#i really have no idea who to romance her with

[nightblackowlbat]

She came to him in a dream.

Who you may ask? His future wife. His queen.

Preparation for the ball:

"Is this really necessary?" Jazz asked, picking at the skirts of her teal dress. With the layers of silk gossamer and ribbons woven through her hair, she looked like some sort of fairy princess. "It feels very... disingenuous. And manipulative."

Ghost Writer tsk'ed. "No more manipulative than catering any argument for your audience. As I told you, the candidate for regency is a fan of romance novels. This plan is already fantastical, it is bound to work if we appeal to his tastes. Besides, you'll fit right in to the dream Nocturne has planned."

Jazz huffed. "That's another thing! It's a total invasion of privacy, breaking into his dream like this."

"Dreams are MY domain, girl." Nocturne scoffed. "It is hardly breaking and entering if it is mine to begin with."

Danny saw Jazz was opening her mouth to start a moral debate with the ghost of dreams and decided to cut in.

"Jazz, c'mon. This guy is a crime lord, and I know-" he raised his voice to preemptively cut her protest off, "-that doesn't mean he's entitled to any less consideration. But he's dangerous. I already don't like that we're considering this plan over just having Clocky age me up."

"You deserve to have the rest of your childhood Dany!"

"And you deserve to not adopt me and marry a stranger! I'm just saying, Jazz, you can't just go up to a criminal known for decapitation and tell him his half-dead status makes him eligible to temporarily rule the kingdom of the dead! You know bringing up someone's death is touchy, and we have no idea how familiar he even is with the supernatural!"

Danny shouted.

"At least in a dream the suspension of disbelief will make him more likely to hear you out. At least in a dream he can't hurt you. In a dream if it turns out he's shitty you can leave and he'll never know because he'll think that it's just a dream! I know you have moral concerns, Jazz because you're a good person. But I'm not letting you do this first meeting in person."

"Oh Danny." Jazz sighed, pulling her little brother into a hug. "I know. And I already agreed to all this. You know I just get nitpicky when I'm nervous."

"You don't have to do this." Danny grumbled into her shoulder.

"I want to, little brother. I want to. Besides, Red Hood isn't the only one who likes romance novels." Jazz said for the sole purpose of eliciting a groan from Danny. It worked. She let go and ruffled his hair. "Alright. Let's go propose marriage to the man of my dreams!"

Danny groaned louder.

The Ball:

Soft music filled the air, the ballroom bathed in the warm glow of golden flower lights. Jason watched the masked dancers circle their partners on the floor. His own domino mask hugged his face like a second skin, familiar as an old glove.

"Sir Red Hood?"

Jason was startled at the approach of a dazzling red-haired woman in a gown of teals and turquoise as clear as the Caribbean sea. Her expression was open, tinted with nerves, determination shining behind her eyes- Jason felt his face flush at the realization that she wasn't wearing a mask. It was a masquerade, it felt indecent.

"May I have this dance?" She asked.

"Isn't that supposed to be my line?" Jason croaked, then immediately wanted to hit himself as her face twitched in irritation. "I mean- yes! Of course, you can have anything you want. You can ask me to dance! Women can ask men to dance. That's perfectly fine! I'm not- I, just."

God, Jason wanted to sink into the floor in mortification.

Luckily his fumbling seemed to endear the lady rather than chase her off. Her lips quirked with amusement and her eyes crinkled with mirth. She held out a hand. "Well, then, Red Hood. Shall we?"

He took it. "Call me Jason, my lady. My name is Jason Todd. May I have the honor of knowing yours?" Jason thought he did pretty well with that, managing to sound smooth and not at all oafish. That sentiment died a quick death as he saw her look at him askance.

"I'm Jazz- Jasmine Fenton. But Red Hood, you didn't have to tell me your name! It's why we're at a masquerade!" She pursed her lips and shook her head. "I'm sorry, I'll do my best to forget it."

Jasmine took the opportunity of his baffled confusion to pull him further onto the dance floor, drawing him into a waltz.

"You don't want to know my name?" Jason finally got out, hoping he hid the slight hurt from his voice.

"I want a great deal more than your name, Red Hood, but only when you are capable of consenting to give it to me."

"What do you want then?" Jason asked, disappointed. Of course a beautiful women wouldn't just want to dance with him for the sake of it. Obviously not. What was he thinking?

Jasmine bit her lip, deep in thought. "Gosh, where do I even begin? I need- I..." She sighed. "Okay. This is the situation. My little brother has won the throne of a kingdom he is too young to rule. We are in need of a reagent with certain... qualifications. In all the realms there are only two who would qualify."

"And I'm one of them?" Jason filled in dubiously.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Why can't you do it?"

Jasmine hesitated. "I am not... of the kingdom yet."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "What kingdom did you say this was again?"

She gulped, but stared into his eyes. "The kingdom of the dead."

Jason stopped dancing. The lights of the ballroom turned to sickly green. He dropped her hand as if burned. "I'm. Not. Dead." He growled.

"No, no, of course not." She hurried to reassure. Then, "You're half ghost, there's a difference."

Jasmine seemed to realize this was not the right thing to say as the green flared and ichor began oozing down the walls. Echoes of maniacal laughter and ticking rumbled the hall.

Looking around at the mess, she grimaced. "...Aaaand, you're severely poisoned. Great. I mean, don't get me wrong, you're also just super traumatized for sure, but all this gunk is definitely impeding your healing. We'll have to book you an appointment with Frostbite."

Jason could barely hear her as the laughter got closer. There was a jester The Joker in front of him, juggling club crowbar in hand.

"Well, well, well. Looks like the little birdie came back wrong after all!"

Jason was frozen as the Joker leaned into his space. "No wonder daddy dearest didn't fight for you! After all, who could love a corpse!"

"Okay, that's enough of that." A well manicured hand grabbed a fist-full of the Joker's green hair to slam him face-first into a wall. Again. And again. And again.

Once a sizable crater was dented into the wall and Joker's face was a mess of blood, Jazz picked the clown up by his collar and began swinging him over her head helicopter style, only letting go once she'd built up sufficient speed to launch him into the stratosphere.

Jasmine wiped her hands together and looked back at him, sheepish. "Sorry about that, I really should have been more tactful when bringing up something potentially triggering-"

Jason got down on one knee. "Please marry me!"

"O-Oh!" Jazz gaped down at him, a bright flush overtaking her face. "Really? I mean, yes- that was the idea. It doesn't have to be permanent of course, just until Danny is of age- we can work out the details in person when you're awake. How does midnight Saturday at the Batburger by crime alley sound?"

"What?"

"Midnight. Saturday. Batburger. Meet me there and we can talk about your proposal. Sleep well, handsome."

Danny is the rightful Ghost King, but since he's not of age he needs a regent who is a) his species, b) his family, and c) an adult. The only adult haftas are Vlad or this Red Hood guy from Gotham that he's never heard of. Since Vlad is not going to happen looks like it's Red Hood, now how to make the guy count as family...

Jason has had a lot of weird shit happen to him over the years but a woman tracking him down as Red Hood to propose a temporary political marriage so he can be regent of a death dimension until her brother is old enough to rule in his own name is a new one for him. Of course he accepted. The only other option was apparently a creepy uncle figure. He's read enough romance to know a forced marriage of a woman to her creepy uncle never ends well. A forced marriage of a woman to a crime lord doesn't usually end much better, but he's ignoring that for now. He's going to woo and romance his spit fire of a wife with respect, spontaneous poetry, his damn good cooking, and by not being a Darcy. And he is going to rock not just this whole regent thing, but also and more importantly the mentoring her brother and his new ward on how to rule this dimension. Competence is always attractive. He runs a tight ship in his crime empire, surely running a dimension can't be that much harder.

He actually already has a plan on how he's going to handle the whole 'The USA declared war on the dimension he's regent of' thing. It's simple really he goes to the next family dinner and causes chaos. The faces everyone will make will be glorious when he drops that he's lord regent of a dimension, the USA is at war with his dimension, and it's such a shame that no one can meet Jason's wife or ward till there is a peace treaty. Then he just needs to sit back and watch the entertainment as his siblings realize he has forever won the position of favorite child by being the first married and first to give Bruce a grandkid. Also you know the chaos of Bruce willing to wage a one man war if necessary so he can meet his grandson. Jason figures it will take at most a month for the government to cave.

And like a cherry on top he's going to get on a medical treatment plan for the pit. Everything is looking great for him.

[vacz]

"Who are you looking at?" Bad End Friends (Comic)

I've spent all day trying to finish this comic! AHHHHH

So I present you an idea of a ship... Hunter x Ice Finn

"Why?" Well, if we think in the fact that in Adventure time's multiverse all the versions of Finn always ends up having a romantic relationship with a version of Huntress Wizard, and we take Bad End Friends as a canon alternative timeline where Finn didn't destroy Ice Finn's crown and so he later joined Bipper, how would Farmworld!Finn ends up with his version of Huntress Wizard as Ice Finn? Well the answer is simple: He doesn't end up with directly another version of her but someone who is similar to her... And guess who is more similar to Huntress Wizard?

That's right! Hun- Beast Wirt. I personally think Beast Wirt has actually more similarities with her since they both are like spirits of the forest who almost have the same personality, HOWEVER, I think Hunter and Ice Finn would have more CHEMISTRY and let me explain why:

They both are insane, they MATCH THEIR FREAK.

Ice Finn wouldn't be weird out for Hunter's appearance at all, like he did with the Lich, so Ice Finn would judge him according to his action and god- he gets it, At first he would hate him because Hunter is literally chopping people! But after getting an explanation of why he does this, Ice Finn would sympathize with the feeling of "wanting to protect your family" and want to help Hunter with his brother. Ice Finn proposed to Wirt the chance to save lives without having to change that much, and Hunter couldn't resist it, he could finally do something good for humanity! Maybe he could even redeem himself!

IT'S A KING AND KNIGHT DYNAMIC WITH SOME TONES OF PANTHERS IN CRIME

Hunter would watch around for people, and if he finds them then he should bring them to Ice Finn so he could freeze them. However, most of the time he spent it around Ice Finn himself, sometimes helping him with spells or other stuff like cooking, and other times just hanging around together. Their relationship is more equal than it seems, Hunter is just as enthusiastic as Ice Finn in saving lifes the way they do, Ice Finn constant joy and quick reactions are like fresh air for Hunter, who misses some real emotion in life, while Ice Finn has someone who actually cares about his safety and it's not manipulating him for his own selfish desires. Hunter loves Ice Finn's madness because it is a constant of movement, life and joy! While Finn isn't weird out at all by Hunter's more creepier madness, and actually finds him pretty cool and charming. They both don't judge each other and they are openly crazy together

Hunter is normally submissive, and has a craving for love to the point that he could fall really HARD for someone who shows him affection, of course Hunter would be protective and very jealous if someone tries something with Ice Finn, he thinks Finn as one of his more precious properties so Hunter would not let go this guy. Ice Finn is not innocent either, he was the one who kidnapped Hunter in the first place, Ice Finn makes him sleep on a cage even, you can say he also sees Hunter as a pet, one he loves so much but a thing at least...

However, even if they have these things that for normal people would be very toxic, for them is living a romance, a strange and delusional romance, where both souls lost deep in madness find each other to be their own guide though the black ocean of insanity

So tell me your opinion, I hope you guys like it! ^^

[knightyoomyoui]

Rather Be

ft. TWICE's Jeongyeon (x Male Reader)

TYPE: Fluff, Angst GENRE: Romance, Drama, Slice Of Life REQUESTED BY: anon who asked for this: "Hi knight-nim, glad that you are back and lookong forward to your fics. Is it possible to request a Jeongyeon slice of life as an idol fluff fic about how she navigates her love life especially during her hiatus era and her comeback and her new youtube shows. I am a sucker for fluff with a tinge of angst and a supportive couple. Thank you." I hope you liked what I made for you and hopefully it reached your expectations!

WORD COUNT: 7083 ADDITIONAL NOTE: This might be one of my favorite fics I've made. I've enjoyed writing this a lot (which is why I exceeded to my 3k word limit) and I think I really went deep onto their personalities here. Probably because most of the dialogues here was like these were all I would like to express to Jeongyeon personally. Love my bias!

DONATE OR REQUEST FOR COMMISSION HERE: https://ko-fi.com/knightyoomyoui ===000=== An unexpected and saddening news was released right during the month of October which was TWICE’s 5th anniversary since their debut and the hype as well for the release of their upcoming 2nd full album titled ‘Eyes Wide Open’. It is said on the link that was posted by the agency itself JYP Entertainment that Jeongyeon, one of the members of the said group is suffering both from a severe anxiety attack and a herniated disc injury on her neck. This requires her to be on hiatus for an indefinite period of time, resulting for her to be pulled from the promotions of their album including their live celebration of their anniversary on YouTube.

The conditions were mutually agreed both from JYPE and TWICE, especially to Jeongyeon who is the most affected here. After the announcement was posted, it spreaded through the K-Media articles as well as globally for all of the ONCEs to see. The fans were disheartened from the idea of how Jeongyeon is suffering right now and disappointed of the unfortunate timing it occurred. Without any choice, the fans had to express their thoughtful and caring messages for Jeongyeon’s speedy recovery while others combined it with criticizing the agency for another mistreatment of their idols. Jeongyeon saw everything in the social media.. Despite the heartwarming messages being sent to her by ONCEs, the quivering feeling inside of her cannot be shaken away of what her current unstable state has been caused. Remembering what the doctor have said to her that the primary thing for her to do on beginning her recovery is to keep her distance away from the public and take some time-off she needed for herself. The burden of stress and guilt taking an effect of her led to Jeongyeon deciding that she wants to retreat back on her hometown of Suwon. She informed her sister Seungyeon about this and immediately accepted. However, she mentioned that she’ll be only taking her there and won’t be much in around as she is in a middle of filming a new series, but she promised that she’ll visit from time to time as long as she can monitor how she’s been doing. Touched by her sister’s love for her, she is determined now to depart temporarily from attracting an attention to the flashing cameras, public’s eyes, and the relentless pressure of the industry putting her on.

===OOO===

It’s a 30 minute drive from Seoul to Suwon. Before packing her belongings and drive away with Seungyeon and her recently bought car, she said goodbye to the girls and thanking the staffs including JYP himself for allowing her to take a break, in which it was done with pure intention as they believe everybody deserves to be and nobody should sacrifice their lives for exhaustion. She saw the signage that says she’s near now to her destination, Jeongyeon couldn’t help but to atleast crack a smile for a little, as she couldn’t hide her excitement to relive the nostalgia she had on that place. Now arriving to the province, Seungyeon parked the car to the familiar placed standing still and looking just as great as the last time they left here to pursue the best of their careers. They unloaded her things and approached the house where they were greeted by Yoo’s longtime helper Mrs. Song. She was stunned to see two women who were once little to her eyes, now a fully grown up and looking prettier than ever. “Hi, Mrs. Song.”

