#last year we went to hawaii and this year we went to japan so i really want to start planning for next year

[monmouthcastle]

Very privileged problem to have, but desperately want a big fun trip planned again next year because I'm in the trenches right now and really need something interesting and exciting to look forward to. But also my husband and I are starting our house hunt and I do not want to be financially irresponsible.

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

The Laws of Attraction (Lawyer!Higurnami x Law Student!Reader 18+ One Shot)

Pairing: Nanami Kento x Black!Fem!Reader x Hiromi Higuruma

Synopsis: You are a law school senior and intern juggling schoolwork and your job who attends your firm’s anniversary party one night. While there, Higuruma Hiromi and Nanami Kento, your bosses and the two sexy attorneys you’re secretly attracted to, help you celebrate your final grades and receiving a brand new position at their firm….just not in the way that they should. But who cares about what’s right or wrong when it feels so good?

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINORS GTFO); Black-coded!Fem!Reader; Lawyers!Nanami x Higuruma; Law Student/Intern!Reader; Eye-Fucking; Secret Crush; Mutual Pining; Threesome; Coworkers to Lovers; Mild Power Play; Lowkey Flirting; Office Sex; CMNF; Dual Cunnilingus; Deepthroating; Doggystyle Over Desk; Spitroast; Facefucking; Dom/sub Undertones; Throatpie; Cum On Ass; Sneaky Sex; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer’s Note: I’ve had this idea rolling around in my head for DAYS now. I’m so happy I’m finally able to share it after finally writing it. I hope y’all enjoy! KISSES!! 💋💋 -Jazz

**********

You know that a second glass of champagne probably isn’t logical or practical.

But if you have to listen to your fellow intern and total preppy asshole drone on about his vacation stories, you’ll definitely blow your brains out.

You stand in a small circle with the other interns that started with you last year for the internship program. The firm has one that stretches all year long, starting in the spring and ending in the winter. You’ve known these people for months now and while you like some, there are others than you’d gladly avoid.

Like the preppy exchange student from Upstate New York who came to Japan to study abroad. Of course, he’s standing beside you in his Armani student, buzzed off of his second beer and oozing arrogance and ignorance. “My friends wanted to go to Bora Bora again, but I always found Bora Bora to be sooo overhyped,” he groans. “That’s why we went to Hawaii. It was cheaper.”

He takes a sip of his beer, dripping some down his tie. You don’t warn him. ”I heard Hawaiians didn’t want tourists anymore,” Yuki points out, standing next to you. “Something about them pushing natives out of their homes because of construction.”

She sips on her champagne and eyes you as she does it. You fight the urge to smile. “Well, that didn’t kick me out,” the exchange student chuckles. “I had a ball! Lotta beer on the beach and a lot of girls too.” He turns to you now, your worst fear coming true. “You ever been to Hawaii, Y/N?”

You force yourself to turn towards the young, blonde jock who only came to work here because his father has connections in the legal system as a hotshot judge in New York. As a young, Black woman, you worked your ass off to get into this program and into law school. As you can imagine, juggling both is a damn job in itself.

You purposely kept quiet for half of the night to avoid exerting energy in boring conversations, but to avoid dissociating for the fifth time tonight, you fix your mouth into a smile. “No, but I prefer Costa Rica. The water is prettier. Excuse me, I’m gonna fill myself up.”

Quickly, you excuse yourself from the group and walk over to the alcohol table located on the other side of the gorgeous ballroom. “Oh, pass me another beer if they got one,” the jock suggests. “We can share, if you want. I know you like a good beer too.” He gives you a lopsided smile that’s supposed to get you hot and bothered like it has to all of the other girls he’s screwed.

You stifle the urge to vomit and give him a tight lipped smile before quickly walking off…or as quickly as you can in your Jimmy Choo heels. Your friend and roommate forced you into them, telling you that only these shoes brought out your skin and meshed with your slim, strapless, black dress.

You will admit that you feel the sexiest you’ve ever felt in it. Even when you tried it on and had your friend tie the strings behind your neck to hold the slinky article of clothing up, you felt like the baddest bitch walking. As soon as you walked into the ballroom, you caught eyes….just not the eyes you truly want.

As you walk across the ballroom, nodding and smiling at guests (lawyers, politicians, city officials, etc.), you admire the beautiful decor of the room. The decorators rearranged cushioned furniture, added gorgeous white flowers as centerpieces, and polished the marbled floor so much that you can see yourself in it. The scent of cinnamon and cloves drift through the air along with the bitter winter breeze pouring in from outside as people come and go for cigarette breaks.

They truly went all out for this anniversary party.

Your firm is located on the sixth floor of a twelve-story building in downtown Tokyo, specifically in the business district. Every weekday you catch the train at 7AM with fellow bright-eyed, bushy-tailed workers in their uniforms and weary, hungover students preparing for an 8AM course. You’ve always loved the hustle and bustle of the city; the constant activity; the sense of determination and purpose in the air when you do your eight-minute route to the train station to work.

Maybe that’s why you decided to take the internship offer when you were picked last spring. You were a law student, a senior-to-be, in need of a legal position that would give you more experience and had a decent pay. Your job as a waitress could only do so much. After you were interviewed by the program director, she set you up for another interview with the attorney you would be working for. When you realized that you would be interviewed by two attorneys instead of one, you thought it was some kind of mistake.

But you were reassured by the director that Kento Nanami and Hiromi Higuruma, the top attorneys at their firm, wanted you specifically. “They picked you out from ten other candidates,” she gushed to you over the phone. “They’re so impressed with your resume and our interview notes.”

You smile to yourself as you take another glass of champagne. You can’t believe that this was twelve months ago. Now if you can only snag a full time position here and ace your final exams so you can graduate next spring, your life will be complete.

Yuki appears beside you, dressed in a red dress and wearing her blonde locks in waves. ”He likes you,” she giggles. You roll your eyes beneath your full lashes. “I could give less of a fuck,” you mutter. ���I felt like shovin’ a cupcake in his mouth to shut him up.” Yuki laughs despite your deadass statement. “So where’s your date tonight?” she asks. “Since preppy white jocks don’t float your boat.”

No man floats your boat nowadays, it seems. Not when you’re in law school. What guy would want a girl who stresses over essays and exams every other week? “Well, my roomie has a cold and couldn’t come,” you explain. “I wanted to stay, but she forced me to put on this dress and come.”

“And it’s a damn good thing she did!” Yuki scoffs. “You look amazing!” You smile shyly, feeling your cheeks flush. “And I’d rather you be here celebrating the 10th year of the firm with me than at home. Intern or not, you’re a part of this team too, Y/N.”

Though Yuki’s words are sweet, you’d much rather be at home with your roommate watching Netflix in your sweatshirt and booty shorts, shoveling ice cream down your throat and maybe popping an edible to ignore the impending anxiety of your exam scores tonight.

Anything than being a room with a bunch of preppy folks and pretending to be interested in anything they have to say. But you got yourself into your pretty gown for two important reasons: one because this party is a good distraction from your incoming grades and two, you’re waiting for two guests in particular to show up. Your bosses…or as your friend would call them, your sexy lawyer baes, Nanami and Higuruma.

These are two names that pop up often at your firm and in the legal world. As two Harvard graduates and prominent lawyers in business and corporate law, they were among the original ten lawyers who started out at the firm when it was still very small and upcoming. Now expansive and holding over a hundred attorneys, Nanami and Higuruma are still the top in the game in their thirties.

They are intelligent. They are virtuous. They are calm, cool, and collected when needed in the court. And they are also fine. As. Fuck.

And you know all of this because you work underneath them and have been for over twelve months as an intern. You never knew why they hired you to personally work for them, but you jumped at the chance to take the offer when it was given to you after your one-on-two interview with them.

As unapproachable and cool they seem, the two lawyers are pretty lenient with you. They allow you to use their shared office to do your work, they work around your class schedule, and don’t make you work overtime. Most of your duties are fetching coffee for them in the mornings from the lobby cafe, editing and proofreading documents, delivering files to different departments, and drafting papers.

They truly make it easy for you. They aren’t hard or difficult like a lot of other lawyers in your firm who run their assistants ragged. They answer all of your questions and push you to give your all. “But remember to rest,” Nanami always tells you. “Burnout is a killer.” He is the softest of the two and a true sweetheart at heart.

Higuruma is more of the sterner one, always giving you constructive criticism with any underlayer of encouragement. He has a dry humor that reminds you of a boring dad and has you giggling while you’re doing your work. The two lawyers bounce off of one another, having disagreements and arguments but always coming together to win a case.

They are truly a duo made in heaven, especially in the looks department. It isn’t a surprise to you that the entire firm has their eyes on them as handsome as they are—soft-looking lips, firm stares, and eyes that make your blood run hot. Your dreams are often filled with hot visions of doing very nasty things with Higuruma’s nose and stroking Nanami’s cheekbones with your fingers.

As far as you know, they’re single and unmarried, but things can change. Not to mention that you’re their intern! There is a very clear line that you don’t cross at a job and that includes not fucking your bosses.

No matter how sexy they are in their suits, or how intoxicating their cologne is, or how you wish to feel their big hands on you, you can never ever destroy the work relationship you have with them and fuck up your entire life. Besides, how else are you going to get a job here when you graduate law school?

So you disguise your interest in them as kindness and shove your horiness away, never acting on your attractions to them. But sometimes, you do think that the feeling is mutual. Just in November before your final exams, your bosses graciously offered to help you study. You were studying from your self-made study guide over lunch with them in their office. You had five classes during your fall semester you had final exams for: four tests and one paper due the same week you took your tests.

“Well, I can tutor you for the tests,” Higuruma said, taking a peak at your guide. “Clearly, you need someone to break this shit down for you and test you.”

“And make sure you don’t completely blow your top over your grammar,” Nanami added, referring to your paper. “I was a 4.0 in Harvard, don’t you know?” As usual, you laughed. They always knew how to take your head out of your work with their teasing and dry humor.

That month, the three of you would meet during lunch and work. Higuruma would time you on definitions for legal terms, answering open-ended questions, and knowing which court does what. Nanami, in contrast, would take a look at your final paper and make alterations, highlighting anything that needed to be edited and giving suggestions.

It was the most help you got in your three years of law school. And unfortunately, it made you fall deeper for them. You weren’t even planning to attend the firm’s tenth anniversary party, but when you found out Higuruma and Nanami were attending through an invite to your work email, you knew you had to show up.

You smile at Yuki now, raising your champagne glass. “Well, cheers to that,” you giggle and clink your glass with hers. “You’re sweet, Yuki. Definitely makes this whole environment worth it.” The two of you giggle to each other and gossip about the other guests as you sip champagne and much on veggie sticks from the snack table.

At some point during your third glass, you hear a buzz come from your purse. Your heart skips a bit and you race to fish it out, thinkin that it may be Nanami or Higuruma texting you that they’ve finally arrived. But when you see that it’s your Canvas notification, your stomach drops.

Suddenly, the champagne tastes sour and all of the sounds of the party sound muffled like you’re underwater. All of your grades are in, including your final paper. You swallow hard as you stare at your phone screen, your vision becoming fuzzy. You feel like you’re about to faint. Oh, where are Nanami and Higuruma when you need them?

“…Y/N?” You turn to Yuki as if you just realized that she’s standing there. “Sorry, what?” You dumbly ask.

“They finally brought out the chocolate fountain!” She announces, pointing excitedly at the fountain bubbling chocolate fondue just a few feet away. “Let’s get some before we have to fight off the entire party.” You force a smile and wave her off, trying to hide your oncoming anxiety attack the best you can. “You go ahead. I need to powder my nose first.”

It’s enough to make Yuki agree, telling her that she’ll get you a plate. Once she’s strutting off in her heels, you make a beeline for the bathroom located down the hallway from the ballroom. You move as quickly as possible in your heels, scrolling for your friend’s contact at the same time. By the time you reach the bathroom, you feel like you’re about to throw up.

You barrel through the door, sighing in relief when you find it empty. Quickly, you shut the door and will your friend to answer the phone, gripping the sink for support. You feel as if your knees are about to buckle from the anxiety you feel bubbling inside of you. “Pick up, pick up, pick up,” you mutter. Finally, your friend does, coughing into the phone. “What’s up, babe?” she crokes out. “Did your lawyer baes come yet?”

“No, but my grades just came back and I’m in the bathroom so I don’t have a panic attack, but I am having a panic attack.” You face yourself in the mirror. You thought you looked so pretty with your Fenty Beauty foundation, plumping gloss, and long lashes framing your gold eyeshadow. But now? All you see is anxiousness.

“Okay, relax,” your bestie soothingly says. Only she knows the stress you’ve been under for three years. “Breathe. Tell yourself your affirmations. I already know you did amazing, Y/N. You already know that too. You studied your ass off, remember?”

You do. You had to. Only you have the power to make all three of these years of constant stress mean something. You need that degree. “Yeah,” you exhale before inhaling again. You do that a couple of times, egged on by your friend who tells you how smart and determined you are. Finally, you feel like you’re ready. “Here I go…I’m opening them now.”

You put the call on speaker, but your friend is silent as you shakily open the Canvas app. You check each one of your final grades, your heart damn near exploding one after the other. All high scores. Three As and one B. “Oh, my God,” you gasp.

“What?” your friend urges. “What’d you get?”

You nearly drop your phone as your body trembles from excitement and relief. “I passed,” you whisper. Then again, louder this time: “I passed!” you squeal. “I fucking passed!” You feel tears prick your eyes and you have to rapidly blink to keep from ruining your mascara.

You can’t believe it. You’re done! You’re going to graduate law school next spring! “Congratulations, girl!” your friend cheers. “I knew you could do it! Now go out there, turn the fuck up, and celebrate with your lawyer baes.”

You scoff, taking some tissue to tab at your cheeks and temple. “For the last time, they’re not my baes or boos or boyfriends.” She swears that Higuruma and Nanami are your future husbands. “Not yet!” she argues. “You just wait till they see you lookin’ fine as fuck in your dress and next thing you know, you’re going home with one of ‘em…or both!”

“Goodbye, you perv,” you giggle. “Thank you. I love you.” Your friend bids you farewell and tells you to text her later before you end the call. You take a moment to check yourself out in the mirror, admiring the bad bitch in your reflection.

Finally, you put your phone away and strut back to the party, feeling like you’re the sun and the moon. You feel sexy, exuberant, and like you’re on top of the fucking world. Nothing and nobody can get in your way.

You suddenly bump right into someone’s back, causing you to stumble. “Oh, excuse me!” you gasp. “I’m sorry, I didn’t…” Your words die in your throat when the stranger turns, revealing himself as your favorite handsome blonde attorney. Nanami is usually in suits for work, but this one is especially tailored. “Ms. L/N,” he says in his smooth, eargasmic voice. “I didn’t expect to bump into you so early tonight.”

You gape at him, unable to speak. You’re at a loss for words. Just then, before you can look any dumber, Higuruma appears with two champagne glasses in hand. He, too, is in a designer suit and red bottom shoes, looking so sexy that it should be illegal. “Oh, there you are. We were actually looking for you.”

His tired-looking brown eyes scale down your outfit. “That’s…some dress. You look nice.” Maybe you imagine it, but his cheeks look pinker in the light. Nanami clears his throat and awkwardly pushes up his framed glasses, snatching one glass from Higuruma and taking a sip.

”T-Thank you,” you stammer, finally finding your voice. You spot a passing waiter on your left with a tray and snatch a glass from it. You’ll need it. You clear your throat, conjuring that bad bitch from the bathroom. “U-Um, I’m actually glad you’re both here. I was looking for you too.”

The lawyers’ brows raise expectantly. “Oh?” Higuruma asks. “Why is that?” You break out into a smile, unable to contain your joy. “I got my grades back for my exams!” you excitedly announce. “All As and Bs!” You fish your phone out of your clutch and shove the screen into your bosses’ faces. “See for yourselves,” you proudly giggle.

Nanami takes your phone and peers down at it, squinting into the blue light. When he sees your grades, a slow smile creeps across his face that gives you butterflies. “Let me see,” Higuruma mumbles, snatching your phone from Nanami.

He mutters to himself, something he always does when reading. You find it so endearing. When he finishes, he scoffs in surprise. “Well, damn,” he huffs. “This is impressive, Y/N. You really locked in as the kids say these days.”

“You’re not that old, Higuruma,” Nanami scoffs, snatching your phone back and handing it to you. “Nice job, Ms. L/N. We’ll have to celebrate.” The two lawyers smile at you like you’re the best thing in the world. You feel it. Standing with them, you feel as if nothing can touch you.

Higuruma raises his glass, a small smile playing on his lips. “A toast to good grades and an even better future.” You all raise your glasses and clink them before taking a sip. You can already feel the effects of the champagne taking over. You feel bubbly and light as a feather. Beautiful and carefree. Sexy, even. Very dangerous.

“Thank you,” you happily sigh. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without your help with the studying. I really appreciate you both for doing that.” The lawyers look happy hearing that kind of praise and gratitude from you. “Well, you can thank us by helping us make it through this party,” Higuruma sighs. “After all, we need to show our law school graduate around to all of these fine, fun folk.”

