she also knows she cannot make a scene in here because someone could come in without warning and start asking questions. They have a man passed out on the floor who is going to arise some suspicions.

Analyzing the situation, she needs to think fast and act later.

Putting her hands on her hips and giving him the angriest bitch face she could master, Sakura barks out her order.

"Go inform the guys the mission is accomplished and we leave tomorrow at dawn," she looks at him expectantly, waiting for him to try and defy her.

When she gets nothing but silence in response, she continues.

"Meet me outside across the street in twenty minutes," Sakura finishes her statement with a dismissive tone.

The pink haired medic raises her eyebrow at him, waiting for him to react.

Sasuke makes his usual humming noise in agreement, his lips slightly pursed. With a curt nod he leaves the room quickly, not once looking behind.

With the door now closed, Sakura lets out a silent growl. In her frustration she takes off one of her high heels and throws it across the room, her target where Sasuke was standing a few seconds ago. Disappointed that she did not hit his imaginary head, she tosses the other one too for a good measure.

Feeling accomplished, she gathers her stuff including the important papers and the keys and she changes to the civilian clothes she had brought with her. Seeing Misao Takashi slightly stirring, she takes that as her cue to leave. With one last look at him, confident that he will not have the guts to speak to anyone about this, she exits the room.

When the red haired male wakes up a few minutes later, he stands up groggily and looks around the room only to find it empty. Checking his pockets and realizing everything is missing, he recalls the events from before. That is when he takes a look at the mirror across him and he notices the gorgeous girl from before has left him a message.

A smiley face drawn with red lipstick is staring back at him.

He snorts and lets out a sad smile.

Twenty minutes later as promised everybody is out of the club with only Sakura still missing. Ever since Sasuke came back with the news no one has exchanged words besides Kakashi and Naruto who keep talking to each other.

The last Uchiha has been oddly quiet even for his standards. He keeps his face mostly hidden in the shadows of the night, his back against a nearby wall. Kakashi and Naruto are a few meters next to him throwing worried glances at him, fearing one word from them would set him off the wrong way.

The moment Sakura appears, it seems the gears in Sasuke's head have finished turning and he stands up straight ready to take off. The awkwardness in Team seven is palpable.

No one dares to look their female teammate in the eye, even Kakashi who is older than them. They do not speak to each other either. Instead, the male members of the group start following Sakura who is probably leading them to the hotel she has been staying. Sakura looks calm, but everybody seems to know that they should not try to cross her or strike a conversation with her.

Naruto who is usually lively and talkative feels like he is living his worst nightmare. He exchanges a few glances with Kakashi who keeps putting his finger in his mouth as if to signal the blond to keep quiet. Things are so awkward between the medic and the sharingan user that Naruto feels like a literal child confined between his two stubborn and angry grown up parents. Fuck being a third wheel to a conceited flirting Uchiha and a shy Haruno, this is so much worse.

Only when they finally reach the hotel and they forced to say their good nights, the Team manages to acknowledge and speak to each other. Of course it is typical conversation before you go to bed, so nothing weird here. Albeit, it was so disturbing to see Sakura faking a smile nowadays that Naruto wanted to bash Sasuke's head to the nearest wall for making this mission more awkward than it had to be. Thinking better than to try and talk to Sasuke about the situation right now, Naruto heads solemnly to his room.

Kakashi on other hand feels like those two are grown up adults and he should not have to interfere with their feelings. They have to work on their miscommunications on their own, especially Sasuke and his incapability to express his feelings.

With each person having their own thoughts in their heads, the members of Team 7 all go into their rooms respectively.

The moment Sakura steps inside the room, she starts to feel her tear ducts watering. Taking a deep breath in order to calm down, she starts pacing around the room while fanning her eyes.

In these kind of situations it always helps to think of something else to prevent her from crying, so she thinks about Ino and her holy grail set of girl rules.

"Never cry when you have expensive make up on," Sakura tries to pep talk herself.

Although she knows she will have to take it off eventually, she tries to hang on the smallest reason to stop herself from tearing up. If she slips up and allows herself to get sad, the woman knows it will be impossible to stop.

Sakura does have a tendency to get emotional despite being strong. Being apathetic is not one of her strongest assets, regrettably. In comparison to the man she is in love with, the pink haired beauty is quite the opposite of him when it comes to matters like these.

Thinking a good bath will clean her head (and her body), she steps inside the bathroom. Half an hour later, she comes out of it clean and fresh wearing her skimpy black pajama shorts and a white t-shirt. Knowing no one will come and bother her anymore tonight she skips putting on her bra.

Feeling rejuvenated and ready to go to sleep, Sakura starts making a beeline for her bed. She will figure out tomorrow what to do about her strained relationship with Sasuke.

Right just about that thought crossed her mind, she hears knocking on her door.

"No," the woman whispers, her eyes widening in horror.

There is no way Sasuke is behind that door, knocking it and expecting her to open up.

With two powerful stomps and a determined expression on her face, Sakura reaches for the doorknob and pulls.

[reflectionsofacreator]

Sequence 9: Revelations

Sorry there’s not much happening in this video, but like. I thought the delivery of these voice lines was really important, so I ended up capping it. This is directly after the previous letter that Ezio sent to Claudia. I find it really funny that Sofia’s actually using the same walking animation as the courtesans/Romani women, but like, this is the first/only time she’s ever been walking in the field with Ezio. They likely didn’t want to spend time giving her a unique animation for this short bit. 

For as much as I’ve heard Ezio’s interpretation of the Creed, I had admittedly thought it was going to be part of a larger cutscene, not something that was said in a conversational manner as you’re walking through the ruins of Masyaf Castle. Ezio’s interpretation is often quoted, and for good reason. It’s poetic, poignant, and it resonates with a lot of people, especially because it’s something that he says in the later parts of his life, right on the cusp of setting that life aside, thus giving it gravitas that his younger persona could not. 

