#lost in the ocean arc

[wyrdo01]

[Sidon, wearing an insane amount of blankets, gets near]

Is that you under there?

[he starts using night slash to chip away the ice]

-@water-pokemon-appreciator

(The head module slowly stutterers and shifts to him meanwhile dredge is still fighting of the rest of the sharpedo in the sea threatening the now head freed Wyrdo)

Correct its me... Arc I look pathetic frozen up like this.

[burst-of-iridescent]

not to beat the "sokka's misogyny" disk horse even further into the ground, but while i agree with the take that sokka being sexist logically doesn't make sense, i would go further to say that the water tribes themselves being sexist is both illogical and thematically contradictory.

the flaws of each nation in atla have always been linked to their element, and specifically what those elements represent. fire is the element of power; power, left unchecked, leads to imperialism and authoritarianism. earth is the element of substance and stability; stability, prioritized too highly, creates and justifies the rigid class system and rampant corruption of ba sing se. air is the element of freedom; freedom, taken too far, becomes irresponsibility and abandonment.

meanwhile, water is the element of change... therefore the water tribes cling to antiquated ideas about gender roles instead of adapting with the times (especially when the times involve a fucking war going on).

not only is this unrealistic, it also breaks the thematic pattern of the nations' flaws being virtues taken to extremes, and how this dovetails into the show's overall message about the importance of balance. if we're keeping with the pattern of virtue and vice being two sides of the same coin, then the flaw of the water tribes has to be related to change. and here is where some of the (badly executed) ideas in the comics and legend of korra could have come into play: change, left uncontrolled, can lead to progress... but at the cost of tradition and spirituality.

(imagine a nwt cut off from the world and forced to rely solely on itself, ingenuity and creativity flourishing out of sheer, desperate need. imagine a nwt where waterbending is nothing more than a tool, used to build and defend and maintain a fortress always at risk, its spiritual origins slowly lost to time. imagine a nwt more military than community, whose architecture and technology far exceed anything the world has ever seen, who look down upon their less advanced sister tribe, and see no need for the avatar - after all, where was he when they had no one but themselves for the last 100 years?

when warned that the fire nation is coming, they show no fear; they have held strong on their own for the last century, bolstered by their weapons and wits, and will continue to do so. you need the spirits, aang implores, and is met with derision, for there is no place for spirits in a society always chasing more, greater, better. the spirits have not helped us before, avatar. why would they now? we are all we need.

when the moon spirit falls, unprotected and forgotten in an abandoned, rundown spirit oasis - so do they.)

not only would this fit better thematically, it would also ensure that the nwt's flaw plays a role in its own downfall. where the fire nation's warmongering resulted in the poverty and suffering of its own people, and the earth kingdom's corruption led - at least in part - to the fall of ba sing se, the misogyny of the water tribes is never shown to negatively impact them in any way. the north isn't defeated by the fire nation because they relegated half the population to healing. the south doesn't suffer raids or lose their waterbenders because they (supposedly) didn't let women fight. this lack of narrative punishment means that - outside of a few girlboss moments for katara - the sexism of the nwt isn't significant to the overall story whatsoever.

furthermore, while the ba sing se arc last almosts half a season, and the fire nation's actions drive the entire show, this supposed systemic oppression of women shows up for one episode in the first season before disappearing entirely. pakku is reminded of his lost love, magically turns into a feminist, and somehow the entire tribe follows suit? no one else protests, not even the other students or the chief?

and yet, though there are still no female waterbenders other than katara, or agency for kanna in her relationship, or any indication that women stopped being forcibly betrothed - the entire issue is simply swept under the rug and never brought up ever again in the show. i understand this was a children's cartoon made in 2005, and that even having female characters openly speak about and challenge misogyny was a radical feat for the time and genre, but the reality of patriarchy is that it's structural, sustained and immensely difficult to resist - if the show was going to depict that resistance, it should have done so with greater depth and nuance, as it did for many of the other difficult topics it tackled.

ultimately, handwaving misogyny away like it never existed is far more disrespectful to katara's character, her fight against injustice, and the girls who saw themselves in her, than simply toning it down or removing it could ever be.

[dontmesswithnoheroin]

I finally got the romanced spawn!Astarion epilogue and my first epilogue in the game I'm ,,,,,,,,,,

I need to lie down

[minakoainosupremacy]

I’m sad, I’ve had a bunch of fun cool ideas sitting in the back of my head since like new years which I wanted to use for rare pair week, but like life has been kicking my ass so I didn’t have time to even start anything and now it’s over :( guess they will just keep living in my head until next year

[wyrdo01]

I'm heading back out as well

Sidon? What the hell happened? Where are you?

I'm in the ocean, where else would I be?

I think Rune fell behind a bit, and now some of my ocean powers are acting more annoying than usual, but otherwise everything seems normal

[crumbsforbrains]

Speaking into the void.... glass animals brainrot is seeping into cookie run brainrot

[wyrdo01]

Status update I think I'm at unova's waters but.... Why is my temperature gauge drop alarmingly fast?

[crookedteethed]

ᡣ𐭩 betting on you . • ° 　 .　 *　: r. cameron

synopsis -- you make a bet during a game of beer pong with rafe, the stakes being your virginity.

warnings -- 18+-mdni, smut, semi-public smut, loss of virginity, fingering, oral (f receiving), cursing, frat!Rafe, best friend! Rafe

masterlist(s) | taglist | word count: 1.7k

Music pulsed through the beach house, mixing with laughter and the crash of waves outside. Salt air drifted through open windows, carrying the scent of ocean and bonfire smoke. You stood at one end of the beer pong table, watching Rafe Cameron size up his shot with that insufferable confidence of his.