“Oh my Jeongyeon and Seungyeon-ah, it’s been a long time since you two went here!” Mrs. Song went to hug them both in which they giggled in response. “Look at you two looking like a grown-up women now, it has been a while isn’t it? Last time we’ve been together, I had to babysit you two and keep your playfulness in control.” All of them laughed at that memory. “We missed you too, Mrs. Song. We apologize if it only had come to this where we have to go back here. It’s busy out there in the city and… it’s an urgent matter.” Mrs. Song nodded, as she understood what Seungyeon is referring, which was their phone call last night. “I get it, and I can’t demand selfishly.” Her expression shifted into a softer one, turning her attention to Jeongyeon who is looking exactly as what she’s expected. “What did they do to you there, hmm? I heard what happened to you, Jeongyeon-ah. Have you’ve been tiring yourself too much on your work?” She held Jeongyeon’s hands which began to tremble. Meeting her eyes, she was shocked and devastated to see her the younger Yoo cry in her grasp.

“Aigoo, they’ve been too harsh on you.” Mrs. Song quickly hugged Jeongyeon into comfort. Seungyeon witnessing this scene tugs her heart and at the same time feeling sorry for her sister. “Don’t worry, I will take care of you here, okay? Enjoy your stay here, forget all of those you left behind for a while. This is about you that you have to be focused on first and they can’t stop you for it. Okay?” Jeongyeon nodded and answered in a muffled sobbing tone. “Yes, ahjussi.” z

“Ssshhh, save your tears, my Jeongie. Let’s take it here inside and continue. Here, let me help you two grab your things to your rooms.” Mrs. Song said as she rubbed Jeongyeon’s back before letting go and went through the luggages. ===OOO=== After an hour of reliving the old memories and catching up the lost times with their beloved helper, Seungyeon regrettably informed her that she has to go now for her schedule. Mrs. Song wished her goodbye and a safe trip back in Seoul while repeating what she advised to her in relation to Jeongyeon’s situation. Seungyeon keep it in mind and hugged Mrs. Song in gratitude. Jeongyeon stepped near at the car and watched her sister enter. Rolling down the window, she peeked at her vulnerable younger sister and aims to set some reminders. “Call me anytime if you need me, okay? Keep me updated on how you’re doing, you know I’ll always be concerned of you, especially mom and dad. Got it?” “Alright.” Jeongyeon nodded. “Have to go now, bye and love you!” “Love you too, noona.” Jeongyeon waved her hand and slightly smiled for her sister as she watched the car start to move and disappear through the distance. Mrs. Song smiled at the interaction of the two from the balcony before calling Jeongyeon. “Jeongyeon-ah, let’s go. I could take some help on the kitchen for our lunch.” “Okay, Mrs. Song!” Jeongyeon responded after rotating her body to face her. She entered the house and locked the gate. ===OOO=== The next day, Jeongyeon began to list down the things she wanted to do, motivated to heal and put herself back together again. Now convinced and contented on her procedure of self-therapy she arranged, she didn’t waste any more time to check them off the list. She started by reconnecting with some old friends in which they welcomed them back with open arms and offered assistance to her especially after what they have learned of her current struggles that brought her back to Suwon. Jeongyeon appreciated it and gladly granted them. She also went to revisit some of the places she has been since she was a child and other places where it was added during the length of time they departed to Seoul. She made sure to capture everything and add it to her gallery to compile once she feel like reminiscing again and see the progress of her hiatus.

She was also joined by Mrs. Song on exploring some new activities to discover and probably consider it to be added on her new hobbies. She was taught on how to paint to canvas, forming a clay pot, baking a cake, gardening and others that will surely gain her peace and relaxation that she craves to have. The past 5 days has been awesome for Jeongyeon. Despite the conflict both on her mental and emotional well-being, she is constantly attempting to fight through all these now that she is encouraged to do so with the continuous addition of everything and everything she loves back into her life. Which now then leads to this one particular moment when she was walking through the seashore in barefoot, wanting to feel the sand along with the splashes of the water and the breeze of cold air hitting her skin, her hair and dress flowing freely through the direction of the wind. Jeongyeon was so focused on viewing the emerging sunset from the sky when she was distracted by an accidental bump to someone. Her body flinched and got alerted at the impact that they both took. Believing that it’s her fault for being too oblivious and clumsy, she checked on the guy who abruptly fixed his camera and wiped it lenses. She noticed that it was a photographer she had just collided with. “I’m really really sorry, mister. I didn’t saw where I was heading towards at, I was looking at the sunset.” She apologized deeply to the guy who is bowing in front of her, still on aiding his camera. “No problem, just try to be careful next time.” The guy said. “But… how about your camera? Is it okay? I can pay for it if-” “No, you don’t need to. It didn’t had any cracks or whatsoever.” He began to straighten his posture after wiping the lenses with his shirt. “I’m really sorry again-” As their eyes met, both Jeongyeon and the guy couldn’t believe what faces they were seeing so closely. Both were in denial, but as further close inspections and such, they have confirmed each that it’s really who they think they actually are.

“J-jeongyeon?!” “Y-YN, right?” They’ve been greeted themselves by another familiar person that they’ve gotten closer with during their time here in Suwon. Jeongyeon and YN are staring at their former high school classmate. However, for YN only; it means more than just that which the latter doesn’t know at all. “W-what are you doing here? When you have been in here?” YN asked Jeongyeon, highly confused. “I’ve been here for 5 days now.” Jeongyeon answered. “I thought you are now in Seoul, like you know… being an idol. Are you for work as well?” “No, I’m not currently active in work right now.” Jeongyeon. “Actually, I just returned here to have a vacation, you know…. Take some time off.” “Ahh… well if that so, well uhh hi. Welcome back and… long time no see isn’t it?” “Yeah… how long it has been?”

“8 years I guess, or maybe more than that.” “That’s pretty damn long indeed.” They both chuckled. “Wow uhh, really I really didn’t expect that you’ll visit here again, seriously.” “Me as well, but I realize that I did needed this to you know…  take a break through everything.” “Why? Is something wrong going out there? Are they not doing well for you?” Jeongyeon remained silent and frowned. YN received the imaginary answer and an idea formed in his mind to create a necessary action to it. Meeting again this woman that made an immense effect to him since back to when they were younger, he don’t want the time to be ruined because of the ongoing suffering she must’ve been containing within herself, simply because of looking back at the numerous times that Jeongyeon made his days complete.

Determined to help her, he spoke cautiously at her. “Would you want someone to talk with and listen to whatever that’s bothering in your mind? Deep talks about life and some stuffs.  I’m available.” Jeongyeon looks at him and agreed to his invitation. “You sure it’ll be fine to you?” “Absolutely, why not? Especially when people needs to have a company to share things they haven’t been able to release. And it seems to be you right now sooo… as a friend, I’m willing to be the one by your side for that. Also, I’m just capturing the shore anyways so I’m not bothered.” “O-okay.”

“Where do you want us to talk? I suggest for us to remain here, Would it be perfect to do it in  a perfect scenery like this?” “Yeah, this would do.”

Jeongyeon and YN sat together in the sand, facing the waters and surrounded by the sound of nature that is effectively providing Jeongyeon the peace she has been searching for. YN lets Jeongyeon initiate to begin their conversation, starting off with detailing how is her life doing rn in Seoul and what happened in the middle of her successful career of being an idol that made her end up in the place where it all began for her.

“So… what brought you here in Suwon? Are you longing for your memories you’ve made here, chasing for solace, or… other than that?” “I’m here to rebuild myself on my own. I mean, I have my personal therapist to aid me but… I want atleast contribute something on the process of healing by myself. To feel that I can somehow… help myself in my own ways and value what I have become for the better.”

“Therapist?”

“I’ve been taking treatments, both physically and psychologically. Well, because of what happened to me. I got an anxiety disorder right when we’re on the road to preparing for our comeback and our group’s anniversary as well.” Jeongyeon’s voice starts to shake, holding her impending emotions.

“Oh god, I’m sorry about that Jeong.” YN became speechless as he watches Jeongyeon making her fragile self in notice in front of him. He couldn’t imagine that she has to reach this stage of her life where she grew to risk her emotional health in shambles to the point that not just a single simplest comfort would be enough for her to recover. “Tell me more about it. Why did you ended up being very anxious and just everything that stirs up inside of you? Were you being pressured in your work?” “Guess you can say so.” Jeongyeon tilted her head, now hugging her knees as she stares at the sea in deep thoughts. “I’ve always regarded myself as the least popular member of TWICE and I get that. It makes me believe that I just don’t do something that interest the fans to like me as much as the rest. Maybe I’m just not that talented or possess a likeable personality unlike my co-members. A boring person, if that’s how I can put it.” “But I admit, just because I believe that I am like that doesn’t mean I just want to be that way and have no any plans to change who I should be. It hurts me still, deep inside I want to prove that i’m not who they think I am, that I know I can still improve and show them that I’m just as the same level and feel like I deserve to be in TWICE.” “So I began to work my ass as much as I could. Every day I would spend my entire day just singing and dancing our choreo for More and More -it’s a song we released this year- in our company. I was so eager to cure this sickness of me always forgetting the choreo and try to find the spots where I think I lack at until… I didn’t think of the consequences anymore. All I wanted is to give what I got that this industry requires me to be.” “Then what happened?” “One day, while I was dancing together with the members, I felt a stinging pain on the back of my neck after we did like a move that requires our head to spin. Since we do numerous takes, we have to do it again and again. I was just so tired at that moment and when I felt that I just neverminded it for a while, but when I got to rest for minutes… and it proceeded to worsen starting on the next morning after I woke up.” “At that moment I just know this will be bad, so I kept it within myself as to not make my members and the staffs worry too much that may disrupt our preparation for the comeback. Thankfully it didn’t, but it started to distract me a lot when we also have to rehearse too for our virtual concert with ONCEs. My neck hurts a lot whenever I move, to the point that I was crying it out when I got to be alone, for no one else to see.” “Until one day, it couldn’t be helped, I was accidentally caught by our eldest member and my bestfriend Nayeon holding my neck. She scolded me when i revealed to her that i’m in so much pain and I’m keeping this to anybody for the sake of our project. Then, she advised me to report it to our company’s medical partners and… it was shown that I have a neck injury called herniated disc. It’s simply a dislocated disc on the weakened part connected to my spine.” “After that, my worries and fears increased about the possibilities of what this may cause my group’s activities and to what I worked hard for. You know, I always have this weird sense that I… can call it if there’s gonna be a trouble.”

“And… it came true?” Jeongyeon nodded, her tears now began to flow in her face. “I was diagnosed with anxiety attack as well when they did checkups on me. They have decided to put me into hiatus in which they had to receive my approval first for consent. As much as I don’t want to, seeing the members suffer more because of how stubborn I am made me surrender for good. I told them okay, and they did the announcement, and yeah, it sucks that i didn’t had to last long for me to promote our new album and join them on the celebration. I was supposed to be there with them today but… it’s just too much for me to handle.” she sobbed harder. “And now I’m here in Suwon to step away from being the center of attention because of condition, I don’t want to distract them too much from our album’s promotion. I listened to what my doctor said, because I couldn’t contain this feeling of of disappointment I just gave to myself and the fans who were still there to support me. I always let them down, YN. I’m trying so hard to forget them, distracting myself or taking my meds but I rather just end up costing me with insomnias at night or have a panic attack. I’m just scared at the thought that maybe I should not perform again due to how insufferable and failure I’ve become.” Jeongyeon continues to pour our her exhaustion and pain from going through all of these challenges she had to encounter in the peak of her career. Her sobs became louder and her body shivers both from the cold temperature and the amount of crying she’s having.

Meanwhile, YN sinks everything that Jeongyeon shared and it ached him imagining how much she sacrificed before her body gave up on her. He just watch Jeongyeon become emotional in pity which immiedately making an impact to him as well. Not only because of her hardships or her being a friend that had to be in that scenario… but especially with the fact that this is woman she loves that he had to learn she was struggling in her life despite being successful.

And he wasn’t there for him to guide and support her in all of these. Snapping back onto reality, he founds himself to be sitting inches close beside to Jeongyeon. He may have not been able to do what he wanted but now that he has the opportunity placed for him at this time, at this very moment, he knows there’s only way to make things right. He’ll be one to pick her up when she’s down. Jeongyeon felt warmth around her body. Opening her eyes, she saw YN embracing him to the side, trying to ease her emotions. She appreciated the gesture and she actually like how gentle and safe it makes her feel. “I know what you feel, Jeongyeon. Afraid that everything you’ve poured a lot of effort and strategies just to ensure that you’ll reach expectations and requirements just so you won’t lose the purpose of what you have. I know because I’ve been there, but the opposite is that I relate because I actually lose what I wanted to have unlike you who already grabbed it.” YN proceeds to share his own story that might motivate Jeongyeon. “You know I always dreamt of becoming a songwriter right? Back when we were in high school you’ve seen me tried to compose or write my own songs and some went well. I just didn’t have like enough equipments to give it more life, only the guitar that my dad has given to me would do the bare minimum.” “Well… unfortunately that dream had to die, after all I’ve done just to prepare myself to enter college with Fine Arts in Music or offer somebody to get my song. Nobody liked it, and coincidentally I happen to look for more money when my father became sick with diabetes. We didn’t had enough money to give him continuous treatment and medicines. I did try to perform everywhere, I do receiving some but still not enough. Then it made me understand it all too well that this may not for me when my mother happens to be granted by my aunt in States a business to build.” “You see that cafe that was closed there? That’s ours by the way.” YN said, pointing at the particular spot. “Really?” “Yeah. I made it official and clear that I have to give up my dreams through the pressure and desperation to make ourselves stable in life and to treat my dad. Fortunately, he’s been keeping up really well these days. Me and my mom are still working hard to run the cafe. So yeah, what I can only say about your side is that don’t let your dream end just because you don’t satisfy and fulfill what the people wants from you. We are bound to make mistakes and we can’t always satisfy ungratefulness. I mean, there’s always a time, just trust the process without any rush. 

And why give up when you’re at the stage of your career where you have it all? It depresses me already to give up something I want to achieve, what’s more for you?  Just because of them? Jeongyeon, those people aren’t your fans if that’s the case. You’ve spent all those years giving everything to the world. If you feel anxious that you agreed to take the hiatus, well damn them because you deserved it. It’s completely okay to give something back to yourself, and if you’ve been giving everything to the world that you weren’t been able to do that, and they still don’t like you for it, then they don’t deserve you. Jeongyeon, the real fans who loves you don’t just wait for you to come back as an idol. They wait for you to comeback as the best version of yourself.”

Jeongyeon couldn’t help but to shed some tears again because of your uplifting words you have in store for her. Your whisper and mellow tone of speaking it close to her ears is make her feel light around your arms. “Your anxiety manifested because of overthinking yourself to enhance your image as a member of TWICE. But… your worth shouldn’t be measure just by how you should perfectly perform on stage. You’re already enough just by being you. I know you want to improve, but don’t let it be driven by criticisms and insecurities. Jeongyeon, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone. You don’t owe the world often a fantastic performance. We are bound to have our limits, and I suggest that you do what you do because you love it not because people out there expect you to be.”

That concluded YN’s advice for her. Jeongyeon assured that she’ll apply it within herself because she didn’t want to make your well-spoken thoughtfulness be wasted for nothing. She is so overwhelmed that she’s to one you’ve expressing that amount of care you can develop and protect for the people that you’re close with.