He looks around the room, looking like he’s thinking anything but nice things about the guests. You snort to yourself. “Don’t we, Nanami?” he asks, smirking at the blonde. Nanami sighs to himself, looking absolutely done with being here. “I barely even want to be here. I almost want to be back in traffic.”

He turns to you now, a small smile playing on his lips. “But hearing about your grades makes it worth it all.” If only he could know how that makes you feel. The butterflies in your stomach have gone haywire.

You swallow, feeling the confidence of the champagne taking over. “W-Well, maybe next spring when I graduate, you both can come to the ceremony,” you nervously suggest. “It’s only right since you’re my bosses and mentors.” You give them a shy smile, peering up at them through your lashes.

The two lawyers look at each other blankly and then back at you. “Mentors?” Higuruma parrots. “We’re your mentors?”

Immediately, your confidence slips. “Well, you did help me study and you’ve shown me so much about the legal system. I look up to the both of you.” You bite your bottom lip, feeling as if you’ve said too much. You’re moving too fast. You’re overdoing it! “I-I’m sorry I assumed—“

“Don’t apologize,” Nanami firmly interrupts. His eyes are all aglow with a quiet passion you’ve never seen before. “We’d be honored to be your mentors…if that’s what you want.” Higuruma looks just as interested in the position, looking ready to drop everything and sign up.

You feel a big, dumb smile split across your face, giddy and joyful. “Then I’d be honored to call you my mentors,” you giggle. “Let’s toast to that too!” You raise your glass to clink with theirs, leading to another joint sip. You open your mouth to say more, to keep them standing here with you, but everyone at the party is just as excited to see the two attorneys as you are.

“Oh, there they are!” someone announces. You turn, finding one of the firm’s oldest lawyers walking over to Nanami and Higuruma. “We’ve been looking everywhere for you two! C’mon, the chairman wants to see you.” He practically drags them away, blabbering on about the many guests here who want to meet them.

You watch them leave just as they turn to give you one last look, an apology in their gazes. You feel an immense pang of disappointment inside of you and you feel stupid for feeling that way. It’s a party! This is their job! Of course, they need to mingle and talk to other important people.

Yuki luckily comes to your rescue, strutting over to you with more snacks. “Oh, Y/N!” she exclaims, taking your hand. “There you are! Come here, you have to try these white chocolate raspberry bars before they’re gone!” She drags you off in a different direction from Nanami and Higuruma, widening the gap between you.

For the next hour, the party wears on like this: you on your side and your bosses on the other, all of you stuck being pulled in directions other than each other’s. You watch as they chat with chairmen and CEOs; attorneys and paralegals; city officials and policemen. It’s honestly annoying…probably because of the champagne you drink.

With every passing minute, you sip a bit more, feeling even lighter and riskier than your first glass. You’re pretty sure you’re on about four ½ glasses at this point, so much so that you start seeing things. You believe you feel Nanami’s eyes on your ass from across the room or Higuruma’s gaze straying away from a guest to check you out. Your risky, reckless behavior makes you smile at them from across the party, not realizing how flirty it may come off to them or someone else watching. But the idea of that doesn’t embarrass or mortify you. In fact, it turns you on.

But nothing even comes from it. You never find your way over to your lawyers. Disappointed, sleepy, and exhausted from walking around in heels, you decide to give your dogs and the alcohol a break. You go up to the bar situated on the left hand side of the ballroom and take a seat on one of the stools, ordering a club soda.

“That’s the easiest thing I’ve made all night!” the bartender exclaims, making you laugh. “God bless you!” After they finish whipping up your drink, you’re in the middle of a few needed sips when someone sits next to you. You turn, finding a young man in a suit that looks like Tom Hiddlestone and Timothy Chatlane had a baby.

The wavy-haired man in his suit smiles at you. “Your Nanami and Higuruma’s paralegal, right?” he asks. You shake your head. “Intern. Not a paralegal…yet.”

He nods, chuckling at your humor. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around the office before. I would’ve remembered a face like yours.” His tone is flirtatious and you pick up on it immediately. Usually, you’d disregard and ignore this, but tonight? You may just play along.

“Possibly,” you reply, lowering your soda. “I have one of those faces.” Feeling particularly chatty, you put a hand out for a shake. “I’m Y/N,” you blurt. “I’m an intern for the law firm on the sixth floor.” The man races to shake your hand, hanging on for longer than necessary. His palm is sweaty. “Ah, yes, the law interns,” he chuckles. “I’m Mark, an associate for an accounting firm. I’m up on the eighth.”

He flashes a pearly white smile that is probably supposed to make you swoon. “That explains why we haven’t seen each other,” you giggle. He laughs with you and you decide that he’s cute enough to waste time on at the party.

“Maybe this party is good for something then,” he flirtatiously says, his smile turning suggestive. “I was plannin’ on leaving soon ‘cause this crowd is dead, but you just might make me wanna stay.” And just like that, he pops the bubble on your fantasy plan. “Oh” is all you can say.

No doubt he is trying to get into your pants…or rather under your dress. You turn to sip your water in silence, trying to think of something to say to let him down easy. “Are you here with someone?” he asks and his hand goes crawling to yours again.

Now you really need to think of something fast. “Um” is all you can get out before a shadow descends upon you and him. You both turn to find Nanami standing there. “Oh, sorry, am I interrupting, Mark?” he asks. He sounds apologetic, but you can tell he isn’t by the firm set of his lips.

The attorney beside you gives your boss a lop-sided smile. “Just my drink,” he jokes as the bartender passes him a whiskey. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Nanami?” He cocks his head to the side, drunk and cocky. “Sorry to cut in, but I need to steal Y/N away for a moment,” Nanami explains before turning to you. “We hate to do this now, but since you’re here, we’d like to plan out the schedule ahead of the holidays.”

“Oh!” you exclaim, your brain already switching into work mode. “Um…yeah, sure, of course.” You turn to Mark who looks less than pleased about being cockblocked. “It was nice meeting you, Mark. I’ll see you on the seventh floor one day.” The attorney only gives you a smile and side-eyes Nanami as you leave with him.

In silence, you two head to the elevators and Nanami presses the up button. You aren’t too sure why he and Higuruma are doing this now during a party, but you’ll wait to find out. When the elevator comes, Nanami lets you inside first and then follows behind you. When the doors close, you become hyper aware of him standing so close next to you. You can smell his cologne—spicy and musky like cinnamon. It makes your body react in very nasty ways.

“You won’t be seeing him,” he says. You blink, your fuzzy brain almost not catching that. “What?” you ask.

He turns to you, his eyes firm. “You won’t be seeing him,” he repeats. “Not to gossip, but the man is known to stick his dick where he makes his business. He’s slept with half of his department and a lot of his clients.”

You almost forget who the hell he is talking about until you remember (of course!) Mark. “Damn,” you scoff. “Well, thank you for the save…not that I was planning on sleeping with him or anything. He’s not my type.” You immediately flush, hot with shame and embarrassment. You shouldn’t have said any of that. ‘Fuck that champagne,’ you think.

However, Nanami silently chuckles to himself, finding it funny. But still, you beat yourself up. At least until you get to your floor. Nanami and Higuruma share an office space, their offices separated by a door where one can easily enter one room and exit the other. Nanami’s office consists of tan furniture, a plush couch where you often do your work, and his book collection while Higuruma’s office is all dark colors, polished Mahogany wood, and a mini bar. Some things they do share though are private bathrooms, personal thermostats, and a beautiful view of the skyline.

You walk down the hallway to the office with Nanami and enter his, finding Higuruma already there. “Took you two long enough,” he grumbles. Nanami’s office is dark, only lit by the full moon coating the floor in silver and illuminating Higuruma’s manly, handsome features.

Suddenly, your heart begins to pound. “S-So where’s the schedule?” you stammer. Nanami shuts the door behind you and walks up to stand beside Higuruma. “There is no schedule,” he confesses. “Sorry to bring you up here so randomly, but we didn’t want to do this in front of everyone.”

You scowl, confused. “Do what?” you ask, looking between them. The two give each other a look before Higuruma provides you with an envelope from under his suit jacket. “To give you this.”

You stare at the envelope, even more confused. Tentatively, you take it and look at them, unsure. “Open it,” Higuruma silently says with his eyes. Swallowing hard, you take a millisecond to mentally prepare yourself for what will be in the envelope and tear it open like you would a bandaid.

A folded letter flutters to your feet and you pick it up to read it. “On behalf of [the firm] and the departments of business and financial law, we would like to offer you a full time position as a legal assistant in the spring of 2025. Signed…” Your eyes grow big at the signatures. “Kento Nanami and Hiyomi Higuruma,” you exhale.

The two handsome men standing before you smile while you’re busy trying to resist the urge to pinch yourself. You have to be dreaming! You’ve gotta be! “Y-You’re offering me a job?” you softly ask. Higuruma smirks. “You don’t miss much, do you?”

Nanami nudges his partner in the arm. “We’ve noticed the work you’ve been putting in for us all these twelve months. Don’t think your hard work went unappreciated, Y/N. You’ve helped us a lot, even without us telling you, and for that, this is what we have to offer.” His gaze is soft, intimate. “This is just to get your foot in the door. Of course, you don’t have to stay forever and we’ll help you study for the BAR if you want to take it.”

Higuruma doesn’t add on, but he doesn’t have to. He, too, gazes down at you like everything Nanami is saying is true. You look down at the letter and then back up at them. “I….I don’t know what to say.” Higuruma’s smirk widens. “Say you’ll take the job.”

Finally, you break into a humongous smile and you jump up and down. “Yes!” you squeal. “Yes, yes, I’ll take it! Thank you both so much!” You go to toss yourself at them for a hug, but you make one misstep and nearly trip. You gasp, trying to find your footing.

Quickly, Nanami hooks his arm around your midsection, securing you in his arms. “Careful!” he exclaims, catching you. “That would’ve been nasty.” You should just tell him thank you and leave the comfort of his arms. You should just take the L now and leave before things get bad.

But you don’t. You make the mistake of staring up into his inviting eyes and soft, pink lips. His eyes gaze down to your mouth, his pupils dilating as if he sees something he likes…wants even. He leans down and so do you, and suddenly your lips are on his as you stand in the comfort of his embrace.

The kiss is short and gentle, but it’s sweet enough to steal your breath away. It is a kiss fit for a Disney movie ending. But just as soon as it happens, it ends and you both pull away, stunned. “Whoa,” he exhales.

Yes, whoa. Whoa, that was the best kiss you’ve ever had. Whoa, you just kissed your boss. Immediately, you jump back as if burned and over your mouth. “Oh, God,” you gasp. “I-I’m so sorry. I…oh, God.” You begin to shake, your eyes welling with tears. Regret and shame instantly fill you.

Higuruma steps forward, placing a hand on your shoulder. Nanami tries to come near you too, his gaze soft. “Y/N,” he softly says. You quickly side-step him and step away from Higuruma’s touch. “I have to go,” you sob. “I can’t be here. I shouldn’t be here.” You begin to panic, dropping the job acceptance letter in the process. You don’t try to pick it up.

“Wait, Y/N,” Nanami pleads. “Stay. It’s okay.” He walks toward you like you’re a wounded animal, gingerly and slowly. “No, it’s not!” you whimper. “I can’t believe I did this! I’m gonna ruin everything now! I-I—“

A hand grasps yours and pulls you close into his big, warm body. “Sweetheart, calm down,” Nanami soothingly says. “It’s okay.” He wraps his arms around you, pulling you into his chest. There, you begin to cry, big, fat tears rolling down your cheeks and ruining your makeup. “It’s okay,” Nanami murmurs into your ear.

At the sound of his voice, you look up into his eyes and see that they are hooded and soft. Affectionate. When he leans in again, you don’t pull away. You let him kiss you, slow and deep, your lips moving in perfect tandem with each other. It is almost as if your lips are meant to kiss. Nanami’s big hand cups your face, tilting your head slightly to the side to meld your mouths together, earning a soft moan out of you. His hands slide down to your ass, caressing the bump made underneath your dress from it.

From the back, you feel Higuruma presses himself against you, his big hands sliding across your naked lower back and shoulders. His touch electrifies you. So do his kisses. When he begins to kiss your neck and shoulders, you pull away from Nanami, gasping. “H-Hang on,” you stutter.

He stops, his hands still on you. Questions flare in his hooded, brown eyes. “Tell us what you want, Y/N,” he says, his voice strained. “Tell us to stop and we swear to God, we’ll stop.” Nanami pauses too, slight pants leaving his lips. You want to apologize, to tell them that this isn’t right or proper or appropriate to do. This is so, so wrong.

But as you stand here in the dark sandwiched between your bosses, you’ve also never felt more right. “Keep going,” you softly beg. The lawyers descend upon you immediately, kissing, touching, and grinding their hips into you. You feel their hardened cocks press against your groin and your ass, giving you a taste of how you’re making them feel…and have made them feel for months now.

“We wanted this for so long,” Higuruma whispers into your neck. “You have no fuckin’ idea, Y/N.” His thick lips press down your spine, peppering your skin in wet kisses. “You don’t know how many times I wanted to pull your ass aside and do this to you.”

“So many times,” Nanami growls, his hands sliding up to your hips to indulge in them. “You make it so hard to control myself, darling.” You’re feeling the last of your self-control slipping, the pleasure too much to handle. You moan at every touch and kiss, loving that you can feel their defined muscles through their suits.

“Take it off,” you whisper and motion to your dress. The lawyers share a surprised look with each other that quickly melts into lust and need. “You tell us if you want us to stop, you understand?” Higuruma sternly asks. You nod, but that isn’t enough. “Words,” he states. “Give me your words. Speak up.”

Your nipples harden at his firm tone, loving how he puts you so effortlessly in your place. “Yes, sir,” you reply, the words feeling so natural to you. Higuruma sharply inhales, greatly affected by this. He quickly snatches one string out of the perfectly-tied knot at your neck, loosening your dress in one single act. The front slips off of you, revealing your hardened brown nipples and ass only covered by a black thong.

“Shit,” Nanami exhales while Higuruma chuckles. “So that’s why that ass looked so good tonight,” he murmurs, taking a handful of it for himself. “You should be forbidden from wearin’ dresses and pencil skirts around us, y’know. You make it very hard to concentrate on much.”

One of his big hands glides down your asscheeks to slide between your inner thighs. “But you know that, don’t you?” he whispers. His thick fingers slide against the wet cloth of your thong while Nanami feasts on your tits, molding and massaging them while his lips coat your nipples in saliva. “Oh, fuck,” you moan, tilting your head back at their ministrations.

“Naughty little thing,” Higuruma tuts, still rubbing you. “You’re so fuckin’ wet. You must’ve needed this from us, hm?” He presses his fingers up, rubbing your clit in circular motions. Your moans grow louder, leading Nanami to capture them with his mouth.

“You need to quiet down, baby,” Higuruma says, humored. “You’ll have the entire party comin’ up to see why our good little intern is makin’ so much noise.” Nanami pulls away to hold your chin, forcing you to look at him. “I bet she wants that,” he whispers. “Bet she wants everyone to know what she’s doing to us.”

“I’m sure they do,” Higuruma chuckles. “This ain’t the first time we’ve walked around the office hard as rocks for her.” He rubs you a little harder, making you bite your lip at the sensations. Jealous, Nanami glares at his partner. “That’s enough, Hiromi,” he growls. “You need to share. You’re not the only one here.”

Higuruma glares back, but allows the blonde to take over. You watch with shaky breath as Nanami slowly kneels down, staring up at you as he does. “I wanna taste you,” he confesses. “I wanna make you feel good. Will you let me?” Delirious from the foreplay, you nod and in an instant, your leg is hiked over his shoulder and he is sloppily French kissing your pussy.

“Now look who’s bein’ fuckin’ greedy,” Higuruma growls, impatient. “I need a taste too. Scoot over.” “We’re both gonna tongue fuck that pussy now,” he whispers. “When you need to cum, you let yourself do it, got it?”

Once again, you gush at the tone of his voice, much to Nanami’s enjoyment. “Y-Yes, sir,” you whimper. Then all words cease to exist when Higuruma kneels behind you. For the next couple of minutes, your world is blinded by pleasure as you receive dual cunnilingus from your two bosses. “Oh, shiiiit!” you groan, grasping Nanami’s head and Higuruma’s hand on your hip just to hold onto something.

You feel as if you’re on a rollercoaster, getting pulled this way and that, your stomach fluttering from the bumpy ride and the rush. Your stomach flutters and your heart pounds with every grip of Higuruma’s hands on your ass holding you steady; every lap of Nanami’s tongue against your clit. Higuruma is busy sliding his tongue along your slit, his nose rubbing against your ass…which feels oddly good too!

Everything they do feels good. Your juices and their spit collide, mixing together and making everything way more stimulating and sensitive than normal. You grip Nanami’s blonde hair, pushing him closer to your clit, your breathing coming out in huffs. You can feel that knot in your core tightening the more your lawyers lick, lap, and suck at your sloppy, juicy little pussy, drinking away as if they’re both starving for you.

You don’t realize how loud you are until you hear yourself moaning throughout the empty office. “O-Oh, fuck!” you wail. “I’m gonna cum! You’re gonna make me—“

“Wait,” Higuruma hisses, suddenly shooting a hand up to cover your mouth. He stands up so fast that he scares the shit out of you, almost as if he teleported. “I hear footsteps.” Your heart explodes in your chest and Nanami immediately stops his pussy-eating to listen too.