Ezio’s had a bit of a rocky relationship with the Creed all his life, starting with his assassination of Vieri de Pazzi, continuing all the way up to now.  I find it interesting that Ezio doesn’t bring up the Three Tenants to Sofia, but that might just be because that’s a larger, involved conversation, largely because he recently broke one of them. Me? Still disappointed? More likely than you think.

That being said though, I’m really glad we do have his own interpretation of the Creed, because it gives an insight into his character, namely that he feels a responsibility to the world as a whole. It’s a bit different than Altair’s interpretation, but not completely so.

Altair’s was given via a conversation between him and Al Mualim during his Hunt for the Nine, after he questioned the deaths for Jubair and Sibrand who are known Templars. We don’t actually have a solid “this is my interpretation” from Altair, devoid of any other context (at least not in the games, idk about the books), so Altair’s words might ring a little differently. 

Al Mualim: What is the truth?  Altair: We place faith in ourselves. We see the world the way it really is, and hope that one day all mankind might see the same.  Al Mualim: What is the world, then? Altair: An illusion. One we can either submit to, as most do, or transcend.  Al Mualim: What is it to transcend?  Altair: To recognize that nothing is true, and everything is permitted. That laws arise not from divinity, but reason. I understand now that our Creed does not command us to be free. It commands us to be wise.  Al Mualim: Do you see now, why the Templars are a threat?  Altair: Where as we would dispel the illusion, they would use it to rule. 

Wisdom is certainly part of what Ezio is talking about, but his tends to veer more towards responsibility, which makes a degree of sense given that he’s in his fifties, and the Mentor of the Order. It’s worth noting that Altair’s interpretation was given when he was 26, during his character development. We don’t know if his interpretation changed as he got older and viewed more of the world, and spent time with the Apple. 

The second part that I wanted to have on record was Sofia asking if he regrets living this life for so long. And like... yeah. He outright admits that he never chose this life, it chose him. It’s a culmination of these little hints we’ve had, all over the course of his trilogy. It’s ... both relieving, and heartbreaking to hear him finally put it into words, that this isn’t exactly the life he wanted. There’s more to the convo tho, but my video got corrupted, so block quotes it is. 

Ezio: For three decades I have served the memory of my father and my brothers, and fought for those who have suffered the pain of injustice. Ezio: I do not regret those years, but it is time to live for myself, and let them go. To let go of all of this.  Sofia (fondly): Then let go. You will not fall far. 

God, this really just... is a setup of Feelings, aimed straight at my kneecaps. 

[arreisstorm]

BTS' Map Of The Soul: Persona

I am always in a continuous state of shock and awe whenever I even begin to contemplate the in-depth philosophical, psychological, and just overall intellect these boys possess.

Not only have they used various works of literature:

Demian- Wings

The Ones Who Walk from Omelas- Spring Day

but they have also been incorporating theoretical science:

Carl Jung's 4 major archetypes

since the very beginning!

And then to use a music industry as big as K-Pop to highlight the importance of knowledge and connect everything together...

That's beautiful.

It's genius!

So let me try and break some of it down now:

Carl Gustav Jung was a famous psychiatrist and psychotherapist who once proposed the theory that everyone's personality consisted of 4 separate entities:

The Shadow

The Anima/Animus

The Persona

The Self

and it was these 4 traits, or archetypes, that were believed to be the reasoning for why we as individuals developed personalities and certain behaviors. He also theorized that when an individual recognized and experienced all 4 archetypes that it would lead to self-fulfilment. So now let's break this down even further but from BTS' viewpoint.

The Shadow

From their debut through Dark & Wild, you can see that these were more chaotic times for BTS as they were trying to let the world know who they were, yet also trying to remain genuine at the same time. It's hard thing to do because, especially when referring to K-Pop, you are told you have to look, act, and exist in a certain way. You are to be idols and to model what's most popular when it comes to societal influence. This is exactly what Carl meant when he introduced the Shadow archetype. It's known to be the darker side of ourselves; the wildness and chaotic version that we use to try to repress some of our more negative thoughts.

BTS experienced the Shadow because they debuted with this "bad-boy" imagine and basically said F the system! Although they still had their personal beliefs and stances on life, they did kind of let themselves become manipulated by others wishes. Even some of the boys have had regrets towards the way they first acted. I mean RM, then Rap Monster, openly expressed how he wanted to change his name because he felt that title no longer applied to who he was. Same for the rest of the boys. They had just started out and were naive and some easily impressionable, no one should blame them for their early days, I mean I'm sure we all have times we look back on not too fondly as well.

The Anima/Animus

Jung believed the next step after the Shadow was the Anima/Animus, which represents the feminine (Anima) side of male's unconsciousness, while the (Animus) is the masculine side for the female's. This aspect was said to bring order or balance to an individual's life. Because we live in a society that is so concerned with separating one's gender as a way to normalize behavior as a whole, it has become almost impossible for us to have said balance because it is "not acceptable"; however, it's important to have those two separations to a person's behavior because it allows us to have positive and negative aspects for each.

Imagine if you had a man who was nothing but competitive and dominating all the time, yet lacked the nurturing skills of a women when it came to showing compassion towards a child or loved ones. Then imagine on the other hand, there's a women who has all the emotional capacity yet let's herself be pushed around and stepped on because she lacks an assertive nature due to said generosity and compassion. Neither one would be able to make it long in this world because they do not possess the balance from both sides to do so.

