#looks like that was also when all stars 6 was airing so probably why i missed it

[fungusgnat444]

Random König headcanons

SFW and NSFW also (don’t worry if you just want SFW everything is labeled), mentions of anxiety/poor self worth, autistic coded König, nerd könig, angst if you squint, mentions of size difference, mentions of a gun kink(nothing too fucked up I promise), könig wears a buttplug lol, Slight breeding kink, mentions of creampie, assumed unprotected sex (wrap it up tho fr), König being a lil freak in general honestly, kinda sub König in some parts but also some dom, afab femme reader, descriptions of anatomy(mostly him but a little about reader too),reader works with könig, I think that’s it

Real name: Jacob Schröder

Age:26 (born September 30th because I said so)

home town: Badgastein (it’s so pretty and snowy☺️)

appearance: 6”10, deep auburn curly hair, very pale with freckles, large, aquailine nose, super thick eyelashes and eyebrows, blue/green eyes (like mostly blue but with a little green)

SFW

Although he love physical touch his favourite love language is quality time and I can not be convinced otherwise. At first you thought it was a little creepy how he would just silently sit with you basically doing nothing but he genuinely likes just spending time with you. Sees you alone in the mess hall? Even if he’s already eaten he’ll just sit and watch you eat in silence. Reading a book? He’ll sit you in his lap and read over your shoulder (secretly thinks most of the books you read are garbage but he doesn’t really care). He honestly just likes that you’re there, you don’t even have to do anything lol. Likes physical affection too but in a more subtle way usually. Sometimes cuddling and making out or whatever overwhelms him and makes him feel claustrophobic. Most of the time he just likes holding your hand or having his hand resting on your thigh or playing with your hair while you have your head in his lap. Loves it when you play with his hair too, usually puts him to sleep.

speaking of which this man can and will sleep anywhere. On days he’s not working he’ll probably have to have at least one nap or he’ll get all grumpy. As much as you feel bad for him when he’s tired you have to admit he always looks so cute. All puffy eyed and pouty. Often forces you to nap with him even if you tell him you’re not tired. If you just wait for him to fall asleep and try to leave he’s immediately awake and holding you so tight you almost feel like you’ll pass out. He could sleep through an air raid but if you try to leave he’s on high alert. Also I fear because he’s broken his nose so many times, this man’s snoring will make your house shake.

I can’t explain why but I feel like he’s a massive nerd. Like has a protective glass case filled with warhammer 40k figurines, probably spent his entire live savings on a pc, camps out at stores when a new game is getting released, rants at you about the Halo lore type of nerd. also he’s definitely forced you to watch Star Trek and hates that the next generation is your favourites. Is definitely a dungeon master So if you show even the slightest interest in dnd our boy is stuttering, blushing, trying to get you to join his dnd group. Bitte schatz, I came up with a whole new campaign just for you🥺 you’ll like it I swear.

Although it might be a little toxic I definitely think he can be overly protective/possessive of you. Honestly you kind of like it but you know he only acts this way because he’s insecure. Making you sit in his lap when he has friends over so they know not to look at you to much, making you wear his jacket if you get too much attention in public and glaring at any man who walks past. You always know he’s feeling jealous when his pupils are like pin pricks and he’s breathing like a bull with his fists clenched. He’s gotten into fights a few times so you usually have to calm him down. He’s always super embarrassed and apologetic after. Buying you some expensive pretty thing so you don’t hate him. Even if you don’t care or kinda like it he always feels guilty. He feels guilty a lot in general with you. That such a pretty sweet girl is stuck with him. As such he doesn’t take compliments very well. Usually clenching his jaw and furrowing his thick brows while he mutters something passive aggressive to himself, “Scheiß lügner…”. Although if you keep saying the compliment and giving him attention he’ll eventually start believing you. Blushing and struggling to look at you.

Probably takes him quite a while to feel comfortable showing you his full face or even telling you his real name. Even once you’ve already seen it sometimes he still hides his face on days he’s feeling particularly insecure. Once before you’d seen his face you asked one of his friends, horangi, about it. He said they’d known each other almost a decade and he’d only seen his face a few times, most of which were accidental. König had a pretty miserable time as a teenager. He only really bulked out when he was about 17, right before he joined the military. Believe it or not he was pretty scrawny for most of his life. Once he said he used to be built like a lamppost. Before the military he was generally quite quiet and timid. He still is almost always very quiet. This in combination with his more nerdy interests and the fact that talking to a pretty girl for too long gave him a nosebleed made him a pretty easy target for bullies. He was always shy about his appearance but in the early days of his military career his self esteem plummeted when he got a face full of shrapnel during a mission. Luckily they got him to a medic fast but there’s only so much they could do. He hates the scars. Hates the attention. You’re the only person who’s ever made him feel better about it. Kissing every scar, cooing at him while he cries into your chest after another shitty day. Tell him you’re proud of him and how handsome he is. Even if he doesn’t believe it, he at least feels better knowing you believe it at least.

NSFW

He has barely any experience but he fucks with such desperation that it never ceases to make your legs shake. Loves folding you into whatever position he wants and just spearing you like a fish in a barrel, unable to move or escape. Can get a little too rough sometimes when he’s lost in the moment but the moment he sees any form of discomfort from you he whispering soft apologies in your ear and slowing his pace till he’s balls deep just gently grinding against you while he kisses away your tears. As much as he loves treating you like a rag doll. Deep down all he wants is to satisfy you. Sometimes he won’t even fuck you he’ll just eat you out for a few hours like he’s digging for gold. Love tasting you more than anything else. Especially when you’re overstimulated and clutching his empty head between your soft thighs like you’re trying to crush him.

this man is hung like a god. It’s almost too big. Every time it’s a struggle for you to take it all. The struggle only makes it hotter for him. Loves it when you look up at him all teary eyed, pouting because you’re disappointed you can’t fit anymore in. He loves making a mess of you and he’s so fucking good at it. But he’s just as much a mess for you too. Whimpering and panting like a dog with your hands around his neck. Begging you to let him fill you up with yet another load.

I feel like he probably has a few kinks that are a little obscure. Like he loves eating you out through a pair of tights, hearing them rip loudly in his tight grip right before he impales you. Wearing a buttplug while he’s fucking you makes his brain turn to sawdust. Sloppily plunging into you in doggy and drooling on your sweaty back from above. Letting you ride him, telling him he’s not allowed to move while you hold the barrel of one of his handguns against his forehead or stuffed in his mouth (it’s unloaded of course, he’s not actually insane). If you surprise him by pulling the trigger, that little clicking noise will have him gasping shakily and his eyes rolling back. The noises he makes are absolutely whorish. So desperate and loud and involuntary.

he loves aftercare both giving and receiving. After sex he’s just as fragile as you are. Usually shaking and panting for a good while as he peppers you in thousands of kisses. Loves having a bath with you after. You laying on his chest while he washes your hair for you. Always asks you if he did a good job. He’s like a puppy after he’ll do anything you ask.

German translations: “bitte schatz” please sweetheart. “Scheiß Lügner” fucking liar

[ficyorick]

[BE] deleted scenes clean-up :) - ch5

with chapter 6 published, heres a scene i was holding onto from chapter 5 (the one with the kessler reveal). originally, butcher was going to disclose a bit more about his traumatic childhood, prompting homelander to be a rude cunt to him. i removed that scene bc i felt like it was a). too self-aware for both of them b). i didnt want homelander to be TOO feisty from the get-go, i wanted to work up to it. i still like this scene tho, like homelander WOULD just ask someone 'why did ur parents even have you 🤨'. i'm sad we also lost some butcher reflecting on his abusive childhood (and how it might echo what he's doing to HL now) but i do think the chapter is better without this. the scene was cut before the final edits so pls excuse grammar/clunkiness

___________________________

“My da was a proper fuckin’ asshole...” He informed Homelander. The former Supe glanced at him, probably surprised at the topic. Billy rarely spoke about himself, after all, Homelander was the star of this show. But maybe the hangover was making him nostalgic for the good ol’ times. “He’d beat the shit out of me mum and my younger brother.” Butcher conveniently left himself out of that sentence. 

He watched for a reaction. Homelander just slightly reclined and propped his head up with his fist, trying to appear like he wasn’t listening. As if Butcher didn’t know he was dying for anything that wasn’t related to his own suffering. 

“So when I tell you that Soldier Boy would’ve fucked ya up… More than you already are…” Billy raised his palm and swooped it through the air in a cutting motion, slapping his own knee. “You better believe it.” 

“Ugh.” Homelander just made an annoyed noise. “I’m not taking advice from a man who zip-tied me. Or a human raised by other humans. It’s not the fucking same.” 

“How’s it different?” Butcher raised a brow. 

“It just is.” Homelander shrugged. And then, suddenly emboldened, he scoffed at him again: “Why’d your parents have you?” 

Butcher snorted. Another testament to how funny Homelander was. 

“Oi, you rude fuckin’ twat. You can’t just ask people that.” 

“I’m serious.”

”People don’t always… plan for things.” Billy always just assumed he was a happy little accident. Because he could never imagine his mom and his dad sitting down to plan a family, picking out a house and the nearest school, already crossing off days till he was born. Or maybe the worse scenario was that it was exactly how it happened. And then just a few years after he was born, he made everything go to shit. 

“What’s that like?” Homelander interrupted his musings, an insistent question next to him. 

“What’s what like?” He muttered. 

“Having no reason behind your existence.” 

“Fuck me, you’re a rude cunt today.” Billy all but whistled.

”I’m serious. What’s it like to just be born with no committee over your head?” Homelander was now staring at him with a very unimpressed look in his eyes, his head still propped up. Like he just got challenged to a fight he could win without breaking a sweat. “Nobody had to sign off on an executive decision to make you to keep stakeholders happy. What’s that like?” 

Billy just watched him. And looked away. Maybe discussing the finer points of parenthood and child upbringing with a lab rat didn’t make as much sense as he thought it did.

[st4rbe0m]

SUMMARY ▸ 20 years ago, a gruesome murder shook the town hard. A type of murder that should've never happened, much less in their quaint town. A lovely family killed in cold blood with an unforgiving axe wielding maniac - a mother, a father and a little girl.

It's been 20 years down the road, hasn't it? Then why are these 10 teenagers stuck in a loop of the same day, being haunted by a little girl who died 20 years ago?

PAIRING ▸ Park Jongseong (Jay) x fem!reader

STARRING ▸ Enhypen members, aespa members (Giselle and NingNing). Any pairings made between Enhypen and aespa members is with clear fictional intent

WC ▸ 2.7K

TAG LIST ▸ open!! send an ask to be added

A/N ▸ I'm so proud of this cliffhanger hehehe had my hands rubbing devious grin on my face and everything as I typed it out. Also thank you for the support on this fic! Pls PLS don't be silent readers and do leave comments and reblogs! I'd love to hear thoughts and remarks from you guys <33

WOULD YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE THE BODY SEARCH ?

▊ yes -> CHAPTER 6

▊ no -> CHAPTER 4

BODY SEARCH MASTERLIST

The salt air is sticky and tangy on everyone’s tongue, mouths wide open in shrieking laughter and joyous squeals. A much needed break, it was today, the repeat of the day before and the day after, that the group had decided to head down to the beach. 

“I can feel my lungs close around me. I can’t breathe guys. I can see the light.” Heesung was sprawled across the stone bench of the school park, while Sunghoon chewed on a mango popsicle and eyed his friend wearily, annoyed by his complaints. “Heesung, you’d probably stop dying if you complained less”, said Sunoo, equally fed up with Heesung - not because the boy was in any serious danger. No, he just missed his girlfriend. Giselle, it seemed, reveled in the time she had with Y/N and NingNing, which made her boyfriend’s spirits shrivel as he was left to hangout with the other boys of their group. “You don’t get it, you guys. It’s withdrawal symptoms. Oh Jungwonie, I can barely even see you, my vision is going out.” Jungwon called out from where he was - completely opposite and in no way near Heesung’s line of sight, as he exclaimed, “I’m nowhere even near you dipshit, of course you can’t see me!”

Jay was sort of done with Heesung’s whining, and if he had to hear about how much Giselle would save Heesung from his fate, his head would explode. So he did the only thing he could think of, the only solution - he dialed Y/N. He had just remembered to ask her for her phone number just yesterday, when they walked to class together. Hands intertwined, sharing warmth, it certainly made his classmates raise hell when they saw the school loner with the school’s golden goose. But it didn’t matter, because they didn’t remember anything today anyways. 

The memory of yesterday still had his heart leaping in gleeful somersaults inside him, as he remembered just how beautiful Y/N looked under the waning glow of the sunlight, hair caressing the sides of her face softly, skin that he was sure would feel like heaven under his touch. Maybe if he got bold enough, one day he’d get there. One day, where the sun rose for a second time to greet a different day. 

“Jay, you’re thinking something again”. Y/N pointed out as she noticed the furrow in his brow. “Nothing, nothing”. The pair kept walking down, hands now swinging in mild amusement of their circumstances. Now they were recounting their hilarious fails from all their deathly escapades every night - “I honestly don’t know how she found us in the pool! And seriously, I don’t know what got into NingNing that made her think hiding in the pool - a body of water where we can drown easily is a wonderful idea!” Y/N animatedly recounted to Jay, hands flying about as she chatted along in enthusiasm, Jay hanging on to her every word with wonder, as he gazed upon the girl who seemed more talkative than ever now that she’d broken out of her shell. “Wait, you can’t swim?”, asked Jay, who was now more than amused as he got to know of this little tidbit. “Hey, that’s not what you should be focusing on right now.”, she laughed and swatted his arm. “No, no. I just think it’s cute that you haven’t learnt even after the water park.” “Well back then I had you, didn’t I?”. Y/N looked at him with a twinkling mirth, which made his breath hitch in his throat. And having no idea where the surge of confidence came from, he just looked right back into her eyes, and said, “Aw, so you still need me to save you? Just stay close to me, like I said”, flexing a bicep up, he added, “I can fight.”

