#johnny does mental gymnastics

[ziltoidcoffee]

Chapters: 16/? Fandom: Cobra Kai (TV), Karate Kid (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Daniel LaRusso/Johnny Lawrence Characters: Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Jessica Andrews, OG Cobras - Character, Ali Mills (Karate Kid), John Kreese, Vanessa LaRusso Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - High School, Teacher-Student Relationship, Rating for later chapters, Bickering, Bullying, Teacher daniel, Eventual Romance, Age Difference, Enemies to Lovers, Prank Wars, Fights, Karate, Hurt/Comfort, Jealousy, Underage Drinking, Pining, Slow Burn, Denial of Feelings, Internalized Homophobia, Feelings Realization, Forbidden Love, First Kiss, Fantasizing Summary:

Since becoming a teacher, Daniel’s dedication to his students has never waivered—until Johnny Lawrence. He's never dealt with a student this difficult who knows how to push all his buttons.

But Johnny’s opinion of his new history teacher isn't much different. He's struggling to graduate on time while balancing his personal life and karate, and Mr. LaRusso isn’t making this any easier.

Everything changes when Daniel becomes Johnny’s tutor. They grow closer together, and feelings begin to change, from hated enemies...to something forbidden.

(Chapter 16: Johnny realizes he is "hot for teacher." Now what? Strike first, right?)

[sinimake]

Watching @tokillaking13 last piece of Johnny and all I could think about was one of those calendars where people pose mostly naked (idk firefighters style??) but with Johnny 🫠. Maybe he did it at the beginning of his career or maybe it's recent. Maybe he gives one to Kenshi or maybe Kenshi buys it secretly (and gets busted rather quickly by someone).

I have an idea! In an AU where Kenshi still has his eyes, Johnny and him are yet to be in an established relationship, Kenshi was just browsing through the newslet section of a conbini then out of nowhere, he stumbles upon a magazine with Johnny half naked on the cover! (I imagine @tokillaking13's Johnny mag art as the cover)

For full five minutes, Kenshi just stands frozen in front of it while his brain is doing mental gymnastics of weighing pros and cons, and ethical practices of owning pictures of his very much half-naked best friend. In the end, he caves and buys the magazine.

Later on CageCon, Johnny announces his limited-time-purchase calendar full of half naked photoshoots in his most iconic roles. And of course, Kenshi needs it.

So, in his endeavor, Kenshi even creates a (secret) twitter just to be updated about the calendar's pre-order and release. When it becomes available to purchase, Kenshi gets on his computer and tries to order it online. However, Johnny's fans are beyond crazy. The limited number of calendars is immediately sold out within about 3 minutes, and Kenshi is left defeated in the arms race against the fans. No calendar for him.

Exasperated and at the end of his rope, Kenshi's next move is getting it from the exact source.

Next time he meets with Johnny, he subtly brings up the calendar, hoping Johnny will just offer one to him on his own like "i will send you my calendar, kenny," or something in the intrusive way Johnny usually does, so Kenshi can just act like he's reluctant to indulge the actor.

But no, Johnny does not do any of that.

In the end, Kenshi, blushing furiously and sweating little, he finally says, "I ... would ... like to ... have one."

Johnny gawks, of course he's shocked that Kenshi would want half-naked pictures of him in the first place. But the way Kenshi is so embarrassed and shy about it, Johnny decides not to tease him.

Next day, Kenshi receives the calendar on his doorstep, with a sighed autograph and a winky face doodled on it. "Enjoy it well"

[helix-enterprises117]

Halo Reloaded: Origin

In the spick-and-span, oh-so-serious halls of the Spartan kiddie boot camp (also known as the Spartan training facility for those lacking a sense of humor), the sound of youthful jeers and muffled giggles was as common as the scent of industrial cleaner.

Amidst this cacophony of pre-teen bravado, one particular mini-Spartan, John-117, was conspicuously silent. Six years old and lacking the extra two years of life experience that apparently made a world of difference in the high-stakes world of child soldiering, John was the unofficial Omega, the bottom of the Spartan puppy pile.

While the other kids were busy flexing their tiny muscles and practicing their best war faces, John's days were a marathon of 'try-harder' exercises and 'don't-cry-in-front-of-the-others' mental gymnastics. The other kiddie commandos, high on their own burgeoning testosterone and combat boots, would often poke fun at his expense.

"Hey, diaper sniper, lost your pacifier?" a particularly obnoxious recruit would quip as John passed by, puffing out his chest like a pigeon in a pecking order contest. "Bet he still counts sheep to sleep," another would add, earning a round of giggles as imaginative as their future military strategies.

John, however, was a fortress of stoic determination (or maybe just really good at zoning out). He bottled up his feelings tighter than the secret recipe for the facility's mystery meatloaf. But when the lights dimmed and the barracks took on the tranquil ambiance of a mausoleum, John would seek refuge in his personal fortress of solitude – beneath his bed. Here, surrounded by dust bunnies and the occasional lost sock, he found the tranquility of a monk in meditation... if monks wore combat boots and dog tags.

On one such night, while John was contemplating the meaning of life, or maybe just what was for breakfast tomorrow, Dr. Halsey found him in his cozy hideout. Her visits were like comet sightings – rare, awe-inspiring, and a bit unsettling. "John," she whispered, like a librarian in a library of secrets. "This isn't a game of hide and seek."

Peeking out from under the bed with the suspicion of a cat in a new home, John's eyes met hers. "I'm... strategizing," he retorted, his voice uncertain. Halsey, holding back a smile, played along. "Oh? And what grand strategy does the under-bed realm hold?"

"To be the best," he said, louder, puffing up a bit as his nervousness slowly fades. "That's the spirit," she encouraged, her eyes twinkling with a mix of mischief and maternal pride...

———

Days later...

"Ring The Bell," a Spartan favorite that was part obstacle course, part sadistic PE teacher's dream. The rules were simple yet brutal: race through a gauntlet of hurdles, leaps, and climbs to ring a bell perched high above. The catch? There was always a catch. The last one to ring the bell faced consequences, usually of the stomach-rumbling variety.

On this fateful day, John, already battling the twin demons of youth and inexperience, found himself trailing behind. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, and the bell seemed to be mocking him from its lofty perch. As he finally reached it, his hand slapping the cold metal a moment too late, a sinking feeling settled in his stomach. Not just from the impending hunger, but from the crushing weight of failure.

