#i'll make a better promo . . .later maybe

[eveningspirit]

Langdon and Back Pain, Part Two [with screencaps from episodes 1x03 and 1x05]

You may find Part One here.

Episode 1x03 doesn't really have any examples of pain. It has however examples of some sort of discomfort with standing straight. Those are: leaning, leaning, leaning, holding onto a wall, holding onto a door, leaning and standing slightly bent forward, what may not be important at the time, but will serve as a comparison to a later episode.

Episode 1x04 has two or three more examples of leaning, but the screencaps are closeups, and not much is visible, so I didn't include them.

Then, there's episode 1x05, which baffles me with the way Langdon moves at the start of this scene:

It's like he's walking on bent knees and he remains in this hunkered down pose until Santos pisses him off with "I want to do that, but Dr. Langdon disagrees." (and let's not argue about Lorazepam now, because that would be a completely different post, which I may also make, who knows).

ETA: Here's the post with gifs of this moment, and a small convo in comments between me and @ashtehenerd I'm not the only one that saw it! 0.0

Oh, and that left arm? Held close to his chest? That's either nothing, right, or it's kind of a "protecting the area of the body that's sore". IDEK. Either way, his posture feels so tense here.

A little later in the same scene Langdon very clearly supports his weight on the patient's bed.

All of those examples, on their own may not mean much. Other characters can also be found leaning on various surfaces. But when there's so many, they begin to form a pattern.

And to finish with this scene, one more leaning:

Next caps illustrate some level of pain/discomfort, however I only include them for whump purposes. This is not evidence that Langdon has chronic issues (well, maybe a little), but more, that he's in fact a twelve-years-old.

Also. Faces this man makes.. Seriously..

Now there, remember that scene with Santos and Donnie? How many of you noticed who's in the background? As a few times before, it would be better illustrated by a gif, but here Langdon once more exhibits an inability to stand straight.

In the scene with post-tonsilectomy bleeder I noticed some instances of Langdon seeking extra support, but all screencaps were bad quality, so there, have one where he makes yet another weird face. Or is it grimmace of pain when lifting his arm?

And, finally, it's a promo picture, but here you can clearly see that he's not having any qualms about putting his weight on the patient.

That's all for today.

I wonder how far I'll be knocked off my pedestal come tomorrow's episode, lol.

ETA: I wasn't, ha! Here, you can read Part Three [1x06].

Happy (almost) Pitt Day!

[locke-esque-monster]

I got real nervous they were doing Lila x Five really early in the season. It wasn't even explicitly stated, it was just a feeling from how they were setting up and framing things. Lila disagreeing with Diego and going to talk to Five. Lila keeping secrets from Diego that Five knew about. The tension of Five covering for Lila to Diego. Lila's dissatisfaction with her relationship with Diego and asking for a break. Without actively being romantically into Five, it kept setting up the narrative for Lila to leave Diego and Five was all tied in with what she was going to as an alternative to Diego. Add that to the promo pics with them together - even having watched it later and avoided spoilers I had a real bad feeling where this was going long before 4x5. (Or at least avoided until I already had my theory - my phone helpfully suggested an article days before I got to 4x5. I was not pleased to say the least.)

But there's a lot of reasons I take issue with this pairing and how it was done, so Christ, I guess let's get started:

Five explicitly stated in season 3 that Lila is not his type.

Five murdered Lila's parents. Sure, on the Handler's orders. But you think it's easy to have a romantic relationship when you know those hands killed your parents (aka my biggest critique of Tony/Bucky shippers in the MCU).

Five is indirectly responsible for the Handler's death. He saved everyone but her when he time traveled back. Sure, Lila was upset with her, but this woman raised her. She's got to have some complicated feelings about that and Five is all wrapped up in them now.

Five also had a weird relationship with the Handler, where she was a little flirty with him, which was all kinds of uncomfortable. Lila briefly mimicked this in season 3, which was even more uncomfortable. It's unclear if this was deliberately copying her "mother" or not. But adding Five and the Handler's complicated relationship on top of the other issues means there's a whole carousel of baggage to unpack here.

Five has always seemed kind of annoyed or tolerant of Lila, which extended into early this season. It's maybe a hair kinder at the start of season 4, but definitely not where it should be if there's potential here. It'd be one thing if they were friends after 6 years, but their relationship hasn't substantially changed at the start of this season to suggest otherwise.

If you have to do an all musical montage to show 2 characters falling in love, I'm sorry, you're not doing this right. That's telling, not showing. These characters have had tons of interactions to build off of. If you can't do that, then you're effectively saying that you have no foundation for this relationship.

Also, if it takes 6 1/2 years of being each others sole companions under adverse conditions for you to get together - maybe you shouldn't be together. It's one thing if it's treated like "Finally" or "Oh I didn't think you also felt this way". It's another if it's like it's a new idea entirely - that suggests loneliness and a desire for companionship and they're you're only option.

Five's history includes him having a pseudo-romantic relationship with a mannequin when he's left alone in the apocalypse at 13. The next time he's separated from his family for years he's with Lila. I'll allow that it makes sense he developed feelings for her specifically because of his history. That said, that makes this a wholly unhealthy relationship when he has a history like that. Lila is filling a gap Five's psyche has clung to before in similar harrowing times.

Frankly, the fact Lila was first looking for excitement out of her home life and is now upset she can't get back to her family isn't a good headspace either. (I'm also deeply frustrated that Lila feels trapped at home. Lila is so capable and she has a buttload of family members who apparently can take their children on a whim during all this chaos. You're telling me she couldn't have found a better outlet to work on their marriage or get some freedom before it got to this point of lying to Diego?)

Five is volatile and Lila is unpredictable. They're nothing but a menace to practically every other character they meet, including each other. But once they're a couple, they're perfectly pleasant the whole time. I don't buy it. The only fight they have is when Five lied to her. I'm not saying they can't be sweet. But this is all sweetness. For me to buy this couple they need to lovingly bicker. Instead, they've both had personality transplants.

So they decide to go back to the greenhouse after 6 years 5 months and 2 days. Five admits to having the book 5 or 6 months on their 7th anniversary of being lost. Let's be generous and assume they kissed within a couple days of getting to the greenhouse, because they look reasonably settled. That means that best case, Five decided that after being in a relationship for less than 2 months, he was going to throw his whole family away and run away with Lila. That is a hell of a lot of commitment for a short relationship.

And keep in mind, it's not like their family is safe. Last they heard, they hadn't solved the Cleanse. So they're either actively in danger or dead. Five - The man who spent 45 years trying to save his family. Who survived decades in the apocalypse alone (minus Delores the mannequin) and murdered his way through time for the chance to get back and save them - is going to let his family die for a 2 month relationship. I call bullshit.

Also, I will give Five credit that he tried to stay on task during the fight with the Cleanse. He only seemed to fight in retaliation for Diego - he actively looked towards the fight at least once before Diego pulled his attention. But you're telling me he's ready to keep fighting Diego and is threatening to kill him over Lila? That his powers only work correctly after 7 years of having them back because Lila begged him? I once again call bullshit.

And Five was going off to mope alone and never come back and potentially let his family die from an active threat, all because Lila didn't pick him? That is not the Five I know.

I also feel like we maybe did all this arc to get Lila to the point where Five has to convince her to stay because no one else could even if she hates him for it, but still get her family on the train to get the planned ending. And that feels very clunky and I hate it.

Outside of plot lines - it is a bit disturbing to me that we're pairing up an actor whose barely an adult with a woman 15 years his senior - practically old enough to be his mother. This is a aside from the fact he's a what, 71 year old man internally at this point and Lila (if we assume even living at the commission she's a similar age to Diego) is in her early 40s by the time she kisses a physically mid-20s Five. There's so much about that I am not okay with I don't even know where to start.

I also hear the writers wanted a romance for Five. First, okay, then have a longer season. Develop a character for Five earlier on in the season or the show you can pair him with. God knows with that history and age issues it'll be tricky. But also frankly - why? Why does Five need a romantic love interest? He's been fueled by the love of his family and that's done so many impressive things out of love for them. Not everyone needs a romantic love of their life to find happiness and it feels very heteronormative (is that the word I want?) that we need to have that for Five. Give Five an apocalypse-free world and his family alive and then we can see what happiness he can find.

[casablancarossa]

Follow your body rhythm..

<<a [medium spicy] taemin x reader scenario>>

Pairing: Taemin x Female!Reader

Genre: Slightly smutty.

Content Warning: Not Advised for Minors. Minors DNI. Usage of pet names.

Synopsis: In preparing for your comeback, your practice session is rudely interrupted by your ex-boyfriend and suddenly bad ideas become good ones.

Author's Note: Sometimes the way that man dances is just so sinful. Like sir who allowed you. Do you think his hip rolls in bed are just as lethal?

The music pulsated a little too loud in your head this time. Maybe that's what happens after 6 hours on the floor without taking a break, but you would get so lost in the zone, and no one else was in the studio to really remind you to chill out for a bit.

As the last note rang through the room, it was like it had hit an off switch in your body and now you are on the floor, breathing so heavily and out of breath. Your vision wasn't any better as it felt like the room was spinning and honestly you'd had better vision, blind drunk without your contact lenses than you do now. Your eyes flutter shut as you bring up your arm to cover your eyes for a bit, audibly panting as you unzip your hoodie to cool your body off.

"Mmm, be careful, being a temptress could get you hurt", a voice reacted seeing your sweatpants riding low on your hips, paired with a half mesh sports bra, almost leaving nothing to the imagination as your breasts practically pool over the top.

The sudden presence of someone shocked you and you didn't even think twice to stand up and bow your back, greeting whoever was in the room. "Hello, sunbae!", your voice tried to sound respectful and less annoyed and by the time you stand fully straight, you noticed it was Taemin standing at the doorway of the dance studio, leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. "Oh--it's ... you", the words left your breathless as you collapse down onto the ground again.

Taemin's eyes widened, flinching to reach out to you, witnessing your body drop, but seeing you groan in anger as you shift to sit up, pressing your back against the cool mirror. "Sorry, sunbae, I'll leave in a bit, just.. let me catch my breath.." you mumbled, throwing your head back to rest against the mirror.

"Working hard again hm? How's prepping for your comeback?" Taemin smiled as he steps into the room, walking towards you.

"Shit.."

"It can't be that bad..."

"I think I prefer it when I used to be a back-up dancer"

"3 years as an idol can feel like a lifetime, I suppose. Boa-noona misses you by the way. " Taemin smirks, settling down beside you.

"Has it only been three years?" , your eyes roll just enough that Taemin makes a note of it before you lie back down on the ground, suddenly feeling less pressure to leave.

"And yet you still use our studio..", he mused quietly.