In any other case, this would’ve had Y/N cringing. But this was Jay. Tall, smart, muscular and chivalrous Jay. So obviously, it just had Y/N standing in a flustered mess as gaping eyes stared into him. Breaking out of the embarrassing stupor, she just continued along, tugging at the boy who was now sporting a confidence in his gait, “Alright, alright we get it, basketball captain.” Offhandedly, she also said, “At least we know Sunghoon can’t save me since he’ll be busy saving Ning”, in reference to the newfound knowledge she had about her friend’s feelings, when she gasped in realization about what she’d spilled. Looking at Jay in shock, she hastily waved her hands around, trying to undo the damage. “Forget I said that! Who even is Sunghoon? I don’t know anyone with that name!”, laughing unsurely. Jay just slowly grabbed the palm of her hand that she’d let go from his, pulling her closer by just an inch to him, as he said smugly, “Don’t worry, I know. Who do you think has been wingman for both of them?”. That’s when Y/N remembered why NingNing and Jay would hangout so often. Softening up from her slip up, her hand relaxed into his as they kept going again. “Yeah, Ning told me and Giselle while we were talking about our crushes.” “Our crushes?”, asked Jay, which had Y/N slightly stiffening up again. Damn Park Jay, she thought, he has me spilling everything out in the open just like that. “Ning has a crush on Hoon, we know this. Giselle and Heesung have been together since eternity. So ‘our’ here would also mean the crush you have on someone, right?”. Damn that Park Jay, was all Y/N could think as she laughed nervously and said, “Well not necessarily right? I don’t think so.” Jay halted Y/N again, still holding her hand. The smile he gave her was dazzling this time, and it seemed that Y/N was collecting all of his charming grins like a bouquet in her mind. “That’s a slight relief.” “Why?” Y/N was confused. Not meeting her eyes, he just said, “Wouldn’t want the prettiest girl in school falling for anyone else now, would we?”

That was yesterday. And today, as Jay had dialed up Y/N and explained Heesung’s lamentations, a half-annoyed, half-charmed Giselle had just asked the boys to meet the girls where they were planning to go - the beach. To have a day off, and as a celebration. Because the group had achieved something they were building up to for a while - they’d collected almost all of the body parts. In fact, only one crucial part was missing. The head. The head of the missing, dead girl was all they had to find, to brave past the girl covered in blood bent on haunting them. 

“Last one in the water loses!”, called out an excited Jungwon, breezing past the girls in his striped tank top and pineapple beach shorts. “Someone’s excited”, commented Riki, who was lugging along a picnic basket he’d arranged impromptu. The youngest of their group, albeit quiet, was one of the most thoughtful juniors Y/N had met. Thanking him for his gesture, he just laughed and gave her a cheeky salute as he joined Jake, wrestling the older yet shorter boy into the water. The excited screams of the group were a much-needed contrast from the blood-curdling ones they heard during their deathly games. The girls had quickly changed from their coverups into their beachwear, and Y/N was involved in a serious game of beach volleyball with NingNing on her team, against Sunghoon and Jay. Giselle was lounging on the beach towel as Heesung, who finally got the girlfriend time he was deprived of, sat next to her, lathering sunscreen onto himself. “How is this split even fair? You guys are literally trained athletes”, complained the ever-competitive NingNing, who also did have a fair point. “Fine then, let’s switch. Sunghoon, join NingNing. I’ll join Y/N”. The double intention of these actions didn’t fly past anyone, as all four of them seemed to be hyper aware of themselves now. Sunghoon, who simply greeted Ning with a nod and cleared his throat as he set his eyes on the ball that Jay was serving, stood opposite Y/N, who was also watching Jay, for completely different reasons. The way the heat beating down on them made him sweat, the sheen covering his tan skin deliciously. The way he posed with accuracy with the ball, slender yet toned arms accentuating his biceps. Jay served the ball with precision, and it was immediately received by NingNing as she expertly passed it over to where Y/N was, blushing as Sunghoon praised her as she did. Y/N also caught the ball with a dip, hitting right over the net by a bare minimum, which had Sunghoon pile diving into the sand to catch.

The game went on until Sunghoon and NingNing won, the pair high fiving each other, giggling to each other with burning ears, praising the way they both handled themselves. A teasing Jay made his way to where Y/N was, dusting the sand off her shorts. “You know what, let me buy you an ice cream. Let’s celebrate how we held our own against the Ice Prince and his Class President Princess over there.” Glancing over to where NingNing and Sunghoon were still talking amongst themselves, now much more calm and with eyes fixed on each other, Y/N simply nodded as she followed Jay along to the corner store right by the beach. After paying the vendor, the two of them sat on the staircase that led to the beach, simply enjoying the weather, the view and the company. A silence that blanketed them in comfort, not awkwardness. “Y/N.” Jay broke the silence suddenly, but not startlingly. “Hmm”, Y/N hummed in response, curious as to what the boy wanted to ask. “Have an ice cream with me tomorrow as well?”, he asked. “Sure, why not”, Y/N said, not thinking too much into it. Her and Jay were hanging out quite frequently anyways, and this was not all that of a strange request from him. “No, I mean the real tomorrow. A tomorrow that isn’t a Tuesday again. A tomorrow where the sun rises over a new time”. His eyes were determined as he looked at where she sat. There was no guarantee in this. This wasn’t one of Jay’s basketball games where the outcome of the match could be predicted. But the way Y/N’s hand was on top of his palm, her body leaned slightly into him, and from the way she smiled at him all the time - he had a feeling the odds were in his favor. “What do you say?”

The hope that was in the air was buzzing. It was thrown into the wind along with caution, and it was about whether Y/N would catch onto it. 

“Yes, Jay. I’ll have ice cream with you tomorrow.”

A promise. 

A promise between two hearts, young and beating with life and purpose. A promise that neither of the two hearts were sure they’d be able to keep. 

“Guys, come here!”. The urgence in the outcry of Giselle’s voice made the two run as fast as they could, kicking up sand to where the rest of the group had already assembled. Sunoo was on the sand, clutching the bag which contained all the evidence Jungwon had collected regarding the body search. “I was looking for my sunglasses in this bag, when I saw it.” There seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary in what Sunoo was clutching, the newspaper article and the books. That’s when Y/N looked to see the color draining from Jay’s face, and the rest of her friends looking right at her in indescribable fear. And when she looked down again at the newspaper, she saw the difference. 

‘10 year old Y/N Y/L/N brutally murdered along with her parents at Sakcho WaterPark by unknown intruder ; body of the deceased is yet to be found.’

[rorywritesjunk]

Oh, go to sleep, Little Skylark. Fly up past the stars

After breaking your heart, Buggy is cursed to be a kid again. The last thing you want to do is be involved with this.

Rating: PG-13ish. Warning: A crying kid. Mentions of kidnapping. Reader is not nice to the kid in this chapter either, gets fed up, but also owns up to it, so a heads up. Also an adult lying to a kid because what else do you do in a situation like this? This story and how the Reader deals with Kid Buggy is different than the other Kid Buggy story. Reader probably just needs therapy or something I'm realizing. A/N: I'm almost done with this story, just working out some things with the end of it.

Title comes from “Little Skylark (safe at home)” by S.J. Tucker.

Chapter 1 + Chapter 2 + Chapter 3 + Chapter 4 + Chapter 5 + Chapter 6 + Chapter 7 + Chapter 8 TAGLIST: @lostfirefly @fluffybunnyu @plethora-of-fickleness @ane5e @valen-yamyam16 @lavanderdreamve @jollycandyruins

Chapter 5

You managed to convince Mohji and Cabaji to let you off the ship the next day so long as you had the pepper balls Buggy once made for you to defend yourself. You could fight if you needed to, preferring to use punches and kicks instead of weapons, so initially you didn’t think the pepper balls would be important until you both got drunk at one point and tested it out between the two of you. The gasps for air, burning eyes, and the painful stinging on your lips and face told you how effective they were so you made sure to carry a few with you at all times.

Buggy was excited to be off the ship with you. He tried to dart ahead of you but you grabbed his hand before he could disappear. The two warned you again about the risks before you left, but you needed to find the witch. Buggy needed to be changed back to normal so you could move on with life. 

It was only the third day and you were exhausted. Neither of you cried yet today but it was hard not to at times when the kid looked at you with a smile, reminding you when he would smile at you whenever he saw you, but the last few months that smile wasn’t there, or it wasn’t really a smile, more like he was just tolerating you at that point. 

Every time you thought of how the last month was in particular it was hard. You were starting to pick up on the little details of how the relationship was failing. He would shut you out whenever you tried to talk to him, stopped kissing you and if you tried he’d turn away. And when he started nitpicking your meals, saying that nothing tasted good, that hurt the most. 

Now here he was as a kid, wanting your attention, needing to be close to you, and thinking your meals were the best ever. It was weird for you to deal with.

You two walked along, the kid’s head turning every which way as he looked at everything. It was kind of cute and when the crowds thinned out, you let go of his hand to let him run on ahead, but he only walked a few steps ahead, keeping you within sight as you gave him directions on which way to go. Cabaji told you how to find the house again and you hoped this trip would be a success. 

“Hey, look, wanted posters!” He pointed out as he hurried over to the wall. You swore softly and followed after him, managing to get there a few steps ahead of him to rip one down off the wall. He looked at you funny before turning his attention back to the wall with a frown. “I don’t recognize any of these faces. Where’s Captain Roger’s poster?”

“Maybe someone took it for a souvenir.” You said as you rolled up the one in your hand. Buggy looked back at you, narrowing his eyes before he snatched the poster from you and unrolled it. “Wait, Buggy-”

His eyes went wide and his mouth fell open in shock when he saw the face smirking back at him. The bright red nose stood out on the poster and Buggy looked up at you. Was this a relative he didn’t know about? He looked so much like Buggy, and when he read the name, he almost dropped the poster. 

“W-Who is this?!” He demanded. “Why does he look like me?! We have the same name!”

“That guy? Oh, uh…” You had to think quickly as you picked the poster back up and tried to stick it back on the wall out of his reach. “Buggy, everyone has someone who looks like them in the world, and they aren’t always related. You just… happen to look like him.”

“We have the same nose!” He exclaimed. “He’s an imposter!” Then, without missing a beat, “Where’s your wanted poster?

“Who knows, but Buggy, we have to get going, we’re going to go meet someone.” You said as you tugged him along down the road. He followed after you, keeping his eyes on the wall, specifically on that poster of the one that looked like him. It was unsettling to see someone who looked just like him, from the hair down to the nose, but that man was older. “Come on, we don’t have much farther to go.”

He fell quiet as he followed, eventually looking away from the wall and to the path ahead. Occasionally he’d look up at you, but you weren’t looking at him, but you were alert, looking around at the people you would pass. Your hand tightened around his when a group of men walked by and he noticed you pulled him a little closer when he saw one of them look at the two of you with a smirk.

Finally you came upon a row of little houses. You spotted the house immediately, seeing the abundance of flowers throughout the front yard. There was a spot of upturned soil and some dying flowers nearby. That was it. You sighed and pulled the kid along with you as you opened the gate and went up to the front door, knocking as politely as you could. A young woman opened the door and your brain short circuited for a moment. If this was the witch then she had every right to curse Buggy for calling her old. She looked younger than you. When she saw the kid she smirked, leaning against the door frame with her arms crossed.

“Can I help you?” She asked, looking between the two of you. “You must be the girlfriend he was stealing flowers for.”

That stung. You glared at her as you pushed Buggy’s hand away from picking his nose and pulled him in front of you.

“Change him back.” You demanded. “Fix him, please!”

Buggy looked up at you, feeling insulted. “There’s nothing wrong with me!”

“Why should I change him back?” The witch asked with a raised eyebrow. “He acted like a child so I found it fitting to change him back to one. What, you don’t want to care for your boyfriend now?”

“He’s not my boyfriend! Stop calling him that!” You snapped. “He’s got someone else now but I’m the one stuck having to take care of this kid, so please change him back!”

The witch frowned and looked back at Buggy. He was glaring up at her. “Does he? Hm, well, I don’t want to.”

“What?!”

“Well, not so much as I don’t want to in that this will stay in effect for a while. I can’t just change him back because you don’t want to take care of him.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Now is it two days, two weeks… two years?”

“Two years?!” You shrieked. “I can’t even do two days! And… and it’s been over two days! Why won’t he change back?!”

The witch shrugged. “Maybe it’s four days, or four weeks? Maybe four years.” She looked down at Buggy. “Hard to remember since I’m old.”

“She’s older.” Buggy pointed at you. You swatted him on the head for that. “Hey!”

“Please, I can’t take care of a kid. You have to change him back to an adult.” You begged. “What do you want? I’ll do anything!”

The witch shrugged. “He’ll stay this way for a certain amount of time, just don’t know how long.”

“No, you can’t do this to me!” You cried as you grabbed her by the shoulders. “I can’t take care of him any longer, do you understand?! He broke my heart and I’m having to take care of him! Please please change him back so I can move on with my life! This isn’t fair!”

The witch shoved you back. “It wasn’t fair that he tore up my garden for you.”

“He didn’t do it for me!” You shot back as tears started rolling down your cheeks. “Are you even listening?! He has another girlfriend! Where is she, why isn’t she here dealing with this kid?!”

“Not my problem.” The witch told you. “Now go away or the curse will be permanent. I’ll make it so you can never leave him.”

She slammed the door in your face, leaving you crying on the front porch. Buggy pushed away from you as he began storming down the path to the gate. You wiped your eyes on the back of your hand as you followed after him. He got to the gate and struggled to open it for a moment before getting out of the yard.

“Buggy-” You reached for him but he jerked away from you.

