#me; says I can't write romance. also me; write these two as soft and romantic and only occasionally dumb idiot badasses

[xiaobaosnoona]

Noona's 2024 Drama Wrap-up

Yeah, so don't expect me to make sense, I just need to gush my entire soul out about the dramas that kicked butt for me this year. Also gifs.

Atomic bomb of the year: The Untamed (2019)

The show that altered the chemistry of my brain completely and threw me into an obsession so serious I pulled several people down with me (you're welcome and I am sorry). A chinese fantasy drama that centers around a young man who wants to do what's right even if it costs him everything (and it does), and his soulmate who loved him through two lifetimes. Censored bl that feels zero censored because of the brilliancy and hard work of the cast and crew. Clearly a labour of love for everyone involved. Impossible to water down into a blurb, watch it and you'll understand.

Love blorbo of my life: Li Lianhua

No one else made me fall as deeply as Li Lianhua of Mysterious Lotus casebook (2023). This cynical, too clever, highly whumpable lying liar got me in a chokehold and has yet to let go. His love language is to push people away, but thankfully some people are hard to get rid of. Deserves to be lovingly wrapped in a blanket and fed chocolate until his sadness passes (or possibly forever).

The one I never thought I would love: DMBJ/Lost Tomb franchise (2016-2024)

Hi, hello, what the hell happened? This show kinda took over my life and I am seriously confused (standard dmbj experience). One of the queerest shows I've ever laid my eyes on featuring one of china's most famous m/m ships; Pingxie. Filled to bursting with adventure, conspiracies, tomb shenanigans, snakes and the best character dynamics I've ever seen on the small screen. Don't expect everything to make sense, just enjoy the ride. It's a hoot.

I cried my face off because of this: Fangs of Fortune (2024)

This made me suffer from dehydration, flailing arms with feet kicking, and severe gif-making-syndrome. Stunning Chinese fantasy with characters that will unapologetically roundhouse kick you in the heart. Repeatedly. Very queer and doesn't even try not to be. Did I say stunning? The cinematography and costumes are so fucking beautiful that this alone brings tears to your eyes. Just watch it, I can't possibly explain what it's about without starting to cry again.

Has a dear and special place in my heart: Oh no! Here comes trouble (2023)

So well written I want to chug vinegar because I didn't write it myself. Some of the best character dynamics known to man, fantastic stories told with a supernatural twist and (you guessed it) queer vibes that will smack you in the face. Has a wonderfully dumb and grumpy ml that will make you love him unconditionally in a very short amount of time. The drama deals with heavy topics, like grief and abuse, and balances it out delicately with ridiculousness and humour.

Favorite BL: History 3: trapped (2019)

The cutest little twink police falls in love with the mob boss he's been trying to catch for four years. Adorable low-spicy Taiwanese bl that utilizes the often seen het-romance drama tropes in a low key hilarious and endearing way. Enemies to lovers? Uhuh. Grumpy/sunshine? Mhm. Catch the love interest in your arms as they trip and fall? Yup. Everything wrapped in soft romantic lighting as you stare into each other's eyes? Yesss. And do i love it? FUCK YEAH. Actually does have a pretty solid plot as well, which made it a real home run for me.

Underrated gem: 19th Floor (2024)

A less queer version of Spirealm (but watch me try and find every queer crumb in it if it kills me). Got me on the edge of my seat most of the time, had characters I loved dearly with great development, adorable bromance with cheek smooches, and het-romance that didn't make me want to scratch my face off. FL kicks serious ass and is allowed to be unapologetically herself throughout the whole show. Also this show has Bai Shu and that is always a win.

[vyglitchcraft]

Can you write something on MK1 Smoke trying to give the reader a kiss but is nervous about it because it would be their first kiss?

"Toasty!"

MK1 Tomas "Smoke" Vrbada x Gen!reader

Content: short fic, fluff, tooth rotting cuteness, SFW

Plot: first kiss with Smoke and another Lin Kuei ninja

You and Tomas only started dating a week ago, you being his first and him being your first. The two of you never exactly kissed, Tomas always sort of smacked his mask against your forehead as a faux kiss of sorts. He saw Kuai and Bi do that with their dates so he also did it to you although a bit too hard, you swear you have a bruise right on your forehead just from him lovingly bumping his face against yours. It started to piss you off A LOT having to rub ointment on the bruise but you couldn't be mad at him, he's too cute!

One day, you asked Kuai Liang for some tips and he recommended to just go slowly and see where the two of you would end up. That leads you to the present. You confronted Tomas just as he finished training. You tapped his shoulder and pulled your bangs away showing the bruise. "O-oh! I am so so sorry" he softly grabbed your face, looking at the bruise "that...does not look good..." He mutters to himself.

"Hmm maybe instead of bashing your mask against my face, you should just kiss me instead!" You huffed, crossing your arms. Tomas heard this and froze in place as if Bi-Han used his cryomancy powers on him. "But, i think that is a bit too...risque is it not?" This reply was not unexpected, considering the Lin Kuei has a very strong focus on discipline, you bet that he barely knows anything about romance besides some movies he has watched but even then, those things were difficult to find considering the Lin Kuei temple barely has working electrical sockets even then Bi-Han likes to freeze them by accident causing it to short circuit. Even then he never had the time to indulge in such activities.

Tomas slowly took his mask off and nervously grabbed your shoulder, he didn't know what to do. He tried to remember those scenes he saw in the movies he watched. He moved one hand behind your head "do you...wish for me to...kiss you?" He asked first. For once your confidence was gone, now replaced with nervousness. Neither of you have any idea how to kiss, sure you always see people kissing each other but you never done it yourself. "Sure! Go...go ahead" your heart was beating in your chest, Tomas too.

He gulped, looking around making sure no one would see him. He slowly breathed in and out, calming down before slowly leaning in and kissing you on the lips. You closed your eyes and he followed soon. He held you close for what felt like hours. You held the sides of his face with one hand while the other was on his back, holding onto his shirt.

You hummed into the kiss, all that anxiety melting away. Why were you afraid? This feels amazing, natural even. He slowly pulled away and looked at you, his hand to his mouth, he couldn't believe it, he did it! He finally kissed someone. You covered your face as a hot blush spread through your cheeks "i-i can't believe it!" Tomas let's go of you "your lips felt amazing...very soft" he whispered.

"Yours too...you're a really good kisser" he smiled and pulled you into a hug, kissing you on the bruise he left from his mask "from now on, i promise not to crash my mask onto your face" you couldn't help but laughed "thank the gods!"

Although your romantic moment was interrupted by Bi-Han and Kuai watching you and cheering both of you, acting like the proud brothers they were, although Bi-Han was more serious, hitting Tomas on the back of the head while saying "congratulations" in Mandarin. Well your fault for expecting peace and quiet in this place.

[mostotherthings]

I'm fully caught up with The On1y One and I'm really looking forward to the last 2 episodes.

I've never been a fan of the "high-school romance" kind of show, (I think it's because I have to fully suspend my belief because wow, my school days were... not ideal), but I've been won over by the soft charm and romantic literary... of the show

Best thing - Jiang Tian absolutely sucks at writing 文藝文 literary writing, or translated as lyrical writing in the show) because he's a trauma-filled child. Basically, he's a robot. A robot who developed feelings at a boy who tripped over the stairs and is struggling with his feelings because he thought he was a robot. His teacher threw the guidebook at him so that he would "grow some feelings". This is delicious.

I also particularly enjoy the content of the classes- the history lesson where the boys have a much too adult conversation about boundaries and wars, and how boundaries are sort of made to be overcome. It means something that Jiang Tian hates it- he would like his walls to be in place and keep feelings out, thank you very much. Plus the Chinese literature lesson which talks about full stops and the ellipsis- it indicates their story is ongoing and will be continued.

Whenever I watch Benjamin Tsang here, I think about Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. I once read an interview where Colin Firth talks about how absolutely difficult it was to act as Mr Darcy- because he just holds everything back and has no expression but you still have to somehow show what he's feeling inside. So I'm full believe it when Benjamin Tsang says it's a 200% difficulty role, and basically I've been calling Jiang Tian "Mr Darcy" in my head. Nice to know he one-upped Colin Firth with a naked butt though (heh)

It took me a while to get over the accents (look it's a Taiwanese production, but the two main leads talk in 1- Mainland Accent, 2- Cantonese tinged Accent). And the jump-scare of An Jun Peng appearing as a gangster kid - SIr, you last appeared as a CEO ready to be married, I can't... you in that uniform... I just... No.

[teruuu]

Yo, First Of all this is my first ask on tumblr so i'll try to not be too much! but i gotta say your art and writing is beautiful (and hot lmao). Second of all, i'm interested in the differences between the compulsion of flesh AU and The Highschool one. it's obvious the high school narilamb is 100x more healthy than the compulsion one. but truth is: are they actually completely healthy? i like to depict them as a polar oposite of your main narinder and lamb but i can't say if everything is going to be okay between these two high school students. thank you very much, have a nice day & sorry for anything (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄). (btw sorry for any wrong word english is not my first language.)

