#it’s 4 am and my elementary school self is healing
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dumbdolphin333 · 5 months ago
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Thinking about the mh pride comic makes me so happy it brings me to tears. I remember when Mattel didn’t want lgbt+ rep in mh because “it wasn’t the right time”.
but the fact that this comic exists shows that now they know that it is the right time. And the fact that it’s g1 just makes it so much more special- the generation when it “wasn’t the right time” for queer rep now has it.
I wish that younger me, pretty sure I was queer, watching videos about how Mattel didn’t want queer rep in one of my favorite franchises, could see this. They would be so happy
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rpersearch · 8 months ago
Note
Hi there! 
My name is Shiro, and I’m looking for someone who’s just as self-indulgent and passionate as I am for reverse harems. I want someone who enjoys large amounts of men who want to romance our characters and can play upwards of 20 characters, as I will be doing the same. 
Info about me ~ I am a 22-year-old woman (she/her) who lives in EST. I am in university and work, so my responses will vary. However, I try to respond when I can, as role-playing is my hobby. 
Rule #1. You must be 18 or older! I am not role-playing with children. 
Rule #2.  Please be able to respond multiple times a week. Nothing kills my vibe more than waiting for a response every two weeks. I understand we have lives outside the internet, but I’m more likely to forget and become disinterested in the role play as time passes.
Rule #3.  Ladies, gents, non-binary folks: this will be a double-up role play if I haven’t made that clear yet! 
Rule #4. I am a semi-literate to advanced literate role play. BUT don’t force yourself to write more than is necessary. I’d rather have quality over quantity. I’m fine as long as I have something to work with. Now, onto the fun ~
________________________________________
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High is a school for the extremely wealthy or, in YC’s case, the highly talented. However, no amount of talent will help when YC accidentally drops an eight million yen vase in a music room. The vase was the property of Ouran High School Host Club, a group of attractive young men who, for a fee, provide their time and affections for their lovesick clientele: the female students. Fascinated by this strange new specimen, a poor and clumsy commoner, they force YC to work for them until the debt is repaid, but they get much more than they bargained for…
Options: 1.2.3.4.5
Hakuoki
Disguised as the opposite gender, YC has come to Kyoto searching for their missing father. This doctor developed a magical elixir that increases the drinker's speed, strength, and healing abilities. Instead of their father, they stumble across a battle between the Shinsengumi and the Furies, evil vampire-like creatures of their own making.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12
Kamigami no Asobi
YC discovers a mighty sword that transports them to another world. There, this ordinary high school student finds themself face-to-face with the mighty Greek god Zeus, who has an unusual request: remain in the dimension he has created and attend a school of legendary proportions. Zeus acts as dean for a school of young, misguided gods. The bond between humans and gods has weakened, and it is now up to YC to teach the gods about love and what it means to be human.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10
Free!
When Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rin, and YC were in elementary school, they swam together in a relay race and won the match. As Rin was on his way to Australia to train to become an Olympic champion, the gang decided to bury their trophy in a time capsule and retrieve it when they all had grown up. Now, Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and YC have reunited in high school and decide to dig up the prize. But on the way there, they run into none other than Rin, and he's determined to show Haru who's the best! As a result of this fateful meeting, the four friends decide to start a swim club, along with fellow classmate Rei, and their rival's little sister Gou as the team manager. Can the gang hold their own against Rin and prove their skills at the Prefectural Tournament?
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17
Uta no Prince Sama
When YC gets the chance to take the entrance exam for Saotome Academy for the Performing Arts, it seems as though they’re one step closer to their dream of composing songs for their favorite singer, Hayato. However, this is no gleeful high school musical experience, and YC is hiding a dreadful secret that may silence their musical ambitions forever. And even if they do get into Saotome, the competition will be more brutal than going on Japan’s Top Idol!
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17
Dance with Devils
YC has the perfect school-to-life balance, but all of that’s thrown into chaos when they discover that several of their handsome male classmates are actually demons in disguise.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7
Amnesia
When YC regains consciousness in an unfamiliar place, they have suddenly lost all memories of everything that happened before August 1. What is this place, and what were they doing there? Who are they, and what sort of life had they lived?
Options: 1.2.3.4.5
Vampire Knight
Cross Academy is a school with a difference: in a unique and experimental setup designed by the headmaster, it has a Day Class consisting of ordinary humans and a Night Class filled with vampires. YC and their friend Zero Kiryu are school prefects whose job it is to make sure the secret of the Night Class is always safe; they patrol the school grounds at night and supervise the switchover of classes at dawn and dusk to prevent any 'accidents' from happening. While Zero is suspicious of vampires and hates the idea of sharing the same space as them, YC admires the Night Class for their beauty and sophistication; they are especially intrigued by their charming leader, Kaname, because he once saved their life. However, as YC quickly learns, not all vampires are amiable like the Night Class, and as terrible events unfold, YC must ask themself whether in a world where vampires are the hunters and humans are the prey, peaceful coexistence can really be achieved.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7
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ludrii · 2 years ago
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1.what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?
2.what’s the best and worst part of being online/a creator?
3.if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
4. youtuber you’ve been obsessed with and why?
5. What is your Sexuality? if you are comfortable with the answer
6. describe your OC’s favorite place to relax. (If u have an OC)
7. how do you feel about horror movies? do you like psychological thrillers more or jump-scare oriented movies?
8. what do you want written on your gravestone? why? (wrong answers only)
9. have you ever played with a ouija board?
10. what's your favorite scary book or movie? why?
11. Describe yourself through the eyes of a stranger
12. Share a secret about yourself?
13.do you believe in Astrology?
14. Do you have a favourite swear word?
15. Do you like Amusement Park rides?
16. Favourite animated movie?
17. What’s your most searched thing on Google?
Have fun 😈
1.what are 3 things you’d say shaped you into who you are?
Kindergarten "trauma" - I was naive and believed everything others told me. Literally everything. Got manipulated into disobeying teachers and then they were mad. Once I realised that, it changed me for the better as I stopped being a pushover, even though I had trust issues up until now.
Leaving elementary school. Combined with my poor friendship handling skills (I didn't text anyone at all) and being shy (I didn't make new friends), the only person I spent my time with was.. me. Had me reflect on my matter a lot and I got out of some unhealthy patterns and realised a lot of things.
Mettaton!! He deserves rest of the points. If it weren't for him, I'd still have depression. He helped me see the good things in life, and since I started to admire him and wanted to be a bit more like him, I overcame my insecurites and grew self-confident, I stopped pretending to be someone else and starting being myself, I started liking myself for who I was.. I got out of many unhealthy patterns, often some I didn't even know about. Later on, he helped me rediscover who I really was, and helped me break down my walls, so I stopped isolating myself and started socialising a bit. Thanks to him I stopped surpressing my emotions, which got me rid of a lot of internal pressure. Maybe I now express them too openly cause in my core I'm extremely emotional and just overall intense in my feels, but eh. As long as no one gets hurt, it's alright. Oh, and he opened up my heart for concepts I rejected, healing me of repulsion which would hurt me in many places. So, overall, let's just say he saved my life.
2.what’s the best and worst part of being online/a creator?
Best thing? Just able to show things to others, being able to spread the joy of creation and inspiration, and being able to bond with others over the things we enjoy.
For the worst part, probably being at risk of someone stealing my art.
3.if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Hmm.. I don't really know. I grew to accept and like myself for who I am. But I suppose I'd change how indecisive I am- it always causes problems and gets me only hurt and upset. And probs my overthinking, although I'm already trying to work on that.
4. youtuber you’ve been obsessed with and why?
Not anymore, but Mossbag, cause he was making really interesting theories about Hollow Knight lore.
5. What is your Sexuality? if you are comfortable with the answer
Ah, thanks for asking, actually! It's kinda complicated tho, strap in.
It's sorta like asexual with bisexual tendencies?? Like, I'm totally ace, it's literally written all over me (and if it weren't for Certain Someone having me notice a new kind of thing it'd end there), but I just get strange feelings or sensations sometimes that kinda defy it. But it's VERY rare and kinda weak and I can't even sort it correctly so who knows what it really is. There's no one I could talk about this with, so it's just me and this mess. But I think the sole ability to feel even that little something rules out being 100% pure distilled ace. So dunno man come later and ask again, until then I'm "Acebian" as I call it, as in Ace Bi Lesbian sort of thing.
Actually wait- isn't this like sexual fluidity or something???
Whatever let's move on, I'll figure this out. It's not that important anyway. Just a cool little box I'd like to crawl in like a cat.
6. describe your OC’s favorite place to relax. (If u have an OC)
I have many, many ocs!! Although I never thought about this, hmm.. Most of them like to sit atop trees, though. As for my newest oc, the demon Mia, Satan's lap. I will not elaborate.
7. how do you feel about horror movies? do you like psychological thrillers more or jump-scare oriented movies?
I'm not a fan, but it's fun watching them sometimes. I don't really like jump scares though, especially those cheep ones. So I'd say I prefer psychologial horrors, although if it gets too much, I might not like it either. My overthinking likes to get messy sometimes, so I need to be careful with what I watch so I don't spend the entire night overthinking, y'know.
8. what do you want written on your gravestone? why? (wrong answers only)
Respawning in 3, 2, 1... Network error
9. have you ever played with a ouija board?
No, I didn't. But maybe I could, dunno.
10. what's your favorite scary book or movie? why?
Hmm... Scary? Not sure. I can't really remember anything I'd consider scary AND which I'd like..
11. Describe yourself through the eyes of a stranger
When I saw her for the first time, there wasn't much about her. Black and pink clothes, long hair, rectangular face. She was just extremely short, like 5"0', but I knew people like that exist. She wore the face that said Upset- the corners of her lips bent down and there was tension around her eyes. She looked like she was frowning. She stared into the distance, spacing out. Was something going on behind those eyes? Was she mad at someone? Whatever it was, I wanted to keep my distance. I realised she felt different, wrong in a way, like a puzzle piece from a different set. I looked away, she kinda intimidated me, actually.
12. Share a secret about yourself?
I ALMOST wrote fanfiction at one point. I even opened the document...
13.do you believe in Astrology?
Yes and no. I think it got some things right, and there's definitely something to it, but I don't think it holds some Absolute Truth or anything. It only got a bit of the truth, and only that I believe.
14. Do you have a favourite swear word?
Haha, I don't swear, at all. I just can't. Although lately I've caught myself slipping on accident, even tho very quietly so no one could hear.. Not sure if I have a favourite one, then. Maybe the uhhhh f-word, it slips the most tbh, or maybe the word for butt um, y'know. Aaaah I'm so sorry I just can't write them ;-;
15. Do you like Amusement Park rides?
I've never been on one, so hard to tell.
16. Favourite animated movie?
Ah! Too difficult! I love too many! Probably Wall-E though, such a sweet and moving story.
17. What’s your most searched thing on Google?
"youtube"
original, I know.
Other than that, I pretty much all the time search "[insert word] meaning", mainly to check I remember words correctly.
Last time it was pushover. Cause I used it in here
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yaasalaholing · 19 days ago
Text
draft 7
EAP essay 
English for academic purposes, research and study skills
Discuss the impact of an artist or art movement on popular culture
The topic of this essay is personal and sensitive to me. as an artist and student i am constantly looking for mediums to reaffirm confidence in what i believe, do, say and think.  It is disagreeable that hair is not art nor a part of art history, but I want to argue from the perspective of theology and creation. When it comes to fashion and beauty, this expression is just as artistic as Andy Warhol, and as simplistic as minimalism in its visual communication. The Afro, is just as much of a movement even if it is political.  
In this white world, it’s power, as associated with its synecdoche, the Afro bloomed into its statement and healed its origin, culture, and expression.
Before colonisation, hairstyles were used to indicate a person’s marital status, age, religion, ethnic identity, wealth and rank within the community. It is as prevalent today.
these passport photos celebrate the beauty of black hair
"I want to make young people feel like they can do anything and you can have your face as huge as possible and you can take up space. "
PAPER MAGAZINE
Nigerian 21st century multidisciplinary artist Favour Jonathan celebrates the variety of styles black women can do with their hair. In Statement of Pride, she uses passports photos to celebrate black beauty. “unstoppable and very political, it stands for everything that is power”. 
‘I think it's more important to have a lot of women of colour on screen, and everywhere, really. There shouldn't be a reason why we should not be represented in the world”
 Inspired by the natural hair movement. The natural hair movement supposedly started in the US but soon spread across the diaspora to the UK, France and back to Africa. Many women insist that their decision to go natural is not political. 
 Don’t Touch My Hair Page 39 Emma Dabiri
The Anglo_Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah describes African hairstyling as a ‘subtle interplay of the sociological and aesthetic’
 In the early 15th century, hair functioned as a carrier of messages in West African societies. Citizens of these societies include Ghanaians and Nigerians, who were some of the people who filled the slave ships to the ‘New World’ in 1444. 
One of the first things the slave traders did to their new cargo was shave their heads if they had not already been shorn by their captors. Given the importance of hair to an African, its practice was inhumane, “a shaved head can be interpreted as taking someone’s identity” 
The shaved head was the first step the Europeans took to erase black people’s culture and ruin the relationship between the African and his or her hair.
hair story by Ayana Byrd, Lori L Tharps page 10
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1950s and 60s on wards, boarding schools in Ghana condoned cutting hair. Encouraged to have short hair because of sanitary reasons, distractions and time keep, from elementary to secondary school no one was allowed long hair.
The first 3-4 years in secondary school it was mandatory that you had short hair, only year 5 and 6th formers were allowed to grow their hair long. 
Meanwhile, during the Civil Rights, after decades of altering their appearance to fit in with social norms, a landmass of artists and intellectuals based in New York’s Greenwich Village stopped straightening their hair. Women such as Nina Simone, Abbey Lincoln and Odetta, each of  them embraced natural hair and traditional African cornrows. It was one of the most profound declaration of Black Power in African American history for black people to defy social law and psychology, securing together a certain type of radical self-love amongst the racist society. 
