#ideal of idol icons

[tiodolma]

A disturbing thing about s3x03, Goblin's Gold

[The goblin sees Merlin and jumps out the window with Morgana's healing bracelet. Merlin hurries to put Morgana's jewellery back in the box. Gwen enters behind him and clears her throat] GWEN I'm really not sure it suits you, Merlin.

this was the 2nd or 3rd time Guinevere caught Merlin touching Morgana's belongings, first time was in s1x01 when he first got to Morgana up close, and then when he stole clothes for Freya in s2x09.

It was disturbing why Gwen just thought that it was alright for Merlin to keep doing this, and not even the least bit suspicious, resentful or afraid of him. Why was Guinevere like this? Did she have secret animosity/resentment for Morgana?

Fine, let's say she's okay with the suspicion that Merlin might be "gay" or "effeminate" but is it a servant x servant thing to just allow your fellow servant to touch/disturb/take your mistress's valuable belongings?

and why always Morgana's?

Guinever was extremely fortunate that Morgana wasn't quick to accuse her of thievery tbh. Most masters would have resorted to that. That's a testament of how Morgana treats her people. But still. that was no excuse for a trusted maidservant like Guinevere to be that careless, thoughtless and disrespectful of a nobles' prized trosseau.

[punkitt-is-here]

Man I know I'm bitching about this a lot but I think the complete degradation of the satire and edge of the fallout series over time makes me so mad. The first game literally has an occupying American soldier shooting a Canadian protester dead right there in the opening to let you know the game's stance towards the military and the US as a whole; it's a biting attack on the jingoistic, war-and-profit loving country the US was, rooted in reality. It immediately forces the player to recognize the US (especially in this setting) were not heroic, patriotic do-gooders, but violent, colonizing bastards who blew up the world over chasing a white-picket-fence dream. "War never changes" is about the futile nature of war, the repeating cycles of violence and corruption, the very principles of fighting your fellow man never changing over time. It is always abhorrent, it is always messy, it is always reprehensible, and it is always done for the self interest of the elite in some way. Men do not die for their country, they simply die. Contrasting that with the opening of Fallout 4, which seems to idolize the military and pre-war America, is fucking baffling. You have those white picket fences, those perfect nuclear families, and "war never changes" is stretched like an Animorph cover from a harsh condemnation of the violent cycles the world is put through to a patriotic, watered down idea that war is inevitable and so are heroes. There's no fucking edge to how Fallout 4 remembers the country that ended the world; it gleefully eats up the Americana iconography, sanding down every edge that could make the player even consider that the US in the world of Fallout is meant to be our US taken to a logical extreme, instead revelling in patriotic clothes and ideals and icons while the entire basis of the franchise was built on satirizing and critiquing that exact blind patriotism. It drives me insane that these two completely ideologically different games are under the same roof and that one of them fell for the exact propaganda the first game was satirizing in the first place.

[astrstqr]

—★! IDOL/FAME PROFILE THINGS TO SCRIPT

yoncé: think i work better under pressure lol

all this free time made me lazy

　 𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 strong suits ׅ

unstoppable stage presence, powerful vocals, dynamic dance moves, iconic style, charismatic personality, versatility in music, empowerment and inspiration, amazing fan engagement

　 𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 media rep ׅ

consistent positive coverage and high-profile collaborations that showcase my influence and versatility. my status as a fashion icon is highlighted by frequent appearances in fashion magazines and at red carpet events. i handle interviews with poise and have a strong, authentic social media presence, connecting deeply with fans. my award recognition and involvement in philanthropy further cement my impact and commitment to making a positive difference.

　 𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 public image ׅ

unwavering blend of confidence and charm, establishing me as a powerful and relatable figure. i am celebrated for my exceptional talent and versatility, with a strong presence in both music and fashion. my genuine interactions with fans and dedication to charitable causes reinforce her positive and inspiring reputation. overall, i project a polished, influential persona that resonates deeply with audiences and sets me apart in the industry.

𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 rep colors ׅ light pink, magenta, sky blue, acid green, aero, alloy orange, antique ruby, flame, forest green, french raspberry, fulvous, beaver, baby pink, champagne

　 𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 fandom colors ׅ cerise, chili red, china pink, columbia blue, dark cyan, flirt, fire engine red, floral white, finn, french lime, bitter lime, blue, brown sugar

　 𓏲 .ᐟ. 　 titles to have ׅ

☆ everyone’s ideal type

☆ golden girl/boy

☆ nation’s crush

☆ nation’s center

☆ global it boy/girl

☆ ace

☆ human (any brand)

☆ celebrity of celebrities

☆ future of (any genre)

☆ (country’s) pride

☆ (company) lucky charm

☆ face of (any genre)

☆ global superstar

☆ pop culture icon

☆ best dancer/singer/rapper/actor etc

☆ black swan

☆ white swan

yoncé speaks 2: yes yall those are real colors lol

if you want more here a link from when i got them

color list !!

[hopeastrz]

PISCES AND NEPTUNE THROUGH THE HOUSES: where you are most iconic, ethereal and utterly unreachable‧₊˚⋅♡🪻 ༘⋆.

CHECK OUT SEPTEMBER SALE: fixed price on any and all of my readings 17 DOLLARS only.

Pisces is the sign that oozes allure, wherever it falls in your chart may tell you where you are most inspiring and hypnotizing to people, and they can never match you there!.

NOTE: enjoy this post and don’t forget to reblog, thank you for your support almost at 3k heheheh, lots of love xoxo!! ₊˚⊹౨ৎ

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 1ST HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE AC.

unforgettable, there’s something about your face that can’t be ignored, you may have a real unique sense of style, a unique face feature, or striking head and hair volume/color, there’s just something special about your appearance, that’s why you may find lots of people trying to copy your style!, but they can never match your confidence, not even close, and you may have a very spiritual and inspiring personality or outlook on life, your presence itself is also quite enchanting, truly the unreachable visuals.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 2ND HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 2ND HOUSE.

the way you handle money is unique, your scent, or the way you just don’t care about materialistic things in an era where you are judged by what you have and have not, you also like to keep vintage and high valued/high quality stuff as dear possessions to you, which makes people idolize the way you keep them & cherish them, same thing about the way you view your self worth, also you have an enchanting singing voice, or you’re music taste itself is iconic.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 3RD HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 3RD HOUSE.

Speaking about voices, you may have a very alluring way of talking, you may have a soft or a dreamy— almost sleepy and quite voice which makes people envious of the way you express yourself, alas they try copying your mannerisms constantly, your mind is also one of the most alluring things about you!, the way you think and view things— the way you have a bunch of interests that makes people surprised by your knowledge, or you’ve had had a very pristine early education (like you went to a very expensive school where you learned something valuable enough to be envied by) or you have a bunch of unique siblings, like they may be famous or just quite decent and loved.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 4TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE IC.

People idolize where you come from, the country you grew up in or your family!, you may have a royal blood running through your veins (yep im exaggerating but your parents are loved), people may idolize your house, your mother, grandparents or always try to glamorize your childhood, also your femininity is very enchanting!.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 5TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 5TH HOUSE.

People idolize your talents, you may have many talents that you’re pretty good at!, you’re creativity is also iconic, people you date for a short period of time and places you go to for vacations— people get fascinated because you only pick the best places or people who look very magnetic and just different, like people be like ‘how did you pull this man!’ or they’ll just find them good after you choose to date them.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 6TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 6TH HOUSE.

You may have a very different daily routine that surprisingly makes sense?, like it may seem kinda messy but it really is effective, you also me be the type of coworker who puts alcohol in a flask or water bottle during work to pass the day, also you may be the one who comes up with the most iconic ideas, even though you feel shy to speak them out loud!, also your coworkers may be attracted to you!.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE DC.

You are the ideal and perfect partner anyone could ever dream of, and im talking both in business and marriage!, you know how to make things easier for people around you, very helpful and ready to give all your resources to others without expecting anything in return, and that’s your iconic role, the way balance between things is very admired

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 8TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 8TH HOUSE.