Oh my god you are SO cute and I mean this in the nicest way possible ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡ gosh, I’m your first ask, what an honor! A little (gentle) side note though, N.E.V.E.R. Hold back on me when it comes to long asks! I love long asks the most. It makes me giggle like a little schoolgirl TEEHEE. I’ll try my best to not go full Shakespeare with my response so it’s easier to understand.

My High School AU is based off of a fanfic that I made in the past for a korean fandom (I already deleted it 😭). The Compulsion of Flesh AU’s genre is horror. Acting as a pretty huge contrast to it is the High School AU, which is Slice of Life. The High School AU’s plot is not (fully) a soft and gentle one, it’s meant to be angsty to reflect the teenage experience. Narinder and Lamb in this AU are not at all experienced in romance. This means that emotions, especially love, will be difficult for them to navigate. Unlike in Compulsion where the two view their obsessions/desires in the same light as love, it’s hard for the two in High School AU to understand whether or not what they truly feel for one another is romantic. After all, they’ve never truly experienced what it feels like to fall for someone. It’ll be a challenge for them especially when they’ve already established their relationship whether or not they still even like each other!

As is already obvious, Compulsion AU’s relationship is pretty dark and twisted. Instead of fixing the toxic flaws in their relationship, they instead support and encourage it. Unlike Compulsion AU however, High School AU Nari and Lamb will recognize each other’s flaws and have conflicts about it. They naturally will fight against one another’s beliefs and they’ll argue with each other like how normal, real-world couples do. They’ll work their way through those conflicts and find methods to fix their own flaws, even if it isn’t comfortable.

Also unlike Compulsion of Flesh, High School AU’s Nari and Lamb are completely different. Compulsion Nari and Lamb are parallels to one another, mirroring each other in many ways, but in High School AU they’re absolute opposites. Narinder is wealthy and has a good life, whereas the Lamb struggles to make a living—but that doesn’t mean Narinder doesn’t experience pain or the Lamb’s life is completely all about hardship. It’s in these differences that they find themselves clashing with one another, even before they become a couple. So, what do they do about it? They talk, of course. In all my more positive works I always make my couples communicate with one another, because that’s the key to a positive and long-lasting relationship.

So, to answer your question, ehh??? I mean think about it, they’re a normal couple. Do you think all normal couples are completely healthy? I don’t think so. But High School AU Nari and Lamb will certainly try to be a healthy couple to maintain what they have. Of course it’ll be a struggle—that’s what life’s all about, struggling—but at the end of the day, they’ll keep trying for one another because of the love they share.

So, TLDR …

Differences:

Compulsion AU — Toxic, doesn’t communicate properly, continually reinforces toxic qualities, mirror each other

High School AU — Normal couple, communicates, discourages unhealthy aspects of the relationship, opposites of one another

Are they (HS AU) healthy or not:

Healthy… or, they certainly try to be.

[juniperhillpatient]

Hi @juniperhillpatient ! How has the new year been treating you so far? I must first preface this by saying my family had gotten me a honey whiskey jack Danial’s for the holidays which I have cracked into. So if my writing seems jumbled that’s why.

I wanted to ask after the stories that you’ve been writing so far. Are you planning to release them on Amazon? And are you planning on printing them or purely having them be online? Because I think I speak for everyone when I say that your stories are well worth paying for!

Also, I have too ask, if your ever planning on writing on Azutara again? You and @theowritesfiction are just the best at writing he greatest romantic pair known to human kind!

Also, I know that you like horror, so I was wondering if you’ve ever watched the you tube channel “Thought Potato”? It’s mainly a series speculative cryptozoology videos. Myself, I find the videos on Sirens and Loch Ness to be my favorite.

Hi old friend! The new year has been interesting. There are quite a few big changes happening in my personal life, not necessarily "good" or "bad," just different. I'll be moving back home & that's bittersweet. I am working on hopefully getting my original works published on Amazon in the near future & that's both exciting & daunting. Thank you so much for your faith in my abilities & interest in my writing! It truly means a lot. You've always been so kind to me, & I appreciate it. I have 3 original projects that I'd like to see published within the next year on Amazon. I don't necessarily have official pitches ready, but I can talk about what to expect!

The first project you'll probably see published is titled "Ice Scream" & it is about a serial killer called the Ice Cream Man, a kidnapping, a desperate bid to save a little girl, psychic powers, & two crazy anti-hero girls who have to catch a killer while evading the cops themselves after faking their deaths. It's sort of a campy fun thriller that I'm really excited to share especially with people who like how I write out of control & intense romance, because that's at the heart of this one! My wonderful & talented dad will be illustrating the cover, & that's the main thing I'm waiting on before I can start promoting this project more officially. I do need to do a final edit, also, but shhhh.

The other project is technically one manuscript now, but the goal is to make it a trilogy of short books because it's a bit too long to be one. The trilogy will be called "Welcome to Barren Lake." The first book will be titled "The Butcher." Book 2 is "The coven" & book 3 will be "The Staircase to Nowhere." This story is about a small town, ghosts, witches, devil worshippers, old gods, grief, betrayal, mystery, star crossed lovers, tragedy & death. I'm SOOO proud of this story & I can't wait to share it. @soft-puppy-boyfriend is helping me with this project & doing art for it & I'm INCREDIBLY excited to have someone so talented onboard. It's going to be epic!

The above projects are written & just need art & maybe some last minute touches & of course I do need to separate the Barren Lake trilogy & decide how that will look.

I am currently working on a project titled "Skeletons in the Closet." It's about a small town, a murder mystery, secrets, the line between love & obsession, unreliable narrators, the lies we tell ourselves, finding beauty in the grotesque, & the way family can fuck you up. I'm SUPER excited about this one, & I have it all planned out, but it's not done yet.

As for if I'll ever write Azula/Katara again? Well....Never say never. I certainly still have some ideas, & I still love them, don't get me wrong. However, I have really been enjoying diving into original fiction. I don't want to say definitively that the future of my writing is going to be one thing because I tend to focus on one thing at a time. We'll just have to see where my head is after Skeletons in the Closet is done & I do the last-minute final edits of my other projects.

I certainly agree that Theo is very talented & I appreciate you a lot for your compliments on both of our writing! I will be SO sad when Azula's Kitchen Nightmares is done. I am loving that project. Ozai being in town right now is so stressful!

I have never watched Thought Potato, but I looked them up & their videos do look super interesting & fun. I love speculating on that kind of thing, so it seems right up my alley :)

TLDR: I am absolutely planning on publishing my original stories on Amazon. I might write Azula/Katara again someday, but I don't have actualized plans for it. Oh, & to answer your other question - both ebook & physical copies will be available. I plan to promote way more heavily once the plans are more set in stone.

How is the new year treating you? I hope you're doing well & that 2025 is kind to you!

[merakiui]

I've finally managed to catch up to TMDG! I can’t properly express how everything was perfect from the beginning to the end. You singlehandedly raised the bar so high. Your Fic got me kicking my feet into air and giggling like a high school girl in love. I had to take multiple breaks to let the information in. And JADE, omg jade! the balance between his calculativeness, sly personality, and his romantic softness was on point! You nailed it! This is how i imagine he would be like if he genuinely had feelings for someone. All the details and subtle hints that you added were a nice bonus!

In fact, especially because of the details and subtle hints, I have read the fic twice now to make sure I didn't miss anything the first time I read it! I did notice quite a few things that i didn't notice the first time, and i'm surprised no one asked about this yet. But there was this one scene that made me go ":00". It's not about Jade nor floyd. Nope, it's actually Ace! 

This scene in particular: "Giggling, you throw yourself into the booth and wrap your arms around Ace to smother him in friendly affection. He fights it halfheartedly, his cheeks flushed pink." and the fact that Ace was the first to ask if there's something going on with you and Jade?! Am I reading too much into this? But does Ace have a crush on the reader?!

Also, i wondered if you had other endings in mind for TMDG? What if Floyd did, in fact, return the reader's feelings? That would mean all the practising on Jade was worth it in the end, and they'll get their happily ever after, but then would have become of jade? Or what if Jade knocked up the reader in the old Merfolk way with eggs? What will be become of the reader once she realises she's pregnant? or if she knew that Jade was the one in the bedroom with her? Assfgjk@£^&asfhjk@#£^ I'm so invested into this fic! Once again, i absolutely adore TMDG! ♡

-🌸

Hiii, 🌸 anon!!!!! >w< omg thank you so much for the kind compliments!!! I'm happy you enjoyed tmdg as well as Jade's characterization!! I think there's so much romance in subtlety, especially when it comes to Jade. He says so much without speaking sometimes. <3 aaaaa I loved writing him when he's soft and sweet with this underlying calculative edge!!