Black is beautiful, stated by Kathleen Cleaver,” the brother here, myself, all of us, were born with our hair like this and we just wear it like this. Because it’s natural. Because the reason for it, you might say, is like a new awareness among black people that their own natural appearance, physical appearance is beautiful.” “For so many years we were told only white people were beautiful, only straight hair, light eyes, light skin was beautiful and so black women would try everything they could, straighten their hair, lighten their skin to look as much like white women. This has changed because black people are aware and white people are aware of it too because white people now want their hair like this. They want natural wigs. They want hair like this. Ain’t it beautiful. Dig it? Isn’t it beautiful?”, member of the Black Panther Party. 
It was an insurgence, an uprising, a revolution. Black hair (particularly the afro) went from - deemed to be unkept, to militant. 
21st century Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Favour Jonathan. celebrates the variety of styles black women can do with their hair. In Statement of Pride she uses photography, specifically passports photos to celebrate beauty of black hair. She is inspired by the natural hair movement. 
  Don’t Touch My Hair Page 39 Emma Dabiri
There are numerous ways to style the Afro, the classic afro puff, when all the hair is blow dried, double afro puffs, the hair is parted in the middle and held in two up do puffs, cornrows, the cornrow puff, picked afro, coiled, coiled and natural texture, middle part, short and natural, bleached, afro bun, the Afro rounded with bangs, low ponytail, loose curls, weave, perm, dreadlocks etc. 
The locking of hair in Rastafari represents part of the protest against Babylon society. it signifies  conscious resistance to power and connotes unity. 
Page 34, don’t touch my hair by Emma dabiri 
Like the Mende, in Yoruba society, hair that is left uncared for is anathema. in Yoruba, the phrase for dreadlocks in adult hair is irun were. This translates as ‘insane person’s hair do’
Icons and their association wearing the afro became indelible, embedded in memory, the afro was kindred with activism. Women like Assata Shakur and Pam Grier helped heal blacks’ statement of beauty. The synonyms of beauty: attractiveness, loveliness, aesthetic, prettiness, this type of language was left out of the black experience and in the 60s was reclaimed, defined and was worn to empower. 
Concentrating on hair as an art movement, relatively, baby hairs is arguably in cooperated art, art imagery and art history. 
In the 1920s, Josephine Baker, an African-American civil rights activist and actress, was the first entertainer on record to style her baby hairs. Equally, so did Baby Esther, the inspiration behind Betty Boop. In 1970 the highly-sculpted hairlines of the ‘20s and '30s re-appeared. , La Toya Jackson, TLC, and others brought back baby hair as a trend among singers in the 1980s and 1990s.
In addition the Chola subculture in Mexican and Afro-Latina communities popularised the slick, decorative, gelled down baby hair style in 1990 onwards, portrayed in films such as Down for Life (2009) and Eva in Freedom Writers (2007) in the early 2000s.
Like Amy Winehouse and eyeliner, artist such as Princess Nokia and FKA Twigs reinstated baby hairs in 2012. Additionally, FKA Twigs styled so with a septum and multiple ear piercings (goading other women to have the same), she concealed her identity for her first two music projects, EP1 and EP2 whilst being one of the most influential artists of that era. 
‘Laying’ them carefully with a toothbrush, it is in the detail, that baby hairs compliments the crown.
Princess Nokia also wrote the song ‘Mine’ in 2015 celebrating black hair and black women in black culture, defying the discrimination that women with natural or fake hair go through. The common experience between the interaction of people and the hairstyle that sit on the feminine’s scalp,  the lyrics are consistent, and confronted the popular and public culture of hair. The opening lines “it’s mine I bought it” is like equivalent to a universal  depth of black women  and their experience when it comes to black hair and politics. Highlighting ethnicity and the variation, Dominican women, Puerto Rican women, African women, Asian women, Caribbean women, it’s a reclamation of self love and unity. That whatever your hair is styled in, it’s all love. You are a woman of colour and it should be loved and appreciated. 
Before hair products were made for the black people, white businesses and manufactures catered to the maintenance of black hair. Whites created concoctions that actually damaged the scalp and caused infection. 
A 1910 New York newspaper, advertisement for black hair care read: 
“Race men and women may easily have straight, soft, long hair by simply applying Plough’s Hair dressing and in a short time all your kinky, snarly, ugly hair becomes soft , silky, smooth..” 
Eventually slicking down baby hair became a method of “looking presentable.”
In a documentary by Juliana Kasumu, a group of Black women gathers at Babybangz salon to discuss natural hair, the impact of gentrification in New Orleans, and their personal journeys toward self-love .In “ancient societies, the hair stylist was also the midwife, was also the healer, and was also the medicine man. That’s an honour to be trusted to do that” “I got to beauty schools there was no such thing as natural hair, they didn’t talk about it” 
In 2020, research commissioned by Dove found 63% of black adults have experienced hair discrimination and 1/5 black women face societal pressure to straighten their hair for work. “It starts at school, with more than half of black children feeling uncomfortable about their natural hair”
“Your hair is like an accessory, its how you want people to perceive you”
The Anglo_Ghanaian philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah describes African hairstyling as a ‘subtle interplay of the sociological and aesthetic’
reddit - dive into anything
REDDIT.COM
*Black Power in Hair | Babybangz | The New Yorker Documentary
Black culture is pop culture 
The big chop
Black power in hair
The afro is more mental than physical 
Hairdressers and stylist 
90s rnb magaizines
Baby hairs in French
Division, finer hair, coarse hair, 4c, type hair, making sure your edges are “laid”
Hair and language 
How We Do Edges: The Origins of Baby Hair
Black hair has a rich history
Baby Tress
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtaV6dhVrUg Black Power in Hair | Babybangz | The New Yorker Documentary
For many women, returning their hair to natural state is often journey of self exploration, self awareness and self love.
“You are a supposed to look a certain way to conform.”Our Hair-itage - A Natural Hair Documentary (PBS Version)
youtube
unfinished
0 notes
roleplay-today · 8 months ago
Note
Hi there! 
My name is Shiro, and I’m looking for someone who’s just as self-indulgent and passionate as I am for reverse harems. I want someone who enjoys large amounts of men who want to romance our characters and can play upwards of 20 characters, as I will be doing the same. 
Info about me ~ I am a 22-year-old woman (she/her) who lives in EST. I am in university and work, so my responses will vary. However, I try to respond when I can, as role-playing is my hobby. 
Rule #1. You must be 18 or older! I am not role-playing with children. 
Rule #2.  Please be able to respond multiple times a week. Nothing kills my vibe more than waiting for a response every two weeks. I understand we have lives outside the internet, but I’m more likely to forget and become disinterested in the role play as time passes.
Rule #3.  Ladies, gents, non-binary folks: this will be a double-up role play if I haven’t made that clear yet! 
Rule #4. I am a semi-literate to advanced literate role play. BUT don’t force yourself to write more than is necessary. I’d rather have quality over quantity. I’m fine as long as I have something to work with. Now, onto the fun ~
________________________________________
Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High is a school for the extremely wealthy or, in YC’s case, the highly talented. However, no amount of talent will help when YC accidentally drops an eight million yen vase in a music room. The vase was the property of Ouran High School Host Club, a group of attractive young men who, for a fee, provide their time and affections for their lovesick clientele: the female students. Fascinated by this strange new specimen, a poor and clumsy commoner, they force YC to work for them until the debt is repaid, but they get much more than they bargained for…
Options: 1.2.3.4.5
Hakuoki
Disguised as the opposite gender, YC has come to Kyoto searching for their missing father. This doctor developed a magical elixir that increases the drinker's speed, strength, and healing abilities. Instead of their father, they stumble across a battle between the Shinsengumi and the Furies, evil vampire-like creatures of their own making.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12
Kamigami no Asobi
YC discovers a mighty sword that transports them to another world. There, this ordinary high school student finds themself face-to-face with the mighty Greek god Zeus, who has an unusual request: remain in the dimension he has created and attend a school of legendary proportions. Zeus acts as dean for a school of young, misguided gods. The bond between humans and gods has weakened, and it is now up to YC to teach the gods about love and what it means to be human.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10
Free!
When Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, Rin, and YC were in elementary school, they swam together in a relay race and won the match. As Rin was on his way to Australia to train to become an Olympic champion, the gang decided to bury their trophy in a time capsule and retrieve it when they all had grown up. Now, Haruka, Makoto, Nagisa, and YC have reunited in high school and decide to dig up the prize. But on the way there, they run into none other than Rin, and he's determined to show Haru who's the best! As a result of this fateful meeting, the four friends decide to start a swim club, along with fellow classmate Rei, and their rival's little sister Gou as the team manager. Can the gang hold their own against Rin and prove their skills at the Prefectural Tournament?
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17
Uta no Prince Sama
When YC gets the chance to take the entrance exam for Saotome Academy for the Performing Arts, it seems as though they’re one step closer to their dream of composing songs for their favorite singer, Hayato. However, this is no gleeful high school musical experience, and YC is hiding a dreadful secret that may silence their musical ambitions forever. And even if they do get into Saotome, the competition will be more brutal than going on Japan’s Top Idol!
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17
Dance with Devils
YC has the perfect school-to-life balance, but all of that’s thrown into chaos when they discover that several of their handsome male classmates are actually demons in disguise.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7
Amnesia
When YC regains consciousness in an unfamiliar place, they have suddenly lost all memories of everything that happened before August 1. What is this place, and what were they doing there? Who are they, and what sort of life had they lived?
Options: 1.2.3.4.5
Diabolik Lovers
After their father moves and leaves them behind, YC arrives at the mansion they must now call their home, unaware of the horrors that await them. For YC’s new housemates are vampires, and they’ve been sent to live with them by the church as their prospective spouse-to-be. But what sounds like the subject of a romance novel soon turns to despair, as these fanged beauties are delighted to have a new plaything to torment and will stop at nothing to force themselves upon them and drink their blood. YC must now learn to cope with their new life of being sadistically abused at every turn, whether they’re called derogatory slurs, forced to feed the vampires’ bloodlust against their will, or being treated like the garbage they see them to be.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12
Vampire Knight
Cross Academy is a school with a difference: in a unique and experimental setup designed by the headmaster, it has a Day Class consisting of ordinary humans and a Night Class filled with vampires. YC and their friend Zero Kiryu are school prefects whose job it is to make sure the secret of the Night Class is always safe; they patrol the school grounds at night and supervise the switchover of classes at dawn and dusk to prevent any 'accidents' from happening. While Zero is suspicious of vampires and hates the idea of sharing the same space as them, YC admires the Night Class for their beauty and sophistication; they are especially intrigued by their charming leader, Kaname, because he once saved their life. However, as YC quickly learns, not all vampires are amiable like the Night Class, and as terrible events unfold, YC must ask themself whether in a world where vampires are the hunters and humans are the prey, peaceful coexistence can really be achieved.
Options: 1.2.3.4.5.6.7
0 notes
Text
7.23.23 Sunday
9:59 am
Still,drinking my coffee... As usual Uncle Jun went to forest (3 hours ago )of Georgia and Betsilog'z gang ( wearing a plastics coat )...
I told Uncle Jun to remind the money for food this week on Uncle DD...Aunt Teresa is still on her "silent snapping" whatever... God knows everything....
Still,have windblow trap... Still, my conscience is clean and I was genuine and still genuine... But still having self-pity and thinking of money and career and wanna buy starbucks everyday ( which I'm doubting, if I can )...
Still, carrying this baggage of having a "deep smile lines" just for nothing coz they windblow me since 2007... It is very irritating no story to tell since 2007... No, legendary memories... Missing,missing some old good friends...Are they still my good old friends?
Hoping to meet new good people,along the way... There are some good people who are just at my back to guide and support me like "ELY" ( a new found friend )...
Con-con ( Ma. Consolacion Herrera ) is my old tomboy friend during my elementary days but I don't know if she is still my friend... We lost linked during high-school, we just reconnected all of a sudden once year 2008... But we are not that close these days, probably coz she or they are doing something foul hope not on me... Coz it is painful to kill an old friend or you considered a friend.
Still, if I can talk to my 3 main exes for something... Mr. Lopez not really that much now coz I got the job already...
For my 3 main exes I just need a lift ( for old time sake )....
Throw-Back for the back-up:
My 3 main exes are taller than me or tall tall... Hmm... Tall, Medium but taller and taller... Why and wait...
12:36 noon
Done,eating with my baby John and after us... I fed Lalah and Neko and this baby John, he threatened Lalah not to eat her food... He barked and pushed the water container outside and it fell down and had a lil crack on the top part of water container... The water container had a leak and some water gushed out on the floor...Grrr... Argh! But I love John so much...
My son-dog ;)
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4:07 pm
Still,have windblow trap... I feel stress... Still, thankful for some new friends like I need to pay creditZ like on the drug store,store ( something important )...
It is really an unfair spin on me since 2007....They wanted me to appear poor, they didn't want me to go back they always smash me since 2007... But this is life....Some people can control your life...
I'm thinking I need money and career to heal my dying self-esteem... I still have the self-pity...
In the Nutshell:
So,lemme go back to my exes/or let's say my 3 main x-husbands. Why, they are taller than me? Why, I end up with a tall guy?
The real thing it just happened and it just happened that they were my xhusbands....On the other angle they made me feel protected and safe.
Then, I just realized oh! I wanted these guys who were taller than me.... It just happened that I'm just used to it... It is so good to feel the love that you wanna have coz I'm always the baby, in a way.
My personality, I know they knew me in a way... I still have a hidden tomboyish character. So, if my partner is taller than me, I have this side of me that I need to be a lady, in a way...
There is a tendency if my partner is same height as me but it didn't really happen coz I fell for my xhusbands and some exes all were taller than me. There is a tendency if my partner is same height as me that we will have an actual boxing game, something like that which I'm really avoiding...
But it if its Caleb Simpson ( but he is still young but cute face ) probably it is a different story but most of the guy who are same height as me are known as "control freak"...
This is Caleb Simpson... I wonder what is his height? The 2 of them are cuties...
youtube
But my xhusbands who were taller than me or tall tall, it just happened and I didn't force them to like me...
Another thing, part of me want to have a taller child, I don't know...Only God knows and if I'm ready and if it is still here...I don't know...
Those are the reasons and stories, why I always want to end up with someone taller than me...