Your turn your head to get a view of Taemin before rolling your eyes once more and stare at the ceiling. If it has been 3 years since you debuted, then it has been almost 4 years since you broke up with Taemin and roughly a few weeks since you last hooked up with him.

Taemin and you are old enough to know what you two were doing , and within reason, it was absolutely insane and totally wrong. The both of you were never really the 'casual sex' type of people but at the same time, you two never really had a deep meaningful conversation to know where you both stand together. You had prioritized your career, and so did Taemin, and unsurprisingly the two of you had needs. Sexual needs, that only you two could fulfil for each other.

Every morning after a 'playtime sessions' (you two have labelled it as such), you and Taemin would laugh about it over coffee, claiming that the previous night was going to be the last time and then acknowledge later on that 'last time' was not going to the 'last time'. But it worked for the both of you or at least you though it did.

"When's your first stage? How long is the promo?" Taemin's questions pulls you out of your thoughts.

"Jeez mom, relax." you giggled "Promo for 3 weeks and first stage is I think in 2 weeks, maybe later"

Taemin nodded his head and ponders for a moment before scooting his body across the floor to lie down beside you, resting on his elbows. His eyes bore holes into your body as he slowly analyses your face, biting his lips by the time his eyes cast over your plump lips, to your jawline, downwards your neck and continuing further to just the top of your exposed cleavage. He curses to himself internally, he was a fool to have let you go this long.

"So... anyone catch your eye recently?" Taemin tries to downplay his curiosity but his words carried the tone of spite behind it.

"Depends, any of your peers curious?" you hummed lightly, rotating your head to look at Taemin's reaction through his reflection. "You know, I did miss the chance to give my number to Taeyong oppa, do you think he'd still be interested?"

Taemin's face did not disappoint, you could see his jaw clench at the mention of Taeyong's name before muttering audible curses, thinking you wouldn't hear him. A fog washed over his gaze, he was deep in thought, the same blank stare he would give when he was angry. It would all steep deep in his core and he would never let it bubble over. Taemin's anger scared you before. The empty hooded gaze, the low voice, the way he'd flex his hands open only to ball up into a tight fist along with the sickly sweet tone he would adopt that has nothing but malice behind it. He mouths Taeyong's name, each time looking more and more annoyed.

You reach over to flick Taemin's forehead, sighing as you roll onto your side, looking at him. "Oppa, I was joking. Relax.."

He doesn't react, but his eyes were now on you and it felt hot and uncomfortable, like you were being judged.

"You say this, but I know he is featured in your stage as the male dance partner", Taemin's voice betrayed his apparent 'no-shits-given' appearance with a jealous tone.

"Aww baby, are you jealous?" you teased lightly, while your hand reaches up to caress his cheeks.

Instantly he melts with your touch as his head leans into your hold. You haven't called him by any sort of pet-name in a very long time. Taemin didn't even realize how much he missed it until he heard it from you. His reaction to your touch catches you off guard, quickly you pull your hand away and pull yourself upwards to a standing position, somewhat struggling to convince your body to do anything but stay beside Taemin.

"Ah oppa, I'll just get my stuff and you can have the studio" you announced without looking at him and when he gave no verbal cue back, you start walking away to the benches, quickly gathering your stuff, carelessly piling them into your duffel bag.

It was all the sudden, and you didn't even hear Taemin move across the floor, hell you didn't even hear him calling out your name, but out of nowhere, his hand was on your wrist, pulling you towards him, physically shortening the distance you created between you two. "Dance with me, y/n."

"What?"

"I've sat in a few of Taeyong's practices with the choreographer. I'd like to think I know the dance pretty well."

You stare at Taemin with wide eyes, slightly shocked unsure how to respond.

"Your phone is still connected right?" he said firmly, turning on his heel to walk towards the speakers, grabbing your phone and pausing to look at you.

Accept now and you'd look to eager. Reject and you'd be considered pretty rude. No one ever denies Taemin a chance to dance, whether he is pushing his back-up dancers for one more round, or inviting an idol to perform a song with him, and you would be no different. Without saying anything, the action of dropping whatever was in your hand while peeling off your hoodie, and walking to the middle of the studio was enough of an answer to the senior idol, who quickly presses play and shuffle.

Your body shifts into your starting position with Taemin standing off to the side, waiting for the cue to begin. As the beat drops and music plays, you begin to dance your routine as you always have but now instead of practicing it alone, you had someone with you instead. Technically, there was a list of male idols who you would share the stage with for the duration of your promotions, but you actually had not practiced with any of them yet.

It really didn't click in your head that the dance was really intimate in some ways and maybe you might be faced with a lot of hate for performing a sensual dance, with a male idol. You think it's rather tasteful, and quite a technical dance. You would count the beats in your head until Taemin's cue to essentially slide into his spot so you two could dance together.

Every longing pause, every hit of the beat, every sway of the hips, Taemin matched your rhythm and movement perfectly. Effortlessly, there was no hesitation when Taemin's body would be pressed against yours, or when you would need to lean on him as he supports your weight for a twirl. Suddenly the choreo felt electric. Any time Taemin's hands would be positioned at your hips, he would grip lightly, causing a hitch in your breath and those ghostly touches would fluidly move around your body when the choreo needed it.o

When your faces would meet, he'd have this alluring, almost seductive stare. Taemin wouldn't hold back during parts that required 'closeness' and would purposely graze, occasionally bumping his lips against the skin of your arm or shoulders.

"Mmm, tell me you aren't tempted to ditch Taeyong and have me as your partner instead" Taemin muses into your ear as he pauses.

You sigh, slightly annoyed, dropping out of your own pose to flick Taemin at the forehead. "Idiot. You are jealous"

"Why would I be? I'm not the jealous type. If you really want to dance with Yongie.. then fine." his voice laced with defeat and annoyance.

"Taem... come on. It's me. Be honest"

"Okay, maybe I am a bit jealous.." Taemin sighs as he reaches his arm out to hook around your waist, pulling you to him. "I can't help it...something about you, just makes it hard to control myself.."

"Yeah right.."

"Do I need to remind you?"

"Ah ah ah, you don't have to" you let out an annoyed groan.

At your protests, Taemin attempts to pick you up, wrapping your legs around his waist as he support you by your ass. The sudden movement causes you to yelp, trying to smack his shoulders as your arms cling around his neck. You and Taemin have been far more intimate than this but you couldn't help but to be shy at this moment. He had a childish smile on his face as he walks in circles around the studio, carrying you up and playing childish tricks on you, by pretending to drop you.

Each time you felt a pit in your stomach, you would wrap your arms tighter around him. The closeness of your two bodies gave you the chills. Did he get stronger? Why does it feel like his grip has gotten tighter? Does he look at me the same way I look at him? Thoughts flooded your brain, but it was suddenly interrupted by a cold shock running down your body.

Taemin had taken the liberty to walk towards the large mirrors, slamming your body against the cool screen, making you hiss a little. He uses the friction and leverage to slightly hoist you a little higher so he would be head height with your chest.

"Ow? What was that for?" you questioned, but there was quiver in your voice and that unmistakable glint in your eye like something had triggered within you.

"Oh sorry, I distinctively remember, that you love being pinned to the wall" the snarky yet alluring comment from Taemin caused your legs to tremble and suddenly your arousal made its presence known.

"Seriously in the studio? Where people can walk in?"

"Don't you think it's fun that way? Besides Y/N..I'm hungry" Taemin flashes a quick dirty smile before latching his lips at the top of your breasts, clamping down with a needy bite.

You barely had time to react, groaning as your head throws back. You would wantonly mewl Taemin's name as his teeth navigated closer to the hem of your sports bra, nipping at the fabric to release your nipple from its confinements. Your head lowers just in time to see him lick his lips, immediately going for the sensitive bud. "Ah..Taem..min..nggh", your words fail you.

Taemin's eyes look up to see your panting reddened face. Nothing excited him more that looking at your panicked, aroused state.

"It's about that time again Y/N..." he whispers lowly, the cool air of his breath gives you goosbumps. "Time for us to commit sin against god"

"Here, I was thinking that last time was the last time.." you chuckled, feeling a sudden twinge in your lower region.

"Oh baby, you and I both know, that's never going to happen" Taemin pushes his neck out so he could nip at your throat, before lovingly decorating it with kisses and bites.

You could only hum and lose yourself in his actions. Those damn lips were a curse, a curse you never wanted to end. It wasn't long before your fingers were wrapped in Taemin's hair, pulling him closer to you, letting him ravish you. Just beneath you, you could also feel his need for you pressing into your thigh and you couldn't help but shift just to feel it more at the spots that mattered.

"What's this princess? I though the studio was too lowly for you", he chuckles.

"Mmf, Taemin.. I can't.. I think I need you now..." you managed to speak in staggered breath.

Taemin grants you a moment of relief as your lips collide to a passionate kiss. Full of want and hotness. You couldn't help but cup his face in your hands as your tongues begin to dance, the way you two would hungrily bite each others lips.

In the deep desire to make Taemin's idol life harder, you wanted to lay your mark. Your fingers once more curl into Taemin's dark locks, now grabbing a fistful and yanking his head back so you can grant him the same 'gifts' he has blessed your neck with.

Taemin lowly growls, finding the dominance you were displaying very attractive. So he continues to allow you to place the bites. He is a grown man and resourced with talented makeup artists; a few hickeys would be no problem. What took him off guard was the way your free hand slipped to the base of his neck, applying slight pressure that ellicited a delightful moan out of him.

"Princess.. you are playing a dangerous game" he snarls, immediately grabbing your wrist and pinning it to the mirrored wall along with the slight slam of your body.

"Why? Scared I'd win..",you cocked a single brow up, taunting Taemin.

"Only because I'd let you win. Don't forget the only one begging and screaming is you.." he chuckles.

A foreign voice suddenly erupts. "Taemin-ah! Taemin-ah! Are you here Taemin-ah?"

As the door of the studio swings open, you had never found yourself and Taemin move so quick as you unfurl your legs as he quickly but gently lets you down before taking a step back.

"Oh hyung I'm here" Taemin calls out as his eyes widened staring at your chest, reaching out to quickly raise the fabric of your sport bra to hide your nipple.

"Oh Taemin you're here. Ah Y/N too. You were practicing too huh"

You raise your head to see Euisoo walking towards you two with coffee in hand. You quickly bow in greeting and keeping your head down, you rush towards your bag, picking it up from the floor and grabbing your hoodie and zipping it up to cover yourself more.

"I'm.. uh... I finished practicing.. I'll uhhh... I'll get out of your way" you stumbled to find your words after almost being caught by Taemin's manager.

Your feet quickly shuffled towards the speakers and unplugging your phone before heading to the door. You bow once more, waving your hands out to Euisoo and Taemin.

"Umm.. bye. I'll uhh.. I'll see you guys around." you nervously laughed before leaving the room.