As he climbed down, the murmurs of his fellow recruits filled the air, but one voice cut through the rest like a knife. It belonged to Val-015, the self-proclaimed golden boy of the group. Val, with his swagger and over-inflated ego, approached John, a smug grin plastered on his face. "Guess dinner's off the menu for you, Johnny boy," Val taunted, his voice dripping with condescension. "Maybe if you spent more time training and less time daydreaming, you wouldn't be such a slowpoke."

The other recruits snickered, but John's face remained an emotionless mask. He was used to jabs and jeers, but something about Val's words, the pointed cruelty of them, struck a nerve. "You know, Halsey thinks you're special, but I just see a little kid trying to play soldier," Val continued, poking John in the chest. "Why don't you run along and find a nice corner to cry in?"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. John's stoic facade shattered like glass under a sledgehammer. Tears, unbidden and hot, sprang to his eyes. He turned on his heel and bolted, his sobs echoing in the training hall. The other recruits fell silent, watching as John disappeared from view. Even Val's smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty.

He hadn't expected his words to cut so deep, to elicit such a raw, human response from the stoic John-117. As John ran, his vision blurred by tears, he felt a maelstrom of emotions churning inside him – humiliation, anger, sadness. He was a Spartan, trained to be unbreakable, yet here he was, undone by words and his own vulnerability...

———

Later, on that same night...

John sat alone in the open barracks. The distant clatter and chatter from the cafeteria wafted through the hallways, a cruel reminder of what he was missing. The tantalizing aroma of roasted turkey, a rare treat in the Spartan menu, mingled with the sweet, tempting scent of chocolate-fudge ice cream. It was a feast fit for kings, or in this case, mini super-soldiers in training. But for John, there was only the empty silence of his room and the gnawing emptiness in his stomach.

He sat on the edge of his Spartan-issued cot, his head in his hands. The room felt smaller somehow, more confining. The walls seemed to close in on him, echoing his sense of isolation. John was used to solitude, but this was different. This was loneliness, a feeling he couldn't simply shake off with push-ups or training drills.His mind wandered to a place he hadn't allowed it to go in what felt like ages – home. The real home, not this sterile, unforgiving facility. He remembered the warmth of a bed not meant for training a soldier, the softness of a genuine goodnight kiss, the comforting murmur of a bedtime story. He longed for a time when the biggest worry he had was what toy to play with, not whether he'd be strong enough, fast enough, tough enough to survive the next day.

But that home, that life, was a world away now. A distant memory, fading a little more with each passing day in this harsh reality. "This is home now," he reminded himself, but the words felt hollow, a poor substitute for the home he truly yearned for.He didn't like it here. The constant drills, the relentless pressure, the unspoken expectation to be more machine than boy. It was a life chosen for him, not by him. A life that demanded everything and offered little in return, except the promise of becoming something... something more than just John.

As he sat there, wrestling with thoughts too heavy for a child his age, a small part of him acknowledged that this Spartan program was shaping him, molding him into something formidable. But at what cost? At the cost of his childhood? His innocence?

In that large, quiet room, with the sounds of his peers' laughter and chatter as a distant backdrop, John-117 felt a profound sense of loss. A loss of normalcy, of the simple joys of childhood, of a life he would never get to live. This was his reality now, and while he might grow to accept it, even excel in it, a part of him would always long for a home that was more than just a place to sleep between training sessions. A home where he was just John, not a number, not a future soldier, but a boy with dreams and fears like any other.

———

The following morning...

The dawn of that fateful morning at the Spartan training facility brought with it a heaviness that hung in the air, palpable and suffocating. John-117, the boy beneath the soon-to-be legend, navigated the morning with a heart burdened by the previous night's solitude. The Spartan breakfast, bland crackers and lukewarm milk, sat untouched before him, a stark reminder of his isolation.

With a spirit as grey as the hallways of the facility, John trudged towards the obstacle course, a place where physical pain often drowned out emotional turmoil. But today, destiny had etched a different path.As he approached the communal area, a strange sight caught his eye. A cluster of recruits, usually dispersed like disciplined ants, were huddled around the television. The air crackled with a tension that made John's skin crawl. Pushing through the crowd, a sense of dread growing with each step, he strained to see the screen.

The news anchor's voice, usually dispassionate, carried a weight that stopped John in his tracks. "Breaking news: Eridanus-II has been glassed by the Covenant." The words fell like hammer blows, shattering the fragile veneer of normalcy. Eridanus-II, John's home, the place of his childhood dreams and memories, now nothing but a charred memory in the cold expanse of space.

A collective gasp rippled through the recruits, then silence. Slowly, like the tide receding from the shore, they turned to face John. Their eyes, wide and unblinking, bore into him. They whispered among themselves, words lost in the buzz that filled John's head.

"He's from there, isn't he?"

"Can't imagine what he must be feeling..."

In that moment, John felt a loneliness deeper than the void of space. The room seemed to stretch into infinity, the faces around him morphing into distant stars, cold and unreachable. His heart, a stoic soldier's heart, faltered, betraying him with a surge of raw, unfiltered anguish.

Tears blurred his vision, a floodgate opened against his will. He stumbled backward, his Spartan training forgotten, his body no longer a weapon but a shell, hollow and cracked. He sank to the floor, the cold tile against his skin a stark contrast to the heat of his tears.

"I want to go home," he whispered, the words a ghost of a thought, a wish upon a star long extinguished. "Please, I just want to go home."

But there was no home. Not anymore. Eridanus-II, with its blue skies and laughter, its nights filled with stories and dreams, was gone. Consumed by a war that had no room for the innocence of a child's heart.The other recruits, hardened by training but still children themselves, watched John with a dawning realization. The war was no longer an abstract concept, taught in strategy classes and simulated in drills. It was real, and it had just claimed one of their own.

@empresskadia, @makowrites.

[songforeddiemunson]

Is it just me or is Joe very...Eddie-shaped in the new pics? Disclaimer as usual, my speculation about his weight is solely rooted in the interview in which he said he lost weight to play Eddie because he figured Eddie should be lankier, implying that for Eddie's return, he would have lost weight again to portray him.

And he was on that con in Portland mid January too 🤔 And while he's been cast in that X Men movie, filming for it won't start for a while so...we actually don't know what exactly he's doing right now. Not in any stage plays, the Gladiator sequel and A Quiet Place have finished filming a while ago...👀

👀

I read somewhere that the Fantastic Four is supposed to start shooting in August. I've always wondered if he would have to do one of those crazy superhero training routines to prepare; five months isn't a ton of time, unless he's known about the casting for a long time (but word on the street says that he's the one who actually held up the casting announcement, so... 🤔).