As for your observations regarding Ace, you're correct!! It's implied he has feelings for Reader. >:D Jade suspects it as well, evidenced by these instances where it looks like he's almost trying to expose Ace's crush to you (or at least make you aware of it):

I'm sorry, Ace. Jade isn't going to let you have Reader. >_< your chances of having anything more than a friendship with her are nonexistent. orz

Oooo alternative endings!!!! I actually did consider going the eggs route. I was going to write Jade with two dicks in his mer form, but I disregarded the idea after some thought. Although a route with eggs would have been fun to write about! I like to imagine in the unofficial sequel Jade will continue to be his charming, sly self and you'll continue to enjoy your fwb relationship. Jade's goal would be to slowly but surely snuff your affections for Floyd so that he can inhabit the empty space in your heart. And if you start to fall for him, perhaps you won't be so upset when you finally learn he's the one responsible for getting you pregnant. By then, he hopes you'll be happy. You won't have to know about that day in the dorm room. After all, what you don't know can't hurt you. :)

[krispycreamcake]

woah your matchups are so detailed ! 🩷 can i request one if that is okay? idk if this info will be okay but, here goes nothing: i'm 5'1 and v petite, w messy hair cut in a wolfcut. i have so much duality, both in personality and in my style: i can go from happy and sweet to ruthless and cold af in seconds so much that sometimes idk which of the two is the real me... i'm also v good at acting, lying and pretending. my style varies between emo and cutesy haha. i'm shy but i'm also a gremlin w the ppl i trust and can act v silly. i have v bad trust issues, i really can't trust anyone. i have anger issues too... my hobbies include writing, playing romance games and watching anime. i love rock music and visual kei too. i would love to learn how to play an instrument or learn to sing one day... my friends say i'm sweet and in general i'm cheerful around them ! i hide my feelings and struggle w them alone often, esp when i have anxiety.

my love language is gift giving. bc i'm not v smart and even if i have good intentions what i say might have the wrong effect i prefer comforting my friends making playlists for them or writing them a fic to cheer them up. i know if they lived near me i would always be buying little gifts for them haha but at the same time i'm super shy when it comes to accepting gifts bc i don't think i deserve them...

i'm also v romantic and daydream a lot, especially abt my yumeships. i can be cheeky and a quirk of mine is i tend to wink when taking selfies a lot > /// < i also obviously love vampires 🦇

idk if this info is okay... i'm sorry if i did this wrong and absolutely no pressure to answer ! thank you so so much either way ♡

From author: From what I've gathered, it looks like what you need is someone to spend quality time with.

Your need for that romance aspect in your life tells me that you're very open to relationships and would welcome one if it came your way. But you do need to be wary and try not to rush things as it may affect how much of you the boys could take.

Since you prefer staying home, I can decipher that you're not necessarily a very socially active person but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy building friendships since it's clear to me you care about your friends abundantly.

Because you deal with anxiety and emotions, this can show me that you may prefer to keep them locked away or even push them aside to forget about. I wanna hone in on this a bit because as we know all of the brothers have problems dealing with inner conflict and you not being able to navigate through your OWN ones would help better point to who you would work best with.

Because of your generally kind nature and ability to comfort people without necessarily using your words, this tells me that despite being faced with emotional obstacles from those around you, you still find it possible to respond in appropriate manners without the need to verbalize your care for someone.

And now that we've assessed you, your best match would be 🥁🥁🥁🥁

Azusa Mukami

Continue reading for more info

Azusa is someone that's known to be passive and soft spoken. His docile nature has lead him astray in the past and because of this, he needs someone that won't take advantage of him while also keeping him on his toes.

Because of your clashing tendencies of being kind and being assertive, this keeps him interested. Azusa would be exactly what you need when looking for a romantic partner seeing as he's always selfless and would constantly think of your needs first.

Azusa doesn't need to go out all the time and have fancy dates planned, he'd be perfectly comfortable just laying next to you while you scroll on social media or even listen to some Malice Mizer. As a matter of fact, he quite enjoys that band and loves it when you do decide to put on some music.

Because of your ability to navigate through emotional conflicts by showing remorse or even gratitude towards someone by giving them a gift, this shows Azusa that you care about him and that you're putting effort into the relationship. This would then have a domino effect of him learning to open up more and in return, making you be able to open up towards him.

He'd fully support your creative side and would encourage you to learn a new instrument and even sing. He'd be your biggest supporter no matter what you do.

[starcrossed591]

KDrama Year in Review 2023

While I watched more KDramas this year than CDramas, none of them consumed my heart and soul quite like this year's crop of CDramas did (CDrama review post here). And I dropped KDramas more readily than I have in years past, in part because there were so many more things to watch than I had time for (also I had to finish my dissertation and graduate, etc etc). Still, there were definitely some that I really, really enjoyed, so here's this year's KDrama round up:

16. My Lovely Liar: Started strong, got boring real quick. Dropped for homophobic murder plot. Still, glad to see that Hwang Min Hyn can actually act (although full disclosure, I did still enjoy him in Alchemy of Souls, wooden as that performance may be). Hoping Kim So Hyun can catch a break and get a role in a drama more worthy of her in the near future.

15. Crash Course in Romance: Excellent performances and chemistry by the ML and FL. Romance between two middle aged people instead of youths is also a treat. Dropped around ep 12 because of the unnecessary, homophobic murder plot. Pass.

14. A Good Day to Be a Dog: Surprisingly stronger than the goofy premise suggests, largely on the basis of Park Gyu-Young's performance as the FL who turns into a dog upon being kissed. Pacing problems in the third act around the origins of the whole dog curse thing. Can't say I recommend unless you're really in the mood for some shenanigans, but largely inoffensive if a little silly. (Also it turns out Cha Eun Woo *really* leveled up his kiss game for this one!)

13. Love to Hate You: Perfectly serviceable rom com. Nothing too special, but a nice weekend binge if you're in the mood for that. Also a good way to see Kim Ji-Hoon's v handsome face and that *hair* without having to deal with everything involved with his rather murderous run in Flower of Evil.

12. Joseon Attorney: A Morality: Perfectly serviceable law procedural/Joseon historical. If you don't like either of those genres your mileage may vary, but I had missed having Bona on my screen, so it worked well enough for me.

11. Welcome to Samdal-ri: I seem to like this one more than literally everyone else I know, and I fully admit that my enjoyment of this drama is more vibes-based than plot-based. I guess I have a soft spot for Shin Hye Sun yelling at people at Ji Chang Wook going a bit unhinged over a woman who ran away from him (see also: Lovestruck in the City).

10. My Demon: Very much enjoying Song Kang as a cranky demon falling in love with a human. Very tropey in the best way, and feels like a return to form for the supernatural romance genre. Remains to be seen if they'll land the ending as of this writing, but enjoying as it goes.

9. Doctor Cha: A contribution to the slate of divorce comedies I watched this year (see also: Strangers Again (KDrama) and Let's Get Divorced (JDrama)), a surprisingly touching story about growing older when you've devoted your life to someone who has not done the same for you.

8. Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow (Part 2): While Ko Joon-Yung never quite managed to replace Jung So-Min as the FL for me, I definitely still enjoyed the closer to this fun fantasy series. Special shout out to Shin Seung-Ho as Prince Go Won and his pet turtle

7. Strangers Again: I didn't see a ton about this one on tumblr as it was airing, but I found this rom com? melodrama? divorce procedural? makjang? story about relationships and why they end unexpectedly profound. I tuned in expecting mindless makjang hot mess, and instead got a thoughtful meditation on divorce. Left me feeling unexpectedly melancholy at the end, but glad I watched it.

6. The Secret Romantic Guesthouse: Very fun sageuk! Probably won't knock your socks off, but it does what it does very well. Bonus points for a B couple as compelling as the A couple. I've also been a big Kang Hoon fan since Little Women, and there are a couple of other actors in here that I'm always glad to see working.

5. Perfect Marriage Revenge: Tour de force makjang. Came out of nowhere and blew me away. Hits all the right beats, and unexpectedly fun (and was a nice break from the heaviness of My Dearest for me). This was a good year for jaded and slightly unhinged transmigrated FL's back for their #revenge (see also: Story of Kunning Palace in CDrama land), and I was here for it. Also features one of the spiciest make-out scenes of the year, 10/10 recommend

4. See You in My 19th Life: Absolutely loved this haunting, melancholy, and sometimes unexpectedly goofy reincarnation drama. I loved the webtoon and had high expectations, and this drama largely met them! The continuing relationship between sisters Ji-Eum (Shin Hye Sun) and Cho-Won (Ha Yoon Kyung) was a special highlight for me, and while Shin Hye Sun is already a never-miss for me, I'm especially looking forward to whatever Ha Yoon Kyung does next. I prefer the ending of the Webtoon to the KDrama, but I'm still delighted this drama exists and am glad I watched it.