Euisoo and Taemin chuckle to themselves, seeing you extra flustered.

Meanwhile you take the phone into your hand trying to think of what to send to Taemin as you navigate your way out of the building.

*beep beep*

Y/N sent a message : Name a place and time. Tonight. I'll show you, I can win the game too.

Despite the fact Euisoo rambling on about future schedules in line for Taemin, the idol only chuckles at the sight of your message, immediately coming up with a response.

Taemin sent a message: How about your place? Let's give your housemates something to talk about.

Y/N sent a message: Fine. But you better bring beer and rabboki.

Taemin sent a message: Food and drinks. Check. By the way, loser wears a collar for their next stage. ♥️

Y/N sent a message: 🥵 Can't wait.

[isca-rambles]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

SHE MADE FUCKING SERGEANT. FIRST PLACE. SHE DID IT.

The episode was like so-so I loved the cop mum stuff and the Wesley/Del Monte stuff and eh I didn't hate the Randy stuff but I could've done without it BUT OH MY GOD you could have screeched in my ear for 43 minutes and I would still love that episode because LUCY MOTHERFUCKING CHEN IS SERGEANT NOW 😭😭😭😭 That she asked Tim to look for her, she was so nervous and he went right there because he knew she'd be waiting nervously and obviously he wanted to know too but he was there to support her. And that he tried so hard to school his expression so he didn't give it away to her, Grey too, but the second she wasn't looking his face just burst into this bloody teary-eyed smile because he was so proud of her, not just the love of his life but the cop he trained from day dot becoming sergeant and starting her eventual rise to the very top of the LAPD. And the looks. Oh my god the looks they gave each other. I know this was a Chenford lite episode but good lord just one look between them is worth like 20 scenes and we got multiple! Not to mention that she called him again in the shop for advice. Even if it was just silly advice, he's her first call every time because she trusts him even when he gives advice like cigars. Okay back to Lucy. Dear god I keep tearing up. I was up until like 5am again, probably later tbh, and I just bawled at one point. Like I teared up during the actual scene and did a little happy cry at 3am but at some point I rewatched it and everything in me just broke and I full on bawled and didn't stop until I went to sleep again because wdym my girl got first and finally got the recognition she's been denied for so long?!

I would've loved to see everyone celebrate her and I'm still hoping we might get a little scene of that next ep, but I can cope with it being in fic I guess, but oh that scene was so perfect. Her two strongest supporters being there and finding out before her but letting her discover herself just how amazing she is. Headcanon is that Grey was a few minutes late posting the rankings because he had to have a little proud papa cry in his office first and didn't want to give anything away. Like he saw how broken she was for the detective's exam results and this time he could give her good news she deserves! Okay okay I'll stop for now because I could just keep going forever because Lucy has taken so many hits, she's been through so much, and S6 was just frelling awful for her in so many ways. S7 has been a bit rough for her too but slowly getting better and she's finally getting her win. Everything she's earned and fought for and deserves, she's going to get. Sergeant and then the love of her life. S8 Lucy is going to be in charge and on frelling cloud nine! Okay next week and the promo! So so so glad they're not just having Lucy and Tim leap back into a relationship the second she became sergeant. That was their biggest obstacle but Lucy is obviously still hesistant (and for good reason) and Tim is pretty hesistant too - he wants to be with Lucy but he wants to make sure that she's the one calling the shots. So it looks like they're going to be ships in the night, maybe we'll see the first week of her being night shift sergeant and we see them trying to catch each other but failing or being too tired to talk. Either Tim or Lucy will be the one to wait for the other to finish shift and force a talk, at the station or at one of their houses. They'll talk things through (again, I'm not expecting a massive indepth talk that was never going to happen with this show) and then one of them will ask the other on a date. I kind of want it to be Lucy? I want that mirror from S5 and her asking him coyly if he wants to get dinner sometime? Him being all 'yeah?' And them being big goofy idiots in love. A little kiss and those heart eyes and I will go into this hiatus a very happy woman. Honestly i'm going into this hiatus a happy woman anyway because Lucy is my first priority above all else and she got her promotion. Whether it's in the finale or the first episodes of S8, she'll get her man back too. I'm not worried about that at all. I was worried they might try and fuck her over again about the promotion but thankfully no. But yeah, I'm happy to go into this next ep and see what happens, but that's my theory for now. They'll find it difficult, Tim won't want to push until Lucy is ready, Lucy is going to be anxious because why isn't Tim contacting her, and then it'll get resolved. Also the night shift is not going to be permanent. Either it'll just be handwaved away at the start of S8, which is the more likely option, or her Mid-Wilshire family will pull some strings to get her back on days. Maybe in the finale? Maybe at the start of S8. Either way it's not going to last long.

Oh aside from a big celebration scene, or at least other characters acknowledging and congratulating her on her promotion to sergeant, I'm going to need a tiny boots scene. I need Tim to do that for her. He can get help if need be. Tiny boots in her locker, in her car, in the apartment. Something. Celina can take a picture for him. I just have a great need of it, okay? OH OH I also need someone to pin her new badge on. Literally anyone important in her life will do, but I think Tim or Grey mostly. uuuh other things. Oh, only one, but Wesley! Maybe he's going to step into the race for DA now that Del Monte is stepping back? Legit I thought Del Monte might die or his son would and he'd become corrupt because I've always had weird vibes from Del Monte but idk. I think Oscar will be dealt with in the actual episode, but Monica is going to stay a threat into S8 and dear god please no but I guess I'll take it. I honestly don't care I'm riding this high all frelling week.

[kaiowut99]

Some GX Remaster thoughts, as memed shared over on the NAC Discord the other night...

but tl;dr me seeing all the hype they did at these Japan events to promote the remaster, only to see what feels like little love being given to it as they make it another cropjob, only not even giving it a "20th Remaster" logo like with DM's:

Okay let's fire this up and se--okay wHY IS THE LYRIC FONT SO BIG

And cropjob it is, sasuga Konami [NAS?]

From all the work they did advertising it as the "GX 20th Remaster," to not even bother updating this bit in the OP to include the logo like they did for the DM Remaster openings, I'm...

Still not fully sure how much of this is from whoever encoded the video (a "JibaRaws" release) because wHAT is this filter they added to whooshy scenes??? (Judai running in the city isn't even that whooshy??) wild sepia tone appeared

RIP, even less Yugi--but at least they seem to have thoughtfully cropped this shot since the same amount of his face is there

They didn't try to fix the error with the one orange "face-down card" Big Shield Guardna's duelist had that I fixed here, lol.

I thought they would have at least fixed this one like I did, but the error with Misawa's LP dropping from 3000 as Ring of Destruction resolves is still there... They did get better about fixing those rare errors by Season 3, but I wonder if they don't have access to the original project files with the LP counters as their own layers that they could fix (though I guess if they did they'd redo the counters as they crop the shots, since DM's counters would be cut off slightly here/there too in its remaster iirc).

Random whooshy-scene sepiaesque filtering again, but also love how you can barely see Featherman's card [though with it being a zoom-out shot, it was probably a bit tricky to crop well]

No "20th Remaster" even on the cropped eyecatches, shame 😔

They cropped the "gotcha!" 😭 [how will this new generation learn the finger pose]

Well, I guess one upside to this whole thing--aside from the Limited Packs coming out with 10 previously anime-only cards finally being printed like Linear Magnum, Titan's Matadors, and Asuka's Prima Light (and hopefully a chance at a long-awaited Sound Duel 3 for the remaining unreleased OST)--is a bit of a better shot of grabbing the Heroes' anime artworks from the Battle on the Edge/Genkai Battle ED [a proper 1080p upload would be niftier for this, I'm sure]

Kinda bugs me they didn't crop this to put the title in the center [unless they maybe did it this way to account for two-liner titles in the future]

It is cute they brought back this "tune in next time" card from the TV airings too

Would've been a nice touch to retroactively do "Today's Best Card" bits for Season 1, but then I guess most of the key cards became Best Cards later in the show anyway [also too much effort to expect given the effort already shown here]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Sooo, overall, it's a bit of a mixed-bag remaster there--mostly a cropjob as I was expecting since we saw the logo drop at its announcement event being a crop of the logo shot from OP1 (though I'm curious to see how much the "remastering" for GX in ARC-V's 777 OP or in those Duel Select re-airings [where they re-aired a handful of fan-fave episodes like Judai vs Kaibaman or Fubuki vs Asuka] stack up to this), and things like not even bothering to give it the "20th Remaster" logo they used in promos in the OP/eyecatches or even trying to fix art/animation errors mostly sours it for me, but if it finally gets us more anime cards and a new Sound Duel of unreleased music as mentioned, I guess I'll embrace it. also Fire Dragon pls Also, not sure how much of it is my GX brainrot because of all my time fansubbing it (check out my finalized episode 1 subs, ft the aforementioned animation error fixes, here if curious!), but it's so awkward seeing it so cropped and zoomed in, lol.

...also, apparently these aren't airing with closed-captioning either??? which, welp, there goes the other benefit I was hoping for with this lol. I'm curious how Japanese fans are seeing this, though the couple of Twitter comments I've seen are also picking at the cropjob aspect.

Though I am kinda glad they didn't try to mess with the OP/EN like they did with DM's--but then, you can't mess with perfection, after all 💁🏽‍♂️

[sevenop]

Billie Eilish x Fem!reader: But I already have love in LA

A/n: 5,692 milli is the distance between calm nighttime Paris and sweltering Los Angeles, which almost makes Eilish howl like a wolf. A Paris promo in honor of the album mercilessly separates the two of you on an important date, but you find a way out.

Billie's point of view. 'Cause I like it.

"The person you are trying to reach is currently unavailable, please call back later," is the peremptory verdict unchanged over these endless eight hours, echoing coldly from a woman's voice on the other side of the handset. Not the voice I want to hear so much, not the timbre that makes my heart flutter so incredibly, as if it were your most expensive wind-up toy. Not your voice, absolutely not. You don't get in touch for such an ungodly long time, and I just diligently shut up the feeling of anxiety devouring from within throughout the day: a dark woolly monster grins hungrily with its wide mouth, loudly clicking its massive, fanged jaw. Each click is a new, painstakingly detailed picture in my head, causing hot anxiety. What if you're really lying helplessly on the hot as hell asphalt of LA, caught under the spiked wheels that tried to slow down with a soul-shattering screech? I know how hurried you are. What if you turned into a disadvantaged area, taking a shortcut, and now your lifeless body is lying in the nearest ditch, turning paler and colder by the minute? What if you just stopped breathing in your sleep for no reason?...