You’re a great secret keeper, and you cherish your privacy, which makes you unreachable, only few people know everything about you, about your past and goals, you may be very spiritual too!, and reading people is a talent of yours which makes you iconic, you’re emotionally intelligent and could easily know someone’s intentions towards you from the start which makes you so iconic, also you’re obviously an icon in the sheets too *wink*

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 9TH HOUSE.

Iconic in the way you think, you don’t really have the same beliefs as everyone else, you are philosophical, very knowledgeable and quite educated, plus very very spiritual, you may enjoy reading fantasy novels, or you even write iconic novels yourself!, also you may have been found to be very hypnotic to people with you in uni, since you might’ve been seen unreachable around then!.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 10TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE MC.

Your work speaks for itself, and your reputation may be the best thing about you, you are known to be innocent or very kind & compassionate, also unreachable!, your reputation is unmatched either good or bad, very strong work ethic too and dedication to your profession!, your bosses may feel that you’re very unreachable in your work ethic!.

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 11TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 11TH HOUSE.

The most iconic and compassionate one in your friend group, you may be kinda different from them, like if they all date you don’t, if they all do certain things you probably wouldn’t, and people may find it hard to befriend you since you seem like an ideal friend and you may even be idolized on social media (nara smith has this placement), so don’t mistake this as you are lonely because something is wrong with you, everyone would really love to have you close

PISCES OR NEPTUNE IN THE 12TH HOUSE | PISCES DEGREES 12°, 24° ON THE 12TH HOUSE.

Very spiritual, your instincts are unmatched and truly unreachable, your dreams may suddenly come true, and you may also have a very strong self concept so work on it!, your subconscious mind is your way to be iconic, always trust it and have faith in yourself, i would recommend reading about law of assumption, neville Goddard and non-dualism!, you will go places if you used your mind right!.

[idyllicidols]

Desire.

Shin Yuna. The world sees her as a world famous idol, a paragon of beauty of grace. An individual to look up to, a person to aspire towards. Some might see her as untouchable, in a social sphere somewhere near the clouds. But she is more than just an idol with a hectic schedule and a busy life. Yuna is a real life human being, and every human has their flaws, their desires, their dark secrets that they need to keep hidden from the world.

And right now Yuna sure is living up to desires.

"You gonna do it? You gonna cum on my face?"

There she is, the picture perfect idol, sitting on her feet, naked as the day she was born. Surrounding her are three hand selected males, her hand vigorously pumping the cock directly in front of her. Yuna's eyes are firmly set on the glistening knob that her hands are wrapped around, her fingers nimbly moving from tip to hilt, her thumb digging into the meat and tugging and massaging with ferocious intent.

The other two aren't just standing idly by—they're groping and spanking whatever they feel like, an opportunity like this one is unheard of, but a gift Yuna loves to indulge. You see, underneath that cute and bubbly personality, and beyond all her flawless photoshoots and iconic concerts, the fact remains that Yuna is, above everything else, a cock obsessed slut.

The feeling of multiple hands and several hard, throbbing members grazing her petite body always fills Yuna with a pleasure that no amount of her fingers can ever truly match. The pinching of her nipples, the light and harsh spanks to her ass, the feeling of a cock throbbing in her hands. All of these things send her reeling into euphoria.

"Do it! Cum on my face. You gonna make me work for it? Do I have to suck you off? Make you cum by slurping your juices? My hand not enough?"

Her questions comes with a gentle lick to the underside of his shaft. It makes the cock twitch violently in Yuna's firm grip. He's already reaching his climax, that much is evident to Yuna. The only thing she needs now is for him to vocalize.

"I'm gonna... Yuna, I'm..."

"Come on, babe."

With a guttural moan, Yuna feels her cheek being covered by a blast of sticky warmth, followed by spurts of cum across her lips and chin and nose.

She looks down, mouth gaping, tongue hanging out, eye's narrow. The feeling of the sticky substance smeared over her skin, a marking that has her feel warm all over.

"Who's next?!" Yuna moves away from the well spent man, turning her attention to the other two behind her. One has his hands clasped to Yuna's ample ass, the other never stops roughly groping and grabbing her tits, pulling her nipples this and that way.

Yuna doesn't even know these lucky bastard's names—and that's precisely the point. All she knows is that they're some of her biggest fans, and because Yuna's not one to disappoint her supporters, the only reasonable thing for her to do is invite them back to her hotel room for an honest to God gangbang.

No real names, no exchanging numbers. Just a night of fun.

It's Yuna's idea of an ideal way to unwind before an important gig, and she's taking it upon herself to fully indulge.

"You know I offer more than just hand jobs right? My mouth, my pussy...my ass."

Yuna puts some emphasis when she says the word ass—she knows how taboo it is, to be an idol who loves to be fucked in her forbidden hole. Tempting over eager fan boys is such a power rush to Yuna, especially since she always gets what she wants in the end. And tonight will be no different.

Not only does the sudden spurt of her words catch the other two guys off guard, so do her slender fingers, that have already found their way around the nearest cock.

She looks up into his eyes, practically staring into his soul.

"So what do you say sweetheart? Which hole do you wanna fuck? Do you want my mouth? Is it my pussy you craving?"

Yuna smirks.

"Or maybe," her other hand slowly reaches to her asshole, "you're gonna shove your cock right here and treat me like a total anal slut."

She isn't quite touching her tight hole, but her fingertips hover tantalizing close. Close enough to make the guy think of exactly what she's describing, all the dirty details, from start to end. And the mere thought is starting to make him go crazy.

"Have you ever done anal before?"

Her soft and playful tone is hard to resist. This entire experience has left the guy totally speechless. He shakes his head, unable to verbalize any words of any kind.

"Well what do you say Hun? Wanna pop your anal virginity with a world famous superstar?"

Yuna doesn't even give him a chance to answer—she bends down on the bed, ass up face down, spread apart in a position that leaves her totally open to her new fuck buddies.

He watches in absolute shock and disbelief as Yuna playfully wiggles her plump behind, teasingly caressing her puckering asshole in a display that leaves him unable to hold off. He licks his fingers, saliva coating his palm as he reaches forward to insert his middle finger into Yuna's butt. She wasn't lying; Yuna is an anal loving slut, a star whore, and this position is making her squirm. The soft, coos leaving her lips are proof of the immense arousal coursing through her veins. The fact that her pussy is dripping means even more.

"I don't want your finger," Yuna turns back, staring into his eyes again, "I want your cock."

He pulls his finger out with a lewd squelching sound, only to replace it with his cock—hard and pulsating, a sheer result of the slutty actions from the girl splayed out in front of him, seemingly on a platter.

The tip presses against Yuna's eager asshole. She starts to whimper, just slightly, an involuntary reflex as a wave of pleasure fills her veins. It's about to begin, and that moment is like heaven to Yuna.

"Do it," she utters, more quietly now that the tip of his cock is pressing up against her most private place. "Don't tease. Fuck me in the ass. Do it. Please..."

Those few simple, begging words are the green light the guy has been waiting for. A cue to fully penetrate her rear, spreading it open with a searing, heavy thrust. It doesn't matter that it's his first time—Yuna loves to fuck. She loves it in any position, anywhere, in any circumstance. Yuna was made to be fucked and tonight is no exception, that is a fact.

So the feeling of his heavy prick ramming her open, and the sweet, familiar burn that comes after sends Yuna into a total blissed-out state. Even though this is what Yuna was begging for, the thrusts are slow and inexperienced—her new living dildo seemingly afraid to hurt his favorite idol.

"Don't be gentle! Fuck me hard, deeper...please, please! Wreck my asshole!"

Those words are enough. They spur the young man into action, and instead of taking it nice and slow, Yuna feels her whole ass shuddering at the rapid pace her lover is now setting. It hurt. Oh God did it fucking hurt.

The kind of pain that leaves her feeling filled with the greatest pleasure. The kind of pain that reminds her that she's alive—not some brainless idol robot with an image to protect. Yuna is a woman with sexual needs and she's not afraid to admit them.

"Faster, don't stop. More, oh God yes!!" Yuna is spouting out all the right things and it's certainly having an effect. "Fuck me!" Her hands grope her perky ass cheeks, trying their hardest to keep them spread open for the fuckfest raging on in the depths of her backdoor.