There, outside in the hallway, you hear footsteps and muffled laughter. Neither one of you moves or even breathes, standing still as statues in the dark. Luckily, the voices and footsteps disappear when a door opens and closes, leaving you in silence once more. Higuruma looks down at Nanami, still shaken but also very horn. “Let’s get her on the desk,” he suggests, his gaze lustful. “She needs somethin’ for that mouth if she won’t shut the fuck up.”

A smile that you’ve never seen before grows on Nanami’s face, his glasses foggy and nearly falling off of his face. Quickly, he stands and scoops you up without a word, wrapping your legs around his waist. You squeak as you’re picked up, your heels dangling from around his hips. He is fast transporting you from the floor to the desk that is luckily free of any files or papers.

Nanami places you on his desk and takes off his glasses before proceeding to duck between your thighs. As he begins lapping at your cunt again, Higuruma comes over to your side, his groin at eye level. Ziiiiip goes his fly and out comes his big, thick, hard cock. Your body and pussy throb at the sight of him.

He stares down at you, lustful and demanding. “Open your mouth for me, baby,” he demands, taking off his suit jacket. “Put those pretty lips on me.” He rapidly begins uncuffing his sleeves and unbuttoning his top, revealing his mouthwateringly broad, hairy chest you want to nuzzle. You do as he says and wrap a hand around him to stroke him as you wrap your lips around his shaft.

Higuruma smiles…and he barely does that, so you must be doing a good job. “That’s it,” he groans. “Such a fuckin’ slut for me.” He wraps a hand in your hair and pulls you closer as he uses his other hand to pull his pants down farther, exposing his firm, plump ass. You become handsy, using one hand to feel up his body and delicious happy trail while you use the other to run your fingers through Nanami’s blonde locks.

You feel like a princess and a slut all at once, receiving the best of both worlds. Finally, that urge to release comes again and you whimper and slobber all over Higuruma’s cock as you get close. “Cum for me, darling,” Nanami groans into your pussy. “Do as you’re told. Cum all over my fuckin’ face right now.”

With a high-pitched squeal, you do, leaking and creaming all over Nanami’s tongue. He greedily laps you up as you write and shake on his desk, much to Higuruma’s enjoyment. He loves watching you ride out your orgasm with his dick in your luscious mouth, but fuck, is he jealous watching Nanami eat you out. “Don’t be greedy, Nanami,” he growls. “Give me some.”

Nanami rises from between your thighs, his hair a mess and his lips coated in you. Higuruma grabs him from the back of his neck and smashes their lips together. Right in front of you. You gape at them, shook and totally confused as they sloppily kiss, swapping spit and your cum between their mouths.

You had no idea they had a “thing” going on, but then again, you wouldn’t think you’d know. Nanami and Higuruma are very private people. But shit, is it hot to see them make out in front of you for only your eyes only.

When they pull away, Higuruma smirks down at you. “Look at this naughty girl gettin’ off to us,” he snorts. “You won’t go tellin’ people about us, right, baby?” You shake your head as best as you can with his cock still sliding in and out of your mouth, making him groan at the vibrations.

Nanami watches, quickly stripping off his jacket and shirt to expose his beautiful muscles and chest pebbled in fine, blonde hair. “I can’t fuckin’ take much more,” he huffs. “I need to fuck you now or I’ll lose my mind.” He begins toying with your tits, massaging one while Higuruma plays with the other. “Tell me you want that too. Tell me what you want, Y/N.”

Higuruma pinches one of your nipples, causing your mouth to open wide on a gasp and his big cock to slip out. “Need you,” you gasp out. “Both of you. I don’t care how! Please just fuck me!” You’ve never been so fucking horny in your life. You feel as if you’ll die if you don’t cum again now.

The two lawyers look at each other, both contemplating how to maneuver this as if you’re a case they can’t quite figure out how to win. “You go first,” Higuruma suggests. “I wanna fuck her throat a little more.” Nanami doesn’t need to be told twice, his eyes molten with lust. “Bend over,” he demands and you do, assuming the position.

The two groan at the sight of your plump ass exposed over Nanami’s desk, your heels still on. They both give your ass an open-palmed smack, making you gasp at the pleasurable sting. “So good at taking orders,” Nanami murmurs in your ear. “I like that. That’s what good girls do.” He gives your cheek a peck before finally, he slides his cock against your pussy and slowly slides himself inside of you.

You both gasp at the sensations, your pussy walls squeezing around him as they become accommodated to his size. He is thick and long, making you feel so full and so stretched. Nanami murmurs sweet nothings in your ear as he coaxes you to rub your clit, making you wetter. Once you’re finally relaxed is when he proceeds to grab your hips and fuck your shit up.

His desk shakes slightly as he pistons into you, his hips slamming into your ass, causing the sound of skin slapping against skin to echo throughout the room. Your moans and cries are loud and clear, possibly audible even to the party. “Fuck!” you loudly moan. “Oh, my God, yes!”

Another cock slaps against your mouth and slides in, not stopping until it is in your throat. “Uh-uh, baby,” Higuruma chuckles. “Too loud. Little slut just can’t help herself, can she, Nanami?” His partner is too busy ramming your cunt to answer, doing his best to hold back his moans and gasps.

Higuruma snorts. “Neither can you, apparently.” Nanami glares at him, silently telling him to fuck off as he presses his front into your back, pushing himself deeper. “Push back on me, darling. Fuck me back.” You do as he orders, tossing your ass back into him and pushing yourself farther onto his wonderful cock. “Good girl!” he moans. “Needed this for so long. Needed you so bad.”

He murmurs and babbles into your shoulder, suckling on it as he pounds into your wet heat over and over again. It doesn’t take you long for you to feel the urge to cum again as Nanami’s balls slap against your needy clit, stimulating you further. “M’cwumming!” you whine around Higuruma’s cock just as that second intense wave washes over you.

“Good girl,” Nanami grunts, holding your shaking body close as your pussy walls grip and stroke him. “Such a good, good girl for me.” He slows his pace but continues to fuck you, edging you and making your orgasm last even longer. Your head feels dizzy and your thighs are slick with cum, but they’re not done yet.

“Let’s switch,” Nanami tells Higuruma. “I need to feel her mouth.” Higuruma looks ready to fuck a hole in a wall with the wild look he has in his eyes. They slowly pull out of you and switch spots, Higuruma now behind you while Nanami is in front. Just as quickly as they switched, they slide back into your holes again.

“Shit, baby,” Higuruma hisses, gripping your hips in his big, calloused hands. “You’re so fuckin’ wet. I can get so deep.” His hand wraps around your throat while Nanami fucks it, groaning at its tightness. “You want it deeper, don’t you?” he teasingly asks. “You want me to fuck this pussy till it cums again?”

“Mmm-hmm!” you desperately whine. Nothing sounds better to you right now. You are drunk off of the pleasure and these two sexy men, needing their cocks and cum like you need air to breathe.

The two begin to fuck you in tandem with each other, one pulling out while the other pushes in, filling up one of your holes. You have never loved being used before, feeling like an office slut for them. Maybe this can be one of your duties—sucking and fucking them when they are stressed at work. Wouldn’t that be so nice? Your body certainly thinks so.

Higuruma’s heavy balls slap against your clit as he pistons into you, making the desk shake. “Fuck, baby!”he grunts. “You’re gonna make me cum soon.” Nanami lets out an agreeable moan, fucking your throat. “M-Me too,” he stammers. “You’re gonna be our good little assistant and take our cum for us, darling?”

Before you can even think about answering or trying to, you hear something. Knock, knock, knock. “Um…Mr. Higuruma?” someone calls outside the door. “Mr. Nanamin, are you in there? It’s Itadori!” Instantly, the two lawyers grow still and anxiety pushes your hormones out the door.

“Shit!” Higuruma hisses. He clears his throat, doing his best to sound like he wasn’t just pumping you full of his cock. “Y-Yes, we’re in here,” he calls. “Do you need something, Itadori?”

Yuji Itadori is by far one of the cutest and sweetest interns in the firm, so you don’t feel too angry about being interrupted. Just extremely sexually frustrated. “One of the lawyers sent me up here to fetch you,” Itadori explains. “They’re about to start the anniversary speech in about fifteen minutes!”

Slowly, Higuruma and Nanami begin to fuck you again, moving tortuously slow. You can feel yourself growing closer to orgasm and do your best to keep quiet, glad to have something in your mouth. “We’ll be down soon,” Nanami replies. “Thank you, Itadori.”

“You betcha!” Itadori chirps. “Oh, and if you see Y/N, tell her that the cake is out! I saved her a slice!” Then off he goes, his footsteps disappearing down the hall and the ding of the elevator slicing through the silence. Once he’s gone, you all breathe a collective sigh of relief.

“Now then,” Higuruma growls, “let’s make this little slut cum before we get caught.”

Your bosses make do with the time they have and fill your holes with each vigorous, pounding thrust that makes both your mouth and pussy salivate. The office is filled with the sounds of your hushed moans, creaky desk legs, and the light slapping of skin as Higuruma fucks and fucks and fucks your pussy like a machine.

When he finally feels you squeezing around him, he slides one hand down between you to rub your clit. “Cum for me,” he urges you. “Give it to me, baby. Cum on that dick now.”

Maybe it’s the way he talks you through it or how Nanami sounds fucking your face or the fact that you’re on a time crunch, but the third orgasm quickly crashes down onto you as despite its slow buildup. It is just as tense as the first two, making you whine around Nanami’s cock as your cunt massages and strokes Higuruma off.

“Fuck!” he grunts. “I’m about to cum too. Where you want it, baby? Tell me now before I make the decision for you.”

“O-On me!” you gasp out, still in the throes of your orgasm. “Do it on me! Anywhere you want!”

Quickly, Higuruma pulls his cock, sobbing wet with your cum, out of you while Nanami ruts into your mouth, chasing his orgasm. Their sexy, deep moans and grunts of release fill the air as each hot load of cum coats your ass and your tongue.

You shudder and deliriously giggle as they cum, feeling all of that pleasure and the high from your orgasm collide. As your orgasms pass, you three pant and huff in the darkness, recovering from the activity.

Clearing his throat, Nanami pulls out of your mouth, allowing you to swallow his load. Meanwhile, Higuruma takes some tissues from the desk and sops up his cum up from your ass. Though it is sweet, it is also very, very awkward. ‘Of course, it is, you slut!’ you critically think. ‘You just fucked your fucking bosses!’

Once Higuruma finishes, he tosses the tissues away and steps away to allow you to freely move. You stay laid across the desk, not wanting to look up and see the regret in their eyes. You clear your throat, trying to ease the awkward tension. “Well, that’s one way to celebrate a job offer,” you breathlessly say.

It works. The two lawyers begin to laugh, their deep, rumbling chuckles appealing to your ear. Finally, you look up and find them smiling. “Yes, it is,” Nanami chuckles, eyes and cheeks aglow. “You were amazing, darling.” His pet name and the praise makes your stomach flutter like a school girl’s when she sees her crush.

“Hope you don’t go givin’ that to any other employer in your future,” Higuruma chuckles, his body and forehead glistening in sweat. Your eyes drink in his body, committing his and Nanami’s to memory.

Your stomach flips, glad to see that things aren’t awkward or weird anymore. You move to sit up on Nanami’s desk, facing both of your bosses. “Oh, trust me…I won’t. I doubt I’d have any employers as sexy as you two.” You stare up at them through your lashes, earning two sweet kisses on the lips in response as if they are your boyfriends. Not your bosses.

”The feeling is mutual,” Higuruma sighs. “You have no idea how long we’ve wanted to do that with you.” Nanami hums in response, gently moving a strand of hair behind your ear, but it’s really just an excuse to touch you. Despite the tenderness, you can’t keep denying the pink elephant in the room. “So…what now?” you ask.

The two lawyers stare at you blankly, obviously not quite getting what you mean. Higuruma laughs, already buttoning up his shirt. “Well, if you mean in the present tense, I suggest we all get cleaned up and go back to the party before someone comes lookin’ for us again.”

Nanami pulls his pants up, fastening his belt. You watch, doing your best to swallow that lump in your throat. That isn’t what you meant….but what else could you mean? Surely, you don’t think this can be anything real or official. Friends with benefits or fuck buddies, sure. But actually dating your bosses? Your employers and mentors? That would be a tale for the entire firm to gossip about.

So you hang your tail between your legs and push away your disappointment. “Oh…yes, of course,” you softly say. “We definitely should. Uh…can one of you help me with my dress?”

You stand and turn around for Nanami to help you tie your dress behind your neck. You do the rest, hiding your face from them as it flushes with embarrassment. You don’t want them to see you cry if you do. You can’t tell what you’ll do off of the Brüte champagne. After you finish dressing and checking your hair to make sure it doesn’t look too suspicious, the lawyers first check the hall to see if it’s empty.

Then they lead you down the hall to the elevator. None of you speak. The air is tense again with silence and your shoes clicking across the floor, the gravity of your decision swirling in the air like cigarette smoke. Pungent, heady, and inescapable. You feel regretful of your decision immediately despite how good and right it felt in the moment. You wouldn’t be surprised if Higuruma and Nanami revoked the job offer tomorrow morning.

You press the elevator button and the box luckily comes pretty quick. The lawyers let you in first before moving in behind you. Higuruma presses the button to the lobby and the doors close. Now in close proximity to them again, you’re aware of both men standing on either side of you, facing ahead. You clutch your purse to your stomach, biting your lip to avoid blurting something dumb.

“If you meant “what now” as in what about us, I hope you realize that this isn’t just a fling for us,” Higuruma says, his deep voice filling the tight space. “It can be if you want it to be, but if you’d like this to be more official, I wouldn’t be opposed to that.” Your mouth falls agap as you gape at him. He stares back, his eyes intense and unmoving.

“Me either,” Nanami adds. “Excuse my language and call me a selfish motherfucker, but I can’t say the idea of seeing you with another man other than my partner doesn’t tick me off.” His fingers dance across your lower back, giving you shivers. Delicious shivers that only grow as the fact of the matter processes in your mind: this is real now.

Better say this now than never then. You slowly take their hands in both of yours, your heart stuttering. “I’d like that too,” you shyly admit. “But maybe we can keep this on the low for now? Just until I start my new job, at least.”

Ding the elevator goes as you finally arrive to the lobby. Nanami smiles, running his thumb along your knuckles. “If that’s what you want, Ms. L/N,” he teases. “See you after the speech.” Higuruma gives your hand a squeeze before he releases it and fixes his tie just as the doors open onto the lobby.

As you walk out of the elevator, you feel two hands open-palm smack you against your ass. You squeak, hiding your smile as the two lawyers stride away to the stage entrance to the ballroom as if nothing happened.

You take another entrance, walking through the one that cuts into the middle of the ballroom. You immediately find your intern group standing by the stage waiting for the speech to begin and strut over to them, unable to keep your hips from swaying. It is as if your lawyers amped your confidence up to about one hundred.

Yuki turns to you, a slice of cake in her hand. “There you are!” she announces. “Look, Yuji’s cute ass left you some cake! Where the hell have you been?”

You give her a smile and take the plate from her, needing something sweet to end your night off right. “I just got a job offer.”

THE END.

[great-kung-lao]

KazuKaoru and Infinite Wealth

I can't even describe properly what kind of an emotional adventure it was witnessing an ancient ship of mine getting brand new development.

When Yakuza 3 sadly happened the way it did at the beginning, I put KazuKaoru at the backyard of my mind. That part of me lived in limbo with no proper closure in sight. Yakuza 5 only briefly referenced particular Yakuza 2 events, but it wasn't enough. It honestly felt half-assed.

Then unfortunately Yakuza 6 happened. That one particular scene I don't want talk about. If you know - you know. Darkest chapter for any KazuKaoru enjoyer. But the way it ended gave me a window for headcanons. If Kiryu needed to be "dead" for everyone to keep them safe, then the best way would be to move to another place, another country even and why not go to USA and try to find Kaoru? In my head they reunited and lived happily ever after in a post Yakuza 6 timeline before we knew 7 will be a thing and when we thought 6 is the last Kiryu Kazuma game.

Like a Dragon 7 confirmed that Kiryu remained in Japan and oh well, I could still headcanon him eventually leaving to keep playing "dead" in USA while living with Kaoru.

With all the water under the bridge and Yakuza Kiwami 2 being released, we finally arrive to Infinite Wealth promotional materials. The first gameplay trailer had Poundmates showcase and one of them surprisingly was Sayama Kaoru with a brand new design.

Considering how you could get Poundmates in Like a Dragon 7 by progressing story or doing substories, I almost went hysterical at the possibilities of how we can acquire Kaoru as Poundmate in Infinite Wealth. When we also learned that Kiryu and Ichiban are going to Hawaii, a USA territory where Kaoru was supposed to be still, well, I felt hopeful like never before. After 15 agonizing years of technically nothing new, my dormant KazuKaoru shipper was rising back to life.

But there was major scare at the possibility of RGGS using this opportunity to write Kaoru off for good as someone who moved on and forgot about Kazuma completely. It would've been devastating for someone who just regained some hope.