But now, I have complexities like I have a blemish on my butt now... So, I'm not comfortable... I feel so ugly,fat and old now...
6:50 pm
This Uncle Jun seems plastics... I told him no dinner meal for tonight, I told him to text that another plastics Uncle DD... The fundings is on Uncle DD... The tandem of Aunt Teresa + Uncle DD, weird thing!
Uncle Jun said he went to the food booth but they are close today... So, what am I gonna do?
Uncle Jun is badly reacting that if there is no food here, you will point it out on me always!
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dkscribe88 · 3 years ago
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First off, I am not back from my self-imposed hiatus from this platform. I was asked if I might do something by my friend @tunnelscreamer so I am. Secondly, I did not draw the above image. This is something @fenth-eiria drew for me. I still owe them a story for it, so I just want to say to them I have not forgotten. I’ve just gotten busy with life and school. This drawing is my Sifa crew from my AO3 story Meet Me by the Seafarer’s Lantern chapters 4-6. Two of the characters seen here are @fenth-eiria’s. The Dousan girl with the whit blouse and blue dress, and the male Gelfling in the way back. Four other Gelfling are all canon characters. Tae with the orange hair, Onica sitting at the table, Captain Madso holding the sword and Ivo, the redhead standing at the table, which is a character from the AoR: Tactics video game. The only thing non-canon about any of them is that I made Madso a Spriton, where the books suggest he might be Stonewood. I’ll introduce my OCs down below.
First up is Aedra. She is the pale pinkish haired lady being held by @fenth-eiria’s OC. Her name comes from the Hebrew name: Adira, which means majestic, strong or noble. She is in her mid-50s. She is of mixed clan heritage with her father being a Sifa and her mother being Drenchen. She has healing vliyaya from her mother and also possesses great strength, able to do the work of three Gelfling in addition to healing. If I’m remembering the backstory I gave her correctly, she lost her entire family in a shipwreck at a very young age. This caused her to adopt an anti-social personality throughout most of her life. Anyone that tries to get close to her gets pushed away for fear that they’ll just end up leaving her anyway. She gets work on various fishing boats as both a healer and deckhand. One day in Cera-Na she finds a young girl wandering around near the entrance to the Crystal Desert, and this is where my next OC comes in, Zili.
Zili is one of my favorite OCs. In the picture, she is the indigo-haired woman hanging from the rafters. She was inspired by the best friend I had in elementary-high school, mixed with Kate McKinnon’s Ghostbusters character and a few other inspirations. Her name is Hebrew for My Shadow, although I originally got it from the name Ezili, which is the Benin goddess of beauty, water and love. I can’t remember her exact age, but she’s around 19-21 in my story.  She is thought to be of mixed clan heritage Dousan/Sifa, but it hasn’t been confirmed. Her backstory is that she can’t exactly remember anything before meeting Aedra. At first, Aedra sought to get rid of her, but it felt irresponsible to do that, so she kept her around. Zili stayed quiet, scarred by her past for the longest time, but then one day she just started talking and has rarely stopped since. She is hyper and eccentric, often doing random things that make no sense to anyone but her. She and Aedra both get hired by the Sifa Maudra as a guardsman and healer respectively. Zili is known for being very fast and agile on foot and in the air, and very clever. Often outthinking her opponents and getting them to defeat themselves.
My next OC is Tae’s boyfriend Galen. His name is Greek and means calm. He is 22 trine old. He’s the black and white haired young man holding Tae in the drawing. Another mixed clan of Sifa/Spriton/Vapra heritage, his father was a Vapra who fell in love with his Spriton/Sifa mother. This relationship caused his father’s family to disown him and kick him out of the clan. To this day, Galen’s Vapran kin don’t know he even exists, nor do they care. Galen grew up on various ships, eventually ending up first mate to his uncle, Captain Madso. Galen is funny, flirtatious, brave, kind and reserved at times. He does not drink alcohol, and thus can watch out for Tae when she drinks to excess. He’s also very analytical, able to think several steps ahead of most people, except Tae. She always has him beat.
The final OC in the drawing is Fram. His name comes from the Norwegian word fram, which was a type of ship used in expeditions back in the late 18-early 1900s. He’s full Sifa, age 24, with sandy blond hair and a scar across his face. He is Ivo’s love interest, although neither of them have expressed their feelings for the other yet. Fram is gruff, coarse, and very off-putting to everyone around him. The only known survivor from the last Sifa expedition to the isle of Diabhal, he is Onica and Tae’s guide to the treasures of the island and the dangers they must face to get them. During this quest is when he falls in love with Ivo, and much like little boys that don’t know how to express that they like a girl, Fram picks on Ivo, causing Ivo to believe that his own feelings will never be returned. By the end of the story, they are friends but have not made the leap to lovers yet.
I’ve many other OCs that I didn’t list on here. All of them can be found in various chapters in Lantern, so if you liked these, check out the story on AO3. Well, that’s about it for me. I might do one other post for createforthra, but I don’t know for sure. Back to my hiatus - DK
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divineknowing2021 · 3 years ago
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curator interview
Suzanne Kachmar: Tell us about yourself? School, work, play?
Natasha Kuranko: I’m a tender-hearted 27-year-old adult who refuses to stop dressing like a child. Currently, I am unemployed though I’ve made a small gig for myself selling thrifted clothes online. I'm a full-time student at Norwalk Community College working towards my associates degree. My free time is best spent riding my bike, reading a book, visiting museums, or catching up with a friend. It makes me chuckle a bit thinking about how eccentric my taste and appearance can be, but overall I prefer to lead a relatively simple existence.
SK: You worked as the gallery manager at Franklin Street Works. How long did you work there, what was your job like? What did you do?
NK: I worked at Franklin Street Works for just under 4 years. It was an incredibly nurturing environment. The artwork I was exposed to there provided me with the motivation and tools I needed to become a better person. Whether an artwork was intimately revealing a struggle unfamiliar to me or pulling back the curtain on oppressive structures I too was inflicted by, my critical thinking skills and will to be compassionate (for both myself and others) was constantly being asked to grow. The executive and creative directors of FSW at the time I was hired, put a lot of intention into creating a work environment that functioned on open communication, care, respect, and mutualism. They trusted me with responsibilities despite my lack of formal education in the arts and were always available if I needed guidance. They taught me to be confident in my abilities; I don't think I'd have half the aspirations I do today if it weren't for either of these women.
If I wasn't walking a visitor through an exhibition, I was likely busy reaching out to local community groups with overlapping interests to an exhibition's theme, writing letters of appreciation to patrons, updating our CRM database, preparing for an upcoming event, or snacking on cherry tomatoes from our back patio vegetable garden. My favorite work happened while we were bittersweetly deinstalling one exhibition and installing the next. I find the process of repairing holes in walls oddly calming and symbolic of healing, plus nothing beats the precious feeling of holding an artwork in your hands.
SK: What have you been doing since FSW closed and during Covid 19?
NK: The pandemic put a halt to some crucial fundraising efforts for FSW forcing us to close permanently. Unlike many people, I was fortunate enough to qualify for unemployment and not be burdened with food or housing insecurity. My focus has been on my physical, mental, and spiritual health. I see the culture of today as being very tiring, constantly asking us to perform success and prove ourselves. It's easy to get caught up in this pressure while allowing traumas or feelings of anger, sadness, and grief to accumulate. It's been nice stepping outside of that mindset and giving myself the time to process and move on from bad things that have happened to me. I just wish more people could be given that opportunity. It's a bit cheesy to say, but life is really beautiful; I think this pandemic has helped open a lot of people's eyes, including my own, to how lucky we are to be alive.
SK: Tell us about the exhibit you produced. You proposed and defined the concept, curated the art and mounted the exhibit, bringing your other work experiences to City Lights Gallery.
NK: diving knowing is a group show featuring 19 artists. Most of them are either self-taught or in the early stages of their career. The submission process consisted of me posting a call for art on my Instagram and reaching out to a few individuals I had already established a relationship with, asking if they wanted to submit. I felt so moved by all the work I had access to just through my personal network. A handful of artists in the show are close friends of mine. It's really amazing to see all their artworks getting along with another in one space.
I was invited to curate this exhibition for women's month. I wanted to develop a theme relevant to women's issues and my personal experience as a woman, which wasn't centered around biology or would risk excluding trans and non-binary artists. I was thinking about how commonly the voices of women, and other marginalized groups, are devalued or ignored and how over generations, this has pushed us into a more perceptive mode of being. Intuition is a really radical concept; there's a lot of power in recognizing the knowledge you already have inside you and not depending on an external authority to validate it. It was a long train of thoughts and feelings, but basically, I wanted to celebrate something I've found to be so crucial in my own life and learn more about how it exists in the life and work of artists.
SK: What's next? What are your ambitions or plans as an artist, creative, arts professional?
NK: My next, or current step, is finishing up my associate degree at Norwalk Community College. What I go on to study after that will depend on where I am accepted as a transfer student. I'm looking at schools offering majors in curatorial or archival studies but I'd also be totally satisfied getting my masters in education and teaching elementary school somewhere. Far as my ambitions or plans as an artist/creative/arts professional goes... I'd love to refamiliarize myself with guitar and get back into songwriting. My dream is to open up an alternative art space, with a similar value system as FSW, that doubles as a vegan fast food joint. Though that probably won't be happening for another 5-10 years. One of the names I've been playing with for the space is "beans on bread."
SK: Is there anything else you want to tell us or announce?
NK: No announcements here! I would like to thank every artist who submitted and everyone who supported me throughout this project. Knowing there were people in my life with curatorial experience who were willing to provide guidance if needed saved me from a lot of sleepless nights!
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veridium · 4 years ago
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I am in the baby stages of unpacking my communication burnout in therapy. It’s a problem I have that has, unsurprisingly, grown more apparent this year. Though it feels recent it has deep roots throughout the whole of my life. If we are talking tropes and categories of people, I would likely fit in the “listening confidant” and “crisis friend” types. When I was a kid I had few close friendships but most everyone in my grade came to me, for one reason or another, for advice or someone to talk through a problem. You can imagine just how profound those problems were for 7-11 year-old children. Nevertheless, because I always felt lonely and left out, I took advantage of these exchanges in order to feel belonging. I vested the majority of my self-worth into these transactional, mostly non-reciprocal bonds. 
That continued into high school when friendships become more mature, heavier, and complex. I had a close circle of 2-4 friends and then a wide swath of good friends who I shared wonderful times with but otherwise drifted from after we all grew up. Yet in all of my friendships, regardless of closeness, I was the person to whom others confided. Hell, even my elementary school principle announced to a room full of kids, parents, and families during an end-of-the-year celebration that I was the kid who knew everyone’s secrets. Try that on for a school superlative. 
I cannot even tell you all of the bizarrely intimate details I’ve known and learned about people who I can no longer remember their last name or the color of their eyes. I cannot count all the times I’ve been thrown into a situation where someone bore their soul, or were in crisis and in need of a witness/someone to cry to, and I was just there. Sometimes I wonder if I have either the best luck, or the worst, or if it’s a purely coincidental thing. All I know is I have picked more people off the floor than I would have wished to, and I have helped people through some of the darkest kinds of troubles I would never wish on my worst enemy. 
Nowadays I am having to talk with a lot of people for a lot of reasons. Work, activism, personal struggles. Most of the time I enjoy it, and the exhaustion never comes from one specific person or conversation. It’s the cumulative that gets me. It’s the waiting to be asked, because I will be asked. It’s remembering to follow-up. It’s being easily “bored” when the truth is I just don’t have the energy to spare. It’s wanting so badly to be “that person” for many people that you just go full-throttle until you’re at your hard limit. 
I do not say any of this with vanity. I don’t say it with smugness. I say it with humility, because now at the ripe old age of 23 (ha-ha), I am realizing more and more that my devotion has left me largely unable to set real, consistent boundaries. I am so innately hungry to be needed, to be looked up to, to provide care for people, that I now have to consciously re-learn what it means to say “no,” “not now,” and “I can’t help you.” It sucks. It really, really sucks. When you are someone who feels deeply, whether you wish to or not, it feels impossible to turn away a matter or a person. Even if you do, you still feel what they are going through. So you think, why shouldn’t I help, if it is effecting me this way? Your feelings become a compulsion. 
Then, if you’re like me, and you are traumatized? Pfft. Your penchant for being there becomes entwined with a trauma response. You feel both doomed and superhuman. No matter what, though, it is hell to defy. 
I won’t say it has all stayed the same with no new, good things. I have friends in my life who listen to me when I need it, and I am much more assertive in that regard. I vent more often rather than bottling it up because I think it’s “unreasonable” or “irrational.” I journal. I reach out to people for reasons outside needs and they do so, too. There are a lot of aspects of my social life and kinships that have improved, started with healthier foundations, and been able to sustain boundaries. Not all, but a lot. And the ones I have lost, especially in this year, I lost because I finally accepted that I couldn’t fix everything or change myself to fit a role that was no longer being appreciated/understood. 
My empathy and care are not problems I want fixed. I don’t want to stop being a person people go to for advice or compassion. I want to do that for the rest of my life because I see it as some of the most critical actions someone can do. That being said, if I want that to survive and not burn out in a blaze of glory, I have to learn to protect myself. I have to learn vulnerability. I have to practice it instead of just expecting it. And, likely the worst and most painful part for me: I have to know when it is time for me to let go of someone, or something, and admit that there’s nothing more for me to do or say.
I have to reckon with the truth, that my choice as a child also left me feeling incredibly hurt and exploited by friends, misunderstood by most everyone around me, and just as lonely as I was before. Loneliness doesn’t go away with even the most profound distractions if you’re not really allowing yourself to be known or your needs fulfilled. It is a much more tenacious and unforgiving beast, requiring a particular kind of healing. A particular kind of honesty. 
Sometimes -- like now -- I fear I’ll never stop this cycle I have created. I fear I won’t ever want to stop, that I won’t ever be able to stop letting myself be used. But I have to hope. I have to try. Otherwise my fear will be certain. And if it is one thing I have always done, it is tested my fears. 