3. The Interest of Love: Look, I loved this drama. Even though it seemed on the surface like nothing but *mess* in the interpersonal lives of these characters working at a bank on the border between a rich and poor neighborhood in Seoul, it nonetheless had some of the most searing class commentary of the year for me. I also love an FL who will (spoiler) pack up her things and disappear at the drop of a hat, even if no one else will understand her decision to do so, because she just cannot deal anymore (see also: the FL in Lovestruck in the City, whom I also love but everyone else hated). This drama kept me gleefully coming back every week in a year where not a lot of others did.

2. Call It Love: A revenge slice of life melodrama that I found unexpectedly touching in its deep melancholy. Loved not only the main couple, but the relationship between the siblings and their pharmacist bestie. A lovely character study. (Also I somehow ended up watching this at the same time as Till the End of the Moon and Li Susu as Ye Xiwu's hidden identity/revenge plot, which was unexpectedly stressful! Had a very "it's the same picture" moment despite two dramas in two genres that could not be further apart.) If you missed this one (and since it aired on Disney+, you might have--Disney+'s effects on the KDrama streaming ecosystem will be the death of me), it's worth seeking out!

1. My Dearest (Parts 1 and 2): Kind of feels like everyone has said everything there is to say about sageuk of truly epic proportions, but it blew me away as well. Epic romance? Check. Twisty political machinations? Check. Heartwarming friendships between women? Check. Strong ensemble cast? And my top FL of the year, Lady Gil-Chae, played to perfection by Ahn Eun-Jin. I've adored her since Hospital Playlist, and am delighted that she's getting the attention and the roles she deserves. Namkoong Min also a top contender for ML of the year as Lee Jang-Hyun. Part 2 dragged for me a bit in places after a nearly perfect Part 1, but such a great drama overall.

Favorite Drama of the Year: My Dearest. See above.

Favorite Female Character: I mean, it's gotta be Gil Chae from My Dearest, right? She starts out as such a spiteful, spoiled noblewoman, and then turns out to have a core of pure steel. Turns out all her conniving and strategizing, which went towards causing mischief in the village, really just needed a proper outlet. While I would never want to be in the circumstances in which she found herself, if I did, she's exactly who I would want on my side.

Favorite Male Character: Everything's coming up My Dearest this year, because this one is Lee Jang-Hyun in My Dearest as well. Checks the box for my competence kink, and has a knack for showing up just when Gil-Chae needs him, even at great personal cost. Also a smart-ass, which I probably like a bit too much in a man.

Favorite Secondary Female Character: Cho-Won from See You in My 19th Life. Her relationship with her reincarnated older sister was almost more compelling to me than the main romance sometimes, and really helped develop how the ties that bind us are not just romantic ones. Also she was just super cute

Favorite Secondary Male Character: Could have picked anyone from Team Himbo in Alchemy of Souls, but gonna have to give this one to Go Won, himbo prince of my heart

Favorite Ship: Again, it's gotta be Gil-Chae and Lee Jang-Hyun in My Dearest. Sometimes, there are drama couples that nearly cause me pain when they are apart, and these two quickly became one of them. Though their relationships is hardly functional for much of it, through all that push and pull, they ultimately learn how to show up for each other. Also, their *chemistry* is insane!

Favorite Secondary Ship: I loved Hye-Seong and Sung Joon, the B couple in Call it Love. Seeing the SFL grow more comfortable with herself after a truly shitty ending to her previous relationship was a nice respite from the hidden identity stress of the A couple in this one. I'm also a sucker for a good romance where you start to see someone you've long taken for granted differently. (Close Runner Up: Cho Won and Do-Yun in See You in My 19th Life)

Favorite Platonic Relationship: Gil-Chae, Eun-Ae, and their maids, Jong Jong and Bong Doo, in My Dearest. I loved loved loved the relationship between these women in this drama, and part of the reason the second half of the drama suffered a bit for me is because of how far it moved away from this core relationship. They were ride or die for each other more than the majority of the men in their lives, and I loved that for them.

Trope that Needs to Die: While I find murder plots in rom coms tedious at the best of times, homophobic murder plots are really not it. Quit it, y'all. It's not cute.

Dramas I Missed: Moon in the Day, The Story of Park's Marriage Contract, and Tell Me That You Love Me (grrr Disney+ on this one) are on the list for next year. I'm probably missing others.

Non-2023 Drama Spotlight: Finally went back and watched Do You Like Brahms? for a hit of Park Eun-Bin. A lovely, if also melancholy, slice of life romance that's just as much about what to do when a (career related) dream that you've worked really, really hard for just isn't going to come through as it is about the main romance. Also made me fall in love with Kim Min-Jae and his lovely deep voice, enough so that I also then went back and finally watched Dali and the Cocky Prince, which was also a treat. Recommend both.

Most Looking Forward To: I continue to yearn for a Yumi's Cells 3, and who's to say if that one will ever come through, but I'm putting it out into the universe anyway. More realistically, I'm looking forward to the surprisingly stacked line-up of sageuks coming up, including Captivating the King and Love Song for Illusion.

[celestie0]

While waiting for updates I started re-reading ihm

and it absolutely devoured me. It’s one of those stories where you think you’re in for a tropey fake marriage plot—but instead, you’re thrown into this gorgeously nuanced emotional slow burn that quietly unravels you.

It starts with a fake marriage so the reader can get medical benefits for her mother. Practical. No fluff. Just survival.

But then Gojo starts noticing her. Noticing how she keeps her pain in her posture. Noticing how she tries not to ask for help. Noticing how he wants to be the one to make it easier for her.

And the reader? She's trying so hard not to fall. She tells herself it's just a deal. But then he says something tender without even meaning to, or gets defensive over her like a husband, and she shatters a little more each time. AND IT MAKES ME SO ILL. Love me a slow burn fr

The dialogue here is everything?? The way you write? It's flawless. It's sharp, dry, funny—but then, suddenly, so intimate that i had to reread a line three times just to breathe through it.

Gojo joking about their “romantic” lack of chemistry while clearly staring at her like she hung the moon.

You literally feel y/n's exhaustion as her mother's condition worsens. You feel how guilty she is for daring to find comfort in him. You feel how Gojo doesn’t say anything dramatic—but he starts showing up more and more like a man who’s already made up his mind..He wants her. But he wants to be chosen. And that ache just simmers until it boils over.

The part where she’s slowly realizing she can depend on him? Devastating.

That quiet moment when he does something stupid just to make her laugh? Gut-wrenchingly good.

The tenderness in how they sleep in the same bed—not even romantically at first, just...because she’s tired and he’s safe. Oh ellie you want me DEAD

This isn’t just a romance fic. It’s a story about what love looks like when you’re exhausted. When life is unkind. When you’re not even looking for comfort, but someone gives it to you anyway.

It’s the story of two tired people choosing each other quietly, fiercely, without needing grand declarations.

It’s so tender. So emotionally rich. So real.

Thank you for this emotionally devastating gift. Can't wait for the next chapter I'm literally counting down the minutes..and sorry if I yapped I just love this fic so much

ouuu my anon i cannot explain how much this ask means to me pls!!! you're also such a poet? i'm like damn why i feel like crying rn HAHAH

But then Gojo starts noticing her. Noticing how she keeps her pain in her posture. Noticing how she tries not to ask for help. Noticing how he wants to be the one to make it easier for her.

:'')) i could sobbb. this is so beautifully written n such a wonderful reflection. how soft n sweet, and so trueee ugh i can't wait to write more of the ways gojo looks out for her n helps her more than she had ever expected AAA

You feel how guilty she is for daring to find comfort in him. You feel how Gojo doesn’t say anything dramatic—but he starts showing up more and more like a man who’s already made up his mind..

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It’s the story of two tired people choosing each other quietly, fiercely, without needing grand declarations.

this really hits me. i love a quiet love. a peaceful love. one that sneaks up on you before you had really expected it. very gentle without the grand declarations but rather in the little things!!

i literally dont know what to say, i could highlight all your words and react to them but like idk i just am sitting here n soaking in your reflections and they're hitting my wee little author soul i'm just so thankful and you have such a deep understanding of the story!! i'm so happy you enjoyed rereading the story n i'm so grateful for you 🥺❤️ you have a lovely day bb

[update-blog-bp9]

How would this sound to you ? (ONE DAY GUYS ! YOU DECIDE !!)

I was sitting here and thinking...I never did a 1k Follower special, I just never had the time for it and now I am almost to 1k and 150 Followers. Only 20 missing at this point and I never even thought I would get this many.

What if I remedy that whole 1k special, i missed to make ?

Now WHAT would that include ? MINORS DO NOT INTERACT FROM HERE !!!

Easy...

I will open requests and you can request what you want. Smut chapters will take me legit forever, but I am not going to say that I won't do any. Just...go easy on me. I am mentally not all that great to do the whole brutal, very perverted stuff at the moment.

I gladly do BDSM, Roleplay kinda smut chapters, some kinky stuff and soft smut though !