Then the bomb was dropped in the form of Bucket List trailer where we see Kaoru voiced acted by Hisakawa Aya again in a story cut scene! And she said the line that made me sigh with relief so hard I could've been heard by aliens in another galaxy.

"Maybe a part of me is still waiting for him"

Even though this particular storyline didn't go the way I imagined it after the trailer until the game's release, it did the one thing I needed very much: it left the door open for potential endgame for a pairing that I love since original Yakuza 2, which will be 20 years soon. That's two decades of shipping and getting this after 15 years of nothing? That felt extremely good.

I was relieved by revelation of ongoing mutuality of romantic feelings between Kiryu Kazuma and Sayama Kaoru and my formerly dormant KazuKaoru shipper is living his best life right now with hope that RGGS gives us a well earned happy ending where these two finally got back together in one of the future titles, preferably a mainline one, because I would like to have KazuKaoru as a party in JRPG, doing tag-team attacks like back in the old days.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, I'm practically begging you at this point, standing on my knees, to not disappoint us after giving so much hope.

[roadtogracelandx45]

Paradise Undone |2 | S. McGarrett

Two

Emily bade her oldest brother goodbye and made him promise to be careful before she slipped out of the office and waited in the hallway until Steve followed her and pulled her into the stairwell. His mouth covered hers desperate like he had the last night they had in Japan. "Steve, I'm so sorry about your dad." She mumbled against his mouth, "I tried to get out of my shift to go but McCormick wouldn't let me leave." Sara McCormick was her superior officer and hated Emily and how quick she was on her feet and the smart-ass attitude she had when she knew she was right.

Which was a lot of the time and they both knew it.

He shook his head as if he were waving her statement.

He didn't want to see her in a moment of weakness. She only knew him as a strong leader and that's what she needed to keep picturing him as. "You don't have to be strong all the time. Not around me." Not wanting to talk about it, he pressed a bruising kiss on her mouth. The vibrating of her phone pulled them apart and she muttered a curse. She pulled it out of her scrub pocket and groaned when she saw the message, "Sorry, I got to go back to base." "Come over later.' It wasn't a question, it was an order. "Of course." She returned with a smirk as he bent his head to kiss her again. "Go, we don't need Sara punishing you for being late again." She pressed another kiss to his mouth again before going down the stairs.

***

Emily was still tingling when she walked into the hospital. She knew that Steve had been back in Hawaii for the funeral but she didn't realize he had stayed. Of course he had, he wasn't going to rest until the man who killed his father was caught. But what surprised her the most was him working with her ultra stuffy serious older brother.

"You good Williams?" McCormick asked as she came around the counter and placed her phone down on the desk.

"I am fine, my brother just got hurt and I went to double-check his injury." She answered.

The older woman gave her a look, 'It's not that. You saw McGarrett."

Emily pursed her lips together and picked up the files that were on the desk to go through. "McGarrett? As in Commander McGarrett? The man you almost got court-martialed for?" Jane, one of the the other nurses who had been with them for a long time asked as she joined them.

"That would be the one." The lead nurse returned a smirk pulling at the corner of her mouth, knowing that she would be getting under Emily's skin.

"His father died, he is on the Island." The blonde said shortly as she started flipping through the files. "Did you see him?"

"Yes, he is my brother's new partner." The former New Yorker finally spat, knowing that she wouldn't be able to keep it from them forever "And no we don't need to talk about it. It's not any of your business."

"It may not be our business now Sargent but when he breaks your heart it will be." Sarah commented as the girl tapped her finger against the files, "And you know he will, he loves Catherine Rollins just as much as he loves you."

"Let me make one thing completely clear ma'am. Steve McGarrett doesn'tnor will he everlove me. I am just a piece of ass for him." She snapped, "That's it. Excuse me."

**

"Commander McGarrett? Can I help you with something?" Sarah asked as the Commander came onto the floor where they were working just before quitting time. "Where is Williams?" He asked they had brought him in after the whole incident with Victor Hesse and he knew that Emily was there. "Locker room." The redhead tilted her head down the hall to the room.

"Thanks." He answered tensely before he walked down the hall and peeked into the locker room.

The blonde was standing at her locker standing with her back to him, her eyes on her phone. "Hey, you.' He greeted causing her to spin and look at him dropping her phone with a thud onto the floor.

"Steve! What happened?"

"Caught Victor Hesse."

'Victor Hesse? The bastard that you have chased all over the world for 5 years?" Emily questioned as she stood up on her tiptoes to look at the cut and butterfly bandages on his cheek. Not that she didn't trust the nurses downstairs, she did but it always made her feel better if she could double-check their work.

Steve nodded as his free hand caught a hold of her waist and pulled her into him. "He killed my father." The blonde hissed and shook her head, she knew all about Victor Hesse and his brother Anton, she had even been on a task with him and other SEALs trying to hunt them down before she got injured. "Is he dead?" The commander was quiet as his fingers dipped under the material of her scrub down to trace a pattern across the skin of her lower back.

"Steve? Is he dead?" She repeated, cupping his cheeks in her hands, her thumb rubbing against the non-bruised cheekbone.

"Yes." He answered after taking a deep calming breath, he made the right choice of asking to be taken to the hospital on base so he could see Emily afterward, she offered a different sort of comfort than Catherine did.

She offered not only the physical aspect of everything but the emotional side of things, it oddly felt like she was the one that completed him. But he wasn't ready to go to that step yet.

"Can you give me a ride back to the palace? I need to check on your brother and the others" He finally said, pulling away to look at her.

"Of course." She returned pulling away from him fully to gather her belongings.

"Have you seen the hell hole that he has your niece going into it?" "Yes. I tried to tell him we could get a place together that wasn't as bad but he refused, he doesn't want help." Emily had fought with her brother about it, wanting to get off of the base and away from most of the girls in her unit. But Danny stayed stubborn and didn't listen to her or their mother. "What are you thinking?" The Commander smirked, he had to give it to her, she caught on very easily and was usually right there with his plans.

The exact opposite of her brother.

**

At first, Emily wanted to stay behind in her car and let Steve go in and check on her brother and the rest of the team but he insisted that she come in and meet the other two members of the team and he thought that the gift card to the hotel would sound better coming from both of them compared to just him. Instantly, the natural shyness that she had came forth and she grabbed onto Steve's good arm, her blue eyes going from the men working on setting up stuff to the glass office.

"Emily!" Danny's voice exclaimed from his office, "You won't be what he did this time." "What else did you do to my brother?" She asked looking up at the Commander and then at her brother who looked more upset than he had earlier that day. 'He drove a police cruiser onto a freighter boat." "You did what?" She shouldn't have been surprised but she was, Steve was known to do stuff like that especially if he thought it would get their mission completed. Danny nodded smirking, this was a good way to get her to stop seeing him, "He drove a car onto a moving boat with me in it.' Chewing on the inside of her bottom lip thoughtfully before giggling, "Yeah that's pretty on track with him.' "Em, I don't want you seeing him anymore." He ordered causing her to laugh even more before turning back to the two other people in the bullpen. 'Yeah, I don't think that is going to happen." Steve chuckled if she didn't listen to her mother what made Danny think she would listen to him

[dearweirdme]

https://www.tumblr.com/dearweirdme/766340029244178432/jk-definitely-seems-more-frustrated-or-annoyed

Pardon me for saying this but I don’t get it when I read people say that Taekook try to keep their relationship private or hold back so they don’t expose themselves because nothing about the things they do and say about each other reads to me like people who are trying to hide their relationship, especially Tae.

Like you said, Jk is more of a private person or maybe just doesn’t feel the need to talk about certain things. I have seen some Taekookers say the reason he doesn’t talk about their outings or mention Tae as much as Tae does is because he is protective and trying to keep things away from the public but this only makes sense if you limit every thing to his interactions with Tae because when you look at other people in his life and how much he talks about the things he does with them, you see that that is just who he is and it really has nothing to do with him wanting to keep things private. We found out that he went on a private trip to Japan with Eunwoo last year but no one knew about it and he didn’t mention it. Even when it comes to him and Jimin, we find out about some things from Jimin mostly. Like the fact that Jk was in the habit of visiting Jimin when he was bored, or like the fact that Jimin spent the night at JK’s before they travelled to film AYS in Jeju. Those are things we probably wouldn’t have known if Jimin didn’t say and I am sure if things were reversed and Tae was the one passing on that information, Taekookers would have said Jk didn’t say it because he was trying to keep things private and trying to hide his relationship but does him not talking about those things he did with Jimin and Eunwoo also mean he has something to hide with them? Nope but he probably just doesn’t feel the need to mention them.

As for Tae, I honestly don’t see how anyone could continue saying he does anything to hide his relationship with Jungkook. Let’s look at the information we have gotten from him just in chapter two. He spoke about jk recommending “Oh no oh yes”, he spoke about Jk singing “to find you” to him. He talked about going to eat at JK’s. He was the one who posted the screenshot of their call b4 they enlisted. He was the post who posted about Hawaii and went ahead to caption it the way he did. Let’s be serious, are those things he would have willingly shared if he was really trying to hide things? Talking about hanging out with Jk doesn’t mean anything cuz friends can hang out, talking about recording at his place too doesn’t mean much, talking about going over to eat is fine too, nothing weird about it but going Live to talk about your bandmate whom you are heavily shipped with singing a song for you knowing the lyrics will be analyzed to death? Let’s not even talk about the Hawaii thing because that would be a dead giveaway if Taekook are actually a couple and anyone who saw that and goes ahead to say they are keeping things on the wraps confuses me because after all that what more to they have to keep on the wraps which doesn’t include them kissing or having sex? If you are in a relationship with someone but you are trying to keep it private you would go tell 60+ million people on your instagram that that person flew to you because you missed him. I mean there is nothing inherently romantic about what Jk did because he had the money and the time so he went. It it equivalent to your friend calling you to meet them up at a restaurant or park or something and then you jump in an Uber to go but what Jk did looks much bigger to us because we don’t have Jk money to pay for flights to go to people when they call us but to them, that is probably something they would do for friends and family not just lovers but the thing here is, if you are actually dating that person who did that, you know the action wasn’t innocent or just friendly so you would definitely feel some type of way sharing that information if you really want to keep things under wraps.

So the way I see it, it is either Tae feels very conformed sharing what he shares about Jungkook because those things are friendly and innocent and he has nothing to be worried about because they are just friends or he is actually trying to let people know he is in a relationship with Jungkook and isn’t trying to keep anything under wraps because I don’t think anyone can say he is hiding stuff after all the information we got from him because after all that what more can they subtly reveal? As for Jungkook, we don’t hear him talk about those things because he just isn’t the type to go talking about stuff he does with his friends or loved ones all the time. I think he doesn’t feel the need to or think it is necessary to share. He shares some stuff when he wants to or when circumstances call for it like when he shared about them going to the ski resort but other times he doesn’t feel the need to talk about it. For example, he already talked about going to the ski resort with Tae and friends but in AYS when he talked about going snowboarding only once, he talked about it but didn’t mention Tae or anything and one cannot say he was trying to keep it a secret or private because he had already talked about it on his Spotify interview but in that moment he didn’t feel the need to mention Tae again. The same way he spoke about going sky diving but didn’t mention that he went with Tae and some concluded that he didn’t mention it because it was a private moment but he probably didn’t feel the need to mention it. He did the same thing with Jimin too during that VminkooK live when he talked about coming back from the concert and eating chicken, he spoke as if he did all those things alone but Jimin was the one who mentioned that they got back from the concert and ate the chicken together. Even after Jk finished eating ramen with Tae and stopped by to see Hobi during his Live, Jk said he ate ramen but didn’t mention that he ate it with Tae and we only knew he ate it with Tae because Tae later came in and said that he ate with Jungkook after the concert and they had a discussion. See how he does the same thing not only when it concerns Tae but even with Jimin and other people . I think he just isn’t one to like to talk about certain things too much and that is why most time, we get to hear most of the things he does from either Jimin or Tae because jk just doesn’t talk about them.

Hi anon!

I think your view on closeting is way too black and white. You forget, or just don’t allow for things changing over time. Tae and Jk have been in this situation for years now, they have once been in the more strict closet in which they were said to have become distant and during which we weren’t shown them together much. Actual measures had been taken to show them as less close. There are plenty of moments that show them hiding reactions to each other. There are plenty of moments during which we became aware that behind scenes Tae and Jk were still close, but that didn’t fit with what we were shown.

Times change though and I feel by now it’s more of a balancing act. They can be more free and they can show that they are friends now. Fandom at large has decided that Tkkrs are insane, which gives them cover because no-one wants to be seen as a Tkkr. If anything your ask shows that they succeed in keeping that balance. It shows that even when they now do some more bold things, fandom will still always play the ‘they’re friends’ cards or the its ‘fanservice’ card.

I don’t think Tae and Jk actually want to be closeted. Private, yes.. but that’s different from being closeted. Private means you decide what to share and not, closeted is something that in the end is always put on you by society. So it makes sense for them to at times break the boundaries society puts on them and for them to also adhere to those other times.

[mercurygray]

I don’t know if you’re still accepting prompts but if you are could I get a Ron and Billie Jealous au for your brand of brothers fic? Or one where Ron leaves his wife for Billie (I know it’s messy but babe I love drama and I need angst)

I'm so sorry this took so long, Maddie! I went in a slightly different direction with this, but it's a scene I've been meaning to write for a while - the two of them meeting post-war and post-everything.

Hawaii was supposed to be nice, this time of year.

That was what all the travel adverts said, anyway - not that Billie would get much of a chance to see it. Airline stewardesses didn't make enough to take a week away on the beach - an overnight in the airport hotel, perhaps a daiquiri in the bar, and then it was straight back out the next morning, listening to all those eager vacationers asking how she'd liked the sand and the surf.

But despite those setbacks Billie could honestly say that she liked her job. The pay was good, and the hours weren't terrible, and she could say that she'd been to some fabulous places over the last five years - up to and including not spending any time at home in Philadelphia with her mother, who would keep wondering aloud when she was going to get married. When are you going to meet someone, her mother kept asking. Surely there are single men on planes.

What, you mean all of those bored businessmen looking for a little heavy petting away from home? Those single men? Those were the only kind she met these days - unless you were talking about the pilots, who were just as bad at keeping commitments.

No, she wasn't going to meet anyone here, and that was just the way she liked it. At present she had no obligations and nothing to tie her down, and that was just the way she liked it, too. Billie fixed on her face in the forward galley and made her way down the aisle, offering to help 7B with her bag, and to find a souvenir plane for the little boy in 12C.

There was laughter, a few rows back - a group of officers in class As, crusher caps and all, each with an identical briefcase and a smile that only got wider as she walked by. Hawaii was probably only a stopover for them - one night at the airbase and then on to Japan. Five years ago they wouldn't have been laughing about this flight - but five years was a long time. Billie tried to move by, brushing by the one joker who was still loitering in the aisle.

"And how about you, gorgeous?" he asked with a grin. "Are you free when we get there?"

One born every minute. "Terribly sorry, gentlemen, but I have other plans."

"Aw, but are they more fun than us?" his friend asked, rising from his own seat to block her in a moment, taking one hand and wrapping his free arm around her waist, his hand resting casually on her ass. "Maybe some drinks and dancing?"

Billie felt her blood rising, felt the urge to clench her fist and punch him square in the gut starting to pick up speed. She'd be allowed, if she were somewhere else. But stewardesses had to be cleverer with their jabs. She was just mustering her very best smile when someone spoke behind her.

"Is there going to be a problem here, Captain?"

Immediately the hands dropped - and Billie's face did, too. I know that voice. "No, Major Speirs, sir. Of course not."

And then there was another man behind her, looming. "When you speak to a lady, you call her ma'am." She took a deep breath, and turned around, only to come face to face with the same familiar dark eyes she knew she'd find. "Miss Mitchell."

It was a good thing the other man had called attention to his rank, because she wouldn't have been able to see it. She was too busy looking at him. "Major Speirs." And it took every ounce of strength she had not to call him Ron, because here he was, and exactly as she remembered, and the way his voice wrapped itself around her core felt as though it were only yesterday that they'd been in bed together, chuckling over shared cigarettes.

And one of his men had been feeling her up, and he looked spitting mad about it. Or at least, as mad as Ron ever looked, which was to say he had a kind of fire behind his eyes that you wouldn't notice until it burned you.

A bell rang overhead for the captain to speak, and everyone resumed their seats - and now those eyes were following her through the whole plane.

Billie knew how she looked to men in her uniform- the pencil skirt, cut to display a tight derriere and a fine pair of legs, the tailored coat with its bracelet sleeves, the pert hat over perfect hair. But she was unsure, now, how she looked to him. Did he like tight skirts, or the look of her calves in seamed stockings and heels? Was the way she dressed her hair now still attractive? Or did he only love the woman in fatigues with her unwashed hair in a braid, the one he could ask, laughing, Has anyone told you today you're beautiful?

She didn't know. And she wasn't sure she could stand the answer if she asked.

The captain turned the loudspeaker on, mentioning the gateway, and taxiing, and takeoff, and everyone took their seats and put their seatbelts on, and the engine roared them down the jetway. Billie's stomach was already in her mouth.

Ron Speirs. On her airplane.