I dunno how one would juggle being in Eddie shape vs Johnny Storm shape so close together, so that's something to consider. Man, I dunno how actors do it! Gaining, losing, bulking, losing...it must be exhausting.

I know I answered nothing, but this is the mental gymnastics my brain does lol 🤣

[tea-with-evan-and-me]

https://x.com/geranium_tv/status/1745535825646146043?s=46&t=vw4WI8Brl3poq10fUcDT9w

Like when she starts saying stuff like this it makes me feel crazy. This is very manipulative and literally gaslighting. I’m very convinced that this is just want this person does in her life, makes other people feel crazy and like they’re the problem when they call her out on the things she says.

it is. this person is honestly acting horrendous. they're now sending multiple twitter dms to me, the latest about my statement that emma's knee bruises are irrelevant, calling ME unethical while this entire discourse started after she logged on, and with full confidence announced evan is not in any way, shape or form a victim.. despite being assaulted by his girlfriend, with visible injuries that resulted in her being arrested. this is in addition to diagnosing him as a sociopath and creating a laundry list of completely inaccurate and made up ''observations'' about evan based on interviews. you simply cannot make this up lmao (source)

''it's worth being careful when using someone's personality as proof'' and who is doing that? her. i have not modeled my opinion on anyone as an abuse victim or perpetrator solely based on their personality, but she has. there is a clearly demonstrated personal bias here against the concept that evan, a man, can be a victim of domestic violence due to her own experience and distrust of men. no one is invalidating her trauma by speaking on emma's knee bruises because it is literally, LITERALLY the singular, paper thin "argument" anyone can ever muster up when confronted with the piles and piles of evidence and actual proof that evan was the victim, and emma was the aggressor.

and the rest of her message doesn't even make sense to me. rihanna doesn't have a reputation for being arrogant and mean-spirited. i have never heard anyone describe her that way. if johnny depp has a ''history of abuse'' as a non-fan i don't know about it and i imagine like 90% of the general public probably doesn't either, i never witnessed anyone hearing about the depp/heard situation and saying ''i knew it, johnny has a history of abusing women''. but if he did, literal abuse isn't a personality issue like being ''mean and arrogant'', so.. these are weird examples to use. if you just stick to speaking on the facts and the overwhelming evidence that is readily available to you regarding the emma/evan DV situation, you don't need to do all of these ridiculous mental gymnastics. or, you know.. just don't speak on something this sensitive and painful that you know jack shit about.

emma roberts having a reputation for being ''a bitch'' is not something i (or anyone else who cares about this situation) use as an indicator of proof that she assaulted evan. an arrest took place in montreal that proved that. if this girl actually read the twitter thread i provided multiple times, she would see there is no tweet where i post about her being a nightmare in coffee shops as proof that she was violent towards evan. these are two separate things.

i write these long ass messages and reply to bozos on twitter because i care about the truth in this situation. evan has been a ''perfect'' victim and it still doesn't matter in the eyes of people like this. he's never spoken on it, never badmouthed emma, never even made a sly remark insinuating what we all know. meanwhile, emma is apparently free to make jokes out in the open about the way she assaulted him, and people like this twitter user will STILL demonize evan and try to deny what he experienced.

[merv606]

Mercy’s Chapter 20

“I was only doing as you asked… I listened to you.”

Please. You stomped off like a child, pissed off, and already planning his destruction.

“I’m sorry if you felt negelcted…Your true nature…”

Ugh, this man is so twisted, and he twists everything.

This man’s name may be Silver but he is GOLD in Olympic Mental Gymnastics.

Trust me, my dude, it’s not neglect Daniel feels.

“There’s no such thing as a fair fight.”

Baby, don’t fall into his crazy! Maybe there are no fair fights, that don’t mean you can’t level the playing field — guys like Terry Silver find out just how good they’re NOT when you level the field.

That’s why he’s not playing fair - he knows Daniel would never choose him if it were truly his choice.

“Not quite the words he would use but he lets it go — the way you have to in situations like these.”

He made a very wise choice in not arguing with Terry’s delusion. It’s the first rule of any psychologist/therapist - never argue with the patient’s delusion. You will not win. Maybe THAT’S what he should be saying while he’s escaping, “Don’t worry, babe - just need some fresh air. Oh this crowbar? Security guard knocked himself out with it, I’ll hold on to it, make sure he doesn’t do it again. I *promise* I’ll be back as soon as I’m done shopping for our anniversary gift!…. Hello, police?”

But, no restraint, the bathroom door, AND a reduction in medication? … be very very careful, Daniel.

God this makes me cry - makes me think of those lyrics in Girls Just Wanna Fun - “Some boys take a beautiful girl, and hide her away from the rest of the world. Well not me, I wanna be the one in the sun.” This captures Daniel perfectly right now.

Ok, question - will Daniel get a personal “bodyguard” aka handler to help keep him in line? Or is Terry too paranoid/jealous to ever let anyone else near Daniel?

Be super funny if it turned out to be a busted-out Kreese.

“He was going to kill me!!!”

“But, sweetheart, I know for a fact he has no inappropriate feelings towards you, and he knows what will happen to him if he so much as scratches you.”

Segue Q: How would Kreese feel about Terry being in love with Daniel? I imagine this would inspire a special kind of rage, knowing Daniel’s stolen Johnny AND Terry’s loyalties.

That’s a good question - I think he would want someone who maybe does keep an eye on Daniel when he goes out, even for safety reasons - he’s a paranoid man when it comes to his boy BUT Terry would probably make sure it was the straightest man to ever straight or the gayest women to ever gay lol

I don’t know if he would trust Kreese around Daniel - in terms of his safety - TBH.

Probably for the reason you mentioned above although, I don’t think Kreese really cares for anyone / he just keeps people around based on their use to him.

[cobra-salt]

There's a point about having flawed characters or grey areas, and a show not always having to spoonfeed the viewers and tell them "Bad Character's view is BAD". And that writers' views do not necessarily = character views.

But with Cobra Kai and their love of "BOTH SIDES BAD??? UMMM" and the absolute mental gymnastics there can be with painting both characters in a situation as equally wrong so there's no easy answer for the masses, and those situations where such actions happen? It does make you wonder after a while how much is just in the writing and how much is the "Johnny is a cool alpha male who doesn't need actual deep self-reflection to grow, others have to adapt to him" part of the showrunners' philosophy.