Only if she knows the wider aspect of that which urged you to do what has to be done. “Thank you, YN. I am pleased, so much with your kindness.” Jeongyeon mumbled into your shoulder, her soft voice hitting your heart. “It made me miss you a lot.” “I-I missed you too, Jeongyeon. That’s why.” YN almost went stuttering as he blushes intensely at Jeongyeon’s confirming her longing for your presence. Both of them went silent as they enjoy the night with them unbothered that they’re still within each other’s embrace, in their minds motivated to do the right thing that benefits each of them.

===OOO===

Beng a man of his words, YN’s proposal to guide Jeongyeon on rebuilding her confidence and get her back on the right track began the next day. Mrs. Song who learned about the encounter Jeongyeon had to his former classmate and friend and surprised her with the most important and reliable advice she needed right now was happy to see that it made Jeongyeon to look on the positive side. That’s why when she excused herself again to her parents to meet him at the designated place, they didn’t hesitate to do so, for the sake of her happiness.

Jeongyeon went to YN’s cafe and they began chatting, this time about random stuffs about their lives that happened during those years when they separate ways. YN discovered that Jeongyeon is currently learning how to brew different types of coffee, an idea popped in his mind after realizing the perfect timing. He offered Jeongyeon an additional tutorial with him and even a part-time job for her to pass some free time on, in which Jeongyeon who was first shy and shocked at the offer, accepted it afterwards.

Week after week as Jeongyeon’s bond with YN lasts through the journey of her reigniting the joy of reality becoming an idol without the pressure, their friendship deepens into something more. Jeongyeon showcasing her talent and him allowing to play the guitar for her after a long time of quitting suddenly reminds him of why he loved music. He was helping Jeongyeon to become a tough idol to handle the public in reception to her performance, yet it also created a strong effect in his soul to carry that creative passion that he once had for music.

That one night, as YN and Jeongyeon rode a bicycle together after closing the cafe, they were sharing laughters and remarks through their random conversation. As they suddenly brought up those times when they were in high school together, something inside YN made him bravely admitted something that he’s been keeping for very long. Maybe it’s due to the fact he’s trying to sweep aside that Jeongyeon is scheduled to return in 2 days back to Seoul to meet her therapist regularly. “Jeongyeon, can I be honest with you? I… I just thought nobody has even mentioned this to you from one of the people you’ve met during your pre-debut days. Or probably there is but they haven’t got the chance to say it, so I’ll do them the favor.”

“Hmm? Which is what?” “I already knew you’ll be a very famous idol someday.” YN said with a smile. “In fact, I hoped and prayed for this and it happened. I’m even glad that I appeared out of nowhere around of you to see that it did, and… I’m just so happy for you, really.” “Come on YN why are you being like this?” Jeongyeon whined playfully. “I’m about to sleep when I reach home, I don’t want to burn my eyes with tears again.” “Sorry, I just… wanted to release it, you know. I’m taking all the chances tonight and definitely tomorrow before you uh… leave. Again..” His chuckle slowly died in the end. “But thank you for that. You were right, I mean there’s others who have told me that they called it of me becoming a member of TWICE, but that was when they started to root for me since SIXTEEN era. But you… you were the first to do so, and it’s special to me because out of everybody, you were the one from outside my career who truly supported me.” Jeongyeon smiled brightly as the moon displayed above her. “Please do so, what I’m working hard for, it’s also because of you now.”

YN’s chest tightened in joy hearing such sweet dedication from her. “I-I never stopped, that’s why I’m doing this for you too.” “Good, and also I wish you can the same thing for your dream of being a songwriter, YN. Don’t you have anymore desire to do so? I’m not forcing you but there’s still time to-” “Actually about that…” YN paused for a moment as well him paddling the bike. Jeongyeon was perplexed on why you suddenly stopped, her concern of the possibility that she made you mad grew.

“I-is everything o-okay, YN?” “Y-yeah, it’s just…” YN huffed some air before facing Jeongyeon, preparing himself for something. “Uhm there’s last thing that I want to get off my chest, after many years of keeping this a secret to myself.” “I-I’ll be listening. You can talk it to me, YN.” YN took another breather and continued. “Okay. So you do remember that I wrote songs before right? I couldn’t help it, even when we’re at school I always find some time to draft it all.” “Yeah, you’re a full built musician since then, YN. I was just saddened that you decided to give it up. You have so much potential, if I recall correctly i’ve read one of the lyrics and it was so well-written.” “Yeah, and I said that those words all came from my heart. Do you still remember that?” “I am.” She nodded. “Jeongyeon… out of everything I’ve spent my time doing songs, that piece was my proudest work of mine.” You smiled genuinely. “How remarkable was it to made me keep it to myself after all these years whenever I go, just for instances that I have to be ready when I wanted to perform.” “That song was always the one I play the last, saving for the best you know?” 

“I bet the people would applaud you and leave them with their ears blessed and smiles across their face.”

“They are. I have no doubts about it. And I’m glad they love it just much as I am making it for you.” Jeongyeon became silent. Her eyes fixed at YN, she was stunned at the last words you’ve mentioned. Her lips shuddered, prompting to speak in the midst of bewilderment. “YN… that was for me?”

YN pulls out his phone and tugs off its case. At the back, there was a folded paper with ink marks behind it, a hint that has filled with handwriting. You unraveled it, and Jeongyeon saw the familiar outline she complimented years before. “I actually don’t know why I haven’t removed it now that my dream is done. When you left, I began to lose the motivation, it was like a part of it disappeared with you. Then the family stuff followed, I just… ran out of the passion I needed. But now I realized why I still singing it everywhere for years, keeping it with me, giving this crumped sheet of paper a purpose… because there was always a reason why.” “That’s you, Jeongyeon. I may have given up my dream but the love that I used to create my own masterpiece, it never went away.” Jeongyeon’s eyes became watery at your confession. She was oblivious for a long time that while she was wondering if anybody would found her dearly, there was always this one guy who remained faithful and loyal for him. Despite through the unfortunate circumstances and challenge he had to surpass, the value of the love he developed because of her was used not only to continue living his life, but to keep his most cherished talent alive as well. YN endured that for more than a decade, only for Jeongyeon. “I believed in you, I supported you, I did it all just to know how you’ve been doing. Then I heard the news that you were hurt.” “You don’t know how much I wanted to visit you, but I know it won’t be that easy knowing about the industry you are in. That’s why all I did instead is to pray for you to get better, and hope for miracle atleast, that we’ll see each other again.”

“We did.” Jeongyeon smiled through her tears. YN nodded and bowed his head in guilt, he didn’t want to make her emotional again but he sweared that this will be the last. Jeongyeon came out of her bike and stepped forward closer to YN. She lifted her chin to see his bittersweet face. His mood went upside down when he suddenly felt her body wrapped around his. “Don’t be sad about whatever it is, YN. I want you to know that after everything you told me, I became happier and grateful that I got to have you through my difficult process of healing.” Jeongyeon started to sob harder in his shoulder. She felt his large yet tender touch gliding on her back. “I’d be willing to do it always if it’s you.” he replied. “Thank you for holding my hand and reminding me that I’m stronger than I refuse to be.”

Jeongyeon leans away from the hug and stares at him, this time not only with impression but with adoration. The urge complied her to push her head forward and lay a kiss on his cheek, startling him. She smiled sweetly and grinned. “Now that we’re exposing our secrets here, I’ve also started to convince myself that not only you’re good hearted person but… you’re actually good looking too.” “W-what…” “I like you too, YN.” Jeongyeon stated, making his mouth open in amazement. “I know its not as much as you’re expecting me to say but-”

“No, I don’t care. Having you is already enough.” YN nodded and shrugged it off. “I know we can’t rush things, so take every time you got. B-but Jeongyeon, are you sure you want to be with someone like me?” Jeongyeon furrowed her brows as it clicked to her the negative thoughts you were trying to imply. “What? That you’re not as successful like me? That I’m an idol and you’re just a stranger?”

“Yeah, exactly.” “You said it yourself, I don’t care. As long as we learn how to keep supporting each other  without losing ourselves in the process, we’ll be fine. I know it’s a shot in the dark, but I’ll take it. Will you?”

Jeongyeon’s assurance instantly erased all of YN’s mindset of inadequacy and insecurities. “ You gave me a chance, Jeongyeon. Why won’t I do the same?” And they both laughed at their mutual arrangement.

===OOO=== Jeongyeon has finally returned to Seoul. As per the schedule, she met her therapist and examined her through narrating whatever she did during her time off. From revisiting her hometown, staying in her childhood house, meeting loved ones, especially reconnecting with YN. The therapist took all of that in a positive note. Due to this, she made an evaluation that this is an advantage to make her recovery faster and smoother. She learnt other coping mechanisms—meditation, journaling, and understanding her triggers. She made a promise to remain in contact with YN despite being distant again from each other. Jeongyeon can notice how YN’s sweet talking at her is greatly increasing her love for this man. However, it wouldn’t be the same as having his presence being around her, that’s why it causes her discomfort everyday not seeing him physically when she’s alone in her place.

Months later, Jeongyeon made her surprise appearance at the 2021 Seoul Music Awards to join her fellow members of TWICE to receive their awards. It became the headline of numerous articles and became trending all over social media. Not only did the fans and the K-Pop community acknowledged the return of the idol, but also to her new appearance. She was touched at all the welcome backs she received, but she also can’t dodge the toxic comments about her new look from toxic bodyshamers who most of them just simply hate TWICE and had the opportunity to find something to bash her on. Her return resulted to a mixed emotions for her, but she tried to be composed. She just turned her attention more on being with her group, with her family, her therapist, and YN.

Returning to vocal and dance training after months of rest feels harder than she imagined. Her stamina isn't what it used to be, and self-doubt creeps in. She tried to mask it in during their promotions for Alcohol-Free, until a clip from her fancam was leaked spotting her wincing in pain whenever she dances that requires head movement made her wondering if she’s still not truly back as what it seems to be. A candid moment with YN reminds her that her artistry is about authenticity, not perfection. She tried to live up to it, but the desperation ran wild inside of her to the point that she’s starting to forget it again. It then went blank when she requested at their choreographer to teach her for almost an entire day just to execute the choreo of Perfect World well. Her struggle triggered her anxiety and panic disorder again, causing her to take another hiatus in August 2021. She couldn’t take it anymore, she then requested for her manager and driver to pick up YN from Suwon. As he finally arrived to her location, her longing for his company activated, hugging him tightly and tears burst out of her tired eyes.

“You’ll get through it, Jeongyeon. I won’t go away, I’ll be here for you.”

“You better be. I thought I could manage to stand up for myself.” She muttered. “But I got lost again.” “It’ll be okay. I’ll make sure you will be prepared as much as you need to be. Learn to disregard the unnecessary, Jeongyeon. What matters is what holds importance to you.”

===OOO=== Through YN’s stronger guidance, Jeongyeon became steady at her pace again. Her appearances on their 1st English Single “The Feels” made a lot of positive reception both for her and the company, stating that it’s impressive and respectful on both side agreeing for the sake of making the vibe of their comeback “complete” without causing any harm, especially to Jeongyeon’s current state. The girls including the staffs met YN and learned about their relationship, in which they both shared their decision to keep their relationship private. The were still grateful for their support and wished them to stay strong together. Luckily, after almost a year of recovery, Jeongyeon was then cleared by her therapist to return full-time as an idol starting with the title track of their 3rd Full Album, “Scientist”, in which YN attended on every music shows and fanmeets to support Jeongyeon for the first time. More comeback eras have passed, Jeongyeon remained on doing well as she took things slow and focused on a healthier schedule that was granted to him by her company after standing up for herself, a demand that she’ll do everything on her own terms now with their group projects as well as her doing solo. She had photoshoots, a cover, and even hosting her first YouTube series.

Last year, Jeongyeon made a comeback of writing a song called “Bloom” for their mini-album “With YOU-th”, which was inspired by her experiences with YN when they reunited at Suwon. She felt proud and overwhelmed at the highly positive reactions from ONCEs, with others claiming it as their personal best track in the album. While scrolling on her tablet, she came across of a post by a ONCE featuring a beauty appreciation of her. She saw the comments of the said post, and again the inevitable, she came across some negative comments about her weight gain. She was about to be sad hen she heard the bathroom door open, revealing YN in a freshly new bath. She blushed at the sight of your manly figure but her heart moved in euphoria when she was flashed by his smile.

“You busy?” She looked back again at the screen of her device, but unspokably, her eyes went towards the comments of her fans defending her. A smirk crept up on her lips before shutting off her tablet. “Nope. Why?” “I just wanted to talk to you, I didn’t want to disturb you onto something.” “How thoughtful of you.” She rolled her eyes and laughed. YN joined her on the bed, sitting on the edge as she faced her. “I wanted to say thank you. For bringing me here to Seoul for a new beginning, the help you gave to my mom on our cafe, and… what we have right now.” he holds her hand and cuddled it on his cheek. “I made a promise, I might as well fulfill it, especially because it’s for you.” Jeongyeon said. “Take it as a return for everything you did for me… and also, I can’t let us be apart again.” She locked his hand stacked against hers. “I’m never going anywhere this time. There’s no place I would rather be if I’m not with you, Jeongyeon. I love you.” “I love you too.” After they shared a passionate kiss and another quick one on her forehead, YN excused himself to buy dinner while Jeongyeon reopened her gadget, switching back onto the Notes app she was typing at before she took a short break while scrolling through X. She reviewed again his part and her unfinished part on the song you and her will both collaborate to write for the first time, as well as now both being a songwriter and an artist for JYPE respectively.