It wasn't quite a full flight to Hawaii - eager vacationers, anxious for the sun, businessmen talking rice and pineapple and a dozen other commodities, and the small contingent of officers, all of whom seemed to have learned their lesson the first time and refrained from saying more than two words to her as she went by. All of them - and Ron.

She brought the cart around for drinks, tidied away newspapers and magazines, and studiously avoided him until she was doing the second round of drink service and he flagged her down. The seat next to him was empty, taken up by a briefcase and his own crusher cap - the privileges of rank.

"Billie, please. Stay a moment."

"I have a job to do."

"I'll take coffee."

She poured it without thinking, straight black, nothing in it, just the same way he'd always drunk it during the war, and set the cup down in front of him. "Some cream and sugar, please," he said, and she stared for a moment before realizing what it was he was doing - creating a reason for her to stay.

"So they promoted you," she said, taking her time with the sugar. "I didn't know if you'd stay in."

"I didn't have a reason to get out," he said, and as she set the cup down and he steadied it on his table she noticed his hand was bare - no ring. "We…separated," he offered, quietly. "There was …someone who needed her more." The casual way he said it nearly broke her. "I see one of us did all right, though," he said, smiling as he gestured to the diamond solitaire on her own hand. "Who's the lucky fellow?"

She looked down at the ring like she'd forgotten it was there - because she had forgotten she had it on. Her hand clenched like that would somehow hide it. "Oh, he - he doesn't exist. Sometimes it helps with - deterrence."

"And what do you tell them about him, when they ask?"

I tell them that he's very handsome, and we met during the war, and that he's a captain in the army. "Oh, this and that. Pretty lies." She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry it didn't work out."

"I am, too." He glanced up at her with a brief smile, as if he were somehow afraid to hold her eye. "Do they give you some time for fun, after these long hauls?"

"Not much," she admitted. "But I can smell the sea, from the airport hotel, and that's usually good enough."

"They have me at the airport, too," he said vaguely. "Army travel budgets."

Down the aisle, someone else gestured, and she replaced the coffee on her cart. "Don't let me keep you," he offered, and she continued on down the row.

15C needed a gin and tonic with less emphasis on the tonic and more emphasis on the gin, and as she poured, her eyes glanced backwards down the aisle, catching a glimpse of dark eyes leaning slightly to the left, watching her from behind his hand with a different kind of fire, his coffee untouched in front of him.

Hawaii was nice, this time of year - if you had time to see any of it, that is. But five years was a long time.

(She was just hanging up her uniform when there was a knock at the door, and a pair of dark, fiery eyes behind it - tie loose, very sober. He looked her in the eye with longing. "Has anyone told you today you're beautiful?")

[pony-central]

Winter Lovers - An SMG4 and SMG3 Story (Long Post)

Summary - Eight years ago, the Meme Guardians, SMG4 and SMG3, were both trapped in a cold home, where they went Cuckoo Crazy. Eight years later, they both get a faint memory of the incident.

It was a calm day at the SMG4 Castle. SMG4 was busy working on his latest video, when he had received a quick email from his friend, Mario.

SMG4: Oh, my God. Did Mario seriously send me another email? If it's anything like last time with the love email, then I won't bother with it.

He had recalled what happened last time when Mario had gotten the Love Letter virus, and had sent love letters to all of his contacts. SMG4, shivering in squick at that past email, opened the new one. And, to his surprise, it was an invite.

"Dear SMG4. Mario wishes to send you somewhere from your past. Hope you don't end up trapped again. From, your best friend Mario."

SMG4 was surprised at this sudden invite. He then smiled and packed his things. He thought he was going somewhere nice and cool.

SMG4: HOLY CRAP! Mario sent me an invite. He must know me so well. *sighs* I wonder where I'm off to. Ooh! Maybe it's somewhere like Hollywood, or the Bahamas. Ooh, or maybe Brazil. 😊

He ran out of his room with a suitcase and headed to where the Taxi was. The taxi then drove him off on a long drive to the unknown location.

At the Café, SMG3 was sending out people's orders. The café wasn't that busy, there were only three customers who all ordered lots of coffee. SMG3 was exhausted from sending out coffee. Eggdog barked to get his attention, for the puppy wanted beans.

SMG3: Aww, Eggdog. Business is kind of going slow, eh, little buddy? But, don't you worry about it. Soon we will be filthy rich, and -

His phone bleeped. There was an email for him, too. SMG3 sighed in annoyance as he opened the emails up. It was from Mario.

SMG3: *sighs* Mario, I swear to God, if it's that video of spaghetti being made, you're gonna get it! 😞

SMG3's eyes opened wide as he read the email twice over. It was the same email Mario had sent SMG4, just with SMG3's name instead.

SMG3: *gasps* A free vacation?! Oh, my God, I love vacations! I'll get ready right away. Eggdog, you're in charge while I'm gone. Love you. 🥰

He gave Eggdog a kiss on the forehead and left the café with two bags of luggage. He was smiling from ear to ear, as he put on a pair of sunglasses, expecting to be somewhere warm and cosy.

Back with SMG4, the blue Meme Guardian was wondering where he was going. He noticed it was getting a bit on the cloudy side.

SMG4: Oh, ha ha. Looks like a thunderstorm is approaching. Ha ha. OK, I don't think we're gonna experience sunny skies for the entire week, eh? So, where AM I going for my holiday? Hawaii? Japan? Thailand? Pee Pee Island? 🤩

Swag: We're not going to any of those places.

SMG4: Oh. Then... Where AM I off to? 🤨

Swag: You are going to the Arctic. Hope you have a coat with you.

SMG4: The Arctic? But, that's impossible. Mario said I was going on holiday. 🤨

Swag: You ARE on a holiday... To the Arctic. You might need a coat, or a scarf. It'll be a long while before we get there. 😊

SMG4: OK? But, if I'm off to the Arctic, then where can I go for a bathroom break? 😟

Swag: That won't be a problem.

SMG4: *sighs in frustration* GODDAMMIT, Mario! 😞

SMG3 was in his own taxi, wondering if he was going somewhere nicer. He was relaxing in the back of the taxi cab.

SMG3: Huh. Now I'm wondering where I'm off to. A beach? Scotland? Ooh, maybe somewhere more fancy. 😊

Chris: You're off to the Arctic.

SMG3: WHAT?! But, the Arctic is so cold! How the fuck am I supposed to stay warm if I'm in a cold climate?! 😡

Chris: Wear a coat and scarf. 😊

SMG3: Ugh, typical Mario, sending me somewhere I'm gonna die. 😒

Once both taxis arrived at the Arctic, the Meme Guardians stumbled out of the cars. SMG3 was still in a fussy mood, and SMG4 was green in the face. There were a lot of speedbumps on the way there.

SMG3: Ohhh, why is it so c - c - c - COLD here? I'm freezing! 😫

SMG4: Ugh, that trip was awful. I feel sick. 🤢

SMG3: Whuh - SMG4? Is that you? 🤨

SMG4: S - SMG3? What are you doing here? 😟

SMG3: That's what I wanted to ask you. Why are you here, and... Why am I here as well? 😟

SMG3 then noticed that SMG4 didn't feel so good. The blue Meme Guardian was about to be sick, and that worried the purple Meme Guardian.

SMG3: Oh, man. You OK? 😟

SMG4: No... I feel like I'm gonna throw up. *gag* Too many speedbumps in the road. 🤢

SMG3 sighed. He then shook on the spot, he was freezing.

SMG3: I think it's best if we find some shelter. I'm getting colder by the minute. 🥶

SMG4: Good *gag* Idea. I could use some shelter. 🤢🥶

They both set off to find some shelter. SMG3 looked down and noticed that SMG4 was holding his right hand with his left one, and covering his mouth with his right hand.

SMG3: *mind* Man, SMG4 looks terrible. I should probably assist him while he throws up.

They both looked everywhere, but the couldn't find anywhere warm enough to sleep in.

SMG3: You feeling OK now? 🤨

SMG4: No... *gagging* Oh, God. It's gonna come up! 🤢😖

SMG3: Oh, shit! Don't worry, buddy. I'll be sure to get you somewhere. I promise.

SMG4 smiled a weak smile. They both saw a shadow that looked like an igloo of some sort. SMG4 blushed a bit, remembering the last time he was in an igloo with SMG3, one of his friends.

SMG3: You can't be fucking serious. Is that literally the ONLY shelter in the whole Arctic?! DAMMIT! 😡

SMG4: *gag* I'm gonna throw up, SMG3. 🤢

SMG3: *sighs* Just... I dunno, throw up somewhere in that igloo. I dunno. 🤨

SMG4: What? But, you remember what happened last time, right? 😰

SMG3: Just go ahead. We're, like, ten feet away from it. I'll wait for you until you're done.

SMG4: OK, if you insist.

He stumbled over to the igloo. He opened the door, where he noticed a TV and a toilet. He was relieved to have found a place to throw up. So, he did just that.

SMG4: *ducks over the toilet bowl and retches* Ugh. That feels so much better... OK, I best get out now.

The blue Meme Guardian walked over to the door and turned the doorknob. But, to his sudden alarm, the door was locked. He struggled to get it open, but it was locked from the outside. He heard Mario's laughter from outside, knowing the red plumber was the only one who had a key.

SMG4: What the? MARIO, LET ME OUT OF HERE! 😫

Mario: Mario's not gonna let you out until SMG3 is in there. Sorry. 😊

SMG4: *face-palm* Ohhh, GODDAMMIT! 😫

SMG3 was waiting for SMG4 to be finished in the igloo. When he noticed something was wrong, he walked up to the igloo.

SMG3: Huh. Wonder what's taking him so long. Huh.

He was then shoved into the igloo by Mario.

SMG3: WHAT THE - MARIO!!! 😠

Mario: Mario wants you guys to stay here and relive the incident from eight years ago. You're welcome. 😊

The Meme Guardians were both shocked. SMG4 could only blush, and SMG3 wasn't happy.

To be Continued...

[petri808]

You assume I believe the articles claims. It doesn’t have to be accurate, the POINT of the article is to infuriate and cause anger, and so people will pay attention because too many are not and allowing this genocide to take place. Heavy rains caused flooding, which causes the sewer systems to overflow, which causes bacteria/viral outbreaks, that lead to disease and potential deaths/illness, and because of Israel’s attacks, people in the area are often unable to get to proper medical care. They are diasporas stuck in that area BECAUSE of Israel.

Western media is being wholly biased in their portrayals of what’s going on in the region. That’s called propaganda hun, meant to sway the views to one side or another. I don’t care whose side is saying what, the issues are what’s actually happening and sorry, but carpet bombing residential areas to kill specific targets borders on Geneva violations. You don’t kill a cockroach with a bazooka unless you don’t care what happens to the area around it. There’s plenty enough evidence of the behaviors of Israel and its soldiers committing crimes against humanity coming forward. There’s no arguing it anymore.

The creation of Israel itself is an act of colonialism which we now deem to be wrong. You can’t just march into another country and take it and that’s exactly what the Allies did after WWII. They literally flexed their muscles after the war and stole land. I don’t care about the ancient clan feuds of the area. The Palestinian people became the native inhabitants and that’s it, so be it. It’s not the job of outsiders to disregard sovereignty just because they don’t like something, aka what colonizers do. No surprise that colonist countries thought this was okay to do. It was such a slap to the face of Palestine too. The allies went in and said we’re taking this area to make a new county (Israel), too bad what you think. Oh and by the way, we’re not going to recognize you (Palestine) as a real country but we are going to recognize Israel. What a crock of bull.

I am a native of a place that was colonized and forcibly stolen by the United States, so don’t you tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about. There is NEVER a good reason to usurp another country. It’s always a nefarious reason, mainly natural resources or religious reasons. That said, trying to establish a place for the Jews wasn’t the bad thing, it’s the method they used to do it that’s a big problem and what we are seeing now are its consequences. In the last 80 years the predominant aggressor in this this war has always been Israel, not Palestine, and that’s because of the protection and support of the United States. Palestine isn’t the only country either, Israel has been bullying the other countries in the Middle East too. It’s like the little guy calling someone out in a fight because they know behind them is the biggest, toughest kid in the school ready to fight for them.

And don’t you dare try to say the Allies actually gave a damn about the Jews in WWII and that’s why they’re protecting them now cause that’s bullshit. It was to protect themselves. They didn’t lift a finger to stop Germany’s attacks on Jewish citizens until AFTER Germany breached their borders and started attacking neighboring countries. The U.S. didn’t enter the war until AFTER they were attacked themselves at Pearl Harbor. Not altruism, just self-serving.

The #1 reason for colonialism was to spread the colonizers religious beliefs to the “savage” unbelievers. The other top reasons were because that area had natural reasons they wanted for themselves to fuel the Industrial evolution growing at those times. Hawaii was for its strategic military location in the Pacific Ocean and because the sovereigns were close to England so they needed to act first. The U.S. (among others) did in fact try to weasel their way into Japan as well which is the root of where their dislikes of foreigners come from. The movie The Last Samurai actually does have some historical significance. I am a descendant of the Aizu area.

These posts will never have all the information necessary to make full conclusions, but as long as you understand that, it doesn’t make it wrong to share. It’s not our fault that others that read it lack critical thinking skills because if it’s not shared, it may never be known. This is the benefit of the internet today that information can be spread easier. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when critical thinking skills has significantly waned in the population. I don’t know why they stopped teaching logic in schools, but they need to bring it back.

Oh, last thing, STOP FOCUSING ON SPECIFIC ACTIONS to make a conclusion and look at the whole picture, the whole history. Look at the timeline, the progression, the domino effects because there is ALWAYS consequences to actions, whether positive, negative, or neutral. The things we are seeing in the world are not the result of only the last few years, but likely not the last few centuries of things that have developed and festered and finally exploded.

Ok ok seriously last thing

THE FIGHTING IS FUCKING STUPID! Jews, Christians, Muslims, Catholics and all their spawns are fucking related! These abrahamic religions are like cousins fighting over an estate. It’s fucking ridiculous. No one needs to be right or wrong, just leave each other alone already. Learn to share, you know, like they teach toddlers in preschool. LEARN TO FUCKING SHARE.

[dissmal]

Year in Review

Highlights of 2023

Ran half marathon

Played my first piano recital in over 10 years

Traveled to Chicago, Hawaii, Paris, Berlin, Philly, Boston (3x), Japan, and China

Got engaged!

Became comfortable driving 

Raised the most amount of money ever for Soulo ($50K!)

Started manufacturing my first product

Learned how to bake

Nature. I remember seeing the people surfing in Hawaii and being so mesmerized and in awe. Both of the sheer magnitude of the waves but also the fearlessness of the people riding them. I learned that I only truly feel relaxed & on vacation when I'm surrounded by nature.

Manufacturing & Materials. From my China-Japan trip I got to see the manufacturing plant and went to an exhibit about materials and where they come from. I want to think more about where products go.

Family. Family is a key theme this year - not only did I get closer to my parents, but Jon and I started establishing our larger extended family. We had a joint dinner between his family and my family and I also got to know Harrison a lot better.

Hosting & Cooking. This year I had a lot of people over for dinner and games, from Chinese New Year dinner, to mahjong, to friendsgiving and Jon's family. I truly enjoy feeling the warmth of everyone's presence and cooking for everyone and really tried a lot of new recipes. Next year, I want to continue to make these moments special.

Establishing life as a unit. Jonathan moved back to NYC to live with me at the beginning of April. We've fully meshed in our life and routine together and I slowly handed him more things to handle in our household. This involves establishing a cadence of who does what, grocery shopping, taking care of Totoro, cleaning the house etc.

Many of the 2023 themes carried over as well, such as sport and ambition, and valuing routine. I had wanted to establish a better relationship with food and I feel like achieved that to some extent but not fully. I still eat too much when eating out but overall, I'm much more conscious of when I'm overeating.

When I look back at my goals, I feel like I didn't end up accomplishing a lot of what I wanted to do - I didn't take that art class, or execute that personal project, or change jobs and accomplish anything career-wise or lose weight. I'm not upset about it - Soulo picked up a lot more this year in comparison to 2022 and that took up a lot of my bandwidth. I also think that with Jonathan's presence, I needed to dedicate quality time to him as well- like cuddling on the couch watching TV or cooking together etc.

2024 Goals

Become fluent & confident speaking in Chinese 

Start selling the Soulo Nail Trimmer commercially and make income

Learn an art (ceramics? print making?)

Execute a personal project (wedding)

Start to realize my parents' house

Get married and go on a honeymoon!

Career goals - find a new job (it's been almost 4 years at EY)

Lose weight - Still aiming for 115lbs

Visit my grandma more

Continue to improve our living space

Bake everything in my Baking Progression document

Themes for next year: I want to reconnect with my friends more. This year I felt like it was harder to keep in touch and maintain a close connection. When Jonathan is around, most of my time defaults to spending it with him, and I take him wherever I go. I want more 1:1 time with my girlfriends and be more mindful of what they need and do nice things/acts of service for them.

I also want to focus more on one thing at a time and stop spreading myself so thin. Maybe that's why I couldn't achieve the things I wanted to last year - I just had too much of everything going on to be able to dedicate myself fully to learning a new craft.