[oc-mode]

It had started out as a casual conversation. The topic went from the other's odd obsession with probably-illegal fights to his agility, which Jean thought was uncommon for the average person that age. His companion-that-refused-to-be-named barked out a laugh, and that was how it was revealed that he used to participate in gymnastics.

Rather enthusiastically, in fact, evident by the way his eyes lit up. It was only then did Jean realise how empty his conversation partner's eyes usually were. In his defence, he was usually distracted by how forced the other's ever-present smile was. Jean often wondered whether it made his cheeks hurt.

"---Acrobatics is pretty cool too. I like how elegant it is. You ever seen videos of it online? Can't say I ever cared much for art but that? That's art," the individual-that-insisted-his-name-was-Pancake continued, unable to stop his hands from motioning with clear excitement.

Jean didn't know him too well, but his people-pleaser mentality stubbornly told him that he had to learn about him, if only so that he could effectively get on the latter's good side. Despite his lack of familiarity, however, he could almost swear the permanent, strained smile on 'Pancake''s face was morphing into something more genuine.

But just as soon as it began to form, sadness bled in. A corner of his mouth had twitched, threatening to make the smile fall.

"---Could never get into it though. Regular gymnastics was already pushing it for her," he concluded, the spark in his eyes dulling and his gaze becoming distant.

Jean knew he should have stopped himself, but the question slipped out before he was even aware of it, "'Her'?"

The 30-year-old-guy-with-notable-flexibility turned his head to look at the younger man, his usual fake expression plastered on. It was a face meant to convey something resembling optimistic nihilism, or perhaps something carefree but also selfish and distant. A complete stranger would have thought he was recalling a happy memory, his face deceptively cheerful as he replied, "Oh, my mom. But then, my dad didn't like it very much either. Think they would've preferred if I followed my dad's... Errr... Specialties?"

He motioned a circle with his right hand, the left having slipped back into his pocket. He sounded completely nonchalant, as if he was answering a question that was as normal as being asked for his name.

But then again, he never did answer that particular question, which was why Jean knew that there was more to his reply than he let on. With he-who-does-not-want-to-be-named's commitment issues and apparent allergy to affection, Jean had strong suspicions regarding the former's relationship with his parents. Of course, he had a few other theories, but his reaction towards the topic of parents was almost akin to that of Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka.

It was sad, so Jean genuinely hoped that he was wrong.

In hopes of lightening the mood, perhaps even cheering up the other (if that were even possible), he tried, "That sucks. But if it makes you feel better, I think what you can do is really cool. I think my spine would snap in half if I attempted any of it."

A quirk on the corner of his companion's mouth, amusement clear as he raised a brow, "Say what? You're like- A decade or so younger than me. You're supposed to be looser than I am, old man."

"Wh- 'Old man'?!" Jean exclaimed dramatically, genuinely. Yes, he was trying to make the other guy feel better, but he sure wasn't expecting that jab. Self-conciously, he wondered if he looked older than his age.

God, he hoped not.

The person-who-sometimes-claimed-to-be-named-Potato-McGee cackled, tossing his head back, his hands clapping with childish glee. It was hard to believe he was past his mid-30s, Jean had noted several times before. Ryan once mentioned that 'Potato' was no stranger to having his face changed, although it did not explain the fact that he definitely did not act like a mature adult.

Actually, in hindsight, he behaved much more like someone unwilling to let go of the freedom of childhood.

Or is it more like he's trying to make up for a freedom he didn't have? Jean was unable to stop himself from frowning at the thought.

He could suppose that the plus side to being the 'fat, ugly kid' in school was that he got to understand other kids that were also considered outcasts. He was fortunate to have grown up with, in his opinion, the world's greatest mother- Patient, kind, nurturing. So when he learnt that other kids didn't necessarily have that...

He still remembered how much his heart broke for them.

"Do you suppose there's a gym anywhere in town? Or just somewhere you could give acrobatics another try?" he suddenly asked, never one to be comfortable with silence.

The person beside him quietened, a look of contemplation on his face. "Huh," he muttered more than said, "I never really thought about that."

His gaze was once again distant and anxiety coiled in Jean's gut. A nagging voice in his head insisted he continue the conversation and drag 'McGee' out of his deep thoughts. He could almost hear Edgar's voice somewhere, telling him that he was being ridiculous and that it wasn't his responsibility to make everyone happy.

He told Edgar to shut up.

He wasn't able to act on his self-assigned mission, however, as Mister-Clearly-Not-Okay pushed himself off from his leaning position against the stone wall. With a sigh and a stretch, bones in his hands cracking, he turned to look at Jean once again, eyes tired and forced smile still persistently present.

"It's a good idea," he said as he slid his hands into his pockets, "I'll go take a look around. Heck knows I hate sitting still for too long."

Unsure of how to deal with the sudden goodbye, even though he had been warned by others of the other person's tendency to do so, Jean found himself stuttering. He knew it was silly, but part of him was already screaming that he made everything awkward. He had never been great at dealing with his anxiety though, and often found his mouth moving before he could stop himself. This time was no different.

"Ah! Um! What if there's nothing though?" He cursed himself internally, questioning why he thought that was a good thing to ask. Give a guy something to look forward to and then snatch it away, why not.

But the leaving party simply offered a lopsided grin, "Well, if you hear police sirens, just assume I tried to get a little creative."

And then his back was facing the younger man, the distance growing between them until his silhouette disappeared beyond the horizon.

...Jean wasn't sure if he was supposed to take that last comment seriously.

[moonchild-in-blue]

OKAY, under the cut too because I HAVE to comment on That:

Girl I thought the SAME THING. Before I knew who the guys from EB were, and just before I became aware of who Número Tres was, I legit thought Matt was him. Because I knew there was a bassist and a drummer, and I made some crazy mental gymnastics and went, yup, that's him 😭💀

But yeah, Matt (long dude/ drummer boy), and Lyns founded the band while in college, and then got Johnny to join, because they needed something other than piano and drums lmaoo. They talked about it on an interview, it was very cute (they were in a music college but Miss Birdsong was already singing then, so yeah. According to them, she's just that great 🥵)

Okay if you like the more upbeat/lively stuff, then definitely listen to the Dancing (...) ep. Obviously no pressure whatsoever, but when you do, I'm here with my ear holes peeled and open to hear your thoughts 🥹

(also psst psst Miss Paige Espera does a special feature on the Ever The Optimistic mv. Acting queen 🤭⛸️)

Can we talk about Turntail? Like I knew Queen the First (fifth? Miss Birdsong? Do you have a nickname for her that I’ve misremembered…) obviously had the voice of an angel, but these RUNS she is doing on this song?! They are so convoluted but she sings them so TIGHTLY?!?! And PRECISE?!?? How do I get more heart eyes over her, holy hell what a talent

You know what. It's currently past 3am and I'm playing Zelda because I can't sleep (running on sick hours over here), so yeah absolutely we can talk about Turntail 😌 Also, I don't really have a nickname for her, I just call her Miss Ma'am hahaha. Miss Birdsong is great, I'll borrow that.