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art-thropologist · 4 years ago
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Portfolio of Recovery Part 3
If you’ve been following my entries, you’ll know that I recently had to go through some medical treatment. I am at a point now where I am willing to share some of the products of the art therapy that went along with that process. With each piece I’ll explain the prompt or the intention behind it and how I interpret the visual cues.
Please note that I will be talking about eating disorder behaviors, body image, and trauma. I use vague terms, but if these are triggering topics, then do not read. If you are in need of help with an ED, NEDA can get you support.
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“Living Room Table” (2020). Poster-board, string, sequins, ripped magazine, yarn, tissue paper, glue, and oil pastel. Prompted.
“What is creativity?”
I usually take a while to wrap my head around prompts. But this one I went ‘I got this’ with zero hesitation. At the house I grew up in we had a low wood table in the living room. It was where we had to do any and all crafts in the house because that was a way to contain the chaos that was my sister and I. We left our marks on that table: glitter, yarn, burn marks. This is that table. This is where creativity happened.
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“Untitled” (2020). Ripped magazine, glue, on canvas board. Prompted.
“Make a rip collage.”
I decided to try a different type of collage by weaving the pieces together. I think it worked.
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“Shell study” (2019). Watercolor and crayon on paper. Prompted.
“Choose an object from the basket and create something from being mindful of your interaction with it.”
I chose a shell and spent 40 minutes trying to recreate the coloring on the inner lip.
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“Strong Enough” (2019). Colored pencil on paper. Unprompted.
I was told by the art therapist that I should try experimenting outside of my usual style (Which you can see the first sketches of still). So I tried a more figural style. The title references the lyrics from “Eight” by Sleeping At Last; I was just a kid who grew up strong enough to pick this armor up and suddenly it fit. It resonated with me because that was what my childhood felt like. I tried to represent that with the figures surrounding the hollow form that is me in the present. Like the Timeline, the colors correspond to emotional stages. Blue is hopeful as an open sky, elementary school. Grey seeped into my chest as I start building up armor to protect myself from that hurt. Green is middle school when I started using clothing to make myself pretty. I thought that if I was pretty then the bullying and torment would stop. Given that this figure is crying, clearly that wasn’t the case. Red is anger, and I used lacrosse as a way to make myself more intimidating, tell of a target, less vulnerable. But I wasn’t confident at all, that’s why the posture is closed off, hesitant. Finally is the stage where my ED was in full control. It was the armor I was conditioned into believing would help, would make me perfect, better. But it was just protecting the trauma, not healing it.
I’m all in, arms out. I’m at your mercy now and I’m ready to begin. Show me how to lay my soul down long enough to let you IN. is another (misquoted) lyric from “Eight” and is representative of the present moment. I am deconstructing all the armors I’ve put on and get better.
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“Promises” & “Reality” (2020). Oil pastel on canvas board. Prompted.
“What did your ED promise you and What did it actually give you?”
I was that girl in health class that thought ‘That would never be me’ when it came to an eating disorder. Well...I was wrong. Ana (what I call my ED) is deceptively kind. She lures you in with promises of control and exceptionalism. ‘If you can control your hunger then you are better than other people’ and other promises just like it. I thought if I was thinner that I would be prettier and it would be easier to like myself. Ana promised a brighter future, she promised fulfillment.
Ana lies. I became a ghost of myself. Frail. Weak. Breaking down. The white figure is my own body collapsing; arms thrown forward in submission, hair covering my face. I had nothing more to give other than tears and sadness. i was still alone. I was still hurting. On top of the emotional distress was physical distress. My body was, essentially, eating itself to survive. I had headaches that lasted for days, dizzy spells that left me on the floor (see the radiating red halo), a body that had one foot in the grave (which I represent with the brown-black background). 
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“Shattered Glass” (2020). Tissue paper, oil pastel, and pencil on paper. Unprompted.
I often feel like I’m nothing but pieces of jagged glass. Broken. Sharp edges. There is still color and beauty in that. It’s how we make stained glass and mosaics after all. But I also carry a lot of hurt and trauma to get that way. I went with the obvious Atlas metaphor. Braids being pulled. Tears. People constantly watching. People constantly leaving, again and again. Being shunned for things out of my control. Struggles with faith. Bearing the name ‘Bitter Little Bird’. I’m learning how to lay those burdens to rest. It is a process.
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“Outline Self Portrait” (2020). Colored pencil on paper. Prompted.
We were given the outline of a person and told to fill it in how we wanted about body image.
The colors are familiar by now. Purple for justice and hope. Orange for creativity. Red for anger. Blue and Green for growth. My head is always a mess of all these feelings, that’s why it looks like that. the stronger lines indicate where I feel the emotions. It’s usually a tightness or an ache.
I remember being that kid - who was small. Who wanted to run before I could crawl. That changed with the start of an education in Shame. It started with my name. I was always caught between being seen and hiding Away. Maybe it was just easier to be nothing than to be something wrong. I was just a kid who had to wear this Armor too long. So I kept these shattered pieces inside a thick skin. It can tear me up inside but, no, I wont let you In. I’ll keep these bits of broken Hopes Inside of this chaotic body. I’ll rage inside my Skull if this is the way to cope. I sill sing the songs when I am ready to be. And shine myself not for you to see. This Lux Aurora in lead lines.
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“Untitled 1″ (2020). Colored pencil and pencil on paper. Unprompted.
I tried to reduce myself down to schematic pieces. Red lines to convey gestural forms, blue ribs. This was me when Ana was in control. I was blind. I was hollow. I was barely able to feel my heart beat. Most of all, I was exposed.
I added the lyrics of Words Fail from Dear Evan Hansen because they felt like they fit. ��'Cause if I just believe/ Then I don't have to see what's really there/ Yes, I'd rather pretend I'm something better than these broken parts/ Pretend I'm something other than this mess that I am/ Because then no one gets to look at it/ And I don't have to look at it”
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“Untitled 2″ (2020). Colored pencil and pencil on paper. Unprompted.
The pieces are a diptych. This side is recovery. The stance is open, embracing. But the back is turned; rejecting Ana. I used the same colors but attributed them to new facets. Instead of being blind I am now covered. My hair is growing again. The fundamental building blocks are still there, but I am no longer standing rigidly. I wanted to mirror Rebecca Belmore’s sister.
The poem “Ascending” is my own creation. “With arms outstretched/ Wide like wings, like a martyr/ I will fly beyond the confines of/ my Nature./ I can touch eternity with my fingertips”
Part 4 coming soon
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thatlittledandere · 5 years ago
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 31 and 40 for that shipper ask meme (sorry for picking so many but those questions are GOOD)
You're right, they absolutely are. I'm sorry in advance that this is gonna be LONG and I'm on mobile so I can't even add a read more;;
1. Talk about the first ship you ever had
So I'm SURE there were relationships I was invested in in movies and cartoons I watched as a child (I've always been a sucker for romance, even though there was that period when I didn't want to admit it) but I can't remember anything from very far back;; So it was either Ron and Hermione from Harry Potter or Ichigo and Masaya from Tokyo Mew Mew, whichever I read first.
2. Talk about three of the most important ships throughout your life
GOSH. You can't do this to me. I guess Romione because it was the time in my preteens when I was becoming more aware of... stuff, in general, abs the two cemented my love for friends-to-lovers. Then Ioryuu, because I've never been AS invested in and passionate about a ship before and likely never will. Nothing can compare to that intensity and ngl I miss it;; I miss the genuine hype I felt in my heart that made me interact with people and make things. So many things. I honestly can't think of a third one with such a lasting impact, sorry;;
3. What's your current OTP?
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I imagine Souyo scenarios in my head every night before falling sleep and every morning after waking up, this is not a joke not an exaggeration. I still feel a little traitorous saying this on tumblr but their dynamic IS somewhat similar to the way I see Ioryuu so-
4. What's your current NoTP?
I don't think I have one? I have dislikes, some of them strong, but I don't see any of them often enough to be, like, actively angry. I have better uses for my time than willingly exposing myself to stuff I don't like.
5. Do you have any poly ships?
Not generally, juggling two characters is enough work lol. The only poly ships I've ever really actively shipped are Niels, Duncan and Natalie from the web comic Niels And the Gang by humon and Kinatsuen from Boueibu, but neither are actively on my mind much these days.
8. Have you ever shipped yourself with a character?
BOY HAVE I EVER. I've seen someone on tumblr have a side blog for self-shopping and not gonna lie, it's an excellent idea. My late teens were spent reading character x reader fics on Quotev and I started my fic career with the same genre. I don't really know what to do with myself when I DON'T actively ship myself with a character, which is my state of being now that Yosuke surpassed Yoosung as my favorite character;; Ibushi and Yoosung are the biggest ones but man oh boy I have shipped myself with characters from early age and I'm showing no signs of stopping! There's a reason that I main dating sims.
15. Have you ever "shipped at first sight"?
Not for long. I SUCK at forming first impressions. Usually if I start thinking I'll ship something, I end up not being so invested in it after all, and instead shipping something I swore off at first lmao. Which leads us to...
16. Talk about a ship you initially disliked
As a rule of thumb, all of them. I don't understand HOW it keeps happening but somehow almost all the ships I truly care/d about (that I didn't start shipping through osmosis before knowing them in the source material) started out as something I thought I "wouldn't be able to get behind." Gajevy. Shikatema. Sasunaru. Doctor/Rose. Karabita. Atsutodo. Kiribaku. Yoozen. Enatsu. Freaking IORYUU. EVEN SOUYO. IT'S BEEN YEARS I REALLY SHOULD KNOW THE PATTERN BY NOW
17. Talk about a pairing you've stopped shipping romantically
Like, I started to think they're better as friends after all? I guess NaLi. Then again, I mostly only shipped them out of spite in the first place because I wanted a counter for N/a//Lu, which I never liked at all;;
20. Talk about a ship you feel alone in shipping
Now this time I can say for sure that there isn't one. I can't come up with ships myself and stay on board if there isn't content for it, canon or otherwise;; It's not a conscious decision or anything, it's just how my mind works. I get attached to stuff by exposure, whether from fans or the source material, and if the source material has enough content for two characters for me to pick up on and become interested, it's guaranteed to be enough to become a somewhat popular ship.
21. Is there a ship you just don't get, but have nothing against?
Actually... That's the extent I go to with notp'ing these days. I'm passionate about the right to ship whatever you want so by proxy I can't have anything "against" a ship, even if the sheer thought of it existing makes me nauseous. And I know how to think from points of view other than my own, so I can usually see the appeal, even if it appeals to me personally less than eating dog shit while walking barefoot on rusty nails that are also on fire.
That said, the only ships I have on my Tumblr blacklist are Yoo//ra/n and Suza//lu/lu because they're both popular ships for characters whose tags I am/was following and therefore get suggested a lot even if I want following anyone who ships then. Oh, and all B/LMa//tsu ships! I generally can't feel good about incestuous ships, but can and will fight for their shippers' right to do as they please as long as they stay respectful. (never saw blmatsus who weren't respectful. saw a plethora of anti-blmatsus who were absolute demons. actually the reason i moved away from the last remnants of my anti mindset was that i didn't want to be associated with THOSE anti-blmatsus, when the shippers they wanted dead were all such sweet people. food for thought.)
22. Which of your ships have the best chemistry?
All of them?? Lmao I don't understand this question, isn't shipping all about liking the chemistry between characters? Or the potential for it I guess, in which case the chemistry is whatever you want it to be, which is great B) I'm sorry I keep accidentally dodging questions I'm bad at choosing examples from a long, unordered list
23. Which of your ships deserve better writing?
Hhhhhhh I shipped Jerza for years and was still unsatisfied with their ending, Jellal didn't get to heal enough and we didn't really see them working through their past in an effective way and getting comfortable around each other. It's like they were supposed to be friends to enemies to lovers but the last part didnt really develop and their relationship stagnated at the stage were they were both just permanently awkward out of regret, and couldn't bring themselves out of it even though everything was forgiven forever ago. Or I've forgotten a lot of stuff that happened. Very likely. Is your a case of bad writing or good writing not working out the way I wanted it to? You're asking the wrong person.
25. Have you ever shipped a pairing before you even started watching the show/movie simply because of gifs/graphics or similar?
EYUP. Harumichi was my otp for like a whole year before I saw a single episode with them lol. It was crazy, but it was REAL. I've also went into shows already paying attention to things I knew my friends/people I follow shipped, kind of hoping I'd get into it.
26. Have you noticed a pattern in your shipping? Is there a romantic dynamic I'm writing these questions down from screenshots and I cropped the rest of this one out by accident rip
Eeeh I go for the obvious. Best friend pairs, obvious pining, some rivalry with sexual tension, though I don't really know what to do with those. Then there's the fact that I never see it coming sick Persona 5 reference bro and start shipping the couple I thought "should just be friends" at first. This is more about my relationship to the ships than their dynamic but it's very constant...
27. Is there a ship you've shipped for most of your life?
Hmmm well I got into HP and started shipping Romione sometime in mid elementary school so it's definitely been more than half my lifetime since, but I don't really know if I "ship it" anymore. I didn't start disliking them or anything but for me, "shipping" is an active intrest in a fictional relationship, so if it reaches the stage where I like it, in theory, but I don't have the feels, it doesn't really count. That's why I can say I like ships without shipping them. It's gotta be actively on my brain, man.
31. Talk about one of your favorite headcanons for a ship you love
I haven't mentioned Kannao once, which is criminal. So here's some of what I imagine their future to be like :D I've been getting new Persona followers recently so here's something for you to unfollow me over lmao
So first of all I ignore the canon that Naoto goes back to the city for her detective work after her first year of high school, shhh she stays in Inaba, only taking the occasional jobs. She and Kanji start dating during the spring break before their second year and get more comfortable with each other, so that the next summer they're still cute and very much themselves (which means somewhat reserved) but not as awkward anymore :) I haven't thought about what happens after they graduate but they get married in their early 20s and have a son <3 (Chie and Yukiko adopted their daughter only slightly earlier. They may or may not have had a bit of a competition going on) ((yes Souyo are very much together but if they end up having children I haven't thought about it it's later))
Kanji manages the textile shop and Naoto helps when she's free from detective stuff. They live in Inaba but Naoto is away quite often for her gigs;; She takes up a few jobs less when Kouta is little though so he wouldn't feel less close to his Mom than his Dad.