I take a deep breath, and the chains behind the monster immediately tighten with the deafening clang of massive links: it leaps, wanting to grab at me with its clawed paws, to pull me into the viscous pools of panic, but it still can't reach me. With a menacing guttural growl, its fangs gleam faintly in the semi-darkness, covered in viscous saliva. It's actually easier to contain my anxiety when my head is full of thoughts about the shoot, about the phrases I have to elegantly slip into the interviewers, turning their question marks into confident dots. It's easier when you're surrounded by a horde of people: security, staff, family. But when I'm in the silence of an insanely expensive French hotel, drowning in the uncompromising gloss of the surroundings, still perfectly styled and dressed in expensive dark clothes, coming straight from the shoot, nervous and clutching my phone in my hands with hope - it all becomes so impossible.

I'm dialing twelve digits again, just a little more and I'll be able to dial your number blind. "The person you are trying to reach is currently unavailable, please call back later." I lean back noisily on the cold silk of the sheets while that toothy, infinitely dark ball of anxiety laughs snidely. I check all the messengers, only to fling my phone away in a brief flash of anger somewhere upward, toward the ruched beige pillows: you still haven't been online in eleven hours, my messages unanswered. Fuck! It's becoming more and more like Jenga, where with each passing hour I take one wooden brick out of the structure and put it on top, making it even more rickety than before. Indeed, something has definitely happened, you couldn't just disappear from everyone's radar for no good reason, especially when today is our little celebration of a month-long relationship. There's five thousand six hundred and ninety-two miles between us, and the silence on the wire makes me want to howl. God, I'm going to go crazy...

Beep! It sounded like someone had thrown a grenade with the pin pulled right under the bed. I reacted immediately, but on the desplay is just a message from Fin in an endless string of unnecessary things. Well, better than nothing. Better than drowning in madness alone.

"Are you asleep?"

"No." How the fuck can I, bro?

"She still hasn't responded?"

"No."

The three dots bounce around again as my brother puts the right letters into words. Maybe I should call you again.

"Can you open the hotel room door right now?"

The restless gears in my head rumble to a grinding halt. Now? For what?

"For what?"

"Just open it, sis." - so unobtrusive and unexplanatory, followed by another gray block of letters: "You'll thank me later :)"

"Don't smile at me."

":)" - naturally, a smile. Damn Finn.

I dial you again and reluctantly get out of bed, shuffling my feet as if I were going to the lacquered scaffold under the shouts and whistles of the French Revolution crowd, but in fact only the thin tulle is swaying in the night wind, and the noise of rare cars, which enters the room so valiantly with the help of the open balcony. And here is the guillotine itself in the form of an oak door. I touch the gilded cold handle with the palm of my hand with pressure, and feel the massive blade whistling as it flies straight at my neck, severing my head. You're standing in front of me.

You look me in the eye and leisurely take the phone out of the pocket of your wide bard palazzo pants. Your accurate fingers finally touch the ill-fated green answer button before you bring the display to your ear. There's a slight, confused smirk on your lips, and on my end of the line there's finally the beeps and this mechanical female voice have finally died down. But it is still impossible to answer you, I can only stare at you in disbelief, as if you were a masterpiece that had escaped from the Louvre and had personally come to my doorstep.

"Bonsoir, Madame Eilish," your soft, purring timbre mightily shatters all anxiety, defeating the monster in my head. The only thing left were the massive chains of patience and self-control that held it back. You say what I've been longing to hear for these fucking eleven hours. You sound the way you've imprinted on my memory for the many hours we've spent together. - "A special gift exclusively for number one hundred and eleven."

I grab you into my hage, pulling you into the room in a flash. The door slams too loudly for midnight, but I don't care, you gasp, rustling a small package - I don't care, you babbling a hundred apologies for this frightening silence - I also don't care, girl. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care! I just leave a lot of barely visible lip gloss prints on your face, showering you with hot kisses, clinging to your lips with mutual hunger, making you almost choke, but I don't care! You don't pull away, just squeeze tighter, sliding down the wall a little. You're here right now, and the rest of it doesn't matter. And how can I take offense at you, when you have overcome five thousand six hundred and ninety-two miles...? At least not right now.

We calm down only when we reach the floor and settle down on the soft pile of the carpet. Your face now gleams beautifully in the warm light of the bedside lamp, your hair slightly ruffled either from my hands or the wind outside.

"I'm sorry." - You gulp in air with your mouth and repeat again, touching my cheek gently as if I were fragile Chinese porcelain.

"I almost lost my mind, Y/n." - I snuggle closer into your palm, finding the needed reassurance finally. - "But I'm so glad you're here now, my dumbass."

You chuckle lightly before rising to your feet in one merged motion, then gallantly offering your hand to me. My gaze first clings to the not-so-little bard stain spilling over the once flawless whiteness of your favorite shirt.

"What's this?"

"It's wine," you answer innocently as we walk to the back of the room, me holding your hand and intertwining our fingers, you holding the paper bag in front of you in your free left. - "I thought it unseemly to show up on a deep Parisian night and on our little holiday without a present. While we were choosing a variety with a nice elderly sommelier, he accidentally spilled some on me, for which he apologized for an extremely long time and stuffed a whole assortment of vegan sweets into the gift."

"Actually, it looks pretty good," I touch my hands to the damaged fabric where the wine petals had opened exactly opposite the heart. - "It looks like a flower, and it goes well with the pants."

"I told him the same thing, only in broken French!" - you laugh, sitting down on the bed. The package drops to the floor for nothing, revealing a dark bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, a corkscrew, and a dark blue box of obviously not cheap candy. - "Got a cup of any kind?"

"Only if it's cup after some coffee," the porcelain taps lightly as I hand you the cup along with the saucer that was on the bedside table. Drinking coffee at night is a little professional whim.

The cork easily yields to you under the spiraled steel of the corkscrew, so the generous scarlet stream quickly fills the porcelain cup almost to the brim, cleverly masking the coffee ring, which has already managed to imprint on the white dishes. You carefully pass the cup back to me, giving me the honorable right of the first sip. You already have a chocolate candy hiding behind your cheek. Sweet tooth.

You ask me about the past day, listening with incorruptible interest, you ask about the progress of the promo, about my dreams, I listening about your flight, about our first meeting, about Paris at night. We just talk about everything that comes into our heads, while the candy slowly runs out and the scarlet column of alcohol reaches the glass bottom of the bottle, and the bottle becomes more transparent than before in the weak light.

"You look ravishing, did I mention?" - My throat burns a little with the slight spice mixed with the flavor of currants and cherries, and your careful and transfixed gaze, albeit slightly cloudy from the wine, pleasantly burns my heart. - "Although, you absolutely always have that."

And I see you blush and your lips bend into a pleasant smile. When you're drunk, you're so sweetly embarrassed every time, like the word compliments are received by you, not me. Insanely nice. Insanely beautiful.

"Merci beaucoup, L'amour de ma vie." - in sweet, purring French, because you are a total provocation today, presented so elegantly and unobtrusively that I can't think of anything else. The chiseled collarbones are not only hidden under the thin fabric of the branded shirt, but also topped with a weighty gold chain. I catch myself thinking that you remind me of exactly this wine in the porcelain of the cup, which I want to sip leisurely, enjoying it alone. To taste you on my tongue is much more desirable than that cedar-currant flavor in the cup.

The bottle is almost empty, and you will soon begin to look like this pink wine stain blooming on your shirt. You giggle, shifting your gaze in embarrassment to the rich black lacquered wood that elegantly fills the bedroom space.

"Wow, is that a piano?" - so childishly naive, just to avoid my gaze. Gently I place the cup in your palms and then touch your chin with my fingers, turning you straight toward me. - "it's beautiful."

Along with the alcohol and fever rushing through my arteries, an absurd idea popped into my head, and it was an original sin not to realize it. I lean closer, deliberately slowly, though the knot of heat has tightened quite a bit. I like getting you so hot, Y/n, you'd know.

"It's beautiful, but it's only missing your nakedness," a languid whisper in your ear and you're already burning like a match. It's gorgeous. - "Shall we fix it?"

And you nod so obediently that even an expensive room in the best hotel in France and the same expensive wine are nothing compared to this one gesture. This will be the first time for you, the first time for the two of us, and believe me, I'll do everything I can to make sure that it goes well. I won't disappoint you, because all I really want is to drown you in a sea of pleasure. Think of it as my little gift to honor our date, like this wine.

×××

You moan so sweetly, and the only thing I really want right now is to seal your voice in a bottle so that I can open it later at any opportunity when you're not around again. You rest both palms against the shiny black lacquer on the closed top of the grand piano, standing with your back to the most elegant instrument and your face to me. You're standing completely naked, just a pile of clothes under your feet, and I'm already face between your thighs, kneeling. You grip the fabric of my black cardigan with trembling fingers, and like a whimpering child, you pull it on yourself. And it's so exciting to fulfill your little whims, knowing that it's still going to be the way I want it. I throw the dark, soft cotton off of me - a "storm cloud" glistens and shimmers slightly in the light of one dim lamp before falling to the carpet with the rest of my clothes. I'm completely naked now, too. Your lustful eyes dance on the ink of my tattoos, as if not knowing where to stop.

"Do you like the view too much, my girl?" - a grin, and you look away a little in renewed embarrassment. I touch your beautiful thigh, stroking it. "Hey, I like it when you watch."

And you watch again, only now you're looking clearly into my eyes, looking into the depths of my abysses, which for you alone are ready to serve not as destruction but as an unbreakable refuge. Your gaze is so focused, as if you want to dive in headfirst into my seas.

"I just... I just like absolutely everything, and I really don't know where to stop."

"So look, you can even touch me, as much as you want and wherever you want. You're allowed, Y/n." - I rise from my knees to push the banquette back to the piano again and sit down. - "Just for you."

And you explore, touching my skin with a gentle that the most distinguished musicians of classical orchestras will envy. Your hands outline my hips, my waist. You cling to my ribs with your fingers, then you stroke my shoulders and arms. I see a spark of delight in your eyes when you feel how the muscles are easily felt under the alabaster of my skin, while you reach to the very tips of my fingers, interlacing one hand in a lock with yours. Your other hand touches my chest, alternately slightly squeezing each one, and frankly speaking, it becomes infinitely difficult to breathe evenly. The same your hand slides over the stomach, heading to the bottom with like a sharpened arrow. Oh, my Goodness...

"Does that feel good?" - you whisper, touching two fingers to my clit with light pressure, alternating with circular motions. It feels good. Crazy.

So much so that all the words suddenly disappear from my head and stick in my throat in broken syllables, unwilling to form into something intelligible. I had to make an effort not to just nod like a silly dummy, chiseling out a single: "good."