As Jonathan and I start our lives as a married couple soon, I want to be intentional about making time for us. It can be so hard to relax every night and be in the mood for sex. I realized that I'm only in the mood when I'm not overwhelmed with my to-do list. I want to create moments where we can put the to-do list and responsibilities aside and just focus on each other.

So here's to growth in 2024! By then I will be 27: I hope that I will be more mature, be at my peak fitness, have started a new job and progressed career-wise, earning side income from my startup, connecting more with my family, creating intentional time for my friends, and growing as a unit with Jonathan.

[mint-moon25]

5′10 FT - CATRIONA GRAY - MOM - PINAY - DAD - AUSSIE

BORN - IN - AUSTRALIA - MISS UNIVERSE - 2018 - YES PH

WHY - DID - SHE - WIN - BECAUSE - SHE - LOST - BEFORE

2 - UGLY - WENT - 2 - MISS WORLD - PERSISTED - FINALLY

WON - BEAUTY - PAGEANT - ‘AFTER - ALL’

WHY - DID - SHE - WIN

EARLIER - AUSSIE - WHITE - MOTHER - LINED - HER

7 KIDS - AT - LEAST - DON’T - WHO - CAN’T - TALK 2

A - LINE - THEN - STABBED - THEM - 2 - DEATH FAST

FAMILY - INSURANCE - KIDS - HATER

DEMONIC - POSSESSION

MISS AUSTRALIA - COULDN’T - WIN - BUT - CAT CAN

REPRESENTING - PHILIPPINES - WON

NEXT - YEAR - COULD - HAVE - BEEN - BACK 2 BACK

FIRST - COUNTRY - 2 - WIN - THAT - BUT - PILIPINAS

POCA HANTES - WORE - PURPLE - DIDN’T CONTINUE

THE - GOD - BEAUTIFUL - RED - OF - PHILIPPINES THE

RED - OF - FLAG

ATLANTA - GEORGIA

RED - RUBY - WORN - BY - SCARLETT O’HARA

‘GONE - WITH - THE - WIN’

BURNING - OF - ATLANTA - NO - SCARLETT - YET - TO

B - FOUND - UNTIL - ONE - AFTERNOON - ENGLISH

ACTRESS - VIVIEN LEIGH - ARRIVED

THE - BEAUTY - WHAT - GOD - SENT - THEM

HISTORY - WON - ANOTHER - ELIZABETH TAYLOR

GODDESSES - UNHEARD - BEAUTIES

MISS PHILIPPINES - WHAT - SHE - WANTED - FOR

HER - BIRTHDAY - WHEN - 10 DEC - THAT - DAY

WHEN - PHILIPPINES - INVADED - BY - JAPAN

10 HRS - AFTER - BOMBING - OF - PEARL HARBOUR

HAWAII - SINKING - BATTLE - SHIP - AND - MORE YES

THAT - DAY - OF - MISS UNIVERSE - THAT - SUNDAY

STEVE HARVEY - HOST - NO - MENTION

SINCE - CATRIONA GRAY - WON - LAST - YEAR

SHE - PALESTINIAN - BEAUTY - ALSO - SAID

NOTHING - WHY - DID - HER - FAMILY - FRIENDS

TRULY - WANT - HER - 2 - WIN - (NO - JEALOUS)

(JEALOUS - ENVY)

NOW - NO - MORE - STEVE HARVEY

NOVEMBER - INSTEAD - OF - DECEMBERS

CATRIONA GRAY - HOSTED - BUT WHAT YES

HAPPENED - 2 - HER - FLOWING - HAIRSTYLE

SHE - LOOKED - SO - PANGIT

HER - ACCENT - PERFECT

BUT - CATRIONA - ARE - U - PINAY - OR -

LIKE - TREASON - THEY’LL - SAY - USA

BARBIE - DOLL - CATRIONA

INSTEAD - OF - PHILIPPINE - BARBIE

CATRIONA GRAY

WHO - WON - $250,000 - NOT - PHILIPPINE

CURRENCY - HISTORY - DOESN’T GO BACK

IN - TIME - EITHER

BACK - 2 - MISS UNIVERSE - 2018

USA - MISS NEBRASKA - WOULD - HAVE

BEEN - BETTER - THAN - SOUTH AFRICA

THUS - MISS USA - AND - CATRIONA GRAY

WHO - WILL - B - MISS UNIVERSE

EVERYONE - KNOWS - CAT WINS

BUT - MISS NEBRASKA - MISS USA - VS

CATRIONA - THERE - WOULD - HAVE BEEN

WONDERING - WHO - WILL - WIN - 2018

WELL - MISS USA - HAVE - U - NOTICED

SOUTH - AFRICA

THAILAND

INDIA

SPANISH - COUNTRIES

COLUMBIA

MEXICO

EUROPE - FRANCE

ALWAYS - THESE - FAVORITES - BUT - I - SEE

SO - MANY - BEAUTIES - WHY - FORGOTTEN

THEY - DON’T - SPEAK - ENGLISH

AND - BEST - WAY - IS - BY - SINGING

MISS UNIVERSE - BEAUTY - PAGEANT

IS - AN - AMBASSADORSHIP - MEANING

BLOW - UP - WOMEN - AND - KIDS

THAT - BEAUTY - REPRESENTING THAT

COUNTRY - WON’T - WIN

WELL - AS - MISS UNIVERSE - REPRESENTATIVES

WE - HAVE - THE - DEMOCRATIC - PARTY

DEMOCRATS - INTERNATIONAL - AIRPORTS

COMING - 50 STATES

DEMOCRATS - CHEERLEADERS

COMING - NEW - BOOKSTORES - 24/7 - COMING

THEREFORE - MISS USA - WE - WILL NEED YOU

MISS UNIVERSE - WINNERS

WE - HAVE - FAVORITES - WE - NEED - YOU

PIA WURTZBACH - 2015

CATRIONA GRAY - 2018

SOUTH AFRICA - 2017

WE - WILL - NEED - U 4 - OUR - NEW MUSEUMS

NEW - BOOKSTORES

MIAMI - MIAMI - MIAMI - FLORIDA

DEMOCRAT - CHEERLEADERS

$25,000 - PER - HOUR

NEW - WORK - LAWS - 25 HRS - MAX - PER WEEK

SO - SINCE - WE’RE - SCHEDULING - NEW PLACES

UNTIL - THEN

YOU’RE - PRACTICING

SETTING - UP - COMPETITIONS - WITHIN - YOUR

STATE - YOUR - CITIES

SETTING - STATE - AGAINST - EACH - OTHER

COED - ONLY - BOYS - ONLY - GIRLS - APPROVED

COMPETITIONS

MINIMUM - 25

MAXIMUM - 50

ACROBATIC - GYMNASTICS

INCORPORATE - DANCE - MOVES - ALSO

CHEERS - IMPORTANT - WITH - GYMNASTICS

IN - AN - ACROBATIC - WAY

ONLY - OUR - FLOORS - WHEN - U - WORK

PERFORM - FLOORS - OF - ‘BAMM’ - DISNEY

‘ZOMBIES’

THEY - ARE - BOUNCABLE - SO - NO NEED

4 - TRAMPOLINE - SAFER - AND - BETTER

SINGING - AND - SPEAKING - TONGUES

SINGERS - ONLY - 4 - DEMOCRAT CHEERLEADERS

U - MUST - AUDITION

OUR - FREE - APPS

NOT - 2 - PEOPLE

DIGITAL - ADVANCED - SYSTEMS - 2 - AUDITION

ALL - EXPENSE - PAID - WE - TAKE - CARE - OF

YOUR - FOODS - HOUSING

‘HOME - ALONE 4′

SMART - HOUSE

SMART - APT - BUILDINGS

GATED - COMMUNITY - SMART - HOUSE

WE - WILL - PUT - YOU - IN - HOTELS

UNTIL - WE - BUILD - U - YOUR - STATE - OF - ART

SMART - APARTMENT - BUILDINGS

MAX - 50 OF - YOU

MAX - 25 - OF - YOU

DIFFERENT - GROUPS - 2 - FILL - UP - BLOCKS

OF - BUILDING - SECTIONS - OF - BUILDING - 2

INDOOR - OUTDOOR - SWIMMING - POOLS

ACROBATIC - GYMNASTICS - IS - DANGEROUS

GBC - MUSICAL - THEATRES

SINGING - AND - DANCING - ANOTHER - WAY 2

EXPRESS - YOURSELVES

24 HRS - HOLIDAYS - THEATRES

U - CAN - PERFORM - ALSO

$25,000 - PER - HOUR

U - CAN - DO - EXCERPTS

‘KISS - ME - KATE’

‘HIGH - SCHOOL - MUSICAL’

2A - 4A - 5A

TO - FEEL - STATE - OF - ART - MUSICAL - THEATRES

ALSO - WE - PROVIDE - EDUCATION

REMEMBER - MY - SECRET

‘ONCE - UPON - A - TIME’

PRIVATE - FULL - UNIFORM

ELEMENTARY - SCHOOLS

HIGH SCHOOLS

COLLEGE

LEGAL - PERMISSION

MAGIC - KINGDOM - COLLEGES

COED - BUT - NOT - IN - THE - CLASSROOMS

LUNCH - DINNER - IS - COED

INSIDE - EACH - CLASS - BUFFETS - L AND R

JAPANESE - VIDEO

NEXT - POST - NEWS - ABOUT - TOKYO JAPAN

COMING

CITY - COMPETITIONS

I - ASKED - U 2 - REGISTER - YOUR - UNIFORMS

SUBMIT - DESIGN - BY - WEBSITE - WE - WILL

PAY 4 THEM - WE’RE - ALL - EXPENSE - PAID

NOW - U - WILL - COMPETE - AGAINST - EACH

OTHER - PER - CITY

THEN - COMPETE - PER - STATE

THINGS - 2 - DO - 2 - KEEP - YOUR - SKILL

WINNER - TAKES - ALL

CITY - WON

$500 BILLION - EACH - PERSON - WINS

TAX - PAID

TEAM - WINS - $500 BILLION - X 3 - TAX PAID

STATE - WON

$500 BILLION - EACH - PERSON - X 2

TEAM - WINS - $500 BILLION - X 5 - TAX - PAID

HAPPY - NEW - YEAR

DEMOCRATIC - PARTY

GO - DEMOCRATS

50 STATES

FLY - FREE - AT - COMING - FUTURE

DEMOCRATS - INTERNATIONAL - AIRPORTS

FREE - FREE - ALL - FLIGHTS - FREE - TRUE

[thisselflovecamebacktome]

So it's been at least a few days coming, but I finally want to sit down and write this update post. I'll put it under a read more, but it's mostly my thoughts on the three holidays I took lately.

Queensland:

This was the shortest of my trips, only lasting about 2 1/2 days. I was mostly going up to attend my friend's wedding (which was amazing in every way), but while I was there, I also got to watch one of the first shows of Bananaland, a musical written by Kate Miller-Heidke, who many of you know is my favourite artist. The show was great, and though I found it very Australian, given it was promoted as the 'world' premiere, I hope it gets the chance to travel outside of Australia and 100% recommend going if you get the chance to.

Visiting parts of Queensland that I haven't in nearly 20 years also made me realise just how little of Australia I have travelled and though it will be a while before I do another big trip, I'm thinking the next one I do will be trying to visit as many of the Australian states that I haven't already, or at least one of them. Like I've always said that Australia is my favourite place to be and so beautiful, and I know that it is a privilege to say this, but it's also so convenient in that I rarely "have" to go anywhere that isn't Canberra or Sydney because everything is so accessible, but I want to see more so that's the plan.

But yeah, ultimately, had it not been the case that I was heading overseas the following week, I would have extended my stay in Queensland because it was as beautiful as ever.

Oahu:

The following week I went to Hawaii, specifically Oahu, for six nights. I want to word this carefully because I do not want anyone to think that Oahu isn't a beautiful place, it is. But it is also one I'm not sure I will ever return to. I am currently reading From A Native Daughter by Haunani-Kay Trask (a book I brought from Iolani Castle while over there), and though both the book and my prior knowledge of how tourism has tainted Hawaii ring true to this day, nothing is as eye opening as witnessing, and yes, partaking in it myself. The argument can be made that that's the case everywhere to some degree. Like Australians aren't sitting around having a 'shrimp on the barbie' and saying 'g'day' all day and Japan is far more than kimonos and anime. But there was something about my stay in Hawaii that felt almost disingenuous and very marketed in a way that I have never felt while travelling before. The only time I did not feel this was at Iolani Castle (thank you to the anon who recommended it to me! It was genuinely one of my favourite places there) or out in nature, whether it be hiking Diamond Head or at the beach. This isn't to say I did not enjoy the other activities I did such as Sealife or Kualoa Ranch, but there is definitely something to be said about the nature and history of Hawaii being the biggest positive impacts on me during this trip. There is also a weird irony in that despite it being so commercialised and 'tourist bait' like in nature, I found it ... lacking in terms of trying to get souvenirs for loved ones, but obviously that it the least of my concerns. But yeah, as a whole, though it is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to, I'm unsure if I will ever go back to Oahu, and if I do, it will be a very different kind of trip.

Disney Cruise:

The main reason I went to Oahu was because last year Disney announced their inaugural cruise to Australia (starting in Oahu) and I was one of the privileged ones to get a spot on it. Now before starting, I want to make the disclaimer that yes, I know Disney supporting Israel's government is horrible, it is also something I was unaware of until I got back as the cruise started the day the donation was public and I was predominately without internet from the moment I flew out from Australia the week before until October 27th when we disembarked from the cruise in Sydney. So with that in mind, before finding out about Disney's donation, I wrote a piece on why I would recommend it to those considering it here. Obviously that now comes with every side note in existence surrounding their shady behaviour and how there would have to be a large shift for me to stand by the recommendation now, even if I stand by the great words I said about the workers. There's also some of my disappointments as part of it too, but as mentioned in the document, they were minor in comparison.

I will also note that coming from a poorer background, it was a bit of a shock to feel the culture/wealth difference while on the ship (shout out to the family who was genuinely shocked when I said that this was the only Disney cruise I was doing because I didn't have the money to do more then responded by telling me about the 2 dozen other Disney cruises they've done lmao). Despite the difference, everyone, staff or otherwise, was incredibly nice, like more so than any other trip I've been on from memory.

Though this cruise cemented that cruising is not for me, I am extremely glad I went because the port stops made me want to return to those places. Though I've been to Noumea a few times (it's the main international location Australian cruises go to), I had not been to American Samoa or Fiji before. Both were first time stops for Disney cruises from what I was told, and it somewhat shows (hopefully something they can work together to fix over time). The American Samoa port adventure was pretty much a hop on/off bus where you only got 5 minutes to shoot a few photos in each spot. Likewise, the (short, there is a longer one that we did not have time for) Colo-I-Suva rainforest walk and swim in Fiji, while beautiful, was rushed considering they only gave us an hour (despite making us sit and wait over an hour for lunch afterwards). So yeah, I would definitely love to go back and explore on my own in the future.

But yeah again, ultimately while I don't think think I'll ever do another Disney cruise, or maybe even cruise in general, I am glad that I got to experience something different by going on this one.

Sydney:

And finally there's my 4 day trip to Sydney I took less than a week after getting back. For reference, my mum (and I in Sam's case) is a massive Charlie Puth and Sam Smith fan and both were playing within days of each other. Though we go to Sydney semi regularly given that is the closest location for 99% of concerts, both being back home and being up there really gave me a sense of being back in Australia/home. Like I mentioned this to people on the cruise, but as much as I love to travel to new places, Australia is my home and I just cannot imagine living elsewhere, and it shows with the unique feeling I get being here. Anyway, alongside our usual market and beach trips (as an aside note, god do Australian beaches feel different to Waikiki beach, like both are beautiful in their own ways but the difference was so noticeable for me), we had the two concerts.

As someone who only knows a few of Charlie's hits, he was ... endearing in that 'loveable nothing guy that has a good mix of charisma and earnestness about him' way. Like I get the appeal and teenage/early 20s me woulda eaten that shit up, but with how many concerts I go to that have big productions or vocals, it was just a very different vibe.

Sam was far closer to the vibe I usually see with their changing outfits and talks about what Gloria, the album which this tour is based around, means to them and so on. Though I would have loved to go to their last tour (The Thrill of It All is one of the best albums of all time and you can fight me on that if you don't agree lmao), this one was also so much fun. Mum and I were also invited to the free Amex After Party (the first we've ever attended) which gave out free drinks, food and exclusive merchandise alongside having the opening act do an acoustic set then having a disco/nightclub for a few hours before a party bus took us back to Central. If you ever get a chance to do one of these, definitely go for it... just know that the drinks line will take you half an hour or more to get through lmao. But yeah still go because it was great, especially for a free event.

And yeah that's it I guess. Overall I'm so glad and privileged to have been able to go on all of these trips at all in one lifetime, let alone over 6 weeks, but I'm also so glad to be home. The only foreseeable trips I have coming up now is a one nighter in Sydney in January to see Noah Kahan (shout out to my friend for getting me a ticket while I didn't have internet!) and then my week in Melbourne in February when I'm seeing Taylor, and honestly? With how homesick I got near the end of all this, I wouldn't have it any other way lmao.

[queensharotto]

Honeymoon Vol. 12 Translation

Listen to the audio here!