Both Kanji and Naoto suffered from unfair expectations growing up, so they try their best to make up for it with Kouta's upbringing. They want him to feel comfortable being himself and free to express himself the way he wants; they make sure he knows he'll always be loved and supported, and to never be ashamed of who he is. As a child it doesn't even occur to him that many social norms and social expectations exist, because Naoto and Kanji pretty much let him do whatever as long as he isn't hurting himself or anyone else. They might go a little overboard though, giving into Kouta's whims without much consideration at all. The Amagi Aunties enforce rules and keep kids grounded in reality much better lmao
40. If you could change one thing about your otp, what would that be?
HMNGHNMHGNMGH I WAMT YOSUKE'S INTERNALIZED BULLSHIT ACKNOWLEDGED!! It's there AtlUS!! Stop pretending oh my god.... I love the Dancing All Night story mode (so far. I am by no means done); Yosuke gets cool moments and Yu's internal monologue really shows how much he appreciates him. The dynamic is so much better than with a silent protagonist, and thank god they didn't go with the tactless anime Yu (as fun as he is). I know there are a bunch of nods to the cut romance across spinoffs but mannnn... I wish they were more serious about it. At this point it's not even that far-fetched to think Yosuke has feelings for Yu that he may or may not be aware of, and I know that Yu as the player character can't be too tied down to one option in canon, but still... Even the clown gets tired of jokes at some point. One can dream.
40 ship questions
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a-trainers-tale · 4 years ago
Note
Hello there! I'd like to request a paid pokemon team description if you please! I had previously sent in the ask for the free one but changed my mind and decided to pay for one instead. Hopefully that's alright. Lol. So where to start. I'm a 21 year old female Leo. Personality wise, I would basically boil it down to, I’m an amiable introvert. I’ve always been really shy and quiet around strangers, maybe even a bit cautious of friendships as I’ve had too many experiences in the past of (1/?)
toxic friends. However, once I perceive a person to be real and genuine, I can open up to them easily, becoming who I truly am around them: fun-loving, excitable and talkative. I have MBTI personality type INFP also known as The Mediator, which makes sense as I'm definitely the peacekeeping type. In my small group of friends, I'm basically the one who keeps them from getting into fights with each other or other people. I'm also the one who diffuses situations. I myself dislike conflict and (2/?) will do everything in my power to actively ignore it, which may be one of my downfalls. For more positive traits, I have a high level of patience, meaning that I won’t give up on people easily even if everyone else has. I’m also very nurturing towards the people I love. I love raising people up and giving them all the support and affection I can. I’m definitely a hugger. However, more negative traits include my stubbornness and pride. These two go hand in hand really. I pride myself in my (3/?) ability to lead and keep a cool and level head when stuff hits the fan but sometimes even a situation can be too much for me and I’ll quickly begin to crumble. However, in an effort to still appear as the cool, kind leader everyone looks up to, I’ll straight up lie about how I really feel and oftentimes will refuse help. This isn’t just with feelings either. It’s with anything from homework to projects, etc. It’s probably worth mentioning that I can also be incredibly lazy sometimes. My (4/?) bursts of hardworking spirit can often be met with equally long periods of me just going, “Meh…” My hobbies and interests include my top three: Drawing, writing and playing video games. I draw mostly cartoon looking things with maybe a dash of anime sprinkled in there. There’s definitely a lot of video game fan art in there too. When it comes to my writing, I generally like to write a lot of fanfiction (the non-cringy sort. lol.) about different video games and of course, I write my own (5/?) do, so much so that sometimes the story never even gets written. My favorite kinds of video games range from adorable friendly things to horrifying video games. Things like RPGs, strategy, action, horror, etc. I don’t have any consoles so I mostly play PC and mobile games. My top three favorite franchises are Pokemon, Animal Crossing and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. I also enjoy Minecraft, Destiny 2 and Tomb Raider. I’ve also been playing Pokemon since Generation 2 with my first game (6/?) Pokemon Silver. Other things I love include baking, reading (especially history), movies (love studio ghibli, anime, horror, action, thriller, comedy, etc.), TV shows about true crime, history and the paranormal. Speaking of, I'm a huge fan of the paranormal and come from a family of people spiritually sensitive to those sorts of things. I also love animes like Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Hetalia and My Hero Academia. My favorite music includes hardstyle, edm, pop, 80’s/90’s hits, etc. (7/?) My favorite artists consist of Gorillaz, Melanie Martinez, Fleetwood Mac, Journey, etc. I also love going on hikes, swimming and just getting to experience nature. I will admit, I’m a kid who loves to snooze. Sometimes when there’s nothing else left to do, nothing’s better than curling up in bed with the blinds closed and room freezing cold with a warm blanket. I think the reason why is because I’m a vivid dreamer. Most of my inspiration comes from the things I dream up of and my dreams (8/?) always provide me with what may not be obtainable in real life. I’m currently going to school to become a preschool, elementary school or daycare teacher. I’m glad knowing that someday, I could make a difference in a child’s life with my kindness. I love Pokemon because it's given me a sense of joy all these years later after initially discovering it as a child. It's the one thing that had always stuck. This had been a lot of asks but I hope it's enough. Thank you for your time. (9/9)
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Trainer class: Nurse
You have a naturally nurturing and caring heart and mind. You like to be able to help people and take care of people, this comes from both a genuine desire to help and also a likely subconscious desire to hold that kind of power in any relationships you have. You have a lot of patience and are willing to wait for things. Nurses do not initiate battle, they will wait for people to come to them directly, and after the battle will heal their opponent's pokemon. This is similar to how you approach your relationships with people, you wait for them to come to you and then dedicate yourself to listening, helping, and diffusing problems. Some people might not really understand you and think that your way of life seems boring or irritating but the way that you view it, helping others is also helping yourself. By not going out of your way to be a rockstar pokemon trainer, you are able to better focus on what you care about, namely helping those who need help and bonding with your pokemon who are safe in your care. Your determination comes and goes, some days you are content to relax with those closest to your and your pokemon, but other days you are out trying to find new methods of helping trainers and pokemon alike. You are creative in how you help pokemon and you pride yourself on your work when you are feeling passionate
Starter: Chikorita
Your starter pokemon is Chikorita. Like you, Chikorita really loves laid back activities and taking naps. Chikorita is often found sunbathing and relaxing in comfortable spots outdoors. Chikorita spends a lot of time looking for the perfect nap conditions and once it finds them it is hardpressed to leave before having its fill of a wonderful afternoon nap. You and Chikorita spend a lot of time relaxing and napping together, and you bond over enjoying simpler activities. Chikorita's lower energy makes it a good fit for you, and it doesn't often pick fights so it will never be a cause for concern for you. 
Partner: Steelix
Steelix is also a very patient pokemon, living for over 100 years sometimes, these pokemon will slowly become harder than diamonds. Steelix is also a very stubborn and very individualistic pokemon, which makes it somewhat of a challenge for you to get it to work with your other pokemon sometimes. You relate to your Steelix's desire to hole itself up in a cave somewhere and ignore any responsibility it may have, but you also relate to how it very often pulls itself out and helps out the rest of your team with you. Steelix is also fiercely protective, you so never have to worry about your other pokemon getting into trouble with Steelix around.
Team: Meganium (starter), Bastiodon, Darmanitan (zen), Dragonair, Hatterene
Hometown: Icirrus City, Unova
Your hometown is Icirrus City in the Unova region. This town is very humid and covered in wetlands, so most of the buildings are on higher ground and there are a lot of inclines. This town is also nearby Dragonspiral Tower, which is the oldest building in Unova and is said to be the home of legendary pokemon Zekrom and Reshiram. Because of your early life consisting of brave trainers venturing here to seek these legendary pokemon, and people fighting over the right to study and unearth these pokemon, you came to realize that you prefer to stay out of the mess most of the time and sometimes help people stuck within it. Your dedication to yourself and your pokemon is very rooted in your decision when you were younger to live a simpler life than a lot of the people who came through your hometown. You also gained some creativity due to growing up in an area that required creative architecture. Your experiences with rather difficult terrain and an interesting social climate made you the kind of person you are, namely that you keep your head when things get weird and you are willing to wait and be patient when others are more inclined to rush in head first.
Battle style: Slow and steady wins the race
You are a very patient and slow battler. You take your time and are very cautious. You tend to come overprepared, with lots of healing items and stat boosting items. Your pokemon are not necessarily hard hitters, but you prioritize their ability to be reliable and predictable for you to use. You prefer pokemon who will consistently do a set amount of damage, for instance, over a pokemon who might or might not do a ton of damage in one hit. You prefer pokemon that work well in groups, you like a team that can work together and help each other over individualistic and self reliant pokemon. You help your pokemon learn to work together and learn to love being a team instead of competing with one another. You enjoy being able to take your time in battles and observe your own pokemon and your opponents for areas they could be more creative or more consistent. Your pokemon all trust you deeply and know that if they take any damage or have any conflict they can't solve themselves, you will be there to help them out of their bind and comfort them after the fact. 
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applepiry · 4 years ago
Text
Hibiki’s BackStory Part 1
Anything in BOLD TEXT is Hibiki’s special phone speaker’s voice speaking. It is a mechanical made voice, but it is from a data bank of Hibiki’s speech he’s put into it so it does have his mannerisms in speech! It also does sound a bit like his actual voice, just at a decent speaking volume.
This is the first part of Hibiki’s first day at UA in first year! It also tells the story of his history, and how he came to be in Recovery Girl’s care.
TW for: Death and Bullying
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Age 4…
“Reiki… you feel really warm…” the small raven haired boy said, whimpering as he touched his baby sisters forehead. 
Four year old Hibiki had been left all alone, with his infant sister. His father was supposed to be watching them as their mother was on the night shift at the hospital but had stepped out to get things from the store. The boy knew he could use his singing to do a few different things, but he wanted to be able to heal his sister. His mother was a healer, and it was all he had ever wanted. 
His sister’s small cries made him whimper, and he thought of the song his mother had sung to him, hoping and begging it would work. He started out humming to get the melody, before taking a deep breath and singing as best as he could. His sister began to glow, her cries subsiding as the discomfort of the fever disappeared. Her large eyes fluttered as she yawned and settled down as Hibiki stopped singing, taking a deep breath when he was done. 
Hibiki smiled wide, feeling that her fever was gone and considering she was now sleeping, must not have been in any pain. The small boy began crying out of happiness, so glad he was going to be able to take care of his sister. She would never have to be in any pain, as long as he was around.
Age 7…
Smack! Whack! 
Hibiki was on the ground, getting kicked and punched by a group of boys from his elementary school. The current beating he was received after he had refused to do the other kids homework. He was the smallest in his grade, and it was easy to pick on someone who didn’t have a physical quirk. Plus, Hibiki had sworn never to use his quirk to hurt anybody. He could heal with it, and that was all he would do with it. He was just going to have to get better at avoiding others. 
When the others left, bored by the lack of reaction Hibiki had, he sat up and wiped the blood from his face with a red colored handkerchief. Sighing, he got up and looked down at himself, grimacing at all the bruises as he checked himself over. While he could heal others, he could not heal himself. He’d have to tell his mother, or let these heal on their own. 
Wondering towards home, he was slow and careful not to catch any attention. However, a boy with blond hair had come running up to him and tried to see how he was doing. Hibiki didn’t remember much about this boy, as he had insisted he was fine and ended up running all the way home, even through the pain.
Walking through the door, he was tackled right away by his sister, a now four year old Reiki with bright red eyes looking up at him. 
“Nii-san!” she said, her loud pitch making his ears ring, causing him to gently push her back. 
“Reiki, be careful,” he said with a soft whine, rubbing his ears. 
“Oh, sorry,” she said with a small pout. Her quirk had showed up and was similar to their fathers, only hers depended on her pitch of voice to use it to manipulate things. 
“Just remember to watch your pitch, okay?” he told her with a gentle voice. He slipped around her and headed to his room, trying to avoid his parents. He didn’t see either of them as he ran past the living room and kitchen, making it to his room right as he heard his father call for him. He closed the door quickly, and would lie and say he didn’t hear him if he asked. Hibiki quickly got to work cleaning himself off and making sure all his wounds won’t be visible. He hated lying to his parents, they were so nice, but he really didn’t want them to get involved with the bullying. They would only worry...
Age 15… Beginning of February
“Hibiki, you’ll be switching high schools,” his mother's voice came as a surprise as he stood outside his room, about to go in before she had stopped him.
“What?” he said, shocked. He was going to a decent middle school right now, close to home, and doing well in it, and had picked the neighboring high school to continue being close to home. Why was she suddenly saying such things? 
“You got a recommendation to UA High!” she told him.
“What?” he repeated, still not sure what was going on. Had he even applied? No, he hadn’t. He had never even thought of going to UA.
“Yes, remember my superior I told you about? Who works there? Well, anyway, I mentioned you have a quirk capable of healing, like mine, which is very rare, yaknow? And well, she insisted you go to UA and study under her. Her name is Recovery Girl.” his mother explained. 
Hibiki stood there, rather in shock. He knew the part of his quirk was rare, but hadn’t ever thought about applying to UA. Now UA wanted him? But he wasn’t planning on becoming a Hero…. Wait, that’s right, they had general studies as well, and had some of the best teachers in the entire country… Maybe he would get a great job at a hospital with this opportunity. 
“I’ll go,” he said, looking at his mother with determination. She grinned at her son and patted his shoulder, telling him how proud she was of him for coming so far.
“You’ll be an amazing hero,” his sister had told him when she found out.
“Ha, thanks but I dunno about hero?” he had said.
“Saving people is a heroes job, and that’s what you do, nii-san!” she had replied.
About a month later….. Middle of March
Hibiki stood there in the hospital in shock, staring at the charred bodies of his family members. He had been at a friends house when his house had been broken into, and the robber used his fire quirk to set the entire house ablaze to cover his crimes, not realizing the family was asleep inside. His parents and sister had perished in that fire, unable to escape from the hellish nightmare as the fire spread all around them. The roof had collapsed in on them, trapping them even further. He had heard the coroner telling the police they had died slowly, and in a lot of pain. He had no idea who he was going to live with, his closest family was in Brazil and he doubted they would even take him in. His mother had been disowned by the family when she had fallen in love and married a Japanese man. 