You smile, feeling a gradual confidence, as if you're finally stepping on solid ground after the weightlessness of space, having been successfully rehabilitated. And I finally realize I don't have to hold back anymore. I can pull you close to me, rewarding you with a dozen deep, hot kisses, I can marked you with a bright hickeys on your neck, I can pick you up under your hips and lay you top of the piano cover with your shoulder blades, under which steel strings are silently stretched. While you're trapped in a haze of excitement, I can trace a path with my tongue and lips from your breasts to the bottom of your belly, where everything is burning Vesuvius flame. I can, I can, I can...

"It's so romantic in Paris, isn't it? Won't even try to compare it, it's all love everywhere." - I make the first quick stroke of my tongue and then pull away, hovering over your face again. You barely keep the back of your head from banging against the wooden lid, arching your back in longing. Who says I forgot to get back at you for my nerves?

"I don't know, I guess, but I already have love in LA." - You exhale so hotly, but you endure stoically. You realize you deserve it, yes. - "And I don't need anyone else."

My own heart begs for mercy on your account with a solid thump against my sternum, and I'm back down in a flash, repeating the strokes again, playing with your folds to the accompaniment of your moans. You're delicious.

And when you thrust yourself on my fingers so obediently, waiting for the denouement, which burns you to the point of shaking, and then you spur me with my back to the lid, hovering over me with intermittent heavy breathing, but with such selfless love in your eyes; when you enter me with two fingers sharply, but so necessary and precise, easily beating out moan after moan from my lungs and ligaments, that I really realize how suitable an instrument like a piano is for you.

I realize that I also definitely already have love in LA, in the form of you.

[pachirobi]

Because I can't stop thinking about Parallel Canon

AKA: An extremely unorganized ramble because I've grown attached to this little masked creature

[Minor Side Order Spoilers]

Ok so we all know at least a part of Agent 4's soul was used to create Parallel Canon. Exactly how much was used is unknown, since Parallel Canon is still there once you clear Agent 4's palette. Hell, it's not even known if they were used to make all of Parallel Canon or just the one front and center.

Which I guess leads to the main reason I even started thinking more about this boss in the first place, and the question I'd like another person's input on. Is Parallel Canon really a mindless puppet, or just a more "orderly" version of Agent 4?

Obviously I'm more inclined to say it's the former. They all have blank faces with red eyes, after all. But those are just masks. That alone wouldn't have set off any bells for me but they also have strangely defined personalities in their opening sequence.

They're still very messed up and Not Really There, but are somehow able to do so in their own little special way. Hell, one of them even manages to look shy and unwilling until another pulls them down into the ink. [As seen here: https://x.com/twin_ramen/status/1761036913363026378?s=46&t=tCaf2A6S1S8tQn4is8LtCQ] Not to mention the fact that they can be heard pinging each other in battle.

[Small tangent but I think the rest of Parallel Canon could be Splatoon 2's promo kids. Please note that there is no basis other than I, personally, believe it would be so fuckin' cool.]

Anyway, this gives me at least some reason to believe Parallel Canon is more than just a husk of a person. It seems more like they're a new one altogether. Though them having semi-free will doesn't change much.

If they really are an 'Orderly' version of Agent 4, I imagine they'd have the exact same unshakable views as the original, this time manifesting as a fierce loyalty to Order [both the concept and the guy himself.] Potentially even being a willing guard of the tower.

Idk. Maybe I'll make another one of these or do some doodles abt it later so I can explain better. I just think flipping the allegiance of the 'Agent of Chaos' without warping the personality underneath could potentially be really interesting.

[stormblessed95]

I am very curious to know your opinion on sgmb…

It watched it the first time through and based only on the English lyrics was not about to jump to any conclusions. There wasn’t even a part of me that wondered if the song had any jikook connections or allusions.

I watched the video again with the subs on, saw the lyrics about debut and went, oh, maybe a fan song. A few seconds and a few lyrics later and now I cannot see the song in any way but to JK/about jikook. Your thoughts?

(P.S. I love your blog :3)

Okay okay, but be prepared to revisit this with me if more songs/interviews come out and prove me as delusional as I know I am 😂😂

Let's take this bit by bit... Promo photos for Muse are very matchy with a previous JK outfit (so par for the course this solo season for them!)

The ONLY bit of information we have for Smeraldo is the information released with it....

Smeraldo likens back to HYYH era where they came up with this flower for their whole storyline basically which HYYH is for the gays. Let's not even pretend it's not. Lol my answer to someone asking me "why is it gay?" Post here:

No idea why he mentioned June 12. June 13th is BTS debut date. July 9th is ARMY namesake day.... If anyone has any better ideas or I just missed something, clue me in!

The lyrics all just light hearted pure in love beautifulness? A song about feeling your feelings and letting your emotions emotion 🥺😍🥰

The lyrics just talking about loving you, getting closer to you, always wanting you.... Especially with the connection to the truth untold too? Jikook with the truth untold??!! Come on...

PLUS he filmed/recorded this song right before going on vacation with Jungkook. We know this because some of the kids in the MV with Jimin posted autographs they got from him, which he dated. 231122

And on 231123, he travels to Tokyo with Jungkook...

"you don't have to worry anymore, because we are together. Let's be more honest now" Right before they go on a trip together and then enlist together??? Alright 🥺🥰

I'm willing to jump to conclusions. I'm NOT going to encourage anyone to take this as fact (ever) or jump with me though (yet). Lol I forewarned EVERYONE at the start of this post I was letting my delusions run a bit with this one for now 😂 I'll come back and either double down or say forget this post exists after MUSE releases and if we get any more interviews over this lol

[triptychgrip]

Fic Recs (January 2025)

Long post ahead!

Every month this year, I'm hoping to post a list of fic recs from the 2 fandoms I primarily write/read for: Yuri!!! on Ice and Fruits Basket (though a few others might sneak in here and there, like His Dark Materials and Angels Before Man). 

I'll definitely still reblog promo posts from authors directly, but this monthly rec list will mostly be to spread the word about stories for which the author doesn't appear to be on Tumblr.

In that vein, I'm going to try and prioritize reccing 1) WIPs/recently written stories (i.e. things that have been published or which have been updated within the last year) and/or 2) NSFW fics, since those don't seem to get as much love as they should! (And by that I mean I feel like ppl are shy about admitting they read/enjoy smut, so this is just one small part of my own journey to free myself of deeply entrenched Catholic guilt lol)

If something is a WIP, I'll note that in bold/purple next to the author, and if something is NSFW, I'll note that in bold/red, also next to the author. If you happen to check any of these out and think I've missed including important tags or notes, feel free to let me know.

Oh, and I feel the need to make the disclaimer that there's no way I can list everything I've enjoyed reading lately (even just formatting these 8 recs nearly killed me), so I hope no one takes this as an exhaustive compilation.

That being said, I have been trying to get better at updating My Bookmarks, so maybe you'll find something you like there. For now, I only (publicly) bookmark completed fics, but this will be changing soon.

With that out of the way, below the cut are 8 stories I discovered recently that I think deserve more attention.

Yuri!!! on Ice Recs

1)  warm velvet skin (6K, by Oceankings) - NSFW

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Porn Without Plot, Dom/sub Undertones 

I know not everyone is into this, but when I'm reading smut I want the full play-by-play and tons of detail, and this fic does such an IMMACULATE job of really setting the scene vividly, while also having great pacing. This is a porn without plot fic featuring Dom Yuuri/sub Viktor, and their first time making a full-length video of themselves in the bedroom. The trust Viktor has in Yuuri is just so, so good, and I love how unabashedly into each other they are.

Note: you have to be a registered user on ao3 in order to view this fic

Excerpt: 

“Keep your hands to yourself tonight.” Yuuri murmurs against his lips. They’re not so much kissing as Yuuri is resting his lips against Victor’s. They share the same air but Victor would love nothing more than to be consumed in a kiss with Yuuri again.

His gaze flickers over the camera where the red recording light blinks at them still. He’d almost forgotten about its presence, becoming so distracted by Yuuri just being there. Seeing it wracks his whole body in a shiver and he stutters out a breath.

“I won’t touch myself.” The words are out of his mouth before he has the chance to think twice. It’s not until a few moments later that he realizes this is going to be torture. The chance to get to prove how obedient he is for Yuuri on camera barely fuels him forward.

Yuuri smiles and pecks him twice on the lips in reward. “I know you’ll do well, Vitya.” The phrase has its intended results and Victor manages to buck himself up against Yuuri one last time before he’s moving away.

2) Skaterview (13K, by skippingmud) - WIP 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Phichit & Yuuri, Viktor/Yuuri, Phichit/Seung-Gil, Fluff, Interviews, Slow Burn

I LOVE social-media and interview-based fics, and have really been enjoying this WIP. It features Yuuri and Phichit as college students who start a YouTube channel (called ShallWeSkate) as part of an assignment for one of Phichit's classes. 

What starts as a way for them to react candidly to watching their favorite skaters in competition later evolves to their conducting 'skaterviews': interviews with their idols! Once they create the channel and interview Leo de la Iglesia for their first skaterview, ShallWeSkate takes off in popularity, and it's so fun to read about in-universe figure skating fans FREAKING OUT on YouTube over both how talented a team Yuuri/Phichit are, as well as their proximity to their faves. 

Note: Tumblr formatting hates me, so in the below excerpt, I wasn't able to include the underlines that skippingmud has in their fic for the YouTube commenters; in the actual fic itself, the formatting looks much neater/polished than it does in this post

Excerpt (from Chapter 3):

You should spend some time in front of the camera, too!” Guang Hong added. “I didn’t see you in Leo’s video at all.”

“Come on, Yuuri, it’ll be our treat!” Leo insisted. “You deserve it for all the hard work.”

Phichit beamed when his roommate eventually agreed, though he wasn’t really surprised—neither of them were about to say no to eating with two people they were big fans of.

[Photo of four hands side by side, each holding a piece of crepe that was wrapped and packed to look like a burrito. The photo only shows up to the tops of their wrists.]

Liked by leodelaiglesia and 213 others

phichit+chu Food trip! 🌯 #ShallWeSkate

leodelaiglesia: Let’s do it again sometime!

leodelalala: Leftmost one is Phichit, the one next to him is Leo, and rightmost one is Yuuri. Who’s the fourth one?

guang-gang: i know that wrist anywhere!!! tell me my bby guang hong is the next skaterview!!!

gia-come-tti: @guang-gang how the fuck were you able to recognize guang hong’s wrist

guang-gang: @gia-come-tti it’s just like how you’d be able to recognize christophe’s ass in any picture!!!

gia-come-tti: @guang-gang touché, but a wrist?

guang-gang: @gia-come-tti ok the crepe was a giveaway coz that’s his favorite food and he’s training with leo in detroit rn so it was easy to connect the dots!!!

3) Mare incognitum (5K, by carnivores) - NSFW

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Dark Viktor Nikiforov, Alternate Universe - Mythology, Religious Imagery & Symbolism

As someone raised in a devout Catholic family (don't worry, I've deconstructed all that shit...slowly and painfully), I am such a sucker for religious symbolism fics and this story fulfilled my every desire when it comes to moral ambiguity and metaphor.