===END===

[felassan]

Some more DA:TV and related snippets from Sylvia Feketekuty, Part 5. rest of post under a cut due to length and spoilers. [Post One, Post Two, Post Three, Post Four]

Sylvia Feketekuty: "I agree, the Necropolis IS gorgeous, I was blessed with wonderful level artists, lighting artists, and a fantastic LD who poured their hearts into making it it." [source]

Sylvia: ""But what does Manfred think about Spite?" Good question. Manfred is curious, as always, and can probably sense Spite's on his own plane of existence (in other words, another spirit.) But Manfred also doesn't have a greatly evolved sense of danger, he might not understand Spite's "moodier" moments. I also think Manfred isn't as sophisticated a spirit as Spite at the start of the game. (Though don't let Emmrich catch you saying that!)" [source, two]

Sylvia on Emmrich: "He was a team effort, and I have to especially thank the writers and editors for their early feedback that helped shape him. Emmrich wouldn't have worked as well otherwise." [source]

Sylvia: "it's a huge honour to work on a character who's someone's favorite anything, let alone romance. (Huge props to Allegra, her actor, who just got Josie right away.)" [source]

Sylvia: ""With Cassandra being our only POV into Nevarra" Poor Cassandra. (Emmrich has such respect for her uncle's books!) "There's a lot of deep respect and empathy for all the ways people relate with death and I appreciate it"" Thanks, that was something I'd so hoped would come through." [source]

Sylvia: "It really was a team that brought Emmrich, the Necropolis, and the rest of its guardians to life, I know everyone would be thrilled to know you enjoyed it so much." [source]

User: "Emmrich's fear of mortality really hit hard. Some of those lines are etched into my heart now. Thanks to everyone who helped put that deeply relatable and human experience into the game" // Sylvia: "It was kind of the core of Emmrich, writing the part where he opens up about his fears, so thank you for sharing that, it means a lot." [source]

Sylvia: "I loved writing the MW branches and letting people be a nerdier flavour of Rook with Emmrich." [source]

User: "Nevarra, Mourn Watch and in particular Emmrich's personal missions were amazing! The whimsical and the grotesque in perfect balance. When I replay next year I'll be looking forward to those missions the most!" // Sylvia: "Especial praise goes to the level designers for tackling a bunch of complex stuff in those missions as we planned them out." [source]

Sylvia: "I think we can all agree Emmrich might be a touch eccentric, but I really wanted his interests and compassionate outlook to be heartfelt, so this is lovely to hear." [source]

User: "I was so nervous about the whole Necropolis gang as I have PTSD and a major fear of death. So when Emmrich confided in Rook about his own fear, I was struck with such an unexpected comfort. I've never heard someone describe my own fears and how they make me feel so perfectly." // Sylvia: "Thank you, Bibi. It's a very familiar fear for me as well, and I find sometimes talking about it can ease things. So I'm very glad to hear Emmrich's thoughts on it were helpful for you." [source]

Sylvia: "I like a good sinister necromancer, but really wanted to try something different with the Mourn Watch, something more akin to a sacred duty." [source]

Sylvia on the Necropolis: "The concept, lighting, and level artists, and the level designer, did so much cool stuff there IMO. Seeing it with the final art and lighting in for the first time was a thrill for me too." [source]

User: "special thanks for the Terry Pratchett references in the form and speech of Vorgoth. I don't know exactly whose idea it was, but it was great!" // Sylvia: "Aw thank you so much! Re: Terry Pratchett: oh man, I read nearly every Discworld book multiple times, absolute favorites growing up." [source]

User: "I kinda of assumed that Emmrich just calculates age in academia terms, so no matter how many physical years old your Rook is, you're just a tiny baby who hasn't completed a necromancy phd. "When I was your age" = "When I was a TA."" // Sylvia: "Yes, yes that math checks out." [source]

User on Emmrich: "how refreshing it was to have an argument with a LI that’s specific to their relationship. It gives the characters such texture and dimension!" // Sylvia: "Aw thank you! I liked the tone range we ended up having between everyone, it was more rewarding to do." [source]

User: "Would you guys ever expand more on Nevarra and its culture? I loved seeing the Necropolis, and hope we revisit it. But I'll be honest when I say it made me curious what life in Nevarra is like, and how infused Nevarra's Mortalitasi are with average Nevarran life." // Sylvia: "Since I've left the company, that's not really in my hands, so there's not much I can say. But I get what you mean, because the Mourn Watch are a subbranch of the Mortalitasi with a very special field of study and service. We don't really get much about everyday Nevarra. So whoever tackles that in the future, if they ever do: I think that could be neat. Lots of room to explore different dynamics and customs!" [source, two]

User: "I adore Emmrich, he's so sweet & so thoughtful! I especially adore his love for flowers, and I personally interpreted that as a hint from the writers (you!) that choosing to embrace his fleeting mortality, like the fleeting beauty of flowers, was his "good" path - is that correct? What's your take?" // Sylvia: "I tried really hard to make either choice feel like it could be the right one for him, because I wanted it to be more about a player's own interpretation-and their relationship with him-than author fiat hinting at which one is correct. Also thank you for the kind words! I really liked writing Emmrich enthusing about flowers." [source, two] // User: "He's such a charming character, the vibes of him and Josephine are among some of my favorites in the series, thank you for helping to shape them and for being kind enough to answer my question! Do you, personally, have a preference for which choice Emmrich makes? It's a tough call to make in game!" // Sylvia: "I'm afraid, like a coward, I've not stated a preference because I don't want to accidentally influence people into thinking one was right or not. I'm also in a weird place where as the person writing him, my thoughts are far less subjective in weird recursive ways. If that makes sense." [source]

User: "do you have a favorite flower? It was such a lovely detail in Emmrich's character and it warms my heart to know writing that was enjoyable for you" // Sylvia: "It kind of changes depending on what's growing during the season, but while it's very common, you can't beat the scent of a rose. (Fond of lilacs too)" [source]

User: "Did you have any role in Manfred's wisp being lilac when/if you bring him back? That detail made me bawl 😭 Manfred was so shaped by "living" with Emmrich that his essence became Em's favorite color?! The only wisp we see to do so?" // Sylvia: "I wish! I actually don't know who did that. I'd assume that colour was chosen by one of our animators, or maybe the LD, so perhaps they added in that detail, which is adorable. (Carly, Derek Wilks, was this either of you?)" [source] // Derek Wilks: "I think that was someone in VFX actually!" [source]

Sylvia: "Glad you enjoyed the graveyard date, our animators and music director did wonders there." [source]

User: "Can you give us any hints on when Dorian spent some time at the necropolis? I need to know their circumstances for science (how old was Dorian back then? I could imagine he had a crush on the professor lol)" // Sylvia: "I'm going to chicken out and not pin that down (sorry.) Since I've left BW, my answer would be even more non-canonical than usual, because that would've been something I'd have wanted to talk over with the other writers. But by that same token, nothing I've said invalidates what you want to imagine." [source]

Sylvia on Emmrich: "I am flattered to hear he has become a favorite romance, the team went all out on him." [source] // Sylvia: "So many people worked on those scenes: animation, art, audio, the editors, and huge kudos to his actor Nick Borraine." [source]

Sylvia: "I THINK Emmrich is 6'2 or 6'3, but you'd need a character artist to confirm." [source]

User: "Do the necromancers of the Grand Necropolis have their own sort of culture? Like perhaps their own rituals for marriage, courting, etc.?" // Sylvia: "Hrm. Good question. I'm sure they have some individual quirks and traditions, like any long-running institution. But they probably don't deviate unrecognizably from the mortalitasi norm." [source]

Sylvia: ""i also played a trans rook, and some of emmrich's content for a romanced trans rook made for probably some of the best romance content of all time for me." That's so nice to hear, and I must give credit to some trans people who kindly took the time to give me feedback that made those lines better." [source]

User: "1) are Tevinter exchange students like Dorian common? 2) what are some of the other fraternities of the Mortalitasi? 3) do members of the Mourn Watch often attend social events with the Nevarran elite like other Mortalitasi?" // Sylvia: "1) Yeah, I think they're not uncommon. I took my inspiration from The Grand Tour, and thought it would make sense if Tevinter sent out some of the wealthier scions to see the world a little, pick up a few new spells. [link] 2) I'm afraid I've deliberately left this one blank, for future people to fill in if/when the need arises. Emmrich complains about the palace necromancers, so we do know there's a special cadre of mortalitasi running the show over there. 3. Absolutely. The MW are pretty prestigious in Nevarra with their running the Grand Necropolis. Much as Emmrich dislikes politics himself, there's probably a lot going on at the top." [source, two, three]

User: "Do you think Lich Emmrich would eventually be told by the Lich Lords to sever his mortal ties and return with them to the depths of the Necropolis? It seems like he’s willing to break all their rules to keep Rook with him" // Sylvia: "I'm afraid defining Emmrich's duties/responsibilities/required conduct as a lich would very much be something I'd leave up to the future (even if I were still at BW.) Kind of too big a topic for me to want to speculate here." [source]

User: "did you have a hand in designing how emmrich looks?" // Sylvia: "Yep, I gave feedback as his design progressed. Our concept artists really got him very early on, though, so it was smaller stuff." [source] // User: "was he at all inspired by Peter Cushing & his hammer film characters? He really gives off van Helsing vibes to me" // Sylvia: "Time permitting I want to do a post on influences, but you got it in one exactly. It was specifically the Hammer films I was thinking about!" [source] // User: "would Rudolph van Richten from Curse of Strahd be on his list of influences?" // Sylvia: "I'm afraid, to my shame, I never read much of the core Ravenloft books, so that one's a no." [source]

User: "I needed you to know that Emmerich's conversation in the Memorial Gardens about his thanaphobia really got me. I could never put the words together of what thanaphobia feels like, and his description is perfect." // Sylvia: "It's a familiar feeling to me as well, and I'm glad it rang true." [source]

User: "I've got a really severe death phobia that's been flaring recently, and emmrich's conversation about it captured the feeling perfectly and helped lessen the weight for me" // Sylvia: "I find at least discussing it can ease it, sometimes, so I'm very glad to hear getting to know Emmrich helped in that way." [source]

Sylvia: "Hezenkoss was a blast to write so I'm glad she clicked for you. "preposterous is what you wore to a bog, Orlesian" Oh wow, Skywatcher! It's been an age, so glad that line stuck with you. That takes me back!" [source]

Sylvia: ""And yet I ask the question - what attracts Emmerich to the Hand? Yes, the answer is “perseverance”, but I think this is not fully explored." Do you mean the Hand of Glory specifically? He's intrigued and disturbed by the magic around it, which is why he hones on it, even before he knows its origin" [source]

Sylvia: ""I was wondering if you could tell us about his & Manfred's first meeting or notable moments in their friendship?" This feels like something I'd probably want to leave more to the imagination. And because I'm not a BW anymore, answers would be even more non-canonical than normal. All that said, for some reason, I always pictured Emmrich being alone in the Necropolis the first time Manfred's wisp floated up to him to peer at what he was doing. It just seems a little more poignant that way." [source, two]

Sylvia: "All credit to the team, especially the writers and editors who gave feedback that made [Emmrich] so much better during those early days and beyond." [source]

User: "me + a handful of people were wondering about non-mage mourn watchers! id love to hear your notes/thoughts about them! b/c i didnt remember hearing how they become MW or if reaper uses death magic!" // Sylvia: "Sure! Not much to say, though, I think the MW is likely a mage majority fraternity that accepts a few non-mages who have exceptional skills and temperaments sympathetic to the Necropolis. A warrior of great renown, a rogue of exceptional stealth and quiet, a baby found down there in a grave, and so forth. They'd certainly undergo the same kind of oaths and bindings every Watcher goes through. I always pictured them being provided with the best enchanted gear the MW has to offer too." [source, two]

User: "Hi! About Emmerich being a professor—does he teach at a Circle, or is he specifically a professor to other MWers and Mortalitasi? It seems like the MW has some sort of official schooling for its members since he regularly takes on students each year, could you comment on that at all?" // Sylvia: ""It seems like the MW has some sort of official schooling for its members since he regularly takes on students each year, could you comment on that at all? " Sure, but I think you have it, the MW seems to want to raise well-rounded students with a classical education on top of magecraft. In my mind, it was because they saw every MW as representing the Grand Necropolis, so of course they wanted its members to have training in etiquette and history and generally be able to move in polite society." [source, two]

User: "If I remember correctly, we only really see Emmrich use necromantic magic in-game. Are there other types of magic (elemental, healing/spirit, etc) that you think he would gravitate toward?" // Sylvia: "Hrm. He does have a bit of healing magic, mechanically in combat. It coudl work, but somehow I don't think Emmrich would ever be a high-level healer. He could maybe get the basics but it's not his great gift. Something about the gravic magic of the force mage specialty feels appropriate though." [source]

Sylvia: ""would it be possible for a (romanced) MW Rook join Emmrich in linchdom, eventually?" Yes: Rook can try, bc it's not forbidden to seek the knowledge out. (Emmrich makes it clear Hezenkoss pieced some of it together herself, so we've also seen another mage get it almost-right) It is very hard and probably takes decades to accomplish (and of course, there's no guarantee Rook would survive.) But everything written in game points to there being a chance." [source, two]

User: "I’ve been thinking a little about it and I know it’s mentioned in the game he would be interested in visiting - but how would Emmrich feel about visiting the Avvar in the south? They are one of the few groups that show respect for spirits in a similar way and I imagine he’d have a lot of questions." // Sylvia: "He'd probably love it. He'd be fascinated by their relationship with spirits, in the ways it mirrors and deviates from the Mourn Watchers' own practices. (I imagine there is also like a 15% chance he gets into a heated argument with one of them over a fine point of how spirits work exactly.)" [source]

User: "congratulations on another achievement, Emmrich took the silver trophy" // Sylvia: "I was so excited to see we'd gotten the silver trophy! I hope everyone who worked on him sees that." [source]

User: "Is there anywhere we can follow your future work after this account gets shut down ?" // Sylvia: "TBH I'll probably just reopen it it there's any cool news to share since I don't have a website or anything. (I THINK I can just reactivate it?)" [source]

User: "Thank you for Lady Josephine Cherette Montilyet, emmrich, Liara and Leigon!!!!" // Sylvia: "Thank you! (I should mention I was only a part of Legion in ME3 - specifically the N7 mission into the Geth Consensus. Great fun to work on that level though.)" [source]

Sylvia: "I'm lucky to have had the chance to bring Emmrich and Josephine to you all with the rest of the team." [source]

Sylvia: ""I still remember when you introduced yourself on old BSN when Lair of the Shadow Broker came out." Wow, you're right I did! That is a blast from the past. Thank you for the kind words!" [source]

User: "Just wanted to say thank you for all the amazing characters you helped bring to life in DA and ME. I really enjoyed Emmrich and Hezenkoss in DAV. The dynamic between them really made me laugh" // Sylvia: "Thanks! That was one of my favorite pairs to write, the history between them meant everything was always a little more personal, which is always fun." [source]

Sylvia: "Thanks Janette, loved writing Hollix." [source]

User: "Elements of Emmerich's costume resemble the Cerberus logo from ME. Is this just a reference or is there something more to it?" // Sylvia: "Gee, I can't say for sure because I didn't make it, but I'd assume that one's just a coincidence (since the Mourn Watch and Necropolis use hexagonal shapes as their primary shape language)" [source]

User: "I can just tell how well Emmrich is written along his fear. I lost my fear of death and dying as I began to honor the dead." // Sylvia: "I do think talking and thinking about these things more than we normally do helps eases the fear." [source]

Sylvia: "Thank you for these lovely thoughts. I did read some books about different customs around death, and I know a little about pagan/occult/magic practices (in a very basic and generalist sense.) So it doesn't surprise me per se, but I am very glad to hear getting to know Emmrich was a positive thing. And I'm also very glad to hear he's someone you feel you can take into the future with you as a helpful friend." [source, two]

Sylvia: ""Does Emmrich have any guilty pleasures?" Huh. Excellent question. I should really be more decisive about my own character, but while I think that could be fun, I'm not sure what it would be. "Oh one other question , is there a part of thedas you wish you could of explored but wasn't able to be in game?" I've always been interested in the sinister sounding Sea of Ash. What goes on over there???" [source, two]

User: "i have a silly little question bc i also love emmrich. was his scene revealing lichdom to everyone meant to parallel a trans coming out or was that accidental? because i felt on an existential level the thrill of revealing who you are, but also fearing people would be afraid or treat you differently. (and then there's strife discussions, and putting up a glamour some places but not others, and the blooming but gentle self-confidence... he is very transgender to me)" // Sylvia: "Not a silly question at all! After writing the scene I wondered if people would see similarities because of those overlapping themes you pointed out: the dignity of bodily self-determination, revealing your true self to those you love, fear of rejection, hope for acceptance. But during the writing, I mostly approached becoming undead as its own thing, because I wanted to ground it in the MW's particular philosophy. I think there's parallels because of the way the human personal is universal, if that makes sense. That said, if this does feel very transgender to you or anyone else (or not), I'm not against varied interpretations. That's one of the cool things about seeing people actually get their hands on your work." [source, two, three]