Yuu Kiritani (桐谷侑, Kiritani Yuu)

Voiced by: Morikubo Shoutarou

Age: Late 20s

Job: Hairdresser

Country: Hawaii

For the translation, view below. Note that it isn’t 100% accurate.

🌺 Track 1: Prologue

All right! You can open your eyes now.

Look, you can go with bangs like this.

I'm glad I took the plunge and put scissors in it, because you have a beautiful face, so I need to look at it properly.

You don't believe that reaction anymore, do you? I'm serious. Anyway, I'm glad you liked it.

That's right, the next time will be two months later, and it's not good if it's more than that.

In fact, I now have my own shop. Thank you very much!

I studied under my seniors and really learned a lot of things. That's how I met you.

Well, if you don't mind, would you like to visit the new store? I want to go to your house from here and now you can try the head spa as much as you want

No pushing? Let's extend the massage how about this?

Are you desperate for that?

I want you to be the 15th customer, I want you to come, not because you're a customer.

I like you

Nobody touches your hair but me.

Is it not good?

Really? Is it good?

Hooray! I wonder if I can keep this smooth and shiny hair to myself from now on.

What's wrong?

On, sorry, I'm happy

*laughs* It's a shame, though. Any more than this will make my seniors angry.

Then, at 5 o’clock, I'll send you a guide to the new shop.

Please call me. It's a promise.

Yes and, I forgot to say something important.

I will be the only one there for the time being

Is it okay if it's just the two of us?

I will spend plenty of time to making you even more beautiful.

I'm looking forward to it.

🌺 Track 2: Travel Plans

I'm really crazy about it

By the way, it's time to make a toast

Dont panic

I went to great lengths to dress up, so don't spill it.

No, I'm not treating you like a child

I simply wish to treat of you

You're already embarrassed and cute

Hold the glass properly

Well then, a cheers to your eyes.

Uh-huh? What's with that reaction?

Didn't you like the words of the toast?

Don't you know Casablanca? A love romance released in 1942 won three Academy Awards?

All right, let me look cool for tonight.

Hey, remember?

It's almost a year, isnt it?

Oh yes, thanks to you, we were able to celebrate the first anniversary of the store's opening, and that's right, but it's not like that.

It's been a year since you and I started dating

Thank you for taking me at that time.

I've been able to do this until today because you were by my side.

From now on... no um...

Another year

Stay with me

Thank you

Nice to meet you.

I wonder if this is okay.

I really want to kiss you right now, but you'll be angry, right?

Because you smile so cutely

From here, I have no choice but to go to a place where I flirt freely.

Overseas for about a week next month?

It's okay, I've already spoken to my clients.

Surprised? Actually, I've been planning it for a long time.

I had to keep this kind of thing a secret.

It's decided not because I wanted to see your surprised face.

It's a celebration of the second anniversary of the store's opening, and everyone is happy to send it out.

I thought I'd take your word for it.

If you can't take a vacation without this kind of opportunity, it may be the first and last time.

I don't know, will you come with me?

I thought you would say that.

Let's make it a wonderful trip that you will never forget.

🌺 Track 3: Day 1: Tour by Rental Car

By the way, I sent my luggage to the hotel and became lighter, let's go!

We can go now

Ah, nice breezes, the blue sky, left-hand drive, right-hand traffic. It's like going to Hawaii

It's okay, I've ridden left-hand drive before in Japan, so it's not that difficult, and the accelerator and brake are arranged together.

Hey? Are you so worried about my driving? Always in the passenger seat.

Oh, I haven't been riding much, and I don't have a lot of time off.

I wanted to make up for this trip, or rather, I wanted to make time for just the two of us.

I want to face you, not because l'm busy.

We've been dating for a year now.

I'm glad you feel the same way.

Hey, aren’t smoothies delicious?

Lucky! Stuck at a traffic light!

Hey, can I have a bite?

Ahhh, I mean, I can't take my hands off the steering wheel, so buy it and point it at me.

Look, the traffic light will change.

It's true, it looks good for your health.

There's the signal, but I wanted to drink, a little more.

My cute and adorable lover is always naive, I'm embarrassed.

Huh? I just told you the truth.

I'm going to take you to a good place, so cheer yourself up.

So, where do you think it is? Stay tuned for it when we arrive!

Welcome to Ala Moana Center, Hawaii's largest integrated shopping center with more than 290 shops and restaurants.

Amazing right? I can never go around at 12 o'clock, or if I'm not good at it, I'm going to get lost.

So we'll need a map!

Where do you want to go? I have a lot of things I want to do with you, like your clothes.

So, do you want to go?

The one piece dress and you are cute, so I think it suits your skin better than that color.

Ignition is absolute. No, it suits you, it suits you. But the rush back when.

It's so beautiful, white and neat, like a wedding dress.

Oh, it’s nothing!

Are you fine with it?

Mahalo!

It's the same as thank you.

Well, just a simple greeting, right? Don't you tell me to go and follow vou? That's why.

Please leave your luggage to me and be ladies first.

It's okay, it's okay.

Is that bra uncomfortable? Then why don't you just say so?

I won't let you do anything to your bra, nor will I let it run away of course.

In my arms.

It's fine to hold hands like usual, but I don't think it's good to cross my arms like this. Because you can be so close.

So, where are we going next? I'm going to carry our luggage with me today.

🌺 Track 4: Day 2: The Polynesian Show

Thank you for the meal!

It was delicious, wasn't it? I want to eat papaya salad and macadamia nut chicken at home.

Huh? You'll make it? Hooray! I'm looking forward to it!

Huh, yeah. After this, it's a long-awaited backstage tour.

It's amazing to be able to see it from the practice scene before the show! I'm looking forward to it.

That will raise the tension. It's one of the things I definitely wanted to see when I came to Hawaii.

The Polynesian show we're about to see is the largest in Hawaii. A cast with more than 100 years of history will perform songs and dances while actually using water and energy.

As the cinema guide said, Polynesian dance was originally a traditional dance for the transmission of mythology and culture.

Polynesian refers to the islands in the triangle that connects Hawaii, New Zealand, and Easter Island, and this time, you can experience the culture of the three islands from there through dance.

The tension will come!

And I can't help it, too.

Hair, makeup, and costumes, etc.

I may have an occupational disease, but it's a hobby.

I'm glad you're an understanding lover, although it's too much and I'm a little worried.

Heh, nothing.

Amazing! It was amazing, I'm looking forward to the performance!

Even people who want to go will try to serve customers and challenge themselves.

Yes!

Err, um.

Am I the only candidate?

Hey, you couldn't knit either because you're too shy.

Okay, you watch here.

Then let's go, can you fix this?

How are you? Huh?

Not here..

I was relaxed because it wasn't Japan.

As soon as I took my eyes off of it, another bastard approached.

*clears throat*

My brother is Japanese, no, what a coincidence! We are!

By the way, no matter how cute and troubled her face is, she's my companion!

See you again

See you soon.

I don't regret it. You're going to stand silent and keep that at bay, so you have to defend yourself.

What am I

Maybe, on the stage just now, it's true that I was close to the girls, but that's because I was learning choreography.

I know, but no.

I really want you

Cute!

I'm glad you baked Yakimochi.

Thank you

*buzzer rings*

Is it time?

Let's go back to the hotel and make up.

🌺 Track 5: Day 3: At the Hotel Pool Bar

Then the third time? Seventh time? *chuckles* I'm amazing!

Previous? Uh cheers!

Nice!

It hurts during this time, the alcohol is strong.

A rum-based cocktail. Information about tropical cocktails is what they call it.

It was originally invented by the owner of a restaurant in San Francisco, but a friend from Tahiti who drank it said it was always the best, so that's how it got it's name.

It's really great!

Hmm, you seems to be in a good mood too.

It was extra good

After coming to Hawaii, I really thought, but isn't it nice to relax like this once in a while?

Hanging around the market without a particular purpose or driving on

a wide road.

Well, I've been driving almost all the time since we came to Hawaii, so I wasn't drinking as much.

Just because you've been working doesn't make you suddenly vulnerable to alcohol.

I think it's just that I'm enjoying my trip with you, l'm happy, and I'm drinking a little too much.

I'm borrowing your shoulder.

Are you nervous?

Why? I'm always doing more amazing things.

Hey hey, where are you going?

I won't let you go.

If you're so embarrassed, hug me like this and hide it.

Huh, is this too bad?

This kind of thing might make me a little happy, but I don't know what to say.

Because you rarely say selfishness.

I've been embarrassed the other day.

Anyway, I'm worried every day.

365 days of the year, like learning one stupid thing

I said I was free at night, but suddenly I got a job.

If a sudden magazine job comes my way on vacation, I will jump at it.

Sometimes you're kind to me, and sometimes you're so rude.

I'm worried.

Hey? What do you like about me?

I don't know everything.

Tell me more properly.

Hm, Hm

I see

So, what about kiss with me?

You like it?

Look? Hey!

You know we're not children anymore

Well said

I have to reward you.

*kiss*

I like you too

Very

*kiss*

Very

🌺 Track 6: Day 4: Hawaiian Pancakes

It was the right choice for terrace seating, the wind feels good because the sea is close!

Hm? I made a little phone call yesterday.

It's popular with the locals, so it's okay.

You're welcome! I brought it up, so let's leave it at this.

People who come to the shop at 1 o’clock, I wonder if they arranged it! They said that people eat pancakes with their boyfriends and girlfriends, but I didn't get along well with you on holidays, so I was accumulating damage.

But it's a shift in thinking. So we swore to ourselves that we would eat it in the real place.

Well, I’ve been eating a lot since I came to Hawaii, even though I don't usually eat much.

Why? I guess it's because of this cheerful climate and open atmosphere.

Oh! Come, come!

Mahalo!

The macadamia nut sauce is yours while mine is a fruit-filled bowl

Well then, thank you for the meal!

After all, this can be done as many times as you want!

It's you.

When you eat delicious food, you look happy.

I love looking at you so much.

Ah, the opposite of face covering.

I was enjoying it a lot.

Yes, let's do this!

It's delicious with heaps of fruit.

Delicious?

Nice smile!

Now it's my turn

Huh? Because you didn't like being looked at one-sidedly, right?

If that's the case, then it's okay if we like each other.

Why not?

This is Hawaii, a southern island. Nobody knows anything about us.

Calm down, calm down.

Even if you see it, it's a happy thing, and you'll just be watched over with a smile.

Yeah, I mean lovers.

Why not?

Just one bite is enough.

*chuckles* Thank You!

Ah~

*mouth full* Yeah, it's delicious!

Understood!

I see! Is that so?

It's not that my appetite has increased since I came to Hawaii, but it's because I've had more opportunities to sit around the dining table with you, and I've come to eat a lot.

People often say that casual times in movies are the happiest right?

Until now, I had heard that it was like that.

Yeah, I may have realized something!

When we go back to Japan, I'll think about how to work a little more, okay?

With you, even once a day. I want to sit around the table like this every day.

And well.. No, it's nothing!

Welcome back to pancakes!

That's right!

Let's eat a lot and play a lot today!

🌺 Track 7: Night 4: Lomi Lomi

Yes! How about a special iced tea soda after taking a bath?

Please enjoy.

Anyway, it was pretty fast, wasn't it? Did you soak in the bathtub properly?

What? Just a shower?

No, no, because on the contrary, I can't get tired.

Somehow, make it a little darker.

I don't mind.

We played a lot in the sea during the day, but you have to loosen up your body properly.

Look, your legs are swollen. If you relieve don't the swelling, it will turn into fat.

You don't like it, right?

It's nice to be honest!

Well, I'lI get ready for tomorrow, so wait for me. I'm sure it was accompanied by blowing this place, right?

It's okay, don't worry about it. Because I just want to.

I'll hold back forever, but don't really care. I'm thinking of incorporating massage into the shop in earnest next time, and I've been participating in the course for a while.

So you,

Ping Pong!

Lie lie! It doesn't sound like a test bench.

You finally laughed

I'll be right back, so be a good girl and wait.

After warming your feet and lightly relaxing them, it's time for a Lomi Lomi massage.

Yeah, It is a traditional Hawaiian massage that stimulates rhythmically using the arms and under the elbows.

Even in Japan, there are quite a few shops and often perform treatments with hot stones made of bedrock stone.

By the way, "Lomi Lomi" means "massage" in Hawaiian.

Well, that's not all. It also means affection transmitted from the palm of your hand.

Do you feel my love for you?

Really?

It's about time, how about some souvenirs? Yeah, I'm going to wipe it with a towel and put it on my lap.

Speaking of Hawaiian, do you know 'ohana"?

Oh yeah, I heard it a lot in the Mouse Country animated movie.

Remember what it means?

Oh, move your left foot back.

Family. What does family mean?

So what do you mean by that?

You and I could be Ohana too.

I hope we can be a wonderful family.

What?

I heard you!

Huh?! You feel asleep?

She's making a face that looks good.

*light kiss*

This time, I'm not going to surprise you, I'll tell you when you're awake.

*another light kiss*

Good night, sweet dreams.

🌺 Track 8: Day 5: Kailua Beach

Well then, I'll just finish the checkout first.

Today's destination is Kailua Beach! It's so beautiful that it was once voted the best beach in the United States.

Away from the hustle and bustle of stamens, you can step on the pure white sand and look at the emerald green sea. Yeah! Nice Nice! It seems that there are sea turtles and handles, so let's ask the guide.

Huh? Are you going to change?

You look good in the white one piece.

So, let's meet the sea turtles again?

If you're just taking a leisurely stroll around, the one piece dress is fine.

No, it doesn't have a deep meaning.

It's just my romance, or we both chose it together, and it looks really good.

No good?

Thank you!

See you later.

Amazing!

The sun sets over the sea.

To have any scenery to ourselves, it's a great luxury.

Actually, I asked the guide about the secret places during the day.

By all means, just the two of us.

Because there was something I wanted you to ask.

For coming to Hawaii with me, I thank you for that.

Let me say it again.

I'm always at work, I can't see you, I can't take care of you, but I can't let you go.

I felt like I was tying you up with the word lover.

But after spending time with you on this trip, I realized.

I was just thinking about it myself.

You always respond to my feelings straight.

I'm worried, I want to talk about it like this.

Ah, of course!

I'm going to make more time for the two of us.

Please ~

Please be my wife.

Th- thank goodness!

I was going to propose on this trip, but I managed to find the right timing.

When the time came, I lost confidence.

But your smile gives me confidence.

Thank You!

*kiss*

Thank you for your continued support.

*more kisses*

🌺 Track 9: The Sixth Night

As expected, it is a prestigious hotel, and the view from the balcony is also great.

I want to see your happy face.

And you know...

It's our last night in Hawaii.

What do you say?

You know, I wanted to look cool.

I'm not coming to the airport tomorrow, there's something that I want to do.

A wedding for just the two of us in Hawaii. Will you give it to me?

What a surprise success!

Of course, the official funding will only be given after returning to Japan.

I don't know if it's because it's a big deal, but it will also be a memory of the trip.

In addition,

*kissing*

It's true that I want everyone to bless our marriage.

After all, you say that there is also a feeling that I want to monopolize your sunny appearance.

Ah, don't be stunned.

At this point, I'll tell you, l've been envious dozens of times during this trip.

If only I didn't lie about this.

Even when I went to see a Polynesian show, while I was away for a bit.

I'm a really happy person.

*sob*

I'm not crying.

I just got drunk.

Oops!

I haven't drank a drop today.

Don't laugh too.

It's cute and irresistible..

*kissing* I see

You don't have to change anymore.

Because we're going to be a husband and wife.

*kissing*

I can stand it already.

That's right.

Let's go to our room.

Put your arms around me and use it.

It's okay, leave everything to me and I'll just do what feels good.

Call my name like you always do.

Hey?

I love you.

*kiss*

Let me love you with all of me.

🌺 Track 10: Wedding After Returning Home

So, don't just move.

I think the lipstick was darker than I expected.

*kiss*

Good!

Is this all right?

Okay, okay.

Leave it to me, the charismatic hairdresser.

At your wedding in Hawaii, I made you exceptionally beautiful.

I'm officially showing off your bride look to everyone today, I'm so excited.

It's my job to clean you up. Right?

Very beautiful

For choosing me, I thank you.

Happy together

Really

That's true

Sorry, even before the ceremony.

Look up.

Even when I'm happy I cry

The ring fits on this finger.

Hand in hand

The two of us lived together, always laughing by my side. I love you, my beautiful person.

🌺 Track 11: Epilogue

Ha! Oh... I don't know...

I feel like I've cried for the rest of my life.

Huh?

Today's favorite is almost almost done.

What? Is that the image of me crying?

I think it's easy to get emotional.

But yeah!

Yes that's true!

We still have a lot of happy things waiting for us. It may not happen that the tears will dry up and not come out.

In the morning at your new home, when you answer the phone and say, "Yes, I want to hang up."

As much as I cry, you look red and busy.

*kiss*

Speaking of which, I received a congratulatory email from a church in Hawall.

"Please come again!"

Yeah, we'll definitely go there again.

This time with 3 people.

You and I, then

*kiss*

If it's our child, it's absolutely cute, right?