“Who are you?!” He demanded as he spun around to face you. You were a little surprised to see tears in his eyes, but this was different. He was upset, yes, but it wasn’t what you saw before. He looked angry. “What’s going on?! What do you mean I got turned into a kid? I am a kid!”

“Buggy, it’s… it’s complicated.” You said as you tried to stop your own tears. “I don’t know where to even begin.”

“Stop lying to me!” He shrieked. “You’ve been lying to me this whole time, haven’t you?! Does Roger even know where I am?! Did you kidnap me?!” He took a step back from you. “Where’s my captain?! I want to go home!”

This was it. You couldn’t do this anymore.

“Captain Roger has been dead for over twenty years!” You snapped, startling him. The witch pissed you off, the situation pissed you off, and you couldn’t deal with this any longer. “You’re a grown man who pissed off a witch and was turned into a child! And I’m surprised it didn’t happen earlier with the way you act!” 

Buggy stared at you in shock. “W-hat do you mean h-he’s dead?”

“I’ve been telling you a lie this entire time because I was trying to protect you! You-you don’t know what time you’re in because you were cursed to be a kid again!” You told him, not caring that he was growing upset with what he was being told. “And I’m pretty sure I was apparently cursed by the universe to have to take care of you, which was the last thing I would have ever wanted, Buggy! As an adult you broke my heart and I got dragged back into this mess by Mohji because you don’t know when you keep your damn mouth shut!”

He took another step back, words sinking in. You didn’t want to take care of him? He didn't understand what you were telling him. How could his Captain be dead? This had to be a lie. What was this nonsense about being an adult when he was a kid. 

“Y-You’re crazy!” He shot back. “My captain is alive and waiting for me to come back!” He glared at you, stomping his foot as he clenched his fists. Tears were rolling down his face now. “No wonder you don’t have a boyfriend since you’re this crazy! Are you even a pirate captain or just pretending?!” He shook his head. “I gotta find Roger.”

He turned away from you and started running. 

Swearing, you got up to go after him but he was faster. 

Shit. Why did you say those things to him? You turned back to look at the house. The witch opened the door and glared at you.

“Close the gate behind you.”

You did as you were told, glaring back at her. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“I’m not doing anything to you.” She snapped. “It’s your stupid boyfriend who caused all of this. ‘Oh, she’ll like these flowers. I better apologize for being an ass to her.’ Pathetic man.”

“He’s not my boyfriend! Stop saying that!” You stomped your foot. “H-he broke my heart for no reason! I left him because I couldn't be around him anymore! I hate him!

“No, you don’t hate him.” She chuckled. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be taking care of him.” She crossed her arms. “Better go after the kid or he’ll end up kidnapped. There’s some unsavory pirates about.”

“Yea? Maybe it should happen. I can’t deal with this any more.” You rubbed your eyes, sniffing loudly. “I hate him.”

“Yea, the adult, not the bratty kid.” She told you. “Go find him.”

She slammed the door after that while you glared in her direction.

[mrsnancywheeler]

can’t help but wonder what daisy has to say about billy and his muse… hmm. i feel like she’d have some words about muse’s age, how young she is, and since she’s always starting fights with billy to begin with i can’t imagine it would do poor muse any good. i think daisy would feel some sort of kinship with her because of their shared experiences with absent parents and getting into bad situations with people older than them, i just don’t believe she would handle it responsibly 💀 wanting to help muse develop her own sound and come into herself musically outside of billy dunne and the rest of the band turns into holing up at daisy’s place for days on end and getting ridiculously high together. and i doubt billy would be too happy with his girl showing up completely strung out after vanishing off the face of the earth for a week either. hanging out with daisy feels good but frequently makes things worse instead of better. they’re so interesting i love thinking about them

I'm literally sat for this, I've been thinking about this since it was sent it and need to doscuss with y'all

okay so timeline wise I imagine muse met billy when they were still just the six but like after they'd gained some fame. obviously in this universe there's no camilla, I'd never hurt my girl more, and so billy is just a ticking time bomb of fame and ego and all of his dreams. and he's good but not as good as he thinks he is so when teddy has the idea to give an edge to the six by a collaboration with daisy jones he's still obviously very pissed but now muse is there too, there relationship is probably like 6 months old or so.

and daisy is changing lyrics, she brings so much energy into the studio, she's fun, and muse is young and I think instantly drawn to the magnetic field of daisy jones. kind of in awe of daisy which billy can't fathom because he's too busy being miffed about the whole ordeal. and in this version look at us now is about muse and billy, and daisy see's right through the original lyrics and her changes make muse feel more seen. so she listens to billy bitch and moan but secretly agrees.

and muse definitely pushes for daisy to be in the band, "billy's an ass, but everyone thinks you should join. he'll get over it eventually and realize."

and daisy is just open and honest about her thoughts right off the bat, "why do you stay with him? if he's an ass, then why?"

and muse is taken aback but also honest back because it feels right, "I don't want anyone else. not the way I want him."

daisy does get to join the band and with that she learns a lot more about muse and billy, more to dislike about the arrangement. muse is so young and attached, the only other person she turns to is eddie who obviously also wants to be with her, and daisy feels like any spark that muse has is quelled to play cheerleader for billy. and she respects that muse doesn't want to be a star but she tells her to write, or to talk and daisy will cultivate the ideas.

daisy definitely gets involved in a couple of fights that muse and billy have. "plenty of groupies to go around, don't need one wasting my goddamn time"

"don't fucking talk to her like that!"

"daisy-" you're trying to deescalate because you knows daisy and billy just make the fight worse.

"she's a person, a child, not something you get to call whatever you want when you're pissed off." daisy's turning to you, "c'mon let's go get some air, away from this asshole."

"you can't just walk out of rehearsal, daisy!" billy's calling after but you let daisy guide you.

"watch me!" and you and daisy are sitting outside, she's handing you some pill that you barely question before taking.

"you know, it's okay, it's just the way it is. no reason to fight more because of it."

"no, it's not okay. you know just because he's older and gives you what you crave doesn't mean you need him, right?"

you pause, "I know." you sigh, "daisy, I'm not a baby. I can take care of myself, I know what's going on."

"sure you do, chickadee." and suddenly it's like something lights within her and she's searching her pockets for a paper of napkin, "do you have something to write with?" and she ends up scribbling something you're not allowed to see on a napkin with your lipstick. eventually she makes it a song about you. and then your though and frustrations eventually become many many more songs.

and once during one of the breaks where they've got some time rather than muse spending time with billy she goes to hang out with daisy, which ends up being the whole of the break. she's with daisy, screaming out every frustration into metaphors daisy is scribbling out as they dance around to records taking every pill daisy can get hands on, lines off every surface, so many bottles completely empty. and whenever you just want to call billy or sometimes eddie, daisy totally encourages against it because, "you don't need them!" and when it's finally time to go back to the studio daisy has started to realize she handles highs terribly but better than you, who's not used to taking nearly as much as daisy does.

once they're stepping out of that taxi, billy's first words quickly form from a, "where the hell were you?" to a , "what is she on?" hands softly gripping your face, looking into her eyes, knowing you're gonna feels like crap later. and he's gonna end up nursing you out of a bender, daisy's kind of scared that you were so out of it by the end. so it creates another conflict when she's saying billy is horrible to you and billy brings up how she usually gets you too high to function.

let me know y'all's thoughts bc I'm definitely already cooking up more

[ecargmura]

Oshi No Ko Episode 23 Review - Reunited, But Not Like This!

The finale of Season 2 will be aired on Sunday, October 6 instead of its usual Wednesday time slot. I think it’s because of the influx of Fall anime airings that one premiere probably took its time slot. Anyways, just a heads up on this just in case if you’re gonna wonder why the finale review is gonna be late next week.

Aqua brings Akane to Miyazaki for the company R&R and Kana is not thrilled about it. To be honest, if this was going to be an R&R for Tokyo Blade in addition to the MV shooting, shouldn’t they bring some other characters too like Melt or Himekawa? It feels weird that Akane doesn’t have other schedules given that she should be busy as the rising star of Lala-lai… Man, this episode is just gut-punching Kana because Ruby was like “Will you two get married?” towards Akane, causing Kana to be even more upset. Also, I’m surprised that Aqua is that comfortable around that many girls.

I guess it was nice seeing the Aqua and Akane moments, but I do think that Kana would probably be end game in the sense that Kana gives Aqua the least amount of mommy issues. There are way too many parallels with Akane and Ai in the sense that she’s essentially mimicking Ai—her hair is even parted towards the left despite it being parted towards the right during her debut. If there are incest shippers out there, Ruby looks identical to Ai, so it probably wouldn’t be best to have her as end game either. Kana has the least amount of Ai parallels, which is probably the best choice for him in the long run, but this is just coming from someone who has to pick a girl for Aqua. For all I know, I wouldn’t even mind if Akane and Kana were to get together. Though, I do feel bad for Aqua as all the step forward he had with Kana now took three steps back.

The Goro and Sarina flashbacks were very bittersweet. People probably thought of Goro as creepy idol fan in the beginning of the story, but if you look at the flashbacks and Goro’s backstory from Aqua’s words in this episode, you can sort of tell that he’s a toxic people-pleaser; he’s got a lot of depth. His biological mother died due to childbirth, but he decided to become a OBGYN doctor because of guilt and what his grandmother would want and not what he truly wants—to be a surgeon. Because he couldn’t cure Sarina, he’d make empty promises like promising to marry her when she turned 16 just to please her. He even became an Ai fan because Sarina wished she could’ve gone to a B-Komachi concert. Everything he does is for others and never himself…and that mindset got implanted onto Aqua. It’s really sad that Goro is a person living with inner guilt to the point that he self-sabotages himself all the time. He’s always putting others before himself to the point of being a toxic trait. No wonder Aqua is very complicated. He has Goro’s mindset, but also has the limits of what a teenager can do. In a sense, it feels Aqua and Goro are different people.

I’ll tell you my biggest issue with Ruby: she still thinks she’s Sarina and not a completely different person. Like, Aqua is written in a way that you can tell that there is a difference between him and Goro as it does feel as if Aqua has an ego of his own, but I never really get that with Ruby. She goes around imagining that Goro will attend a B-Komachi concert and find her. Not once does she ever realize that Ruby and Sarina are two entirely different people and that Goro could not comprehend supernatural phenomena like reincarnation if he had been alive in the present as he is a man of science. I mean, I get that her past self was twelve years old, but that’s old enough to comprehend and develop an ego. I don’t know. I guess it’s probably because Ruby isn’t really included into the story as much, but that’s what I’m getting from observing her.

Two new characters are introduced. We got Anemone, Mem-cho’s acquaintance who is a music video producer. It’s interesting how flashy she is despite living in the countryside. Her voice actress is Yukana, who you might know from various media like Code Geass as C.C. and Tales of the Abyss as Tear Grants. Then, there’s the mysterious white haired girl. I’m gonna call her Crow Girl for now. She sounds like she’s voiced by Hina Kino, who voiced Miri from Buddy Daddies and Lishu from The Apothecary Diaries. Given her parallels with the crows and how she led Ruby to Goro’s corpse, does she have something to with the the reincarnation? Just what is she?

I feel really bad for Ruby. All of her fantasies about meeting Goro in her new life got instantly shattered. I really liked the effect of the star on her left eye diminishing, showing that it could disappear if met with an extremely traumatic effect… Don’t tell me… is Ruby gonna get those dark stars like Aqua? Is she going to seek revenge against her supposedly-dead-to-Aqua father? What’s going to happen?

[quibbs126]

So I ended up finishing the last two of the concept characters today, so might as well post them

They actually kind of have names, but I’m not sold on them yet. So for now, Radish/Turnip is getting called the mage, and Ophelia the girl/lady

To be honest, I think they turned out a lot better than the other two, but not only did I work on them in class, but their designs didn’t really require much changing or interpretation in the first place

These are the originals by the way

It’s only now that I’ve finished them that I notice that the mage’s skin tone and hair basically just looks like a yellower version of the lady, and meanwhile she looks like the orange/red version of theirs. But ah well, works with the color palettes

It’s mostly just details I simplified, though I think I ended up keeping more than I usually would, especially for the mage. But I think it ended up working fine. Though I do wish I had incorporated more ruffles into the girl, I just didn’t know how to when I tried

The girl already had colors in the concept art, and with the mage I had a particular color scheme already in mind to work with. I don’t know if the color scheme in particular matches the outfit they have, but I think it looks nice like that

Now these two actually have some amount of character in my brain, or at least the mage does, so let me talk about that

So the mage here, first off, doesn’t really have a specified gender. I did that because I personally just couldn’t decide. They’ve got big clothes that make their body hard to see, they’ve got a vegetable name that really doesn’t give away any gender (the party assumes initially that it’s a fake name, but they realize it actually is because they make note of the fact that they don’t really like it), have a generally ambiguous appearance, and don’t really talk much, and on top of that when they do, their voice doesn’t really lean one way or the other. And they don’t really care to tell what their gender is, so they sort of just get referred to as non binary. Whether they are or not, no one really knows. At this rate I feel like maybe there shouldn’t be any sort of gender reveal and they just stay like this

But anyways, so the mage here is supposed to be like a magical student of some sort, and they probably joined the party as some sort of university assignment, like a travel abroad sort of thing or like the Treasure Hunt in ScarVi. And as you can guess by the moniker, they are the mage of the group, though they specifically focus on offensive spells. They’re competent but not super overly skilled or anything, just a bit better than average

They may be quiet and introverted, but they aren’t meek or timid at all really. They just don’t like talking unnecessarily, and don’t really care about a lot of things. They can be a bit of an ass in all honesty. They really only have a game face during battle

Also one other thing in my brain is that they and the green guy have beef, they don’t like each other. I’m not really sure why, and it’s not for backstory reasons (at least not right now), they just don’t like each other