Relating this back to BTS, you can see the Anima appearing during the Love Yourself highlight reel, although it wasn't so clear to some until now. Most ARMY or casual supporters of BTS simply thought that these girls that appeared in the video were simply some type of love interest or previous relationship they had because including girls in idol groups' videos is nothing out of the ordinary; however, knowing about the archetype Anima/Animus, I have pieced together that these girls were actually not love interests at all, but they represented the boys' feminine part of their unconsciousness.

The reason I say this is because during the HYYH era MVs, you can see the destructive nature BTS are going through. Whether it be destruction of self or of personal relationships, it's obvious that they are still experiencing the first stage, the Shadow, and in order to move past it they must recognize the next one. The girls in the video are seen when the boys are at their happiest, AKA when they are experiencing balance from the uncertainty surrounding their lives. It is here we can see the growth of each member taking place.

(Photo credit: stussyjimin on Twitter)

The Persona

After we have the Shadow and Anima/Animus we move onto the 3rd stage: the Persona. This archetype is one of the most common ones that people find themselves unable to move past.

Societal constructs yet again have a huge part to play in this because we are constantly seeking validation from others in order to appease our own self-conscious tendencies. You see, the word 'persona' in Latin literary means 'mask', which is appropriate because when we reach this archetype we often force ourselves to wear a mask so that others might accept our perceived truths over the actual ones. Whether it be at work, home, in other public situations, or even online we all make the decisions to put on that mask, contradicting our own beliefs in order to seem likeable. These decisions don't even necessarily have to be life-changing, but any minor ones also alter an individual as a whole.

You see, where the Shadow's job is to let us repress our unacceptable behaviors to appear more relatable, the Persona highlights those new changes to keep up the charade of being accepted from what others expect from us. This could more easily be known as "people-pleasing". In order to reach our next stage the most important thing to keep in mind is that we as humans are not simply a sum of our Personas and we must find our true identity within ourselves.

Again, relating this back to BTS, it reminds me of 2 different concepts: Wings and Love Yourself: Tear.

With Wings, I mostly see it in the solos because each one specifically deals with some kind of pain or sadness due to outside influences. For example, in Jungkook's BEGIN, he mentions how helpless he felt during their debut and then how much it hurt him to see his hyungs going through dark times. In Jimin's LIE, he talks about his struggles with starvation and body imagery and how listening to negativity made him spiral out of control. V's STIGMA explains how he often feels like this absent family member to his brothers because of BTS' busy schedule and his inability to be there for them. Suga's FIRST LOVE expands on his depression and how he almost gave up his dream at one point, also turning his back on his first love which is music. RM's Reflection is almost like a conversation with himself conveying his insecurities and how hard he finds it to love himself because of how he's been perceived in the past. Hobi's MAMA, although the more happier track of them all, serves as a love letter to his mom confessing his hardships as well as how much he appreciates his mom for always having his back. Then finally we have Jin's AWAKE, where he pours his heart out about feeling inadequate compared to everyone else, yet he still is going to try his hardest. The boys showed us their personal struggles and how keeping up these charades for so long would end up tearing them apart. They knew they were missing the final link.

Love Yourself: Tear can also be seen in this way. In fact, RM explained that when writing and designing the concept for one of their most popular tracks from the album, Fake Love, he was trying to communicate the fact that, in life, we constantly find ourselves trying to fill a void in order to deem ourselves as whole, and often times this can be filled with love, but that doesn't specifically have to be about relationships. "We're saying that if you're not true to yourself, your love won't last forever. The love could be person to person, it could be between me and myself,".... "It's kinda deep."

See here he means that love doesn't necessarily have to be about a physical relationship, just like the Persona doesn't just have to be about the relationship you have with others. Even if the simplified version is often seen as "people-pleasing", it can also mean, in an inadvertent way, changing yourself or donning a mask in order to fool your own mind into loving those alterations you've made personally. Learning to love yourself and acknowledging your flaws is the only way to reach the final stage.

(Photo credit: dailyhoping on Twitter)

(YAJR#jkc at aminoapps.com)

The Self

The 4th and final stage to achieving personal fulfillment is known as the Self. This means that after having gone through all other areas of self discovery when reaching this stage there should no longer be any traces of doubts or identity loss left.

According to Jung, the Self is most often represented by the wise man/wise woman, especially when it comes to dreams. He once said that if there was a ever a time when a person dreamed of a wise figure, then it was an indication that self fulfillment is right around the corner. This is a lose interpretation though, it doesn't necessarily have to be an old man or old woman, some even think that people who serve as mentors to an individual, regardless of age, can also fit the profile. In the case of BTS however, I do believe that Jung's original idea was more of the inspiration.

If you recall during one of the trailers for Fake Love, there was the Magic Shop where the boys went to trade in objects for others. The vendor in charge of the shop could be considered as a sort of magician, which just so happens to be another character that is said to represent the Self. So knowing that and then if you see in the video that the objects traded by each boy connects them back to previous storylines, or sticking with Jung's theory, previous archetypes that can be used to remind them of hurt, pain, and darker times. The symbolism of this exchange can be interpreted as the boys relinquishing their previous lost identities to finally take that metaphorical step and receive the solution that will finally lead them to the Self.

Actually, if you look at the next MV that follows Fake Love extended version, you will see that it is the last song from BTS' latest album Love Yourself: Answer, Epiphany. The literal definition of the word 'epiphany' means a sudden realization, revelation, or insight, which in terms of the archetype, the Self, this could be a representation of the defining moment that shows BTS finding the final path to self fulfillment and true happiness. I'm not saying they've 100% reached the very top of the pyramid, but I do think that in deciding to make this the last track on the album, they are also treating the words as a personal message to all of ARMY.