Hibiki began sobbing in the hospital hallway after he had said goodbye to the bodies of his family, shaking heavily. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. His sister was supposed to become a nurse, and his parents were supposed to be here for him until they grew old. Feeling a presence, he looked up a bit, seeing a small, older woman standing in front of him.
“Hibiki?” she said, her voice was kind. “I’m Chiyo Shuzenji, better known as Recovery Girl, I was your mother's superior at work. I am so sorry to hear what happened…” she said, sitting beside him and pulling candy out of her pocket, offering it to him. “Your mother… she was an amazing woman.” she said, sighing softly. 
Hibiki stared at the woman, looking at the candy and taking it with a shaky hand. He held it, staring at the colorful wrapper but not speaking a word.
“The police said they are trying to contact your family but… would you like to stay with me until they find someone?” she asked him.
Hibiki looked back at her, his eyes showing his shock. This stranger was going to take him in? Slowly, he nodded, sobbing again as he wrapped his arms around the womens small frame, unable to help himself any longer. He needed to hold someone right now. Anyone.
Sure enough, none of his family wanted him. And his father’s parents had only had his father, and had passed away about two years ago, so there was nobody from that side who would, either. Hibiki had nowhere to go. Well, almost nowhere. Recovery Girl quickly agreed to adopt him, excited by the thought as she had grown fond of the young man. The government had agreed it would be a perfect match, and had given her guardianship over Hibiki, and put any of his parents assets in a trust for when he needed money, and would get full control over it when he turned 18.
Hibiki wasn’t up to starting school the first month, still a hollow shell of his former self without his parents, his little sister he had cherished so much. Recovery Girl had allowed him to stay back for a bit, not wanting to push him. He had his uniform, and had been told which class he was going to be a part of, but he just did not want to go. Even after witnessing the sports festival and seeing how many kids got injured. If this had been months ago, he would have been so eager to go heal those kids.
His mother had done this for him. So he could become a Healing Hero, and help others like she had. His sister had always told him she believed he was going to be the best hero ever with his quirk. But now, they were gone. And he felt like that dream was too. He no longer wanted to be a hero, now only wanting to be left alone. Recovery Girl had agreed he could wait until after his first birthday without his family before going to school, but after that he needed to at least try going to school. He had agreed because she was so nice to him, there was no way he could tell her no.
A few weeks after the Sports Festival…. End of May
“We have a new student joining us!” Snipe told the students of his homeroom, 1-C. 
Everyone was naturally confused, as new students during the middle of the school year were very unusual. They stay quiet so their teacher can finish. “He was supposed to start at the beginning of the year but due to unforeseen circumstances, he couldn’t join us until now.” he told the students. “Please come in, Shimizu,” Snipe said.
The sliding door opened, revealing a fluffy raven haired boy with bronze skin, his eyes the color of the golden sun. His eyes held a dark violet color under them, the dark circles under his eyes making it obvious how tired this boy is. Under his right eye, and his lower left lip were moles, his chin soft yet not quite round, and cheekbones just barely visible. He was about average height for the males in the school, standing at about 177 cm. Dressed in the usual male uniform, with a loosely put on tie, he suddenly let out a loud yawn as he stopped next to Snipe and turned to face the class. 
Not a very good first impression, most of the students think.
“Please introduce yourself, Shimizu!” Snipe urges.
“My name is Hibiki Shimizu. It’s nice to meet you,” he says, his voice soft and barely able to be heard. 
“Huh?!” most of the students shout, a little annoyed with this guy.
“Ah- my quirk uses my voice so…” he says, still softly, to Snipe. He goes through his bag and pulls out a phone, which makes the students look even more puzzled. He presses a button and a mechanical voice plays.
“My quirk requires me to sing, so I do not speak freely, or loudly, so forgive me.” 
“Oh!” a girl says, “That’s neat, what is your quirk!?” she asks excitedly. 
Everyone agrees they would like to know. Everyone aside from one boy in the back, who’s being awfully quiet. Hibiki had noticed his lavender hair right away, as lavender was one of his favorite colors and it was unusual to see such a color of hair, even in this quirk-filled world.
“It has been dubbed ‘Holy Voice’, and it allows me to control various things with songs that I sing.” the recording plays after Hibiki hits a sequence of numbers into it. Hibiki wasn’t really very interested in telling them the specific’s though, and hoped they would not pry. They would see him in PE classes, after all. 
“Wow, that is so cool!” someone says.
“How are you not in the Hero course!?” one student asks.
“I do not want to be a Hero.” the recording plays. Hibiki looked at them all with tired, but serious eyes, honestly hoping they do not pry any further.
DING. DONG. DING. DONG.
“Ah, that’s the bell. Well, off to the Gym!” Snipe says, ushering the students to leave. “And see me at lunch, okay, Shimizu?” he says. 
“Yes, sensei.” 
“That’s totally weird,” he hears a student whisper to another. It makes him let out a breathy laugh, though, enough to make him curl his lip into a half-smirk. 
The girls that saw the smirk started to swoon, shocked the tired looking boy could look so... hot when he had that smirk on his face. Maybe the new boy wasn’t so bad!
--------------IN P.E..------------
Oh, wrong… All the girls watched as Hibiki ran away from every single attack, dodging easily but never attacking back. He only ran. Hibiki made sure nothing hit him, his movements as if he was a cat avoiding being sprayed with a water bottle. While they weren’t perfect, they worked enough so he didn’t get hit. 
By the end of class, everyone was frustrated and tired, having gone after Hibiki to see him use his quirk. But, they had failed by the end of it. The teacher wasn’t all that happy he hadn’t used it, and scolded him, telling him the only way he could improve was to use his quirk. 
Hibiki hadn’t taken the words to heart as he went to change and went off to his next class, now having regular studies until it was time for more training after lunch. He wasn’t here to learn to fight, anyway, but knew it was essential. That’s why he had mastered dodging, not one for physical contact. In fact, he hated being touched by people. 
Going through classes was fine, as he was good at school work, and it required very little contact with any of the others. At least, until he got called into the principal's office right before lunch. 
“Can you take him, Shinsou-kun?” Ms Midnight said with a large grin. 
“I can go on my own, miss,” Hibiki tried to insist.
“Don’t be silly! It’s hot to help new students! Go now, Shinsou!” Ms Midnight said.
The lavender haired male stood and nodded, heading to the door, “Yes, ma’am,” he said as he nodded fort Hibiki to follow him.
The two walked silently towards the principal's office. It was nice, but odd, as Hibiki was used to others chattering away or asking him questions. 
“Here we are. See ya,” Shinsou said with a wave before heading off. 
Hibiki blinked, not used to such an unfriendly person like himself, but he shrugged and knocked on the door. 
---
“Come in,” Nezu said from behind the door.
“You wanted to see me, sir?” Hibiki said after he went inside, tilting his head a bit. He had met the small, animalistic principal when Recovery Girl had introduced them yesterday, letting him know that Hibiki would finally be coming to school. 
“Yes! Shimizu-kun, will you come with me to class 1-A?” he asked, suddenly on Hibiki’s shoulders.
Hibiki seemed generally unfazed as the principal sat on his shoulders as he walked down the hall, being directed by him as he had no idea where he was going. A few passing students gave odd looks but always said hello to the principal. 
When they got to the classroom, Nezu had Hibiki knock on the door. A lazy-sounding voice replied, “Come in,” prompting the raven haired male to open the door. 
“Principal Nezu?” the teacher said, a bit confused but his face relaxed when he seemed to remember, seeing the golden eyed boy who Nezu sat on. Hibiki noticed this man resembled him a lot, or rather he resembled him? Either way, they both had the same exhausted look.
“Aizawa! Do you remember that student I told you would be joining you in the afternoon from class C?” he said happily, now situated in Aizawa’s scarf looking item. 
Hibiki tilted his head, confused at this new information. He hadn’t been told he’d be with another class in the afternoon. 
“Ah, right.” Aizawa said, sounding bored, “Students, this is Hibiki Shimizu from Class C. He’s a new student, but because of his quirk, he’ll be joining us, and class B, during the afternoon for training. We wanted to introduce you all before training so we can just jump into it.” he tells them.
“Ooooh, whats your quirk!?” an all pink girl asked, sounding just as excited as his classmates this morning.
“Aw man I was hoping it’d be a hot girl!” a purple boy whined, but nobody paid him, or the person who hit him, any mind.
Hibiki looked at Nezu and Aizawa, wondering if he should answer. 
Nezu nodded, “It’s okay to tell them. You’ll be working with them all after all, probably very frequently, you know?”
Hibiki pulled out his phone, pressing a button. “My quirk is called Holy Voice. I can do many things with it, but my main focus is healing others.” the recording plays his answer.
“What?! A healer?!” the students sound shocked, as they naturally would be. After all, being able to heal others was a very rare quirk to have. Most of them were only aware of Recovery Girl who had such a quirk. 
All the students are chattering excitedly, asking questions over one another until Aizawa just glares, and they all go silent. Hibiki looks at Aizawa with a bit of admiration, wishing he could do that. 
“One question at a time. Raise your hands,” he said, frowning as he glared at his students.
A green haired boy raised his hand first, looking extremely eager. “Yes, Midoriya?”
“What else can your quirk do? You said you can do a lot of stuff with it? Do you mean your voice?” he said, rattling off questions one after another. 
Hibiki blinked, a bit taken back by the amount of questions. He heard Aizawa sigh beside him, “Just one question, Midoriya,” he told him.
“O-Oh, sorry.. Erm… How does your quirk work?” he asked shyly, his face bright red with embarrassment as he fidgeted in his seat. Hibiki took notice of all the scars littering his hands that clutched a notebook and pencil, and could tell he was going to be busy with this person in particular. 
After some tapping on the screen, the phone began to play another recording, “When I sing, depending on what I sing, I can do various things. I can heal people, cause people to see illusions and shatter, disintegrate, destabilize or stabilize living and nonliving objects.” His quirk was a perfect combination of what his parent’s quirks had been.
“What the fuck?” said a blond boy with red eyes.
“Woah,” said a few students.
“Wow, you sing?” a girl with a cool haircut and odd ear-lobes. Wait, where those mic plugs? 
Hibiki didn’t answer immediately, but instead made his way to her desk. 
“Yes,” he said once he reached her side, using his own voice instead of the phone. “Are those mic plugs? 3.5mm?” he asked, looking down at her in her seated position, staring at her with golden eyes. 
“Ah-!” she made a startled sound, her face going a bit pink as she jumped back, “Hey! Don’t get so close so suddenly!” she said, frowning. 
“Oh, apologizes,” he said, stepping back. “I noticed your ears and they interested me,” he said, his monotone tone reminding everyone of the way Todoroki had been back at the beginning of the year. However, there was an almost childish way about the way he said the words. In all reality, he was just curious if she sang too, liking to find others with hobbies like his. He was just… awkward.
“Well, in any case, Shimizu will be sitting in on your training in the afternoons when you do combat training, so that way we don’t have to bother Recovery Girl all the time.” Aizawa said, cutting the conversation short. 
“Since he also has defensive and offensive capabilities, he’ll be directly involved as well.” Principal Nezu said from Aizawa’s shoulder. 
Hibiki softly glared at the principal, not wanting to be in combat training but he didn’t say anything against it. He walked back to the front, making note of every single student in this class. All of the blondes he was going to have to avoid, just looking at their faces, he could tell that much. One looked angry, one looked like an idiot and another looked loud. The one with the tail seemed normal, but Hibiki was always cautious. Actually, most of the class looked like they were going to be annoyingly loud to Hibiki. Except maybe, like, two of them? 
Yawning again, he rubbed his left eye a bit as Aizawa and Nezu talked for a moment before the bell rang again. 
“Alright, see you all after lunch,” he told the other students. Nezu told Hibiki to go to lunch as well, but Hibiki had to find his way to the staff room first to see Snipe. 
Hibiki waited until nearly all the students had left, staying close to the teachers acting as if they were talking to him too. He really did not want to make friends with any of these guys. Sure, he knew as a future doctor to pro heroes, he had to get along with them but all of them seemed too much for him to really handle. 
He had nearly made it to the staff room when he was caught by a group from 1-A, who all seemed very eager to get to know him. Five students stood in front of him, blocking his path as they all tried to introduce themselves at once.
“I’m Tenya Iida! I’m the Class Representative for 1-A. It is a pleasure to meet you!” the tall dark haired boy said, extending his hand.
“I’m Izuku Midoriya,” said the green haired boy. Ah, the scarred boy. 
“Oh! I’m Ochako Uraraka!” the brown haired girl said with a bright smile.
“Call me Tsu,” the black haired girl who resembled a frog said, pointing at herself. 
“And I am Momo Yaoyorozu! I am the Vice Representative for 1-A. It is so nice to meet you.” the tall black haired girl said, her hair in a tall ponytail. 
Hibiki stood there, his eyes a bit wider than usual from the shock, unblinking for a good few moments.
“Um, are you okay?” Uraraka asked, stepping closer. Hibiki had to force himself not to step back and run. 
He nodded, her words pulling him out of his shock, pulling out his phone and typing into it. 
“I am Hibiki Shimizu,” the speaker played, “Nice to meet you all.”
“Oh, do you not want to talk to us like you did with Jirou?” Tsu asked. 
Hibiki tilted his head, a smirk crawling onto his face as he exhaled a breathy laugh. 
“My quirk requires my voice. I do not use it often. I do not mean to be offensive.” 
“Oh, right,” she said, blushing a bit. 
“So, where did you transfer from?” Momo asked.
“Homeschool.” That’s right, they had no idea who he was or that he was supposed to have started here originally. Well, easier to lie than explain.
“That's highly unusual for anyone with a quirk. How did you come to end up at UA?” Iida asked, staring at Hibiki with questioning eyes. He seemed very stern to Hibiki, and he didn’t like his tone.
“Recovery Girl is my guardian. She recommended me.” Another kind of lie. 
“What? She has kids?” Tsu wondered out loud.
“Wow, so you got in on a recommendation?!” Ochako asked, sounding shocked.