(okay it is now past 4am i spent WAY too much time gushing over them sorry lol)

HONEY. THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN SAYING. If you think she sounds amazing as a BACKVOCALIST, then you're in for a treat to hear her as a main vocal of her OWN BAND HELLOOOOO.

I remember a few months ago in one of their (live? Q&A? one of them) instagram things, someone was commenting on how great she sounded, and one of the guys was like "yeah, and she didn't even get training, isn't that so annoying?", it was hilarious 😂 Miss Ma'am is a natural - no wonder Vessel got her (and the babes) to back him 💅

Turntail is fantastic, I've had it on repeat since Thursday. Their music is so interesting and unique, and a great of it is because of her singing. She does this crazy runs and unexpected intervals like it's nothing, and her tone is so so SO clear and stable. Her lows??? Like, honey can go reeeeal low and smooth and real high and crystalline in seconds just like that??

This song in specific, I super appreciate the eerie, melancholic vibes. It's such a great successor to The Collapse (their previous single), but somehow even better. And can we talk about that sexy bassline??? Johnny boy went HARD on it (like he always does. Same with my drummer boy Matt, he's fantastic. Also he writes a lot of the lyrics alongside Lyns, he's fantastic). I love the breakdown bridge and that last chorus so SO much. And the piano??? They always have the most heart-wrenching, soul-crushing, beautiful piano melodies, and yet I get pikachu faced everytime. What can't the queen do. Also, this is the first time they're using a voice effect-tune-thingy so, interesting choice there. The babes sound beautiful as ever too 💖

While my favourite thing from them is still the 1st ep (The Thing With Feathers - please please PLEASE go listen to it. The Downpour and The River are my favourite songs of them, they're so amazing, please I am begging you, you'll love it), you can absolutely hear how much better they get with each new thing they put out. I'm so so excited for when they finally release a full length album, it's been a long time in the making.

If you listen to their latest ep, Dancing In The Face Of Danger, you'll see that they went for a more upbeat vibe (notable on Pyre and Ever The Optimistic), so it feels great to hear the Sad Vibes™ again. Nothing against upbeat stuff (Pyre is one of their best songs fr), but I am an emo at heart sooo... yeah. Miss Birdsong sounds like an elf or some other woodland creature - idk if its just me but you can hear traces of folk music in it and ugh what a combo.

Super super reccomend you hear them live. There are a few recordings on YT, and some of them do feature one or both of the Espera babes too.

(not gonna talk about how once again i missed their concert 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 it was today/yesterday 🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂🙂 i'm fine really not salty at all 😃😃😃😃😃😃)

Also - do not sleep on their Diamond Eyes cover. Genuinely does NOT feel like a cover AT ALL. Covering Deftones is so daunting because of how unique a they are, and by god those beautiful bastards did it. I do very much prefer their version to the og, she really shines vocally there.

[regularcitrus]

here’s all the jojos’ pony names + my unnecessarily long thought process behind them, for anyone wondering!

Jonathan - Starry Knight

pretty self explanatory, also a pun on starry night. plus whenever i think of p1 it’s always a nighttime scene that comes to mind lol

Joseph - Lucky Stars

the man either has the best or the worst luck- no inbetween. how can someone get into that many plane crashes in their life and come out unscathed?? plus Kars’ defeat was definitely a result of Joseph’s ridiculously good luck - he can thank his “lucky stars” for that haha

Jotaro - Platinum Stardust

this one was a struggle (honestly i’m still kinda tentative on this name), i’ve gone through “Star Platinum”, “Platinum Starshower” (accidentally stolen from 7th Stand User) and “Platinum Starfall”, but i think this one has a better ring to it. plus it fits with the part 3 title :]

Josuke - Shining Diamond

so far all the jojos have had “star” in their name, but this time it’s not as obvious and you kinda have to do some mental gymnastics to derive Star outta Diamond (“like a diamond in the sky”), kinda like how the second “jo” in “josuke” is hidden

Giorno - Morning Glory (previously Evening Star)

so this one kinda takes even more mental gymnastics (morning -> rising sun -> the sun is a star), but i kinda cheated that through his old name. and “Giorno” technically doesn’t even have “jo” in it, so it all works out! the fact that he’s named after a flower also fits with his whole nature/living things shtick

Jolyne - Starstone

no super deep meaning this time, her name is just inspired by sunstones and moonstones!

Johnny - Starstriker

kind of a derivative of “starstruck”, i had Johnny’s dark determination in mind and how he’s willing to strike anyone he needs to

(also at some point Gyro suggests saying “you’ve been Starstruck!” as a cool one-liner, but it’s such a horrible pun that Star would rather let the enemy kill him than ever say that. he does say it at least once when Gyros not there)

Gappy - Shining Diamond (again)

obviously less thought put into this one, but it still kinda works since the Higashikata clan are crystal ponies! they’ve all got the card suit naming system going on as well, so there’s that too (part of the reason why Daiya thinks they’d be good together is cause they both have “diamond” in their name)

[dragonwysper]

Alright, we're sharing crack House of Leaves theories tonight. Warnings for spoilers, discussion of trauma, incomprehensible rambles, and mental gymnastics the likes of which you've never seen.

So we all know that Navidson is a photojournalist. It's made blatantly obvious in literally everything he does. He was planning on just filming his domestic life when he began making the Navidson Record. His most influential moment came from Delial, whose story is a direct copy of that one really famous photo that actually exists, for fuck's sake. He's a walking stereotype of the photojournalism industry as a whole.

We've all also seemed to collectively agree that House of Leaves is, at least partially, about trauma (specifically SA). We see it with Karen, Pelafina, Johnny, and a lot of side-characters. We've even gone as far as to theorize that Pelafina (and by extension Karen) could be considered an author.