And I think that’s about it, now let’s move on to the girl

To be honest, I don’t have nearly as much on her. She strikes me as the plot important ally, the one you recruit that’s specifically tied to the villain’s overarching goal or some other big thing

But as she is, she’s a dancer, one that quite enjoys her job but isn’t experienced enough to be any sort of big star. She’s prone to wandering and can be a bit air-headed at times, but she’s also probably one of the peppiest members of the party, alongside the main girl. The two probably get along really well

Also, her battle role is “dancer”, which right now I’m taking to mean “healer”. Like she uses her dancing power to heal people somehow

Actually, I think that’s about all I have on her. That went by quick

So yeah, that’s the whole party. It feels uneven being just 5 members, I feel like RPG parties usually have 3, 4, or 6. There is this one last concept I saved, but I’m not sure I’m gonna use it

I might, but I also kind of just envision the group as is. Though I will admit it feels slightly bare, like there’s more roles to fill

Now all I need to do is compile them and put them in a single lineup. Then we’ll see how cohesive the designs are together. And what the height differences all end up being

Also they all need proper names

And so yeah

[streamdotpng]

i closed my eyes and suddenly, i became known as the monsterfucker anon—ANYWAY; wednesday doesn't seem to be the type to become a green eyed monster but how does she react to the talks about people crushing on her girl? specially since their relationship status is vague, i could see someone (maybe a co-star or just a fan) asking sin out in her presence or publicly hearing someone wishing sin to rail them. speaking of which, with all the interview talks, i can def see hem reading thirst tweets together

you said that you didn't think really that far in but I HAVE TO ASK: how influential is the show and streamers like endespair in terms of the way outcasts are treated? being called a monsterfucker seems to be more derogatory than funny or nice tbh. is helios also a late bloomer like enid? and is viper also one for the macabre? if so, i feel like her describing helios' transformation to be graceful is so viper of her

since isabelle is an endespair fan, has she done anything to wednesday in behalf of endespair? like endespair is opening fan mail for like a special or something and suddenly comes across a paper she remembered isabelle asked her and the rest of the cast to sign or a poster of the lunal curse with wednesday's signature. is that a bit awkward for her? how does she treat it? esp since isabelle doesn't rlly seem to hide her infatuation with endespair. how does wednesday react? does she feel more obligated to show up as willa in the background?

you said that wenclair isn't really hiding their relationship. will endespair ever be like "o yea guys im e "sin" addams, watch lunal curse now" or sum? would isabelle notice certain traits sin and endespair share that lead her to realizing theyre the same person? does sin call wednesday willa on set? does anyone even bother to question why these two have matching rings? on why they're always so sus and gomez/morticia-like?? why are sins eyes suddenly pitch black when looking at wednesday but bright blue when at literally anyone else??

the interview about werewolves thoughts on the lunal curse, does it ever click to people that the cute werewolf blonde with huge teeth who praised the book and the upcoming adaptation—THE ONE WHO CALLED WEDNESDAY HER WIFE– IS THE SAME PRETTY WOMAN WEDNESDAY IS OFTEN SEEN WITH? THE ONE SHE'S SO COMFORTABLE AND HAPPY WITH???

THE BTS OF WENCLAIR— they're mostly in the background but they're never NOT doing anything. people go crazy for romance and probably see how close these two are. i mean, their co-workers see it, how can the world not? master lip readers come out and reveal the disgusting, dirty stuff these two speak in what seems to be a million different languages. it causes people to look deeper in miss e. addams, the beast that got wednesday out of her cage. WEDNESDAYS HANDS ARE UNDER HER SHIRT PEOPLE, BEST FRIENDS DONT DO THAT!!!

WHAT IF WEDNESDAY'S WALLET GETS LOST AND PEOPLE SEE THEIR MARRIAGE PHOTOS + OTHER STUFF LIKE LETTERS THEY EXCHANGE????

I swear being known as a monsterfucker is uh

Hm

Seeing as outcasts exists, it's kinda up in the air. Like one, being known as a monsterfucker is usually in jest and people just think you have a type or worse case, you got a fetish💀 which is what Wednesday's PR doesn't want her known for. They just twisted it into a fascination with actual monsters.

The more outcast inclined people in Wednesday's Fandom tend to think she simply has a type and it's just a running joke bc of what she writes. Kinda like how people hope she gets her own golden retriever werewolf Gf like Viper 🥺 bc clearly she's projecting her want /j

Anyways, as for if Wednesday reacts! She always hides a smile behind a mug when such talks happen, it's smug asf too. Like I got what you can't have <3

It's hard to be jealous when their relationship survived like 5-6 years of ldr so they trust each other a lot! She does tease Enid abt it tho, much to the werewolf's confusion.

"they want me to what-"

"yes my dear, they went you to do the very same thing you did to m-" sudden hand on mouth.

"wends you can't just say that in public!?"

Pushing that quickly aside, the outcasts racism thing isn't as bad here as it is in my streamer Wednesday au.

The forevermore series change the outcasts view from caution to intrigued, it's why endespair is such a niche streamer bc it's not everyday you see a supposed scary werewolf scream like a little girl and admire a woman.

Also seeing as imperial gold (ship name of helios and Viper) is literally Wenclair, yes Helios is a late bloomer and Viper is into the dark and macabre. It's why the show decides to go with Viper narrating some of helios' scenes and vice versa for that good contrast.

"despite the fact that I've been in this school for years, I haven't been granted the blessing to see Helios shift right before my very eyes.

Now that I'm gifted such an opportunity, I cannot believe the time I've wasted not seeing it.

She's beautiful.

All big gleaming teeth and a body shifting to a form no one else can compare too."

Then on screen is the most brutal looking werewolf transformation ever.

Meanwhile, we got Helios over here stating the obvious.

"to the stars, moons, planets above- they did not have the right to give my deadly roomie a silver knife"

Helios is standing there, looking fucking enraptured with blow out eyes as Viper does idk, smth. I haven't figured out the plot of Lunal Curse other than the main points soooo, it's left vague on purpose.

Endespair doesn't accept fanmail, left over paranoia from the stalker in her junior year so isabelle can't send such things.

Wednesday doesn't at all feel obligated to pop into stream as Willa. They just work in the same room and if Enid wants to go stand up to bring her wife into a hug then that's their business as chat cries abt how single they're making them feel.

As for if Isabelle, I feel like. She'd be in denial? But then she realizes the scar Enid has isn't just effects but real and she goes, oh shit

Like just a little bit bc the way Endespair carries herself is alot more easily exagerrated compared to how Enid normally is. It doesn't help that Enid dyed her hair a little bit more saturated for Helios so they may look similar if you double take.

So she was like 'aha, totally a coincidence' but when she's watching a endespair stream, Mika will wonder where shes watching sin from.

The two fucking PANIC after that

As for the matching rings, I made Enid wear two rings just for that reason too! So in the end It just looks like they're wearing accessories, that's all. Gold rings for Enid bc the obvious is obvious and white gold for wednesday.

Enid cringes at the thought of seeing herself on screen. So she doesn't at all bring up her status as Sin on stream. Someone brings up that there's a werewolf acting with Wednesday Addams? Cringe, disgusting, hurling noises

She's her own hater and chat takes it as Enid being low key jealous that it's another werewolf and not her.

As for whether people recognize Enid from that werewolf interview, they recognize her as endespair than sin. The dorky ass clothes, known beanie and overall simp mannerisms clocked it to her Fandom.

Sorry anon,, people are delusional sometimes so while they note the simp werewolf, they don't linger on it too long.

Wenclair bts? You're so right, whenever they're outside of their room, they do alot of things. Like Wednesday chasing Enid who's wearing a bit too tight of a shirt with the smaller lady wearing a jacket that suspiciously is a bit too baggy.

Sometimes you can see Wednesday looking over papers and Enid is just leaning over her, practically caging the director in between her arms.

Inbetween breaks, if Enid is ever drinking smth, the cast kinda does a double take when Wednesday grabs the bottle and drinks from it. They didn't even looked shocked, like yeah this happens.

Idt Wednesday would ever lose her wallet, but that would definitely be one way to reveal the relationship

[8bitsupervillain]

Higurashi When They Cry Hou Ch. 6 Tsumihoroboshi pt. 14

It’s gratifying to see that even the VN itself is starting to see my side of things and imply that maybe Satoshi didn’t actually kill his aunt. Of course I’m also willing to buy completely that he totally did that, and I’m a silly man for thinking that, but you know… Nyeh. Suddenly I'm struck with a question/theory that makes no sense whatsoever, but it's an interesting thought for me to consider. Hell with it, I wonder if Hanyuu knows something about the disappearance of Satoshi? I have absolutely no basis for that idea, and honestly I think Ryukishi07 himself probably forgot about him at this point, but still.

Interesting choice of phrase there, “terminal.” Also it sure is a wild coincidence that Rena just so happened to pick that name seemingly out of thin air. Keiichi is such a dork it’s funny sometimes man, “Hey, that’s bioterrorism!” Just absolute gold star writing.

Keiichi recommends that Rena just bring this information to Ooishi, because all of this sounds a lot bigger than two teenagers. Rena has her doubts because despite everyone being fairly confident in the belief that Satoshi probably killed his aunt they instead just pinned it on a random drug addict. Also since the Sonozakis apparently have more power than god you can’t trust the police because they’re being controlled by them, and more than likely have some Oyashiro fanatics amongst their number. Keiichi asks how they can hope to win against such impossible odds.

I don’t know if I mentioned it earlier, but during the scene where Rena talks to Takano, the color on her dialogue changed from pink, to a more light red color. After the discussion with Takano it went from a light red to a darker, but still light red. It’s a very subtle change, kind of an on the nose one, but I like this little gimmick. I love it when media starts using the unique properties of their medium this way. It reminds me a lot of in chapter one: Onikakushi when it played the sound of something being hit it would have the options in the lower portion of the screen move around groggily like it got hit. I wish the modded version kept that, but it’s only in the unmodded version of the VN.

Rena tells Keiichi that because of this information that they have to keep this info from both Mion and Rika, since they’re the heads of two of the three families, they’re probably in on it. Rena then theorizes that if they really are religious fanatics, they’ll probably strike on an important holiday, something like Watanagashi maybe? She also thinks they for some reason have until Watanagashi 1984 to deal with this issue, Rena then has to wrap up the phone call, and the two part ways. Keiichi reflects on how diabolical this plan is, because if they just attacked Rena she could go to the police, but they haven’t so she’s forced to more or less sit on her hands and wait. I’ve mentioned it before, but I do like how this chapter is basically just a reverse Onikakushi, with Rena in the paranoia role.

And so good ol’ Looselips Keiichi decides to confront Mion directly and ask her if she’s involved in a deadly conspiracy.

I like how cocky and sure of himself Keiichi was at the start of the accusation, but as time went on he very quickly came to realize how little of what Rena told him actually makes sense. He really is just easily swayed by a pretty face, Rena did it, and now if you wanted to look at it in a very uncharitable light Mion’s doing it. Again I so very badly want to make fun of him for his buffoonery, but I also got horribly duped and misled so… glass houses I guess. Also I like how Mion just instantly knows that this is entirely something Takano caused.

Given what I know about Takano I wonder why she went to such lengths to do this sort of thing. Was it just for funsies? Love of a good goof? Some sort of built-in defense in case someone tried to place the blame onto her for trying to ascend to godhood using a somewhat known pre-existing curse? Just so she could be accused of that and have people go “oh that wacky Takano and her occultic shenanigans?”

Part of me wants to play it off and act like it was around this part I realized I had fallen for it. But it wasn’t, during most of the rest of the chapter in the back of my mind the explanation that it’s parasites just stuck around. You’d think that with a character like Mion just point blank explaining why the idea that the villagers were trying to be isolationist weirdos doesn’t work would beat itself into my skull, but you'd be wrong.

[heyclickadee]

It’s only been a month-and-a-half, but I finally got a chance to watch another episode of The Bad Batch for my rewatch. So! Long, rambling, mildly nonsensical thoughts on TBB, Season 1, Episode 2: “Cut and Run:”

1. This is one of the episodes my brother has seen—he’s seen up through episode 8—and he doesn’t like it. He told me that this is one of the “bad” episodes, but rewatching it I just…I can’t agree with that. It’s not a big action packed set piece, sure, but it doesn't have to be. It's a good little episode that succeeds at what it’s trying to do, and sets the stage for the story moving forward.

2. The FONDNESS on Echo’s face as he’s looking at Omega all tired out after going through the ship I CAN’T. Also, I love how the discussion Echo and Hunter have about Omega, and Echo asking what in the world they’re going to do with her, is the first bit we see of the way Hunter and Echo are going to bounce off of each other. Hunter makes decisions, Echo asks questions and prods at whether they’re the right decisions, Hunter bounces more ideas off of Echo, and so on. It’s a dynamic I adore and I’m excited to revisit more of it.

3. This is a random background thing, but clouds in the background as the Marauder lands near the Lawquane farm are stylistically different than the clouds are going to be later on in the series. They’re very painterly here, but later on they’re going to be a little more realistic. I think it’s just one of those things that developed over time. Maybe. I kind of want to keep my eye on it.

4. Speaking of clouds, it is kind of interesting that there is that thunderstorm that’s building a few minutes after they land, which Hunter notices, and then Cut mentions the storm that’s coming (referring to the Empire) later on, and then the storm thing doesn’t come up again later in the episode. It might just be one of those things where there was a scene that got cut after the boarding process, but they didn’t revise the earlier parts of the episode script, but I also want to keep my eye on the storm motif through the rest of the series to see if and when it comes up again, and if there’s any kind of pattern. There probably isn’t, buuuut this hiatus is going to go on for a while, so. Ya know.