You can ask for (Fandoms):

MARVEL HAZBIN HOTEL (I mostly do Alastor there, but you can also request other Characters there !) FNAF (Game and Movie Universe) SCREAM (I only watched 1, 5 and 6, so please have mercy on me) SP AND DR is also allowed.

And anything else that I ever wrote about, all masterlists are on the main one and it is pinned at the top of my blog and linked in my BIO, so take your pick ! You can also ask if I know any other Fandom and if yes, if I could write for them. I don't bite.

What I will write:

ANGST FLUFF WHOLESOMENESS SMUT HURT/COMFORT

What I allow to write as Relationship stuff:

PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS (Friends, friends turning to Family, like Siblings and stuff...Surrogate Brother/Sister if I am not mistaken we call such, tight ?) ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS (Nothing perverted ! Just you know Father - Son ralationship, Brother x Brother Relationship and all that stuff, Family relationships are NOT allowed to be SMUT !!!)

What I will NOT write:

INCEST STEPCEST PEDOPHILIA EXTREME, DARK SMUT (Light dark is okay, but not extreme. I'm just not ready to step back into it yet.)

What I MIGHT not write:

There are some kinks that I am not familiar or comfortable with, but I will let you know when I have a problem with them. I just know that I won't write a feet fetish as an example. I don't feel comfortable to write that.

What you CAN request (Gender like):

HETERO (Man x Woman) GAY (Man x Man) OR (Woman x Woman) INTERSEXUAL (People with BOTH genders) GENDERFLUID (Might be horribly explained, I ain't Genderfluid, but practically that is when you feel like a man one day and in five weeks you feel like a woman and dress and behave as such how you feel) TRANSGENDER (Man in a Woman's body or the other way around, Don't hate me I try to keep this short and simple here !!) ASEXUAL (Repulsed by the bare mention of the S word OR isn't repulsed by it, but isn't really intesrested in it (I think it is called Gray Ace...?) GENDERNEUTRAL (Which mostly means no Gender so They/Them I CAN'T USE THAT IN SMUT THOUGH IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME A SEX ON THE BODY !!! So tell me which they have !)

Character ships I will write for:

Any Character x Reader (Name a Gender though !) Also write Character x Character ( Like...Alastor x Rosie where they just gossip or Charlie and Vaggie with romance or smut)

(I also don't mind to Genderswap. So instead of Charlie being a Female, she is a Male or a different gender. You give me your thoughts and I will try to turn it into a Oneshot !)

Characters I will NOT write for:

The Vees (Hazbin Hotel) Adam (Hazbin Hotel) Lute (Hazbin Hotel) Sera (Hazbin Hotel) They can be mentioned or play a role but I don't do ANY ships with them and the Reader. They can be shipped with each other though, I suppose. And Vox can be friends with Reader, but no romantic shtick.

I am not up to date with Marvel, so I might have to reject some requests, if I get a Character I don't know, so please forgive me, but doing hours of research on any Character just to get a bare grasp on them, could take forever. TvT

The whole Request thing would be OPEN for TWO WEEKS !!! You can ask as ANON too then.

PLEASE GUYS !: Don't just send me smut, because I allowed it. I also wanna see some fluff and other requests. I will let ya'll know how many I would get from each category too, so you can be prepared.

With all of that out of the way....

Be honest with this, because I will only offer it ONCE. ....At least until I have like...2k Followers or something, so...Be bloody honest guys.

(I might repost this list and make it a seperate thing, so innocent eyes can ask for innocent stuff and look everything up, while the dirty dogs *Jokes* get the dirty rules page.)

I'm rambling again !! AAAAGGGHHH !!! Sorry !!!

@innerpiratefun @gayhopefullove @natashaxmarvelmen @buffymore @lovefanfiction01

I thought you might wanna know this and spread the word. ^^

[natsubeatsrock]

Some Hard Thinking After Ten Years on Tumblr

If I've learned anything in the past ten years, it's that the only truly horrible ideas never make it past the planning stage. Anything that does and fails anyway is a learning experience.

Here's my list of the top ten hottest adult characters animated since officially starting this blog.

My first honorable mention goes to Yamato from One Piece. 

Two simple reasons for not making the main list: I'm not following the series and I REALLY don't want to engage in “the discourse.” Still, that design is voiced by Saori Hayami? Come on.

My second honorable mention is Ayame Himuro from Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It.

This is the only show I don't recommend out of this list. I didn't love the show anywhere as much as the concept would lead me. Half my reason for watching this show was finishing the story. The other half probably involved watching Himuro. 

Number 10. Yoruichi Shinon from Bleach

Bleach fans have waited years for Pierrot to animate the last arc of the manga. I was waiting for Ichigo's mom to return. However, I am only human. I can't deny that Yoruichi is the most attractive woman in the series. I'm also not willing to incur the wrath of either Kurosaki by picking someone else.

Number 9. Namie Yagiri from Durarara!!

The whole thing about Durara is that it follows plenty of characters throughout Akihabara. While Namie is far from the most important character, it's always great to get back to her. I understand their relationship isn't romantic in any sense. However, Izaya is lucky to live with her.

Number 8. Elma from Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid

I don't know what it says that Elma is among the most grounded of the dragons. Then again, most characters seem grounded next to Tohru. This might be a sign that I'm older than the average fan of Fairy Tail. Of course I find the order dragon who spends the day as an office lady to be the hottest woman in the show.

Number 7. Douki-chan from Ganbare, Douki-chan

About the only thing Elma is missing is a sweet romance, but Yom stepped in to fill the gap. I wasn't expecting a Twitter series to be a solid anime. It helps that we get to see more risque images of Douki than most of the characters in this list. However, I'm also attracted to her introverted energy and passion for the one she loves. Good luck!

Number 6. Dominique de Sade from The Case Study of Vanitas

She's a hot vampire with a sword. She's loyal to her childhood friend and crush. She cut her dress once to fight and I almost had a heart attack. Need I say more?

Number 5. Ultear Milkovich from Fairy Tail

No, I don't hate Last Ages because it ruined Ultear. I have explained my narrative issues with Last Ages before. That said, it's a shame we were robbed of one of Mashima’s hottest characters. As someone who's read nearly everything he's written, that's saying something.

Number 4. Nana Shimura from My Hero Academia

While his writing is questionable, Kohei Horikoshi definitely knows how to draw women. I could have put Mirko in this spot, but I've gained a soft spot for Nana. By virtue of having grandchildren, this makes her the only MILF on my list.

Number 3: Sakura Matou from Fate/stay Night: Heaven’s Feel

Almost the instant I saw Sakura in Deen/Stay night, it was love at first sight. I considered her to be worth protecting and a compelling character. It wasn't until I saw the last third of Lost Butterfly that I realized she was also the hottest option for Shirou. If you don't think she's an adult at the end of the trilogy, pretend I put Luvia Edelfelt here instead. Fun fact, they're tag-team partners in the Apocrypha timeline.

Number 2: Maki Oze from Fire Force

Akubi Otsushi has an incredible talent for drawing attractive women. Maki feels like the perfect mix of feminine charm and supreme muscular demon. That would be enough to land on this list. It helps that she's also a sweet person and a hopeless romantic. I would be happy to fulfill her romantic fantasies. 

Number 1: Shizuka Hiratsuka from My Teenage Romantic Comedy SNAFU

Most of these spots were difficult to place. However, there was never a doubt about the top of the list. Hachiman Hikigaya has been my favorite anime character for years. It makes sense that I'd go from liking Yukino most to Hiratsuka-sensei as I've grown up. As a literature teacher, I hope to inspire my students in a less violent way. That said, Hikki is right. The men in her life have poor taste. She shouldn't be single.

“Hold on a second. Don’t you like Lisanna?"

"Don't you make plenty of posts about Lisanna?"

"Don't you think Lisanna is hot?”

Lisanna, along with most of Fairy Tail’s female cast, is certainly attractive. However, I haven't been drawn to her like that. I've come to love and appreciate so much about Lisanna over the years for several reasons. While the same is true for the other characters I've mentioned, I'm also physically attracted to them.

But let's get serious.

I started this blog to have a space to share my thoughts on the series that got me into anime and manga. If you told me ten years ago that I'd carve my own niche as a respected member of fandom, I don't think I'd imagine this as my spot.

Ten years is a long time. This is the fourth presidential term I've written in. The inspiration for this post came out as trans and has undergone a total rebirth of sorts. I've gone from a plucky first year college student to teaching kids the target audience of series like Fairy Tail, pretending I'm unaware of their other favorite manga and anime series. I've seen plenty of changes to fandom and Tumblr, big and small. 

My personal life has been a series of ups, downs, and lower downs over the years. I graduated from two schools after contentious elections. I moved from one house to another house to a college dorm to back home, give or take a few months of quarantine. This blog has been a constant source of joy and stability for me.