Her insides felt great to her new partner, especially as he gets more adventurous and drives her over the edge of euphoria with a thrust here, a squeeze there. His hands are gripping her hips, driving his rock hard length further into her cavern.

It must have been such a fucking miserable sight. The third guy in the room ignored and forgotten, sporting a massive erection whilst sitting on the edge of a King sized bed. Yuna didn't even notice it, nor did the guy currently drilling her ass. But she definitely notices it when he lifts her head and presses his tip against her slightly parted lips. The action catches her off guard, almost. It's just a quick glance and a lust filled smirk, but the quick understanding between them has her open her mouth to swallow the intruding piece of flesh.

"You want me to suck your cock while I'm getting fucked in the ass?! What a joke!"

The man looks dejected. That is until Yuna licks her lips and flashes a coy smile. She shakes her head, waves of dark hair falling around her cheeks and onto her back.

"I'm not gonna suck it. But you can fuck my face. Spit roast me. Make me choke me on your cock, choke me as his big, hard dick fills my little asshole."

Yuna opens her mouth, her tongue laid flat and waiting to be invaded. There's an overwhelming desire to be filled from both ends, a carnal hunger. If that's what it takes for her to receive this much pleasure, then so be it. She just wants her holes stuffed, fucked hard until they're so worn, so well used that her mind blanks into total ecstasy.

Yuna sucks and moans and mewls as he's driving his cock down her throat. Any cries of pleasure from being torn apart from behind gets muffled and lost under the garbled and sloppy sounds of the face-fucking.

She takes his cock hungrily into her mouth, bobbing back and forth, not even worrying about the gagging sensations or the burning in her throat, or the spit dripping from her mouth, nor even her eyes beginning to water.

The taste, the scent—the full sensory overload from receiving both a full frontal assault on her gag reflex and a rump fuck all at once is driving her crazy. Her clit is swollen and sensitive, and everytime she shakes her ass to guide his cock deep inside, her clit brushes against the silk-soft sheets and tenses something tight and coils deep within her core.

It builds, tighter, hotter—and the wetness trickling out of her needy, untouched cunt only aids the thrusts from his eager tool.

Her whole body shakes and trembles. A total body orgasm as she's used and abused by two strangers, faceless tools for her sexual pleasure. They take her, use her, violate and violate, spanking and penetrating wherever they pleased.

And through it all she takes it with grace, glee, and happiness. The pain mixed in with the pleasure was intense. Overwhelming. Every time another palm cracks against her reddening cheeks, every time that she's choked and pounded harder, deeper, it leaves her begging for more. Every thrust from either end sends another surge of the hottest, fiercest tingling through her veins. Yuna's completely submerged into the moment, so lost within it. A cocktail of sheer masochism and perverted need to be nothing but an object for her boys' enjoyment.

Then it happens, with another hard thrust into her slutty backdoor, everything snaps—and Yuna screams into a prolonged, euphoric moan. She cums, and she cums hard. Her second one in such a short space of time. It's so intense—so overwhelming.

It takes a whole minute before the world starts to spin again, the rush and adrenaline is almost too much, the double penetration pushing the boundaries and making Yuna realize how she could die right here, right now, and still not care. She almost forgets she's an idol for a moment, the label seeming so alien and irrelevant as the rest of her facade disintegrates along with her mind and body, dissolving under a sea of pleasure. Slowly fading as her partner finally bursts with an eruption of hot, thick, cum, coating her insides, filling her ass until it can hold no more and starts leaking out onto her skin and the plushy fabric of the covers.

The constant moans of joy must have been too much for the man occupying her throat. Cuz shortly after her ass is stuffed full, so is her mouth, spurt after spurt, sending Yuna straight into an orgasmic daze.

It's incredible—such a heavenly, amazing, thrilling and powerful feeling of a double load pumped into both of her holes.

She swaps from feeling like an object, a fuck toy, something to be used and abused, to just Yuna. Yuna who craves pleasure, needs love, and wants a feeling of validation that she's doing her very best to fill up with constant sexual trysts and promiscuous nights. It doesn't work though, because she can never truly be satisfied. No man, no orgy, no gangbang has ever been enough, never even been close enough. But when it's all over, these times, these moments are what Yuna lives and breathes for.

There's four bodies on the bed, laid out and completely wrecked—Yuna, the man with the enormous cock that spread her anal walls, the man that got the handjob of a lifetime from none other than Yuna herself, and the forgotten dude who eventually got to fuck her throat. Yuna can barely see or talk after being ravaged, but even still she's smiling like the cat that got the cream—because in essence, she had three extra large creamy loads.

It's not enough, no amount of cock could ever satisfy Yuna, but this is good enough for tonight. Tomorrow brings another night. Another night to find a nice gentleman to stuff her pussy that was left unfulfilled, left on the verge, twitching and ready to burst. But tomorrow is a worry for the future—now is the time for rest and relaxation, for recovery.

[least-transmcytshowdown]

TommyInnit:

Dream SMP, SMP Earth, Origins SMP

Trans man, he/him; Transfem, she/her; Genderfluid, she/he

“c!Tommy is very trans coded [the submitter] think[s]. Transing that boy’s gender do you get what [they’re] saying.”

“Tommyinnit got called the t slur because he mentioned getting ball surgery and the conservatives thought he was transitioning, please let him have this.”

“It's the theatrically emulating toxic ideals of masculinity while simultaneously dissing on men constantly. Iit's the Always being forced into roles. It's the main antagonist of your story wanting you to be something you aren't and forcing you into it and (it is killing you. it is killing you.) It's the someone you idolize and look up to who seems like the standard of masculinity turning out to be sad drunk dying man who dies Watched by everyone he fucked over Being abusive and shitty and toxic. It's the. cTommy story [is] inherently genderqueer.”

“[The submitter] can NOT vote Tommy after seeing all the art and fics over the years.”

“[The submitter has] read an embarrassing amount of trans TommyInnit rpf in [their] gender questioning years. [They’re] talking like 100+ fics. Vote TommyInnit, [their] trans icon.”

“[The submitter is] always voting Tommy because [their] gender was permanently affected by those trans Tommy headcanons a few years ago.”

“Tommyinnit is the transest character of all time, [the submitter is] just saying. He rewired [their] brain, [they] love him he deserves to win by like five million. c!Tommy is every flavour of transgender and we as intellectuals are astutely aware of this. Or whatever.”

TibbyCaps:

Submitted for: Artimators SMP

Headcanons: Transmasc, he/him

Propaganda: Transmasc irl

“[The submitter is] here for Tibby and Tibby only please make him win. He's literally trans and also really cool.”

“PLEASE, IF HE WINS AGAINST XB [the submitter] WILL COSPLAY HIM.”

“His shield in Artimators is a trans flag!”

[lautakwah]

Ask, and ye shall receive. Posting the Nie Huaisang Essay for his birthday, I hope the three Nie Huaisang Enjoyers will like this♡

Nie Huaisang, GNC Icon?

An analysis of the construction of Chinese masculinity and manhood as it relates to perceived gender-nonconformity in Chinese male characters in period dramas by western fans.

「你小心点！这个呢可是我最喜欢的一副扇子。你看 画工精巧构图別致。怎么样 是不是当世极品哪？」

“Be careful! This is my favorite folding fan. Look, it’s exquisitely painted and uniquely constructed. How is it? It’s of the highest grade, isn’t it?”

― Nie Huaisang, episode 35 of 陈情令 The Untamed (2020)

It was late 2019 when I first heard about Chen Qing Ling, in countries outside of China and other majority-Chinese speaking areas better known as The Untamed.[1] I had, at the time, not watched a proper C-drama in years. Intrigued by CQL’s sudden popularity, however, I decided to check it out; after all, it was not every day that a C-drama gains popularity in the west. Even with the recent uptick in East-Asian media gaining traction[2], it was still a surprise to see a xianxia series getting the same level of adoration in online circles I had previously only seen dedicated to Disney intellectual property.