User: "I'm not sure what Emmrich's hairstyle is, slickback?" // Sylvia: "Good question. Afraid I don't know what it'd be called either. Googling it, slickback LOOKS correct?" [source]

User: "Emmrich has definitely developed a special bond with Bellara and Lucanis, and yet, both of them don't comment on his relationship with Rook! What would you say their reaction was? Their banter was so good I'm sure we'd all love to know what Emmrich had to say!" // Sylvia: "Ah, that one I'm afraid I can't answer since I'm not their writer, and that would've been something I would've discussed with the narrative team together. Sorry!" [source]

Sylvia: "Nick was indeed brilliant!" [source]

User: "Ive got quite bad thanatophobia and Emmerich's writing is one of the only times I've seen that dealt with actually respectfully." // Sylvia: "Thanks very much! I've experienced that fear, and I suspect it's way more common than we think, and I'm glad to hear it felt that way to you." [source]

User: "My HOF was a spirit healer, very kind & very curious, & for years I've considered how that special connection to spirits might lend itself to an interest in Thedan necromancy & puzzling out where spirits & souls begin & end. Emmrich, Manfred/Curiosity and the wisps gave me so much to think about!" // Sylvia: "that's interesting about your HOF. They may've found some kindred spirits if they ever ventured further north." [source]

User: [was] "Dorian was taken over by a nominated writer for veilguard or if his legacy was more of a team effort ?" // Sylvia: "Dorian was in the capable hands of Writer Chee" [source]

User: "I’m also dying to know what Emmrich did during Rook's stint in the prison-my thought is he not only did the majority of the work on finding Rook, but in leading the team, prob finishing touches on the dagger clone, keeping the team together in Rook’s absence while barely holding himself together at times" // Sylvia: "I think he was indeed having some very sleepless, guilt-wracked nights, working himself too hard, and trying his best on that dagger." [source]

User: "I just wanted to tell you that I love Emmrich's part of the lighthouse the books the fact that it's right next to rook's room and that johanna is in it later and that you can talk to her" // Sylvia: "Thank you! I love what the level artist there did, it's such a cozy den of a place. And I'm glad you liked meeting Hezenkoss afterwards, all praise to the level and tech designers who got her in there." [source]

User: "Are the Watchers overall vegetarian, or was it a personal preference Emmrich developed?" // Sylvia: "I think it's a thing among some Watchers, but not all. Because they think a lot about life and death and the cycle of life, and their place in it, and what constitutes a death they feel comfortable with or not. My actual, original inspiration for it was from an old Call of Cthulhu TRPG book about Miskatonic University, set in the 1920s. There was a great little detail about the campus having a cafeteria that serves vegetarians. And when I read it, I got a little jolt because I was so used to vegetarianism in North America being portrayed as a relatively modern movement. But of COURSE there's always exceptions and cultural enclaves and so on. Just one of those moments you feel your understanding of what we were up to in the past shift a little, even if it felt obvious in retrospect." [source, two, three, four]

Sylvia re: writing Manfred: "Yep, Manfred was my guy too." [source]

Sylvia: "I'm glad you enjoyed meeting our gentleman necromancer. (Full credit to the great feedback I got from the other writers and editors early on, he wouldn't be as good without them.)" [source]

User: "I was curious I know none of emmrich's serious relationships ended up panning out But like did any of them get to the point that him and his partner at the time shared a living space I'm wondering if emmrich has ever lived with anyone besides manfred" // Sylvia: "That's an interesting question. Like a coward I will hedge my bets, but I could MAYBE see a few. Not many though." [source]

[asexualbookbird]

It sure has been a Year huh. Ups and downs this month, as life happens. Saw friends I haven't seen in years, went into the city and met new friends, tried new foods, saw some birds, tried new crafts, read new books.

The Fireborne Blade by Charlotte Bond ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Hm! Interesting! Didn't hate it, but something feels missing? Almost like it could've benefited from being at the very least a short novel. It needed more. I also have qualms at this being pitched as sapphic when there is no romance at all and the main character talks a lot about being betrayed by her last romance with a man. One mention of Woman With Hot Thighs. Not mad I read it, might even read it again.

That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming ⭐️⭐️ ‐ I'll be honest, one star is Mean but I had a lot more fun reading Fourth Wing and that was two stars. The tone is what dragged this one down for me. It reads like YA, but it's very much not. I do not believe for a second the MC is 24, she doesn't act like it at all. The sex scenes. Are there. I could make an entire post about the book ending on them having penetrative PiV sex. Part of my grievances are me not liking the genre, but I truly think this just isn't that good. Plenty of people on the internet write better more filthy works for free. Why was this sitting unassumingly on the library shelf.

*amended to two stars if this is indeed satire

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P Djèlí Clark ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Fine. Not much to say because it was Completely Average. Not mad I read it, but don't wish to repeat the experience. I think maybe Clark isn't an author for me, as I recall feeling similarly about A Master of Djinn. It's not so much that the characters or world feel flat, but something definitely feels missing. It was silly and lighthearted and gory and I did like that though!

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Another hit from Sarah Beth Durst. I see your Themes. I see your Tropes. Kindness. Found family. Accepting help. All personal attacks on me. Adorable, fun, some sort of cross between T Kingfisher and Becky Chambers, I didn't want it to end, and now have a name for my spider plant. It also seems like I need to get my spider plant a friend.

The Woods All Black by Lee Mandelo ⭐️⭐️ - I have very mixed feelings about this that are really summarized as This Wasn't For Me. I like the idea that yeah you're a monster but someone loves you anyway. I like using the monster to punish those who called you one. I think there's some very specific midwestern religious trauma that I'm missing to really Get It, though. On top of that, while I recognize the themes and significance in the age gap, a 30 year old going after an 18 year old icks me out. I'd still recommend it with very very heavy reservations.

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal ⭐⭐ - Going to be honest, I just finished this and I'm already moving on. The writing was fine and I'm not put off of the author entirely, but I never felt wowed. I was annoyed more than anything. I didn't love any of the characters, but I didn't really hate anyone either. The amount of people Tesla let pet her service dog drove me nuts. The ending felt slapped together. It never really felt cohesive. I feel vindicated reading that fans of her other books also were unimpressed with this. I wouldn't steer people away from it, but I didn't have a lot of fun.

I'm tentatively excited for February. I have art ideas I'd like to get started on, I am working on a craft thing that I might be able to profit a bit off of, I'm flat out ignoring the world, book club is approaching. I'm looking for good things in the world, and I will find them. That is a threat.

[loquaciousquark]

you have been my #1 favorite fanfic author of all time for like 7-8 years now for your fenhawke and ive always thought "god i would give anything for quark to write solavellan" but i respected that it wasnt your thing. so imagine the pure unbridled euphoria of checking in on your blog this week to see that he finally got to you. i actually screamed. whatever you come up with i know it is going to absolutely change my life and i am so excited <3

i’m so. sad. i'm SO sad. i was so happy for a decade just being mildly annoyed every time he crossed my dash and now i am having feelings and opinions and i don’t WANT THEM and the only way to get rid of them is to write them out of me, this is why i don’t love fenris or astarion at all anymore obviously

and like, I still don’t love Solas! I still think some things he does and some goals he has are really, really stupid! but this character I created to love him really loves him, and I really love her and want her to be happy even though she lives only inside my head, and that means I need to lay down some structure around her romance to get the shape of it, to build something I can make sense of. I may not love him, but I like him much more than I did, and I certainly understand him better than I did the first time around.

And to be honest, there’s a part of me glad I’m coming to it as late as I have. I don’t think I’ve ever read a single Solavellan fic in my life (I actually had to pause here to check the spelling). I have NO idea what tropes are popular with him or what interpretations are the biggest. I have a lot of opinions on how his personality and identity work in a romance with this particular character I’ve created, but because I’ve been so siloed I have no idea if I’m bucking the grain or not, which is fine by me.

Plus, it helps I’m not going to have ten years to build up a lot of personal headcanons and jossable thoughts before playing the new game. I’m not someone who easily ignores canon when it clashes with my imagination for the major things, so I think this will (hopefully) keep me from major disappointments.

It's kinda funny; earlier today I was going back through my DAI tag and reminding myself of all my impressions from the first time I played the game. Some of them I definitely still stand by; others have completely changed. I even said twice that a Lavellan/Solas romance would be my next playthrough, which was true if ten years late.

But it's things like: apparently the first time through I loved Solas and Sera, both of which certainly were not true going into this replay. (I barely even have a memory of Solas and Priory ever being in the party together, though the historical records say I took him to Adamant.) I apparently had a lot of hopes Gideon Emery would be voicing Fenris. I originally thought Priory was going to romance Bull, which is very ?????? after all this time. (I did still, even then, know Here Lies the Abyss completely broke her as a character, and ten years on I never could fix her for good.)

I really did not expect to change my mind on Solas going into this replay, I guess is the point. I replayed because knowing the story of DAI and Solas, I felt it was a story most personalized to elves and specifically a Solas-romancing Lavellan, and that was the worldstate I wanted to take into the new game. I played it out because that's the kind of person I am (I can't just invent characters wholesale in my head) but I really thought it was going to be a perfunctory playthrough as a stepping stone to a different game and a different PC and (presumably) a different romance. I didn't expect to love this character as much as I do, and even if I don't have ten years to write her out the way I did Hawke, I feel like I still owe it to her & her doomed romance to give her a little time in the spotlight. Lucky girl!

[neuroticbookworm]

Rose's Day of Asks

What are some of the shows where your hyperfixation really thrived? (I have no idea if this sentence makes sense but I hope you get what I mean)

Have a great Day💜

I opened a blank doc and put this list together 3 minutes after I received this ask 10 (yes you read that right, ten) months ago, and then I let it sit in my drafts for no reason other than making myself miserable. Anyway, I woke up today and decided to release this into the wild, for.. reasons *wink wink*

Over the years of consuming media, I've observed that there are a few key factors of said media that heavily contribute to my hyperfixation brainrot:

Smart and snappy writing

Good romance arc that convinces me to believe in the couple

Treating the miscommunication trope as the plague that it is

And with that handy lil list, let’s get into it.

The Untamed / Mo Dao Zu Shi

I binge-read Mo Dao Zu Shi or The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation during the 2023 Holiday Season, and my brain was immediately taken hostage and was not released from its grasp for several months. I then binge-watched The Untamed with @lurkingshan during the 2024 Holiday Season and promptly lost my mind yet again. For a story that handles so many nuanced characters and their complex relationships between multiple narrative threads, it coheres so well that it almost looks easy. From the politics of the xianxia world it is set in, to the decade-and-some-long romance arc between Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian, every part of this story is meticulously layered. Almost every character in this show evokes complicated feelings in me, and I am not gonna stop thinking about them anytime soon.

I Cannot Reach You

I’ve never felt so connected to a show as I did with I Cannot Reach You as I was watching it. It was as if the show had a direct line to my braincells, listened to exactly what I wanted from it, and then immediately obliged. Every boy in this show is so precious to me: Yamato, who tried so damn hard to confess his feelings to his best friend, no matter how many silly BL tropes tried to stop him; Kakeru, who tackled his best friend into a hug and held him in place so he can't walk away from him without talking about his feelings; Hosaka, the closest thing to a self-insert I’ve experienced in BLs, strutting around and calling these fucking boys out on their dumbassery.

This show has no patience for frustrating, overwrought trope silliness and prioritizes rooting its characters in their humanness. When Kakeru punched Yamato for trying to play a clumsy, pining romantic hero after conveniently forgetting his confession to Kakeru and then kissing him, I damn near ascended into a higher plane.

His (2020)

Oh this movie made me cry ugly tears after a long time, y’all. This movie, at its core, is about a bunch of people who tried so hard to not hurt the people they love, but ended up hurting them in the process anyway. Shun’s quiet sadness broke me. We see Nagisa in tears multiple times in this movie, always begging for forgiveness from the loved ones in his life: Shun, Rena, and Sora. Rena trying so damn hard to not let her anger, that stemmed from the trauma of being married to a closeted gay man, impact her daughter’s relationship with her dad and his partner, got me in my fucking chest. I think about the movie’s final scene where Rena tells Shun that she doesn't know how to ride a bike, at least twice a week.

Utsukushii Kare

The chokehold this show had on me for the two days I watched it, tearing my hair out in the process of trying to figure out what Hira’s and Kiyoi’s deals were, is second to none. I was completely fascinated by Hira’s idol worship of Kiyoi, and was trying so hard to understand the flavor of frustration that I could see in Kiyoi. I tried to solve Kiyoi’s face when Hira tried to commit murder like a goddamn puzzle. I went full bulletin-board-with-red-strings insane trying to figure out the inner workings of their brain. And when I finally got to The Revelation.. the scream I SCRUMPT. What a show, what a time, what an experience.

La Pluie

Ah, La Pluie, how I love you so dearly. It was one of the first BLs I watched as it aired weekly, and I had so many thoughts about it after every episode that I joined the La Pluie Meta Tsunami on Tumblr. This show consistently gave me brainrot week after week, all the way till the finale. It took the classic romance trope of soulmates, decided to deconstruct and interrogate it with its four main characters, and executed the themes flawlessly. I am still so glad that this show stuck to the courage of its convictions. And as always, here’s the link to The Great La Pluie Meta Roundup.

Theory of Love

*unleashes an evil witch laugh*

I sing praises for this show every chance I get, and most recently I did it on the latest The Conversation podcast episode. It is in that very episode that @bengiyo had a brilliant brainwave, which led to @lurkingshan conceptualizing and launching the Theory of Love: The Romcom Rewatch project at a speed that makes me fear her powers. This show is special to me for so many reasons, including being the one that made me break out of my lurker tendencies on Tumblr. I hyperfixated on this show so hard that I started *sharing my thoughts* on the Internet.

I am hoping to write many, many words for this show in the coming weeks, so lemme wrap up by highlighting how this show stands out from the rest on this list. Theory of Love has the most flaws compared to the other shows on this list. One of my main qualms with the show is that the side couples did not add to the main theme in any way, rendering them inoffensive, but ineffective additions. And yet. And yet. This show lives and will live rent-free in my head till the inevitable heat death of the world as we know it. The growth arc of Khai is one of my all-time favorites in media, and I think about it every time I see a fictional or real-life man behave as if they are deathly allergic to change. I am so excited for the rewatch project, and I can’t wait to share the thoughts that’ll be knocked loose in my head for the next 12 weeks.

Thank you so much for the ask, @my-rose-tinted-glasses, and I hope you like my extremely overdue response <3

[theoneandonlysemla]

Sujamma Sundas!