This is their genius way of letting everyone know that the only true solution to achieving that final level of a well-developed Self, you must first experience a culmination of all previous archetypes and then integrate them all alongside the last:

One must learn to express hurt and emotions (the Shadow) before they can find a balance within (the Anima/Animus) to help counteract the mask and preconceptions (the Persona) others make us develop throughout life. It is only then will we be wise (the Self) enough to find the hidden truth.

Final Thoughts:

First of all, I want to say thank you if you made it through this whole post, I know its a little long and I truly appreciate it. 💜

Secondly, I want to reiterate that none of this is to be seen as a concrete answer to BTS concepts, song meanings, or their entire creative process as a whole, this is simply my thoughts and opinions and nothing more. That being said though, I am more than open and willing to hear both your theories on the symbolism BTS uses, as well as any constructive criticism you might have concerning this post. So please feel free to leave a comment ✌

Lastly, I have one more thing to touch base on and that is the recent announcement that was the inspiration behind this post being created in the first place. It's been blowing up the internet since it was first released, but in case you might have missed it, BTS has just dropped their comeback date (April 12th!) and the title is Map of the Soul: Persona.

See because I have such an interest in psychology/philosophy and especially loved studying Jung's work, when I first saw the title, and knowing how intellectual these boys are, I couldn't help myself from thinking that this new era could possibly have ties into Jung's 4 Archetypes. This then brought me to revist everything BTS has done up until now to see if I could be right, and that's when I realized they had already tackled the theory on the down low, or at least for most people; hence why I made this post, I wanted to create this in-depth analysis to help others understand the pure genius aspects that goes into BTS' concepts.

Now with that being said, if this new era and concept truly is going to draw inspiration from Carl Jung and his theories, then the above post is nothing more than a simple a taste of what's to come. Trust me, if it's BTS we are talking about, then everything I've said pales in comparison to what their truly brilliant minds can come up with. Either way I can't wait to see what's in store!!!

Thank you again if you read this and please feel free to share or leave your own comments. I would love to hear what you guys have to say! 💜💜💜

[pastelbatfandoms]

Renee West/Obsidian Storm Tarot Readings

The Hero's Journey #1 (Renee/Obisidian Storm Origin Story) LAYOUT: Lay the 12 cards in a circle in a clockwise direction. This shows the cyclical pattern of the quest myth. The 13th card is laid at the center of the circle.

Using My Gods and Titans Deck as well as The Elle Qui Oracle deck. 

CARD POSITIONS: 1. Ordinary world – your world, background, and environment before the beginning of the extraordinary adventure. The setting and exposition. - Dionysus (Excitasy) & 9 of pentacles

2. Traits and personality - who are you? Are you a reluctant hero? A willing one? Zeus (Leadership) & The High Priestess. (Just surmised who Obsidian Storm is! The Daughter of Zeus and a human priestess. She does have Thunder and Lighting powers,that come from the weather!)

3. Call to Adventure – A problem, challenge, or adventure is presented to you.- Mithras (Sacrifice) & Orchid (Flourish & Prosper) I think Obsidian Storm is the sacrifice,to allow Renee to flourish in her career,even if Renee does not know it yet.

4. Refusal of the call – What holds you back in accepting the adventure; your inner conflict, fears, or struggle- Ull (Focus) Nemesis (Revenge,Justice) Too focused on revenge and getting justice for her parents to see anything else. Which is where her West/Allen family comes in, encouraging her to follow her goals and go to college for something other then law,which is where she meets Caitlin & Cisco.

5. Meeting with the Mentor – a teacher or guide that helps you train and prepare for your adventure-Ra (Shadow) & Geneva (Ambition, Knowing, Confidence) Meeting Harrison Wells,Not only does he have the know how to help her at Star Labs but he also knows all about Obsidian Storm,which is where is the ambiton comes in,unbeknownst to her. 

6. Crossing the first threshold – The first step in your path; your first lesson on your quest.-Lugh (Shadow) & Mora (Hesitation ,Delay,Ponder) Hesitant if she is skilled enough,but needs to focus on her real love of Forensics and not Journalism or Fashion Design. (Which is what she went to college for) 

7. Tests and Enemies – What opposes you; the central conflict-Loki (Shadow) & Enid (Fear,Distrust,worry) A Trickster hiding in the shadows...Renee is distrustful of others because of what happened to her parents,and fearful of getting to close to Wells despite liking him. 

8. Friends and Allies-Who you will meet upon your journey and how they will help you. - Cernunnos (Shape Shifter) & Blanche (Light & Serenity) Eowells Obviously,since he is appearing as someone he’s not. and I see Caitlin or Berry as her Light. 

9. Ordeal - your darkest hour; your greatest obstacles-Hades (Death & Rebirth) & Kamala (Enlightenment, the present) Wells admitting his feelings for Renee,their relationship in the present and how Renee finally becomes enlightened of his true persona as Eobard Thawne. Destiny and her future. 

10. Approach - what resource you use to overcome the "ordeal;" a new way of "seeing." It is this fresh approach that allows you to triumph. Your secret inner strength.- Eros (Shadow) & Sauvage (Untamed,Wild,Mysterious) Letting go,loving Thawne despite it not being completely healthy. Thawne seeing her full potential and knowing she has powers,telling her of their future together. 

11. Reward – what you have gained/ learned from your trials; a gift, insight. (Connect this card with #2 to show how you have grown spiritually)- Green Man (Shadow) & Carly (Liberation,Unrestrained Freedom) (Too much Abundance. Wanting to let go and be free after Thawne dies,giving in and becoming Obsidian Storm completely. 