Based on the web-novel Mo Dao Zu Shi (Founder of Demonic Cultivation) by MXTX, CQL tells the story of Wei Ying, courtesy name Wuxian, and details the events in the cultivation world surrounding his teenage years until his untimely death several years later, and the mystery surrounding his resurrection yet 13 years afterwards. A series spanning roughly 20 years in 50 episodes, CQL is an epic that at the same time leaves out a lot of the original novel. After all, it is an adaptation of a danmei-genre novel: focusing on male-male romance generally created by and for women and sexual minorities (Lavin et al 2017). Considering the strict media regulations in China, most of the homoeroticism either had to be censored or subtextual (Xu 2014; Shaw and Zhang 2018).

With this popularity, however, also came the very western-centric, colonialist, and orientalist interpretations of the text. Focusing in particular on the way that Asian men have been and are seen as more feminine (Han 2016; Han 2006; Song 2004) and how western fans continue to perpetuate this rhetoric when consuming C-dramas, I will take as a case study the way that Nie Huaisang, one of the main supporting characters in CQL, has been hailed as a gender-nonconforming, nonbinary, and/or trans icon by western fans. Starting with expounding on the danmei genre as a whole, and what that means for Nie Huaisang as a character, I shall then discuss the ways that Chinese masculinities are constructed and how Nie Huaisang exemplifies the wen ideal of masculinity, being a scholar and an artist. Finally, I will talk about western fans’ attitudes being culturally insensitive on top of reiterating and reinforcing western-centric, colonialist, and orientalist tropes and ideals surrounding masculinity and manhood.

Danmei, derived from the Japanese term tanbi and the Chinese equivalent to BL (Boys’ Love), although by now it has transformed into its own subculture instead of wholly resembling its Japanese counterpart, literally means “addicted to beauty” (Feng 2009; Lavin et al 2017; Kam 2012). It depicts an idealized love between (young) male characters, who also embody ideal, generally androgynous, beauty standards, and whose beauty is at the forefront of the text. These beauty standards extend even to the side characters, and in drama adaptations the casts tend to boast idols and young, conventionally attractive actors in all roles ― as is the case with CQL.

What this means for Nie Huaisang, who is neither a love interest nor a main character, is that he would still have to fall into the trope of being a beautiful man, and have it be natural within the narrative. Chinese beauty standards here differ from the eurocentric and oftentimes colonialist norm that western fans are used to. Furthermore, culturally and historically the androgynous looks that are romanticized and exalted are constructed within the framework of masculinity; in other words, while for westerners androgyny might mean gender-nonconformity, nothing could be farther from the truth when looking at how Chinese masculinity and manhood are constructed (Kam 2012).

Beyond aestheticism, however, which is more of a danmei staple (Feng 2009), there are many other ways in which masculinity and manhood were conceptualized in ancient China. Nie Huaisang, being a scholar, embodies a very distinct masculine ideal (Kam 2002; Kam 2015; Song 2004). The scholar class was a male-only, and, indeed, one of the most venerated of professions held in ancient China. Nie Huaisang, being a sect heir and later sect leader, furthermore was well-off, meaning that he couldn’t be in a “feminine” scholarly position either ― marginalized/poor scholars were emasculated by being in the service of higher-ranking men, think of pinshi (poor scholars), muyou (secretary scholars), or hanshi (obscure scholars), which could never be the case for Nie Huaisang (Kam 2016). Within the framework of Chinese masculinity, and specifically the wen-wu (literary-martial) understanding and conceptualization of it, scholars were further preferred over their martial counterparts; Nie Huaisang, by virtue of being a scholar and a beauty, even lives up to the romanticized masculine ideal of the caizi jiaren[3] (“scholar-beauty”) hero (Song 2004). While being a well-rounded individual was of course appreciated more[4], as a poet, artist, and shrewd intellectual Nie Huaisang more than conforms to male gender roles as they exist within the cultural and historical context (Kam 2002; Kam 2015).

「大哥这人你也了解 一向鲁莽 又容易冲动。可你不像他。你自小理性内敛、又习得奇门道用。」

“You know eldest brother[5] well. He’s always been reckless and impulsive. But you are not like him. You have been rational and restrained since you were young, and you are good at Daoist magic.”

― Jin Guangyao to Nie Huaisang, 乱魄 Fatal Journey (2020)

In Fatal Journey, which is a spin-off movie of CQL focusing solely on the Nie sect, Jin Guangyao tells Nie Huaisang the above. Nie Mingjue is in the series and movie both depicted as a strong fighter; juxtaposing both brothers, one who is good at martial pursuits and one who follows intellectual pursuits, it becomes clear that here, too, “rationality” and therefore being an intellectual is preferred over the brute strength in cishetero-patriarchal hypermasculinity that the west favors, while simultaneously marking both brothers as still conforming to masculine standards.

The fact that western fans interpret Nie Huaisang to be “GNC-coded”, then, has to do with their own preconceptions surrounding how western (white, eurocentric) masculinity and manhood are constructed, and taken as the norm for these concepts. Because of orientalism, East Asian men as a whole are feminized, emasculated, and infantilized (Han 2016; Han 2006; Kam 2012; Kapac 1998). Western fans consuming and interacting with East Asian media will be done through such a lens, and when uncontested, only perpetuate this rhetoric. In period dramas such as CQL, where everyone wears flowing robes and has long hair[6] ― historically and culturally accurate ― western audiences will instead interpret this to mean their conceptions of Chinese people to be more feminine aren’t unfounded. While the construction of Chinese masculinities have changed since ancient times (Kam 2015; Song 2010), and the representations of Chinese masculinities in TV have become more globalized (Song 2010), it nevertheless does not mean that male characters in period dramas are ever seen as feminine or deliberately emasculated through being a scholar as opposed to a warrior ― that is a purely western interpretation.

Nie Huaisang’s mannerisms, while seemingly “feminine” by western standards ― his love for fans, his artistry, his intellect, his aversion to violence ― all have cultural, contextual, historical, and in-universe explanations that have nothing to do with his manhood nor his masculinity[7]; he was written as a frivolous “second young master” with no ambition to take on the role as sect leader[8], and his sect’s cultivation style actively poisoned the mind and body. Is it any wonder, then, that he did not take up the dao? While he doesn’t conform to the cultivation world’s standards of a cultivator and later as sect leader, a role he was forced into after his brother’s death, this does not make him gender-nonconforming. Western audiences’ preoccupation with his antipathy towards using his dao and not fighting furthermore points to their subscription to western-centric, colonialist ideals of hypermasculinity (Han 2016; Song 2004), which they assume are universal, and therefore ascribing Nie Huaisang traits that simply aren’t there. In the end, his wielding of a fan and brush instead of a dao is then interpreted as him being effeminate and not conforming to gender roles, instead of understanding that as a scholar and artist, he conforms to gender roles just fine, but does not conform to traditional cultivator roles.

In a rapidly globalizing world where it is increasingly easy to gain access to media made elsewhere, western audiences’ inability to understand that their worldview is limited actively perpetuates orientalist tropes and racist misconceptions. The way that Nie Huaisang is seen as gender-nonconforming by fans points to the racialization of gender and its construction. A scholar and an intellectual, wielding a fan and being an expert strategist, Nie Huaisang is at times reminiscent of Zhuge Liang, a legendary historical scholar. Yet, while he conforms to male gender roles within his own cultural context, being emblematic of the wen ideal of masculinity, western audiences cannot conceive of him as a man because he deviates from white cisheteronormative patriarchy.

This is not to say that interpreting any character as a minority should not be done. Representation is important ― we all know this. Personally, I would even welcome it as a gender-nonconforming nonbinary person myself. The way western fans go about it, however, only shows they do so through a western-centric, colonialist, and orientalist lens. The point, then, is not that he cannot be gender-nonconforming ― it is to change how western audiences interact with and interpret non-western media.

FOOTNOTES

I will henceforth refer to the series as CQL.

Think for example of how K-pop is becoming more and more mainstream by the day, and how anime and manga are as much part of pop culture as comics and cartoons.

A type of novel depicting the story of a young, rich, beautiful scholar and his female love interest.

Take, for example, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhuge Liang from Romance of the Three Kingdoms; while all three are undoubtedly held up as paragons of masculinity and male role models even now, Guan Yu, being a martial god (thus epitomizing wu), and Zhuge Liang, being an unparalleled intellectual (thus epitomizing wen), both defer to Liu Bei, who embodies both parts of the wen-wu dichotomy equally, being an adept swordsman and an able strategizer.