"Getting nervous, Cameron?" you called out, trying to hide your own flutter of anticipation. "That aim's looking a little shaky."

Rafe looked up, that trademark half-smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Please. I'm just getting warmed up." He straightened, spinning the ball between his fingers. "But since you're feeling confident, why don't we raise the stakes?"

"Stakes?" You arched an eyebrow, intrigued despite yourself.

He leaned forward, hands planted on the table edge. "Oh, it's simple. You and I get to have sex, then I get to say I fucked the hottest girl on figure 8, and if by some miracle you win…" His low growl sent shivers down your spine as he slyly spread his hands, shrugging. "Name your price."

The competitive spark in his blue eyes made your heart skip. This was Rafe all over—turning everything into a challenge, pushing boundaries, trying to get under your skin. And the most annoying part?

It was working.

You felt a flush creep up your neck, equal parts arousal and indignation. "You're awfully sure of yourself," you said, trying to keep your voice steady.

Rafe's grin widened. "I'm just playing to my strengths. But hey, if you're not up for it…" He trailed off, a hint of challenge in his tone.

That did it. You stepped closer, invading his personal space. "Oh, I'm up for it. And when I win, you'll be my personal servant for a week. Laundry, dishes, whatever I want."

His eyes darkened with desire. "Deal," he growled, voice low.

The air between you crackled with tension as you each took your positions. You tried to focus on the game, but your mind kept wandering to what would happen if you lost. The way Rafe's muscles flexed as he lined up his shot was incredibly distracting. You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to concentrate.

The first few rounds were intense, with both of you matching shot for shot. The crowd grew louder with each cup eliminated, their chants and cheers echoing off the beach house walls. Your confidence grew with each successful throw, but Rafe remained frustratingly focused, that signature smirk never leaving his face.

"Four cups left," someone called out from the crowd. "Game's getting good!"

You lined up your shot carefully, but the ball spun out at the last second. Rafe's next throw landed perfectly, drawing whoops from his supporters.

"Your turn, superstar," he taunted playfully.

Three cups turned to two, then one. The pressure mounted with each throw, and you could feel your hands getting sweaty. This was it - Rafe had one cup left, you had two. All you needed was to make these shots.

Your throw sailed through the air… and bounced off the rim. The crowd gasped.

Rafe picked up the ball, twirling it in his hands as he studied the final cup. The beach house seemed to hold its breath. He flicked his wrist, the ball arcing gracefully through the air…

Splash.

The crowd erupted as Rafe threw his arms up in victory. "And that's game!" he announced, grinning triumphantly.

"Lucky shot," you muttered, as you prepared to lose your virginity to Rafe. But he could tell you were pouting and teasingly said, "Don't pout now."

"I'm not pouting," you huffed, crossing your arms. But your lip was definitely sticking out in a way that could only be described as pouty.

Rafe smirked, his eyes roaming over your body in a way that made heat rise to your cheeks. "Sure you're not. Come on, don't be such a sore loser. A bet's a bet."

you rolled your eyes, trying to ignore the butterflies in your stomach. This was Rafe, for crying out loud. Your annoying best friend since middle school. The guy who put gum in your hair in 6th grade. And now here you were, about to…

"Fine," you said, taking a deep breath. "Let's just get this over with."

Rafe's eyes roam hungrily over your body as you straddle his lap. The thumping beat of the music blurs into the background as your hands eagerly rip at his shirt. He chuckles, his voice dripping with amusement.

"Looks like you're not backing out of our little bet," he teases.

"Shut up," you groan, tossing his shirt into the darkness of the room. Before long, both of you are stripped down and exploring each other's bodies with hungry mouths and wandering hands.

Your fingers tangle in Rafe's hair as he trails hot kisses down your neck. A gasp escapes your lips when he nips at your collarbone. The music pulses around you, matching the frantic beating of your heart.

"Wait," you pant, pulling back slightly. Rafe looks up at you, eyes dark with desire.

"Having second thoughts?" he asks, a hint of challenge in his voice.

You shake your head, a wicked grin spreading across your face. "We should make sure the door is locked-- wouldn't want any interruptions."

Rafe laughs a low, sultry sound that sends shivers down your spine. His hands grip your hips, pinning you down to where the bulge of his cock kissed your lips.

"Who cares who comes in? Let them see," he murmurs against your skin. "Now, where were we?"

You respond by capturing his lips in a searing kiss, but when you feel Rafe begin to tug on his cock, you stop him and pull back slightly. Your breath is heavy, and you look into his eyes with a mix of desire and apprehension.

"Rafe, but I'm a virgin," you whisper, the words hanging in the air between you.

Rafe's eyes soften, and he gently brushes a strand of hair behind your ear. His lips brushed against the same ear, sending shivers down your spine. "I know," he whispered seductively, his voice dripping with desire. "I want to savor every moment of it." With a hungry look in his eyes, Rafe gently flipped you onto your back and trailed kisses down your body until he reached the source of your arousal.

Your breath catches in your throat as Rafe's lips trail lower. His warm breath ghosts over your most sensitive areas, making you tremble with anticipation. You feel his strong hands gently part your thighs, exposing you fully to his heated gaze.

"You're so beautiful," Rafe murmurs, his voice husky with desire. He plants soft kisses along your inner thighs, inching closer to where you need him most.

He looks up at you, his eyes dark with lust, seeking permission. You give a small nod, biting your lip.

Rafe's tongue flicks out, teasing your folds. You gasp at the sensation, your hips bucking involuntarily. He chuckles softly, using his strong hands to hold your thighs apart as he continues his ministrations.

"Rafe," you moan, tangling your fingers in his hair at the sensation.