*laughs*

*kisses*

We’ll always be together.

love you

*kiss*

[maximuswolf]

Trip Report: Just spent a week caffeinating my way through Medellin & Bogotá Colombia! A coffee lovers dream.

Trip Report: Just spent a week caffeinating my way through Medellin & Bogotá, Colombia! A coffee lover’s dream. Trying this again since my last post got removed by the mods. My girlfriend & I just got back from an awesome week-long vacation in Colombia, spending 4 nights in Medellin & 4 nights in Bogotá. Finding great coffee shops is always a part of our pre-trip planning, but Colombia is really the first major coffee growing region we've visited, so we prioritized places known for in-house roasting or selling really high-quality beans.We hit at least one coffee shop every day. The cost for a great pour over was generally $2-4 USD (on the higher end usually being a Chemex of 2-3 cups) and a 12oz bag of beans was generally $7-9 (!!!) with the exchange rate.While a lot of the best Colombian beans still get exported, it seems like more Colombians are taking up an interest, passion, and pride in specialty coffee over the past several years. There were definitely lots of tourists & expats at the best shops, but we also saw a good amount of locals. I'm glad they're getting more of a chance to enjoy the amazing stuff they're producing in their own country.I'd generally recommend all the shops we stopped at because we did a lot of pre-trip research. I exclusively got pour-overs on this trip, but my girlfriend got some lattes that were also solid.Medellin: Rituales (in Laureles neighborhood), Pergamino (El Poblado), Hijamia (El Poblado)Bogota: Azahar (El Chico), Amor Perfecto (Chapinero Alto), Colo Coffee (multiple locations), Arte y Pasion (La Candelaria)In total, we brought back 6 bags of beans, which we're planning to work our way through over the next few months (only opening one at a time and keeping the others frozen in their sealed packaging in Ziploc freezer bags until we're ready to use them.Also in Medellin we went on an Airbnb Experience tour of small family coffee farm just outside the city, which was awesome and educational. The only other coffee farm tour I've been on was in Kauai, Hawaii and that was not one aimed at the third-wave coffee aficionados. This one was cool because we got to plant a coffee seed, learn how to identify the best ones to pick off a tree, run them through the machine that pulls off skin/pulp, see beans in various stages of drying / fermenting, and even roasted a few in real-time. The host's mom even made us all lunch. Really informative and a great experience.Not a coffee shop, but I also want to give a special shout out to the restaurant Leo in Bogotá. It's on the World's 50 Best list and lived up to the hype. It's definitely a splurge at $200/person for an 8 course tasting + wine pairings, but significantly less than an equivalent experience at a restaurant like that in the US, Europe, or Japan. AND they ended the meal with a chocolate and coffee pairing course, which included a final cup brewed on a siphon tableside of the coffee that won last year's award for the best in Colombia. It was a variety from Amor Perfecto. I didn't get a photo of the bag, but I'm betting it's this one. It very well may have been the best cup of coffee I've had in my life.Overall, we only saw a tiny portion of the country, but really enjoyed our time there. Awesome food & cocktails, really nice people, would highly recommend. Submitted April 03, 2023 at 04:01PM by murphyslaw86 https://ift.tt/8503YID via /r/Coffee

[kojiliving]

Japan + 1 Year of Living Here

Okay so it's almost been one year since my brother and I moved from Hawaii to Japan. And being completely honest with everyone, it has been WILD. Hawaii has a strong Japanese influence so the culture, food and perhaps how some people act were to be expected. BUT what we did not anticipate was the events and people. Let start off with the fact that we moved during Covid-19 restrictions. That in itself was a strange situation to prepare and go through. We entered Japan at a time when very few people were and this gave us an experience we probably will never have again. Seeing the streets of Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, etc empty was something I'd never thought possible and, yet we did. The feeling of moving into a home that was so far away from our childhood home was strange, exciting and mysterious. Yet we managed to make it our own and started building memories. Meeting people from around the world was never on our "to do list" and yet we met so many. All with beautiful stories, experiences and knowledge to pass on. We had tragedy as well. Our house was destroyed in a flood. Losing all of our precious items but we survived, unhurt and our dogs were okay as well. Moved into temporary housing until a new forever home could be found. Decided to be near cousins in Hokkaido so packed up, drove 25 hours, took ferries, went over mountains and got to Sapporo. Moved into our new home right before the snowy season started. Experienced my first winter that actually had lots of snow. Our doggos had babies. Ended up keeping 8 of the puppies born so now we have 10. Had numerous family and friends visit. Got our Japanese drivers licenses and experienced the Sapporo Snow Festival. With all that has happened in the last year, it honestly felt like a lifetime has passed. No one can ever say we didn't have a hell of a ride in Japan if we were forced to leave today. I'm hoping for a smooth renewal process of our visas, so that we can continue to make memories, experience life and explore whatever else Japan has to offer. If you're reading this, thank you. Thank you for being on this journey with us. I can't wait for what comes next.

[kalakian]

Filipinos are not Asians because Asians are smart

Reposting an essay we had to write a reaction paper about back in college. This is worth the read.

Don’t be fooled at once by the title of the entry. The story behind that statement excludes us.

Last year, a friend left the Philippines and went to the United States. In his German class, the students were international. The professor asked who the Asians were and one by one the Asian students introduced themselves. And so it went, the Chinese, the Koreans, the Vietnamese, the Singaporeans etc. all raised their hands. Finally the professor calls this Filipino and asks,

Professor: Where are you from?

Filipino: Philippines

Professor: Oh, Filipinos are not Asians! They are Pacific Islanders! Because ASIANS ARE SMART…

In the United States, it is already being taught in schools that Filipinos are not Asians—that we are Pacific Islanders. While there is a lot of reaction against it, I am surprised that many intelligent Filipinos abroad have accepted this without question.

Pacific Islands are places like Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Guam, Cook Islands, Mariana Islands—and their common denominator? Most of them do not possess their own national and political identities—they are islands under the jurisdiction and protection of more powerful countries like USA, France and New Zealand. Most of these Pacific Islands are still referred to as “indigenous natives.” They have very, very small populations and they have no global role or power. While they have their own unique culture and characteristics, they do not hail from any great civilization in the past. Hindi sila lumaban at tumayo para sa sarili nilang lahi.

What is even sad, however, is that even Pacific Islanders do not like and do not accept Filipinos! One good example are Hawaiian tourists we met in China. When they learned that we were Filipinos, they disgustingly uttered , “You eat Balot!” and avoided us like a plague.

The statement of this American guy, filled with racism obviously merits strong disapproval. In fact, our friend was so angry after having been humiliated in front of the class. The logical thing to say, is that the Philippines IS part of the ASEAN group of nations. We can also say that Japan is an island in the Pacific Ocean but is not considered a Pacific Island. But we should ask—why would no one dare to call the Japanese people Pacific Islanders? Why pick on the Philippines?

Simple. Because Japan has produced cars and we have produced dried mangoes and pastillas. The Philippines has been so left behind by Asian countries that foreigners shake their heads and ask, “What happened to your country?” Let us not even compare the Philippines with the four Tiger economies, ‘cuz they’re just way way way too far ahead. What about Vietnam and Thailand? I read that for every one Filipino who has a Master’s Degree, Vietnam has 6, Thailand has 25 and Singapore has 200. But why bother to be educated when the national dream is to go abroad? We are scattered from Hongkong to Kazakhstan, from Italy to even North Korea. Thousands of our doctors are becoming nurses. Our teachers become caregivers. Our women become entertainers and prostitutes. Our young people only know one course and that is nursing. Why would foreigners respect us when we do not even respect ourselves? We are the country of Gucci Gangs—our elite own Picassos and they simply have no heart to alleviate and educate the masses, as F. Sionil Jose and Brian Gorrell—the pitiful Australian guy who was robbed by DJ Montano—sadly pointed out.

I am reminded of Condoleezza Rice, the first black woman to become the United States Secretary of State. She was born in Alabama and suffered discrimination on account of her color. But she was taught from a young age by her father, that she had to be “twice as good”and prove that she was deserving of advancement. Condoleezza Rice explains, “I was going to be so well prepared, and I was going to do all of these things that were revered in white society SO WELL, that I would be armored somehow from racism. I would be able to confront white society on its own terms.” (Washington Post, Lessons of Might and Right, How Segregation and an Indomitable Family Shaped National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, By Dale Russakoff, September 9, 2001)

The only way to answer people, who insist that we are uncivilized tribes is not by shooting off our mouths. The only answer is to beat them by studying and working ten times harder than the rest—to beat them not just once or twice, but to do so consistently for the next 20,30, 40, 50 years. Unless we Filipinos are prepared to love our country, and sacrifice ourselves by doing the extra-mile, we really deserve to be called stupid.

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

Hi!

It’s been a while since we post something, so we thought we’d answer a few of the asks we received in the last couple of weeks! Sound good? Yes? Okay then let’s go!

Actually, one last thing, have you listened to With You yet today? No? Guess now is a perfect moment for it! And do you know Yoongi has a song out with Psy on Friday called That That? Well now you do! I’m super excited for it and so curious!

From anon: Hi. I hope you guys are doing well!! I miss your posts and I can't wait for guys to get back to blogging. No pressure though. The lack of your posts has led me to scour tumblr and I've come across some blogs that, nevermind.

Did any of you get tickets to see BTS in Vegas. Stay safe💜. I hope you come back to blogging soon about BTS and vmin

Unfortunately, neither of us got tickets for Las Vegas but Admin 1 watched each night via ARMY streams and then the official stream on the final day.

As for blogging, we still love BTS and vmin (as well as namjin), we��ve just been lacking motivation (and time) for a little. We’re not leaving or anything though, no, no. We’re still around. I had an idea for a namjin related post in regard to Outro: Herbut I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested in it. As for vmin, well, did you see them in that vlive with Hobi (and JK for the last 10 min)? With their giggles and Tae’s habit of wanting to give food to Jimin, sharing a spoon and Tae wanting to go with Jimin to the bathroom and being very pouty when he was told to stay? Adorable and basically vmin in their natural state when interacting with each other. Or when first Jimin and then Tae took over their twt account and Tae ended their takeover with setting a screenshot from their TinyDesk performance as profile picture where him and Jimin point at each other.

From anon: I don't wanna discredit any of bts' bonds because they're all super close but i'm baby army and i was wondering what the significance is of jkk's tokyo trip? cause jikook only talked about it close to the trip itself while vmin talk about their japan fukuoka memories for years and it seems more important? but fans rarely mention the vmin japan memory and always talk about jkk tokyo trip. does it have significance i don't know of?

I think the biggest factors that contribute to this are: xkookers being loud in their way of using ship tunnel vision, and the fact that the Tokyo trip has a GCF, as well as pictures/selcas and twts posted from/about it, while the vmin Fukuoka memory (or their memories of visiting the snow festival, going on a walk at night in London, and many others) only exists as anecdotes scattered around different content and interviews over the years. Plus, there are no pictures or videos from it either. So, if you missed the content where the Fukuoka memory is brought up, you might simply not know about it.

As shippers we have a tendency to assign more meaning to things pertaining to our ship while either ignoring or assigning lower “value” to things that do not. For example, while xKookers heavily focus on Tokyo with the argument that it was just the two of them so it must mean something, it is interesting that they ignore Jimin going on a trip to Hawaii and Europe with his friend in 2019 during their official vacation. Both those trips have accompanying videos, the GCF and Jimin’s vacation vlog, and were mentioned only for a short while after they happened and then not really brought up again later. Jimin had fun during both of those trips, so who is to judge which of the two means more to him, and who are we/shippers to assign higher or lower values to one or the other?

And no, I’m not saying this in an effort to discredit GCF Tokyo because it was a cute and fun trip that JK and Jimin went on and I’m sure they have fond memories of it, but since anon asked about it, I used it for my example, too.

Also, whether it has a significance you don’t know about, well, as far as we are aware Jimin wanted to go on a trip to Japan with both Tae and JK, but the schedule lined up in such a way that he could only go with JK. So, they went and JK used the trip to film and create his first GCF as a way to commemorate the trip as well as show us his passion for video making. Meanwhile the vmin Fukuoka memory represents one of many fond Japan memories that vmin have together, of going on walks at night, buying lunches/snacks at the convenience store, drinking beer, and going for a walk to Fukuoka Dome. They’d looked at the venue and promised each other that one day they would perform there. And eventually, a few years later, they did. The last time the memory was brought up was by Tae in the making footage from the Film Out MV/BTS The Best DVD content in 2021 I believe.

More below the cut:

From anon: Hello! I love your Blog ^_^! I am also very new to Tumblr ( 3 days hahah) I would like to ask you, where do you think Vmin are at this stage of their relationship no matter if it's a friendship or a relationship? You know people change, emotions change, dreams change... where are they now? ( I love Vmin BTW and not shipper just for clarification) Thank you!!

I’d say that is an impossible question to answer as outsider, one that really only they themselves would be able to answer accurately. Through watching them and the habits they’ve formed together, things they say and mention, like Tae calling Jimin first thing after waking up or wanting to go to the bathroom together like it’s the most normal thing between them, we can get an idea of it though.

From anon: Hi admin ♡♡♡ I love your blog though I kinda wish you have a masterlist of topics/q's you have discussed already. I wish you'd make one when you have time hehe thank you. Anw, i hope you are well!

I’ll admit I once started to make one (now I’m cursing past me for not finishing it at the time) but after posting 300+ posts it is a bit of a daunting and very time-consuming task so for now I can only say that we’ll have one posted…eventually.

From anon: It's quite interesting to see the guys shine so much more recently. Their Instagram accounts and individuality is peaking at the moment I feel. Taehyung is literally going around making western artist friends and living his jazz fanatic self, old soul like lol

Truly their IG accounts have been a blessing and bring out their personalities so cutely with Namjoon’s feed being all earth tones and museum visits and nature, Hobi being the king of style making everyone relieved he chose music and not modeling because his pictures and visual? Wow. Then there’s Tae seemingly posting whatever and yet it somehow makes sense as he shows us his love for jazz, old music and movies, his selcas and vcuts, very cute. Then we have JK who, after being the member that seemed to stay away from sns the most for a very long time, blessed us with several multiple hour long Q&A sessions in his IG Stories, with boxing videos and even song and dance covers. I very much did not see that coming. Seokjin, Yoongi and Jimin seem to be the least active out of all the members, with Jimin struggling the most to figure out IG and preferring to just stick to Weverse instead.

It’s cute to see them use their platforms differently, to see if you like a post before Hobi does, and if you’ll catch Tae’s IG Story before he inevitably deletes it.

From anon: Nothing funnier than people saying shipping (i mean harmless shipping, not believing) is disrespectful when april 1st reminds me of when jimin made a whole ass article about namjin dating. Jimin #1 namjin shipper me thinks

This, honestly. Still makes me wonder to this day what led him to that idea and made him actually do it. Guess Jimin simply knows things we don’t. ;)

Also this adorable gif made out of the namjin video Jimin once posted claiming they looked like “husband and wife”, if my memory doesn’t fool me:

The following three asks follow a similar line of thinking/questioning so I’ve decided to group them together:

From anon: I started using the BIRD app again (was not using it for the sake of my sanity) and now i regret it. Alot of antis calling friends 'soulmate shit'(wtf?!) And now these T/kkers think that Bighit is now planning Vmin> J/kk and calling vminies J*KERS. I'm not engaged in arguing with them but just watching these things being said about vmin , their bond and us.... breaks my heart.

From anon: Hi. Can I just rant here? I'm tired of people constantly ignoring vmin and saying JK and Jimin are the closest. I don't have any issue with people not shipping them or not seeing anything in them. I do have an issue with people acting like vmin aren't the two closest members.

I know Jimin and JK are close but it's constantly annoying when you have two members continuously highlighting how special they are to each other and some people are just here denying their bond while also trying to make it seem like they are objective.

From anon: Heyhey! I have a question. When i became army i thought vmin would be THE ship but it turns out the 2 other ML ships are bigger and vmin is taken less serious. Now i saw some ppl say that it's because vmin have clearly defined their rs as "friends" but i am confused cause haven't tkk also called friends and have jkk not said often they are like (bio) brothers? Is that not also defining a rs' nature? I wonder if there are any other differences/explanations?

Most of this can be boiled down to: loud (usually leaning toward toxic) shippers creating an environment in which their chosen ship is the end all be all while everyone else is just whatever because, well, they said so. But you know why all of that has long stopped bothering me? Because regardless of how shippers, antis, mantis, whoever else might try to downplay the bond vmin share, and how they might twist the nature of their bond to fit whichever mold they allow vmin to occupy, none of it affects reality at all. Vmin are soulmates (and boyfriends) and having strangers on twt saying they are just distant acquaintance who just happen to be in the same band and secretly hate each other won’t change or affect that at all.

The only ones who truly know what the bonds within BTS are like, who the closest members are and in which way, are the members themselves. They’ve given us years’ worth of insight into their different dynamics and bonds, how they’ve changed, evolved, and matured over the years, and if some are not willing to listen because certain things don’t fit their narratives, that’s their problem and not that of the members. And the amount of times Tae and Jimin have highlighted their closeness and importance to each other? Incredible.

Which brings me back to the thing I’ve written an entire post about: the importance of curating your TL to stay away from the toxicity and things that will ruin your experience as ARMY first, shipper second.