This refers to Nie Mingjue, Nie Huaisang’s eldest brother and also Jin Guangyao’s eldest sworn brother. He was at the time the sect leader of Qinghe (where the Nie clan was based).

Long hair has long been a confucian ideal, and not gendered because of it. As one’s body is granted to them by their parents, and one has to pay respect to their elders, cutting hair is akin to desecrating the body and disrespecting one’s elders.

Beyond being explicitly stated in the text multiple times, the official artbook of the drama also reinforces this, as does Nie Huaisang’s propensity to quote poetry or waxing lyrical. One memorable line at the end of the series especially brings this home: 「这山川风物四时美景 真是无论看多久 都不会 觉得厌。我呢 是一个识趣的人 该我做的我不会假手他人 如果不该我做的 我也做不来。」(“These mountains and rivers, the scenery of all seasons – I really do feel that no matter how long I look , I won’t become bored of them. As for me, I’m a sensible man. For the things I should do, I won’t shirk. But for things that aren’t my business, I won’t meddle in.”)

After all, we have already established he conforms to Chinese standards of masculinity, and as a Chinese male character from a mainland Chinese production that was made primarily for Chinese-speaking audiences, that is honestly all the context needed to understand him as a character.

Wei Wuxian asks Nie Huaisang if he would ever have the intention to become head cultivator (i.e. leader of all the sects), and by answering thus, invoking scenic imagery and speaking in a higher register, which, yes, is in-character for him, also has an added layer. Reminiscent of Chinese dynastic succession struggles, unambitious siblings tended to throw themselves into the arts, poetry, and music, while eschewing politics and power plays in the hopes that their siblings who had ambitions for the throne would not kill them. Nie Huaisang, here, is conjuring up these same sentiments, hinting to Wei Wuxian that he is not scheming to be head cultivator by talking poetically, and further implicitly pleading with his old friend not to suspect his motives and not to kill him because of them.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Feng, Jin. 2009. ““Addicted to Beauty”: Consuming and Producing Web-based Chinese “Danmei” Fiction at Jinjiang.” Modern Chinese Literature and Culture 21, no. 2 (fall): 1-41. https://www.jstor.org/stable/41491008.

Han, C. Winter. 2016. “From “Little Brown Brothers” to “Queer Asian Wives”: Constructing the Asian Male Body.” In Body Aesthetics, edited by Sherri Irvin, 60-80. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Han, Chong-suk. 2006. “Being an Oriental, I could Never Be Completely a Man: Gay Asian Men and the Intersection of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class.” Race, Gender & Class 13, no. 3/4 (2006): 82-97. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41675174.

Kam, Louie. 2016. Changing Chinese Masculinities: From Imperial Pillars of State to Global Real Men. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Kam, Louie. 2015. Chinese Masculinities in a Globalizing World. New York: Routledge.

Kam, Louie. 2012. “Popular Culture and Masculinity Ideals in East Asia, with Special Reference to China.” The Journal of Asia Studies 71, no. 4 (November): 929-943. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021911812001234.

Kam, Louie. 2002. Theorising Chinese Masculinity: Society and Gender in China. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Kapac, Jack. 1998. “Culture/Community/Race: Chinese Gay Men and the Politics of Identity.” Anthropologica 40, no. 2 (1998): 169-81. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25605895.

Lavin, Maud, Ling Yang, and Jing Jamie Zhao. 2017. Boys’ Love, Cosplay, and Androgynous Idols: Queer Fan Cultures in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Shaw, Garreth, and Xiaoling Zhang. 2018. “Cyberspace and gay rights in a digital China: Queer documentary filmmaking under state censorship.” China Information 32 (2), 270-92. https://doi.org/10.1177/0920203X17734134.

Song, Geng. 2010. “Chinese Masculinities Revisited: Male Images in Contemporary Television Drama Serials.” Modern China 36, no. 4 (2010): 404-34. https://doi.org/10.1177/0097700410368221.

Song, Geng. 2004. The Fragile Scholar: Power and Masculinity in Chinese Culture. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

Xu, Beina. 2014. “Media Censorship in China.” Council on Foreign Relations, September 25, 2014. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/177388/media%20censorship%20in%20china.pdf

[setsunaaaicons]

CHASE MY IDEAL IDOL ICONS!

[ourflagmeansgayrights]

wait fuck ok i’m back to being sad about it now

like the thing is that ed doesn’t really hang out with anyone but stede in season one, not really. and whenever he is talking to other ppl on the crew, stede is right there. the only exception to this is in episode 8 when jack brings the party energy and everyone is getting drunk and rowdy together specifically as part of jack’s efforts to exclude stede.

and as a fandom we always make jokes and theorize about what the relationship between ed and stede must look like from the outside, if they were all placing bets for when they’d finally hook up or if they had zero belief in stede’s ability to pull THEE blackbeard

but now i’m thinking about the crew’s perception of Ed Himself. of the crew’s perceptions of The Legendary Blackbeard and how that must’ve changed over the course of the first season. because when they first meet him they’re all impressed and starstruck bc yeah, duh, this is Pirate Beyoncé we’re talking about. they’re also in varying degrees “worried he’s gonna kill them.”

but they quickly see that the real pirate beyonce isn’t all leather and murder and head made of smoke. blackbeard swaps clothes with their cringefail (derogatory) boss for fun. he dresses up and goes to a fancy party just because he wants to—he’s not even trying to get anything out of it, doesn’t have an angle the way frenchie does, he genuinely just wants to go to a very un-Blackbeardy party and have fun. he tells them scary stories. he shows them some of his trade blackbeard secrets. he hypes them all up after their first fuckery (and i will never get over how cute that is exchange is, “scared the pants off me” and “i thought blackbeard didn’t feel fear” and “and i didn’t, until tonight” and the crew’s genuine excitement and pride). he goes on a treasure hunt with their cringefail (affectionate, now) boss and lets him dig in the ground to get it out of his system. they learn that ed isn’t just a scary pirate, he also can be silly and goof off and enjoy things that aren’t exactly compatible’s with the Blackbeard Brand

and beyond just not adhering 24/7 to the Brand, they learn that ed—that blackbeard—is human. is fallible. they see his first plan to escape the spanish fail, and they get to participate in the backup plan that he and stede come up with. frenchie sees ed get hurt at the fancy party in a way that he completely understands. lucius realizes that ed is just as into his cringefail boss as his cringefail boss is into ed, and over the course of giving ed a shovel talk he maybe learns that The Legendary Blackbeard might actually be nervous about a boy liking him back.

and none of this—NONE of this—makes the crew lose any respect for him. even pete never has a moment where his perception of his idol is shattered, where he’s disappointed that blackbeard isn’t all nine guns and zero mercy all the time. instead, pete expands his idea of what The Ideal Pirate (the ideal MAN) looks like.

i think by the time jack rolls around, ed is no longer on that Pirate Beyoncé pedestal to them. he’s still on a pedestal, a bit, but instead of seeing ed as this untouchable badass legend, they see him as like. the coolest guy on the ship. still a badass, still somebody they all respect and admire, but someone they can hang out with. someone they really want to hang out with. they want to impress ed because they want him to like them, they want to be his friend. and yeah, it’s played as a “your father and i are getting a divorce but we still love you very much” joke, but they really are so sad when ed leaves with jack.

and ed showing up with no beard and no stede, ed hiding in his cabin for. a day? multiple days? ed singing a song about his feelings. ed saying he no longer wants to go by blackbeard.

the crew is confused, but they’re on board. they don’t laugh at him for his (bad) singing, they don’t think less of him now that he’s sans iconic beard. ed, to them, is still The Coolest Guy On The Ship, and they want to be his friend. they’re excited to be his friend.

they want to put on a talent show.

and ed, right after getting stabbed in the back by jack and izzy, and then stede, and then izzy again—ed, who was so affected by the jeers of the rich fuckers at that fancy party, who grew up in a culture that doesn’t allow for friendship, a culture of everyone in various stages of fucking each other over—can’t see that. he’s got fresh heartbreak and fresh betrayal that are compounding on years of trauma and he hears them all chanting his name and he can’t trust this crew. he couldn’t trust his first mate, and he couldn’t trust his old shipmate, and he couldn’t trust stede. he cannot, cannot risk vulnerability with the crew. not again.