He hums in response, the vibrations sending waves of pleasure through you. His skilled tongue explores every inch of you, bringing you closer and closer to the edge. Just when you think you can't take anymore, he slides a finger inside you, curling it to hit that perfect spot.

Your climax washes over you in waves of ecstasy. Rafe works you through it, only pulling away when your trembling subsides.

He kisses his way back up your body before capturing your lips once more, you can taste yourself on his tongue as he positions himself between your thighs.

"Are you sure?" he asks softly, searching your eyes.

You nod, pulling him closer. "I want you, Rafe. All of you."

With agonizing slowness, he begins to push inside. There's a moment of discomfort, but Rafe peppers your face with compact kisses.

"Relax, baby," Rafe murmurs against your skin. "I've got you."

You take a deep breath, willing your body to soften. Inch by exquisite inch, Rafe sinks deeper until he's fully sheathed inside you. The stretch is intense but delicious. You've never felt so completely filled, so utterly possessed.

Rafe stills, giving you time to adjust. His dark eyes bore into yours, filled with a mixture of lust and tenderness that makes your heart stutter.

"Oh god," you gasp, clinging to his broad shoulders.

Rafe stills, giving you time to adjust. His eyes are dark with desire as he gazes down at you. "You feel amazing," he groans. "So tight and perfect."

Experimentally, you roll your hips. The friction sends sparks of pleasure shooting through you. Rafe's eyes flutter closed and he lets out a strangled moan.

"Please," you whimper. "I need you to move."

That's all the encouragement he needs. Rafe begins to thrust, setting a maddeningly slow pace. Each drag of his cock inside you builds the pressure coiling in your core. You wrap your legs around his waist, urging him deeper.

"Faster," you plead. "Harder."

Rafe obliges, picking up speed. The room fills with the sound of skin on skin slapping as you and Rafe are both quick to chase your own highs.

The intensity of your movements increases, driving you both closer to the edge. Rafe's thrusts become more urgent, his grip on your hips tightening as he loses himself in the moment.

Your as breath becomes ragged as rafe's pace quickens, and the pleasure spirals higher and higher until you can't hold back any longer.

With a cry, you reach your (second) peak, waves of ecstasy washing over you. Rafe follows closely behind, his release coming with a deep groan as he spills into you.

For a moment, you both lie there, panting and trying to catch your breath. Rafe gently kisses your forehead, his eyes filled with affection. You smile up at him, feeling a deep connection that goes beyond just the physical.

"Who would have thought a game of beer pong would lead to this?" you say, grinning at Rafe.

He chuckles, wrapping an arm around you. "I guess some bets are worth losing," he replies, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

You lean into him, feeling the warmth of his body against yours. "Best friends forever, right?" you ask, half-jokingly.

Rafe kisses the top of your head. "Forever," he agrees, his voice filled with certainty.

With a contented sigh, you snuggle closer to Rafe, feeling a sense of peace and fulfillment. The world outside can wait; for now, you're exactly where you want to be, with the person who means the most to you.

a/n: thanks for making it to the end of this fic!! As always all likes comments, and reblogs keeps me motivated! 💕🫶🏾

[pshbites]

LOVE ON AiR

SYNOPSiS » two podcast groups, both equally popular on the internet, start interacting with one another. however it isnt how fans want it to be.. OR yn sees sunghoon hating on lauryn hill and accidentally starts an entire fanwar with him.

PAiRiNG » sunghoon x fem!reader

FEAUTRiNG » all of enha, giselle of aespa, txt briefly mentioned

GENRE » smau (social media au), fluff, angst, enemies to lovers (barely), chronically online humor, romance, podcast au, influencer au, HEAVILY inspired from suburb talks and under the influence podcasts, SLOWBURNN

WARNiNGS » profanity, suggestive humor, kys/kms jokes, lots of pop culture references (im chronically online im sorry), drinking, drugs, fanwars, yn haters (BOOOOO), stalking (sorta?) manipulation (NOT FROM SUNGHOON OR Y/N) changes every chapter.

STATUS » completed — (08/03/24) to (10/26/24)

PLAYLiST » your eyes only - enha, after midnight - chappell roan, ex factor - lauryn hill, kiss me - dpr live, read your mind - sabrina carpenter, 3005 - childish gambino, poison poison - renee rapp, thirst - dpr live, just a little bit - enha, daisy - wave to earth, nouvelle vague - wave to earth, thinkin about you - frank ocean. (got carried away .. 😁)

AUTHORS NOTE » BIGGG thanks to my bestest friend ever, my fav british person, @lqfiles , ily so so much and thank you so much for helping me with this process. teaching me how to work tumblr like i was a grandma even tho im only 2 years older than u and making this AMAZING cover (isnt she talented), i love u sooo much more than words can describe, you annoying brit (endearing) 🫶

TAGLIST CLOSED!

written chaps in blue

🔴 RECORDING..

teaser (read first for context!!)

profiles i & profiles ii

1) call my phone a vibrator the way it keeps buzzing

2) YAP CENTRAL EP.135: alpha male podcasts?!

3) first hate thread. feeling nervous

4) pussy slay queen!

5) okay alpha

6) ROUND TABLE EP.149: perfect pitch :o

7) 1 down 3 to go

8) what the fuck is a ynhoon

9) YNXOXO VLOG: night out w/ won and riki

10) wet and bothered

11) just a normal tuesday

12) jungwons evil arc

13) YNXOXO VLOG: cafe date with my girls <3

14) the battle of thirst traps

15) twitch streaming era

16) YAP CENTRAL EP.136: did social media ruin relationships?