5. JUST FEEL THE GRASS, THE DIRT, JUST LIKE SHE DREAMED THEY’D BEEEEEEEEEE

6. Okay, but, I genuinely love Omega’s reaction to stepping out of the ship onto Saleucami, and how it contrasts with the rest of the batch. They’re all on alert, business as usual, and Omega’s so, so excited to be there. She’s wowed by dirt. She’s never seen anything like it. I love the little detail of her taking a deep breath of the air on this new planet. She’s probably never smelled air that didn’t smell like salt and antiseptic (this is just me, but I sort of imagine Kamino smelling a little like a hospital). She’s never stood on ground that wasn’t plastoid or durasteel or whatever Kaminoan floors are made of. She’s probably never seen so much color in one place or had a chance to run after a space butterfly or do much of anything. She’s so small and everything is new and she’s so excited for this big new adventure and nothing bad had better ever happen to her (and now I'm crying in Star Wars).

7. Another background thing, but what are these?

What are these crops? Is this space corn? Corn that’s just one giant kernel? Orb corn? Corb? Wookieepedia doesn’t say (as far as I can tell) and I know this is silly, but I want to knooooooow.

8. Tech’s little smirk as he says, “Why not? We’re all deserters now,” to Echo gets me every single time. Man just does not care about breaking the rules.

9. Regarding the Lawquane’s booby trap: One, the way that Wrecker immediately starts blasting is just…I don’t know. There’s something sad about how jumpy he is. Second, is the booby trap to keep local wildlife away, like the nexu, or unwanted visitors who might be looking for Cut?

10. Suu looks AMAZING in her new outfit (I'll admit I didn't love the monokini and chaps look for her), and Cut. Cut. Why? Is your facial hair like this?

11. I love Cut and Suu. I love Cut and Suu so much. Healthiest couple in the entire galaxy far far away, I swear. And I love their silly matching pun names.

12. Wrecker is SO DANG HAPPY to see Jek and Shaeeah and they are so happy to see him I can't. Wrecker is so soft with kids. It kills me.

13. Jumping off of that, though, there's a wonderful little untold story here with the CF99 and the Lawquanes. Because they don't just know Cut, who they could have theoretically met before Cut deserted or before the war even started, they know the entire family. And they know the entire family well enough that Wrecker's "Uncle Wrecker" and that Cut immediately asks about Crosshair and why he's not there, knowing that the most logical answer is that he died; Hunter's one-on-one conversation with Suu is just as casual and familiar as his one-on-one conversations with Cut. I don't think it was Rex who introduced them, because Echo didn't know about Cut until this episode, and Echo's got a much longer and closer history with Rex than the rest of the batch have; if Rex didn't tell Echo about Cut, he probably didn't tell CF99 either, meaning that Hunter and the rest probably met the Lawquanes independently.

And, on the one hand, I neeeeeeeeeeeed to know how they all met. Did they meet Cut when they were cadets and then Suu later on and then both of them and their kids all together later on? Did they just wander across the Lawquane farm while stationed on Saleucami? Did Suu help train clones on Kamino (she's a really good shot, after all), and is that how she met Cut? Did she meet CF99 that way? Did they all collectively help Cut desert? But, on the other hand, I don't actually want to know the story. I like that these people have history to which we're not privy. It helps them exist outside the bounds of the story and feel a little more real.

14. It's nice that Echo practically jumps to ask about Rex after Cut brings him up. It sets up the way Echo's going to go off with Rex's group later on, sure, but I think the reason Echo gets so excited here is because this is the first indication he has that ANY of the other clones he knows escaped the programming they talked about last episode and left the Empire. And the fact that it's Rex specifically…. It's a little bit of hope and normalcy he can cling to in a pretty awful situation.

15. "Where's Crosshair?" "It's…complicated." Yeah, I'll say. (Exhibit A of Hunter having to be dragged kicking and screaming before he will talk about a n y t h i n g I am putting him in a salad spinner)

16. The way this first conversation in the Lawquane home goes from Crosshair, to Rex and the "behavioral implant" he brought up to Cut, and then directly to the inhibitor chips is interesting, because it kind reinforces what we already know about Crosshair's situation from episode one--that he has a chip, that it activated, that his chip was turned up to eleven--while also emphasizing the fact that the rest of the batch doesn't really know or understand what that means. Even Tech, who just kinda sussed out that the chips exist because obviously the Kaminoans modified clone behavior and obviously that's how they did it, and who absolutely suspected that Crosshair's behaviour in "Aftermath" had something to do with the programming (the way he looks up at Crosshair when he says he "can't be certain" that they're immune), doesn't seem to one-hundred percent get what it means and how little choice a clone with an active chip has.

17. Omega knows about the chips because she grew up in Nala Se's lab. I want to know what else she knows (because she knows a lot she doesn't talk about).

18. The writers/animators/board artists/showrunners absolutely nailed the way a kid who hasn't been around other kids much hesitates around them with Omega here.

19. Hunter smiling after Omega as she goes out to join the other kids and then being surprised to see Cut and Suu watching him be all fatherly gets me every time. I love how pretty much half the conversations they have with him are basically just, "You're a dad now! Congratulations!" "What? No, I'm not." "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

20. Jumping off of that, this episode is absolutely crucial for Hunter's development. Half of the reason Hunter is the way he is through the rest of the series is because he spends this episode watching Cut and Suu (especially Cut) and everything Cut does, and then, when Omega stays with the bad batch at the end of the episode, spends the rest of the series desperately trying to be like Cut. And, in some ways, that's good. He's gentler with Omega, more understanding of the fact that she's a kid, trying to keep her out of danger and allow her to have a childhood, putting the family he still has first, trying to leave their old lives as soldiers behind as much as possible, etc. But when he inevitably fails to be Cut, or to be a parent the exact same way Cut is, because he's a different person and his situation is completely different than Cut's is, he starts shutting down, because he can't cope with the failure. And that runs headlong into the way he feels he's failed as a brother AND as a leader, and so by the time we get a few episodes into season two Hunter is deeply depressed and visibly unwell. (Hey, another parallel between Crosshair and Omega--Hunter probably feels like he's failed both of them.)

21. Another reason I'm going to take the word filler and put it on a shelf where people can't reach it as far as this episode is concerned is because this episode is the first time we get a hint of how the rise of the Empire is affecting regular people. Not clones, not jedi, not former republic officers, not Kaminoan politicians, not freedom fighters--just regular people trying to live their lives. The way that the Empire is setting up the chain code system, regulating travel, clamping down hard on remote planets and former separatist worlds (Saleucami changed hands several times over the course of the war), all told through the story of CF99 helping this one family escape and get to safety, is an important story to have early on.

22. Aaaaand jumping off of that, I love how Hunter's focus over the course of this episode shifts from laying low and learning how to hide to, "Okay fellas, we are getting Cut and Suu and the kids out of here even if we have to blast our way out." And I know Hunter's going to hesitate to help people out more and more as the series goes on, but this is a pattern we're going to continue to see. The bad batchers aren't really heroes in a traditional Star Wars sense; with the exception of Echo, who has to leave the group to do it, they're not fighting the empire head on or trying to overthrow tyranny, not directly. But they do help out in small ways, usually a person or a family at a time, usually helping them escape a bad situation, and that's not nothing in a galaxy where the empire exists. I sort of wonder if this isn't pointing to where the batch is ultimately going to end up. They might not be freedom fighters or rebels in the end the way Rex and Saw are. Maybe they'll just be focused on getting people--clones, families, maybe even surviving jedi--to safety. Maybe they help organize something like The Path. Maybe. I guess we'll see, eventually.

23. Oh gosh this is getting long. Are you surprised, though? (Still sorry, though. Not sorry enough to pare it down, but still sorry.)

24. The kids immediately go to Suu for help when the nexu attacks, and it's great. Also ECHO'S AND TECH'S FACES when Omega almost gets hurt and Wrecker asking if she's okay I love how much they already care about her 😭

25. The way Echo goes from being completely flabbergasted by Tech's plan to get the ship impounded on purpose, to being completely for it, to being real snarky about it once things start going wrong sends me every time. I mean. I know, I know we all joked about how Echo would disapprove of the riot race in "Faster" if he'd been there, but you know what? No. Hunter would have shut it down if he'd been there, but Echo? It would have gone like:

Tech: I will be the racer.

Echo: GOOD. FUCK 'EM UP, TECH.

Later on, during the race

Echo: This is suicide! I can't believe you thought this was a good idea, Tech!

Tech, calmly going 200 mph: You also thought it was a good idea, as I recall.

Echo: I think it would be a good idea for you to shut up!

Anyway, I love their banter.

26. So…Tech made enough counterfeit chain codes that there was one for Omega, meaning he knew Hunter planned for Omega to leave Saleucami with Cut and Suu, and that Echo may have known as well (even though Hunter clearly didn't include Wrecker in the conversation), and that he planned on taking the chain codes to Cut and Suu himself. Meaning that he was probably also planning on taking Omega with him when he took the chain codes over so that she could leave with them. And Omega ran off and took the chain codes to Cut and Suu before Tech could, of course, meaning that that didn't happen, but I really want to know how the conversation would have gone if Tech had had to tell Omega to come with him on the code run. I mean.

Tech: I will need Omega to accompany me to the departure site.

Omega: Me? Why? Do you need me to get into a crawl space on a super secret mission.

Tech: No. You need to be at the transport because you are leaving Saleucami with Cut and Suu.

Omega: Aaaaaand all of you, right?

Tech, who mentally signed the sibling adoption papers the second Omega said she wanted to sit with them in the cafeteria scene in "Aftermath" (I will die on this hill, he does not stop smiling at her after that): Nnooo….

Omega: ….

Tech: I assume Hunter told you.

Omega: starting to cry

Tech, on the comms: Hunter. Omega is crying, Hunter. She is upset about leaving. Hunter. What do I do? Hunter?

(This is probably, in retrospect, why Tech apparently didn't tell her, either.)

27. The poncho and the floppy hat was such a good look for Wrecker. (Also, the audacity of having Wrecker bonk his head on that pipe in the background. I know it's a funny reference to Jango doing it in AotC which is a funny reference to that one stormtrooper in A New Hope, but it still fills me with dread.)

28. Shout out to Cut and Suu. Cut's technically a wanted man, they're escaping Saleucami by the skin of their teeth, they're about to be refugees, they've got two kids to look out for already, they have an uncertain future, and when Hunter asks them to take Omega they're instantly okay with it. They're ready to take in another kid simply because that kid needs to be taken care of. And THEN they talk to that kid and ask what she wants (we don't see this happen, but it's heavily implied), take what that kid actually wants into account, and let her go back to where she wants to be. They are the best and I love them.

29. The character animation on Hunter during the scene where he tells Omega that she's going with the Lawquanes is so, so good. Just. The way he can hardly look at her, the surprise when Omega says she wants to stay with the batch, the way his face hardens when Omega looks back because he's trying to hold everything in and the way Omega interprets that as Hunter wanting her gone even though he absolutely wants her to stay and just thinks he's doing the best thing for her--I want to bake the character animators cinnamon rolls and give them all a million dollars each. (Also an aside--this fits into a pattern of Hunter often doing what he thinks is best for his family rather than doing what he wants, and what he thinks is best often being different than what might actually be best.)

30. Another silly aside, and I didn't notice this until this watch through as I was looking at Cut stand next to Mr. Dorito, but Cut kinda has a little bit of a tummy. He's not fat, but he's definitely a little thicker around the middle than, say, Rex or Howzer. He's got a bit of a dad bod and it's honestly really nice to see a person gain a little weight while living a life they chose and clearly love.

31. I'm. I'm feeling a certain kind of way about Omega immediately assuming that she did something wrong and that the rest of the batchers don't want her around because of it (it's not just Hunter--when Tech and Echo react a little tersely to her being on the Marauder when it gets impounded she seems to assume that they're angry with her even though they're not), and Hunter getting rid of her (from her perspective) is some kind of reaction to that or a punishment for it, and it's not a good sort of feeling. Especially in light of the theories that Nala Se sent Emerie to Hemlock for some reason. I'm also feeling a certain kind of way about Omega losing her brothers once already as a very small child and losing them again at the end of season two and almost losing them in this episode because Hunter tries to send her away and. Just. Let this kid have her family, please. (This is another narrative reason why Tech has to be alive, btw.) (Also, I love the way that Hunter apologizes back and says he's got a lot to learn when Omega tries to apologize for "messing up.") (Also also the way Omega looks at her headpiece after she takes it off, complicated emotions are happening and I am really interested in her relationship with Kamino.)

32. "If this is where you want to be, then this is where you'll stay." 😭😭😭 I'm screaming because. I mean. What Hunter tries to do in this episode is exactly what Crosshair tells him to do with Omega in "Return to Kamino." And, on paper, Crosshair's right; living with fugitives in constant danger isn't a good life for a child. But being with her brothers no matter what is what Omega wants, and, after "Cut and Run," Hunter never stops taking Omega's choice here into account.

[exouniverse]

Serendipity

Pairing: jimin x gn reader

Genre: fluff, birthday fic

Warnings: none

Summary: A blind date on his birthday—at first glance an unusual choice for a global star like Jimin. But deep within, a tugging intuition he couldn’t deny stirred, as though destiny had plans beyond reason’s grasp.

Word count: 4.9K+

A/N: This one got a little out of my hands with the words lol. My initial idea was to make the birthday fics of about 1K but the premise of this fic needed these many words, otherwise it would have been too basic. Also, I struggled at the beginning with making this one a non-idol au or not, but I went with this and that also made the story what it is now. I just couldn’t gift this to a non-idol au Jimin lol. Happy birthday, Jimin!

Listen to Serendipity, It’s All Love, Honey, and Let Me Know for a better experience.

MASTERLIST | MOODBOARD

The numbers on your watch changed as soon as you entered through the door of the café, showing 6:39 p.m. You almost didn't make it, and you were now torn between indifference and feeling embarrassed for almost ditching your date. Frankly, you've grown weary of your relatives and friends arranging so many unwanted dates for you. You weren't sure anymore, but if you do happen to want to date someone at the moment, you would prefer it to unfold more organically rather than on a blind date.