“I suppose so, yes.” They weren’t sure who’s question he was answering, but assumed it was Uraraka’s. 
“That’s impressive. Only four other students are even in on recommendations, and two are in class A!” Momo said.
Hibiki tilted his head in curiosity, which prompted an answer.
“Me, and Todoroki-kun. The one with red and white hair?” Momo said with a smile.
Hibiki thought back, remembering each student's face and matching the bicolored eyed boy with the name Todoroki for future reference. 
“Ah, yes, him. He looks like he’ll need to be healed often. Actually, you two do as well.” the phone spoke, Hibiki looking directly at Midoriya and Iida. “Wreckless, that’s the word.”
Tsu laughed, which caused Ochako and Momo to join in with her. 
“How rude!” Iida said, shocked the new student would say something so… right? After meeting him. Not that he would admit such a thing. He didn’t really see himself as reckless.
“You can probably tell for me, huh?” Midoriya said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Hibiki nodded at Midoriya, choosing to ignore Iida for now.
Thankfully for him, Snipe had come to find him and found him not far from the staff room, and took him away from this awful encounter. He’d have to see them later, but that was later. After lunch. He could pretend nothing had happened in that short of time.
Of course all hope of that was dashed when Snipe merely told him he would meet Class B tomorrow, and sent him on his way. Hibiki groaned softly as he headed for the cafeteria, wondering how crowded it was, but he knew it was going to be ridiculous. 
Making his way into it, he tried his best to slip around the crowds of people, and nicely for him, he was rather average. He wasn’t too tall or short that he stood out much, he liked that. He wanted to blend into the wall and disappear when he saw more students from 1-A, hoping they wouldn’t try to talk to him like the others had. 
But then, he noticed the mic plug girl, and changed course, now wanting to talk to her. She was with a boy with odd elbows, one of the blondes; the loud looking one, and the all-pink girl. Hm, he supposed it would be worth conversing with them to get to know the only other one who looked like she enjoyed music as much as he did. 
The loud looking blond boy noticed him first, “Oh hey new kid!” he shouted, waving frantically.
Hibiki wanted to turn on his heels but forced himself to smile a bit, trudging forward in his attempts at making a friend. He took out his phone and typed into it.
“Hello. I am Hibiki Shimizu. Just call me Shimizu. It’s nice to meet you all.”
“That is so interesting!” the pink girl said, looking at the phone. 
“Is that a special program?” the elbow-boy asked.
Wow, these students are nothing like the ones I met earlier. Hibiki thought to himself.
“Yes, I made it myself.”
“Wow that is so cool!” the pink girl and blond boy said together. 
“Wow, by yourself?” the elbow-boy asked.
Hibiki nodded and turned his attention to the mic-plug girl. “May I have your name?” 
“M-Me? Oh, it’s Kyouka Jirou…” she said, holding out her hand for him to shake.
“Jirou…” Hibiki said in his own voice, taking her hand and gently squeezing, his thumb going over the callous’ on her hand. “You play many instruments, too.” he said, his voice quiet as if Jirou was much closer than she was. Jirou’s face became hot and she pulled her hand away. 
“I do, so what? … Wait, did you say too? You play?” she said, cautious at first before becoming excited. 
Hibki nodded, glad he had finally gotten what he wanted to get across.
“That makes sense considering your quirk is singing!” the pink girl said.
“That’s cool, what do you play? Oh, er, I’m Hanta Sero, by the way,” said the elbow boy, holding out his hand. 
Hibiki took it and shook it once before letting go.
“I’m Mina Ashido!” the pink girl said, realizing she hadn’t introduced herself.
“Denki Kaminari!” the loud blond said, grinning and getting a bit too close.
Hibiki moved back, shaking a bit. Jirou seemed to notice, so she put herself in between the two a bit.
“So, yeah, what do you play?” she asked, smiling.
Hibiki slowly stopped shaking, taking a deep breath, taking out his phone.
“Piano, guitar, bass, drums, flute and the saxophone.”
“Woah, that's so cool!” Kaminari said. “I play the guitar!” he said, grinning.
Hibiki looked at him, a bit shocked this boy could play anything. Maybe he would be able to find friends here after all. Wait, no. He wasn’t here to make connections. He couldn’t allow himself to emotionally connect with anybody. 
“I play a few things too,” Jirou said, making him look at her. 
The rest of lunch flew by, with Hibiki mostly listening to the students as they all talked about their interests. Every now and then, Hibiki would give vague and general answers about himself, but he was trying very hard not to reveal much about himself. 
When the bell rang signaling the end of lunch, Mina grinned at him, “Are you ready to see Class A in action?” she asked.
Hibiki nodded a bit, “I suppose so.”
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slouchyslouch · 5 years ago
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My 2010s in Records.
10. My Bloody Valentine — mbv
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Wrote about mbv on a separate piece.
9. Earl Sweatshirt — Some Rap Songs
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Earl Sweatshirt’s Some Rap Songs is a record of mending and therapy. At the beginning of the decade, rap fans saw the 16 year old prodigy create the most technical and distinctive raps unheard of at that time. Yes, a lot of it was jarring and immature, but the potential was there. While debut mixtape EARL was a teaser and an introduction to his greatness, Doris was his reclamation to the rap game after a period of silence in Samoa. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside in turn spoke for itself. Its morose disposition then made its way onto Some Rap Songs; not quite his masterpiece, but an accomplished period piece nonetheless. As one of the most highly acclaimed rappers in the world today, Earl spills his guts out on this diaristic tape about his relationship with his father and the emotional exhaustion coming from trying to amend it. On “Red Water,” he repeats the same 8 bars on loop as if caught in a recurring dream. “Papa called me chief / gotta keep it brief / locked and loaded I can see you lyin’ through your teeth” he raps in a fugue state, as if coming to the realization that his father was only there for those momentary times of convenience. It’s always difficult to write something that includes family and loved ones. There’s a sense of vulnerability you have to divulge in as well as a catharsis that fulfills one’s desire to let go of one’s agony. The beats on Some Rap Songs run on loose kaleidoscopic loops, production that Earl has mastered rapping over as his idiosyncrasies in his bars do best when complementing them. Thanks to the influence of his buddies Mike and Medhane, he’s learned to channel his eccentric flows onto those beats. “Riot” closes the record with the sentimental instrumental sampling jazz legend, and uncle, Hugh Masekela. It’s feels like a proper ending to Earl’s chronicle, but the events that have transpired will always be apart of his life. At the end of it all, Some Rap Songs will remain forever a tombstone of his anguish.
8. The Spirit of the Beehive — Hypnic Jerks
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There’s no other dream pop record this decade that could top this almost-perfect album. The hushed vocalizations of Zach Schwartz and Rivka Ravede offer a quiet intimacy in the dreamscape that is Hypnic Jerks. The title in itself lends to the idea of being half asleep and half awake — to be in an altered state where the real and surreal are just two sides of the same coin. Tracks like “poly swim” and “it’s gonna find you” entrance you into that state of unconscious, while tracks like “can i receive the contact?” and “hypnic jerks” make an effort to wake you up from the sublime. Field recordings filter in and out between tracks, as if you were hallucinating the whole time. It’s when “nail i couldn’t bite” and “(without you) in my pocket” play out that you realize it doesn’t matter what state you lie in. Their lucid pop constructions reward repeated listens to the point of obsession in a somnambulant state. The record’s lack of acclaim only makes it feel like you’re in on a hidden secret. To this day, I am completely spellbound to its sorcery and have yet to unlock its mysteries.
7. Iceage — New Brigade
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Back in elementary school, I listened to a lot of pop punk; the kind that was rapturously melodic yet cheesily done and overproduced (Think Blink 182 or All Time Low). Until I listened to New Brigade, I didn’t even realize what true punk music actually sounded like. Iceage was just fucking cool to me. Sure, they had the aesthetic, depicting bloody mosh pits and macabre rune art, but it was truly the music that broke into my spirit, shattering what I thought punk sounded like back in the day. I’d read pieces about their notorious live shows where they would play rapid 15-minute sets in the sunless recesses of Denmark, which only added to the band’s mystique. Upon listening to their debut, I felt musically fulfilled like never before. No more of the whiny, drawn out vocals from pop punk bands. Frontman Elias Bender Rønnenfelt had the kind of angsty drawl similar to Nick Cave’s when he played with The Birthday Party which offered a kind of obscene yet confident instability to his performance. Johan Surrballe Wieth and Jakob Tvilling Pless’s guitars have just the right amount of filth in them — an abrasive attack on your soul while Dan Kjær Nielsen’s drums are played propulsively in classic hardcore fashion — never meant decelerate. The record didn’t offer the tightest instrumental, but that was the point. Iceage have gone on to release tighter and more spectacular punk records consistently over the decade but their debut broke the ceiling of what to me punk could, and should, sound like. From the cathartic breakdown of “White Rune” to the triumphant “You’re Blessed,” New Brigade was the record that gave me that spark, the one that carried me to rotting heights.
6. Frank Ocean — Channel Orange
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Channel Orange will always be a classic to my generation. From Grammy-nominated “Thinking’ Bout You” to the sweet and charming “Forrest Gump,” we surf through Frank’s psyche in smooth and effortless RnB. Frank Ocean’s vivid universe is one of vibrant summers and distant getaways. Its colourful motifs paint a pretty picture for us — pink skies, monks in moshpits, peaches and mangos, roofs of mansions, palm trees and pools, Majin Buu. Most people I know around my age know the lyrics to most of its tracks. They’re as infectious as any classic from the past decade. I still remember listening to “Sweet Life” by the beach with a friend before attending his concert on his first tour. Everything felt right in the world when he sang “so why see the world when you got the beach” as the waves crashed over the sand and the summer heat glistened over the ocean. During its release, he opened up to the world to reveal his love for another man in an affectionate Tumblr post. It gave us an appreciation into an artist’s vulnerable identity while breaking the door open for other artists to come out in their own way. Frank later released his masterpiece in Blonde/Endless and a plethora of brilliant singles from his radio show, but the stories and music from Channel Orange will remain forever timeless.
5. Solange — A Seat at the Table
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“Fall in your ways / so you can crumble / fall in your ways / so you can wake up and rise” sings Solange, on the introduction to her restorative album A Seat at the Table. They’re words I try to tell myself in times of darkness. Solange just has that ability to let anybody express themselves through her music, to meditate on life’s injustices and pitfalls. It’s okay to be mad; it’s okay to rest and take care of yourself as much as you need to. We just have to rely on each other to get back into the fight. It feels like a lot of my favourite records from the past decade are imbued with themes of darkness and isolation. Fortunately, I still have Solange to let myself vent out those frustrations. Whether it’s the strings on the beginning of “Cranes in the Sky” that remind me to slow down or the horns projected behind Master P’s stoic orations that fuel my determination to keep afloat, A Seat at the Table plays like an instruction manual for self-care, black empowerment, and righteous activism. It’s consoling to know that I’m not alone in distracting myself from everything that’s wrong with the world today. 2016 was such an appropriate time for this record to be released. Solange gave us hope, grace, stoicism, and the ability to heal and recharge. A Seat at the Table may be a personal record to Solange, but as she sings on “F.U.B.U.,” this shit is for us.
4. Chance the Rapper — Acid Rap
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It’s odd to say that my favourite rap record of the decade comes in the form of pop rap album Acid Rap. In making this list, I thought about the obvious greats in My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy or Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. In the end, Chance’s second mixtape brought me more joy than any of those records did. It gave me the cringiest but most pleasurable musical moments with the homies singing along to tracks like “Cocoa Butter Kisses” and “Pusha Man.” Releasing it independently and as a free download, Chance’s spoken-word idiosyncrasies reveal themselves as classic pop rap gems by the end of the decade. Chance’s whole thing was just about pure positivity and having fun. The era of albums I could compare to it was during the release of Kanye’s College Dropout and Late Registration, a time when Kanye (sort of) envisioned the anti-stereotype in rappers, countering the machismo and toxic masculinity found in a lot of hip-hop now and back then (RIP old Kanye). Chance didn’t care about getting bitches or getting money. He just wanted to do drugs with his friends — to trip out on acid and go on a spiritual journey with all of us. Hidden beneath the positivity, Chance still creeps in a dash of realism and humanity on tracks like “Paranoia,” illustrating the life of gang-banging in his hometown of Chicago. It’s the earnestness in his raps that always pulls me back, the flourishes of piano when he raps “I lean back then spark my shit / I turn up I talk my shit / hope you love all my shit / I hope you love all my shit / IGH.” It turns out, as he declares on the outro, Everything’s Good.
3. Alex G — DSU
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On DSU, time stops. The cult of Alex G is now cemented in indie rock lore at the end of the decade with eight albums full of hooks, dreams, and shattered spirits. DSU was the first record I listened to by Alex G, and remains my favourite by his despite him going on to release better conceptual records in Rocket and House of Sugar. No track can be skipped or listened to passively. With most of them springing under the 2–3 minute mark, ideas flow in and out without direction but coalesce into an impressionistic and breathtaking work of art. Hints of Elliott Smith and Isaac Brock echo in the duality of harsh guitar distortion and melodious pop hooks. Guitar feedback never felt so comforting as it colours the magnificence of Alex G’s composition. There’s a kind of deep melancholy in each track despite the ambiguous surrealism lyrics, a perfect winter record to listen to alone in your room or walk through the piles of snow in the night. Its murky yet lush production somehow reaches out to you, helps you drown in its depths and remain there for its 37 minutes. Whether it’s “Skipper” fully attuning you to its hushed presence, or the entrancing opener of “After Ur Gone,” I just feel like I want to close my eyes and immerse myself in there for as long as it allows me to.