17) second interaction: kinda scared

18) fuck skater boys

19) park sunghoon v. round table

20) riki emo era: OVER

21) sunghoons side hoes

22) ROUND TABLE EP.150: we traded phones?!

23) bro define: friend

24) spidey sense

25) on my cellular plan i pay for?

26) YNXOXO VLOG: night time routine + surprise!!

27) a face i would kiss

28) collab of the century

29) YAP CENTRAL EP.137: has love lost its meaning?

30) eyes don’t lie

31) operation: ynhoon (postponed)

32) crybaby

33) operation: ynhoon (BACK ON)

34) chat is this a date yes or no?

35) boss baby jay

36) boyfriend

37) soft or hard?

38) what da heck *tyla voice*

39) YNXOXO VLOG: ice skating! | vlog w/ a special guest!!

40) love is on air

UNCUTS

1) operation: get riki ip banned on twt

2) try not to blow up challenge: FAILED

3) JAYS KITCHEN: my friends trying to help me make food blindfolded. (spoiler: it’s a fail)

4) YNXOXO VLOG: my boyfriend does my makeup voiceover !

5) YAP CENTRAL BLOOPERS: riki kat and yn patreon ad

© all rights to pshbites 2024

[mcyt-builds-contest]

Pandora's Vault

Builder : Awesamdude

Series : DSMP

Propaganda : its so big. Its so so big. Look at a map of the dsmp. Its just a black void bigger than l'manburg was. You look at it and you just know it's something terrible. the obsidian walls, lava, the iron. It's just there. In the middle of the ocean. It does not fit in and its scary. the AMOUNT of redstone and functions it go is AMAZING. the only way to enter is through a portal that then leads u to the nether and has to be manually activated again by the warden. So to enter you literally NEED the wardens permission. All the bridges and all the door. It's so fucking cool man what can I say. The amount of security. the lore that happened inside pandora as well. Pandoras arc was the best arc of the whole of dream smp and I stand by that. There is so so much to unpack. Sam and Dream could have just built some shitty obsidian box and called it a prison, but no they made PANDORAS VAULT

Bonus : it's a very big prison and now it's containing way too many peeps

Pearlescentmoon's Alien Landscape

Builder : Pearlescentmoon

Series : Hermitcraft Season 9

Propaganda : It's so pretty. The terraforming is gorgeous. The alien plants are stunning. She put diamond blocks and purpur into the build and it looks good. Everything about it is stunning, including the alleyway/abandoned human civilization area. | Took around 2 years to make, regarded as the best hermitcraft build yet, fully detailed and equipped with awesome redstone stuff (flickering lights, doors, custome music discs and more!) The landscape is 100% man made, all the trees and plants are all custom built and the land was terraformed to perfection. AND it has awesome lore: a lost human civilization being investigated by a curious alien. Also it's so cool mojang put it on the bedrock market place

Taglist!

@10piecechickenmcnugget @choliosus @biro-slay @betweenlands @xdsvoid

[sl-vega]

✮⋆｡ MEMORIES OF YOU

pairings: Itoshi Sae, Itoshi Rin, x [FEM!] Reader

genre: fluff, oneshot(s), drabble/imagines, established relationship (for some), implied angst if you squint (?), first love, post-u 20 arc, canon compliant

synopsis: in which their friends stumble across photos of you, their first, and only love

CW/additional tags: mild language, potententially ooc, Google translated Spanish in sae's part, English = Japanese in this, might make more scenarios with other characters if people request it

ITOSHI SAE

Sae was slumped across the cushions of his couch as Shidou rummaged through some of his storage boxes.

The other boy had been rather insistent on coming over to his new appartement, and helping him properly move all his stuff into his new living space.

"So does this mean I can finally move in with you?~"

"Keep dreaming."

Shidou pouted, giving Sae uncharacteristically begging eyes, almost like a sad lost puppy, naturally he didn't fall for this and settled for returning his pathetic look with his signature cold glare.

He simply gave him a sickeningly sweet smile in return, and continued taking objects out of the boxes, among the possessions were a lamp, a few photo frames, and an album.

Ryusei's eyes widened in surprise as his eyes came into contact with the book.

"Oh, what do we have here?"

Shidou said with a slight lilt in his voice clearly intrigued. Sae lifted his head from his phone to see what Shidou was doing, surely if something of his managed to pique the interest of Shidou's filthy mind, it would probably be in his best interests to throw it out-

Is what Sae would've said before he spotted the photo album in the taller boy's hands, Shidou fingers gingerly opening the front cover.

Sae reacted before he could even think.

"Put it down."

His voice is cold and sharp, not threatening, more defensive-scared almost, if he was even capable of fear that is.

Shidou's eyes widened momentarily at Sae's reaction before his face shifted back to his usual shit eating grin.

"Why Itoshi? Got some dirty photos you don't want me seeing? I promise I won't tell y'know."

Sae rolled his eyes and grabbed the album out of the blonde's hands.

"They aren't dirty, for your information."

He paused, as he looked at the cover of the book, dust was collecting on it, and there were a few marker stains that he couldn't get off.

"I'd just rather forget about them..."

He muttered, as he gently stroked the spine of the book with his thumb.

"Why'd you keep it then? You seem awfully attached to it."

Shidou's voice dropped lower and took a momentarily more serious tone before switching back to his flamboyant and teasing demeanor.

"I'm kinda jealous of it~."

Sae rolled his eyes, more playfully this time. He opened the book-making a point to hide the rest of the pages from Shidou's view-and took out a single photograph and handed it to him.

It was a photo of Sae and you. He didn't talk about you much, but he maybe he should change that.

"You clearly won't stop bothering me about it."

He waved the piece of paper before Shidou prompty snatched it and eyed it carefully, his eyes widening.