Thank you for the tag @skyrim-forever 💞

Tagging: @dirty-bosmer @friend-of-giants @firefly-factory @illumiera @hircines-hunter @lillxart @ladytanithia @pocket-vvardvark @rakaiawriter @sheirukitriesfandom @sanza-17

Topic: This week, Sujamma wants to know about YOUR OC's special someone. What makes their relationship special? How did they meet? Were they enemies to lovers? Lovers to enemies? Lovers AND Enemies? Are they romantic or platonic? What's their favorite way to cuddle? Favorite date night? Anything and everything you can think of 💕

Ohhh, do I need to decide who I'll be talking about here? Can I talk about all my main couples? :P

Let's start with Nevri and Morotar. What makes them special is him being a detestable cunt and her being the one to hit him on the head for it. They actually got to know each other because he saved her and Canmal's life when they were attacked by Boethiah's cultist. Back then he was "a mercenary" and travelled with them back to Winterhold, where they decided to hire him for getting Goldbrand. And while travelling, Nevri did fall for his looks and cunty character and the rare times he can be nice :P (She's vulnerable, okay??) One thing comes to another and after they got closer, everything falls apart. With DwD 2 their story goes on, Morotar has a severe loss of memories but as their paths cross again, he does one thing: he knows her. A lot of pushing away from her follows until they do get closer again (she has good reason for that) while he will utterly fall for her 😩❤️ I don't know how their story will end and what will come of them, but I love to picture them together in a calm future. Anyway, I guess they go like: strangers -> reluctant friends -> lovers -> enemies -> strangers -> whatever the fuck that mess is they are in in part 2 Thinking about it, they'd love to cuddle in a bed and have their peace together and I often picture how Nevri washes his hair and he does enjoy that so much because someone cares for him. Their idea of a date night might be sparring or something :P

Going on with my favourite toxic couple: Ancano and Faralda! These two idiots started out as... let's call it colleagues and the entire thing became a secret work place romance at the College of Winterhold. Until Ancano's toxic ass fucked up big time after gaslighting the shit out of Faralda and cheated on her with Nirya. Nirya does thing she has won, but ... the price is foul🤢 Anyway, they do have a toxic rebound after Ancano got stabbed by a certain Dunmer woman mentioned in the text before. For Faralda is really is the last time this has happened, until she sees him being a yearning mess for her and decides to play with him. Currently, we're at the phase where her sadism really spirals out of control (good for her). As they do not have a traditional relationship, I'd say their idea of a date is a little strange. Ancano would like to have her only for him and longs for her attention. He'd cuddle with her after sex, to keep the appearance that it means more to him but he's not really a cuddler. After he cheated in her, Faralda does want to cuddle with anyone but him :P Her perfect idea of a date is her throwing rocks at him ❤️

And here we are with my most fucked up couple, that is poor Ria and Mannimarco. Hell, she chose the worst man. But my bf likes to argue that Ancano is worse because he's racist and Mannimarco is too egocentric to be really racist 😆 Well, let's see. She is absolute delulu and unhappy in the place she is now, serving a group of men (ew) in a dilapitating fort. And there comes her worm knight in shining armour... or red cloak... to her rescue. He infiltrates her brain until she falls for him and she is absolutely and utterly in love with him. Too bad that he sees her as his little experiment. But that does not hold him back from fucking the lab rat. He's nasty like that ❤️ You could say, it is a very romantic gothic horror lovestory that I'm crafting there and so their ideal date would be basically what I've written in chapter two, just having sex in a fairy ring under the moonlight. And for Manni it may include feeding her corpses and counting how many maggots he can pull out of her orifices. Well... yeah. That's that!

[floofiestboy]

Aoyama's Let's Talk Day 2025 Translation [Official Source]

They've released the official transcript for Aoyama's yearly Let’s Talk Day, a day when a lucky few audience members chosen by lottery have the chance to ask him questions. The official transcript has a lot more (haha)s, but I translated it regardless.

Generally, there was no new Conan information in the official transcript compared to my unofficial sources translation, but some of the discussions Aoyama had with the audience members were described in more detail compared to tweets about the event.

The official transcript redacted questions that were considered "secret". Some of these questions were reported by unofficial sources. For simplicity, I've included a list of these questions with their sources at the end of this post from my original translation.

Without further ado:

Q&A with Aoyama Gosho-sensei

Questions from Middle Schoolers and Younger

Q. Will the Kuroba family and Kudo family ever properly meet each other?

Aoyama: Huh? In the future?

Questioner: Yes, in the future.

Aoyama: Ah, well… they won’t, but do you want to see it? (haha)

Questioner: I want to see it. (haha)

Aoyama: Then I’ll think about it. (haha)

Questioner: Thank you very much. (haha)

[The audience claps.]

Moderator: “I’ll think about it,” is a great answer, sensei (haha)

Aoyama: Right? (haha) It really is great (haha)

Q. After appearing on Kōhaku Uta Gassen [T/N: A music show that traditionally airs around New Year’s in Japan], do you have plans to write a case based around it?

Aoyama: Ah.. (haha) Right. (haha) Well… I wonder, there’s NHK to worry about. Ahaha… 

[The audience laughs.]

Aoyama: They might not allow it. (haha) Well, I did think something like a music show case might be fun, but it might also be troublesome. (haha)

Moderator: What if you changed the name? Like, a West vs. East tournament.

Aoyama: Right… a music show murder case. (haha) But yes, I’ll think about it. (haha)

Q. What will happen with Momiji now that Heiji and Kazuha are dating?

Aoyama: Right… Momiji herself hasn’t given up, so. (haha) I’m sure she’ll be doing her best in the background somewhere. Something like that. (haha)

Moderator: So you’ll have her do her best. She’s like, a woman who doesn’t give up?

Aoyama: That’s right. (haha)

Q. Why can you think up so many different characters?

Aoyama: I have no idea. (haha) It kinda just pops up in my mind. I guess I’ve uh, watched a lot of movies?

Moderator: If I recall correctly, last year you mentioned that a large number of criminals have appeared but you’ve never drawn the same person twice. That you change them in some way every time.

Aoyama: Mm… yes. (haha) That’s right. (haha) I watch lots of movies and dramas and manga. (haha)

Moderator: So it kinda just pops up in your mind. That’s amazing.

Aoyama: It kinda just pops up. (haha)

Questions from the Entire Audience

Q. Do you plan to write a Police Academy-related case where Chihaya-san and Furuya-san meet, or cooperate to solve a case?

Aoyama: Ah, so Chihayafuru, you mean. (haha) Right… it does sound a little interesting, so I’ll think about it. (haha)

Moderator: “It sounds a little interesting”? Don’t tell me you stole that idea just now. (haha)

Aoyama: Ahaha. 

Q. What’s your favourite case among those you’ve written until now?

Aoyama: Ah, that would be Ran GIRL and Shinichi BOY of course. [Detective Conan Vol. 87] Not to toot my own horn, but I do think it came out well. (haha)

Moderator: Every year you talk about how you love Ran-chan, romance, and love comedies after all.

Aoyama: That’s right. (haha)

Q. [Asked by a small boy] How did Kogoro become a detective when he’s not good at deductions?

Aoyama: Ahahaha.

[The audience laughs.]

Aoyama: Yes, well… it’s true he’s not good at deductions. (haha) But he has all sorts of other things he’s good at, like Judo… (haha) And like how he’s strong at Judo. And… well, he’s got Conan with him, heh heh. Everything works out. (haha) Yes. (haha) That’s all. (haha)

Moderator: That was a fun question. (haha)

Q. When in September is Nakamori Aoko born?

Aoyama: September, right… (haha) I haven’t decided. (haha) When would you want it to be? (haha)

Questioner: Huh…?

Aoyama: If you give me a date, it might become true.

Moderator: Amazing, it’s your choice.

Questioner: Wait a sec… then… Since Kaito is born on the 21st… maybe the 12th…?

Aoyama: September 12th? Is that good with you?

Questioner: Ah… um… yes…

Moderator: They say that they’ll leave it to you, sensei.

Aoyama: I’ll think about it at least. (haha)

Q. What does Ran-chan usually talk about with her karate club friends?

Aoyama: Huh…? (haha)

Questioner: Do they talk about romance?

Aoyama: I’m sure they do? (haha)

Questioner: I’m happy.

Aoyama: I think everyone is interested to know how things are going with Ran’s love life. (haha)

Questioner: I almost want to join them myself.

Aoyama: Ahahaha.

[The audience laughs.]

Aoyama: Then I’ll think about it including that kind of scene if anything comes to mind. (haha)

Q. Do you ever plan to draw the moment Kazuha-chan fell for Heiji?

Aoyama: Oh…? (haha) Do you want to see it? Then I’ll think about it. (haha) But this… well, I might just actually draw it. (haha)

Q. After the scene where Heiji-kun confesses to Kazuha-chan at Abeno Harukas, they come back down holding hands. Should we interpret this as Heiji-kun taking the initiative to hold hands, and do you plan to ever draw how that happened?

Aoyama: Right… (haha) Well, I think Heiji was the one to try and hold hands. (haha) I don’t know whether I’ll ever draw it, but I’ll think about it. (haha)

Questioner: Please do.

Aoyama: Um… if you go to Conan Tanteisha [the hometown museum], you can see a coloured illustration of something similar. (haha) Please go see it. (haha) I recommend it. (haha)

Aoyama: It’s very fun. (haha)

Q. At Kōhaku Uta Gassen, were there any artists that made you go “Woah, this singer is amazing!” other than aiko and B'z?

Aoyama: Huh…? Oh…? (haha) Hey hey. (haha) No, no… yes, yes… (haha)

[The audience laughs.]

Questioner: Fukuyama-san is also forbidden.

Aoyama: Huh…? (haha) I wonder who I can go with…?? (haha)

Moderator: They’ve zeroed in on all of your answers.

Aoyama: That’s right. (haha) I liked them all? Ahaha. The main thing is that B’z was amazing. The stage was pretty dark to us in the audience, you know. It was pitch black, and I was thinking “I wonder if anyone’s there? I can’t tell…” and then B’z showed up on the screen and I was all like, “Wooooooah!!!” (haha) It was amazing!!! …My choice is B’z. (haha)

[The audience laughs.]

Questioner: Thank you very much.

Q. Are you thinking about a spinoff featuring Hattori Heiji?

Aoyama: A spinoff? Like Zero’s Tea Time?

Questioner: Um… more like Hanzawa-san. 

Aoyama: Ah, Hanzawa-san. (haha) H-How are they different? Ahaha.

[The audience laughs.]

Aoyama: We don’t have any plans for that right now. (haha) I apologize. (haha) Did you want one?

Questioner: Yes, a manga where Hattori is the star…

Aoyama: Right… (haha) We don’t have any plans for that right now, so I’ll leave it at that. (haha)

Q. Last year, Heiji-kun and Kazuha-chan were the main ship to have romantic developments. But if you plan to have romantic developments for any other characters moving forward, which ones should we keep our eye on?

Aoyama: That would be Kansuke and…? Something like that? (haha)

Questioner: And…?

Aoyama: Well, um. (haha) A ship I shouldn’t mention just… floated up in my head… (haha) It’d be bad to say. (haha) Well, that’s about it. (haha)

Q. I’d like my question to focus on Gin. I imagine Akai-san and the rest of the FBI are constantly on his tail, so he must travel around to many different places. Does he have safehouses across the nation, or does he stay in hotels like Mary-san and Masumi do? But it might be bad to leave any clues behind, so he wouldn't use the hotel amenities, and would pay for everything himself of course…

Aoyama: Ah… (haha)

Questioner: I really want to know if Gin-san would wear hotel bathrobes, so please tell me if you can.

Aoyama: Ah… (haha) Is that so? (haha) Um…? But I think they’d sleep in their cars or something, right? (haha)

Questioner: They wouldn't look for lodging?

Aoyama: Lodging… right, they probably stay somewhere no one would know about. (haha) Else, maybe Organization-controlled apartment buildings, or getaway houses. I’m sure they have them all over the place. (haha)

Questioner: So he flits from place to place to keep himself from being caught by the FBI…

Aoyama: Right, without being caught. He’s probably not caught. (haha)

Questioner: Does he wear bathrobes?

Aoyama: Gin? (haha)

Questioner: Yes!

Aoyama: Right… (haha) Ah, well, of course he does. (haha)

Questioner: I think it fits him!

Aoyama: I think he probably struggles to wash all that hair too. (haha)

Q. I came from Hokkaido. Last year’s movie was set in Hakodate and if I recall correctly, even had the clock tower show up. I’d be happy if Sapporo tourist attractions showed up next. Are there any plans for that?

Aoyama: Well, it’d need to be a long time from now. (haha) Right? (haha). We might. Where would you recommend?

Questioner: Right, um… maybe Oodori Park?

Aoyama: Ah… (haha) Yes.

Questioner: Um… we have romantic spots too… like the TV Tower, yes.

Aoyama: Yes, then well I’ll think about it. (haha)

Q. I have a question about Azusa-san. I’d like to know how long she’s been working at Poirot. 

Aoyama: Azusa? I wonder? (haha) I don’t know. (haha) Well, hm, but maybe since her high school years…?

Questioner: Since she was a high schooler… thank you very much.

Aoyama: Of course. (haha) It was totally off the top of my head though. (haha)

Moderator: It’s interesting to find out what people want to know about.

Q. I’m born and raised in Tottori. Are there any plans for a movie set here?

Aoyama: Huh...? (haha) None right now. (haha)

Questioner: I’d love to see one if ever possible.

Aoyama: I used Tottori dialect in one of my works before, but I was told it was incomprehensible. (haha) Osaka dialect, Hakata dialect, etc. are pretty easy to understand, but Tottori dialect is hard. If we did do a Tottori movie, I’d want to have people speaking Tottori dialect, right… so… (haha) I’d have to find some kind of solution. I’ll think about it. (haha)

Q. [Per a previous question] you said that Momiji will do her best even now that Heiji-kun and Kazuha have gotten together, but will her butler Iori continue to stay by her side? Will he have to leave perhaps because of issues related to his old job?

Aoyama: Ah… no, well, I think he’ll be by her side forever. I think he’ll stay by her side until the day Momiji dies. (haha) I think he’ll keep protecting her.

Questioner: Thank you very much.

Q. I’d like to ask about Conan cafés. I know that you love curry rice, but is there anything else you’d like to eat at a Conan café?

Aoyama: What do they serve at Conan cafés again? (haha)

Questioner: It changes year by year.

Aoyama: I don’t know what the current menu is, but I like dishes like naporitan spaghetti that children like, so. (haha) Also, hamburgers and hamburg steak. (haha) That’s what I like. (haha) Sorry it’s so vague. 

Q. Did you meet in advance with aiko-san to plan for the moment where you shot her with a tranquilizer watch? [T/N: Aoyama mock shot aiko-san with a tranquilizer watch at the end of her song on this year’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.] Or at least, that’s what I wanted to ask, but there might be stuff you need to keep secret…

Aoyama: We had a lot of meetings about that! At first, I uh asked whether I should say “Funya?”, but that was shot down. (haha) [T/N: I don't know enough about aiko to say what "Funya?" might mean. Maybe a catchphrase?]

Questioner: I’m a aiko-san fan so I’ve gone to a fair number of her concerts, so I’ve watched the video of her song on Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Did any murder cases come to mind after seeing aiko-san?

Aoyama: Ah, well, hahaha. No, I can’t say any did. (haha) Do you want to see one? (haha) I’d feel too bad to kill off a singer, but, well, I’ll think about it a plot that would have a singer involved. (haha) aiko-san was very cute. 

Q. Since Akai-san was raised in England, were there any sports he was forced to play aside from Jeet Kune Do?

Aoyama: I wonder? But Jeet Kune Do… he probably learnt it from his father, so I think he wouldn’t be interested in any other sport. (haha) But he seems like he’d be good at cricket. (haha)

Questioner: Maybe baseball in America…? Too?