As late as it was, you still stopped to scan through the customers for a face that could give you any hint of an average desperate weirdo, in case it felt safer to just run away. Not many people seemed to frequent the shop, so you briefly checked your cousin Jon's message that indicated the specific café section where your date would be waiting. The place exuded an air of elegance and seclusion with such minimalistic style, as if designed for the elite, maybe a reason why it looked quite empty. However, it was the fact that your meeting spot was tucked away in the back that heightened your anxiety.

You relied on your trust in your cousin—even when he knew nothing else but teasing you all the time since you could remember. After all, you knew him to have a thoughtful soul beneath all of his façade. He is the only one who understands your frustration with blind dates and how bad they have been for you in the past. On the sole occasion he happened to arrange a blind date for you before, he did it just to humor your family with what they required from you so persistently.

Your date's name sounded nice, at least. You decided to count on that first impression to convince yourself to make your way towards him after you confirmed the exact place where he awaited your arrival. As you reached him, you noticed he was busy with his phone. Seizing the opportunity, you took a moment to observe him. But just as your footsteps neared, he glanced up, catching you off guard. At last, you had the chance to take in his face, and a little spark ignited right inside your heart. His eyes were like the sweetest honey, yet deep and playful.

Your knees turned to jelly when he stood up and bowed, showing you that smile that could probably light up the darkest corner of the universe. His eyes continued to make your heart sprint as they formed two crescent moons over his reddened cheeks.

"Hi, Y/N-ssi?" he spoke up, and the echo of his voice found a place in your mind. You didn't leave, so he continued after he wiped away the little bit of sweat forming on his hands, "I'm Park Jimin; it's nice to meet you!"

You took your seat in silence, barely even conscious that you were doing it. How could it be the Park Jimin from BTS? Was there a possibility that it was his impersonator? No way—his voice, his eyes, his lips, his hands... it was undeniably him.

"I promise to make this date fun; you can trust me?"

You nodded.

"So, first blind date?" he asked, but you were still not even opening your mouth. "First-timer here..." he tried to start up any conversation. "Sorry, I probably am not what you expected."

"No, yes, no, sorry," you blurted out. "I am so sorry."

You had to at least take a sip of water, and thank goodness you already had one served in front of you. How could Jon not say specifically which Park Jimin was the blind date with? His name is so common that it never crossed your mind. It was a friend of a friend of your cousin, not this Park Jimin. Your clown of a cousin had never been this cool to think he could have met Park Jimin or even know someone who knows him.

Your cousin has made a name for himself as DJ Young, and he surely knows a lot of people, but you couldn't fathom the fact that one of those people could be the person you are seeing smiling at you from across the table.

"You're really my cousin's friend's friend?"

"Yeah, I am, I met—"

"This is... crazy... I guess now I get why no one showed me a picture of you." A giggle escaped you after all the calmness you managed to gather.

He was nervous too. It must have been scary to agree and even come to a date without even having seen the likeness of the person you were having the date with, so he empathized, "I'm sorry if that caused you to put your guard up. I guess that explains why it seemed that you were not going to make it."

"No, I'm sorry! Well, to be honest, I'm not a first-timer. Blind dates are just too weird and exhausting most of the time. The people around me push me too much into them because I... sorry, I get to overshare when I'm nervous."

"Oh, you're nervous?" he wondered and raised his eyebrow.

"Yeah, you're a little intimidating—not that I am uncomfortable, just really nervous..." you took a deep breath before you continued, "I really don't know what to say and I'm totally messing this up."

"No, you're not. It's cute." The last two words were almost a whisper, but you did hear them. You chugged the water in your glass, only making him chuckle.

"Let's start again; do you agree?" he suggested. Something about you made him feel at ease.

"Yes, that'd be great!"

He smiled again and waved at you. "Hi, I'm Jimin!"

"Hi, I'm Y/N!" Another nervous giggle escaped you, but at least this one was more controlled and really just due to the silliness of the repeated introduction. Surprisingly, he joined in on the laughter.

You got lucky that the waiter only came after the initial awkwardness had subsided, so you calmly made your order. It was surprising the vast options that the menu offered, but you did manage to decide quickly as your favorite dessert was displayed as a specialty.

A little chitchat between the two of you began soon after the waiter left to get your order. All about the same standard of weather talk. It was only when the drinks and desserts arrived that the conversation started to deviate from the predictable and become more engaging.

"Oh, that's a cute bear on your coffee; is it chocolate?" Jimin asked.

"I don't want to kill it, but it must be tasted," you joked as you felt more comfortable, making him chuckle. As you bit into the soft bear candy, a chocolatey coffee flavor filled your mouth. It had a dash of fruity flavor you couldn't recognize, but it was delicious.

Jimin looked expectantly, which brought a smile to your face. "Would you like the rest?" you offered.

He stopped to think and shook his head, but you still put the last piece of the candy bear on his plate. He smiled at you and hesitantly grabbed the little candy bear’s paws and tasted it. His eyes widened, and he chewed faster. "That was good; was that raspberry? It reminds me of the chocolate we had last year when we went on this trip with your cousin," he reminisced.

This fact sparked curiosity within your thoughts, "come to think of it, how did you end up meeting my cousin?"

"Oh, I’ve known him for about four years now? But the trip was a year ago, around my birthday, when he helped produce one of my songs."

You didn't even taste your drink for how shocking it was to hear something so different from what you know, "wasn't he backpacking through Europe?"

"No? He didn’t tell you?" Jimin got a tiny bit tense. He wouldn't want to cause any issues between you and your cousin just because of NDAs regarding his projects.

Your merry-go-round mind was too fast over this new information, but it stopped when a tiny detail suddenly filled your thoughts: "around my birthday." You gathered up your index of facts about Park Jimin and checked the date on your phone.

"Jimin-ssi, our date, today... it is your birthday, isn't it?"

The gleam in his eyes revealed how caught off guard and surprised he was, and the blush on his cheeks just added to his charm as his nervous chuckle resonated in your ears, leaving you smitten.

"You... yeah, it is. How did you realize?"

"Oh, it was hard to discover it, but I managed," you teased, "but I'm curious... why are you having a blind date with me on your birthday, of all days... of all people?"

"I have to admit, I'm surprised you realized that about me so quickly. Even knowing you're a fan... it's really reassuring to know someone cares enough to remember all those little details," he expressed, appreciating your attentiveness.

He paused and shifted in his seat to get more comfortable. The fondness in his eyes didn't escape you, but it only made you more eager to know what he hid behind his decision.

"To answer your question... and it has to do with your cousin, so I hope he doesn't kill me when I reveal to you all of his secrets," he laughed nervously.

You giggled and took a bite of your dessert to settle for the story that Jimin was about to tell you.

"Uh... well, over the past years, we have always talked about collaborating since he wanted to start producing. Last year, we did," he recounted.

"I had a set of demos we were looking through, and there was one song I really liked but couldn't quite figure out. He looked through the lyrics and told me they reminded him of you. He is a real good talker, so I kinda know a lot about you too," he joked, lightening the mood with a playful tone.

He got you to laugh so easily, prompting you to ask, "so you're my fan too?"

"Nice one!" he laughed along with you.

He grabbed a bite of his dessert before he continued his story, "you know, I remember you calling him once when we were in the studio. I didn't overhear, I swear. However, he really wanted to produce that song after your call."

"What was the song about? If you can share..."

Jimin was hesitant. He remembered the song not being cheery when it came to lyrics. You could feel his indecision, and now you weren't sure if it was okay to ask.

"I could, um, share. It's just... the lyrics weren't... happy?" he revealed. "Your cousin, however, switched it up with some arrangements and made it quite upbeat, more empowering if that makes sense."

You smiled, knowing in your heart that you had healed tremendously after so long. "I see, Jon needs some explanation to do though," you both chuckled.

Now, your curiosity was piqued by another detail, and you couldn't help but ask, "so how, why did you accept—"

"The date?" He smiled and paused.

"It was a few months ago... your cousin mentioned setting us up very casually, almost like joking even, and I surprisingly accepted. I don't really have an explanation as to why I did... something about it just felt... right. I was intrigued by you because of that song and the little bit your cousin mentioned about you. That might give you a better idea. Coincidentally, my birthday was the only day I could spare some time, and my friends were not all going to be around, so we planned on celebrating later. That's why..." he trailed off, offering an explanation for his decision.

He finally understood the magnetic pull that drove him to accept a blind date with you. He thought it was his intuition whispering "why not?" The idea of meeting this mysterious person appealed to his adventurous spirit. However, as he looked at you now, he saw the answer in your face. Your eyes radiated wonder, empathy, and strength. You appeared to be the epitome of honesty and genuineness, surpassing any expectations he had formed in his hopeful imagination. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt for having the advantage of knowing about you beforehand, having seen your picture when all you had was his name and your trust in your cousin.

"That's more than enough reason for me. I'm flattered you accepted," you smiled warmly. Jimin couldn't help but notice the subtle shyness in your expression, which you attempted to conceal behind your drink.

He was about to say something, but you completely derailed his train of thought with your subsequent suggestion, causing him to forget what he was about to say.

"Let's celebrate your birthday!" you exclaimed, your enthusiasm infectious. "I understand we probably can't do much outside, but we can do whatever you want, or can. You deserve to celebrate on your actual birthday."

"Oh, I don't really know... I got caught off guard a bit there," he responded, a little taken aback by your selfless suggestion. He liked it though, it just confirmed everything he already knew about you.

As he pondered for an answer, you tried to ease him into his decision, "just clear your mind; what's the first thing—"

"How about the beach?" he suddenly said.

"The beach? Well, I think we can manage... just—" you stopped, trying to think of how the logistics could go and if it was safe to be in such a public place. "A beach is quite public... although I can find a place less crowded, it takes at least an hour to get to the closest ones from here."

"Well, from Seoul, an hour isn't so bad, especially with good company," he said warmly. "There can be a lot of people at the beach, but we can take some precautions. Although annoying at times, they work quite well. And don't forget, I'm from Busan; I'd do anything for a little beach trip," he encouraged, keeping an upbeat, optimistic tone.

He got you enthused about the trip. It was his wish, after all. "Alright, then let's do this!"

The next ten minutes were spent organizing the spontaneous trip Jimin wanted to embark on. None of you had ever ventured into such an out-of-the-blue plan before. During the brainstorming and preparation for your trip, you both realized that you shared a preference for planning before any adventure. His caring nature was evident in the way that he offered his car, but he still considered your preferences in case you were more comfortable using your own car. However, your plans before the date didn't include meeting Jimin and taking him to the beach for his birthday, so you took the metro after work.

Jimin skillfully navigated along Olympic Road as the two of you left Itaewon. In a moment of connection, you decided to share your favorite playlist with him. To your delight, you discovered that you both coincided with many of your favorite artists.

"Oh, please, play ‘Honey.' That is one of my favorites of Kehlani," Jimin requested after finding out your love for the artist.

You giggled at his liveliness. "Of course, right in the queue," you announced while searching for the song.

Jimin was so serene listening to your choice of music. He paid close attention to the rest of Jimmy Brown's ‘It's All Love' and took a second to look at you while he was driving. You looked so beautiful to him. He couldn't fathom how someone could hurt someone so sweet. You caught him looking at you. Surprised by the gesture, your cheeks heated up, and you could only chuckle quietly. He looked back at the road, smiling, with his heart full of warmth.

"So, should we get the regular rest area food or look for something different?" you asked after a while of contemplating both the scenery and the music you both shared with each other.

"Mmm... I think I'm really craving rest area typical food. It's been a while since I had Sotteok Sotteok," Jimin made his vote quite decisively.

"We can still get some fruit too and balance our dinner, but I do want to indulge a bit too and get ice cream," you confessed.

"Okay, I'm in for the ice cream too, but can I pick the fruit?"

"Yes, you can, Jimin-ssi." You noted on your list that he would pick the fruit.

"Can we talk informally?" he casually asked.

"Are you sure?" you asked curiously. Jimin only nodded enthusiastically since he had to make a turn to finally bring you two to the Yeongjong Bridge Rest Area.

You gazed at him in awe. He was so genuine and funny. You never expected to start feeling this way about him, but he made it so easy. You must have done something right in your past life to be granted this chance to not only meet someone as talented and admirable as Jimin, but to truly understand the kind of person he is. It's unbelievable that this understanding came about not through any other circumstance but a blind date. You had despised them so much for so long, and yet this one, in particular, has brought you so much unexpected joy and appreciation.

"Do you think you'll get recognized?" you wondered. "I can go for the snacks by myself while you stay here, and then we go fill up the tank together."

"I think we're safe. I can wear a beanie and a mask to blend in just a bit, but if anything happens, we can find a way to get back to the car," Jimin alleviated your concern. Yet, you were a little startled when he approached to get something from the storage compartment.

"Beanie or cap?" he asked, looking up at you, not at all serious, as his grin was the widest you had seen on him.

You took a second to get some composure and said, "I'll take the beanie, you take the cap." You grabbed the beanie from his hand, feeling a warm sensation as your fingers lightly brushed against his.

The look that crossed both of your gazes connected the beat of your hearts in flawless unison with your smiles.

"That is a great idea," he could only whisper the words.

The walk towards the rest area's shops was a tiny bit tense. You didn't know what to do with your hands, and Jimin didn't know if he should walk along a little bit closer or keep some distance. The butterfly nerves caught up in both your cheeks, but luckily your masks concealed them. The sight of the enormous bear statue at the rest stop momentarily distracted you from your wandering thoughts, bringing you back to the present. Although it wasn't until Jimin noticed someone stumbling ahead that he gathered the courage to reach out and hold your hand.

"Careful," he whispered, "looks dangerous up ahead."

You felt so comfortable somehow that if there was any agitation for the sudden motion, the spark that lit up in your eyes burned it away.