It was a photo of the two of you by some beach in Spain, hands interlocked, and a rare smile on a younger Sae's face. You were wearing a white sundress with a hat as you ran across the shoreline, taking Sae right along with you as the two of you stumbled across the sand together.

He remembered that day crystal clear, you brought a Polaroid camera with you and you got one of the locals to take the photograph for you. You had forced him to take a break from constant training, and before he knew it. He was far from Madrid in that moment, just you, him, and the ocean.

Shidou's eyes flickered with a brief moment of sincerity, Sae looked genuinely happy in the photo.

"And here I thought I actually had a chance with you."

Sae blushed, yet another look that Shidou wasn't used to seeing on him.

"We aren't-She wasn't-"

He stuttered, unable to express the nature of his relationship with you. Sure he had thoughts, but he never acted on them, which he regretted.

"Aww, so Mr. Itoshi Sae had an unrequited crush back in Spain? How tragic."

Shidou teased as he fidgeted with the sides of the photograph still in his hand.

"It wasn't unrequited."

Sae replied, quicker than he should have.

Shidou quirked a brow in response.

"Care to elaborate?"

Sae sighed, memories of you flooding back into his brain. Repressed feelings that he had long since left for time to slowly erode, yet a single reminder brought them all back.

"We... ran into each other a lot back when I was still in Spain."

He trailed off, recalling when you first interacted.

Sae was around fifteen when he first met you, he was at a cafe in the city, when he was on an annoyingly mandated week long break, issued by the heads of Real Madrid themselves. It just happened to align with the holiday of your school, and the cafe was a pretty popular spot among the locals. It was crowded, with students and several other adults given the day off. From what Sae remembered, you didn't come with the intention of being with a friend, but rather to spend time alone, it was rather difficult though with how many people were currently in the cafe. So before he knew it, a stranger-albeit a very pretty one-had sat right next to him, drink in hand. You only realized you were sitting next to him after you had actually made yourself uncomfortable. "Oh, lo siento, ¿está bien si me siento aquí? Hay mucha gente aquí…" You seemed to have muttered a quick apology in Spanish, while he had lived here for the past two years, he was ashamed to admit that his fluency in this country's native tongue was rather rusty. He had mainly prioritized learning all the needed terminology for soccer and for any interviews, but he could tell that you were apologizing, and probably asked him if you could sit with him. He tried to muster together a coherent response "Está bien... no me importa...?" He trailed off, unsure if what he said was right, or if you could even understand him with his heavy Japanese accent. Your eyes blinked in surprise, maybe he completely butchered that without knowing. Then your eyes widened in surprise for a moment, almost as if you just pieced together something about him. "Ay dios mio! You're Itoshi Sae! I knew you looked familiar!" You responded, in Japanese this time, almost as if it was second nature to you. "You speak Japanese?" It was more of a statement rather than a question, he sounded impressed, it had been a long time since he's actually been able to converse with someone else in his own language. You nodded, eyes sparkling, still clearly hung up on his identity. "I took some classes online, sorry if I'm hard to understand." You weren't hard to understand at all, sure, it was tinged with a slight accent, but if anything that just added to your charm. "I'm (Y/N), huge fan." You extended your hand to him, a bright smile adorning your already beautiful face. He took your hand and shook it. "Sae." He responded, his usual nonchalant tone fading. "You already know that though..." Was he blushing? You giggled at his sudden bashfulness, your laughter was a sweet melodic sound, it was almost embarrassing of how much it affected him. "You know, I'd thought you'd be a lot colder in person, you're actually really sweet huh?" You laughed once more, and this time, Sae actually cracked a grin.

Sae finished his story to Shidou, his friend had listened intently.

"Aww, so you were whipped from the start?~"

Shidou teased, smirking at him.

"Care to share more? I'd love to learn more

He asked, a slightly playful lilt to his voice.

"If you score another hat trick next time I might just tell you."

Sae responded, his playful tone contrasting his nonchalant demeanor. Shidou smirked, clearly pleased by the offer.

"And will you let me move in?~"

"Maybe."

Sae smiled, gentle and hidden. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. After all, it would give him an excuse to talk about you once more.

"If you score another hat trick next time I might just tell you."

Shidou smirked, clearly pleased by the offer.

"And will you let me move in?~"

"Maybe."

Sae smiled, gentle and hidden. Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. After all, it would give him an excuse to talk about you once more.

BONUS; TRANSLATIONS (potentially inaccurate)

"Oh, lo siento, ¿está bien si me siento aquí? Hay mucha gente aquí…"

╰┈➤ "Oh, I'm sorry, is it okay if I sit with you? It's super crowded in here..."

"Está bien... no me importa...?"

╰┈➤ "It's okay...I don't mind..?

"Ay dios mio!

╰┈➤ "Oh my God!"

ITOSHI RIN

"Bachira! I swear to God if Rin kills us because of this-"

"Lighten up Isagi! He's not gonna catch us."

It was a miracle that Rin had already agreed to Isagi and Bachira coming over to his place, though it was more because his mom was constantly nagging him about "needing more friends" or "being more social with the rest of the boys from Blue Lock"

Of course Bachira took this as an opportunity to snoop around Rin's room.

"If we find anything too private, we'll just put it right back and pretend we never saw it, simple as that."

Isagi sighed, bemoaning their current actions against their teammate's own personal life.

"You make it sound like Rin of all people would actually have something incriminating to hide."

Bachira shot him an unimpressed look.

"Are we talking about the same Rin? I'm like 90% sure the guy has some kind of criminal record, I wouldn't be surprised if he had a dead body hiding around in here somewhere..."