Aoyama: Right, right. (haha) I think he’s good at cricket.

Q. I live in Kurayoshi. The Kurayoshi phone number area code is fairly important in your work, but what kind of role will Kurayoshi play in Conan in the future?

Aoyama: Ah… no, it’s just a coincidence. (haha) Kurayoshi, well… Kurayoshi residents would get mad at me, so. (haha) It would be difficult to use the city. (haha) It’s just a coincidence, I apologize. (haha)

Q. Do you have any New Year’s memories from when you were little?

Aoyama: Memories? Usually my family would ask me to visit a shrine with them, but I’d stay at home since it was too much of a pain. [T/N: In Japan, it’s tradition to visit a shrine on the first day of the new year.] That about sums up my New Year’s memories. (haha) But I always go these days. For my health. (haha) “Um… I’m counting on you this year again.” (haha) That’s what I go to the shrine to pray, basically. (haha)

Q. There was a scene in a chapter the other day where Hiro faces off against a criminal, but did he always have experience with martial arts?

Aoyama: I’m sure they learn uh… self-defence techniques and martial arts at the police academy, so he might not have any experience originally. But Hiro is strong. Though he’s weaker than Kyogoku. (haha)

Q. I’d like to know about Kyoto’s Inspector Ayanokouji’s personal life. Please tell me his hobbies, or what he does in his spare time.

Aoyama: Ah… (haha) Maybe he feeds Maro-chan and such. (haha)

Questioner: Does he have no other hobbies?

Aoyama: Hobbies? (haha) He loves Maro-chan, so that. (haha) Hey, what do you think would be good?

Questioner: Maybe archery…

Aoyama: Archery?! (haha) A bow?! Huh… (haha) Well, I’ll think about it. (haha)

Q. Do you have any plans for a triple date with Shinichi-Ran, Heiji-Kazuha, and Kyougoku-Sonoko?

Aoyama: Not at all. (haha) A triple date, huh? (haha) Ah, well, I see. (haha) I’ll think about it. Ahaha.

Moderator: You aren’t thinking about it at all, aren’t you? (haha)

Aoyama: I apologize. (haha)

Q. I watched your Professional interview. Since you were eating a lot of curry, I went out to eat at Curry Bondy too, and it was good. I’d love to hear about any other meals you enjoy while working, or food you’d highly recommend.

Aoyama: I wonder if I have anything to recommend…? (haha) All I eat is cheap stuff, so. (haha) I’m really into the beef don mini-pack from Yoshinoya- it’s a pretty small portion, so um, it’s good.

Moderator: The portion size is good?

Aoyama: Yes. Oh, any curry from Coco, of course. (haha) I like it.

Moderator: Sensei, you’re very economical.

Aoyama: Well, yes. (haha) It tastes good.

Q. I live in Saitama. Even though it’s so close to Tokyo, no Saitama detectives have made an appearance… 

Aoyama: Ahaha. I apologize. (haha)

Questioner: I’d like you to draw a case set in Saitama.

Aoyama: Ah… yes. (haha) One day. (haha) Yokomizo did show up in Saitama at first, but um… he transferred to Shizuoka. (haha) I apologize. (haha) So, I thought to have Yokomizo transfer all over the place, but I was told that almost never happens. (haha) Right… then, I’ll draw Saitama… one day… (haha) I’ll think about it. (haha) I apologize. (haha)

Moderator: Which is it? You’ll think about it, or you’ll draw it?

Aoyama: I’ll think about it. (haha)

Q. Does Kazuha-chan have anything she likes aside from aikido? 

Aoyama: Ah… she does like Heiji. (haha) Right, I think she’d like cooking [like others like her would.] Um… also cooking… and uh, I wonder… I hadn’t thought about it at all. (haha) You sure asked a tough question. (haha) What would she like… do you have anything in mind yourself?

Moderator: What she would like? It’s up to your [the questioner’s] imagination…

Questioner: …

Moderator: The questioner says that they wanted to hear it from you.

Aoyama: Right. (haha) But well, I handed them the power to choose, so. (haha)

Moderator: If they think of anything, it might become true, after all.

Aoyama: Does anything come to mind?

Questioner: …

Moderator: Then, please think on it, both of you. (haha)

Aoyama: Well, then, it’s fine. (haha) I’ll think about it. Me. (haha)

Q. I’m Taiwanese, but I currently live in Japan. Aside from the movies, Conan-kun has never been to any country but England. Are there any plans to have him visit other foreign countries? Like Taiwan…

Aoyama: His passport is an issue for him, so… (haha) Um… so he can’t really go overseas, um… because see, he doesn’t have any options aside from being stuffed into luggage by Kaito Kid, so. (haha) Um… going overseas would be difficult. (haha) Well, if he returned to his original body, he could go, but well, in his current situation it would be hard for him to go. (haha) I can’t use the same plot twice, so.

Moderator: It’s more about [the questioner's] feelings of wanting him to go to Taiwan.

Aoyama: Ah, is that so. I’d like to visit Taiwan too. (haha)

Moderator: Huh? You do?

Aoyama: Yes, yes, yes. (haha)

Moderator: Please do. (haha) Make some time. (haha)

Q. Organization codenames are so cool. I love them. I’d love to see new codenamed members appear, but do you have any plans for that?

Aoyama: What kind of alcohol would you like to see appear?

Questioner: To be honest… ●● [the name of an alcohol] or something, perhaps… (haha)

Aoyama: ●●…? Don’t tell me- are you ●●-san?

Questioner: Huh?! You could tell?!

Aoyama: Really?!

Questioner: Yes…! Thank you very much.

Aoyama: Amazing! So you managed to win a Q&A slot in the lottery… you’re the one who loves Koumei…?!

Questioner: Yes…! That’s right!

Aoyama: I’m happy for you. (haha) Koumei will play a big role this year, so. (haha) Please look forward to it. (haha)

Questioner: Thank you very much!

Aoyama: Please do your best. (haha) Ah, wait, I’m the one who needs to do their best. (haha)

Moderator: ?

Aoyama: Amazing… they’re someone I always receive fanmail from.

Moderator: Ah, I see! So that’s why you got so excited?

Aoyama: Yes, yes. (haha)

Moderator: I feel like everyone was out of the loop there. (haha)

Aoyama: Ah…! (haha) I apologize. (haha)

Moderator: I’m sure they’re happy they were noticed by you. (haha) Sensei, onto the next question…

Aoyama: Ah, right. (haha) I was too focused on ●●-san. (haha)

[The audience laughs.]

Q. Do you plan to draw Shinichi and Kid facing off?

Aoyama: Ah… right. I’d like to draw it. (haha)

Questioner: I’ll look forward to it.

Aoyama: Ahaha. Shinichi, huh…

Q. My name is Hattori. I grew to like my name thanks to Detective Conan.

Aoyama: Ahahaha. Wait, wait, wait. (haha) What about Hanzō? [T/N: A famous samurai was named Hattori Hanzō.]

Questioner: Please tell me what last names you like, or would like to have, in your works.

Aoyama: Ah… Kudo. (haha) I do really like the Kudo-chan that Matsuda Yuusaku played in Tantei Monogatari, so if I could I’d love to become a Kudo. (haha)

Q. Heiji and Kazuha deepened their relationship in the most recent chapters at Abeno Harukas. Had you already decided to an extent what would happen even before Abeno Harukas was made? [T/N: The building opened in 2014.]

Aoyama: From before it was made…?

Questioner: From before it was completed… did you already think of… a story where… he confessed, or well conveyed his feelings, somewhere high up…?

Aoyama: Ah… no, I thought it up after its completion. (haha) When was it completed? 

Questioner: So essentially it wasn’t a plot you had planned for a long time. 

Aoyama: Yes… right, it was after it was completed… But well, I did think that I definitely wanted to include Kazuha’s mother. I thought I’d trick you all. (haha) I wanted to make everyone think, “He’s gonna confess to her mother, right?” then pull the rug under you when he actually confessed. (haha) I had that planned for a long long while. (haha)

Q. Who’s stronger between Kogoro and Ran?

Aoyama: Who’s stronger?! (haha) Right… (haha) I wonder… hm.. A tough question. (haha) But well, Kogoro is strong! But, Ran is catastrophically strong too (haha).

Moderator: Catastrophically, huh? (haha) That’s true.

Aoyama: Well, I think it’s hard to say. (haha) But well… if they did fight, Kogoro would probably hold back since he’s her dad. That would probably be how it ends. (haha)

Q. My hometown is in Kyushu. When I go to Tokyo for work, I can really feel the cultural differences. Could you write a case related to that kind of thing?

Aoyama: Ah… I do want to write a case that incorporates dialects somehow, but it’s tough. I do want to do it one day though. 

Questioner: Please do it in Kyushu.

Aoyama: Kyushu, huh? Right, right. (haha) With Hakata dialect?

Questioner: I speak Saga dialect though.

Aoyama: Saga dialect?

Questioner: Saga dialect.

Aoyama: Ah, so there’s a difference?

Questioner: Yes, it’s a little more hickish.

Aoyama: Ahahaha. Right, yes, I understand. (haha)

Q. Tottori has a Mystery Tour. If you have any memorable locations or tourist spots you’d like to include in that tour, please tell us.

Aoyama: Huh…? I wonder? It’s been a long while since I moved to Tokyo. (haha) Odaiba is quite near here, so maybe something that used that… I wonder. Aside from that, hm, Tottori makes you think of crabs, and uh, apple-pears. That kinda thing, I guess. (haha) I have no clue how you’d make use of it though. (haha) All I talked about was good food. (haha)

Q. Who’s the tallest among all your characters?

Aoyama: Tall characters? Right… Gin or Kyogoku.

Questioner: I heard that Date-san is over two metres tall…

Aoyama: Ah…! Date then, maybe?! (haha) Gin and Date might be close in height. Kyougoku might be a little smaller than them. Well, the point is, the three of them are big. Um… it’s definitely not Kazami. (haha) In my heart, Kazami is about the same height as Amuro. (haha) Well, Gin or Kyogoku or Date. (haha) That’s the top three. (haha)

Redacted Questions

These questions weren't mentioned in the official transcript, only by unofficial sources. As with before, I can't guarantee their veracity. Questions with multiple sources are likely more trustworthy.

Q. What can you tell us about this year’s movie at this point? Q. What’s the best part of this year’s movie? [T/N: I'm fairly sure these are referring to the same question.]

Aoyama: When I told Rikiya Koyama [T/N: Mouri’s VA] that Kogoro is the main character this year, he told me he was nervous. Once he was done, Takayama-san [T/N: Conan’s VA] told him he sounded cool. I'll be drawing a key frame for it.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875104022316892638

https://twitter.com/Flambe4869/status/1875236204511424575

Aoyama: I can’t say, but I think you’ll be shocked.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/brainwashednerd/status/1875109428812460351

Q. What is Furuya's family situation like?

Aoyama: Secret, as I haven’t decided for certain just yet- it might still change.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875104027354309115 [just that it's secret]

https://twitter.com/furu_rei0/status/1875126654412177457

Q. Who will be the star of next year’s movie?

Aoyama: I can’t say, but it’s already been decided as well as the stage.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875104031993155584 [just that it's secret]

https://twitter.com/brainwashednerd/status/1875109428812460351

https://twitter.com/Flambe4869/status/1875236220017766594 [just that it's secret]

Q. Any information on Akai and Amuro’s chat nine hours later?

Aoyama: I can’t say. It’s a truly mysterious tea party (haha)

Sources:

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875113952285434164

https://twitter.com/Flambe4869/status/1875238401630466510

Q. Akai and Amuro infiltrated the Organization and know about Sherry, but don’t know of the existence of APTX4869?

Aoyama: They do not. There’s a reason why the details of her and her parents' research can't be well-known in the Organization, but that’s secret. Even parents wouldn’t tell their children about it in the Organization.

Sources:

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875118685008097627

https://twitter.com/brainwashednerd/status/1875109428812460351

https://twitter.com/yuki_det_con/status/1875121733193306289

https://twitter.com/Flambe4869/status/1875261566855344132

https://twitter.com/44_mcs/status/1875132311219634602

Q. Do you have any special tidbits for us aside from what you’ve already told us?

Aoyama: That's definitely secret! But take a good look at the illustration I drew for the Conan Tanteisha store as well. [Reportedly, it said that Kansuke and Yui and Koumei’s childhood will appear in the movie.]

Sources:

https://twitter.com/Flambe4869/status/1875333448682107358

https://twitter.com/hrksdc/status/1875177696680108100

Q. Will Miyano Shiho and Kudo Shinichi ever star in the same case?

Aoyama: Ah, I can’t tell you that. Whoops, I almost let something slip (haha). It’s a secret!

Sources:

https://twitter.com/44_mcs/status/1875119113670144425

https://twitter.com/brainwashednerd/status/1875109428812460351 [just that it's secret]

[sauceytwinkietwinkling]

🤍🖤☔️Rainy Romances☔️🤍🖤

Ugatha Rosenhein x Prof. Puzzles (OC x Canon)

Okay, so finally got around to making a fanfic. I haven’t made a fanfic in a HOT minute, so apologies if my writing is shitty lmaoo.

I got the idea bc it’s really rainy where I’m at, so why not write a fanfic between the two most hated professors in a relationship at GMOD University?

I hope y’all like this. This was also inspired by @frantic-drawer’s fanfic, so I’m using that for reference!

if you don’t like OC x Canon, I recommend that you scroll away.

some characters mentioned belong to @frantic-drawer, who owns NOVA, and @runrabitrunrunrun who owns Nicknack! Go check them out, they’re awesome!

btw, just so there’s no confusion, I’m going to be using @jovialoddity’s human puzzles! Creds to them btw for his human design, as it is not mine.

Now onto the fanfic!!

__________________

Rainy days. Of course it was a rainy day.

Not that Professor Puzzles hated them, he just never really liked how dreary it looked…nor did he like getting wet.

But luckily for him, he could stay inside his home, and unfortunately grade his students sloppy work. Kind of a take-back, but it was better than getting soaked in that horrible weather. At least he was staying dry.

As Puzzles typed away on his computer, he heard his phone buzz beside him. Finally, an opportunity to have a small break from grading. He picked it up, and saw it was a text message.

From his beloved Ugatha.

Puzzles could feel himself smiling already. He knew Ugatha usually slept in when she had a day off, so he was happy to know he could finally talk to her. It was 2:00 in the afternoon after all, and he had been waiting patiently…or at least tried to.

Ugatha 💕: “Hey, what are you up to?”

He typed back,

“Nothing of interest, really. Grading my students work, that is. Not very fun if you ask me. The only good work I’ve had so far is from NOVA and Nicknack.”

Ugatha 💕: “Haha. Who knows, you might have better luck! You can do this, hon.”

“You can do this.”

The words of encouragement he always heard, but he loved to hear from her. Sometimes, he even questioned if he deserved this angel of a woman.

He smiled, before typing,

“Thank you, love. I really do need that.”

Ugatha send a “❤️”. He sent a heart back. Just when he thought she was done, Ugatha sent,

Ugatha 💕: “I just realized it was raining outside, I don’t know how I didn’t notice before, lol”

Puzzles chuckled a bit at that, before he replied,

”Yeah, it is pretty bad outside.”

Ugatha 💕: “Do you think it’s good enough to run around in?”