So onto the theory: Navidson is actually literally a walking collage of experiences and moments and facts and commentary on the photojournalism industry and by extension the mindset of those in the industry. He's a metaphor for it all. He's not real.

Furthermore, Karen is the creator (or at least the main editor) of The Navidson Record. Navidson is completely and entirely a figment of Karen's imagination, and his purpose as the photojournalism industry is to explore the idea of creating more palatable false truths in trying to comprehend the incomprehensible or uncomfortable real truths (which is very prevalent in journalism). There's also themes of greed and selfishness, as well as objectification and monetization of human suffering innate in a walking photojournalism metaphor. But that is made more complex with Navidson's regret and shame with Delial.

I think the idea of photojournalism is another metaphor in itself for trauma. It could be one (or both) of two things. It could be about a trauma response via trying to find answers for why you were singled out to face that trauma or why your abuser chose to abuse you or whether you deserved it or not. It also relates to false memories and dissociation. You create false truths to protect yourself from the more traumatizing real truths. You force yourself to forget your trauma and bury your pain, and then the resulting symptoms are explained away as innocuous and innocent.

Or it could be about your abuser and the trauma itself. It could be about the selfishness of rapists and predators and abusers and how to them you're nothing more than an object; a means to an end. They are the photojournalist and you are the scene that will bring them fame and money. They are Navidson and you are Delial.

It could be a complex mess of both too. There are aspects that fit with either interpretation. It could be a metaphor for trauma as a whole, because trauma is messy and complicated and hard to understand.

Either way, it goes back to the incomprehensible nature of the house. The house itself is the trauma and the way your brain has cataloged it in your mind. It can be a vast labyrinth of false memories and blank spaces and random symptoms you can't find the cause of and strange hints and vibes of just something. Trauma is the Minotaur; the shadowed fingers of the hallway, and your mind is the labyrinth.

You might never find the trauma. It may be forever buried in a labyrinth with no center and no end; forever moving and stalking you and leaving little more than a ghost of its presence for you to turn about over and over, trying to find the flesh of the truth that is so hopelessly out of your reach. And maybe it's a good thing you never come across it. The Minotaur would not hesitate to gore you with its horns and leave you to die in the darkness of the maze. The unobscured truth of your trauma will very much break you beyond repair.

So, in short, Navidson is a metaphor for the photojournalism industry, which is a metaphor for trauma. The house is the maze of the Minotaur, which is the brain's filing away of trauma, which is the Minotaur.

So, would this mean Navidson is the Minotaur? Or is the Minotaur simply the memory of trauma with Navidson being the trauma itself? Does that still make them innately connected?

[ziltoidcoffee]

Chapters: 12/? Fandom: Cobra Kai (TV), Karate Kid (Movies) Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Daniel LaRusso/Johnny Lawrence Characters: Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, Jessica Andrews, OG Cobras - Character, Ali Mills (Karate Kid), John Kreese Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Alternate Universe - High School, Teacher-Student Relationship, Rating for later chapters, Bickering, Bullying, Medium Burn, Teacher daniel, Eventual Romance, Age Difference, Enemies to Lovers, Prank Wars, Fights, Karate, Hurt/Comfort, Jealousy, Underage Drinking, Implied/Referenced Homophobia Summary:

Since becoming a teacher, Daniel’s dedication to his students has never waivered—until Johnny Lawrence. He's never dealt with a student this difficult who knows how to push all his buttons.

But Johnny’s opinion of his new history teacher isn't much different. He's struggling to graduate on time while balancing his personal life and karate, and Mr. LaRusso isn’t making this any easier.

Everything changes when Daniel becomes Johnny’s tutor. They grow closer together, and feelings begin to change, from hated enemies...to something forbidden.

(Chapter 12: Johnny deals with learning something new about Mr. LaRusso.)

[what-if-nct]

"Johnny: So on my 15th birthday....

Mark: Wait how old was I on your 15th birthday? So you turned 25 1...2... 2 years ago. And I was... how old was I two years ago? How old am I now? What year are we in? Anyway yesterday I saw a turtle, he looked like a Jimmy. I wanted to feed him a piece of my cookie but I didn't know if he could eat it. Then I saw a brown leaf on the ground. When is fall suppose to start. Dude do you ever wonder what makes leaves turn brown or why the sky is blue. Dude life is trippy, we're like just living. Dude we're like alive.

Johnny: What the fuck are you even talking about?"

Bro this mark is my brain (I hate my brain it made me go insane) ("we've not gone insane we're just playing catch with the egg" -tom simons when he threw a cursed party)

Okay but saaaame the first part was inspired by an actual conversation i had with myself doing all kinds of mental gymnastics to figure what year did Dylan & Cole Sprouse turn 16, it was literally the day before I turned 15 so i was like so four years ago I turned 25 and that was ....2022...21...20. Like it took me so long and i still got the wrong answer. and after their ig live like that just seemed like something mark would do Mark just talks to talk. He just be saying anything and honestly same. I can' keep a single train of thought but i'll repeat something in a different way to get my point across. Mark talks in circles and i love that little guy so much.

Like why did it take so long for him to answer the question. And the well I've never been on vacation with you or a long trip. Like what does that have do with anything. Johnny was Tiiiiaard. Not tired. But an old southern church lady tiiiiaaard. Johnny was so done with this boy. But i love mark. Get him a podcast i wanna hear him go on random unrelated tangents about nothing.

[onthepyre]

even if the oceans turn to sawdust

guess who wrote a b99 fic because they rewatched johnny and dora and got emotional about it. me. i'm the bitch.

what's running through jake's head during all three johnny and dora kisses. just 1.2k words of them making out.

He is kissing Amy.

Jake is kissing Amy and the only thing he can focus on is how bad he feels about it.

The woman who, just hours ago, he had agreed to be totally platonic with. Coworkerly, even. Because that's what she wanted. And here he is, fucking it all up, disrespecting her boundaries and making an ass out of himself. It's so their cover isn't blown. He knows that. He knows she'll understand. He knows, even, that she is into him, because what sane person who isn't in love with you acts the way she did earlier, except maybe for him? She seemed so okay with pretending to be his fiancée, and the things she said about why she liked him were genuine. He could tell by the look on her face — she dropped the stupid smile she'd held for the whole night. And who kisses cheeks with tongue?