12. Elixir – what you are able to give back to the “ordinary world” (society and community) after having successfully completed your quest- Ares (War) & Jenna (Stilness,Purity,Calmness) Joining The Rogues and dating Leonard Snart. Becoming a criminal,they both reform after becoming a Legend but after Snart dies,Renee comes back to Team Flash.

13. Integration - Once the hero has returned and bestowed this gift, how is this gift (elixir) to be used? Are you successfully able to come full circle between the ordinary world and the extraordinary one? Set (Shadow) & Teraz (Acceptance,Awareness,living in the now) (Self explanatory. But Renee tries to put the past behind her,aware of what she had done to Team Flash, puts a cap on her powers.)  Birthday-March 18 (Pisces) Gemini Rising represents her and Obisidian Storm.

Using My Goddess and Siren Deck with The Haunted House

Story Spread (Renee) Middle Part ## ## ## 01 ## ## ##

05 ## 03 *02* 04 ## 06

## 07 ## ## ## 08 ##

## ## 09 ## 10 ## ##

## ## ## 11 ## ## ## 1. Hero’s initial situation (environment, personal condition, or both; past and present may both be represented)- The World & Morgan Le Fae (magick)  She now knows the vital ingredients needed to survive. She learned all this not from a book but from the direct experience of living.  She has participated in life by being involved, proactive, eager, fearless and curious.  She has kept her mind open to more than one way of approaching every situation she encountered.  She learned from others and her environment but arrived at her own conclusions rather than just follow the mob.  She became self-sufficient and responsible.

When The World appears it is time to take your place in the World or to create your own World.  You have all the knowledge and experience you need to succeed.  You may feel content in your World and are surrounded by good friends and family you can trust and rely on. This is not by chance but rather from you putting the effort in to facilitate such an environment.

In relationships, it can suggest a partner met while travelling or a partner from another part of the world.

2. Hero’s initial goal(s) or driving force- King of Wands R & Nuit (Expansiveness) May mean Thawne or Harry...Harry has some egotism in him but not to the extent Eobard does. 

Also The King of Wands reversed may suggest that the man you are interested or drawn to is aware of you and interested too but will not make a move.

3. Foreshadowing Element (symbolizes complete story’s essence – imagery, memory, a song, an anonymous gift, a resonant phrase from a friend or lover or stranger, etc.; may act as signs warning of impending conflicts)- The Chariot R,The Devil R,Amatersu (Self Esteem) & Oya (Power) 

Don’t hang on, give up, let go. Let the past go and with it old emotions. Once they are cleared, find a new way of coping and dealing with emotional situations. Learn from your mistakes. Release old negative destructive patterns.

Car problems can be suggested and even car related accidents. (At first I thought this was meaning her relationship with Thawne but given her Mom died in a car accident...)

You or someone you know may be in serious emotional trouble. Wearing a mask to hide their distress they may appear normal to most but are on the brink of a breakdown behind closed doors. Emotionally overwhelmed and seeing no light at the end of the tunnel they may need the love and support of family or friends to get them through this time in their lives. (Harry after Zoom took Jessie)

With The Devil Reversed You may have just come out from a life changing experience, something that rocked you to the core and are looking at your life in a very different manner. A reformed Devil who is trying to turn over a new leaf after experiencing some levelling or humbling ordeal.  

4. First Conflict (how/why the Hero meets the Adversary’s force or will)- Baba Yaga (Authenticity) & Justice R

5. X-factor or sub-plot (represents aid from a newcomer, a potential second adversary or other mysterious external force)- 7 of Wands,Judgement,Rhiannon (Shadow) & Boudicca (Unity) 

The Seven of Wands is a Card of tenacity and standing your ground. There may be many who seek to take your position from you. (Zoom or Jay)  Oppose all challenges and prepare to defend your territory.

In a Relationship Layout the Seven of Wands can indicate a time of great challenge within the relationship. One partner may have to defend their position and justify their actions to the other. (Sounds like when Harry was stealing The Flash’s speed for Zoom.)

When the Seven of Wands appears, it may also be a sign that your relationship is disapproved of by friends and family. (Well Joe didn’t like Harry at first) 

People who identify with the Seven of Wands card have strong convictions and are not afraid to fight for what’s right. A Seven of Wands person is brave, determined, and will not let others stand in their way.

Rihannon warns her or them of overly risky behavior, such a thing as being too self assured. (Sounds like Barry tbh or S2 Wally) 

Judgement wise, Life altering events will inspire the best version of yourself. The idea of choice emphasizes having a clear mind when faced with a difficult decision.

If Judgement represents your character, it means that you are an assertive person and a leader with a clear vision.- Sounds like Harry

Boudicca is the bringer of victory. Teamwork or partnership maybe better then going it alone. 

6. Revelations (key to two adjacent doors: one showing where the Hero descends into darkness to find the light, the other where he/she finds the Adversary’s potentially good or better nature)- 6 of Pentacles R,9 of Wands R,Bridgid (Shadow) & Sirens (Shadow) 

7. Mirror (merges X-factor or sub-plot with both Hero and Adversary; crystallization of self-awareness occurs here)- Strength R,9 of Pentacles,Joan of Arc (Faith) & Lakshmi (Shadow) 

As a person, the Nine of Pentacles generally represents a woman. .She is independent, confident and holds herself with an air of dignity. She appreciates the finer things in life, and doesn’t worry about money — her hard work has afforded her luxury. She takes proper care of herself and spends plenty of time outdoors.

8. Social Consequence (how change manifests in the Hero’s perception of the world at large, or vice versa; a fundamental philosophical transformation has its basis here)- Page of Swords & Yemaya (Hope) 

The Page of Swords asks you to be honest and fair in your dealings with others. Try to accept others’ points of view, without judging them harshly or condemning them. If you have made a mistake, or said or done something you shouldn’t, then now is the time to take responsibility for it by owning up to it. People will admire and respect you for your honesty.  Likewise, if you have discovered deceit, underhand behavior, injustice or corruption, don’t just turn a blind eye to it.  Do something about it by exposing it. Do the right thing by everyone and be the good guy in this situation.