He continued looking around the room, glancing at crooks and small gaps in-between shelves as if some hidden treasure was stuck in them.

"Bachira you aren't going to find anything-"

Isagi was promptly cut off by Bachira, who in fact, found something.

A photograph taped to the side of Rin's closet, it seemed a little old, and dusty, but it looked well taken care of.

"Rin never striked me as the sentimental type..."

Bachira flipped the photo back and fourth in his hands before actually focusing on what the picture itself was holding.

Of course before he could actually view the photo himself, it was quickly snatched from him.

Rin was back, and he gave Bachira his signature cold glare, that probably translated into "One more wrong move and I'm throwing you off a cliff in your fucking sleep." or some worse same intentioned threat that Rin would probably use.

"What were the two of you doing?"

Rin asked in a condescending, accusing tone, and rightfully so.

"Rin, we're sorry-"

Isagi was about to apologize, but then Bachira fell to the floor, gripped the younger Itoshi's leg and wailed out a far more incoherent apology than his friend.

"I'm sorry Rin-chan! I promise I won't do it again!"

He was wailing at this point, a string of even more whiny apologies coming from him.

Rin shook Bachira off his leg and sighed.

"It's fine..."

He murmured as he trailed off, his attention completely stolen by the photograph he had just took back.

It was a picture of the two of you at the beach, he was around fourteen in this photo, it probably took place during the final months of his last year at middle school. The two of you had gone on a stroll by the ocean earlier before finding a resting spot nearby. You had pulled out a camera out of nowhere and snapped the photo almost without Rin notcing. You were flashing a big smile at the camera, while Rin's face was nuzzled into your neck, clearly camera shy. If you looked closely however, you could spot the blush slowly creeping up his cheeks.

Without noticing, Bachira had gotten a little too close for Rin's comfort. The older boy's head rested on his shoulder as he ogled the picture alongside him.

"Is she your girlfriend or somethin'?"

Rin shoved Bachira off his shoulder, the other boy laughed as he stumbled away.

"Shut up... she's just a friend."

"I dunno, the two of you look awfully cozy in that photo~"

If only you saw the others...

Rin had held on to the photo for longer than he would like to admit, the two of you hadn't talked for a while, especially after graduation.

But now that his annoying lukewarm teammates had decided to scour around his room for no reason, Rin was met with a wave of memories.

All of which were about you.

The most prominent memory he had of you was the day of middle school graduation.

The cherry blossoms were in bloom, and the third years were about to assemble in the auditorium for the farewell ceremony. Several of Rin's classmates were gushing about graduation, and how they would miss each other, some were already planning methods of communication after moving on to high school. Another hot topic of conversation among his classmates (mainly the girls) was the topic of button giving. In Japan, a guy giving the second button of his uniform to a girl on the day of graduation was essentially a love confession, Rin thought that the tradition was rather stupid. For one thing, he had no time for romance when he was trying to become the best in the world, nor did he have any interest in the subject. Or as he would say 'everyone here is way too lukewarm for my tastes' Well, that's what he would have said if he wasn't so preoccupied with you, but here he was, just outside of the auditorium, fidgeting with his uniform trying to get a button off. Normally the girl would have to ask the guy for the button, but Rin was never one for tradition-then again he was already going along with this stupid love confession so there was a first time for everything-and it didn't look like you were going to talk to him anytime soon, you were constantly hanging around with your friends for most of the day, so he never found the right time. So he didn't know what came over him when he dragged you aside in some secluded area of the courtyard, all his courage had been used up in that very moment because of that moment, he had been reduced to a blushing and bashful mess. "What did you need me for RIn?" You asked with curious doe eyes, clearly oblivious to the fact that there was a button missing from his uniform. Rin gave you a blank stare for a few minutes, taking in your appearance. Your hair was adorned with several hair pins, all engraved with special patterns and decorated with pretty charms. You were wearing make up today, not super noticeable, but noticeable enough for it to enhance your natural beauty. "Rin?" You called his name, snapping him out of his thoughts. Oh right, he was supposed to give you the buttton "Can I have your hand for a second..?" He asked bashfully, you extended your hand to his, this time, you were blushing as well. You muttered a quick 'sure' as you avoided eye contact with him. He gently dropped the button into your hands. "I-I wanted you to have this." This time, Rin was looking directly into your eyes, the same cold teal that always seemed to have no light behind them, but this time, they were filled with warmth and sincerity. The two of you stood in silence for a few more moments, before you heard the teachers calling you and the rest of the third years over for the ceremony. As Rin walked into the auditorium with the rest of his classmates, one of his teammates from the soccer team leaned down and whispered something in his ear. "So who's the lucky lady Itoshi?" He turned to his friend, noticing that his button was missing too. Rin simply shrugged, feigning nonchalance and muttered; "Wouldn't you like to know?" That graduation photo captured a very rare smile from him.

Bachira accidentally knocking something over promptly snapped Rin out of his nostalgia.

"Oh my God you're actually smiling in this photo?!"

Bachira waved Rin's middle school grad photo in his face, clearly shocked by the notion that the younger Itoshi could actually feel happiness.

Suddenly, Rin's mother came into his room.

"I know, it's one of the few photos I have of him that actually feature him smiling."

She sighed.

"Anyways, I just made dinner in case you boys are hungry."

Mrs. Itoshi smiled at the boys.

"And maybe you could tell them all about (Y/N) hm?"

Rin's face grew very hot all of a sudden.

God, he was in for it now...

[wyrdo01]

(Judi high fives her as well. And she was fascinated by the action they both did. However as they processed Wyrdo got back on their watery feet)

Well I guess that's that. I think its time for me, Judi here, and the other to get going back at sea. I'll see you in galar if you visit there! Come on Judi time to go!