Like, good GOD, where do I even begin with describing the prose? If you've read/liked Paradise Lost, I feel like this fic would cater perfectly to your interests. It's a Siren Victor AU, with Yuuri as a (devoutly religious) shepherd. If you're not a fan of florid/surrealist prose, then you might not enjoy this, but I personally loved the way this writer plays with language. Note: this fic is only available to view by registered users on the Archive 

Excerpt: 

Yuuri huffs, closing his jacket around him, sealing warmth in. The wind keeps whistling, frigid and raw.

“I’m not coming with you.”

Viktor pouts, and the ruby red of his lips is like a nauseating warning siren. He has always been unfathomably beautiful. 

“Then why should I do anything for you?”

Viktor begins to sing, husky from the saltwater he has breathed, eroding his throat like the grind of sand, and he reaches towards Yuuri. Light reflects against his sharply silver hair, a hazy spectral play of soft and rough light. He is ethereal. The crescendo of his song kisses across Yuuri’s skin, sharply, wetly; but Yuuri is a devoted man, and he does not make mistakes twice.

“Give Yuuko’s children back.” Yuuri demands starkly. His nails press crescent moons into the skin of his own palms in his pocket. He does not waver.

Viktor is incandescently delighted. “And so Eve came to bargain with the sea-snake?” He asks, mocking.

“No,” Yuuri says, eyes narrowing. “The sword of God comes to slay the Leviathan.”

4) The amtrak incident (12K, by eiua) - NSFW

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Alternate Universe - College/University, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Breaking Up & Making Up 

I've recc'd this author before and it's probably only a matter of time before I go through their entire Dashboard, lol. They do such a great job of weaving in humor and little details into their writing that really makes whatever fic-verse they create come to life. This particular story is an AU featuring Viktor and Yuuri as academics/colleagues at MIT (architecture/urban planning), and a few months into a relationship. However, Viktor's unmanaged ADHD leads to conflict, and this fic features an absolutely brilliant depiction of how he has to take accountability for a mistake he makes, and apologize to Yuuri. The genuine respect they have for one another is so wonderful!

Oh, and it doesn't hurt that their make-up sex is mind-meltingly hot ;)

Excerpt: 

What about conferences? Is he supposed to just watch as Yuuri networks at the bar or run into each other around town and act as if they’re just passing acquaintances when they have, as Chris would joke, known each other biblically? Viktor has never been religious but it’s no understatement to say he could understand worship a whole lot better after sleeping with Yuuri.

And Yuuri is a terrible flirt when he’s drunk. Viktor knows this firsthand. Is Viktor supposed to just turn a blind eye to that and ignore the bile rising in his throat when he sees Yuuri be chummy with someone else? What if Yuuri visits UCLA and reconnects with his poledancing Russian ex-girlfriend and moves away?

Let’s just be friends. No, Viktor can’t just be friends with him, not when their dogs are playmates and Yuuri shares Viktor’s dream of high speed rail in America. Yuuri’s so sweet and sassy too, under all the shyness, and lights a fire in Viktor’s soul when he gets talking about what rail infrastructure would be most cost effective with federal funding.

5) Unstoppable (29K, by Red_Saga) 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Post-Canon, Injury Recovery, Supportive Viktor Nikiforov 

This story will almost certainly make you cry, but I promise it'll feel cathartic. This is a post-canon fic (disclaimer, I'm not yet done with it, but have read over half), in which Yuuri suffers a major injury that completely alters his life and career. To be clear: I'm not talking about a sprained ankle or even a torn meniscus, but a spinal injury that puts him in a wheelchair for life. 

As you might expect, this fic details his injury recovery and the process of him coming to terms with/grieving the changes in his life. As someone with a disability, I can be pretty picky about stories in which it's a major topic, so I really appreciate the intentional way this story is written in regards to that; you won't find any trauma porn here. 

Excerpt (from Chapter 3):

Hiroko clicked her tongue. “When you come home, I will make you katsudon.”

Yuuri felt a twinge of some complicated emotion - anticipation, regret, grief, gratitude - that made him feel a bit dizzy for a moment. He wasn’t a skater anymore. The old rules about diet no longer mattered. He would never earn another bowl of katsudon. It was the feeling of one more anchor to his old life breaking free.

It must have showed on his face, because Viktor reached out to squeeze his hand and Hiroko tutted again. “Getting better so you can leave this place is victory enough, I think.”

Viktor brightened up. “That’s right! Yuuri, we need to think of other victories to celebrate!”

“Like escaping the clutches of the doctors?” Yuuri asked, half amused half quizzical.

“Like graduating from physical therapy,” Viktor suggested.

“Like watching someone skate a program you choreographed,” Hiroko added.

Yuuri gaped at her in surprise. Choreograph a program? He’d never thought about - never seriously considered - 

But Hiroko reached out and tapped his hand with a smile. “I see you doing this very often,” she said, and Yuuri realized he had been skating his fingers idly across the surface of his tray table, subconsciously marking out turns, glides, jumps, spins. She bent to pull something from the large bag at her feet (Yuuri’s mother  - always prepared) and handed him a notebook of blank paper and a pen. “But maybe it will work better if you write it down,” she suggested.

Yuuri clutched the notebook in fingers that felt suddenly too hot. He thought he was probably blushing. 

6) Body Electric (3K, by LadyMerlin) - NSFW 

Relevant Ships/Tags: Viktor/Yuuri, Light D/s undertones, Overstimulation, Begging

When an overstim scene is done RIGHT, I just....adfljkasdflkajlfkdf!! Combined with some expert dirty talk from Dom Yuuri, this fic is EVERYTHING. I'm sorry that I don't have anything that eloquent to say here...it's just THAT good, to the point where I felt like I was in a stupor upon finishing it, haha. Note: you have to be a registered Archive user in order to view it

Excerpt:

Viktor made a sound like Yuuri had just stuck his fingers into his very soul and tried to shove back against Yuuri. He didn’t have much leverage so it wasn’t very effective, but Yuuri rewarded his enthusiasm by timing his thrusts together with his hand on Viktor’s cock so that Viktor was instantly at the the edge, constantly and overly stimulated, his voice breaking on the edge of a whine, crumbling into quiet sobbing.

Something snapped inside Yuuri and he started talking. “God, you’re so beautiful when you cry,” he said, low in his throat, picking up his pace. His own hips were beginning to ache and he couldn’t imagine how Viktor felt. “I love seeing you like this,” he continued when Viktor whimpered, “all wrecked and ruined.

Fruits Basket Recs

1) A Second Breath of Spring (11K, by ElvenQueen18) - WIP

Relevant Ships/Tags: Hatori/Kana, Amnesia, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Eventual Happy Ending

Hatori lovers, and Hatori/Kana shippers, I think you'd adore this WIP (currently at 4 chapters), because it features a divergence from canon in which Kana doesn't completely forget her memories with him. Of course, this makes for a very confusing/heartbreaking situation for her,  given that she doesn't realize that the "daydreams" she's having of Hatori aren't actually daydreams at all, but rather, are memories of their relationship prior to the confrontation with Akito. The story is beautifully written, and you really feel for Kana as she navigates doing her best to find love, while having to contend with her mind pining for a man that she doesn't realize she once loved/was in love with her

Excerpt (from Chapter 2):

She kissed Hatori for the second time today, sweet and tender and filled to overflowing with all the feelings she had finally expressed out loud and now knew he reciprocated. She pulled away after a moment, still cradling his face, and watched as, through tearful eyes, he gazed at her like she’d just given him the world.

A lump formed in Kana’s throat as she drew back from Daisuke, her eyes stinging horribly. So she couldn’t even kiss her new boyfriend without fantasizing about him. Daisuke, for his part, continued smiling, so he apparently failed to notice her current mood. Or maybe he thinks the sun’s bothering me, she thought as she blinked several more times. She could only hope, she supposed.

“I’ll see you soon,” he told her.

She forced out a hum of agreement before they exchanged farewell bows and went their separate ways for the evening. As she entered the building, rode the elevator to her floor, and opened the door to her one-room apartment, the stinging in her eyes grew worse.

2) Self Mutilator/Holic (5K, orphan account) - NSFW

Relevant Ships/Tags: Akito/Akito, Selfcest, Body Horror, Character Study 

I honestly don't even know where to begin with a blurb for this story; this is one of the most hauntingly beautiful fics I've ever read that touches upon Akito's relationship to gender. There are times when reading this doesn't even feel real, because the way the prose draws you in makes you feel like you're living out a horror movie (but in the very best way). I was enraptured the entire time I was reading.

Excerpt:

Back in her consciousness she sees a demon in a lair, hiding in the darkness and lying in wait. A demon with hair like an ink spill, shiny dark locks reflecting the pale sweet moonlight. 

She sees the demon in the shape of a woman, a beautiful woman with an ample bosom and an elegant shape, clad in a clinging gown the colour of nightshade. A demon with dark eyes that glimmer with mirth, and a twisted smile marring its face. 

Its laughter rings like a twinkling bell through the confines of the room, but it isn’t alone. 

The demons nails are filed sharp like talons, claws made to tear into vulnerable flesh, to shred and rip. A demon’s claws, made for killing and ruining. And yet, these clawed hands are cradling  ever so gently and sweetly—the head of the other Akito. 

The male Akito, who leans lovingly into the demon’s clutches. He’s laughing too, a dark, heaving laugh from the low caverns in his flat chest, a laugh that sounds beautiful along with the bright and high tone of the demon’s giggling. 

Shameless self-promotion: If you've made it all the way to the end of this, I hope you won't mind my reccing my own fanfic. In particular, if you need a reprieve from The Ongoing Horrors, I very recently published this 5K post-canon Viktuuri story, in which they roleplay as strangers meeting for the first time. Hopefully it brings you a laugh :)

On the Fruits Basket end, thanks to interest around this Reddit post I made 2 months ago, I began working on a fic in which Ayame & Ritsu team up to wreak havoc/a bit of harmless fun in Akito's life (as payback for her striking Yuki at the New Years' banquet). Honestly, I just really wish we'd seen more of the Sohmas use their zodiac forms to wrest some control over their lives, so this WIP is my way of making that scenario come to life. I probably won't be able to complete it anytime soon (I need to take a writing hiatus for a few months), but I'm excited about where it's going, nonetheless!

[allhailmeandmy]

I really don't wanna complain , nor am I the type that does, but I'll rant , cuz even I am getting frustrated now

So, under for complaining, I apologise

It's so frustrating that the one thing they get consistent is BP, making different choices to change for the worst

You need how much for Solomon seals to get a card guaranteed? 2400 seals?