9. Hero’s refined goal(s) or driving force- Knight of Pentacles & Qetesh (Shadow) 

10. Second Conflict- 2 of Cups R & Aphrodite (Shadow) (Probably representing the many quarrels Renee and Harry get into,in the beginning of their relationship and then when Harry leaves for Earth 2,more then once. )

11. Resolution(s)- 10 of Cups,4 of Wands R,Bast (Shadow) & Isis (Protection) 

1. Ace of Wands with South Node-Life's Debts with Queen of Swords (Renee) with Libra,5 of Cups and Grand Cross-Provoker.  2. Knight of Pentacles & Aries 3. Venus & The Emperor 4. 2 of Pentacles and Air-Communicating 5. The Moon & The 6th house-Routine 6. 4 of wands R & Aquarius (Eobard in Mercury)  7. Yod Destiny & Queen of Pentacles R 8. Saturn & 2 of wands R 9. Cancer & King of Pentacles (Eobard) with 7th House-partners and 2 of swords R.

[chaosintheavenue]

Chaos's Fallout OC Timeline: Part 2

Part 1 is here. It gets heavy in places, so please heed the warnings!

This entry in the timeline is 99% focused on Charlie. Again, it became long, so there's going to be a part 3...

Warning: Contains mentions of death (including child death), violence, alcohol and drug use, and general Caesar’s Legion unpleasantness

-

-

2279, continued

Charlie walks straight into Cottonwood Cove, unsure how the Legionaries will view her after two years. As she expected deep down, she is captured. She's brought before Caesar, who reacts emotionlessly to the news of Chel's death. Charlie is told that she is permitted back into the Fort, but is on very thin ice, and can come and go as she pleases once she's in a more stable state

She spends a few weeks with her mother trying to keep them both busy, but she can't reconcile what she now knows about the Legion's atrocities and the world outside with her happy-ish childhood memories, so she decides that her only shot at a decent future is to leave again

...Only to be told that Caesar has ordered that she stays put when she tries to walk out of the gate. She waits until nightfall and makes a break for it just like she did with Chel. She successfully gets outside of the fence, but is still on the Arizona side of the river, and there are a lot of Lakelurks hanging around on the banks. She decides to play it safe and cross the river at the level of Cottonwood Cove just in case

...Buuut the people stationed there have already been alerted that she's trying to escape. She's captured and taken to Caesar a second time. Unexpectedly, he acknowledges her intelligence and stealth abilities, and the two eventually agree on a deal in which she is allowed out to assist the Frumentarii (stationed in the Legion safehouse) with recon operations

She starts training for her new role under a (so far unnamed, but I'm hoping she might spring into existence as a main 'cast member' one day!) young woman who is a fully-fledged Frumentarius in her own right. Charlie sees the mere existence of her mentor as a challenge to accept, and vows to herself that she will obtain the same position one day

On another note, this mentor also provides her first glimpse into her sexuality. The mentor knows nothing of it, but Charlie has one heck of a crush!

2280

Charlie completes training and starts being allowed out for occasional scouting missions. She constantly oversteps and one-ups her orders in an attempt to win approval, and she starts to be trusted with more advanced work as a result, eventually including the use of disguises. The opinions of her new colleagues are divided: most see it as only natural for Caesar to put every tool available to him to use in the most efficient manner, but some (all of them old-timers who worked under Sid) disapprove of her 'injection' into the unit on their late founder and Commander's behalf

Behind the scenes, she really isn't handling Chel's death well. Her work leads her to become truly intoxicated on both alcohol and chems for the first time in her life, and for a while she regularly consumes both in an attempt to dull the pain. Geminus is set at this point

A LOT happens over the next two years, so I'll have to summarise it even more so than I have been doing up until now, and some happenings might be slightly out of chronological order!

2281

Charlie takes part in a recon mission to Camp Searchlight. Vulpes Inculta uses the information she provided to turn 🏘 into ☢️. Charlie is horrified when she realises what her intel was used for, and feels so guilty and remorseful for the part she played that she approaches the camp in her 'Summer' disguise persona and volunteers to help with the cleanup efforts

A package courier shot in the head near Goodsprings regains consciousness and makes a full recovery. In my canon, I try to keep Courier Six vague, because I almost imagined Charlie as part of the game when I first created her, but at the same time I do picture a specific person when I think of them in her storyline. Another thing I'll quickly say here, because I'm not sure where or even if it will come up in future, is that they go down Yes Man's route

Not too long after, Benny is captured at the Fort, where Charlie happens to currently be staying. She is present in Caesar's tent during his interrogation (he recognises her from the Strip, and since he's about to be killed anyway, she tauntingly informs him just how many times his casino has been infiltrated and used for unscrupulous activities, and how shaky the security is), and is ordered personally by Caesar to go down into the weather station bunker with Courier Six and assist with their mission.  She (correctly) suspects that this is to make sure the job gets done properly, especially since Caesar expects that there might be robots down there and knows how much she despises them (can I get a yeehaw for using OCs to fix personal nitpicks with canon? lol)

Upon returning from the destroyed bunker, Charlie uses her machete to pry the Platinum Chip out of the slot on the console, to keep as a historical object. This makes her realise that she has almost unique access to a lot of information of potential historical importance, and she begins to collect objects and write up accounts of events that she has witnessed or heard about for the benefit of future generations

Courier Six simply walks out, and so Benny gets crucified...