(Wyrdo floats back to path where they and Judi came from, before Judi goes any further they looked towards Rosie and waved to her smiling slightly and then walked off)

(A white streaking blur stops towards to where Rosie is nearby at and took form of Judi who is still wearing their hat and waves to her all while giving a closed smile that could outshine even ultra necrozma, though Wyrdo is not present yet it seems)

Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I assume you are enjoying the hat????? And also I am sort of scared on how you found me but I forgive you because you are obviously very excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[greenducksforever]

The Ocean's Depths

The ocean unfurls, a vast expanse, where cerulean waves dance under the sun, each ripple a whisper of ancient tales, echoing the laughter of sailors long gone.

Beneath the surface, a hidden world thrives, coral reefs bloom like underwater gardens, fish weave through the currents, a tapestry of life in vibrant hues.

The salty breeze carries secrets of the deep, as gulls cry out, tracing arcs in the sky, the shore welcomes each wave's embrace, a gentle reminder of nature's rhythm.

As twilight descends, the horizon blurs, the sun dips low, igniting the water in gold, and in this moment, I stand in awe, lost in the ocean's endless, soothing song.

[opbackgrounds]

The Romanticism of One Piece VI: Nature and the Sublime

AO3 Part I Part V

“Then my heart with pleasure fills And dances with the daffodils”

—William Wordsworth

Anyone making even a cursory reading of the Romantics, particularly the English Romantic poets, will soon find an obsession with nature. Even in the early 1800s, the scars of the Industrial Revolution were starting to be felt in the environment. Increased urbanization, a technological boom, and the capitalistic glut for increased output which in turn demanded the consummation of increased natural resources was destroying old orders one after the other in order to make room for the coming modern age. 

The advent of trains, steamboats, and the telegraph changed the way people traveled and communicated forever. The allure of the city drove people from the countryside to work long, dangerous hours in factories. It seemed like the traditional way of things was being lost, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Poets and artists looked back fondly on the simplicity of their youths, and went in search of the beautiful and the sublime. 

When reading these poems and looking at these pieces of art, you’ll also find that solitude was an important aspect of this search, the ability to get away from the neverending wheel of the rat race to be alone with one’s thoughts. Quoting from Walden, Thoreau said it best, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” There was so much about modern society and civilization that rang false to these men, and it was only when communing with the primordial forces of nature that these falsities could be stripped away to reveal something pure and true.

One Piece is a manga that delights in its environments. Oda has clearly done his research while lovingly rendering each location, particularly once the series hits the Grand Line. I’ve always been amazed about how even minor islands with little page time feel fully realized, and how even similar environments can be easily distinguished from one another at a glance. The jungle of Little Garden looks nothing like the jungle of Skypiea, which in turn is completely distinct from Green Bit. 

Similarly, Robin’s desire to preserve and protect ancient relics of the past is something the Romantics would have approved of, and with Luffy at the helm, the Straw Hat Pirates don’t just travel the wonders of the Grand Line, but embrace each and every island they come across, no matter what insanity lies in wait. While it’s not a central focus of the series, arcs like Wano and Egghead explore environmental themes and the dangers of pursuing technological advance at the cost of careful ethics.

Poet William Wordsworth famously fought against building a railway through the Lake District of England, where he lived and wrote much of his best-regarded work, so much so that he wrote a sonnet voicing his displeasure with the proposed project, as well as the thought of hundreds of unappreciative tourists destroying the peace and beauty of the area. 

So while nature was to be appreciated, it was to be appreciated in the right way. It wasn’t enough to take in the sights for the sight’s sake, but an experience to be savored. Nature was an essential part of these writers and artist’s creative muses, and while many Romantics weren’t orthodox in their religion, there was a spiritual aspect in their veneration of the created world, particularly in their search for the sublime.

One Piece and the Sublime

“I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts; a sense of sublime, of something far more deeply interfused, whose dwelling is the light of setting sun, and the round ocean, and the living air, and the blue sky, and in the mind of man” —William Wordsworth

While the concept of the sublime existed long before the Romantic period, it was the Romantics who really took the idea and ran with it. It must be said that the sublime as talked about here is quite different from how the word is typically thought of in the modern day. The sublime’s roots are found in philosophy, as a sub-branch of the study of aesthetics. In his essay A Philosophical Enquiry into the Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful, late Enlightenment/early Romantic writer Edmund Burke for the first time divided the ideas of the sublime and the beautiful into two distinct and separate categories. This essay was hugely influential to the Romantic movement going forward, particularly in England. 

According to Burke, “Whatever is fitted in any sort to excite the ideas of pain and danger, that is to say, whatever is in any sort terrible, or is conversant about terrible objects, or operates in a manner analogous to terror, is a source of the sublime; that is, it is productive of the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.” 

So, in short, the sublime is a powerful emotion. The most powerful emotion a person is capable of feeling. In typical English fashion, Burke thought the strongest negative emotions were more powerful than the strongest positive emotions, so it stood to reason that the sublime must in turn come from the negative. While this might initially read as a rather unpleasant experience, the sublime was something actively sought out by the Romantics, and according to Burke was a pain that caused delight. 

Attempting to define something as ineffable as the sublime is like trying to define love. No matter how many lines a poet inks or how many portraits an artist completes attempting to capture the feeling of lightning striking the soul, they will always be incomplete. It’s the feeling of going out to an open prairie and being crushed by the weight of the sky, or walking in the shadow of a mountain and feeling your own smallness. It’s looking up at the bright night sky and recognizing that you are one amongst billions, a speck of cosmic dust drifting aimlessly on an insignificant planet in the corner of an insignificant galaxy in a universe whose vastness you can’t begin to comprehend. 