How about red keys? Cuz you'll get a gold, just not the card ur pulling for nor the artifact, for example , I've been trying for beelzebubs attacker artifact since it was put on the banner, the card is maxed no artifact, I stopped trying back when red keys were still in pancake store, and the remaining I had left I used on Lucifer, I got 3-4 repeats, non for lucifer nor his artifact, or even the new leviathan card, 3 of those repeats being those for pancake store since most are repeats

The red keys in the pancake store will be the fall of it sooner or later, cuz now there's only exchange for gems, panty game, or buy them. And the issue with these is, for f2p, the only thing you get is panty game, 1 red key per day, so u might get a 10 pull once a month.... how generous

Red gems wise, the exchange is not worth it till u have over 4k gems, and u don't get those often either, I'll try to have a look and keep track of the gems to see how much you get per week

There's event exchange, but those don't even give you a 10 pull so, plus events ( not bp) happen like once per 2 months maybe

So how tf are people supposed to get any?

I play and have played over 10 different gatchas, from every ikemen game, obey me ( both og and nb, both since release), genshin ( star rail for a short bit), wuthering waves, cookierun, pokemon masters, nu carnival, arcana twilight, and probably more that I don't remember, and the ones I stayed for have 1 thing in common, that being events and better ways of earning pulls.

Obey me wise, even if u don't get any new cards you will get a 10 pull from completing the first slide of rewards if you're an active player, if you're lucky with pulls you'll get 20 or more depending on what type of event it is ( 1 is regular events other is gatcha event rewards) , and the store from ravens, you get as much as u get ravens from og obey me, while nb gives u 10 pull from the store per month, not as good, but personally from the pulls u get from the events you don't notice unless you're on a loosing streak , in my personal opinion some might feel different its OK, plus u get flash sales and level up sales for pulls, so many opportunities

Cookierun, as someone who played since sonic collab, I've not had issues for pulls, you get many gems and pulls from events, daily activities like guilds, raids and others, plus they don't really do reruns but new characters , recently they did group reruns for certain cookies, but consistently I had 30k saved up in case of new cookies from daily activities

Can't believe whb is making me talk well of genshin... but even genshin is more generous if ur an active player, u need 160 for a pull, daily activity alone gives 60, but they get events consistently, as a player of over a year I get 6k promo per month, and I kept track for 15 months on traveler's diary, as well as 5 pulls on the monthly store, and as much as u get from masterless startglitter u get from repeats

And nu carnival... from same collab company they had for whb since they're on erolabs, they too have a monthly store for 10, and more events, tho the rates could be better, they at least have some consistency

So what does whb lack? Events, consistency, and store exchange. Not many events and when they're there they last a month, and what u get leaves much to be desired, you don't get much info about when and what till it happens or they have a post a week before about it, store exchange gems wise is really expensive even the new one they added, and other currencies don't give u red keys or give barely any, wow 1 key! So nice!

And then there's the "they're a small company" so? Giving red keys in store doesn't cost them. If anything, it'd make people more likely to buy things, because at least u get something even if you're loosing, so it doesn't feel as that big a loss as it could be. I understand that it'd probably cost em to make more events and make em consistent, so they'd have to write writers, but! But but but! They don't have to make big lore events everytime! They could make shorter more light hearted events! Like.... nu carnival or obey me, mc and nobles and kings having mindless fun, like idk? Beach event, they go to a beach and interact, just a fun little filler while waiting for other things grander things to be in works in the meantime, they don't have to make new cards, or new sprites, they could but they don't have to yk? Just something smaller where u see how characters interact and have fun with u

Pb could also do something like welking or obey me vip, 5 dollar a month for red gems every day for a whole month or anything they'd decide on giving, or the vip where they could give per month perks, like discounts on deals, vip deals, per month gems, early sneak peaks. Yk?

Like I'm comparing, cuz I've been playing all those for so long, I mean 5 years in obey me? Why do u think that is? And I've been supporting pb for a while, I was there for love unholyc since the year it came out, preregistered for dokidoki, preregistered for whb and waited for updates despite the delays, I want them to succeed I want well for pb, for that they need to change for better. The rating on play store is 3 stars for a reason, people are leaving for a reason, people aren't willing to give the game a try for a reason. They need to look at the competitions and compare and see what works and what doesn't, and even the panty game changed for worse ( my opinion as someone who played it every day) but I didn't complain since no one else did so I didn't wanna be a spoil sport for anyone, but they gave more, but once more they decided to change the rate to be lower with gold panties , and gave gold, who tf is low on golf?

Not to mention pies... 60 pies on 1 lvl up skill, and u get the pies on the pancake excha- oh right

That all to say, that's just how I feel personally, you can disagree that's fine, but I complain as a fan, and someone who wants better for the game, I'm still here for a reason, I started to post here for a reason despite never posting my own stuff online, I do love the game, but the devs don't, at least it doesn't feel like they do

Also how u have to buy both bp's for a card is really scummy in my opinion, as someone who considered it for juno card, 40 plus 10 for a card? Y not make it 1 payment not 2? Definitely made me not want it immediately but that's just me ig

Feel free to add on, I'm not trying to start a discourse or an argument, I just want change for better

[fantasticalleigh]

Rewatching old RAW from 2020 and it’s so interesting to see how the Randy vs Drew feud went down because there wasn’t that much intensity behind it so when they announced their Hell in a Cell match I just sat there like huh neato. But seeing how differently (and WELL) built the Punk vs. Drew feud was handled leading up to HIAC and all the emotion and excellent promos and hatred behind it is incredible. The difference is literally night and day (and Drew and CM Punk have chemistry for days compared to Randy vs. Drew).

Of course one has to factor in that the Orton vs. Macintyre feud feels like it was a lot shorter (I haven't checked to see how long it lasted but it definitely doesn't feel like 10-11 months' worth of content) and of course there was different leadership at the time AND it was in the Covid Thunderdome era so of course all that impacted the show heavily but it still has to be noted how much better one feud was executed over the other.

Also “I’m Randy fucking Orton and I demand the WHC title for the 13th time because I say so” is much much much less compelling as an opponent for Drew over “you injured me and halted my career for several months, then stole something precious from me and mocked my family, thus invoking the pettiest fucking man in the roster. It’s fucking go time.”

In 2020 Drew was a huge babyface, having come back and proven himself as worthy of champion status. He was a fighting champion and let anyone who wanted a shot at the title to try. He'd had his own irl hero's journey to make his way back to the WWE and got along with most of the roster and seemed well-liked by most. He was cocky but honorable and booked like a beast.

In 2023-24 so far he’s the broken down, deeply bitter, deeply angry man who’s been disillusioned by everything that’s happened to him to the point he’s turned into the opposite of what he once was. It’s been absolutely fascinating to go through the archives and see how he is such an opposite of who he used to be. He’ll blame everyone but himself for the challenges he’s faced and each loss he’s taken. He’s so determined to get back the gold, he’s blinded to everything else and doles out destruction wherever he goes. And Punk brings out the worst in him and he brings out the worst in Punk. They're holding up mirrors to each other fighting over who gets to say they've been wronged the most. They had months of slowburn where Punk was out injured and it was just Drew in the ring with a mic and it still delivered. And (though I haven't watched the Drew/Orton HIAC yet) at this point, having watched (and gone insane over the punkintyre HIAC match) I don't think anything can compare to that at this point.

There's more I could and would like to add to this but I've rambled beyond the point I set out to make so I'll cut myself off here.

(Must add the caveat that I know there are huge swaths of lore and character developments I'm missing from 2019+2021-23 and everything behind that. I only started watching WWE in March of this year and have picked through content to watch and learn from over on Youtube and Peacock. Currently I'm only focusing on all the RAW 2020 episodes but will continue in chronological order and maybe do the same for Smackdown starting in 2020 at a later date. There just...so much to get through... @-@)

[cocamalfeta]

Tae supports Min Heejin

He supports her. Because of this pic he uploaded a few days after NewJeans Emergency live, and a bit before Jk posted his support message. This was a personal pic of a private moment she uploaded on her insta, a moment that wasn't official promo or anything. It was a short clip of Tae crossing that street while doing a silly dance, and you could heard her laughing while filming him.

Also, Tae with Min Hee Jin last summer.

I was doing some research and came across several things that still were new for me as I just started following his solo career at that time so I missed some things, like this pic that Tae uploaded last summer in Majorca while he was getting ready to film "Love Me Again" and "For Us". I thought I'll post it here since you haven't likely seen this pic before and you won't see it either, since everyone is trying that bad habit of erasing uncomfortable truths from their minds.

I thought I'd highlight this other thing too, from this report speculating Hybe would be punishing Tae's achievements due to him working with MHJ for his first solo album.

When it was announced that BTS’s V would be releasing a solo album, many were surprised to learn Min Hee Jin would work with the idol. Min Hee Jin was said to have led the project, working on elements such as the music, choreography and promotion style.

For those who keep insisting that MHj just gave some "visual" directions or any of this restricted description. Actually, she had a "producer" role for "Layover", as you can check from his MVs credits, whose director was also a close collaborator of hers too. BigHit was included in the credits as well.

For comparison, she had the role of "executive producer" for NewJeans, and funnily enough BSH also had an "executive producer" role for LeSserafim too (I don't know if he still kept that role).

But how surprising thing was to learn that also for "Layover" choreography, which was based around freestyle dancing, she had a hand in there too. NewJeans also had freestyle influences on their "How Sweet" choreo, i.e. they had freedom to improvise hand or arms movements in certain moments of their choreo. This is better explained in this video by a Korean dancer, you can just check around min. 12 or in particular 21:42.

I could post more things that revealed her influence over his work but as usual I lost the original sources, but for instance, the choice to showcase his natural deep voice and making multiple MVs for each of his songs, were typical traits of her work that were predicted, as soon as his solo collab was anounced, by fans already familiar with her work. Maybe I'll update this later.

[destinyc1020]

Vanessa comes off as attention seeking. She barely spoke about Austin after the split. Not until Elvis was released and his career took off. She starts being petty and leaving emoji's about his accent, knowing people are watching. She's been in the industry a long time, she's not stupid. Two years later, Austin has another huge movie out, here she is again making comments about him. It's intentional at this point. Austin is more relevant than she is in 2024. She hates it.

You're right, she said not nary a peep for two years after their breakup until "Elvis" started having promo. 👀 I understand it's hard seeing your ex everywhere, but c'mon....

You're not the only one who's noticed this either lol. Other fans have picked up on it too lol. 😅

In fact, I was just telling another Anon just an hour or two ago that at this point, with Vanessa, I sort of feel like it's GOT to be one of three things:

1. Hurt feelings/Sour grapes/Resentment,

2. Using his name for clout or attention, OR

3. Unfinished business/Still have underlying feelings 🤷🏾‍♀️

Or, maybe it's all three at the same time ROTFL 🤣 I have no clue lol.