(and like, cmon, who is ed even kidding? he’s not made for things like softness and friendship and genuine camaraderie. trying to be anything other than blackbeard is like a wolf trying to fit in a sheep’s clothing, but the clothing is too small and everyone can see right through him and they’re all laughing and laughing and he’s the only one who can’t see what a joke he is. ed’s not an idiot, he knows there’s no way the crew is up their chanting his name and asking for another song because they like him. they just want the great clown pagliacci to come out and make them laugh.

so sure, ed’ll give them a show. they think ed’s funny? well he’s about to be fucking hilarious.)

EDIT: those of y’all seeing this in the ofmd tags are missing the additions where it gets even sadder

[caramelt4me]

Secret. - Prologue

(Yandere Idol X Kidnapped Reader)

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊

Prologue Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V

𝕋he crowd roared, voices blending into a deafening wave of cheers as the members of Twilight Dreamers, the hottest K-pop boy group of their generation, stepped onto the stage for their closing act. The stadium was electric with anticipation, and when the opening notes of their iconic song, "Endless Echo," filled the air, the energy reached a fever pitch. The song was more than just a track; it was an ode to their devoted fans, Moonbeams, an anthem of eternal connection that tied the fans and idols together in an unbreakable bond.

Asher, the main vocalist, took center stage, his sapphire-blue eyes sweeping over the adoring crowd, each face lit with joy and tears. His voice rang out, pure and emotive, pouring out the heartache and passion of the lyrics, which spoke of unending love and loyalty. Every note resonated with raw emotion, drawing tears from fans who clung to each word, each line of "Endless Echo" reverberating through the stadium like a heartbeat. Damian and Theo stood by his side, hands stretched out to the crowd, their harmonies blending perfectly with Asher's voice. They swayed, matching the rhythm, while fans waved back, each hand reaching for the connection they felt with their idols. In the back, Clade and Nex held their ground, hyping up the crowd with smooth, effortless dance moves and infectious smiles, their playful interactions adding a layer of excitement to the heartfelt moment.

However, unlike their other performances, each time this song would play – it would be Asher who captivated them all: His eyes closed as he sang the final high note with a soulfulness that held the power to break million hearts in a blink.

When his voice faded, he opened his eyes, and the stadium erupted. He looked at his bandmates with a warm, grateful smile, and together they side-hugged, bowing to their fans. The roar of the crowd echoed like a euphoric pulse that had yet to settle. As they exchanged looks with wide grins, their hearts raced, riding on the thrill of their last performance for the year.

All the members would be focusing on their respective solo projects and taking much needed rest until their comeback scheduled after six to seven months. Thus, this performance meant a temporary farewell gift to their fans – who would eagerly await their return. They shared a final wave with the fans, relishing every cheer and lightstick that illuminated the stadium like a sea of stars.

But as they left the stage and stepped behind the curtain, the lights dimmed and the magic faded.

By the time they climbed into the van, a sense of quiet had already settled over them. They slipped into their usual seats, the atmosphere inside shifting from celebratory to subdued.

The contrast was stark: only moments ago, they were flawless idols, bathed in adoration, embodying the unreachable ideal their fans cherished. Now, they were just five young men, caught in the strange in-between of fame and reality.

Theo chuckled at something on his phone, while Nex's face creased with a deep frown as he scrolled through messages. Clade peered over Nex’s shoulder, momentarily concerned before his lips curved into an amused smirk - entertained by the maknae’s frustration, while Damian lay back with his arms crossed, eyes shut, brows knit as if blocking out the exhaustion that lingered beneath the night’s high. The thrill of the stage had drained away, leaving a quiet, almost hollow void in its wake.

Everyone knew that being an idol demanded a crafted image, a painstakingly curated persona. The industry sold a dream, one that promised perfection, a fantasy that kept fans enthralled with illusions of beauty and personality, setting a standard almost impossible to live up to. And yet, some fans blurred reality with their fantasies, forming attachments that were built on half-truths and well-practiced smiles, all too easily crossing lines in their devotion. But it wasn’t just the fans who played with fire; each of the members had their own way of dealing with fame’s side effects.

Damian and Theo, frequently spotted with vape pens or packs of cigarettes during livestreams, leaned into the group’s "bad boy" reputation, a rebellious streak that only made them more beloved among their fans. Clade and Nex, on the other hand, had their fair share of dating scandals, but were skillful enough to dodge serious trouble each time. The four had also earned the title of being quite the party animals - although, that was given due to the industry they were in. Their agency of course, was more than willing to cover for them, knowing that Twilight Dreamers was a lucrative powerhouse, their pristine image essential to the label’s success. Even when the recent shocking rumors of the youngest member's ties to an underground drug lord surfaced, their devoted Moonbeams stood by the boy-group, fierce in their loyalty, ready to defend their idols at any cost.

And then there was Asher.

Though Damian was the official leader, Asher was the group’s true center of gravity. Scandal-free, disciplined, and with an almost untouchable demeanor, he had become a paragon across fandoms, adored as much for his mystery as for his charm. The "Ice Prince," as he was fondly dubbed, seemed almost otherworldly in his restraint, his reputation unblemished by any hint of controversy. Fans clung to every word he wrote, especially the lyrics of Endless Echo, the song that dripped with romance and longing, exposing a softer, almost vulnerable side that surprised everyone. His fans dreamed of a partner like him, someone both devoted and complex, whose quiet allure only made him seem more perfect—and entirely out of reach.

But that too of course, was far from the truth.

The van came to a halt, and Damian, now awake, pushed the door open without a word. Theo and Clade scrambled after him, the former calling out to their leader, “Wait up, Daim! Don’t leave us behind!”

Damian strode off with his jacket thrown back on his shoulder, not looking back.

"Let him go, Theo," Clade chuckled, eyeing the red-haired male's frustration. He slipped an arm around the youngest’s waist, leaning close with a teasing glint in his eye. "We all know the real party doesn’t start until our maknae decides it’s time. Isn’t that right, Nexie?~"

Nex flinched, momentarily caught off guard, but quickly masked it with a smirk. “Yeah, why the rush? The night’s still young,” he shot back, brushing off Clade’s arm with an annoyed look. Clade chuckled, his amber eyes catching the faint blush creeping onto Nex's cheeks.

As the maknae moved to step out, Asher’s hand shot out, gripping his arm and pulling him back. His face was calm, but his icy-blue eyes held a warning that sent a chill down Nex’s spine. “Don’t overdo it,” Asher said quietly, voice barely above a whisper. “I won’t cover for you this time.”

The pink-haired male swallowed hard, caught off guard by the eldest member’s intensity. “W-What do you mean, hyung? You said it’s ok to party once in a while. Our tour just ended so—”

“You know what I mean,” Asher cut in, his voice like steel. “You’re walking a thin line. Next time, it won’t just be a hiatus. Try jail time. No career to come back to.”

“Hey, back off,” Theo spoke up, frowning. “It’s not like you’re someone to talk—”

“Theo.” Damian’s voice sliced through the tension, as the three younger idols turned to see that their leader had retraced his steps. The raven-haired male gave Theo a look, a silent command to drop it, an unexpected lifeline from Asher’s icy scrutiny.

Asher raised an eyebrow, glancing at Damian, before his gaze stiffened upon realization.

 – they knew his secret.

His jaw clenched as he waited for the raven-haired male to make a move – his icy gaze a sliver away from insanity. Instead, Damian chose to play dumb and ran a hand through his hair, letting out a sigh. “Can we go already? My head’s killing me.”

The others gratefully took the cue. “Y-Yeah,” Theo muttered, nudging Nex and Clade, who quickly fell in line, all of them carefully avoiding Asher’s unyielding gaze as they filed out of the van.

Asher’s cold blue eyes followed their retreat toward the party, just another in the countless string they’d gone to since turning legal. His expression remained unreadable as they disappeared from view.

The low hum of the streetlights cast a dim glow around them as the van sat idling in a quiet backlot. Asher leaned against the open door, his gaze fixed somewhere distant, unaffected by the nervously fidgeting manager who had just stepped out of the driver’s seat.