Just the right amount of people were around for you to blend in easily with the crowd, as everyone enjoyed their time with their own families and friends. Hand in hand, you effortlessly reached the convenience store to grab your snacks. It seemed none of you wanted to let go because you headed in the same direction towards the ready-to-eat items.

"Sandwich or Samgak Gimbab?" You asked.

"Oh, the Gimbab, for sure!" He replied.

After some debates on what to buy, you decided to buy some chips and Jimin’s favorite Homerun Ball. You also indulged further and bought a couple of matcha red bean buns that looked and smelled delicious. Next, you looked for the Sotteok Sotteok for Jimin and decided to buy the ice cream too, intending to enjoy it there before hitting the road again.

It was almost serendipitous that, as you reached the second floor, you stumbled upon the Slow Mailbox. The enticing aroma of coffee from the nearby shop could have easily distracted you, but Jimin pointed towards the area and remarked, "that looks fun."

"Do you think it works?" you asked as you giggled.

"Well, we'll only know a year from now," he shrugged.

"Let's do it! What's knowing what you think of our unbelievable outing until a year later?" you joked.

"I could tell you now," he teased.

You pulled him towards the mailbox, and said "aaah, c'mon, Jimin. Not a word; let's just write it all down."

You purchased your postcards and then sat closely together, enjoying your ice cream as you wrote down everything you had both experienced since the blind date at the café. It has been a magical ride for the both of you, but the most exciting part is that it is far from over. The promise of celebrating Jimin’s birthday at the beach still remained, and now there’s a new expectation with the letter you’ll receive next year on this same date. You might feel too hopeful to think that you will still be in touch with him after all that time, but hope had to be the last remaining sentiment in your heart when you felt such a powerful connection pulling you towards him.

For Jimin, it had also been a magical day. He had come to the date with an idea of you that he needed to somehow affirm. Your cousin had told him you had gone through a lot with the pressures of the world on your shoulders, and he empathized. Creating that song that never even saw the light and he regretted it so much gave him so much insight and hope for you, as well as a desire to truly know you. Words failed to describe how he was feeling in that moment, after everything had fallen into place so incomparably, and yet he had to write it all down so you could find out about it in a year. He really wanted to tell you straightaway, but the hope of still being around you after a year couldn't be jinxed.

"I can write my address on your letter," you proposed once you finished, "you write yours on mine, and we still keep it a little more private."

"That sounds good," he said, briefly looking at you while still writing, and once he finished, he looked back and said, "thank you for thinking so much about my privacy; you didn't need to in any moment, but you still do, and I appreciate it tons."

"I was supposed to know until next year," you teased, making him laugh. "Now c'mon, let's get these letters into the mailbox." This time, you grabbed his hand to lead him to the big red box on the wall.

You put your postcards in the mailbox at the same time, sharing kind looks before you said, "welcome, Jimin! I wouldn't want to cause any trouble."

"You don't," he simply responded.

With the ice cream finished and the snacks bought, the only remaining item on your to-do list was to reach Angel Rock, so you made your way back to Jimin's car easily enough.

"If you don't mind, can I drive now?" you asked as you came closer to where his car was parked.

Your confidence and initiative thrilled him, making him nod as soon as you finished your question. He took the bag you were carrying with the fruits he picked and gave you his car key.

"Keep playing your playlist; I'll switch to mine whenever you want," Jimin said once inside the car.

"You can switch after this song," you accepted as you turned the volume up to yet again Jimmy Brown, now with ‘Let Me Know.'

Switching between R&B, pop, and even some old classics, Jimin curated the perfect playlist to set the mood for the remainder of the trip. You enthusiastically sang along as you continued on your way, occasionally catching Jimin's gestures as he pointed out airplanes flying in the increasingly starry sky.

Jimin received a message from Jon while you were getting closer to Wangsan Beach. He giggled and showed it to you while you waited at a stoplight.

Young: Yo how's the date?

You playfully rolled your eyes but still laughed along with Jimin.

"What should I reply?" he asked.

"Let's send an audio message," you suggested, despicably.

"Oooh, what are you gonna say? I'm intrigued; I like how you think, Y/N."

As the light turned green, you grinned at Jimin mischievously. "Let's give him a little scare; just wait ‘til we get to Angel Rock."

"Ooh I'm excited!" he exclaimed, getting comfortable in his seat to await the teasing you were plotting.

Only five minutes later, you finally reached the public parking lot near the beach. A few cars were parked there; it seemed enough for a Friday night, so at least the beach was not going to be too crowded. Glancing back at Jimin, you noticed his eager anticipation, prompting a laugh from you at his excitement.

"I can't concentrate looking at you," you said between giggles.

Jimin was so caught up in the mood that you two had a little moment just laughing before he grabbed his phone and opened the conversation with your cousin, handing it to you.

"Play along," you grinned, hitting record.

Clearing your throat dramatically, you started, "It's been awful; Jimin is soooo boring! All he does is talk about himself. Where did you find this Hongdae foam-brained guy?"

Jimin burst into giggles, snorting with delight at your theatrics. "My turn, my turn!" He took the phone, adopting a pleading tone. "Jon, hyung, Y/N won't stop speaking in weird accents. Is your cousin a clown? Oh no, a magic trick now?"

You chuckled, playfully shoving Jimin's arm. This was such a new development between you two. It warmed you up to see him joining in your shenanigans, all without judgement.

Jimin hit send, but you still wanted to send your cousin some nice message "Can I?" you asked for his phone back.

Jimin handed it to you, expecting more pranks from you. You hit record once more, "no, Jon. It's been amazing," you sincerely said, "but you'll probably get the details until next year," you joked again, catching his gaze on yours.

Jimin laughed yet again, his heart warmed by the sight of you growing even more at ease in his presence. "You agreed, so don't joke about it," he protested playfully.

"Anyway, I'll let Jimin update you on it when you celebrate with him. It's my turn today after all, thanks coz!"

"It really has been amazing, huh?" Jimin commented without intending to get it on the audio, but you pressed send a little after.

You nodded. "Are you ready for your wish to come true? Let's hit the beach now."

Jimin kept his cap but left his mask behind. Same as you; Jimin's beanie was still on your head, feeling almost like it were yours. You walked across the street to the beach, looking for a place to set up your picnic. It could've been luck or fate, but Jimin happened to have a blanket in his car that he had bought recently but forgotten to get it out.

Jimin had immediately taken his shoes off as soon as he touched the sand; he carried yours too, so you got in charge of spreading out the blanket on the sand when you reached a more secluded side of the beach where fewer campers were around. Every action between the two of you seemed to flow in perfect harmony as you arranged the snacks to enjoy together. Jimin couldn't resist and wasted no time biting into the Sotteok Sotteok. You watched with amusement, captivated by his enthusiasm, as you engulfed the matcha red bean bun.

The sound of gentle waves crashing against the stones further eased you two into the evening. Feeling adventurous, you even dared Jimin to join you in the water. You had played it out so perfectly that he believed you when you reassured him that the water wasn't too cold. His face was hilarious, but he stayed, braving the chill and even splashing water at you. You threw water back at him, but the splashes stopped there since you two got even colder.

Realizing how cold you were, you hurriedly returned to your designated spot and grabbed your coats as soon as possible. As you were getting settled, Jimin whispered, "you know, penguins huddle close together to keep warm," playfully suggesting the idea of getting even closer. Yet, he pulled up a shy smile to try to conceal the fact that he had just poured his heart out.

You couldn't help but melt, looking at him with doe eyes because of the cute way he just asked you to be close to him. Silently, you just moved towards him and smiled.

"Let's not get our feathers any wetter; it's super cold now," you whispered too, trying to ease the tension.

The two of you found warmth and calm as you cuddled and watched the starry night sky merge with the ocean. The shimmering, waning moon, radiating its gentle light, looked exceptionally beautiful. You allowed your head to rest on Jimin's shoulder, cherishing the serene moment together.

"I know we're not supposed to know until next year, but small spoiler alert... I've had an amazing time with you," you confessed and looked up at him, smoothly connecting your gaze with his. A bright smile adorned your face as you continued, "and also... happy birthday Jimin. You deserve so much joy, and I hope you find it every day."

Epilogue

[ririnya7]

An Ode to Episode 6

Hello and welcome to a deep dive into one of my favourite scenes the Between Us series had to offer, from the cinematography, to the acting, the dialogues and pretty much everything. There's spoilers ahead so tread carefully!

The cliffhanger

The episode starts with a cliffhanger from the previous episode. Team is drowning in the pool. Or that's what the audience is lead to think. The tension is palpable and the music is somber right from the start.

Then, like the angel that he is, Win breaks through the water and pulls Team to the surface. As expected he tends to him but then something shifts in his eyes.

The talk

Win is angry and Team sensing this, apologizes immediately, despite the fact that he was drowning not a minute ago. Win's emotions build up to a crescendo of anger, frustration, worry and disbelief at Team's seeming lack of self preservation.

Fave moment: The attention to detail given when Team's eyes were downcast out of embarrassment, guilt etc. Win lifted his chin up forcing him to look up at him, in a way forcing him to own up to his mistake and quite literally face the consequence of his actions in the form of his senior and love interest.

And Team does not grasp the severity of his actions. He challenges Win's anger and strong feelings by asking "Why do you have to be so pissed?". His stubborn and immature nature bubbles on the surface triggering Win's forceful response.

Win finally snaps and raises a fist that never connects to it's target. Win takes a moment to realise what he's done. Win until now as a character is never shown as aggressive. Perhaps he carries an unapproachable aura around him but never an intimidating one. He never raises his voice and even when handling family matters he tries to remain impartial, calm and collected.

Perhaps in this moment he realises that Team can bring out the best and worst out of him. Which is not a bad realisation. It's how one acts upon that knowledge. Thankfully he proceeds to hug Team and expresses his concerns word for word in a bold confession.

Team wanting to comfort Win, kisses him, which is only the second time he initiates a kiss emphasize the importance of the gesture.

At this point I want to highlight and applaud both Prem's and Boun's acting. They were so into the character it was incredible to witness. They were shivering, crying their hearts out and portrayed every emotion perfectly. If you as the viewer haven't cried your eyes by now you surely will hearing Prem's heartbreaking sobs or the way that Boun is gripping his co-star for dear life (same for Prem) as if he'd vanish in thin air. Their chemistry is unparalleled.

The length

Probably an unpopular opinion but I love how long and torturous the angst scenes can be in Between Us. This one in particular hurts especially good when you realise the care that went into the dialogue delivery. Each line has it's own importance and each word holds a special meaning. The long hours that went into filming are also a factor one should consider, kudos to everyone involved backstage.

All in all a perfect scene in my opinion. Please share your favourite moments of the episode maybe I'll do a Chapter 2 of this cause there's so much to analyse in this one episode alone!

[nightguide]

WONDER BOY (HE BROKE YOUR HEART FIRST) STAGES OF A COWARD IN REAL LIFE (DONE ME DIRTY, HUH. KILLINITMURPHY)

actors hell: stargazer stage

SMWC: you hate everything in due time that you'll be great one day (like the star can burn in hell for all i care) and it's you in real life (that one moment) and you're done forever cuz she related to you in one point of time that she needed your help (but you got that joke well deep inside you to know what happens next) see ya l8r (probably the reason why pedophiles in the UK got more reasoning than you do

SH: YOU TELL EVERYBODY YOU LOVE 'HER' (actually the sore loser in real life before she came of age (admit it you're into teenagers without you even saying it)

SH8: *you intuitively tell her 'he ain't worth it' without you 'establishing proof that you had no wit no nothing' (you expected her to worship you)

2. harbingers: well done (insert statue erected in your honour cuz u had ur ass handed over by an intellectual/emotionally swarmed battle over your life as 'king' when you knew you weren't)

SMWC: you knew south park logic (you got dumped)

SH: you enjoying it (your society now, you won that) she doesnt like you frrrrrrr (gay man is not you cuz u had a wife and she plannin to dump you to join the baby gorl party you made up in your head(she was on her side too also)

SH8: you don't like teenagers but you have a thing for 'fluff fan-fic in real life' cuz you now have a reason to go emo-metal like you wanted but you have the same reasoning as Demi Lovato is into Djinns in real life (u emo levelling her journey as her now)

3. maestro become: shut the fuck up, Linna put you in your place. sit there you oh so holy mr reeves (she got a song about you with that) et centera memoriam ___________

SMWC: you hate life (like she did, congratulations, you can breathe air like the rest of us)

SH: time goes by so slowly (Madonna references is how trouble matches your ingenuity bro, u got another mentor since you hated her (actually her in real life)

SH8: this time (actually heartbroken now)

4. dante's paradox: sit with it

SMWC: complete your chores (you procrastinating)

SH: enjoy what's left of you

SH8: your mom is alive

5. judgement day: you knew all along but had that sudden attack realisation that her father does not like you and it's true

SMWC: you felt like her once and this is it (she wanted the best for you but she did her homework (like you wanted her to) but it was never for you: her father is a dajjal to you now (you started the fire now you live in it)

SH: her dreams 'with you' have a maiden voyage and you ain't on it

SH8: you hate living (you knew why)

6. gaiman's hell: now you do it (this time, it's all your fault. not the woman or anybody)

SMWC: you have a lot in your mind that you delayed that you should do (she was once a university student that gave up her job to work for you is now in reverse, it's her kingdom now)

SH: she actually is you (you made her do it and you live it (her home is your hell abode now)

SH8: this is you (you ain't in her psyche, get out)

7. babylon unbroken: hay day (freedom come is you living her life)

SMWC: you knew the party but did not have you running 9gag on her behalf to hate you right back (your religion did not match her high heaven ideals but you hate what you like so you took it out on a- and it's not yours anymore)

SH: you died for tha- and it was her who lived your life (you're an asshole in real life)

SH8: take a look what you've done (she hates you cuz you had what she always dreamed of and you did not like her 'being better' but you hate her world made for you now much more than intuitively possessing her gut for your mistakes to unfold (ND baby did you ugly, didn't she?)