Despite the insanity of the past decade, this blog has been a constant in my life. I've never stopped thinking about how to say something new about Fairy Tail and its fans. Every hiatus, every post about anything other than Fairy Tail, I'm thinking through the series and what I can say. It honestly amazes me how I keep finding new ways to talk about the same series and topics even now.

A few years ago, I started writing stories for the series. I'm glad that people enjoy another form of my writing. Especially when I drift into off-road ideas for writing. I'm glad to have participated in several fan events and even a fan zine for Bleach of all series. 

At the very least, I'm glad that I haven't been run off the site for publicly and openly hating fandom's two biggest ships.

In Conclusion:

Thank you to everyone who has ever reblogged, liked, commented on, or even read anything I've written over the years. Here's hoping the next few years are… more stable.

[fandomsbyladymelodrama]

No pressure on this, but I wanted to ask if you'd like to tell me about one of/some of your favorite Christy scenes, and the things you like most about it/them? I can't singlehandedly revive the fandom on here, but it's such a joy to talk over this show with other fans!

I didn't realize until recently how thoroughly the Neil/Christy relationship informed my romantic preferences in all the media and writing I've done since watching it in my teens. Older, scholarly man/younger, determined woman, some kind of angst in the man's past, a need to change things for the better as an intrinsic part of the woman's character, a taboo element that stands in the way of the relationship... Even in the slash pairings I love so much, there's still so many elements of it!

Hey filmmakers, don't think we don't notice that you frame these two with Christy on a step/incline half the time to de-emphasize the height difference...

Oh my, oh my. Okay, first, let's be real. I've been waiting for an ask like this since 1994 (baby Tumblr wasn't even born yet 😂) so get ready for some major Neil/Christy feels that I've been suppressing but also diligently-tending-in-the-background for 30+/- years. THEY. ARE. PERFECT. Top-shelf OTP bottle, for sure. You understand, right? Of course, you do. We've discussed. But yeah, I feel the same way about this show/book/pairing influencing and informing both my writing style and romantic preferences in fiction over the years. Happy to admit it. Yes *raises hand* 1000 times yes. Hello, my name is ladymelodrama, and the fact that CBS so cruelly stole resolution for Neil/Christy from us forever (I'm not counting the PAX movies, I'm just not) is a crime against good television everywhere and will haunt my Christy-loving bones until I'm dead and buried in the ground deep enough so's the critter's can't find me, as Little Burl or Creed Allen would say. Anyway, you asked about Neil and Christy and favorite moments and since I can't just pick one...

I have a proposition to make :) Let's trade fave moments until we run out of them, maybe? No pressure, of course, but this is me mostly unwilling to commit to my Top 5 Scenes until I finish my rewatch, and even then I'll probably change my mind a couple times 😂 But here's one that I'll discuss in detail today and which I like to call the "Will This Do?" scene aka "and then they both smiled their little smiles at each other and lived happily ever after. The end." <3

(Credit to @heatherfield for this gif, and bless you, friend, for continuously shipping the same pairings as me - makes my gif-hunting so much easier haha <3)

So why do I love this scene so much? Oh, you know. Margret's dress. Objectively, it's gorgeous (the woman had style, even if she had no heart). And hey, it only coded Neil/Christy as endgame from the first episode, no big deal. Plus it was one of the softest moments in the whole show and THE WAY THEY SMILED AT EACH OTHER. Ugh. Soffffffft. I'm mean, you're seeing this too, right? ;) Meanwhile, I'm sure David is over here in the corner...doing what David does best XD Lurking. Always lurking.

(and, based on the pic I chose, maybe taking notes on how to have better chemistry with Christy? - "Dear Diary, Neil MacNeill is kinda the worst, have I mentioned?" 😂) But in all seriousness, what I love about that scene (and the exchange of smiles, in particular) is how there's an honest-to-goodness, my-spirit-just-spoke-to-your-spirit bit of humanity happening there. I die for those moments, little and quiet as they may be. It's just so...SOFT. They don't know each other yet. Not really. There's no romance at play (other than what I assume might be mutual physical attraction, even if Christy would never let herself go there. Not on her first days in the Cove) so it's more a budding friendship that we're seeing and friends-to-lovers is one of my favorite things? (Jorleesi, Jisbon, Siegfried/Audrey, Obidala, Red Cricket, Dickon/Mary much?). I also really enjoy when she comes down the stairs looking all pretty-in-lavender with her hair down (still lolling at your comment on that detail btw because...c'est vrai 😂) and "Oh no, David, it's so late...how will we ever get to Lufty Branch in time?" "Not we, Christy." (exactly, David, you're getting it). Too bad she has to spend all afternoon in this rustic cabin with a plaid-shirted, barrel-chested, brogue-speaking, moody mountain man with inside pain for dayssssss. Oh the everlasting horror XD

So yeah, so much to love about this scene (and the entire convo in the cabin afterwards and him plucking her from Theo prior to the whole dress thing - guy helps girl down from horse = I'm in love 😍). To witness the very beginning of their arc (okay, Part II of the beginning, but the doctor was busy with brain surgery during Part I, so you know what I mean) and to have the actors play it so, so beautifully and in an Appalachian setting that's just misty and magical and to die for all by itself... Mmmm *chef's kiss* Your turn, @darsynia <3

[plaguethewaters]

little superhero au thingie!! except the superhero part is super duper nonexistent and this chapter is litterally just cbeeduo proposal. Enjoy!

---

"You've gotta forgive me, because I'm about to get really sappy here."

Ranboo says, and Tubbo thinks it's awfully ironic. It's night, brilliant stars shining over them - the only true advantage of no public lighting at all - they're on the roof, sitting on the thickest blanket they own and huddling together for whatever warmth they can find, the few remnants of their picnic laid abandoned to the side. They've been out all evening, eating sweets and heart shaped sandwiches, because Ranboo had always been a little extra. He thinks, we've gotten past the sappiness threshold a whole lot ago, and also, there's no way whatever you've got to say could be worse than this romance novel ass- situation.

His hand is taken into Ranboo's, who starts rubbing at his knuckles with his thumb. He does that often, when he's nervous - but also, Tubbo muses, he's nervous about pretty much every single aspect of his life, so this isn't anything new. Then he starts talking, with a way too big, almost suspicious smile on his face, his voice low.

"You know I don't- I don't think I've ever been as happy as I am now. I didn't know this kind of happy even existed, I think, not until you two came into my life." His gaze is soft and, as previously anticipated, unworldly sappy. "You've made me truly content with my life in entirely new ways, and continue to do so every single day. I can't really imagine my future without you in it."

"You're making this sound like a marriage proposal, bossman." Tubbo giggles, just to lighten the mood. Mostly because he's right, and he does not know if he could survive the weight of a love so, so fucking ginormous, settled on his shoulder's like the world's heavier and softer mountain, not without a little comedic relief.

"I mean..." Ranboo kisses his hand, doing a so-and-so gesture with his free one, "Kind of?"

The mountain doesn't move, and Tubbo's suffocating. This is not how he imagined he would die.

"I-uh. sorry?" he manages to shutter, while his mind helpfully supplies him with a series of his possible obituaries. "Young man dies of Too Much Emotion.". or "Romantic relationship actually a trap, Villain dies because Boyfriend loves him too much." (Boyfriend? Fiancè????? What the absolute hell.)

"I mean, i mean not now, obviously that's- that would be a little too much to dump on you so soon." Ranboo laughs, clearly as nervous as he looks. "Just, like, I've prepared a whole speech, goddammit, let me say it properly."

Tubbo sees the light. His heart is definitely going to explode.

"Okay I've, I've started this a little wrong. Because I said, right, I said, I can't imagine my life without you, but it's more like, like, I couldn't have imagined my life without you. I would've never even tried. I don't think I realized I could imagine a life for myself outside- outside of hero work. I either died at fifteen - or, or seventeen, or twenty, or whatever limit I decided to give myself that year - or got an eternity of work, no escape at all. Then, then you, and Tommy, and suddenly I'm dreaming of white picket fences and wedding bells and large breed dogs and- did you know I was a writer? When I was little, I used to have notebooks over notebooks full of short horror stories, and then I stopped because with housework and normal work and trying not to starve I never had the time - you've made me want to write again. You made me realize I could dream, and follow those dreams and succeed."

The speech comes out rushed, all too many words confined in all too little space, too little time. He sounds like he's afraid if he doesn't speak soon enough, someone is going to come and steal his voice, leaving his feelings forever entrapped.

His gaze shifts, and now he's staring directly into Tubbo's eyes. The intensity is overwhelming, oppressive, painful. His eyes bore into Tubbo's skull with the force of a drill, carving a hole from his eye socket to the center of his brain, then making a little cave in it and resting in it's center.

"I don't- marriage right now would not be a good idea, I don't think, but? Maybe, in the future... Will you marry me?"

Their stares break, and the parasite removes itself from Tubbo's poor, poor brain. Then he's playing with Tubbo's fingers, looking blushy and shy to the side - because of course he's nervous now, after completely destroying him, leaving unable to think anything but an infinite sting of I love yous and wondering how on earth he got this lucky and fuck. Tubbo would die a thousand times over if it got him to look this pretty again.