And yet, Jake is in the wrong and he knows it. He should've given her a warning, at least. But, God, it seems like she's into this. Amy catches on fast and then, and then, he can feel her smile, just a little, and he isn't sure what it means. He assumes the worst, which does take some mental gymnastics — why would she be laughing at him? So he goes with the most likely explanation, which is that this is reassurance, and she's telling him that she's okay with… whatever this is, in order to distract the target. But some part of him, the part that wonders if he's the exception to her "no dating cops" rule, hopes maybe this isn't subliminal messaging. That maybe she's just happy he's kissing her. Her hands are warm and gentle and she's not like anyone he's ever kissed before. And then her tongue slides across his bottom lip and he almost short circuits.

The man interrupts them and Jake can't help but be a little disappointed. But Amy's hands don't move, so neither do his, and they keep holding each other for the rest of the (thankfully short) conversation. It's a blur; Jake is pretty sure she implied they, or Johnny and Dora, were going to have sex in the hallway, and he doesn't know what to think about that. But the man leaves and they are left alone again. Amy doesn't apologize, so neither does he. They can't look at each other. Jake stares at the center of her forehead as they speak. He shakes her hand, because that's the thing to do in this situation, he tells himself. And he tries to convince himself that she doesn't sound like she enjoyed it.

———

Amy is kissing him now.

Amy is kissing him, and this isn't Johnny and Dora, he knows. They're themselves, they're Jake and Amy — but Jake and Amy are kissing so they don't look suspicious. It's more urgent, this time, more frantic. The stakes are even higher, because this is the man that they need, and they need him to believe them right now. But even if the last kiss wasn't an act, at least on his end, this one feels a little more real. So real, in fact, that it almost hurts him. Her hands are on his face and she's pressed close against him and he thinks, Wow, so this is what it's like. For a second, he forgets about the buyer, focusing on her lips against his and trying to make a memory out of the feeling. It's not hard. He knows they'll never be the same after this. He knows, too, that he won't ever get to kiss her again, because he will be awkward and cold and so will she. And it will forever hang in the air between them as a what if.

It also hurts because she hit his head on the tree.

But that doesn't matter right now, because Amy is pulling away and he remembers why they're here. It throws him. He curses himself for it, because he's kept his cool in tenser situations than this, and because now she knows. Well, she probably knew as soon as he kissed her the first time, but there's no denying it now. He is head over heels for Amy and she is aware of it. She shouts something weird about them being colleagues and he follows it up with his own bullshit about this being a work event, more to reassure himself than her or the buyer. So they arrest him. So they go back to the precinct. So they don't get to be Johnny and Dora, or Jake and Amy about to have their cover blown, anymore. So for a while it isn't the same between them.

———

They are kissing again.

They're kissing in the evidence lock-up and everything clicks into place. He hates change, he hates it so much, but just this once he is glad for it. Hell, for half of a regrettable second, he's glad that Holt is leaving, because he is kissing Amy and Amy is kissing him and suddenly his life makes sense. He knew it, but now it really hits him. This is where he is supposed to be. In the evidence lock-up, kissing her.

Maybe not exactly. But with Amy holding him, the same way she had last time, but different somehow, Jake is, for once, content. They take their time. She's an amazing kisser, he realizes, and not just because it's her. Her lips are soft and, since he isn't pressed up against a tree, she's so gentle it almost aches. They are closer than they've ever been and Jake feels at home. He thinks about that for just a moment, not long enough to distract him. Amy has always been his home. Always a safe place to land after anything big, anything scary. He hopes he's the same to her. He tries to tell her that through the kiss, and through his palms flat against her back and all the other places she's touching him. He wonder if that's too much, but it doesn't really matter right now.

One of them breaks the kiss. He isn't sure who; maybe it's both of them. But they don't go far. Their foreheads rest together and she lets out a quiet sigh. Against his mouth. Which almost kills him. Jake moves to look at her, to verify that it is her, that he just kissed Amy Santiago for real, not for keeping their cover. And it is. And her eyes are wide and he's not the best at reading emotion but whatever she's feeling has to be something close to what he is because God, she looks starstruck. She's beautiful. Her mouth is hanging open and so is his, he notices, and they match. He inhales to say something, anything, maybe I love you or Marry me or I think our kids are going to be cute. And Charles knocks on the door. He yells something at them, which Jake doesn't really hear. Amy keeps staring at him, and he keeps staring at her. He moves to say something again, and doesn't, again. So he turns and they leave.

As they're going, she grabs his hand for just a second and squeezes. Hard. He knows she means it.

[xxxlovedandlostxxx]

The Gemini Man: Love, Sex, Friendship, Style The Gemini Man

The Gemini man is a wordsmith and a master of communication. It’s not all idle chatter, or conversations about the weather with this man. He is an intellectual, always seeking more information and knowledge. Bright, quick-witted, and mercurial, the Gemini man is many things but he is never boring.

Symbolized by the Twins, a Gemini is both Master Jekyll and Mister Hyde, a mix of suave gentleman and salt-of-the-earth. The Gemini man can see both sides of any issue, and possesses an extremely balanced opinion on topics ranging from the mundane to the controversial.

You will often hear a Gemini man wax lyrical about the benefits of, say, yoga, and then stop to catch his breath and continue, “On the other hand…” He isn’t being flaky. It’s just that marvelous ability of his to weigh up all the pros and cons of any situation coming into play. This other side of the coin approach also means that the Gemini man often finds it hard to make up his mind. His mood can change on a simple whim. However, this also means he is extremely flexible and is happy to go with the flow.

The Gemini man is a jack of all trades, his intelligent mind bounding from project to project, and darting from one hobby to the next in a short space of time. He will have many interests, for example; gardening, reading, rocket science, telepathy, ancient history. Everything fascinates him and he is ever curious. He loves problem-solving and approaches challenges like a game, applying his cool logic to reason himself out of hairy situations.

A social sign, the Gemini man is most comfortable in social situations, holding forth on a variety of topics, ideas, and opinions. Gemini men love interesting company and are fascinated by the different and the exotic. Charming and congenial, the Gemini man is popular and effusive with his friends. Many celebrity Twins are authors or songwriters, for example, Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. Other famous Geminis include Donald Trump, John F. Kennedy, and Johnny Depp. Love, Sex, Romance, and Relationships with a Gemini Man

Charming, flirty, and irresistible, he has incredibly high standards and may throw up a smoke screen or act unpredictably to hide his deepest emotions. The intellectual Twin is not always comfortable with the great passions that lie within him which are unleashed when he falls in love. For this reason, the Gemini man does not fall in love easily or often. Thoughts, not emotions, influence him the most, so get him talking about his opinions. He is a fun loving and roguish lover, with bold romantic gestures. Don’t read too much into them, though, because for a Gemini, this is just normal behavior. Game, set, and match – love is sometimes pure diversion for the Gemini man.