It’s the finite’s attempt at grasping the infinite, a complete breakdown of the rigid walls of the Enlightenment thinkers, the embrace of irrationality and emotion over cold, calculated reason. To use one of Burke’s own examples, it's the peasant kneeling before the dread majesty of their king. For some it was a way to commune with God. For others it replaced God altogether.  

Take for example a painting like The Monk by the Sea by Caspar David Friedrich. The titular monk is tiny compared to the broad vastness of the sky and ocean, which seems about to swallow him whole. Whether the figure in the painting is contemplating the divine, or whether the sublimity of the moment is itself divine is open to interpretation, and like many figures in Friedrich’s works, the monk is turned away from the viewer so his face, his identity, is not visible, because who any individual person is when compared to this overwhelming force isn't important. 

While terror was important to Burke in searching out the sublime, it was equally important that there be a layer of distance between the perceived danger and the subject searching for it. After all, the sublime was something to be contemplated just much as it was experienced. A sailor caught in a storm is just fighting for their life. There’s no ability to allow themselves to reflect on the nature of eternity on a mortal soul when they’re trying not to drown. But a person contemplating a painting of a ship caught in a storm, or better yet watching a stormy sea from a high cliff, has that element of terror without actually placing a person in immediate danger. That distance allows the person to be subsumed in the moment, in the feeling, of the sublime.

As a manga, there is a natural distance between the reader and what goes on in One Piece. The wild, cartoonish, fantasy further separates it from the real world. This gap is perhaps too great for some to find the sublime within its pages. At the same time, it ticks many of Burke’s boxes: the vastness of its world, the displays of power from the characters within, the call to imagination, awe, wonder, and, yes, terror. While I very much doubt Oda had the idea of the sublime in mind when he came up with the idea with Conqueror’s Haki, overwhelming power causing the weak-willed to faint while foaming at the mouth very much fits the vibe Burke was going for in his essay.

If given a choice in the matter, Luffy will always take the more dangerous path forward. While he’s not nearly contemplative enough for the traditional Romantic mindset, the narrative rewards his desire to seek out experiences and adventure. The series’ focus on emotional truth over realism invokes powerful feelings in the reader. The wonder of the White White Sea is all the stronger because of the danger of the Knock-Up Stream. The descent to Fishman Island is made all the more grand by the fragility of the bubble that protects the crew. The vast majority of the East Blue Saga is spent hyping up the danger of the Grand Line, and wouldn’t you know it, the Straw Hats barely sail into its waters for five minutes and there’s already a dozen things trying to kill them.

Even places like Water 7, which the Romantic’s push against urbanization would not have seen as sublime, is elevated by the whimsy of the sea train and the danger of Agua Laguna. Oda takes inspiration from all over the world and elevates those inspirations into something greater than reality, injecting so much high fantasy creativity and verve into every location that the reader cannot help but be moved. And nowhere can this be better seen by how Oda portrays the sea.

To quote Burke one last time, “A level plain of a vast extent on land, is certainly no mean idea; the prospect of such a plain may be as extensive as a prospect of the ocean; but can it ever fill the mind with anything so great as the ocean itself? This is owing to several causes; but it is owing to none more than this, that the ocean is an object of no small terror.” 

[cindiquilsnivy]

while watching todays episode of the reboot i had a thought and yes this is going to include some manga spoilers for later on in the manga as well.

I know that Akane's fantasies from the sleep incense has become like a joke but in looking more at today's episode there is definitely something i recognized. Ranma does very much have that protective nature to him its shown so many times over and over again and in the episode today i noticed it more than when i watched og. So to clarify having someone be protective over you is by far one of the most attractive things IMO and because of that i don't blame Akane to really start falling hard for him around this time.

In the reboot, he shields Akane from the impact of the attack with his whole body, while in Og, he kind of flips her around, so he is the one slamming into the wall. That being said, the reboot is blatant about how he would flat-out risk his own safety to make sure she is okay because that impact was not a slight bump into the wall.

this is definently something that gets paralleled much later into the series in the last arc where akane basically plays an uno reverse card and flat out he becomes unresponsive in the sense of "oh hey i possibly just lost her and i failed to protect her".

he is shown so many times over to just overall be protective about the people in his life he protects Nabiki from a fall, Ukyo he protects her feelings during the secret sauce arc, and heck he has even gone out on a limb for Ryoga time or two as well. honestly being protective is something that I personally consider to be a big part of who Ranma is It is also something he holds pride in himself for. He could have lived with the rejection in the reverse jewel arc, it hurt his pride but he didn't become unresponsive like he does when he fails to protect Akane and subsequently believes he lost her.

The more Ranma cares about someone the more he is willing to protect them, he flat out risks himself by potentially revealing his transformation to his mother because he flat out goes in to save her after the water main busts also same thing when she finally figures out ranko is ranma and that really happens because he is unwilling to risk losing his mom as well there when he dives straight into the ocean to save her.

While Ranma may not be as good of a communicator with words he defiantly communicates with actions. and I have no clue why it took me so long to realize that this is so ingrained in who he is as a character. There are also other times as when he goes out of his way to guard Akane when the old perv is trying to use incense on her when Mikado is trying to kiss her, etc. he knows she can take care of herself but if he can keep her from having to result to beating someone up when he can do it instead he will and this starts to like the second day after he met her when he jumped in to protect her from kuno.

[wyrdo01]

I'm currently at kanto as well (not intentionally mind you) residing at one of the sevii islands. However I plan to go back under water soon.

We are in Kanto! Hell yeah!

Reminds me of Johto. Not sure I like that.