What the hell was he supposed to say now? He isn't, and has never really been good with words, not when actions and punches have always done the job just as well - how could he speak now, having been hit in the face with a confession like that? With the, the- he would call it the burden, he guesses, but that's just entirely the wrong word - the responsibility, the knowledge he's the reason Ranboo was able to grow and get through all of that, given to him like it is no big deal. He would've never thought of that. In fact, he was worried he'd been doing way too little support wise, lacking the knowledge and emotional maturity needed to properly help someone like that.

Like even now, after the whole speech, he still isn't all that convinced. All he ever did was love Ranboo - which isn't news, and would continue not to be news as far as he's concerned. He loves him, will love him even if he somewhat disagrees with the confession, because how could he be possibly worth so much in Ranboo's eyes, who deserves so much more than he could possibly give, and he loves him so much - but he does not know how to say any of that.

So, he just kisses him.

And again, and again, trying to push into his lips anything that cannot fit into his mouth and failing still, but nobody's to say he doesn't fucking try. When he stops, it's because his traitorous body runs out of air to breathe, but he still keeps as close as possible, resting his forehead on Ranboo's. If he has to stop to breathe, they'll fucking share the breaths too.

----

Ranboo has learned, by now, that Tubbo kisses like he's fighting.

Mostly by way of focus and determination: he kisses with the same kind of concentration one might have when operating a sniper rifle - or, much more topically, when defusing a tickling bomb. There's no second in which he's idle, any rest clearly ruled by strict necessity rather than any want or will. When he does retreat, surrendering finally to the need of air, he doesn't part neither far nor long, touching their foreheads together or breathing in his neck, his hands mapping all available territory to make way for later exploration.

Ranboo has seen him battle, has fought him directly in the past, and he finds no difference between the crushing adrenaline of a missed punch, of wrestling for a loaded gun, of running towards a lit fuse - and whatever he is feeling right now.

A hand finds its way to his thigh, squeezing the soft flesh, and the little air he'd managed to keep in his poor lungs gets knocked out of him. Maybe they are in battle, actually. Maybe killing him is Tubbo's way of saying no.

Because - and he's said this already, but his brain is too scrambled to pay attention to something as utterly unimportant as repetition (anything less important than this). Because he's used to Tubbo, to the way he seems to equate love and war, to the almost violence of his affections but this feels... different, somehow. Somewhat. He's not focused enough to register what's actually changed.

Maybe it's the way his mind had already been lost in the anxiety of the moment, before his little speech, and the suspense for an answer now; or maybe it's just the thick layer of tears evenly coating each of their faces.

Which, by the way, does not help to ease his worries at all, to be entirely honest. Not that - don't get him wrong, it's not that the kissing isn't nice (heavenly, wonderful, amazing, showstopping and a plethora of other words that do not even come close) but it doesn't really enlighten him as to what Tubbo's answer is going to be. Is this a "Yes of course I'm going to marry you" type of kiss or more, like, "No how dare you ask that I'm kissing you just so you shut up" deal?

(Now, a normal person, in a hypothetical fictional audience, would probably butt in right about now with, let's say, a text to speech device of some sort. And they would say, with all the confidence of anonymity, they'd say: "Ranboo, this is a really stupid dilemma. Why would he ever choose to reject with a kiss? Nobody does that ever." And they would probably be right! But the hand is still on his thigh, and another hand is rubbing slow circles into his waist, and the kiss is still happening, so forgive him if his reasonings aren't all that rational right about now.)

He manages to detach himself eventually - not easily, not even particularly willingly - for the few moments absolutely necessary to regain a couple braincells and learn how to use his own mouth again.

"Uh- U, I, Is this-" Not to use it well, mind you, but he isn't going to complain. he'll take what he can get and deal with it. "Uhu-"

"What was that, bossman?" Tubbo giggles, voice still raspy from the assault to his lips, and Ranboo finds it somewhat insulting; loquacity is an absurd standard to hold for the guy currently being lobotomized.

"Wh- was that, uh" Tubbo's hand is slowly rubbing at his cheek in what was probably meant to be encouragement, but only manages to scramble his brains even more. "Was that a yes?

"No."

His stomach plummets.

He knows, logically, that he should not have expected anything. They've been dating for not even a year, and this was sprung on Tubbo so suddenly, and everyone always say to never ask if you aren't sure your partner will say yes but Ranboo will never be sure of anything in his life (at least not how he was sure this would've worked) and he needed to ask like, physically. And at the end of the day it's not like this is gonna mean anything for their relationship, because ring or not he knows Tubbo loves him (maybe, hopefully, because he cannot begin to imagine the contrary, it would tear him apart), but he had dared to hope-

"No," Tubbo continues, "I've just started making out with you, because that is how normal people reject proposals in real life." He's smiling, still caressing his cheek, and Ranboo wants to die a little less. He pointedly ignored the disembodied voice of the fictional audience member reminding him how they were right. (Just because you were doesn't mean you gotta act mean about it. Meanie.)

He groans, quite loudly, so that all of his horrible pain is heard, and hides his shameful face in the warm crook of Tubbo's neck.

"Never start a sentence like that ever again, for the love of god."

Tubbo laughs, bright and loud. "Oh, you poor baby", he croons, mockingly. Ranboo is being made fun of, but the guy doing it is exceptionally beautiful and also his fiance now, so all the haters are quite obviously just jealous.

"You're right though," Tubbo continues, "I wasn't quite finished answering."

Whatever smart, flirty and witty reply Ranboo could have given him gets swallowed by a chocking sound, as the push of lips and the warmth of hands pull him onto yet another battlefield.

---

"You know what would be really, really funny actually?" Tubbo asks, after everything is done. He's basically sitting in Ranboo's lap now, only one lonely knee left hanging on the blanket. They cuddle together tighter, mostly because they want to, but also because it got so cold on that roof once the sun went down and now it feels far below freezing.

"Hmmmm..." he rumbles, a content rumble (NOT. a purr. shut up.) so loud it almost hides his voice. "No, what would?"

"If we just pretended to be married already." Tubbo sits up a little bit.

"Just like. Hear me out."

"I'm hearing, I'm hearing."

"Okay, for one - we've got like, another full year before we would be able to actually get married and you and I both know I've got zero patience to wait that long. And we're like, super wanted criminals, so nobody would want to marry us even if we were legal, right?"

"Absolutely correct."

"And also. Think of the Bitches faces when we get into battle against them and we have wedding bands on, calling each other 'husband' and shit"

A pause.

"Oh, oh my god" They both start laughing at the same time, falling back into the blankets in a mountain of little giggles. The thought is, as expected, absolutely hilarious, and with the added giddiness of being able to be husbands, of loving each other that much - it doesn't look like they'll be stopping anytime soon.

The moon is high in the sky, the cold is still frigid, and their laughs are loud enough for several noise complaints. Tonight, they hug each other and go to bed. Tomorrow, chaos would begin for real.

[mermaidsirennikita]

ARC Review: Say You'll Be Mine by Naina Kumar

4/5. Releases 1/16/24.

Vibes: fake dating but with good reasons, heroes with daddy issues, and justice against "that guy who's soooo nice and great and he won't make a move but I love him" guy

After finding out her longtime friend and crush (well, maybe more than a crush) Seth is engaged, Meghna decides to move on. I mean, she's going to be his best man--it's time. Although she doesn't hit it off with the grumpy Karthik, she is willing to take advantage when he agrees to be her fake fiance. She looks fully moved on from Seth, and he gets to shake his mom off his back. There isn't any drawback, right? Right?

This is a light-but-not-too-light contemporary, with a winning main couple and an emotional authenticity that was both engaging and... gentle? For want of a better word? Will please both the fake dating lovers and the haters (me).

Quick Takes:

--I have a real soft spot for a book where the heroine realizes that the guy she thought was THE shit, who never really made the kind of move she wanted but took advantage of her attention (keeping her on the hook, essentially) is... not the shit. This is one of those books, and it has the added nuance of Seth having zero real respect for Meghna's background and culture. It's not just that he doesn't really know her--it's that he doesn't even want to make the effort to get to know her on the most basic level.

That said, Meghna never comes off as pathetic during the story, which is honestly a credit to the way Naina Kumar writes and handles the story. She's vulnerable, yes. She's in denial, yes. But she's not pitiful. (This is also because Meghna is kind of a classic endearing romcom heroine--Say You'll Be Mine does read an actual romcom, which definitely can't be said of a lot of romcom books at the moment.)

--Karthik is a lot pricklier... and I imagine that some people may find that frustrating. But two things to consider: firstly, his prickliness makes it more satisfying when he gradually melts with Meghna and becomes emotionally connected to her. Secondly, his reasons ring true. At least, for me they do.