2. Frank Ocean — Blonde
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Frank Ocean’s Blonde arrived as a gift from the heavens. For five years, my friends and I have joked and memed about when the new Frank was coming out — whether it was even ever going to come out. Years after its release, it has evolved into the masterpiece that I’ve always wanted him to create. When Endless came out, I felt somewhat disappointed at the material — although later served as the perfect complement to Blonde — because of its lack of sensual pieces similar to those on Channel Orange’s effortless RnB and the latter record’s penchant for easy sing-alongs. Blonde in turn revealed a similar mood: the spacious vapour that fogged up behind Ocean’s intimate croon, the volatility in his voice that permeated your soul — it felt like an emotional load that was difficult to bare, yet something necessary that had to be experienced. I was just getting into my first intimate relationship when Blonde came out, and it’s made me realize how much I wanted to make that person happy, and that I couldn’t take any relationship I had for granted. I felt heavy after listening to this record. The sadboi hours memes ring true to its emotional weight. I would flutter to the arpeggios of “Ivy” as Frank sings “I thought that I was dreamin’ when you said you love me,” bop to the duality of “Nights,” and shed a tear to the wistfulness of “Godspeed.” I wonder how much shit Frank had to go through to even get any of these songs on tape. It’s okay. I like to think think that by the end of it all, Blonde was the catharsis he needed to spill his heart out.
1. Tame Impala — Lonerism
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At the end of the decade, seeing Kevin Parker as one of the most highly-touted producers and songwriters in pop music would be an observation if you had asked me a decade ago, when Tame Impala’s first record Innerspeaker — an expansive work of art that recalled 60’s guitar psychedelia — first came out. On Lonerism, Parker’s music evolved into something even more seismic and innovative in scope. As the name suggests, Lonerism is a product of disaffection, self-defeat, and isolation. I’d imagine it was as fulfilling to other music fans of a type to detach from the world and just get lost in another’s. There’s a part on “Keep on Lying” where an endless guitar solo is played in the midst of a dinner party being played out; that feeling of getting dragged to a party when you were just a kid but just wanted to pop your headphones on and refuse to interact with anybody. According to Parker, he put in the sample to make the listener feel even more alienated. It’s a powerful feeling that lets anyone listening to the record in on that vulnerable sensation. In spite of that, tracks like “Apocalypse Dreams” and “Elephant” still give us astonishing psych rock bangers while pop gems “Music to Walk Home By” and “Feels like We Only Go Backwards” demonstrate Parker’s guitar pedal gymnastics over vibrant hooks. Although Currents has skyrocketed him into the fame and acclaim that he undoubtedly deserves, this record will always be his opus in my heart. I’ve daydreamed enough times to the music where its world has settled into my subconscious. It’s a world that comes from genius, but it’s also a world that invites you in to escape from the idea of Lonerism itself, to have something shared with you in solitude.
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marlettwrites · 5 years ago
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11/11/11 tag
I was tagged by the lovely @marie-writess! Thank you! Sorry this took me so long, I was really dragging my feet on writing my own questions.
1. How heavily do you plot before starting your story?
I like to make sure most, if not all of the details are planned out. I may change them later as I write, but it helps me a lot to know exactly where I want the story to go. If I don’t do this, I end up getting stuck. A lot.
At the very least, I like to have all my major plot points planned. Where are the characters starting? Where are they going? How do they get there, and what major obstacles do they encounter along the way?
2. Do you have writing schedule? If so, what does it look like?
I wish. I probably should start planning one. Right now, I write when I have the time and/or energy.
3. What are some common themes in the things you write? Is there anything that you almost always seem to include?
Okay, so found family. Always.
I’ve also been noticing a theme of family in general in most of my works. Often, there will be some form of familial conflict that is integral to the story. In A Curse of Healing, Jude is fleeing an abusive family and Kul is at odds with his dad. They find family within each other. In another story, a closeted trans teen is living with his anti-LGBTQ+ parents and siblings, in another one I have an Asian-American teen born to immigrant parents who doesn’t really understand everything his parents did for him and he’s kind of a little shit about it, and in yet another story I have a stay at home mom who feels like she’s losing touch with her husband and daughter.
So yeah, there’s a bit of a theme of a huge family divide that can either be fixed through mutual understanding, or ‘he/she/they is toxic, get the fuck out of there now’.
Also, not to be cheesy or anything, but I totally have a running theme of the power of friendship going as well.
4. What is the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever had given to you?
Writer’s Block? Don’t know her.
If you can’t think of what happens in your story next or how to word it, just write whatever is on your mind so you can blow your metaphorical nose. Once the clog is gone, you will be breathing freely.
5. What are some of your writer dreams? fears?
For dreams, I want to inspire people (specifically LGBTQ+, disabled, and POC youth) by showing them that they can be the hero of the story too. Really, I just want to help build a world where there is no ‘default’ character and a story with any kind of representation isn’t met with cries of ‘THAT character can’t/shouldn’t be a POC/trans/disabled/gay/a woman/muslim because *bullshit excuse for bigotry*!’
My biggest fear is that my ability to write won’t match up with what I want to do, and I’ll end up harming those groups instead of helping them.
6. When it comes to writing love are you more drawn to platonic or romantic love?
I love me some good platonic love. I adore sweet, wholesome friendships in stories. However, that doesn’t mean I’ll shy away from romance.
Although I can only think of two stories I have planned where a romance takes center stage
7. What weakness in your writing are you currently overcoming or have overcome?
I’m working on both writing and reading more regularly. I’ve had my nose stuck in a book since I first learned to read, but after my sophomore year of high school, I just kind of... stopped reading. 
I don’t fully understand why that happened, but I think a big part of it is that I pick up books based on how similar they are to the ones I want to write (because they’re all I want to read) and then I feel disappointed when it’s not MY book.
I know, I know, it’s stupid and paradoxical.
8. What do you see as your greatest strength as a writer?
I can do a grammar and spelling real good.
Okay, but seriously though. I try to make my characters complex beings that feel real. I want complicated relationships, moral quandries, and ‘oh shit’ moments of self-discovery.
People better be able to spend hours psychoanalyzing the characters up in this bitch.
9. Is there a genre you thought you’d never write in that you have? What are the genres that currently you feel you’d never write?
Honestly, not really? I’ve always loved reading fantasy and sci-fi, and that’s all I can think to write right now. If we’re counting subplots, I never thought I’d be able to write anything romantic, but then Jude and Kul came along and whOOpS!
Currently (and probably forever and ever until the end of time) I will never write erotica. Not because I think the genre is ‘inferior’ or whatever (it’s certain to present its own unique challenges, and I’d assume is as difficult to plan and execute as any other genre), but because I am extremely sex-repulsed. Just reading about two characters making out makes me extremely uncomfortable. I wouldn’t be able to do it.
10. What kind of characters do you struggle to write? Why do you think that is?
Oof, uhh... probably really crafty inventive characters. I don’t know enough about the way things work to come up with a rube goldberg on the fly.
But I’m going to have to learn, because guess what kind of character Kul is?
11. Who or what was your biggest motivation to start writing? Is it still the same today?
Okay, so this was a whole process for me, and I kind of have to write out the whole story now. Sorry not sorry.
I hated writing up until one particular assignment in the fourth grade. It was a very specific turning point for me. I had been creating fan characters for awhile before this happened, but what I didn’t realize while crafting their (not so) carefully thought out backstories, was that I was moving along the writing process.
So we get an assignment. We have to write a story about a quest in the fashion of a Greek myth. There must be a character who is sent on a heroic journey to do a thing, and there must be exactly three obstacles that get in the way of the hero’s goal.
I don’t remember exactly what I wrote, but I do recall that it involved my Sonic OC, Crystal Amber Fox. She was an anthropomorphic fox with ice powers and pieces of amber embedded in her body because I thought it looked cool, I guess. She was also the princess of the ice kingdom, and her parents sent her on a quest to... I think slay a dragon? I think she also had to take the prince of the fire kingdom with her (a black hedgehog with flame designs on his quills. Aptly named ‘Flame’, if I’m remembering right. Also, I think he was actually someone else’s OC that I saw on DeviantArt and subsequently went ‘Hey! Crystal should date him!’ To the creator of Flame the hedgehog, whoever you may be, I am deeply sorry for stealing your OC and putting him in a Greek-inspired epic without your permission).
Anyway, there was a swamp and a magic sword and a dragon that they were supposed to slay, but I doubt they actually did because I’ve always had a huge soft spot for dragons.
So it was fourth grade, and the teacher was probably expecting like, two pages.
I turned in twenty and got the elementary school equivalent of an A+.
It was while writing out that story that I first started to think ‘gee, maybe writing could be fun, actually’. Thanks, Mrs. Burpee. I owe you one.
To answer the second part of your question, in a way, my motivations are the same. I write because I like writing and that’s all there is to it.
My questions and tag list will be under the cut. :)
How old were you when you first realized you wanted to write?
What was the first story you ever wrote about?
What are some of your writing goals?
How often do you write, and do you have a writing schedule?
Who is your favorite OC that you've created?
Which is your least favorite OC?
What are three things you like about your writing?
What are three things you want to improve in your writing?
Tell me a bit about your current WIP!
What are you most proud of about your WIP?
What is your favorite scene that you’ve written in your WIP so far?
Tagging: @kai-writesstuff @quilloftheclouds @practising-writer @imaghostwriter @caz-writes @angelolytle @planets-and-prose @runningonrain
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iamjamesmatthew · 6 years ago
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IAJM INTERVIEW w/ FAHAMU PECOU
Introduce yourself. Who are you? My name is Fahamu Pecou. I'm a visual and performance artist. I'm a scholar... in the words of KRS-1, 'I think very deeply'. I am a husband and a father. I love my family intensely, not just the one I was born to, but my human family. As such, I am a servant. Through my work, ideas, and efforts. I'm invested in creating a world that will improve the quality of life for all people.
Where are you from? When do you start taking your art seriously? I was born in Brooklyn, NY, but I grew up in a small town called Hartsville, S.C. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing. I always appreciated the joy people expressed at my drawings when I was in 2nd grade. I knew then I wanted to be an artist, however, I just didn't know how to go about doing so. People would say artists were starving, or that they didn't make money until after their death. I was not eager for a life like that. In 4th grade, I read a brief biography about Charles Schultz (creator of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts) and the bio mentioned that Schultz was a cartoon animator. By this period in life, I had logged THOUSANDS of hours parked in front of a television watching cartoons, but I'd never considered who was making them, nor had I heard the term "animator". I raced home after school and grabbed the "A" encyclopaedia (the only books in my house was a set of World Book Encyclopedias from 1969). I was referred to "C" for a cartoonist. I read the passage and learned that cartoonists could make upwards of $1000 a week. The year was 1984, so I deduced that they had to be making significantly more and decided then that I would be a cartoon animator. From then until my sophomore year in college, everything I did was about preparing to be a cartoon animator.
In terms of what you do, what makes Fahamu standout from the other artists and painters, today?
I believe every artist is special, unique. I speak from a place of experience. My goal is elevation.
What does your art, in particular, mean to you?
My work is about affirming the quality, the diversity, the HUMANITY of Black men.
What's next for you in 2017, do you have any big projects lined up? If so, what are they?
Currently, I'm working on a new exhibit of works on paper and a sound installation called "The People Could Fly". The exhibit opens February 18 at Conduit Gallery in Dallas Tx. I'll also be exhibiting new work this Fall at Backslash Gallery in Dallas TX. In between, I am completing two large-scale public commissions through an organisation called 'En Route'. These installations push forward notions of social and civic engagement on Atlanta's public transit system, MARTA. Along with partners WonderRoot, GA DOT, MARTA has formed what's known as the transformation alliance. En Route is their first endeavour which sees me produce large scale works at 4 of the city's MARTA stations. Last but not least, my wife and I are launching a new podcast series about relationships called B E T T A H A L F ™.
Who are some of the people who motivated you to pursue art as a career choice? Who gave you that fire to create?
The first would honestly have been the character JJ Evans from the TV show "Good Times". He was the first person I saw who looked like me that was doing something I loved to do.
Since then there have been many others in my personal life to give me a boost or nudge. But chief among them would probably be my elementary school art teacher Mrs. Caroline Govan. As a boy, she always encouraged me to not just be my best, but to do my best. By Mrs. Govan submitting my drawings into regional and state art competitions, she helped me realise that art could be more than a notion. Those experiences also helped me develop confidence in my abilities.
What was your first artistic exhibition? What was that experience like?
My first exhibition was my senior exhibit in college.  All graduating fine art majors would produce a solo exhibit, promote and hang the work etc. My exhibit was called "Life After Death". It was my first time acknowledging the trauma of the night my mother was killed. But the experience making and ultimately showing that work taught me something I could never have anticipated. The night of the opening I saw people express shock, sadness, and compassion. Some even thanked me for the courage I showed in revealing such an intimate and painful experience. Others confided in me that the work inspired them to mend wounds and relationships of their own. But ultimately what I saw was the power of art, what it could DO. I decided then that I didn't want to make art for art's sake. I wanted to make work that would help and heal and elevate our humanity.
In your mind and in your heart, why is it important to portray the Black image so prominently in your work?  
I believe art has the capacity to not just reflect the best of us, but that it can also project and propel us to be even better. My work centers on the experiences of Black masculinity, not least of all because I feel Black men have historically and systemically been misrepresented, mis-voiced. If you go back through the history of representations, you'll see that for Black people (period) self-representing is a relatively new phenomenon. And even within that conversation, a great majority of the voices discussing Black male masculinity are not the voices of Black men.
As a Black male and an artist, I feel that it is important to tell our stories, to show our experiences, as well as to critique our shortcomings. In doing so, I believe the work allows for a greater sense of connection not just among Black men, but for all people regardless of race or nationality or sexuality or gender. It becomes a human thing- not just a Black thing or a male thing.
There are many who don't project that imagery, I'm curious to know why you choose to do so. Shout-outs. Who in your life would you like to acknowledge or thank for supporting you or providing you with help over the years?
Def a MAJOR shout out to my manager and one of the most amazing people I have ever known, Karen Marie Mason!!! I'd also like to say I'm really fortunate to have a great team of galleries supporting me; Nancy and Danette at Conduit Gallery in Dallas TX, Michael and Deanne at Lyons Wier Gallery in New York, and Delphine and Severine at Backslash Gallery in Paris, France. Every chance I get I always try to thank my mentors Arturo Lindsay and Bill Bounds. BIG BIG love to my wife and best friend, the amazing celebrity vegan chef Jamila Crawford Pècou, our girls Sigele, Tsehai and Oji and my little buddy, my son Ngozi.
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