“Mr. Baek,” Asher said coolly, still not turning his head. “Were you just admiring the view, or did you manage to handle the situation at the club?”

Baek’s hands fumbled as he clasped them together, his laugh a little too forced. “Y-Yes, it’s all done, just as you asked,” he replied, clearing his throat. “The laced drinks have been swapped for regular ones, and by morning, the supplier will be…handled. I’ll have Nex’s phone bugged again after he crashes. Just like last time.” He chuckled nervously. “I thought the little rascal had learned his lesson, but old habits, huh? Still, um...” He hesitated, glancing at Asher’s unreadable expression. “...won’t the boys eventually catch on? I mean, they might suspect you’re involved.”

Asher let out a low laugh, the kind that didn’t reach his eyes. “Why? Do you plan to snitch on me to our Dear Leader-nim just like the way you did about the Cabin.”

Baek’s face drained of color, his breath catching as he grasped Asher’s arm in panic. “N-No! I’d never! Did…Did Damian say something? That—” His words faltered as Asher’s gaze turned ice-cold, and he pulled his hand back as if burned. “Please, Asher, believe me! I didn’t tell him anything. That day, he must’ve overheard us on his own—I swear, I didn’t—”

“Relax, Mr. Baek,” Asher said smoothly, clamping a firm hand on the manager’s shoulder. "I was just kidding."

He smiled, although that didn’t reach his cold eyes. “You have been dedicated to our group since its inception for several years now. Moreover, I’ve known you since I was a kid; you’re like an older brother to me. I trust you wouldn’t betray that.”

Baek’s face broke into a hesitant smile, relief flooding his features—until Asher tightened his grip on his shoulder, the smile widening ever so slightly. “At least, not intentionally,” he added, voice laced with something unspoken. “And it seems our Leader-nim is is content to stay out of this, so it’s all good.”

The manager seemed to regain life as he sighed in relief, but that only lasted for a solid second before Asher yanked him forward by the back of his head, their faces mere inches apart. His voice dropped to a whisper, sharp enough to slice through the tension. “Consider yourself lucky no one else overheard. If this ever leaked to the media… let’s just say I’d have my own way of ‘handling’ it. You might not come out so lucky, Baek.”

Baek fell to his knees, his voice shaking as he begged for forgiveness. Amusement flickered in Asher’s eyes as he watched Baek ramble on, looking hauntingly beautiful and distant, like some vengeful angel. After a moment, he placed a patronizing hand on Baek’s head, gently patting it as if he were a loyal pet.

“It’s alright, Mr. Baek,” he murmured, a twisted gentleness in his tone. “I don’t expect you to be perfect. Mistakes happen.” He ran his fingers through the manager’s hair before gripping a handful tightly, making Baek wince. “But surely you understand that we learn from our mistakes, don’t we?”

“Ah! Y-Yes, absolutely, Asher! I’ll never slip up again—”

“I wasn’t finished.” Asher’s voice turned frosty, pulling Baek’s head up so they were face-to-face, blue eyes gleaming with a hard edge. “When I said I wanted surveillance, I meant complete surveillance. Not just Nex—I want full access to all their chats and calls. Nex may have messed up, but the others aren’t far behind. They’re all barely holding it together.”

He paused, something shifting in his gaze, a flicker of wistfulness. “I get it,” he murmured. “I was worse than them. I gave you quite the hard time, didn't I ? You must be glad when it all ended. When I met… her.”

At the mention, Asher’s usual composure softened, his face momentarily flushed.

Baek, still held firmly by the hair, nodded quickly, swallowing his discomfort. He knew Asher’s past all too well—the meltdowns, the outbursts. The scars on his body were hidden now, erased by the country’s top surgeons, except for the one on his cheek, left as a reminder.

“Perhaps it’s a good thing they know my secret,” Asher mused aloud. “Maybe they’d stop running from their own shadows and find someone to call only theirs.” His grip relaxed, and Baek exhaled in relief, nodding along. “So long as it’s nothing worse than a dating scandal or some partying,” Asher added, shrugging. “Anything else is too risky. Am I clear?”

Baek gulped, scrambling to his feet. “Crystal clear, Asher. I’ll bug their devices after the party—and I’ll make sure to answer your calls in private from now on.”

The blue-eyed idol smirked, letting him go and stepping back, while Baek slumped, catching his breath. “That’s more like it,” he said with a hint of satisfaction. “I expect no next time. Don’t let me down, alright?”

Baek straightened, nodding furiously as he fixed his disheveled clothes.

“Oh, and one more thing.” Asher’s voice was casual again as he reached into his pocket. “Leave me the keys to the other car. I’ll be heading to the cabin tonight—I have no reason to stay in the city with the tour done.”

“Yes, of course. I moved your brand shoots and interviews to later in the month, as requested. I did my best to buy you time, but Mr. CEO insisted—”

“Spare me the details, Mr. Baek,” Asher waved it off, holding out his hand. “I know you must have tried to handle the old man. It's fine. As long as he protects what’s mine, I’ll be nice and keeping being his ‘golden goose.’"

The manager handed over the keys, nodding obediently. Asher’s gaze thawed as his fingers tenderly felt the familiar bad-crocheted bunny key chain attached to it. “Also, don’t disturb me unless it’s urgent,” he added softly.

Baek bowed his head, backing away, leaving the two-faced idol to his thoughts as the van finally disappeared into the night.

Asher threw his bag onto the passenger seat of his car, and started the engine. He sighed, impatient to drive off into the night – to the place he always retreated to when he got a moment to breath from his hectic schedule as an idol.

The Cabin.—a place he considered more of a home than his luxurious studio apartment in the same celebrity neighbourhood as all the rich and famous A-listers.

A place that held his kryptonite.

His everything.

You.

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊

[tempestimes]

Last week I was going to write an essay on the symbolic parallels of the imagery in Ave Mujica to Revolutionary Girl Utena aka The Lesbian Anime ever, but right now I'm also just disappointed by episode 11 because of. Everything. It feels weird to make so many references to such an iconic queer anime then slap the "and they were related !!" thing on a major (albeit unhealthy) ship. To be clear, I'm not an Uisaki shipper and I never saw Uisaki as endgame, mainly because Uika's obsession over Sakiko is far from healthy and is clearly not romanticized or portrayed in a positive light. It clearly has an impact on Uika's ability to function and maintain other relationships and obviously Saki is not happy about this. But at the same time, there were so many connections I could draw between the imagery in Uika and Saki's relationship and Utena and Anthy's.

The MV for Imprisoned XII is packed with Utena imagery:

The coffin filled with roses a girl is sleeping in.

2. The endless stairway up to "eternity" (which is supposedly some kind of freedom, but that freedom is only an illusion constructed by the people who control the greater stage play)

3. The setting of the bird-cage like garden.

And then there's the references/imagery inside of the actual show itself.

Sakiko reading Demain, which has this iconic line about a bird breaking out of its shell, which is referenced repeatedly in Utena.

2. The two cups of coffee Uika always makes for herself and Sakiko, and the cups of tea Anthy and Utena share. (The "I poisoned the tea" and the "Well, I poisoned the cookies" bit in RGU ugh UGH)

3. The theatrical and stage play nature of Ave Mujica itself and the artificial world/theatricality of RGU (perhaps best illustrated by the Shadow Play or the moving architecture much like stage pieces in the film Adolescence of Utena).

Additional note: the line between Gothic dolls and fairytale princes/princess ough ough.

Additional additional note: Uika was designed to be fairly ambiguous in gender, which really interests me as this relates to Utena Tenjou and her masculine gender presentation as a way to be more "prince-like" but also her insistence she is "still just a girl" wearing a boy's uniform.

Additional note to the additional additional: Y'all remember all the fanart of Sakiko stabbing Uika with the "you could never be my prince, because you are a girl" line, right? Y'all know that's a direct reference to Utena right?

There's probably more I'm missing out on but these makes me so conflicted about how Uika and Sakiko's relationship is portrayed.