In relationships, Gemini men will often exasperate their partners with their objective reasoning in arguments. He isn’t being cold and unemotional; he’s just trying to be logical about it all. Luckily, because he is so good at communicating his thoughts and listening to his partner, arguments don’t happen often. Routine is anathema to the Gemini man, so the biggest threat to a relationship with a Gemini is boredom. His partner will have to keep up with his mental gymnastics or risk losing his attention. The perfect partner for a Gemini man is one who is practical, stable and won’t mind his madcap fancies. A partner must also be extremely intelligent and secure enough to provide him with plenty of space to roam.

Playful in the bedroom, sex is an adventure for the Gemini man. He wants to try new things, new toys, and new positions. Like all the other signs ruled by Air, the way to a Gemini man’s libido is through his mind. Mental games, rapid-fire riposte, sexual banter – all these things turn him on more than satin lingerie or candlelight ever will. His is a cerebral kind of sexuality, and he will use all the information at his disposal to please his partner satisfactorily in bed. The Gemini man is a generous lover, and seldom possessive or jealous.

He is generally considered most compatible with Libra, Aquarius, Leo, and Aries. See also Sun sign compatibility. However, there is a lot more to compatibility than only the comparison of the Sun signs. For example, how do your Venus signs compare? Find out Venus signs here. Discover Venus sign compatibility here. Understanding Gemini Men

With his smooth talking ways, the Gemini man is a natural charmer who has no difficulty making friends. This intellectual man can adapt quickly to a constantly changing world and accepts whatever challenges are put before him in a calm, positive manner.

Although he’s usually in control of his emotions, the Gemini man is always in conflict with the restless “twins” which can cause him to be alluring one minute and very reserved the next.

This quick-witted individual enjoys a feisty debate and is a difficult person to argue with. Money & the Gemini Man

The Gemini man watches his financial position closely and it’s quite normal to find him balancing his personal budget on a regular basis. It would be rare to find this man surprised with having insufficient funds in his account to cover a cheque he issued.

His portfolio will be based on logic and not emotion, so it will consist mainly of stable investments and a defined plan for long-term security. Fashion & the Gemini Man

The Gemini’s color is yellow, so you can count on this man’s wardrobe being anything but drab. There will be a variety of styles in his wardrobe, but the clothing is all in the latest fashion. Regardless of the occasion, the Gemini man will always have something suitable to wear.

Jewelry will be classy and not garish, just like his vehicle. His home and work environments will be kept neatly organized with everything having its place.

It’s not out of character for the Gemini man to spend an afternoon shopping for something and then leave the mall without making a purchase because he decided it’s really too much money to spend right now. Relationships & the Gemini Man

The Gemini man’s innate charm makes him quite popular and he is never lacking for party invitations. Being a good listener and possessing sound judgment, friends will often call on him for advice.

He can sometimes be logical to the point of being irritating, but his rationalization of an argument does allow him to see both sides. Romance & the Gemini Man

The adventurous Gemini man enjoys variety and constant stimulation which means that his bedroom behavior will keep a partner continually surprised and always pleased. More often than not, he will put his companion’s satisfaction before his own and this unselfish trait makes him an ideal lover.

This gentleman is a flirtatious one and enjoys the romantic side of dating and new connections. Although he may find it difficult to remain with a single partner, once he finds that special someone he becomes totally devoted to the relationship. Health & the Gemini Man

Bronchitis and asthma are common ailments of the Gemini man, so you’ll not normally see him smoking or working in dust-laden situations. Being an active individual, this man takes care of his physique and prides himself on broad shoulders and muscular arms.

The Gemini man tends to be a bit high-strung, so he does need his rest and shouldn’t make a regular habit of coffee, caffeinated drinks and the junk food he likes so much. Career & the Gemini Man

The Gemini man is an excellent communicator and multi-tasks well, but does require a constant challenge in his workload or boredom will affect his performance.

Confident and logical, this gentleman will find success as a lawyer, journalist, teacher, counselor, or broadcaster.

With his charismatic personality and gift for gab, politics, or high-profile sales offer tremendous career opportunity for the Gemini man.

[kylehyde]

I love how I played my V as an anxiety-riddled pleaser, loyal (to a fault) ex-Corpo who just thought doing what they were told would move them up in the world which completely contrasts the rebellious and arrogant Johnny who at that point has lost so much: his girlfriend Alt, his friends, his faith in humanity and his own life only to come back 50 years later proven right to be angry and bitter at the world for what it became. And now he’s stuck in the head of someone who’s the polar opposite and their very core principles are in defiance to his own. I already back pedaled on V wanting to become a legend bc personally no, that was Jackie’s dream, V just got roped into that and it was better to them than being alone and unemployed. Remember Corpo V isn’t a merc, they had to hire someone to take care of a job in the prologue. Tbh I think (Corpo) V did the Heist to not only say one last ‘fuck you’ to Arasaka but to hopefully run off with enough money to just stop being a merc, they had financial stability and losing it brought discomfort but they weren’t seeing the whole picture of the world until Johnny ends up in their head and they’re dying. It stops becoming a story about peace and comfort but about morality and humanity. V struggled with when to trust their instincts and at a point used Jackie and other associates as a crutch through life. Johnny struggled with trust, his addictions and control of his life. Johnny taught V confidence in themselves and their ability to lead and make changes. V taught Johnny to care about things again. I went with the New Dawn Fades ending on the (Don’t Fear) The Reaper path, which shows the growth of both characters while maintaining their core principles. I like the idea of them making this decision together bc you know ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) 💕👌

This isn’t me saying that this is how a Corpo should be played but just how I personally interpreted the route and why I loved it so much. (I tried the intro of Nomad but I really didn’t like it, still no verdict on Street Kid I’m too addicted to Corpo now 😩). V does universally struggle with survivor’s guilt and it effects their decisions and dialogue, in practically all endings too (I’ve done them all, yes) having reminders of Jackie’s fate and V having doubts about risking the lives of others just to save their own, I won’t go into specifics bc spoilers but if you know, you know! I hate the mental gymnastics I’ve had to do figuring this stuff out since the game feels sadly unfinished but we still made it work!