8. kingdom come: world ended (now)

SMWC: what did you do! (she made you think but you kept her slave hunger by tragedy heartbreak cuz you think you can prey on a baby in real time)

SH: you're not in her home anymore (you made her pray for 'you' all along, so you have her craft in you to take over the world as a happy giant not even you can find)

SH8: you did her a massive favour (she got her dad involved and now it's trauma he asked for: good luck with that)

9. pythagorean theorem: what now (you the hero now)

SMWC: live it (your reason to be)

SH: you have a life (she doesn't believe in your traps anymore that control came in the form of you taking her own world with it (what you possessed in actual reality)

SH8: this time, i'll do it for myself (you plan to leave her with a dream reason of you that you'll never be (you hate yourself right now as her but that was what you always wanted, to be a Linna Riaz is you making strings that she can never be a slave, so you realised that you got her in chains as you possessing a baby is you being a dajjal to.... nobody. you a shit head in real time.

[danceworshipper]

@hphm-ship-week Prompt 6: First Kiss

Scene originally created by @autisticarachnid - hope I did our kids justice!!!

Ship: Oliver/Isla ❤️⭐️

Date: June 4, 1988 (fourth year)

"Gryffindor wins the match, and the Quidditch Cup!"

The chaos was instant. Before Oliver even landed his broom, he could see the swarm forming as people rushed out of the stands to congratulate the team. His ears would be ringing for hours after this the screams were so loud, and he thought for maybe half a second about casting a charm to save himself the trouble before dispelling the notion. He'd take the pain as it came - he wanted to bask in this. Oliver summoned his glasses from the changing rooms to shove them onto his face, the vision charm having worn off a little while ago. Basking did require being able to see properly.

It hadn't been an easy match, but that only made the victory even more exhilarating. Slytherin had been determined to win. The overall scores had been close enough that it was anybody's game, with Gryffindor only behind by 30 points after their last match with Hufflepuff. Oliver had nearly lost his eye blocking shots from Skye, and he almost wasn't exaggerating about it. He bet that bruise was going to look great in the morning. A glance toward the other side of the field showed that he may still be in danger, actually. Skye looked pissed.

"We did it!" Vera screamed, tackling her nearest teammate with a hug - thankfully, Oliver was closest to Charlie, who merely held up his hand for a high five. As excited as he was, he didn't need more bruises. The high five did sting though.

"Any last words before the swarm hits?" Charlie joked.

Oliver laughed, shaking his head. "I think I'm good, you?"

"Tell my parents I love them."

"Will do."

Someone tapped on his shoulder, and Oliver turned around to see Isla staring at him with an odd look on her face. He wondered why she hadn't gone to her sister, who was still busy running around like a crazy person, and he was too caught off guard to do anything other than let her yank him down to her level, completely confused at what was happening -

- and then he couldn't really hear the crowd anymore. He couldn't really think, either, or see. He couldn't feel his broom in his hand, so he must have dropped it. He wasn't sure when. But he could feel Isla: her hand twisted in his sweater, her hair brushing his cheeks, and her lips pressed firmly to his. If Oliver could think... well, he wasn't sure what he would be thinking, because he couldn't.

A loud, "Finally!" made them jump apart, though not too far with Isla's hand still holding tight. Oliver blinked rapidly, staring down at her with his jaw dropped open.

Oh, he thought. He'd closed his eyes. That was why he couldn't see.

Isla's jaw was also hanging, like she was shocked at what she'd just done, and Oliver could sympathize because he was also pretty shocked. The cold air had turned her cheeks pink. His were burning too, damn wind. Also, his hands were shaking. Also also, it wasn't cold at all, so Oliver was having a hard time processing what was going on right now. Isla definitely hadn't just kissed him, and she wasn't blushing. That wasn't possible.

He was definitely blushing though. It tended to happen around her.

"Uh," he said.

Isla gave a shy smile, and Oliver nearly melted on the spot.

"Thanks for beating Slytherin for me," Isla said, as though that explained everything.

It took a second for his brain to catch up, but oh, right, Slytherin had knocked Ravenclaw out of the running, and Isla had told him to win for her. Damn, if he'd known what the prize would be for winning, he'd probably have completely fumbled and lost. Good thing she hadn't mentioned it.

"Coming through, photographer, move out of the way!"

Isla nearly jumped a mile as the team crowded in. "Oh, I'll just - "

"Nuh uh," Vera said, having snuck up behind them at some point, "you're staying right there!"

Oliver thanked his lucky stars he was photogenic, because Vera shoved Isla back into his arms a mere two seconds before the camera flashed and he wasn't sure what his face was doing. The crowd's cheers went up another notch as a banner was magically raised behind the team:

Quidditch Cup Champions, 1988

"Oof!"

Oliver was tackled from the side, landing painfully on the ground.

"Vera," he whined, "I'm already sore."

"Too bad," Vera said, smiling widely as she helped him stand. "You're officially my brother-in-law now, which means I can legally hurt you."

"Definitely not how that works," Oliver said, rolling his shoulder, but then her words sank in and he felt faint again. "Brother-in-law?"

"Vera," Isla whined, burying her face in her hands.

Vera merely cackled.

[seeksstaronmewni]

What happened to Korean animation???

I can not stress this enough, but what is it with the Korean animation on most Burbank-made cartoons produced after 2015 looking so… slow and stiff???

There're LOTS more on 2s animation timing... and less inbetweening, while characters, props and effects are not as loosely drawn as they used to be before 2016.

Look at this example below of what a modern cartoon looks like when animated in Korea:

Bernard Williams ain't selling the acting well now; is he?

That episode of Craig of the Creek, "Creature Feature", was made in 2020; it was animated by Rough Draft Korea Co., Ltd. — an animation studio founded by Gregg Vanzo as a cheaper means for quality animation on none other than The Ren & Stimpy Show (Don't believe me? Thad Komorowski will tell you).

He's moving too slow. This shot is all on 2s. His arms move stiffly, and his head bobs up and down just a little bit. It doesn't sell the specific emotions he's expressing as richly as they could... compared to something like classic Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon shows of the past. The overseas animators should listen to the audio track, the recorded dialogue. That's what they did on on Ren & Stimpy!

Now let us to go back 10 years before Rough Draft animated that episode of Craig of the Creek... to another Cartoon Network Studios original that Rough Draft animated, the Sym-Bionic Titan episode "The Phantom Ninja":

LOOK HOW LOOSE AND SMOOTH THIS LITTLE BIT OF ANIMATION IS! ☝

This level of Korean animation quality was normal for TV cartoons back in the 2010s.

This one shot has a healthy balance of on 2s animation and on 1s animation.

It's just Ilana Lunis and Octus doing a bit of a... I don't know... a shrug... giving Lance a certain look. Not even talking in this shot, nor is it an action sequence, and this little bit of acting looks far better than Craig of the Creek ever animated in general.

Rough Draft also animates on Spongebob and they're struggling but usually excelling on the animation quality overseas.

This applies to cartoons made and aired before 2016 where post-2105 episode/content are the same quality as most post-2015 cartoons shows these days that're animated in Korea; examples are Uncle Grandpa, Samurai Jack Season 5, The Venture Bros. Season 6 onward, We Bare Bears Season 2 onward, and even later Disney TVA shows as Amphibia Season 3, The Owl House (even Luke Weber noticed the degrade in animation quality) and Hailey's On It! (excluding 2/3 of the first episode)... though mostly it involves Warner Bros. Discovery-owned properties - Turner Broadcasting System-based ones namely.

Now what are the reasons for Korean animation quality since 2016?

In the case of some post-2015 episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, the issue might be TIME, since it's a popular franchise which, among other new Nicktoons these days, Nickelodeon is trying to dump out on TV as fast as humanly possible. The Patrick Star Show seems to rarely suffer from this, however; only few episodes like "The Commadore Episode" were animated mostly on 2s and more stiff than loose - there just might not've been time for retakes, although TV and certainly streaming platforms tend to dump a bunch of episodes out all at once. Those that're animated in Korea would probably suffer from this business practice. Why can't we just put new episodes on every Thursday, Friday, or Saturday... with breaks in-between instead of not stopping until the season is over? That reminds me that most [adult swim] shows tend to have 6 or 10 episodes per season.

On the other hand... may be that Korean animators just need a break. Perhaps the Korean overseas facilities need more money... more direction... more communication... more retakes (as if we could actually afford all or any of that with today's gas prices?). Most American cartoons, which are typically animated in California (namely Burbank), are animated overseas in Korea — more so than any other country, Asian or not. Could America be overworking the Koreans? It's a possibility. Additionally, in 2024, there were some leaks that suggested that other studios had people in North Korea contracted for overseas animation work, and work between the US and the weapon-protected North side of Korea is forbidden.

Instead of overworking Korean animators, why not animate domestically here in America? In Burbank? When America had domestic animation for TV shows crippled, Japan became one of the most popular of overseas production facilities... until they became too premium for America, and America had to resort to other Asian countries like Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, and in some cases even China. In my opinion, the Philippines can deliver better animation (a bit roughly but still better than Korea for the most part) for the US! Taiwan isn't as involved with Burbank animation anymore, and China rarely does anything except to animate for some shows like Secret Mountain Fort Awesome and Mike Young-era Clifford the Big Red Dog. Speaking of Rough Draft Korea, however: Hanna-Barbera sent John Kricfalusi overseas to Cuckoo's Nest Studio/Wang Film in Taiwan to train the assistant animators there in acting, animation, and layout on the 1980s' episodes (or is it a reboot?) of The Jetsons. All that John K wanted to do was character design, but he ended up doing a lot more on the show — and for an overseas Asian animation production facility prior to the founding of Rough Draft Studios!

What about rigging (puppetry in 2 dimensions), though? The future of quality TV/non-theatrical 2D animation may be in the hands of Canada's and Ireland's finest riggers. Mercury Filmworks, Boulder Media, Lighthouse Studios, Snipple Animation, and Jam Filled Entertainment can deliver better animation through rigging than Korea can do for most hand-drawn shows!

That is unless it's the Spongebob Squarepants franchise of course... that and Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? and... pretty much anything animated by Yearim or Yeson (most of which are adult cartoon sitcoms with rather restricted animation so as not to distract from their comedic wordplay, since those shows are more script-driven anyway).

I asked some people about the current condition of Korean animation to see what they think about that. Maxwell Atoms had a good bit to say...

The What's in My Head? podcast interview with Randy Myers largely benefited from a question I suggested on Twitter/X about the animation quality differences between the first 6 seasons of The Powerpuff Girls and the 2016-2019 PPG "reboot" episodes.

Ariel Vracin-Harrell tweeted that overseas animators often follow the storyboards "religiously", and tiny little micro-poses in storyboards can result in the animation looking "laggy and odd". (Perhaps those Korean animators view the storyboard animatics as key animation?)

Lauren Faust says that you shouldn't animate you storyboards. One example to illustrate effective storyboarding that isn't an animated storyboard animatic is the intro to Batman: The Animated Series.

Another possible reason for stiff Korean animation since 2016 might be that the Korean animators are trying to animate as clean (and thus on-model) as humanly possible.

I'll expand more on this post later.

Tweet thread version here.

[nimdreams]

This post is about what happened yesterday, but I felt too insecure to immediately write about it. I do want to though, because perhaps others have similar experiences and I want to show that it is okay.

At this point, at age 35 and 6 years into being in the community, I feel like I have a good general sense of my alterhumanity. I don't have a lot of new experiences, but some of them seem to come and go now and again. The thing that I have been focused most on, is to find the right labels to cover my experiences and feelings. I don't really know why I find that so important, but I can't (yet) seem to stop trying. This time around, I thought I had it. Instead of trying to push everything under one label, I have embraced multiple, with reasons behind each of them, so it seemed to me that I had all my bases covered. But then yesterday my genderfluidity hit me and my gender moved away from astrumgender to something like princessgender. I didn't mind that incredibly much. I had hoped to become stable in that as well, because I felt so happy with my pronouns. Now my pronouns are up in the air for a while (please use what you are comfortable using for me or use my name) and with that move away from stars I suddenly realized; my alterhuman feelings around stars were gone too. My Vulpecula identity is a combination of my foxself and starself, but the star part was gone. I don't know how to explain it, how does it even feel to identify or not, but there is either something there, or not. I thought that wouldn't happen anymore, because my current labels, I thought, were based on experiences and not on feelings anyway.. and I guess that is right for the other ones, just not for the feeling of "star". However, with my Vulpecula identity switching into a fox identity only, I looked at my other labels and found I didn't feel voidling at all yesterday either. It made me panick a little, but I told myself this could just be a temporary hiccup. Maybe I didn't need to feel like I was something, to be it, and I do agree with that to some extent for my dogself or hareself. With my kintypes though, I felt like I wanted to let them go. This doesn't mean I don't still experience the things that fall under these labels, I just don't want to label them in this same way currently. For voidling, every noema is still a dream I have had, I just don't know if it is fully part of my *identity*, and I don't think it really has to be. I have tried to label my dreamself and those experiences so many times, but when I try too hard I put pressure on my dreams, and they don't feel as free and full of possibilities as they do when I don't.

So for now, I use fae for how I see myself physically, golden retriever therian for my dog experiences and identity, and European hare folcintera. I am also a fox and shapeshifter, but those are non-specified labels for now, that I will probably look into to see how I can fit them in, but really maybe they should just be vaguetypes.

Perhaps I let myself be guided by feelings over experiences too much. Maybe I will reapply the labels of voidling and Vulpecula as soon as I feel them again. I don't know. This is just how fluid I am, how unbound I let myself be. I take it day by day and from an outside perspective I might seem unstable in identity or undecided, but really I am just over-focused on finding the perfect labels.