Puzzles paused at that. Was it safe to go out in. To him, it was a big fat no.

“You can try, but I’m not finding out for you. Be my guest.”

Ugatha 💕: “Alright. Well, I’ll talk to you later, hon. I have an experiment to do.”

Puzzles looked at the message with his crooked eyebrow raised. Experiment? She made it sound like something a mad scientist would say. Oh well, that was Ugatha. Always coming up with ideas.

As he looked away from his phone, he then remembered what he was originally doing before he got distracted. He let out a dreadful sigh, rubbing his temples. He hated this job, but he had to do what he had to do.

He went on, a cycle of doing a double take at some questionable scripts, messily written pitches, and just the overall hellhole of lazy work done by his students. How he wished he could just throw them into a room with Michael Myers…

But, something outside caught his eye that interrupted his little internal moping. He paused in his work, and stood up, walking over to the window to get a better look at what he was seeing.

It was Ugatha. Out in the rain. Dancing and spinning around like a carefree child.

Puzzles was a little bewildered at the sight, but soon his silent, neutral stare turned into a little smile, along with a chuckle escaping his lips.

But then he stopped when he realized something.

She wasn’t even wearing a coat.

All she was wearing was a sweater, a long skirt, and her ballet flats.

Puzzles panicked a little. Ugatha could get a cold, or maybe even frostbite! He hesitated for a moment. He didn’t like the rain, and he also didn’t to get his new clothes wet.

But it was Ugatha he was worried about.

Without another thought, he dashed over to the door, and just snatched a coat from a rack, not even getting himself one. He practically flung the door open, and ran out. He grimaced a bit feeling the rain soak his hair and his skin, but that didn’t matter right now. He’d fuss later.

He quickly ran over to Ugatha, and frantically spoke,

“Ugatha, what on Earth do you think you’re doing out in this dreadful weather?! Y-You could get sick out here—hell, you could get struck by lightning!”

Ugatha just looked at him, a little surprised to see him here, but she huffed a bit. Her voice raised, but no real anger or any signs of agitation in her tone, she replied,

“Well I’m completely fine for your information, and secondly, you’re one to talk! You don’t have a coat either!”

Puzzles sighed. He hated, and adored her stubbornness. Then again, he could be stubborn too. More than her.

“Well, that doesn’t matter. You’ve been out here a little longer than I have, so there.”

He draped the coat around her shoulders, cuing Ugatha to put it on.

Puzzles just stared at her for a minute. Her soft, fluffy hair was wet and sticking to her face, neck, and clothes. Her clothes were soaked. Nonetheless, she looked unbothered and rather calm. He couldn’t help but think despite her state, she looked beautiful…well, she looked beautiful all the time.

Her voice was beautiful.

Her personality was beautiful.

Everything about her was breathtaking.

Ugatha’s voice broke through his thoughts.

“What is it?”

She seemed to have noticed him staring at her. He looked at her, before fixing some of his now wet hair out of his eyes.

“…Nothing, love…you..you look pretty like this.”

This made Ugatha let out a giggle. She held one of his hands, her small fingers and his long fingers intertwining.

“What, is this the part where you tell me your undying devotion for me, and then we kiss like in the books?”

Ugatha teased, playfully nudging his shoulder. Puzzles grinned, letting out a small laugh.

“Well, perhaps that is what happens.”

He cupped her face so delicately, his thumb caressing her cheek, which was showered in raindrops. He leaned in, looking into her eyes.

“…I love you, you crazy woman.”

Just before Ugatha could shoot a teasing reply back, he had already pulled her into a kiss, his hands in her hair, Ugatha wrapping her arms around his neck.

Those two had not a care in the world that they were embedded in the cold, wet weather. For now, they forgot about their worries and stresses, and kissed in the rain, soaking each other in.

♡♡♡

[fadedpath]

puts on my Friedrich apologist hat. so i have some things to say about how i'm going to write this character since he's a seemingly polarizing figure from what i can gather online ( and it isn't for his last scene lol which is another conversation entirely about gothic horror / romance tropes, being foreshadowing and a contrast to another end scene etc. etc. ). i don't think he's a bad person for a variety of different reasons, but that also doesn't mean i think he's a good person. there's ✨ nuance ✨

one thing before i explain, the audience has the power to judge him somewhat unfairly due to one key point: the POV of the movie is 99% Ellen's. we see what she sees, we know what she knows. we have that privilege to see for ourselves the horror inflicted upon her and most of all believe right at the very opening scene of the movie. ( tbh if Friedrich was more of an asshole that people say he is, he would have kicked Ellen out the moment the fits start happening and it probably would've saved his family, but i digress ghkjshgjks )

so imo Friedrich, for the time period he is in, is pretty morally average for his kind of character ( grew up in generational wealth, successful business man, etc. ). there's nothing surprising with how he acts. the first we meet him ( which is usually the thesis for characterization ), we get an idea of who he is: he loves his wife and is proud of his family, and he holds a sense of duty towards his friends. i want to point that out because some people claim he is only helping the Hutters due to some desire to self-aggrandize himself, but i don't think that's it. one of the first lines to Thomas is the man promising to pay back the loan Friedrich gave to him to help him along, to which Friedrich brushes it off, uncaring of being paid back. but the scene in which people think he's self-aggrandizing is when he points out it's at his expense that the Hutters are given a ride home after he kicked them out due to his wife now being afflicted, but i don't think he is still! i think he's bringing up all that he did for her in the sense of "i did my duty to your and yours but now it's affecting the one i love most, so you don't get to act this way towards me after all i did for you" type of mindset. was he wrong to brush off Ellen trying to warn him? yeah, but also you gotta think: it'd be really weird if he just immediately started believing her. Thomas only believed Ellen when he saw Orlok for himself. Anna, i don't think, believed her wholly but more so was simply trying to help out of love. Friedrich never sees Orlok, he only sees the very real plague that's happening to very real people that he can see for himself, who are dying ( and now his wife has it so!! ).

at the end of the day, he's the typical conventional dude of his era and is put into an incredibly unconventional situation, one that calls too much into question that he can handle at that point in the movie, and instead of opening himself up to it, he digs his heels in and stubbornly refuses to entertain it because he has bigger problems to deal with ( in his mind ). we, the audience, think he's a pig-headed fool who doesn't know any better because we see him through Ellen. but in his shoes, he sees this lady coming into his house, disrupting his family's peace, and wants her out.

long story short, Friedrich is ruled by the narrative, he cannot escape the bounds that holds him in place within it, and that's the tragedy of his character. that he realized too late, and once he did finally realize, he was past the point of no return. grieving as he was, there was no living after his entire family was annihilated. ( to which i think there is a lot of guilt in him for that, which spurs his grieving tenfold, since he didn't wake up when his family was getting snacked on, see "i will never sleep again" as he's crying on a coffin, but that's for another post hgkjdsg )

[shatcey]

You combine everything so neatly. I love it.

I just wanna say that I have the impression that the EN and JP teams are in constant contact. I don't have any solid proofs, but sometimes it feels like the jokes, concerns, and ideas of our English community somehow reaches to the Japanese team. Maybe it's just a coincidence, or maybe the JP team is keeping an eye on us. Or maybe I'm just paranoid. But that's the impression I have.

And following that logic, this damn dramatic level directly comes from what we should expect from his route (I think it will be even more). If you only read the EN game, you wouldn't expect this from Victor. He gives the impression of an air-head with too much energy, positivity, and a constant present smile. There wasn't much event with him yet, and seeing that level of drama in him is pretty hard at this point. But… if you also read the JP's events… It wouldn't be that surprising.

And for those of you who are worried about the low romance level… I decided to combine the other guys' TGIFs from the same game so you can understand my logic. They are all from the English X/Twitter Cybird (the developer, not just the game).

As usual, I talk too much, so I'll hide the rest.

The first three boys: Liam, Harry and Will

I… strongly disagree with the romantic level on the Harry's diagram. His route doesn't give that vibe at all. I haven't read his POV stories, only two endings epilogue, and I DO KNOW he loves Kate very much. But… the route itself and the usual Harry makes it quite difficult to notice.

The same with William. Even if he makes very romantic moves and spoils Kate endlessly, it is still quite difficult to see his emotions. And I like him very much, I don’t think his way of hiding emotions is something bad. It’s simply who he is. It’s just hard to notice, it’s really really hard. And the man himself doesn’t give such a vibe at first glance. Maybe they tell us how much is hidden in him…

...

...

I need to rethink my previous words.

...

...

I take back my previous words. They ARE contain a lot of love.

In that case, I disagree with Liam's diagram. There's so much love in that kid, it's enough to drown in.

Next two: Elbie and Ally

And again… from what possition we evaluate them? If it's from someone who doesn't know them very well… yeah, that's true. But if you dig deeper… it's not as it seems. If they're talking about their routes… then maybe. But again… I don't see much flirting from Ally… humor… yeah… but he's not Shingen, who flirts non-stop.

And for comparison

Who dares to say that Kenshin has no romance??? He decorated her… cage… and… brought her to a beautiful field and night. I know his route just wasn't focused on it. But that doesn't mean it's not there at all!!!

So my point is that it's very difficult to have a single opinion on this. It's all quite personal.

And I can't say we have a very low romance level in Victor's diagram (look at poor Kenny). So… nothing to worry about.

Judging by the previous TGIFs… They were supposed to give us Ellis… His route should be next. They can't give him next month because they're changing the games… When are they going to give us Ellis??? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to see Vivi's diagram. But I feel offended on Ellis' behalf.

*Points aggressively at the romance score*

I'm overwhelmed with the need to ramble over this 'cause I feel like this is deeply routed in Victor's pre-route behavior.

We are thirsty and starved for this man. Pre-route Victor embodies slow burn and edging. To point out a difference between him and another suitor: pre-route Ellis has already fingered us twice whereas we just got a friendship kiss on our forehead from Victor. As much as I complain about the edging and slow burn, they are some of my favorites tropes and I love that they get applied to Victor. Partially it's given to him because he's a gentleman, but there is more.

It seems to me that Victor thinks he can't allow himself to want Kate like that even though he is attracted to her. An instance of Victor distancing himself from Kate is in his POV of the mirror event. He suggests that the two could hug every morning to which Kate responds that her heart couldn't take it. Victor agrees and thinks to himself it's better to not get too close. Another instance is that in the epilogue of the Wrecked The Halls event, Victor thinks they shouldn't be more than the Queen's Aide and the fairytalekeeper.

Distance. That's an important element in Victor's pre-route events which will undoubtly so be present in his route as well. There is something that forces Victor to think Kate and he shouldn't get too close. But despite of that, he still wants her.

This is a spoiler for his first future CE card but in it, he allows himself a few minutes to do what his heart desires despite saying he was just teaching Kate something. In that moment of doing what he wants, Victor places multiple kisses on Kate's shoulder and neck. He's saying her name like it's a secret love that shouldn't be. Afterwards, he tells Will that even if he had feelings for Kate, he has nothing to offer because he belongs to the queen.

In my opinion, Victor hasn't been given many opportunities to be romantic. He doesn't give himself the opportunity to be too obvious with his feelings for Kate. He cannot permit himself for whatever reason to see Kate as someone he can and should romance. But naturally, he's a very doting person and his attraction to her slips through in some of his actions and words.

So I believe once we have entered the girlfriend zone, Victor will be finally free to show that romantic side of him a lot more. I'm not sure how much content the EN devs already have because I'm not sure how much ahead Cybird writes, but I think the devs made an accurate scale with how we have seen Vic act so far, though I think he's actively holding his romantic side back.

[avernusreject]

Saw this circulating around so had to do it. I've had this grumpy gal in my brain for months now. She's still very much a work in progress.

Very condensed WIP background: Basically, Lisetta was born into a dalish clan on the outskirts of Antiva. As a child, her clan was killed by bandits. Realizing she had magic, the bandits kept her alive and sold her off to crows for a quick buck.

My goal with her character is to make her be a complete 180 from my canon inquistor, Vinara Lavellan. Vinara was extremely kind/diplomatic, sometimes to the point of naivety. She believed deeply in the dalish and trying to reclaim lost elven history.

Lisetta is going to be incredibly distrustful of elven culture and the dalish at large. The dalish, their traditions, and their gods couldn't keep her safe, so to her its all a load of horse shit. Her personality is going to be direct/aggressive: 1. cause I've never played a character like that in a Bioware game before (just want the challenge tbh), 2. growing up in the crows forced her to be incredibly distrustful/independent because at the end of the day the only person she could ever truly trust was herself.

[citrusai]

taash said "they were doing it" and people ran with the interpretation of an npc that doesn't know solas or the history of the elvhenan even when bellara interjected and said, no, that's not right. that's not how it was for the elvhenan. they formed bonds before they had physical bodies. and people ran to doompost or create weird anti-solavellan shit even though mythal & solas refer to each other as old friends and when she releases him there is no tenderness or love in it. it is the act of unchaining a dog from his post, the stepping down of a general. but to each their own ig.

[vomitspit2]

omfg it’s almost midnight here and i have to get up for work at 5 AM but let me compose at least some of my thoughts …

ok idia x robot girl! reader … hear me out 🥺

someone he creates to cure his loneliness of companionship in a tender way that ortho just cannot do; ugh i’m imagining a plain head just sitting on the desk, stripped down to the metal and skinless; him asking which eye color you like the best until it lands upon yours;

the midnight conversations as he builds a body; the pining from the reader (is it actual pining or are you just scraping the edges of desperate self perseverance so he doesn’t trash you like the other models); kind of dream-like transition between adding each body parts (like imagine yourself lying in a tub of ink — cheeks, nose, lips, a slight peel of your forehead visible — and eventually it all drains down as more and more body parts are added);

the first very touch of human flesh upon you; the cracked polystyrene blinks that you give with twitchy eyelashes; you siphon your romantic tendencies between a messy mélange of gritty 18+ hentai and victorian romance novellas; idia pours his damned and tormented soul into making you perfect for him and you pour yourself willingly into the image, designed just for one man <3

past midnight edit:

BRUH TO THIS SOnG

yeah to this fuckin banger

((past midnight edit again: there are really only two ways you can go with robot main characters: the building process or the robot being oblivious and thinking they are human (Ex Machina or Twilight Zone) i enjoy both sooo much))

[15-lizards]

I know its a gag now, but Alicent and Otto really do have the average ideal "misogynistic dad forces the wife role onto daughter, but he doesmt fuck her so shes safe" that you see every other single dad do lmao. Still don't get why parent child incest is bad but siblings and uncle/aunt with nephew/niece is okay :/

Dare I say parent child incest is more intriguing bc of this— *gets mowed down by a machine gun*

But I think ppl are fine with Daemyra and the conquerors and Jacela and everyone else bc they are power dynamics that are a bit more removed from the Absolutely Disgusting parent/child incestuous relationship. With siblings and cousins and uncles and nieces you can avoid that direct confrontation, but you’re forced to face it head on when there are father/daughter implications and it just makes ppl too uncomfortable to think about. But babes you can’t escape by turning your head away the incestuous rot has not only affected the groomed Daughterwife but also ur cool sexy edgy niecewife/unclehusband!!! You can’t escape the sickness of it! That’s the point!! None of it is good all of it is a twisted illness!! The empire has to burn!! 🤪