Both Uika and Utena have this interest in/curiosity for a girl (Sakiko, Anthy) who is trapped in a patriarchal system where she is at once idolized and villainized (along with other factors playing into the complicated nature of each of their situations, Sakiko's being class and Anthy's being race). But whereas Utena takes that scene she saw as a child of Anthy's suffering and decides to become a prince/play into gender roles to save Anthy from cycles of abuse (something Anthy can only step out of on her own later on), Uika - being a lonely and isolated child- built up an idealized image of the girl who her sister got to experience joy with, the girl who had all that she was denied, the girl who could give her meaning, and ended up becoming incredibly and deeply obsessive over someone who was ultimately her family member. I could go deeper into some of the Sakiko and Anthy parallels, but it is just so heavy.

I don't think I need to go into detail about how fucked up is (especially because of fucking Akio Himemiya and what he did to Anthy), but yeah. It just feels like a slap in the face to make so many (what felt to like to me) clear references to an iconic queer anime about disrupting cycles of abuse, the patriarchy, and victims of abuse and assault and then also add on the "and they're related and if you thought Uika's obsessiveness was bad you don't know the HALF of it"

Maybe I'm just way out there for making all of these connections between Ave Mujica and RGU, but this connection I made early on in the show definitely impacted how I felt about episode 11 and the Imprisoned XII MV. If you like toxic yuri, then you do you. This just isn't my cup of tea and I'll leave it at that.

[milaxan7]

Card Cutout/4K icons ᡣ𐭩

From ; Project Sekai

Chara ; Airi,Haruka,Shizuku,Rin,Minori

Theme ; Chase my IDEAL IDOL!

 ········· ·········⿻ * 

Airi Momoi - [Shine On Me]

 ········· ·········⿻ * 

Haruka Kiritani - [A Cheeky Junior!]

········· ·········⿻ * 

Shizuku Hinomori - [A Very Special Good Luck Charm]

········· ·········⿻ * 

Rin Kagamine - [Carrying the Feelings I Want to Deliver!]

········· ·········⿻ * 

Minori Hanasato - [Because I Want to Shine Even More]

Cred if using/Resposting Ty^^!!

[cityofmeliora]

kinda late but here is the Terzo childhood headcanons AKA new yorker Terzo post. for @plaquerat <3

ok so. i don't really have a solid interpretation of the lore, and my headcanons aren't very detailed. i'm open to floating a lot of different ideas. here are some that i like:

i've liked the idea that Terzo was primarily raised by his mother ever since i first saw the interview where TF (as nameless ghoul) suggests Terzo may be nicer than Secondo because "he seems to have, i dont know, a kinder mother?" and then i found the official instagram post mentioning Terzo's mother attending his concert in New York, and i was like 'oh! maybe she lives there. maybe Terzo used to live there with her.' it got me thinking...

Terzo was born in california and then moved to new york with his mom after she and Nihil split.

seeing the skyscrapers in new york for the first time was a really formative experience for him. that sense of awe he felt eventually inspired his interest in art deco and futurist art. new york became the base for his imaginary city of Meliora. (this is partly inspired by my own experience as a native californian because we don't really have tall buildings in california and i FREAKED OUT when i visited new york and chicago and saw REAL tall buildings.)

Terzo's mother was an artist and he spent a lot of time in the studio with her and her artist friends. their apartment walls were covered with Terzo's own art.

art and music and culture have always been at the center of Terzo's life. he and his mom would always be listening to music or viewing art galleries or watching movies together. i think Terzo's dynamic with his mother was very much like this anecdote from Carly Rae Jepsen:

My mom and I would sit and meticulously go through Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell lyrics together. Even from a young age I remember her being like, “I’m playing this Leonard Cohen song called ‘Famous Blue Raincoat,’ and when it’s done I want you to tell me what’s going on in it.” She would give me like a fake glass of wine when I was 8, and I would listen and be like, “I think there was an affair.” Pitchfork - Carly Rae Jepsen on the Music That Made Her (2019)

Terzo turned out to be a gifted child. super smart and naturally talented at a lot of things, but he particularly loved to build with lego / blocks and play piano.

Terzo had a great relationship with his mom. she always supported him and encouraged him to pursue his interests and to do his best.

Terzo missed his dad though. his parents had been together long enough for Terzo to remember him. he was just a kid. he didn't know any better.

when Ghost debuted and Nihil became an internationally famous one-hit wonder, Terzo developed this idealized image of Nihil as a cool rock star cultural icon in his head. idolized him a bit.

after this, Terzo decided he wanted to get serious about becoming an entertainer / musician. started doing piano recitals and competitions. youth theater. film club. all the things.

if anyone asked Terzo why he wanted to become an entertainer, he'd tell them it's because it's what he's good at. and he's always wanted to be famous. which was true, but...

what he wouldn't tell them is that a part of him was trying to emulate [his idea of] his dad and secretly hoping that if he shared that interest / became famous his dad would want come back into his life.

he knew his mom was always there supporting him, but every time he went onstage he would look out into the audience hoping his dad might be there to surprise him. (he never was.)

Nihil was the first of many many disappointments in Terzo's life.

oops! i made it sad.

anyway here's a doodle of kid Terzo getting a postcard from his dad... he didn't hear from his dad again for a very. very long time after that.

there are a lot of details i haven't square hammered out, but it's okay because these headcanons are mostly for me to like, frame Terzo's character development over time. might post more later :)

[damien-allen-of-europa]

I began learning of rumors spreading like wildfire; whether through verbal gossip, or over the airwaves of Radio Free Europa and military comms. People spoke of their encounters with “The Spider of Annwn”, or how they knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy who met him. They said the Spider would rescue lost soldiers and return them to a safe place, sometimes seen accompanied by Howling Spiders under his command. He wasn’t popular with the higher-ups (in fact they hated the idea of a “rebel” being idolized), but he was beloved by soldiers. He quickly became adopted as a symbol, and icon, achieving a sort of folk hero status.

Very few people, if anyone, ever knew of my true identity. I preferred it that way. It made the Spider of Annwn something larger than life, closer to an ideal than a reality. There may be no heroes in the Forever War, but the least I could do was serve as some small beacon of warmth in the infinite cold…

[rookmeo]

chase my ideal idol icons !

[ @canarysage's edit prompt #3: make an edit that does not involve squares, circles, hearts, stars, laces, or bows ]

rb + credit if using

[least-transmcytshowdown]

Oli Orionsound:

Submitted for: Empires SMP Season 2, Pirates SMP, New Life SMP, Afterlife SMP

Headcanons: Trans man, he/they; Transfem, he/she

Propaganda: “That freak is transfem, trust [the submitter]. [Their] source is divine knowledge and [their] ownership of the transfemoliorionsound url.”

“HIS PRONOUNS ARE SHE/HER.”

“[The submitter has] successfully cracked at least three eggs with the power of transfem Oli TheOrionSound, if she loses [they] will CRY.”

“Look at this cubito and then tell [the submitter] he doesn't participate in every type of gender shenanigans and tomfoolery. His pronouns are hee/hee.”

TommyInnit:

Dream SMP, SMP Earth, Origins SMP

Trans man, he/him; Transfem, she/her; Genderfluid, she/he

“c!Tommy is very trans coded [the submitter] think[s]. Transing that boy’s gender do you get what [they’re] saying.”

“Tommyinnit got called the t slur because he mentioned getting ball surgery and the conservatives thought he was transitioning, please let him have this.”

“It's the theatrically emulating toxic ideals of masculinity while simultaneously dissing on men constantly. Iit's the Always being forced into roles. It's the main antagonist of your story wanting you to be something you aren't and forcing you into it and (it is killing you. it is killing you.) It's the someone you idolize and look up to who seems like the standard of masculinity turning out to be sad drunk dying man who dies Watched by everyone he fucked over Being abusive and shitty and toxic. It's the. cTommy story [is] inherently genderqueer.”

“[The submitter] can NOT vote Tommy after seeing all the art and fics over the years.”

“[The submitter has] read an embarrassing amount of trans TommyInnit rpf in [their] gender questioning years. [They’re] talking like 100+ fics. Vote TommyInnit, [their] trans icon.”

“[The submitter is] always voting Tommy because [their] gender was permanently affected by those trans Tommy headcanons a few years ago.”