All I know is that when you're truly moved on from a situation, you're not having to talk about your ex all the time. In fact, it's a RED flag to me if I go out on a date with a guy, and he's talking badly about his ex gf. 👀 Even if he's saying how "oh you're sooo much better than my ex gf, because you're so understanding and loving and etc.....", my spidey senses IMMEDIATELY go up, I cross that guy off my list, and I make a mental note: "Okaaaay....sounds like YOU'RE not over your ex girlfriend!!" NEXT!!!

The point isn't that he's saying all of these nice things about you in comparison to his ex, the point is the fact that he's still needing to bring up the ex in the first place. Major red flag imo. In fact, at this point, I almost feel bad for Cole.... 👀

She can talk about Cole w/out involving Austin. But when she talks about Cole, it's almost like she's trying so harrrrd to show why he's the one, and Austin was not.

I'll never forget that time when Austin was doing his SNL show, and that SAME night that he was hosting SNL, Vanessa posted a clip from SNL to her IG stories that involved Jennifer Coolidge (Austin wasn't in that skit at all lol), but I was just like, GIRL.... lol 🤣 It does seem attention-seeking at this point.

Like I said, if she were SINGLE it would be one thing, but the fact that she's MARRIED doing this stuff makes me go, "hmmm.....". 🤔

I'd be saying this about anyone who was still triggered by or talking about their ex 4 YEARS after a breakup lol.

[fangirlmedstudentblog]

Well i make a brief comeback here to announce this, thought maybe i should share

But it's official that gemini and fourth are not in 23.5 anymore due to story changes and this is also intended to give them time to prepare for a new series?!

So that's the silver lining of a new gemini fourth series!

As much as I'm sad to see that gemini fourth aren't north night anymore (my mlm and wlw besties you'll be missed 😭) I'm honestly glad that it happened because the sheer amount of undeserved hate gemini and fourth have gotten over being casted in the series by certain*ahem* stans on twitter ever since the trailer released is just disgusting. They're still getting indirect hate in the tweet i linked as well.

So we can finally move on from that drama thank god. Also their replacements haven't been announced yet.

Plus i don't know how many of you follow their off drama appearances but they both have had some of the most hectic schedules I've seen for actors. They've had back to back promo shows, brand shows, concerts, fanmeets, solo activities too, and even a duo gemini fourth concert at the IMPACT ARENA for TWO NIGHTS coming up pretty soon (day 1 got sold out within hours and day 2 got added due to demand).

So i just hope gmm gives them a break too, those boys need their rest. They're just making appearances everywhere except in a damn drama at this point 😭

So anyways new gemini fourth drama confirmed wohoo!!!! At this point with how popular they are, it would've been weird if they hadn't gotten one, but you never know with gmmtv to be honest.

It wasn't anything we probably weren't expecting but it's still sad to let it be confirmed. Also gmm better change the damn side character names because at this point the names of north and night *are* associated with gemini and fourth so keeping them will lead to drama. (NorthNight are still GeminiFourth to me idc 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️)

I might watch this show whenever it releases, because i do like milklove and will be tuning in for them.

Call me weird, but I'd been wanting a show FOREVER where you know bl and gl couples could actually co-exist and you know, possibly be best friends, but i guess it's not this one.

So anyways, that's all i came to say.

Sorry i haven't really been active on here, but as you might know, real life is pretty hectic, with exam prep and stuff. I'll see if I'll be more active later on, but honestly no guarantees.

I will say I've been watching and enjoying Be My Favourite a lot, and honestly if gmm manages to stick the ending, it might be in my top 15 bls I've watched across all languages! Do give it a shot if you haven't!

Everyone take care of yourselves and remain stress free!

[yumedoca]

You know, having seen the 2022 version of Nagisa in the new promo, I’ve gotta say I’m not a fan of Ryuunosuke x Nagisa. What with Ryuu not really being into it (and debatably not into men in general). Plus it’s another way her dad is controlling her life. I mean, more power to people who like it, but it’s just not for me.

Hai there! Hope you're having a great day!

I've seen a lot of different opinions when it comes to RyuNagi. I've seen people who like it, are meh about it and dislike it. Personally, I do like it but I do also have complicated feelings regarding this ship. I'm the kind of person who looks at the positives and negatives, so I'll list both side out so I can explain it better.

For the positives:

The concept of tomboy X femboy is a very cute one, it bounces off each other very well, especially here considering how both their opinions seem to differ when it comes to their upbringing

How the chapter 'One Night's Battle' gives a good start to their relationship when Ryu shows a bit of affection for Nagisa and how it shows that Nagisa is stronger than Ryu and earlier in the series, Ryunosuke has stated that her type is someone stronger than her!!

Nagisa does see Ryunosuke as fully female, unlike their stupid, delusional fathers.

This analysis here brings up a lot of good points about the ship, so read it.

Now for the negatives (the bits are more detailed since I figured explanations are more necessary for these):

RyuNagi does disservice to Ryu's character. Yeah, Nagisa follows the Takahashi trope of 'late love interest' the same way as Inaba does, but there's a difference in both guys and how they were handled in their romance with their respective girls. For InaShino, Shinobu's main character goal is that she wanted to be with a good man but she only keeps attracting weirdos and perverts. The only way to give her a happy ending is to have her end up with a good man, which in this case is Inaba. I love Inaba, he's sweet, cute, kind of silly and goofy and definitely not a pervert, exactly what Shinobu wants, a man with pure heart. Not only does this give Shinobu a happy end, but it also gives the reader satisfaction to know that Shinobu's story has come to a close since her goal has been achieved. Sadly, the same doesn't apply to Ryu. Ryu's main character goal was clear when she was first introduced, she wants to be a proper woman. But the story doesn't end that way, instead it ends with her being with Nagisa, still under the same 'misgendered' way she's been brought up. Of course, as the chapters progressed after her introduction, we were told that she'll want be with a man who is stronger than her, which ends up being Nagisa. But that wasn't what her character was supposed to be about, she was supposed to kick her dad's ass and win herself a sailor suit, not JUST end up with a dude with a similar upbringing as her. That makes her story feel like it had no proper closure, instead there's just a romance which had nothing to do much to her initial goal at all.

It had so much potential to be something more. Nagisa had to be introduced much earlier and they should've had more chapters together. Maybe, they could've made Nagisa and Ryunosuke discuss and bond over their stupid upbringing, maybe Nagisa could feel bad for Ryu, after hearing how much she wants to be a proper woman and how much her dad stopped her from enjoying herself and maybe help her enjoy things that her dad didn't allow her to (Christmas, Chocolates, etc.) and Ryunosuke fully falls for him because of his kindness... Then their romance would've felt even more natural. In the canon, it doesn't seem like they have that strong couple dynamic (cuz their final chapter has Ryunosuke just beginning to fall for Nagisa) ? I feel like if we had more screentime after 'One Night's Battle' with them showing their relationship develop, it could've worked better and would have had more dynamic. It's a case of wasted potential, but this potential will later be fulfilled by Ranma and Akane in Ranma 1/2, since they also have a similar tomboy and femboy fiance and fiancee thing going on, but sadly, that doesn't improve RyuNagi more than it should've.

I've never actually thought about RyuNagi being another way her dad controls her life, like you said but I see what you mean, anon. This statement ties in with the character goal thing and the potential thing from the two points above. Personally, I think RT should've made Nagisa stronger than Ryu's dad and after the whole bonding, kindness and feeling bad for Ryu bit I talked about from above, they both kick his ass. Boom, karma.

So yea, that's how I feel. I think most RyuNagi fans like the ship for the concept and the little but still cute bits in canon, since a lot of fan works I've seen rely mostly on that. I remember seeing a RyuNagi fan manga months ago on Pixiv where it was something about RyuNagi celebrating Christmas. I can't read a lick of Japanese, but from the images I could tell they had more romantic progress than the actual canon. The handling of Ryunosuke has to be one of my least favorite things in UY. I'm much more satisfied with the other canonical ships (Mainly AtaLum, ReiRan, InaShino and even TsubaSaku!!) but sadly, RyuNagi doesn't feel entirely fulfilling to me. It's very cute but has wasted potential at the same time. And of course, no shade to anyone who likes this ship, I do too, I just wish it had something more to it.

Sorry for rambling and if I've accidentally called Nagisa a 'she' instead of 'he' then forgive me because it's a stupid habit I have and I can't seem to control it.

[gurugirl]

GURU! I just had the most embarrassing thing happen at work.

My crush works in the department I'm in and one of the ladies that leads our team was walking both of through a sample promo and I skipped lunch (only because I was short on time and needed to get into the meeting but planned on eating after) and my stomach let out this loud gurgle thing but it sounded like I ripped a fart! Like it came from my low gut so it was deep and oh my god it just sounded like a straight up fart and I laughed and said that I hadn't eaten, hoping they'd understand it was my stomach growling from hunger.

The lady gave me this look like she didn't believe me and my crush laughed was like, "Okay sure. If you say so."

And then before the meeting was over they both tried to make light of it to make me feel better about it and he said that everyone does it or something and I am so embarrassed. Not only did it legit sound like a farted, they didn't believe me 🤕 Now I'm so embarrassed I don't even want to eat or anything. And the fact that it was in front of my crush?? 🫥

OH NO!! Gah!!! I'm so sorry, babe :( I hate that for you. Well, I think this will be one of those moments you look back on later and can laugh about but right now it's okay to feel what you're feeling.

It's frustrating too that it wasn't even a fart. I'm so sorry :(

BUT I have a work horror story that I still cringe when I think about. Hope you don't mind me sharing it with you, maybe it'll make you feel better.

About five years ago I worked in an office setting and when I had downtime I'd write stories on my computer on a private app so nothing was ever saved to the computer or server or anything. It's never a good idea to do regardless, but you know... too late now.

Anyway, one of the partners of the firm came up behind me as I typing away bc he needed to show me something so he sat on the edge of my desk and looked right at my computer and I tried to toggle to a different screen quickly but it didn't do anything and instead stayed up in the app where the bright screen displayed a butt play sex scene I was in the midst of writing. (half tempted to go back and find the scene I was writing and share it with y'all so you can see how bad it was for someone I worked for to see)

I panicked when nothing happened and tried to cover my screen and clicked quickly with my mouse to get out of the app but by the time I'd finally been able to click out the partner stood up and turned around to leave before pausing and looking back at me he said, "I'll come back when you're not busy." I could see he was nervous. :(

He got out of there so fast and I KNOW he saw what I was writing. He would have had no reason to leave like that had I been in the middle of doing literally anything else.

He never brought it up to me but I know he saw it and I feel so embarrassed to this day. Will never get over that one.

xoxo