Caesar starts to experience increasingly severe headaches. Charlie notices that the situation is worsening, but holds her tongue

Charlie meets Red in Goodsprings. Red (again, she's not properly developed yet, but may become a main cast member one day) is a frequent traveller originally from the Capital Wasteland, with a BOS leaning faction-wise. She's never passed through the Mojave area before, and Charlie offers to be her guide

The two quickly become friends. Red attends to her business being in the Mojave (what this is isn't fully decided, but it will involve them travelling to both Hidden Valley and the Strip), and Charlie all but kicks her substance habits with a new distraction available in the form of her companion. She does, however, continue to take Mentats for the benefit of her work

2282

Charlie continues to travel with Red, and they have MANY adventures together. Somewhere along the line, Charlie reveals her identity to Red

Caesar's illness develops pretty much as it would in-game. At one point, he goes into a full seizure in Charlie's presence, terrifying her. Despite his attitude towards her, she becomes protective and refuses to leave him, afraid that she's about to lose him too and not knowing what will happen to her with him gone

Red eventually performs the surgery successfully

Right as Red is preparing to leave the Mojave, Charlie hears the Happy Trails broadcast on the radio looking for two more members, and suggests that they sign up. The caravan part plays out as it would in-game, only the attackers are raiders known as the 80s instead of White Legs. Red and Charlie finish off the raiders, and wander deeper into Zion. Surprise surprise- Joshua's not dead, but now she has to tell him that Chel is. The White Leg attack on New Canaan hasn't yet happened, so they simply head back to the Mojave without really getting involved in matters of Zion

Right after they return, Charlie knocks Lucius out with her frying pan! Very luckily for her, he loses enough of his memory that he doesn't remember being in her presence at all that day

New Canaan is destroyed. Violet is among the survivors, but many of my minor OCs and Van Buren adoptees are not...

Red receives word that she's needed in Chicago. Charlie is devastated to see her go, but they keep in touch through letters throughout. She fully immerses herself in her work to combat her returning loneliness, but it's not enough...

2283

Charlie impulsively returns to Zion alone, looking to stay there for a little while. She receives word of the fate of New Canaan, but the facts are a little twisted by the time they reach her. She is horrified beyond description that Caesar allegedly directly ordered the execution of babies, and decides that she can never go back to the Legion

She spends about a month in Zion, then heads east, ultimately trying to reach Red (even though she has no way of knowing where she is at that point...)

...But gets captured by the Legion in Denver, and brought back to an irate Caesar (the return journey takes her to Flagstaff for the first time since she was a child, but in the circumstances, it's not a happy reunion, and she also feels that the streets are 'full of ghosts')

[selfish-swine]

Let’s Talk About Star Fox and Character For a Moment - Part 2: OOC is Serious Business

Continued from here. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, then go do that first! You need context! Anyway, this is a long one.

So that whole big rant I wrote up was really just a preamble to get to something I REALLY wanted to rant about but found myself basically writing two rants to get my point across and needed to split stuff up to establish a reference point for what I’m talking about.

Let’s Talk about the fandom’s universally disliked unfavorite, Star Fox Command on the typical topic of how badly it characterized everyone and derailed things and all that hullabaloo.

Now let’s get somethings clear here. First off, I do NOT think Command is a good game by any stretch, mechanically or narratively. It does screw a lot of shit up. Second of all, I am not saying Command doesn’t derail characters senselessly and deserve pretty much all the ire it’s earned from the fandom.

BUT. Big but here.

It is important to not dismiss all of Command for these mistakes. To start with, for as much Command gets flat out WRONG, it also gets a lot RIGHT. Falco and Fox’s bromance is especially strong in Command, and characters like Slippy (who basically never gets written poorly) are still solid. Pigma also gets some actual emotion to his unceremonious death in Assault as a spooky space ghost, to say nothing of the small implications it gives to Andross’ motivations. Then there are things that were just the result of Command having an honestly shoddy translation job all things considered, which especially pertains to Star Wolf. Panther’s third person self-narrations are a misunderstanding of him speaking in an arrogant manner in the original Japanese, and Leon’s infamous liking of rainbows was meant to be sarcastic - but these are things that can not be conveyed in text in ENGLISH (but can in Japanese). Then there is Wolf, which brings me to the real point I want to get at with this post.

I said before it is important not to dismiss all of Command for these mistakes, but really what I should say is it isn’t fair to dismiss Command for the same mistakes other games did before it, specifically Assault. The big offenders of Command, Fox and Krystal, are just as derailed in Assault (if not moreso in the case of Fox), along with Wolf and to a lesser extent, Peppy, yet no one bats an eye because it suits the fandom’s tastes at large (or at least the English speaking fandom), and that bothers me. Out Of Character writing should not be accepted just because you like the direction it takes, because that is disingenuous to the characters.

Let’s start with Fox. Fox’s archetype (to see why archetypes are important read part 1 you weenie) is that of the charismatic heroic leader. There are some subtle differences between his Western and Japanese depictions, namely his confidence (Japanese Fox is in 64 at least more son-in-his-father’s-shadow than Western Fox, but is no less cheeky or cocksure for it), but the general idea stays the same. This is consistent with Fox in the SNES comic, 64, and Adventures (as well as the Farewell Beloved Falco comic). He meets every challenge head on with confidence he can over come it and his sense of justice is strong, and this is reinforced mechanically as Fox being the player avatar, puts us in direct control of confronting these challenges with confidence and bravado.