Karthik fundamentally does not want to emulate his parents' troubled marriage. He'd rather hold himself at arm's length, staying closed off to love, than risk recreating what they have (we love to read about men with daddy issues). As a someone from a ~broken home~ he really came off as authentic and relatable to me. He's not not overly angsty, he's really not an asshole. But he has walls, and they're deeply rooted in his childhood.

And I mean--again, I think it's incredibly important for that block to be there. This is overall a sweet, soft book, but Karthik's inner turmoil (and of course Meghna's relationship or lack there of with Seth) keeps it from being without stakes.

Ultimately, I want to stress--this is a really sweet romance. You feel that sense of knowing and comfort slowly rise for these two, until the extent to which they value each other is really clear. It's very comforting and kind of cozy, which works for this time of year especially.

The Sex:

The sex is sorta quiet here--just one more euphemistic scene towards the end, preceded by another kinda low heat over the pants action moment. (Which I did like a lot.) However, it does remain quite romantic, if not super steamy.

I really enjoyed this gentle yet entertaining romcom, and I especially liked Naina's writing style. She has a strong voice, and I definitely want to see more from her.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dell for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[mikaels0n-elijah-writing]

guidelines

▍ ❝   RULE ONE. First of all: writing threads takes priority for me. I don't care where we write. There are many possibilities and we will find a way. You can simply send me memes, which I can then answer. Or write me a message so that we can plot. Feel free to contact me. I try to send memes regularly so that we can interact. But that also means that ooc is rather difficult for me. I'm shy and don't want to offend or annoy anyone. I won't be able to answer every meme, nor will I be able to turn every meme into a thread. Nothing personal! Sometimes inspiration is simply missing. Or the time.

▍ ❝   RULE TWO. English isn't my native language and therefore more mistakes will slip in, which I'm already sorry about. Everyone can answer as they like. German or English, private or public. Length does not have to be the same.

▍ ❝   RULE THREE. The character "Elijah Mikaelson" is not my own. But everything I write comes from my own pen. I want to make changes and be free in how I write him out. anti j. pl*c!

▍ ❝   RULE THREE a). I don't want drama outside of texts. My time is far too valuable for that. If anyone has a problem with me: speak openly about it. Then we'll find a solution. Communication is the key.

▍ ❝   RULE FOUR. Neither the blog nor the texts are "trigger free". The basic plot comes from a show/book series that deals with death, loss, depression, blood, vampirism, witchcraft, lycanthropy, sexual content and so on. This is also written out in my texts. There will be blood / violence on my blog. I try to make sure that it doesn't get out of hand. trigger tags: tw trigger & nsfw Don't post spiders without a TW.

▍ ❝   RULE FIVE. Multiship / multiverse. This means that every text is unique in the universe. But we don't have to have a romantic relationship, that's not my intention. Sexual content is "faded out" after a while - hinted at, but not written out. I have no interest in that. I am interested in friendships, enemies, enemies to friends,... We find a way to interact when we both feel like it. I'm here for dynamic stories and new faces. Always open to meeting and plotting new things. WE NEED TO PLOT ROMANTIC THINGS!! I love to send shippy memes, but this doesn't mean we are having a ship. You can send me shippy memes without having a ship, because i LOVE to write romance.

▍ ❝   RULE FIVE a). The character can also exist outside of the TVD/TO universe. Vampires come in many varieties after all. Write to me, even if you don't know anything about TVD/TO. I have worked out a few verses, but I'm sure we can come up with more together if the desire arises.

▍ ❝   RULE SIX. My activity will vary. I won't be able to answer all the time, especially when it comes to threads. I will therefore be patient with my writer and will not rush anyone.

▍ ❝   RULE SEVEN. A "NO" is always accepted by me. I expect the same from my counterpart.

▍ ❝   RULE SEVEN a). ✱     DONT'S         Racism, sexism, transphobia, hatred, homophobia, non-common agreements,... the list is longer. But it should be clear to everyone what isn't accepted.

▍ ❝   RULE EIGHT. I can't say how quickly an answer will come. Some come faster than others. I work with a queue that I fill regularly. She posts once a day. If a meme is sent in, I will usually reply to it outside of the queue to build interaction. Sometimes I will also reply directly before putting it in the queue. I also reply to some person without a queue.

▍ ❝   RULE NINE. I sort out my followers list regularly, mostly I try to soft block. Why do I do that? Because of lack of interaction, because I don't see us interacting after a while, because you post too much sexual context without tagging it or too much ooc content, I do this even if there are no reaction, because you have been inactive for over 3 months,... it's nothing personal. Feel free to follow me again and let's see if we can interact.

[littleexpediticner]

Bruce W. x Transmasc!reader

Word Count: 808

Note: I can't stop thinking about how warm Bruce is to cuddle so now I must write headcanons!!

Another note: The Headcanons have both CG & romantic undertones!!! I'm romantic with all my F/Os because I'm allowed to be! Romance & Caregiving can be intertwined (for me!), but ZERO romantic antics are happening during Regression time! If you notice the lack of 'rules' it's because I just feel super uncomfortable with the idea of my CG giving me 'rules'!! Also, yes, I do in fact call all my F/Os Momma/Mommy (it's simply what I prefer/am most connected with!).

Warnings: None, Fluff, SFW AgeRe, CG!Bruce Wayne, Momma!Bruce Wayne, Reader & Bruce are romantically involved but it's separate from AgeRe!

He's the MOST protective CG/Partner!!! With the kind of life he leads (being THE superhero of Gotham City) he has to ensure his love is safe!

It takes him a while to settle into the routine of having someone living in his mansion with him who isn't Alfred. It takes him even longer to get used to someone saying "I love you, have a good day!" to him every morning!

It took him weeks to finally reveal his deep secret to you. He half expected you to leave him on the spot, but when you stayed & you earnestly listened & asked questions--he--well, he fell in love all over again.

You two coexist so well & so peacefully! You're used to his later nights, the bruises he comes home with, the busted lips, etc! You're always there to tend to them.

Just like he's always there to tend to you if he comes home & your voice in that special pitch he's grown all too fond of.

He found out you regressed on accident, it just sort of happened. One moment the pair of you were cuddling under the blankets & the next you had your face nuzzled into his neck while you giggled & quietly babbled to yourself.

He didn't question it at the time, he simply kissed the top of your head & engaged with whatever babbling you were on about!

It wasn't until a day later that he asked & you, albeit reluctantly, told him bout that part of yourself & he was elated! He's grown so used to people fearing him as The Batman, that he didn't stop to think about the possibility of someone trusting him so deeply.

He definitely teaches you how to fight!! Just so you can be prepared in case anything happens!! You also know how to get into the Batcave & how to call him if he's away & you're in danger!

He showers you with gifts like stuffies, blankies, soft pajamas, soft clothing, pacis, sippy cups, bottles, etc! Anything you want, he'll get without hesitation!

He loves caring for you! He loves the bubble baths, He loves helping you sip your drinks carefully or feeding you your bottle when you're particularly regressed! He loves helping you change clothes when the prospect is too difficult because you're too small & far too tired! He loves feeding you & wiping the mess off your cheeks!!

He's big on forehead kisses, cheek kisses, quick little pecks on the lips (like the kind of kiss your mom used to give you as a kid!) with added "Mwuah!"s for emphasis!

He loves to carry you around either on his back, on his hip, or with your chest pressed to his! It makes you feel especially small!!

He reads you bedtime stories or makes one up! Usually, they're watered-down versions of his nightly antics!!

He sets up nightlights around the mansion & even gets one of those start projectors his the bedroom so you don't panic when you wake up in the dead of night!

He loves it when you call him Momma or Mommy!!

He always calls you his sweet boy!!! also other nicknames like; sweetheart, honey, babylove, silly boy, baby bat, pumpkin, bunny, birdie, love/lovey, & various other things! He uses them both when you regressed & when you're not!

He always leaves a little note if he has to rush off to save the city! Alfred usually pokes his head in just to ensure you're alright!

Bruce's favorite thing to do though is to cuddle! To just hold you safely in his arms, your leg hooked over this hip, his arms circling you, your face nuzzles into his neck!!! Petting gentle circles against your spine & murmuring softly so you fall asleep to his voice!!!!!! His sleep has gotten better since he's been able to cuddle you!!

He relishes the fact that you don't like parties or going out or being in the public eye. It gives him more of a reason to have cozy nights in with you! Though, obviously, you do make public appearances when necessary because it's important Bruce Wayne keeps up his public persona as much as possible.

You've learned he's much softer, quieter & kinder than the playboy philanthropist with a big ego persona he puts on for the masses. You're pretty sure you're the only one, aside from Alfred, who has ever seen him this way.

He loves you so completely & every paparazzi photo taken of the pair of you radiates warmth & love! He's always smiling or gazing at you with so much adoration in his eyes that you can't help but melt!

To be honest, Gotham citizens are placing bets as to when the pair of you will be engaged. Jokes on them; no one's going to know until you're married~