Assault Fox lacks any of this. He is bland, boring, robbed of any character he once had. He stammers like a teenager more than he ever did as an actual teenager over the simplest of things, constantly walks into traps and danger in spite of knowing danger is ahead and waiting, routinely makes bad leadership choices by no virtue other than the plot necessitating it, and then at the end of the game acts absolutely unemotional to the supposed death of his mentor figure only to later reveal he knew all along his mentor wasn’t actually dead and was just hiding this from his team. Honestly, I might just need to make another rant dedicated  JUST to WHY and HOW these ideas are detrimental to Fox’s character, but for now I’m going to leave this simple and possibly revisit the topic in greater depth. Either way, Assault Fox is uninteresting and vapid, underreacting to everything despite being previously established as a smart ass quippy hot blooded hero, and that’s terrible. Yet, noone notices or cares, because at least he didn’t break up with Krystal.

Let’s talk about Krystal next. To say she was treated OOC in Assault is honestly to suggest she had a character to begin with, but in all fairness she does have elements of it from Dinosaur Planet and Star Fox Adventures, if broken and disjointed due to her loss of protagonist status. Going back to what I wrote about archetypes, Krystal was, in DP64, completely set up to be an aspiring hero, but when DP64 became SFAd, she lost that narrative importance and was reduced to a Damsel in Distress crossed with a Macguffin Girl, which totally undermined what she had, but as I said there was traces of something still there. She is bold, brash, heroic and full of justice (much like Fox), but also more contemplative and insightful as well. She’s the wise hero to Fox’s action hero, or should have been at any rate.

So what did Assault do? Absolutely rob her of all that and just ram in hard the Love Interest nonsense. Everything about Krystal in Assault revolves around FOX - she has NO agency onto herself anymore, something she even had in Adventures at least at first until she got captured for 90% of the game. Not Assault Krystal, though. Her whole character is defined by her fawning over Fox, worrying over his idiot well being and wanting him to be safe, stammering affectionately like two high school kids who haven’t had their first kiss yet. Yes, she does have some moments free from this nonsense, but those moments are not her DOMINANT portrayal. Even when discussing things with bad boy romantic rival Panther, she focuses on -Fox-. Krystal’s entire character in Assault is dominated by the existence of her love interest.

That is the worst case of “love interest centric” writing you can commit, because when you take the stuff away that doesn’t bear on Fox, you have so little left. I’d honestly consider Command Krystal BETTER than Assault, because her rude angry bitchy self was at least her OWN character and not joined at the hip to Fox. Notice how the cutscene with Fox and Krystal with Tricky, Krystal barely says anything worthwhile to the conversation? It’s all Fox being flustered liked a stupid teenager while Krystal coyishly “teehees” in the background while Tricky hammers in the fact they are romantic interests. No. Agency. But again, no one cares, because its fuel for their ships, amirite?

Now we get to who is in my opinion the worst offender of Assault’s derailing character writing, Wolf. Fox might’ve gone from heroic leader to bland cardboard, but at least he’s still the protagonist. Krystal might’ve been reduced to a vapid love interest, but at least she didn’t have much left to lose to start with. Wolf, though, not only oversteps his boundaries as an archetype, but he PUSHES OUT other characters from their meta narrative roles as well. Wolf is the black hole of Assault’s writing, and he absolutely got away with it because he’s “cool” and “badass”. He is the pinnacle of my point in this rant.

Let’s talk about archetypes again. Wolf’s is that of the eternal rival, the black recolor, the evil counterpart to the hero. His mission is to see Fox undone for the sake of his own ego. In Japan, a little more supplemental information is known, namely that Wolf has a rivalry with the McCloud family name as a whole starting with James, and Fox’s reaction to Wolf’s persistent pursuit is treated more humorously than in the west (namely Fox is subtly dissing Wolf rather than being intimidated by him), but these subtleties do not change the core base that Wolf is an impulsive, rivalry motivated antagonist.

So of course Assault saw fit to.... shift him into a mentor role. This only compounds for the worse when you consider the fact that Wolf only even formed Star Wolf because Pigma manipulated and goaded him into doing it (another Japanese lore tidbit), further cementing that Wolf does not make good wise decisions. He is violent and aggressive and obsessed with his rivalry. Why the HECK is he suddenly giving advice to FOX? Wolf is the WORST person to give advice or take advice from, he is literally Mr. Bad Decisions, but Assault’s writers saw fit to absolutely change his entire persona from an aggressive archrival to a quasi-antihero cool guy big brother-esque mentor... and Fox doesn’t even remark on it! (Another mark for Fox being OOC I suppose).

Worst of all though isn’t the damage this does to Wolf, but rather, to Peppy! Wolf becoming the mentor effectively butts him into Peppy’s meta narrative role, and he essentially replaces him for it. This isn’t to say Star Fox characters can’t develop and shift around and change, but Wolf doesn’t DEVELOP into a mentor, nor does Peppy develop BEYOND it. Wolf just usurps it from Peppy and proceeds as usual. Good character writing is finding how to fit a character into a story - that is, finding a role they fit into and working from there. This is why so many fan OCs fail - they don’t fit into a role, they usurp from canon characters. One need only look at all the Star Wolf OCs that exist purely to replace “uncool” characters like Pigma or Andrew and see the flaws. When you write to replace another character, you aren’t writing true to that character, you are shackling and chaining them down to the one they are replacing. This is what Wolf does in Assault: he is sloppily mischaracterized, and then because of that, he butts into another character’s writing space.

And once more, the fandom at large did not notice or care, because Wolf is “cool”, “badass”, et cetera. This is my beef. This is my issue. So I leave you with what I said at the start of this rant: do NOT just accept changes to a character because it placates you superficially. THINK about what roles it is a character serves and why, and respect that. Don’t just blindly complain about character derailment just when it suits you because you don’t like the change personally, or because it fucks with your ships. Press yourself to be better than that.